River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-09-25

dressed gentleman at the door, who
seemed surprised on seeing me in such
place.
Does Mr.. Farley reside here?~ he
asked.
Il don't know that he does re-
piled.
We'll. then, is there more than one
family living in the house,"
There is only one family. believe. ="
''And You don't know whether the
name of the family is Farley or not?r
said the stranger with smile.
saw thc drift of his remark and re-
piled that was not acquainted in the
house. never having been there before.
''The name of the family may be Far
lev" said /, but l have not heard il.
All / know is, there is an old man and
| his daughter, and he calls the girl
Hetty."
The same" said the stranger; she is
the man I would see"
Hoping he might bring relief to my
new acquaintances, | readily conducted
him up the stairs and into the apartment
l had left
On approaching the bedside, ] found
that Mr.. Farley had fallen asleep dur
Ing my absence from the room.
let me sit here" said the stranger,
/ quietly seating himself at the foot of
the bed. and shading his brow, which |
observed betrayed some emotion, and
do not tell the old nan am here. 1t
is the girl | would seq. and will wait
here until she returns"
| Scarcely was the stranger seated,
when. as l approached the bedside, the
invalid awoke.
You must now" said hc, continu-
ing the subject of his history in a man
ner which showed that his slumber had
been light, you must know that have
not always been in the condition of
poverty you see me now in. ] was once
in excellent circumstances, and enjoyed
high standing in society"
''How did you become reduced?" !
asked.
by series of misfortunes, of which
/ need not tell you. BY degrees | lost,
until became quite fortuneless, quite
friendless."
is the girl who brought me here
your only child?" | inquired.
.Ah! it is Of that | would speak, "
! sighed the sick man, pressing my hand
i had another child-a son"
And is he dead2'
"No: hut be is dead to me. lost him
through my pride, nv worse than folly"
Where is ne now2'
Alas! know not"
-.lIe has deserted you?"
NO: drove him from my door Ii
was in nv days of pride and afiluence
that disowned him, and cast him Of
penniless."
The old man pressed his feeble hands
upon his brow. as if to still its throb-
bling, and closed his eyes with sup
pressed groan.
Il loved my son." he continued, after
a pause. Il was proud of him, too; but
even he could not change the firmness
Of my will 1t is that which has es-
tranged u.s.
In what manner"
Can YOU not guess? Had YOU known
William, you would have discovered
ere this His generous soul, so unlike
my own, was totally free from the fam
lily pride and prejudice to which owe
my ruin. lie had no idea of the aris-
tOcracy of wealth; and when he found
among the labOring classes a maiden,
whom he thought might make him
happy. he cared not for her humble
condition, cut resolved 20 win her heart
and hand"
And YOU opposed him?"
Firmly bitterly, blindly opposed
him. exclaimed the old man. ''IIe
was major, and l could not enforce
my commands. but | threatened, little
thinking my threats were vain. told
him in a moment of calmness, that the
hour which saw him united to the poor
girl he was Wooing saw him no longer
my son. But his soul, like mine. was
above compulsion. and, unlike mine, it
scorned the allurements OF wealth. lie
believed that toll and poverty wero
honorable. ami that worth was ofteneT
found with them than with luxury and
riches. He trusted that he had found a
priceless jewel in the person of tho
humble girl he loved, and he boldly, un-
hesitatimgly offered her his hand.
although he knew l would disinheril
ham,"
And he married her?n
''Yes. and from that time | have
ever seen him! He provided a home
for himself and wife in Boston, and
wrote me a letter. In that he begged
me to excuse-he did not say forgive
his acting against my wishes, but said
not word-not a syllable about being
received once more az my son and heir.
He ended by inviting me to visit him in
his new bat humble abode. and express
ing desire that we might live on
friendly terms. | was too proud to visit
him, and lie never saw fit to cross my
threshold again.
And he continued TO reside in Dos.
ton-in the same city with you, his
father?"
YES. for time: but he was poor. and
could not bear, l presume, the sight OF
those of his old associates who ceased
TO know him. when he was no longer
able TO live in style. He scorned them,
it is true, but he hated the sight OF
them, and therefore removed from the
city,
And he never came TO you or wrote
to you afterwards" said /.
Never The last / heard of hin
he was in New York, and in tOlerable
circumstances. o! what triumph il
would be to him could he see me thus
reduced shorn of my pride and wealth
You see l am now left alone in the
untriendly world with the child who
brought you hither. As my riches failed
me, being swept away by miSfortunes,
my old friends dropped off one by one;
and now sickness has reduced me to the
HELPLESS, miserable condition in which
you behold me. There is not an indi.
vidual living who cares for me or mine.
You have already shown some kindness
TO Us. for which Heaven reward you!
But you are the only one, the only
onei'
The sick man turned his eyes upwards.
then closed them wit Il a sigh.
At this moment observed that the
stranger, who at first seemed to take no
interest in the old mans story, had at
length drawn his chair closer to the bed
side. as if to listen
MY pride is BUNDLED now" resumed
the invalid. after a long pause. Il
think l might be brought 10 ask relief
of the very son have disowncd. Oh,
God, how Just has been my punishment.
TO think that he. whom cast of, Is now,
III all probability, able to laugh at my
fall in the midst CT his growing pros
perity. But think YOU he would co it?