Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-24

had wrecked and blasted them all for
ever How vain are human wishes and
human foresight when all tho work and
plans of wise mud strong mans life can
be brought to nothing by the folly OF
boy
lilo sat there for long time thinking
not sadly go much as fercely and furi-
ously. Then he reused himself with a
start and looked at the great old clock
in the corner.
cts getting late" he muttered. " He
will be here soon. What shall | do
Open to his knock and bid him begone
Or let him knock and knock and depart
unanswered?
dc sst silently thinking which course
he shonld adopt. Suddenly his medita-
tons we're interrupted.
Tap. tap. tap sounded with start
ling abruptness on the outside door.
The old lawyer was taken of bis
guard, and started violently at the
sound. His son had arrived before he
was expected.
Sitting erect in his chair, Sergeant
Stronge felt for once in his life irreso-
lutte. Should he see his son or should
he not? What would he say or do if he
did see him? And if he did not see
him, what would happen then -?
A struggle was going on IN Sergeant
Stronge's mind-a struggle though be
might not have admitted it, between
anger and love, between resentment and
pity. In spite of all his hard thought
and harder language about his boy, inst
then it was au even chance whether he
should forgive him or not.
Unfortun ,tely-as often happens IN
the most serious of human afiairs-the
event was decided by an accident. Char
lie Stronge only knocked once at his
fathers door-he waited but a minute.
Then, hopeless apparently Of an answer,
I he turned and, With broken heart, went
slowly down the long stairs. II he had
! but Knocked twice, If he had waited only
a moment more-who can say what way
the terrible struggle in bis fathers breast
might have gone 4? AZ it was, the event
was decided before that struggle had
come to an end.
Eagerly, breathlessly, the old lawyer
listened to the young mans heavy foot
steps as they resounded on the boarded
steps. Tramp. tramp. slowly and sadly
| the sounds came up To him faint and
more faint they gradually became now
| they came from the second landing !;
now from the first now they ce9sed.
AS the echo OF the last footstep died
away the great old clock in the corner
chimed out the hour loud and clear. 1t
struck 10.
Recalled to himself by the sound, the
old lawyer, with gasp, threw himself
back in his chair, and realized that an
issue perhaps of life and death had been
decided forever.
"Let him 60, he said to himself, af-
ter q pause. "Let him go; he'll do
himself no i'll. ] dare say he'll be back
again tomorrow.
Though he said this for his own COM
fort he felt no assurance that it would
prove true. He knew that his soR Was
in desperate stralts-he knew that he
had attained the very limits OF human
misery, aud though he believed he was
of weak and irresolute nature still he
felt that it was Just such weak aud irreso-
lutte natures that were the most ready to
resort to fearful measures when indlre
distress. The strong man hopes against
hope and struggles against fate itself (;
the weak one gives up the contest soon
and abandons himself to hopeless and
reckless despair.
The reflections now pressed on the old
lawyers mind with fearful weight. What
il Charlie did as he had threatened, and
took away his life That dreadful ques-
ton stuck in his mind. 1t would not go
away it would give him no peace, no
rest. Do what he would there it re-
NAMED at the door Of his conscience,
knocking, knocking continually, and i'm
periously demanding en- answer.
Now that the supreme trial OF bis de-
termination had come, it broke CON-
pletely down. All the old, deep love OF
his handsome, dsshing boy came rush
ing back upon him. Visions of what
he had been appeared before his aching
memory. He remembered him as
pretty, prattling child by his dead
mothers knee-thstloved and lost whom
the old lawyer had cherished snd
mourned for with all the energy OF his
fierce, strong soul as the little laughing
school-boy who used to brighten every
thing around him by the sunshine OF his
presence /; as the lad setting out for Ok
| ford full of anticipations OF pleasure and
success, full of the eXultant. intoxicating
spirit of youth. And to think that per-
haps at that very moment the black
waters OF the Thames rolled over that
youthful face, over those glancing eyes,
now close and dull In death-the
| thought was agonizing. maddening
Torn by sorrow, remorse, and shame,
the unhappy OLD man spent the night
wandering aimlessly about the room and
sitting in his easy chair gazing into the
! dull embers on the hearth. For him
there was no rest or sleep that night /;
and when the wintry morning broke it
showed his face that but the previous
day had been full Of high, indomitable
| spirit-weak and nervous as frightened
child's.
Dawn was slowly Frightening into day
when the old lawyers excited ear caught
the sound of footsteps slowly ASCENDING.
At length they reached the Sergeants
floor. A knock II is at bis door. Was
it Charlie or was it
Almost fainting, with fearful APP
prehension, the old lawyer staggered
along the corridor to the door. He
opened it. A policeman was there.
"Sergeant Stronge, sir ?" he said,
touching his helmet.
Yes" answered the Sergeant,
hoarsely.
Begging your pardon, sir" said The
policeman, "for disturbing you, sir -
"What is it ?" asked the old lawyer,
now almost unable to stand wlthrfsi
ness.
"Well. sir. we found this on the body
of young man found il the river, and
we thought you might know something
OF him."
He handed the Sergeant o slip OF
paper. Steadying his trembling form
against the Intel OF the door, the old
lawyer examined it. There he found
these words scribbled in his sons hand E:
"Mr. Sergeant StronSs, Kings Bench
Wall- I hova a,npn1 and an, No poOra