The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-14

old, which I'm going 10 pay today. Do
You remember your fatbers"
my father?n said Russell, startled by
the question. II can scarcely say / do.
He died when was little boy
.well, / remember him. I knew him
here in this city. He was good man, but
not too sharp in business. He had accu-
mulated some money, but he lost most Of
ii at the last
II knew that" said Russell; II felt the
effects of il during my boyhood- What he
left sufficed only for my bringing up, and
for such education as / have"
ibid you-fhat is, you didn't actually
want for anything 2" asked Ray, moving
uneasiIy in his chair, while he regarded
the young man anxiously-
s'No; had food and clothes and shelter.
The things wanted no money could sup
ply They were ideals, far to high for me"
Raw seemed relieved.
.The truth is" said he, that If your
father hadn't known me, he might have
kept his money. Now don't be alarmed;
| / didn't exactly rob him. We were on op-
| posite sides of little business affair. One
Of US had 10 60 down. ] vas going up
Just at that time; persistently going up
and nothing could stop me. He had a
strong tendency in the other direction.
| Perhaps some Of my methods at that time
were a little-well, not what so vigorous a
moralist as yon would approve Of. ! have
| thought of that affair once or twice myself,
and not just easily, though 1t was all In
the game"
II don't understand you,H said Russell,
| coldly.
Don't, my dear boy, don't use that tone
of voice. 1t makes me feel badly. I'm
| glad | decided 70 do this thing
What is il 2"
'.Why, you see, the amount your father
4 hos 10 lsaa1 oh
| Sl20,000 I've kept the account, and I'd
| often had il in my mind TO look you up,
1 before chance threw YOU in my way.
was glad TO see you then; doubly glad
| when found what splendid fellow you
were; trebly glad when | saw how
you and Alice, were getting on. And
now I'm quadruply miserably to see
/ you give up everything and go incoming
round the streets, as if you couldn't decide
| whether to drown yourself in the East
river or the Hudson. Now, what ! want
! 10 do is TO restore that money TO you. 1t
| isn't much; it wont affect me in the least
financially; but it viii make me feel a
| great deal better in my mind. 1t viii give
| you chance to go OF and take a pleasure
| trip. You need one badly. had thought
| TO make the money present to you on a
certain very interesting occasion, but it
| can't wait. | don't believe in hanging on
till Christmas with barrel of Hour for a
| poor man who may starve during the fall.
| Russell, here's my check. Don't let any
foolish scruple prevent your taking it. It's
yours, and feel IN giving it as if you were
| my own son."
The world spun around before Russell's
/ eyes. 1t was not the idea of the money.
but of what its possession would give
| him. As to his right to it he had very lit
/ tie doubt. If the events had been of
| such naure as to weigh upon the bust
| ness conscience of Gilbert Raw perhaps
| it would be better for the old gentle
mans soul TO relieve it of burden such as
| that.
"Mr,, Ray" said he, II ought to tell you
| that Alice
Il know all about it, my boy. You have
had my consent and her mothers for
many day.
Il would take this money" said Rus
sell, rising excitedly, ''for, though thank
| you deeply, | will not feign TO doubt that
| il is rightfully mine. Some rumor of that
! old story must have reached me, for Ind
| that it is not new to me, though your
| name was never connected with it.
would take this money, as | have said,
and would also accept the priceless gift
| your daughter offers me, but there is
something between US. Mr.. Ray, | was
made TO know her by my friend who loved
her. thought him dead when made
my mad confession to her,, Today I have
having stolen the love he coveted. the
| prize he worked for in the heat of Africa,
Drawing separation for her sake?''
Il don't know" said Ray, looking I'D
| from card which boy had brought him,
"but you might try it in advance. The
man is here"
And be handed Russell a card which
bore the name of Walter Brown. min
| ute later and the owner of that name
entered the room. Russell would have
turned away, but Brown sprang forward,
grasping his hand.
Dear old fellow" he exclaimed, "why
don't you speak to me? Do you think
I'm ghost? That seems to be the pre-
vailing impression among the men I've
met today. 1t all grows out of the fact
that there was another Walter Brown
with the company, but he had middle
name, which | haven't. 1t seems the pa
pers omitted to state it,
Il can't look you in the face" said Rus
sell; Il have been false to you"
What does he mean ?" asked Brown,
turning in surprise to Ray.
.'He means that he has been falling In
love with my daughter" said Ray, dryly
Brown laughed
Console yourself, my good friend" he
said, pressing Russellfs hand again. II
was married in Cape Town to the sweetest
woman in the world"