The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-15
Importing aHAnCeStor
By DAN DE QUILLE.
ICopyright, 1861 by American Press Associa-
toni
[coSrINUED.l
CHAPTER VI
WALTER JEPSON,

SIlAl WI
WALTER JEPsoN.
While we were still standing in the
street in front of the undertaker's mop
ping gour eyes preparatory to returning to
= our hotel, very seedy and dilapidated
old man came Siding up to us. Address
Z ing my father, the seedy individual said;
: - - My dear sir, one whose heart is sof-
!, tened by grief should be capable of feel
ing some slight degree of pity for man
who has great cause for grief, but whose
woes and misfortunes have long since
dried up his fountain of tears. One feels
that one may make bold to appeal to
fellow sufferer in this cold and cruel
world for trihe in relief of pressing
necessities when he sees that the person
he addresses is still capable of shedding
tears. Sir, pray God that your grief
be not of nature SO profound that no
room is to be found in your heart for
the sorrows and Affections of others.
Sir, you see before you an unhappy fel
low creature who is actually starving
for, want of food"
Ell this was uttered so rapidly that
my father could only stand open mouthed
and listen to the end.
Finding that my father did not at once
reply, the shabby individual went on an
other tack "Sir," cried he, Il honor
yonr grief, which is doubtless deep, as
you come from the receptacle of the
dead, and / would not thus intrude upon
itwere it not that my necessities compel
what my reason deplores."
sAh, you may well say, sir, that my
grief is deep, and that l have cause for
the tears which you perceive me shed"
said my father, gazing lugubriously upon
fhe' seedy party. You may well make
thai remark, sir, for / have but now
come from the solemn contemplation OF
the coilincd remains of dearly beloved
ancestors. My great grandfather and
great grandmother, sir, lie prone in their
mortal dust in the rooms before which
we stand" and the old gentleman ap-
piled his handkerchief to his eyes and
shook convulsively.
For some moments the shabby man
was so taken aback that he was unable
to utter single word, but at last he
gasped, DO l understand you to say,
sir. that tho deceased parties whose loss
you mourn are your great-grandfather
and great grandmother
"Eyen 90, sir" said my father. "My
respected progenitors."
sis it long since they ceased to exist2'
ventured the shabby man.
'sThat, my dear sir, depends upon the
manner in which We view such events"
said my father. "Viewed as an incident
in the life of the universe and the great
scheme of the Creator, the breath has
but now left their bodies, but consid-
cred as We morlals estimate time they
haye been dead about 100 years"
The old mendicant stood gazing at my
father in speechless astonishment. Evil
denily he believed himself in the pres
epce Of an insane person. The old follow
was regularly beaten 49, dumfounded.
But he very quickly regainod his look of
alertness when my father thrust his hand
into his trousers pocket and said, Il be-
ieve you remarked awhile ago, sir, that
you stood in need OF some sort of refresh
ment:''
II did, my dear and sadly afflicted
friend, eagerly cried the old man, and
indeed am really mnchin need Of food. y
Ilaid my hand upon my fathers arm
as hint to him 10 keep his money in
his pocket | had recognized the old
man the moment he appeared, though
he had no reason to remember having
! ever before seen me. | had often seen
the man both in California and Nevada.
His name waa Walter Jepsun. lie had
landed in California in the early days as
a regularly ordained Episccpalian lliil.
lister, but in the exciting times he Went
into the mines to dig gold, and i'll II little
while became Il ''black sheep"
For long time he huurished as
"high toned sport, but love of drink Il
| last dragged linn down into the ranks o
the chronic bummers. When had stait
my fathers hand, l turned To the oil
fellow aud said sharply, "Jersou, hov
long have you been ON this drnnkE'
''Ths drumk!' cried Jepson, openint
his eyes widely in surprise Mt being ad
dressed by name. why, sir. have no
drunk enough in the last week to stead.
my nerves. That's what's the matte
now--my only trouble
81 guess you're telling the truth :" SAT-
I ]. "You don't find il so easy to get yon
regular booze here as you did in Neya
da and California"
s,Ah! Then you are from the Paciti
coast? You know me-
"Aes, very we'll by reputation"
"g'hat settles it then. for I'm sure yo,
! don't know much OF me that's good.
mo, nor much that is very bad. Til
worst is your throwing yourself ava.
through love of liquor
"Thauk YOU, sir. Those are the kind
est words have heard in many Il lunI
day, from which You may imagine tn
style of compliments generally bgstowet
upon me.
SNOW, Jepson, tell me truly and as
Pacific coaster, do You want money TO
| liquor OF for food
"Both First | need a hig stiff drin
and then good square meal. l M
really more in need of food than ar
] thousands who beg for it, YET have nee
] OF stiiuulaat. for ! am nervous almes
s-.. - - L.. .'. Is