Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-02-20
WE PUSHED OFF AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE PUSHED OFF AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE.
Long Island coast to collect some bills
from people for whom he had done work.
He gave me money to stay week or
two al the sea-shOre, saying that the
change would do me good, and it was
while was away on this delightful hol-
iday that an event occurred which had a
most disastrous effect upon my future
life. My father was arrested for burg
larry!
''It appeared, and can not tell you
how shocked l was when l discovered
the truth, that the box which had car
ried away did not contain nautical in
struments, but was filed with valuable
plate and jewels. My unfortunate
father heard from a man who had been
discharged from the service of the fam
lily whose house he had visited-whose
name by the way was not Green-where
the box containing the valuables men
toned was always placed at night, and he
had also received accurate information in
regard to the situation of the rooms
and the best method of gaining access
to them.
81 believe that some arrangement had
been made between my father and this
discharged servant in regard to di-
vision of the contents of the box, and it
was on account of a disagreement upon
this subject that the man became very
angry, and after pocketing what my
father thought was his fair share he de-
parted to unknown regions, leaving be-
hind note to the police, which led to
my fathers arrest"
''That was a mean trick" said Aunt
Martha.
The burglar looked at her gratefully.
SIN the lower spheres of life, madam,
such things often happen. Some OF the
plate and jewels were found in my
fathers possession, and he was speedily.
tried and sentenced to a long term of
Imprisonment. And now, can you i'm
agine, ladies'" said the tall burglar, APP
parently having become convinced to
address himself to Aunt Martha as well
as my wife, ''the wretched position in
which 1 found myself? 1 was
upbraided as the son of a thief.
1 soon found myself without home,
without occupation, and, alasl with
out good reputation. was careful not
to mention my voluntary connection
with my fathers crime for fear that
should 1 do so might be compelled to
make statement which might increase
the severity of his punishment. For
this reason did not dare to make in
quiries concerning the child in whom /
had taken such an interest and whose
little life had, perhaps, jeopardized.
I never knew, ladies, whether that in
FAINT grew up ,r not.
''But /, alas! grew up to life of
hardship and degradation. 1t would be
impossible for persons in your sphere of
life to understand what l now was
obliged to suffer. Suitable employment
1 could not obtain, because / was the
son of burglar. With father in the
States prison it was of no use for me to
apply for employmentatany respectable
place of business. labored at one thing
and another, sometimes engaging in the
most mental employments. 1 also
had been educated and brought
up by my dear mother for a very
different career. Sometimes / man.
aged to live fairly well, sometimes
/ suffered. Always / suffered from the
stigma of my fathers crime; always in
the eyes of the community in which I
hved-a community am sorry to say
incapable as rule of making correct
judgments in delicate cases like these
was looked upon as belonging to the
ranks of the dishonest. 1t was hard
lot, and sometimes almost impossible to
bear up under.
81 have spoken at length, ladies, in
order that you may understand my true
position, and wish to say that have
never felt the crushing weight
of my fathers disgrace more deeply
than felt it last evening. This man."
nodding toward the stout burglar,
''came to me shortly after 1 had eaten
my supper. which happened to be very
frugal one, and said to me:
Thomas, have some business to
attend to tonight, in which you can
help me if you choose. I knoS you are a
good mechanic
If tits work that viii pay me- an
swered, Il should be very glad to do it,
for / am greatly in need of money
1T viii pay said he, and agreed
to assist him.
fro RF C0ETTSF-Fn1