Mower County transcript., 1893-12-27
A NEW YEAR REUNION

"
"What comfort is my son Jack! His
treacherous mother left no trace of her
in him. He is all mine! Another year
will see Jack through his medical COL
lege. Then, with my son my partner,
can look outside Of business and perhaps
can love again"
DR.. Stielson's sister entered-Miss Sue.
"A manis down stairs, brother, with a
box for you. He is sinister and mysteri-
Gus and will not give his name, but must
see you."
'*No subject peddler? have got over
that. Let him come up. Stand, sister,
outside the door and listen.'
A man like robber, with swelled fea-
lures, came in with a parcel.
"Well?'
SIS that your name or initials?" asked
the man, producing @ surgical instru-
ment of silver.
"Undoubtedly. How did you come by
it?"
II took it in trade from a young man.
I think I see his picture on that mantel."
"Slanderer! Deceiver!'' exclaimed DIR.
Stielson. '"That is my only son.
'Take your hand from my throat,
doctor. lam afraid of you. If should
cry 'Murderv what would become of
that young man? See herev'
He opened his package, and it con-
tanned a full set Of costly surgical in
struments in DR.. Stielson's speciality, of
late not much used, but he recognized
every article.
J "Your reputation" said the illicit deal
er, 'sis such that put the clew upon my
bargain at once. Iasked the young man
for receipt when I paid him the money.
I swear that I see his photograph there.
Can you swear this,is not his handwrit-
ing?''
The doctor looked and groaned and
sank into his chair.
'tSue, settle with this person. O my
Godv'
The sister did as she was hidden, dis
missed the fence shopkeeper and came
back.
Jack is q thief, sl1c. IIe has robbed
his father. What is to Le t3one?'
Nothing. 1t is bad enough already"
Il can never trust him again-never
recommend him. Our ways part from
this moment. Let him never see ulep'
Brother, it is New Years eve.''
"Zhe night I married his accursed
mother. Have I toiled and spent the
hours Of sleep in storm and midnight con-
sultation to gain g. national fame only to
come to this pang-I have no SOM"
He tainted, who had a nerve of steel
and could cut to the very membrane be-
tween life and death. His sister was ex-
perieaced and gave him restoratives and
heard him continue to moan and rave.
''Be still" she said at length. "Do you
suppose this affiicts me not? What have
to love but Jack? If you throw him
off, I will so with him. Now bewarev'
ooh, if he had killed some one in an
aiiifray! II he had set the city on fire! IF
he had been anything but theft?
Enough. He is @ thief That is all
Of it. A thief was forgiven on the cross,
where you and are now shall for
give him.
Il never will"
'SThen you are q bad man. Perhaps
you have stolen yourself some time.
Look. below your hard heart, Pierce
Stielson, and reaectr'
She heard q key in the door below and
left her brother, sick herself Of the mis-
cry which had come upon that house.
''NeW Years eye!:' exclaimed the doc
tor, and he threw himself upon the floor,
not for the first time in his life, to know
the ache Of the broken heart.
He had come to Philadelphia from
Delaware, out Of al apothecary' S shop, to
study medicine. Excessive ambition from
boyhood On had annealed his real sensi-
bilities with the fire Of energy till he was
like q boiler full Of fire, his rivets Of life
ever screwed UP, his leisure nothing but
cold exhaustion. His was a name Of fame
row without personality.
All knew that he had separated from
his wife soon after their marriage and
was soUred, but his son seemed to fill the
vacant place. His own integrity was
everywhere understood, and very few
knew that this man of Indifferent man
ners and hurry and intensity had Sec
ond nature beneath the first that was like
an undeveloped childhood. @..
Pure misery he felt now, the little
thing he had not watched-flial truth
taking him like an assassin upon his own
threshold. - &