Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-12-09

Ihey questioned me. All / con1d
tell them was that my name was Ios-
epn brown, and that I was nine wears
oid' tnat my parents Cloth WORKING
people) had recently died and left nc
to the care of my mothers sister. +hat
my aunt had large family of her own
70 work for, and. not liking the ad-
dltlonal incubus, sent me ont to hoo
Tor my living. They took my address
and promised that I should see tban,
on the morrow. si-i
The next day they appeared in our
squalld dwelling, and offered to relieve
my aunt of any further care and anyi
ely on my account, by adopting me.
Sne gladly accepted their offer. They
TOOK me away with them at once: and
aIter mad been humanized by some
weeks of Mr.. Carlowe's supervision
they sent me to an excellent boarding
school near London, where they had
placed their son.
Gilbert Carlowe and I remained at
that school eight years; then he went
to Oxford, and after Mr.. and Mrs. Car
lowe had kindly discussed my future
with me, | was sent to college in
Paris to learn the ms and outs of
business and to become conversant
with the language. l remained there
for year, and then Mr. Carlowe came
over, introduced me to a prominent
firm, and got me a good position, with
every chance of promotion if I
showed myself deserving. It was a
splendid start in life for a young man
of eighteen who had sprung from the
gutter. On the second anniversary of
my connection with the firm, Mr.. and
Mrs. CarloWe came to Paris, and they
brought me startling news. Their
son-just of age-had come into for
tune left him by an uncle, had thrown
up his professional career Che was
studying for the BARI, and set off to
the wilds of western America to enjoy
life according to his own fancy. His
deserted parents had come to Paris to
live; for old friends and familiar
scenes but kept their grief alive, and
in their bitter disappointment they
turned to me-for was l not their sec
ond son?
Zone year passed-two, and they re-
ceived no tidings of him; and then
saw that their hearts were gradually
EardeninA against HIM. Two more
years of silence dawned and closed,
and, in their hearts, they were done
with him forever. The next year
brought the news of his sudden death
in the form of an illiterate letter from
some obscure person with whom he
had been associated in his last days.
To my surprise his decease was not
made public, and very soon afterwards
was called to hold private confer
ence with his parents, and told the
reason why.
81 was told to take the dead mans
name and position, and follow his
footsteps to the bar. Joseph Browns
obscure origin might injure him pro-
fessional1y and socially; Gilbert Car
loves would bear the closest investi-
cation. He had repudiated their love;
I had repaid it to the best of my abil-
ity, and I was now to reap my reward.
Their interest and pleasure in life was
henceforth centered in me. In the
eyes of the world I should be their
son in name and position as we'll as
in heart, and, with my ability and in
tegrity, was to apply the antidote to
all the disappointment their own flesh
and blood had made them suffer, by
enabling them to say, when by these
means I had made myself famous: He
is our SON.
.What right had I to question the
policy of their design? My life was
theirs to do what they pleased with.
"Well, Mr.. Carlows had an interview
with his old friend, the head partner
of the firm where I was employed, and
explained the case to him. They were
sorry to lose me at the firm; | had
earned the good opinion of my mas
tiers, and my promotion had not been
slow. Oh, God, that l had remained
there-simple Joseph Brown to the
end of my days."
His emotion made him pause. LII
ian's hands were locked fast together
She leaned forward in her chair Win
drooping head, waiting with palnIul
interest for him to proceed.
Before we could leave Paris, ne
went on hastily, "a terrible calamity
overlook us in the illness of Mrs. Car
lowe. Her death followed speedily
and her husband did not long sur
viye her.
Before he died, he exacted a sol
emn vow from me that after his death
I would proceed at once to London as
his son Gilbert Carlowe (whose lden-
tity I was pledged ever afterwards &c
maintain) and begin my studies FOL
the bar. He showed me his will, II
which he bequeathed everything &c
mo as his only son, Gilbert Carlowe
A few days afterwards, | followed nin
to the grave; and then, Win q crusne0
| &C u crIo