The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-10-18


IS so bashful and reticent, you know, but
can see he is anxious to talk to papa
about his affairs and has not the courage
to do so. Poor fellow. it keeps me awake
nights. am so fond Of him, you know.
l wish could help him. am sure papa
would. but can't tell him about 1t.
have tried several times, but my heart be-
gins to beat fast the moment ! get near
the subject. l can't account for 1t. but
it's no use. l know l won't have the
spunk to speak to papa"
81 wish / could help you" said polite
ly.
"You could IL you only would" she
answered eagerly. "You are a man.
You can talk business with papa You
brothers affairs and ask him whether he
was well off. for instance. I tried the
trick. hut made q mess Of It."
had to promise her. When l made
an attempt TO redeem my pledge, l expe-
rienced the same sensation which Julia
had described to me. There was some
thing forbidding in Herr Hartmann's
manner when the conversation turned on
Victor. He became morose, and he
smoked more than he talked.
Mtuu" ullt Iift ueWCOIllcT UthdNeu
ward Julia In q way which seemed to me
rather singular. He was bashful in her
presence and lavished attentions upon her
which somehow did not impress me az
the usual manifestations of an ordinary
attachment between brother and sister.
l confess It piqued my curiosity. and
watched the two with Increasing interest.
Julia received these attentions as a mat
ter Of course. With all her education
and cleverness she was no philosopher Of
human relations. She was the most cred
ulous girl you ever saw. and she asked no
questions.
Finally my old friend lost all patience.
He was dying to relieve his heart Of its
burden.
81 must speak to you. You are the
only man l can be perfectly frank with.
am unhappy. This man who calls him
self my son is an impostor. I cannot
prove il, but am sure Of It all the same.
Something told me so from the very be-
ginning. At first I was too, overcome to
mind the inner voice, but the young
mans demeanor makes my suspicion
stronger every day. There Is something
In his manner, his voice, In everything he
says or does, which keeps buzzing In my
ear that am being made q fool Of.
IF he were my son. would experience
that instructive feeling which every parent
must feel for his child. My heart Is cold.
II never was otherwise. II was my brain
which accepted the logic of all the evil
dence contained in that correspondence
between him and me. My heart has all
along refused to believe it. Why, man.
can't you see be Is after some Of my
money? 1t seems vulgar to speak OF
these things, but he never talks to me In
q free and cosy manner, and he always
seems to be beating about the bush, as IL
he left a great deal unsaid or wanted to
ask favor and was too bashful to un-
bosom himself to me-"
But II he is an impostor II ought not
to be so difficult to find him OUT" ! re-
marked. by clever system Of exami-
nation and cross examination 1t ought to
be easy to trip him up"
II have tried to draw him out. have
examined him as closely as possible on
his anteccdcnts. but he answers my Ques-
tons In monosyllables. and he Is so care
full of every word he utters that my ef-
forts are all of no avaii-except. indeed.
in far his replies to my queries in
tcnsify my CONFECTIONERY moral convic.
ton, do you understand ?-that the man
Is not my son. No. no. mol He is not my
SON." My friend pounded the table with
his fist. and. getting up from his seat, he
fell to pacing the floor with great vehe-
mence.
4 few days later the young man called
on ME. 1t was his first visit at our house,
and | could see by his manner that he
came on a rather Important business.
When we found ourselves alone In my
room. he said. without looking at me:
II wish to come straight to the point.
Have you time to listenf" said. Yes. /"
and he went on. II know you are man
Of honor. wish to confide In you mat
ter which has been weighing on my mind
almost since set foot on the soil of this
town. Well. wish to say that my name
Is not Victor Hartmann and that | ain
not you friends son. Yes. | am an I'M
postor, but il you think l am a knave
you wrong me. | am an unfortunate fell
low. weak and capable of crime perhaps.
but have heart and u conscience and
know how to hate myself for being bad.
l um tired of this comedy. have made
up my mind to disappear from this town.
Tell your friend his son Is dead. knew
him. He looked somewhat like me. he
died two years ago In Honduras, When
l found myself stranded, the evil spirit
came over mo. I thought would imper-
senate my chum thy that time ! had
learned who his father wss) and get some
money out Of II.
81 was mistaken. | have made botch
Of 1t. l have been wrctched and awk-
ward from the start That gave II an
away. WeIl-Juha Is the cause Of It.
would give twenty years OF my life to I'M
do II all. 80 as TO be able to sue for her
hand, but. of course, that's out Of the
question. I am going away. Tell julia
4 am no knave-at heart. at least. And
II have acted like one. tell her my pun
ishnent is severe enough"
Before conld say a word he Wills.
pered:
Remember. have told you all this be.
! cause think you gentleman. Goodby.
and don't Interfere with my going. Good.
by. sir"
When my friend discovered the truth,
he was angry with me for not having
handed the wretch over to the police.
but no was gone.-Adapted From the
German For New York Commercial AID.
,1ruser.