The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
A NEW YEAR REUNION

A NEW YEAR REUNION
"What comfort is my son Jackl Hi:
treacherous mother left no trace Of hel
In him. He is all mine! Another year
will see Jack through his medical col
lego. Then, with my son my partner,
can look outside Of business and perhaps
eau love again"
DR.. Stielson's sister entered Miss Sue.
"A man is down stairs, brother, with a
box for you. He is sinister and mysteri-
GUS and will not give his name, but must
see you."
/. mo subject peddler? I have got over
that. Let him come up. Stand, sister,
outside the door and hsten."
A man like robber, with swelled fea-
lures, came in with parcel.
"Welly''
.'Is that your name or initials?' asked
the man, producing a surgical instru-
ment OF silver.
Undoubtedly. How did you come by
itr'
II took it in trade from a young man.
think l see his picture on that mantel." :"
''Slandererl Deceiverw exclaimed DR..
Stielson. ''That is my only son."
''Take your hand from my throat,
doctor. lam afraid of you. If should
cry 'Murderr what would become of
that young man? See here!"
He opened his package, and it con-
tanned q full set of costly surgical in
struments in DR.. Stielson's speciality, of
late not much used, but he recognized
every article.
"Your reputation, said the Illicit deal
er, sis such that put the clew upon my
bargain at once. Iasked the young man
for a receipt when Ipaid him the money.
I swear that I see his photograph there.
Can you swear this is not his handwrit-
mgr
The doctor looked and groaned and
sank into his chair.
''Sue, settle with this person. O my
God!
The sister did as she was hidden, dis
missed the fence shopkeeper and came
back.
"Jack is a thief, Sue. He has robbed
his father. What is to be done!'
Nothing. 1t is bad enough already"
II can never trust him again-never
recommend him. Our ways part from
this moment. Let him never see me!'
Brother, it is New Years eve."
"The night ! married his accursed
mother. Have I toiled and spent the
hours Of sleep in storm and midnight con-
sultation to gain national fame only to
come to this pang-I have no sonY'
He tainted, who had nerve Of steel
and could cut to the very membrane be-
tween life and death. His sister was ex-
perienced and gave him restoratives and
heard him continue to moan and rave.
''Be still" she said at length. "Do you
suppose this afflicts me not? What have
to love but Jack? If you throw him
of, l will 60 with him. Now beware!"
'Oh. if he had killed some one in an
affray! If 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."
II never WILL"
''Then you are bad man. Perhaps
you have stolen yourself some time.
Look below your hard heart, Pierce
Stielson, and reflectv'
She heard key in the door below and
left her brother, sick herself Of the mis-
cry which had come upon that house.
New Years eve! 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, ont of an 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 boiler full of fire, his rivets of life
ever screwed up, his leisure nothing but
cold exhaustion. His was name of fame
now 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 a very few
knew that this man Of Indifferent man
ners and hurry and intensity had a Sec
ond nature beneath the first that was like
an undeveloped childhood.
Pure misery he felt now, the little
thing he had not watched-filial truth
taking him like an assassin upon his own
threshold.
He could not cry; he could not reason.
His absolute nature and faith had been
for the second time destroyed.
There were bottles on his mantel
which could kill. They had often oc-
CURED to him as instant reliefs from so
much living and 80 little resulting. He
felt like dying now by his own act. No
fear of the grisly had he, but he was de-
TERED by pride.
If he could almost wish his son would
read Of his fathers suicide and become
penitent, there was a woman who might
think the love of her had caused it and
exult!
How honorable, he thought, had been
bis life; the uniform meeting of his bills,
the apprehension of debt, the fidelity OF
his contracts, his disregard Of avarice
while accumulating prosperity. And
yet his sister had but now thrown it u,
T. him that he might once have been q
thief.
He thief Now he did weep in in.
dignation!
"Never, never
Oh, memory!