The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-25

re3d most or them over hunIreds OF
times. And very nice, afectionate let
ters they were, too. In nearly every
one thanks were returned FOX remit
tances received, aud the writer ex-
pressed grati&oation that his father
was getting along SO we'll and
was so happy and cheerful Some
thing was always said. too, about
hoping to meet soon, but
yet something seemed 90 be always
turning up to prevent that meeting. In
The last letter, which the poor man had
evidently received only few days be-
tore the accident, the writer told him
shot he had graduated from college
with high honors and had received an
appointment as q tutor, and how he
hoped soon to be able to do something
TO show his appreciation of his fasher's
kindness and that sort of thing. 1t was
q letter that any father might be proud
Of, and must have glnd6ene1 the old
mans heart. Tbs letters and the love
for lbs son. which the old man showed
ia his delirnn wss the one feeling that
possessed his heart, 30 touched ths
nurse that she wrote letter to the son,
telling hlm enough about his fathers
condition to let him know that if he
wished 10 see him alive he must lose Nc
time in crossing the ocean
But is was not an Ill the old man had
recovered from his de3sriom and heard
what the nurse had done thaeSwe found
out what an utter sacrf6ce his life had
been for the last ten or eleven years,
The thought OF meeting his son seemed
to FIJI him with JOY unspeakable. but
there was load on his mind still. And
at last he con6ded to the nurse what il
was In France he had had snug liz
tie fortune. But an unfortunate In
vestment and false friend swept IL
nearly all away. Then his wife died,
and there was heft him nothing TO live
for but son, who was just nine years
old. That was eleven years ago. lie
came 30 New York to begin life over
again, determined in any event 10 maks
the education and training of q
gentleman. But without 9 trade
or profession he could get nc
work by which he could make money
enough to support himself and his SOC
In Paris be was discharged from one
place because his clothing was SO shah
by. What little he he'd saved he had
sent to Paris and couldn't afford to buy
a new coat. Then, in sheer despers-
ton, he took TO begging. lie found
that that way he could go shabby and
live on next to nothing, and send near
lV all the money that was given to hiIr
to Paris to pay for the education and
support of his darling boy. When his
son grew older he made him believe
that he bad found congenial employ
ment and was happy and prosperous.
And he kept up that fiction year after
year with heroic fortitude, living mean
while Heaven only knows how, but sls-
tanned by the knowledge that his boy
knew nothing of the psngs of poverty,
and was getting a good education and
training in Paris. But what maTTed
the Joy he felt at the thought of meet
ing his son was the fear that when he
came to New York he would find out
that his father had been a beggar.
I'VE treasured him by telling him
that that knowledge should be kept
from his son at all hazards And when /
the son turned up-a fne, handsome /
young fellow he is, too-we all entered 4
into a conspiracy 70 keep him in entire 7
ignorance Cd what his father had done /
in New York We found man VINO in (
such cause was willing 10 lie with = /
clear conscience and make the son be [
father ali these years. he doesn't know /
that this is a charity hospital And ne |
is staying at the house Of DR.. -. who |
oretends that be has berp his fathers /
for many years. But the old !
nan's gratitude makes it easy to keep !
up the deception"
That man must he a downright 7
hero" said: 81 should like 10 see what /
,uch man looks Ike that may know /
he type"
We'll. step gently and come around /
% the other side Of the bed and you
nav see him. said the goodhesrbed
surgeon.
When I saw the face started tnvol-
and awkwardly let fall my /
IN brella. while something very much
Ike pains of remorse shot through my
lcart.
II was my begrar.
The noise awakened him He opened
Ms eyes and recognized me
''Pardonnez moi" be said. plesdin2ly;
promise, monsieur. you viii not tell nv
on: promise. monsieur, promise. For
lis sake diarraced myself, monsieur,
rat it would kill him. monsieur, il would
ill him; promise, monsieur, you VII
Tot tell him"
/ hardly know what did. know
hat, ~ my hardest. ! couldn't keep
,ack the tears. I found rnysef l.neel-
az at his side iDploring his forgiveness
Three DAYS later ] attended the funs-
al Of my beggar. ( Il SKILL
70 Csc There Sss.
Mrs Kiugicy-Has Mrs Wiltcrr' E7si~