Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-06-11

CMOGhSa ing the ume "niie
SJGSSaT / held myself aloof
from him l passed
through many stages Of sorrow, put
believe my anger was greater than my
grief. was but nineteen years OF age
but fancy that my thoughts and ideas
were in advance Of my years. Ihe
curious. almost solitary, life which l
had led for SO many years at Herstai
Abbey no doubt conduced to make me
older than really was. TIL the time
came for me to 60 to Oxford. saw iltue
of any one save my supposed iather'
my tutor. and the servants OF the mousse.
But latterly all had changed Tor the
better. I had been two terms at the
university. had made many friends.
Life was Just opening to me; new
fresh life, full of pleasure and excite
ment. l found myself fairly popular
with my fellows. was well supplied
with money. l was looked upon as an
only son. and heir to fine property. In
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
!owly birth. To dash me from the
pedestal upon which he had placed me.
To show me that had no claim upon
liim-that instead of being young Mr.
Lorraine of Herstal Abbey. was no one!
/ remember how. shortly before he
told me the tale OF tho shipwreck. l
had been dIscoursing In a somewhat
arrogant. self-satisfied 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 a hash-up Of a speech
which I had heard at the Union. l
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
iul arrogance must have been IRE
sIstible to Mr.. Lorraine. From child
had noted this cruel trait In his char
meter. I had noticed 1t with servants.
such acquaintances as he had. and with
myself. The way Of listening. OF even
leading one on to talk. and then sud-
denly, by 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 hu-
initiation. So. In spite Of all he had
done for me. my anger rose and burned
against Julian Lorraine.
/ 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 I
raise my eyes from my paper and
glance through my window. can al
most see his grave.
In the afternoon I went in search OF
him: found him reading in the
library. He nodded as I entered. then
returned to his book and finished the
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 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
torego his sarcasm. My cheek flushed.
See how you have changed life for
me" l said hotly.
"Ah! yes; greatly, no doubt. 1
wonder what you would have been
now?"
Tell me what am now"
so far as l know, young man OF 10,
thoroughly well educated, cookbook
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 a credit to the county"
This banter seemed TO stab me.
"Tell me, SIR" said, ought to thank
you for what you have done for me?"
Personally, I hate expressions Of
gratitude: but II 1t gives you any satis-
faction, thank me by all means
No; 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. 1 could have
thanked you. But for years to let me
be called your son; why did you do it,
sir?"
II had some reason at the time. I
almost forget It,"
Mr.. Lorraine, have thought II all
over"
So you told me. Julian. Co on"
You may laugh at me, but I con-
slider that have great claim upon
you
He simply raised his eyebrows, but
did not deny my assertion.
You have kept me in ignorance for
years." I continued. speaking quickly.
You have brought me up, and let me
go out in the world under false colors.
Now Just as enter upon manhood you