Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-11-26

was d yOtn ester cHnSnt up IN the Whlrl
of faShion--a member of the leading
clubs, following what you doubtless
would call fast life, but, as compared
with others not fast If cXtravagint,
he brought 10 trouble upon his father;
if reckless in his life, no disgrace upon
the name Of DOrlson The letter his
father WAS writing when he was so sud
denly stricken with death ruined the
son To whom this letter was addressed,
or what the fathers motive in writing
il. never was known, and it is doubtful
now whether these things ever will be
known rho letter ran thus
My DEAR tRIEND-The end is well
nigh reached Indeed, if you cannot
immediately give me the assistance |
need it is even r,)w reached. With such
assistance and few years more of life
IN spirit and in health The last few
years have been tortured as no human
( being over was, believe. | have been
compelled 10 sit helple,sly by and see a
! fine properly devoted to covering the
consequences OF crime: to making good
forg,lici my own name, against which
{ could not even lii. my voice in protest;
/ to repairing LOSSES of others by robberies
/ and dctalcations: To stopping the wheels
Of Justice which if permitted to go on
would have brought exposure and dis
grace, and all the while have been COM
Icllrl to sustain aud conceal the knowl-
! edge that all this was done aud brought
! upon me 10y an mn~rateful son, WHO
Death fell upon him. continued the
! young man. "the moment he had con-
! drmned the son To whom was this
letter addressed: Crushed and agonzed,
, the son III frenzy sought til" one to
whom it was written as means of PROV
ing that the condemnation OF the son by
the dying father was untrue. All efforts
were unavailing The fact Of the con-
domination was brulted about; it became
known in the clubs: it became public
property; It was published III the papers;
! the police undertook to bring the crimes
alleged against the son home to him. but
| they We're no more successful than he
was in his efforts to diSprove them. His
friends fell away from him: the doors Of
his Appropriateness We're closed against
INN. he was cut on the streets. Efforts
being made TO eXpel him from one CLUB
he resigned from all and fed the city,
practically panniless, under an assumed
name Seeking employment in west
cll city, he remained until few days
ago, when, under all impulse he could
not restrain, lie returned to the city of
his birth after eight years absence. !
am hc--John Dorison- disyraced by his
dead father. not by himself"
II was sure of it; was sure of it., -
muylnured the old man.
You too" continued the young man,
his voice trembling with the violence of
his einution. you, too, Il friend of my
father. bell and 90 now believe the
. libel my father left me as his only hcrit-
age
There WAS something so despailiug
aud even pathetic IN tn" attitude and in
tensity Of the young man that the spec
tac!es Of the old gentleman became
dlnned with moisture, There was no
appeal for belief in the tones Of the
young man. The elder read utter hope
lcssne,s in tn" intense dark eyes bent
upon him; he SAW the grief underlying
the strong face which he had newly
aroused WAS an old settled grief. not
one finding expression in wild gestures
and fierce words, but one that had come
to a'lde with the young man forever,
with winch its poS,rs.or had become
familiar rs with q daily companion from
whom tie never expected to he parted
The old gentleman. regarding the face
of the Younger closely and for the first
timr openly, replied slowly and forcibly
NO: did not believe he charge when
| first heard it; lnever have believed it
| do not believe itnow"
The reply was unexpected. Dorisor
fell back in his chair witha gasp, staring
b!anllv at the elder man. At the end
of eight years, and for the first time, he
had found one who believed him limo
cent OF the charges.
"You - believe - me-innoccnt-Of-
those vile--clGrges;"
Il do" cmphatically returned the old
man "When your father died | wa,
absent from the city After ! returned
and learned the circumstances sought
you TO say so and to offer my assistance
Du! you had left tine city"
The young man laughed bitterly.
"Your words, the first of belief in my
innocence | have ever heard, are CRATE
ful and comforting. If your belief Were
based upon more substantial reasons, il
would give me what | am now utterly
without-hope. Ny life has been ruined
oy that unfinished letter. Such is the
only result have reached after eight
years of endcavor to fathom the incom
prchensibilty."
My dear young sir" said the old MAJ
kindly, but with Il tone of pain in hi'
voice as he leaned forward and laid hi,
hand upon the arm of the younger one
II can understand your bitterness.
sympathize with You from the bottom o
my heart. admire you, that with In,
strong feeling you naturally have, yor
have given expression TO not one word %
abuse Of the parent who did you thi
almost irreparable injury. However, i
is time for me to go to bed. Come an,
see me tomorrow at my Office. We vii
talk this matter over then and see wha