Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-06-06


had been unfaitlful to his trust should
be made an example OF, and they pur-
posed running him down and punish
ing him if it took all the funds in the
bank to do it. Sc
And, God help me. they are right
said the old man as a hard look came
into his kindly eyes. Jack has ceased
to be a son of mine. and I beg you
will never mention his name to me
again.
THAT Saturday night was stormy
one. The rain came down in torrents
and the wind howled around the house
and swept in heavy 9usts against It,
as though it would blow the roof 6f.
The Coloneps daughter. pleading head
ache, had retired early. The Colonel
and myselfewere pretending toebe en-
crossed in game OF chess. Suddenljs
the entrance door sclattered open and
was slammed to again violently. and
we heard the bolts being shot into
their, sockets, and Jacks voice order
ing the servants on no account to
open to any one. The next moment
he burst into the room. The rain
was dripping from his soaked, mud
spattered clothing His face was hag-
gard, his eyes were bloodshot, and
there was a desperate look in them.
''The Colonel had sprung to his feet.
Jack faced him.
"'You know? needn't ask he said.
eyes, I know
""They have hunted me like dog.
They were watching the house, and
was forced to run to escape them.
Dad, I had to come-to see you once
more
"Even as he spoke there was ring
at the bell
"'There they are now. What shall
I do? Oh, dad, dad, dad, it isn't for
me I care-I was mad-it's for you
"'When a Hamilton has so far for
gotten what he was as to turn thief
there is only one thing possible for
him to do
"The Colonel stood Greet cold, stern.
'"The old, proud look came into Jacks
face.
Again Jue Dell rang.
'The proud look died away. Jack
bowed his head in shame and remorse,
and turned toward the door. AS he
went out he faced about and said:
'Dad-forgive"
'The Colonel never moved, never
uttered sound.
II had sat a silent petrifed specta-
tor Of the scene. The Colonel had
forgotten me. His son had not no.
ticed my presence.
Gas soon as Jack had gone the
Colonel's demeanor underwent an ap-
palling change. AS the boys foot
steps sounded on the stairs he became
limp, a CHASTITY pallor spread over his
face, his lips quivered, he shook as
though stricken with palsy. We could
hear Jack moving about in the room
above. It was his 'den,' as he called
it in his boyhood days. The look Of
agony and despair in the old mans
eyes was awful. For the first time I
began to realize the tragedy that was
being enacted, understood the, import
of the fathers words to his son. Be-
fore I could move the report Of a pis-
tol broke the stiffness of the house,
followed by the sound of body fall
ing overhead. ,>~a~,-s~r,sn-.sA~
"A great sigh came from the old
man, and, tottering a few steps, he
sank forward and fell face downward
on the floor. ",'~
In an instant the house was in an
uproar. The startled servants rushed
upstairs, and there was a succession
of piercing shrieks as the sister found
her brothers bleeding body. ran
to the Colonel and raising him, propped
him against my knee, but
''Well, to cut the story short-and
there is really nothing more to be
to1d-father and son had died to-
gether."
There was silence for a moment, and
then one Of the young club member
who had gathered about the group
to listen, blurted out:
what became of the grip"
The story teller wiped his eyeglasses
with much deliberation, adjusted
them, and looking at his oquestioner,
said:s IN
"a very particular friend of the
family married her. York,
It Was the Cow.