Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-10-19

and had to pass through R.. When
I learned we were approaching that
town. I asked the coachman whether
he knew where Mr.. Blank lived.
Half a mile farther on" was the re-
ply. "Il show you when we reach II"
He pointed out the place. II was q
lonely dwelling on a hill about 500
yards from the road and half a mile
from R.. When we reached that
town, I determined 20 stay overnight
and visit my friend the next day. ]
did so. He received me with the ut
most kindness. aud | spent two very
happy days with him. visited with
him the extensive smelling works In
the ne~lghborhood, all OF which he own
ed. and finally, OE the night preceding
the morning on which I was TO depart.
he told me his history.
when | was about iS," he said. 81
wanted to go to college. but my father,
who was an austere man. bound up
In work and rather despisIng bookmen.
Insisted that I should remain Mt home
and acquire a thorough knowledge Of
the business which he had established
after much labor and expense. | con.
scented. but lie placed me under the
severest restraint. vas the only son.
and my three sisters. all older than
I. were married. They and their hus-
bands were greatly disappointed at my
father keeping me at home with the
expressed purpose OF leaving his bust
ness to INC. n small portion OF the
profits 10 go TO my sisters and the
mnin part OF them to be Invested In
the business. for his ambition was that
the business should vic with the largest
In England OF the kind.
Young as ! was, I fell In love with
4 comparatively poor girl and married
Der. As ! had given close attention
10 business aud Lecamc almost as well
acquainted with II as my father was.
presumed upon his knowledge OF that
fact and audaciously brought my wife
here to this house and introduced her
to him"
The speaker was deeply moved. and
there WAS q pause Of n minute or more.
"She was shortly 10 become o moth
err" he continued. "Or ! shouldn't have
done Il. My father grew frantic with
rage. lie struck nc. lie seized a
walking cane and showered blows
upon my bead and body. ! bore II all.
But when he fouIly and brutally beat
my wife with his cane and called her
vile names ! could stand It no longer.
I knocked him down. and he lay at my
feet bleeding.
MY poor wife was removed TO q
room. and n doctor was summoned.
Ny wife was dead before daylight. |
kept all the circumstances TO myself,
the doctor alone guessing at what had
occurred. I buried my vito. My fa-
Their lay at deaths door for a week.
and then he began TO slowly.
"As for myself. I was crazy with
grief. My sisters and their husbands
accuSed me OF having attempted to
murder my father and used threats.
In n moment OF despair I left home
and enlisted. But the life OF the bar
racks was unbearable. and when ] was
Informed by the parents OF my dead
wife that my father, overwhelmed
with horror at having caused my
wife's death. had committed suicide, !
determined to desert. My wife's IA
thcr came to the barracks and gave me
money. and the FIRST opportunity I had
! fed. Mind you. every exertion had
been used 10y my wlfe's parents a.
secur my discharge, but one OF my
brothcrs-ln-law, who was n member OF
parliament and In with the party f.
power, frustrated every effort to tina
end. The excuse was that a great wa
was pending and that not a man coul,
be spared"
What followed the reader may an
ticIpate. My friend was the very MAJ
who appropriated the students clothes
as narrated above. After doing so ht
returned home aud found that his IA
ther had carried out his original pur
pose with regard to him. leaving his
sisters. however, amply provided for.
The whole affair. he said. was almost
forgotten, and he and the rest Of the
family lived In comparative nmity.
When l told him that l was well
acquainted with the youths. one Of
whom he had deprived of his attire.
and that I had heard the story narrat-
ed by them more than once. he laughed
heartily and said:
Bring them TO see me some day, II
you can. and I'll treat them as they de-
serve, for they acted In a manly and
nanatIn-aa. E.-Ll-u