The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-05-14
FOR ANOTHER'S SIN.

Sir Mortimer Barbican was an old
man. one of the old types Of English
sristocrats--fiery, imperious and inor-
dinately proud of the integrity Of his
name and ancestry. At the time went
into his employ, years ago now, he was
living alone with his only daughter at
his family seat in Worcestershire.
A strange looking, tall lady was Miss
Linda Barbican, with large. black eyes
and pale, hard set features, bearing the |
traces of some inward sorrow.
Sir Mortimer, l learned, had had
son. whom he had disinherited and dis
owned. owing to some act which had
brought dishonor on the name of Barbi-
can, and he forbade all mention of the |
scapegrace of the family.
A young man, shabbily dressed, with |
q reckless albeit handsome face, stood |
ON the doorstep and scanned me nerv-
onsly as looked questioningly at him.
sis my--is Sir Mortimer Barbican
disengaged?'i he asked huskily.
Yes, SIR" answered. "Will you
please come in?"
is there any one in the ibrary?'
"No, SIR
"Then show me in and tell your mas
ter must see him.
Very we'll, sirl What name shall /
giver'
"Oh, never mind the namei He'll
know me fast enough" he added Bit
terly.
Sir Mortimer looked up in surprised
way when communicated to him that
a visitor had arrived and wished to see
him. He opened the door and strobe in
to the room.
ssFatherl''
That was all. One short. despairing
cry, and father and son stood face to
face once more.
A gray. drawn look stole over my
masters face as for brief moment he
stood eying the prodigal who had SO
mysteriously reappeared. Then he found
his tongue
$50 it is you, You houndp' he said,
his features working strangely, while
there was tone of suppressed rage in
his voice; sit is you. is it? Have you
forgotten how we parted? Have you for
gotten" his voice rising ominously,
'how / cast you off and forbade you
ever to step in my house again? Be of
before forget myself and whip you
out. as you deserve"
81 will speak," cried the younger
man. ''As there is a God In heaven,
am innocentl But since you will not
hear me, Twill not try to save you. May
1t be ON your own head, and may you
reap as you have sown! But you will
have the comforting assurance Of know
ing that you have sent me to the devil.
and / curse your And. striding from
the room, the younger man passed ont
into the hall.
! fastened to open the door for him.
As he was passing out into the night he
turned.
lyon are stranger to me-" he said.
after brief space. '.but your face looks
like an honest one. If you can contrive
it, meet me tomorrow. about this time,
ut the drive gate 1t is matter Of life
and death. +"
The next morning after breakfast Sir
Mortimer turned to me and said:
If you value your situation here,
Parkin, you will bear this in mind: Not
word Of what you saw and heard last
night. and never mention my-my son g
name to me again under pain of instant
dismissal. That is all.
1t was with some feeling Of trepida-
tion that repaired to the trysting place
that same evening to await the arrival
OF the disinherited son. Having inquired
my name, he began:
''You must first know how I came to
be in this plight. Some years ago a
forged check in my fathers name was
discovered. Suspicion at once fell on
me. and, though innocent. I was at once
branded as guilty by my father. He did
not wish to have the family name drag
ged into court, so he took the easier
course Of disinheriting me and casting
me off entirely. My enemy, whoever he
was-and heaven knows thought had
none worth speaking of-had done his
work we'll ! became frequenter Of the
turf. gambler. and nearly--but, thank
heaven, not quite--a thief. Twas tempt
ed some few weeks ago to join band
Of burglars who contemplated robbing
my fathers house. But though I had
sunk low / was not quite bad enough
for that. and, overcome with remorse,
determined to seek an audience with
my father and warn him Of his danger.
The result of that interview you know,
andn--
Here he broke Off abruptly, queer
break in his voice.
will pass over the rest of Cur con.
versation and merely state the plan
which the remorse stricken man had
formed to checkmate the robbers.
must explain that at the back of tbs
house was courtyard, shut in ON thres
sides by the kitchen premises of tbs
house. 1t was small window-that Of
the pantry-which was to be the mod'
Of ingress. Young Mr.. Geoffrey-tha
was the sons name--was to lead th'
burglars in their enterprise. He would
conduct them through the window, ant
then, with the aid Of myself and ST
Mortimer, whom was to apprise o
the robbers advent, would help to over
power the others. two desperadoes. 70
they had not wished to have too man.
concerned in the job.
Friday came. and IL was, ] am boun,
to confess. with no slight feelings Of 80