Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-07-16

cSSCA9 ing ga the ,o time who'll ,ISo
from him / passet
through many stages Of sorrow, but
believe my anger was greater than m!
grief. was but nineteen years OF age
but fancy that my thoughts and idea
were in advance Of my years, INT
curious, almost solitary life which
had led for so many years at Hersta
Abbey no doubt conduced to make mi
older than | really was. Till the time
came for me to go to Oxford, saw little
of any one save my supposed father
my tutor, and the servants OF the mouse
But latterly all had changed for the
better. l had been two terms at the
university. l had made many friends
Life was just opening to me; new
fresh life, full Of pleasure and excite
ment. I found myself fairly popular
with my fellows. l was well supplied
with money. I was looked upon as an
only son, and heir to fine property. IL
short my lot seemed to be one In ten
thousand.
And that moment Mr.. Lorraine had
chosen to reveal to me the secret Of my
lowly birth. To dash me from the
pedestal upon which he had placed me,
To show me that l had no claim upon
him--that instead Of being young Mr..
Lorraine Of Herstal Abbey, was no one!
l remember how, shortly before he
told me the tale Of the shipwreck, |
had been discoursing in somewhat
arrogant, self-satished and glib man
ner as to the duties incumbent on old
families and landed gentry; asserting
that the existence of the aristocracy
was an unmitigated blessing to the
land. In fact, was giving my sup
posed father hash-up Of a speech
which I had heard at the Union. I
thought my sentiments gave him salts
faction. He smiled and looked amused.
No doubt he was amused, so amused
that the demon OF sarcasm rose within
him, and hurried on the revelation
which he may or may not have intended
should be made. The temptation to
prick the bladder inflated by my youth
full arrogance must have been ire
sistible to Mr.. Lorraine. From child
| had noted this cruel trait in his char
acter. l had noticed it with servants,
such acquaintance as he had, and with
myself. The way Of listening, of even
leading one on to talk, and then sud-
denly, by a biting piece Of sarcasm,
crushing the unlucky speaker. 1t was
from this and kindred actions that,
even while I thought him my father,
did not love the man.
Nor did he love me. Had he loved me
ever so little, he would have kept the
secret, and spared me my present hui
initiation. So, in spite of all he had
done for me, my anger rose and burned
against Julian Lorraine
l may have been wrong; but, as will
be soon discovered, was full of faults.
Perhaps the very association, more or
less, during twelve years with a man
Of Mr.. Loraine's stamp must develop
faults
There! Let me write no more to his
detriment. He worked me evil, and
he worked me good. He Is dead AS l
raise my eyes from my paper and
glance through my window, l can al
most see his grave.
In the afternoon l went in search of
him; l found him reading in the
library. He nodded as l entered, then
returned to his book and finished the
paragraph.
well, Julian?" he said, as a signal
that he was at my service.
II have been thinking over what you
told me last night, Mr.. Lorraine"
He raised his dark eyebrows as he
heard me address him this wise. Till
now I had generally used the old
fashioned Sir" sometimes, not often,
father"
II hate changes, Julian" he said.
"As you know, the old landed gentry
are rooted to old customs"
Even at that moment he could not
forego his sarcasm. My cheek flushed.
"See how you have changed life for
mew I said holly.
"Ah yes; greatly, no doubt. !
wonder what you would have been
now?"
''Tell me what am now"
$50 far as I know, young man Of 10
thoroughly well educated, good-look-
ing, full Of church and state principles
Why, the rector stopped me yesterday
and assured me you were one of the
finest young fellows he ever knew
quite credit to the county"
This banter seemed to stab me
"Tell me, sir" I said, fought to thank
you for what you have done for me?'
Personally, hate expressions o.
gratitude; but if it gives you any salts
faction, thank me by all means"
mo; do not thank you. Had YOU
placed me in some humble position
suited to my birth, and let me make
my way in the world, could have
thanked you. But for years to let mt
be called your son; why did you do it