Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-09-24
"The same" said the stranger; '.he is

&SAAVPAa16 nv u4&ug OEAuk EoAA0A 70 my
new acquaintances, l readily conducted
him up the stairs and into the apartment
I had left ,.s.
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 man am here. 1t
Is the girl would see, and will wait
here until she returns"
Scarcely was the stranger seated,
when, as approached the bedside, the
invalid awoke.
you must know" said he, oontinu-
Ing the subject of his history in o 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,""
GLOW did you become reduced?" I
asked.
'By series of misfortunes, Of which
I need not tell you. BY degrees I lost,
until became quite fortuneless, quite
friendless."
us the girl who brought me here
your only child?" inquired.
"Ah! it Is Of that I would speak,"
sighed the sick man, pressing my hand.
II had another child-a son."
And Is he dead?"
mo; but he is dead to me. I lost him
through my pride, my worse than folly"
"Where is no now?"
"Alasl know not"
''He has deserted you?"
mo; drove him from my door. 1t
was in my days of pride and af1luence
that I 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. II was proud of him, too; but
even he could not change the frmness
of my will. 1t is that which has es-
tranged us!'
'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 I owe
my ruin. He 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 to win her heart
and hand"
''And you opposed him?"
Firmly, bitterly, blindly opposed
him!' exclaimed the old man. ''He
was major, and I could not enforce
my commands. but threatened, little
thinking my threats were vain. I told
him in 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. He
believed that toll and poverty were
honorable, and that worth was oftener
found with them than with luxury and
riches. He trusted that he had found q
priceless jewel in the person of the
humble girl he loved, and he boldly, un-
hesitatingly offered her his hand,
although he knew I would disinherit
him."
"And he married her?"
Eyes, and from that time I have
never seen him! He provided home
for himself and wife in Boston, and
wrote me 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 as my son and heir.
He ended by inviting me to visit him in
his new but hunt BILE abode, and express
ing desire that we might live on
friendly terms. I was too proud to visit
him, and he never saw fit to cross my
threshold again.
"And he continued to reside in Bos.
ton-in the same city with you, his
father?"
Eyes, 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 l.
'Never! The last heard of him
he was in New York, and in tolerable
circumstances. o! what triumph it
would be to him could he see me thus
reduced, shorn of my pride and wealth!
''You see am now left alone in the
unfriendly 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
onev'
The sick man turned his eyes upwards.
then closed them wit sigh.
At this momentI observed that the