The Redwood gazette., 1896-12-03

only fairly we'll at first. Dement'S in
profusion and "light prison" twice had
clouded his record before the furlough
year, but the mothers eyes rejoiced in
the sight of the handsome, stalwart
young soldier after his two years of
rigorous training, even though the
mother heart grieved over the evidences
of dissipation and vice which speedily
marred the long looked for days of his
vacation. Between him and his father
had been Haore tnan one stormy scene
before Royle returned to the academy
interviews from which the senior issued
pale, stern, sorrowful, the young man
gloomy, sullen and more than half def
ant
In his second class year came tidings
of misdemeanor that almost broke the
mothers heart. Farrar hastened from
the distant frontier to the banks of the
Hudson, expecting nothing short of dis
missal for the boy, and promising the
mother to fetch him at once to her, but
the court, even in sentencing, had signed
q plea for mercy for the cadet who bore
SO honored name, plea that his class
mates would never have indorsed, and
the president remitted the punishment
to term of confinement to barracks and
camp. The father wasted no words in
reproach. He pointed out to the son that
this was his last chance. Royle, Jr.,
had sullenly responded that his disgrace
was due entirely to spies and talebear-
ers and showed neither contrition nor
promise of amend. Ayear later came the
last straw. Reported for violation of
regulations in having liquor in his pos
session, Cadet Farrar wrote a lying ex-
PLANTATION to the effect that it was placed
in his room by parties unknown to him
and for the purpose of bringing him
into trouble, but he had been seen "off
limits at questionable resort in the
neighboring village the previous night,
had been drinking and card playing
there, had lost money and refused to
pay, had been seen returning by two
lower classmen, to whom he offered
liquor, then staggered to his quarters
only an hour or so before reveille roll
call. He was placed in close arrest after
being confronted with the array Of evil
dence, and that night deserted and was
seen no more. Again the colonel made
his mournful pilgrimage to the Point.
and old comrades pityingly, sorrowfully
told him the whole story. He went back
to his regiment looking ten years older,
took his wife and two younger children,
Will and Ellis, to his heart, and from
that day never spoke again his first
born's s name. It had been for years his
custom to sign all official papers in full
-Royle Farrar-but the very sound of
the Christian name seemed from that
time on to give him distress, and R.
Farrar became his signature personal or
official.
The young man was heard Of occa.
sionally, however, borrowing money
from officers and friends and relatives
on his fathers account. Then he went
to sea, then returned to New York and
wrote long letter to his mother, tell
ing how he mourned the old days and
was going to lead new life, and she
too gladly sent him all the money she
had. Then there was another interval,
and after year he again appeared as a
suppliant for aid. He had been desper-
ately ill, he said, and kind but poor,
humble people had cared for him, and
they ought to be rewarded. The mother
would have sent again her last cent to
him direct, but Farrar interposed. His
check went to a trusted friend, with in
structions to investigate, and that friend
was his old comrade, Major Fenton,
and, as he expected, it proved only an
other lie.
Then there came an era of apparent
prosperity, and now the poor mother in
joy besought her husband to recognize
the son, for he reported himself III good
employ with fair salary and brilliant
prospects. He even sent draft to repay
a small portion Of what he termed his
fathers loan, but this was soon follow
ed by a draft on his father for double
the amount, and later another, and then
letters of inquiry came from his employ
er. and then rueful complaint Of how
that trusting person had been swindled.
In her agony Of grief and disappoint-
ment the mothers heath was giving
way, and Farrar concealed from her
particulars even worse - that their
wretched son had won the love of his
employers daughter and that she had
followed him from her fathers house.
There had been secret marriage. There
was another Royle. This news had
come to the colonel but a day or two
before. It was this that had unsealed
his lips and turned him to Captain
Leale for counsel and support.
my daughter" wrote the bereaved
father, twas the idol of my heart, the
image Of the mother who was taken
from her long years ago. Yet she turn
ed from me in the passion Of her love
Tor him, and they have gone God alone
knows where. If you can find him, say
that though he has robbed me poor I
can forgive him all if he will but be
good and kind to her. She was delicate
ly nurtured, as carefully educated as
your own daughter could be, sir, and
she was more to me, for she was my all