Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-07


that possibly my great-grandchildren
might in their old age derive "a triiing
revenue from my problematical mines.
I became Of q sudden possessed with
longing for home At least. there | could
sir by my own Preside and hear the
hearty welcome OF my son. l would SUR
prise him; once more should my desolate
old heart be gladdened by eyes akindle
with the light of Lowell One would think
that 1 had received message OF lie or
death to witness my hurry and impa-
thence. I travelled Increasingly. until lase
one night turned the latch OF my nome
The house was dark. the servants long
since abed, Harry's hat was not on the
hall stand. own the lack OF preparation
worried me, though knew had no one
to blame for it but myself. However.
after had kindled the fire In the library
and had donned my slippers and gown
felt tho old-time comfort returning. IN
deed, I must have doxed, as we old TEL
lows will, taking thus the easiest pain
to the pleasant fields Of the past. know
l was bewildered as / distinctly nearu
approaching steps, and, as the lights were
turned I'D, I sprang to my feet. rubbing
my eyes. ere could discern dear; fami-
liar form. Then I cried. overjoyed:
Harry. Harry. my son! oh. my SON.
Even In the fervor Of our embrace
suspected that there was something
wrong with him, and as / held him at
arms length l knew II. How tall ne
looked. and how stern, with. grim lines
about his lips, and the hollows OF years
beneath his eyes! I tremhledsa as / fall
tered: What IS It. Harry? Have done
anything to offend your"
Then, truly love rose superior TO sor-
ina Int
me back to my chair and stood bending
over me, fondling my hands.
you dear good fatherw he cried. 81
would be overjoyed to see you; but my
heart Is broken. Don't you know;
haven't you heard about poor AlineT'
"Alineg" / repeated. do you mean
Aline Blake? Can 1t be that that sweet
girl Is dead?"
Her mother Is dead. and Aline Is In
jail on the charge Of having poisoned
her."
Before I could comprehend the full
agonles OF this awful statement, before
| could appreciate why my sons heart
was broken. not merely distressed. like
a flash there came over my mind the
scowlng. lurching. bovine image OF
Lemuel welles. and In my ears rever-
tell you what think Of you"
At length l spoke Explain what you
just said. Harry, and fully. Remember
that am old and infirm. and my mind.
TO act. must be calm"
The wearied strain of my face must
have spoken stronger than my words, for
Harry drew chair to my side, and
began earnestly, yet dispassionately. as
II he were considering an important case
In his own consulting room. I admired
his self-command then; now that know,
| consider 1t heroic.
II supposed. of course, you had seen
the papers. father" Harry said, "or
should have been more considerable. Know
then. that week ago Mrs. Blake died
suddenly and under strange circum-
stances. She mad been III tor some time
but of n malady thoroughly understood
and thoroughly mastered by her physi-
clan. She had so far recovered that she
was in the midst OF preparations for at
tending a reception with her husband
when she was seized with strange pangs
and died in great agony. The doctor re-
ported symptoms of poisoning, and the
expert who conducted the autopsy cor
roborated the suspicion with proof. II
was alleged by a servant who had beer
lately ulsCHdIbtu ludL SiS. Diane Hie
Aline had not been on good terms. She
swore that the day before she left she
heard her mistress vehemently protesting
that never while she lived would she per
NIT her daughter Toto"
ITO what, Harry?" l asked. as hi
stopped, in confusion.
ITO marry me, father"
Then | perceived. what / should have
readily imagined, that Harry and Alin'
had continued and increased their childisl
intimacy in spite of the breach between
the two families. In spite Of. 1 say; bu
when did young Sir Montague ever fai
TO deem the Demoiselle Capulet the onl,
woman on earth for him?
"You should have confided In me
Harry" | said, reproachfully; Il might
have been able to effect reconciliation
at least, / would have tried. But go or
with your tale of horrors. Do you NEAR
soberly TO state that the authorities ac
cused an innocent young girl OF murdel
for such a fiimsy motives"
THE newspapers have exaggerated tins
servants story into deadly quarrel
They have me In as her lover, and accen
tuated the fact that you and her mother
had been unfriendly. 1t really seems az
If there had been some malignant imI
behind the scenes promulgating distor
tons and Misrepresentation. There has
been a sensational story published tina
Aline's grandmother was poisoner. ant
much made OF the claim that this tain
is in the blood. 1t isn't true. Is 1t
father?
THE story that Alne's grandmother
tried to poison James Blake. Aiine's pa
ternal grandfather. Is true / replied
firmly. She was as vile as Aline is good
and pure"
Dear Alinew cried Harry. "as II q
score OF vile grandmothers could make
her anything but charmlng!'
THAT Is because she Is herself, jus
as her grandmother was herself. Bu
what else do these moles claim"
They claim that Mrs. Blake died from
the effects OF the same obscure minera
poison which years ago was administered
to James Blake; that this noxious sub
stance was artfully mingled with another
far more common. which would have de-
stroyed all trace had ii not been for the
wonderful skill OF the expert"
THE expert; the EXPERT! Interrupted
impatiently; I'm sick OF that high
sounding title for claptrap and charla.
tansm. Pray, who is this precious ex'
pert?"
''Dr Lemuel WelIes."
| tottered to my feet; / staggered to-
ward Harry. Give me your arm. my
son." gasped; Il am weary; must &c
TO he'd
But, father, l counted so much or
your advice"
"All In good time: but now am over
come: am overwhelmed"
And. truly, as / crept into bed felt
as impotent as II were caught in "A mill
race and ruthlessly swept along. / craved
the darkness and that unthinking sto
lidity which is the refuge OF utter de-
spair And yet sense OF recreance. OF
shame. gradually possessed me. / seem
ed TO see my wife's calm, re-
proachful eyes; seemed to hear hei
chide: why should you agitate your
self with vain fears? Your race is near.
" run. The most you can expect OF
should hope for is to be OF some service