The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-11-21
Blu

The old man looked up with a sur
prised air as he replied:
"What purpose, young sir could l
have in telling such u story to an entire
stranger?"
The young man made no reply for a
moment, but continued to gaze steadily
into the eyes Of the elder one. as If
thinking profoundly Then he said in
a deep. low voice. quivering with emo
ton:
II will continue the story Mr. Dori
son was fond of the young man. his son,
treating him indulgently and giving him
a most generous allowance The son
was youngster caught up in the whirl
of f;ishion-a member of the leading
| clubs, following what you doubtless
would call a fast life. hut. as compared
with others. not fast. Ii extravaganza.
he brought no trouble upon his father:
it reckless in his life, no disgrace upon
the name OF Dorison. The letter his
father was writing Wien he was so sud-
denly stricken with death ruined the
son 70 whom this letter WAS addressed,
or what the fathers motive in writin:,
1t. never was known, and it is doubtful
now whether these things ever viii ba
known. The letter ran thus
"'My DEAR FRIEND The end is well
nigh reached. Indeed, if You cannot
immediately give me the assistance
need it is even now reached. With sucI,
assistance aD,. II few years mere OF lif5
all can be repaired. am i. broken man
in spirit ana in heslth The last few,
Years / have been tortured rs no human
being ever was, believe. have been
compelled to sit helplessly by and see q
tine property devoted to covering the
consequences Of crime; to making good
torgerles on my own name, against which
l could not even lit my voice in protest.
to requiring losses of Others by robberos
ana uelalcat1ons; to stopping the wheels
OF Justice, which ii permitted to 90 on
would have brought exposure and dis
grace, and all the while have beer, COM
PEELED to sustain and conceal the know,-
edge that all this was done and brought
upon me by al ungrateful son, who
"Death fell upon him. continued the
young man, 'the moment he had con-
Ge:nned the son. To whom was this
letter addressed? Crushed and agonized,
the son in II frenzy sought the one to
Whom 1t was written as u means of prov
ing that the condemnation of the son by
the dying father was untrue All efforts
We're unavailiny The fact of the con-
domination was bruited about; it became
known IN the clubs; it became public
property: it was published in the papers:
the police undertook to bring the crimes
alleged against the son home to him, but
they were no more successful than he
was in his efforts to disprove them. Els
friends tell away from him; the doors of
his acquantances were closed against |
him; he was cut on the streets Efforts !
being made to eSpel him from one club. !
he resigned from all and fed the CITY. !
penniless, under an assumed |
name, Seeking employment in west
ern city, he remained until few DAYS
ago, when, under an impulse he cc,,a !
not restrain, he returned to the city u
his birth alter eight years absence
.n he-~,!oin s"T:Son-- ;li.s,raced by bis
dead father, nt,t by himself"
-! Was suye Of it. was sure of it,
.nurnlE.e! the cid man.
lyon, too continued the Young man,
his voice trembling with the violence OF
ais emotion 'you, too. u friend of INV
father, believed and do now believe the
libel my father left me rs his only hertz
age"
There was something so despairing
md even pathetic in the attitude and in
,ensity of the Young man that the spec
acles of the old gentleman became
iimnled with moisture There was no
appeal for belief in tho tones of the
'oung man. The elder read utter hope
essness in the intense dark eyes bent
,pon him; he saw tho grief underlying
he strong face which he had newly
'roused was an old settled grief, not
me finding expression in wild gestures
nd fierce words, but one that had come
o abide with the young man forever,
With which its possessor had become
alniliar as with daily companion from ]
'hom he never expected to be parted.
The old gentleman, regarding the face =
+ the younger closely and for the first
ime openly. replied slowly and forcibly: J
mo: did not believe the charge when t
first heard it; never have believed it; !;
do not believe itnow."
The reply WAS unexpected. Dorison {
I'll back in his chair with gasp, staring y
lan6ly at the elder man. At the end
eight years. and for the first time, he
al fouud one who believed him limo. Y
-nt of the charges.
lyon - believe -me-innocent-of-
-vile--charges?'
~ do" csnphatically returned the old
IAN NV hp,, vnrr fr<bar I;nl I |