The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-24
"WAS IT HIS DUTY 2"
BY :. E. B.


fairly pleasing address The other men,
bers Of the family were marked in appear
ance; both were unusually good-loOking and
of arstncratic bearing.
Theodore Wilson, the son. was about 80,
and LYDIA, the sister, remarkably pretty
young woman of 20. They took house in
an excellent neighborhoOd and maintained
it in fair style.
Theodore Wilson had come to Ann Arb0r
some months before his mother and sister
and had been employed in one CT the best
banks of the town. His recommendations
we're excellent, emitting him TO the conf
deuce and respect Of his employers from the
very first
All who had met the young man were
ready To welcome the mother and sister and
show them attentions not often accorded 10
strangers.
The Young woman, LYDIA Wilson, was
one to make friends for herself anywhere.
She was very striking IN appearance, tall
and willowy, with magnificent form, as
graceful as a Hebe.
Miss Wilson had none of the push and
dash Of most girls who aim to become social
faverites. She shTank from rather than
courted admiration and attention. Mrs.
Wilson was even more retiring than her
daughter. She was courteous and polite,
aud after her first calls had been returned
with her daughter seldom appeared In pub
lie gatherings except at church.
Ii was soon noticed that there was some
thing q trifle peculiar in the way she
avoided acquaintance on the street never
seeming 10 see persons who might and would
have shaken hands or exchanged a friendly
nod.
She was on the street good deal, too and
Observation-Disclosures could not account for al
her lapses. In spite of this little drawback
the son and daughter were very well re-
ceived and much courted, though nobody
seemed to know just who they were or where
they had come from.
Theodore Wilson had fine tenor voice
and his sister soprano OF great sweetness
and power, so that they were valuable aeces-
siOns to musical circles. The social evenings
at the mansions of the elite were never quite
perfect unless Theodore Wilson and his sis
ter were among the guests.
These two always came together and de-
parted in the same way.
There we're dozen young fellows eagerly
waiting and always ready to show Miss
Wilson some attention. She had many adj
mirerS, but she kept them all al q dist ,nce,
never accepting an invitation 10 concert,
walk, drive or any place Of amusement,
though she was always at such places at
tended by her brother Theodore who guarded
her with jealous care.
1t did seem little strange that so attract
i've young woman should always prefer the
society Of her brother After little while
it came to be understood that Lydia Wilson
could come between them.
This state OF affairs had lasted some
months, and it was known that Phil Duncan,
her most devoted admirer, was planning a
trip abroad To recover If possible by change
Of scene, from his useless infatuation.
Previous 70 this time q stranger from ST.
Louis had come 10 Ann ArOor to transact
some business with Mrs. Wilson, and as a
legal adviser was necessary she had come
TO Phil Dunc4n's Office and left papers of a
" wa rod tn
lCok over in reference to this business.
What he found there was Of service liz
tie later IN very unexpected way.
Phil was on his way to the P0stoffice to
mail an important letter.
As lie ran quickly up the stone steps lead
Ing to the Office Mark Giles was coming out.
'Fnii, have YOU heard the news?' he ex-
claimed. LYDIA Wilson's mother has been
arrested for shOp-lftiug"
Giles suspected Phil Duncan's secret and
hated him for it, for he too was in love with
LYDIA
rs that alp" asked Phil, moving away
with tie air Of a man not in The least con-
cernPd.
1t was a terrible revelation to the proud.
sensitive Phil Duncan, but he never
thought OF himself-Only Of the woman he
loved, and how it would wound and hurt
her.
He went directly to the bank where Theo-
dOre Wilson was employed. Wilson was
just coming out of the Presidents room, hat
in hand. There was hopeless, despairiug
laok on his face that went straight to Phil
Duncan'S heart.
Can I help you?" said Phil, holding out
his hand.
My God, wish you could" he answered.
taking Phi's preferred hand IN both his in a
visellke grip.
Without word the two men left the
bank, and PHI led the way to his office,
which both entered. The door was closed
and the key turned in the lock, then Theo-
dore Wilson sank into a chair. covered his
face with his hands, aud Phil saw tears
drop through his fingers and his frame
shook rs though he had an ague fit.
IF it wasn't for LYDIA | could bear this.
but it will break her HEARTH is the first
time for her, but am used to it. For ten
long years this thing has been repeated
again and again. My mother is a klepto-
maniac. For ten years l have gone from
place to place. hoping always that she
would do better, and always disappointed
nave resigned my position in the bank,
and we shall go away somewhere at once"
why cont you shut that woman up?"
shouted Phil, who hadn't a particle Of the
hne sentimentality IF Mr.. Wilson.
You are cruel" he said, almost sternly
Not half as much as she is" replied
Duncan.
u couldn't do it. have no love for my
mother, but could not permit her to be
confined as felon."
You make TOO nice distinctions. This
woman you call your mother has broken
the law. She ought to suffer for it, If this
woman was not your mother, what then ?"
a sudden revelation had come to Phil.
"Bnt she is, Duncan, and that ends it.
You are the only one who has offered me
any help ID this unfortunate state of affairs
everything must be settled up to-day. Will
you do it for me?"
AN Affirmative answer was given. and
Phll, before night, had arranged so that the
unfortunate woman would not be prose-
cuted. Theodore Wilson's money had
saved her.
The next day, much to Phil Duncan's
establishment, II was found that the Will
sons had left town.
II was too late now for Phil Duncan to
tell what he had learned in those papers,
Tor the Wilson's we're gone, nobody knew
where.
But with the knowledge at his command.
winch those papers contained, he immedi-
ately started for st. Louis, hunted up the
man who had come to him with Mrs Will
SOD, ana by some means or other Induced
nm to search for the Wilson's and reveal to
the brother the fact that this woman, to
Whom ne had chung as his mother, was only
bis nurse, to whom he had been Entrusted as
achlld during the absence Of his parents in
LYDIA was born later, and while she was
little girl her parents both died This
nurse got possession of her. too, for she had
years.
Later Phil Duncan married LYDIA Wilson
and they sailed from San francisco for
Australia soon after
Strange as it may seem Theodore Wilson
did not desert this woman, but he cared for
her as tenderly as though she really had
peen MS mother to the end of her days. He
felt that twas his duty, even after he knew
there was no Tie Of kinship between them
and no knowledge Of the wrong she mad
done him could swerye him from the path
he had ch0sen.-Bcston Globe.
ROBBED OF HIS BRIDE.