The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13

-NNO 1870 - @- 49,
lapsed. Judging by mis- character. 1t was
likely that he would go on in this see-saW
manner as long as the ardor or his youth
full passions lasted. But just now his ia
Tiers death had induced I'm him an acute
almost a morbid. state OF religious sell
condemnation. And IL was while he was IN
this condition that he came across the let
tiers TO which L have alluded.
There were four of them, all written
bearing the signature Henry Rebbeck.
They had TO do with the patent by the
exploitation of which James livingstone
had made his fortune. Until then he had
been a man Of only moderate means, but
the bringing out of this brilliant inVen-
ton 6Or the economiZing OF fuel In steam
power engines) had been the making OF
him. To that he owed his wealth and MS
success. This. of course. his Son-in con-
n~ection with all the w~orld-knew. VINO
indeed, has not heard or livingstone ; pat
ent2 He did not. however, know, until ne
read those letters, that another man had
been concerned with his father in the now
historic invention. Still less that the other
man had accused his father of having SWIM
died and overreached him in the most
cruel and heartless way.
Henry Rebbeck's complaint, in fact Gas
gathered from his letters. amounted TO
this: That he himself had been the real
inventor, but that. being unable 10 bear the
expense OF patenting and exploiting the
invention, he had brought it TO livingstone,
with the suggestion that he should find the
money and that they two should divide the
profits. livingstone $50 declared the let
ters), after carefully going into the matter
and examining drawings and models. had
p~ooh-poohed the invention as impractical
bic. But hardly a month later he had pat
ented and brought out what was substan-
TALLY the very same invention, varied
only by a few slight alterations. Moreover.
when Rebbeck had accused him of this,
and had claimed to stand in for half the
profits, livingstone had cynically repu-
dated all obligations; relying, apparently,
upon the fact that Rebbeck was f~riendless,
%penniless and altogether incapable of as
sorting his own interests. In the end.
anrnr~ - onf ~ Af rhA y Anrfc n
tunity, he had paid him G1. 900, which Reb-
beck, being, il seemed, in dire straits for
money, and seeing no chance for better
terms, had agreed to accept in full settle
ment of all claims.
An unpleasant story-if Rebbeck's story
was correct. That his father had taken
advantage of a poor mans helpleSsness to
steal his invention, to make upward of a
million out of 1t, and then to pay him no
more adequate compensation than 1000.
1t could not be true-could not, Or, at
least, 1t must be grossly exaggerated. Yes,
this must be merely Rebbeck's highly-col-
ored statement, pitched in a strong key
father must have been conscious of inno-
cence, else surely he would never have
kept those accusing letters.
Yet. while he thus persuaded himself,
he felt an underlying sense of discomfort.
of uneasiness, of apprehension. Impress
Sionable as he was, things easily got upon
mis- mind. and. in his present unstrung and
oVerWrought condition., he was peculiarly
ready TO take a morbid and exaggerated
view I1C III ONtE II dllOBttItT uI-
duly. 1t kept him awake nights. He be-
gan to feel that he should never rest until
he had cleared the matter up. .
This mental worry communicated itself
to his manner-his appearance. Father
Rawston's shrewd eyes soon noticed that
the young man had something on his mind;
and one day, when they were alone to-
gether, he asked him kindly what was the
matter.
'Oh. nothing-nothing," answered young
livingstone, hastily.
"Ah. but am sure persisted the father.
laying his hand upon the others shoulder,
that something is troubling you. Your
wish to intrude. but am an old friend.
Will il not relieve you to take me into your
confidence?"
J Young livingstone hesitated for a mo-
ment. Then he inquired. with nervous
rapidity:
MY father. 1 believe. had few secrets
from you. Have you ever heard him speak
of a man named Henry Rebbeck?'
Father Rawston's face suddenly grew
very grave.
How came you to know anything OF
Henry Rebbeck? p" he said.
Il have found some letters from him
among my fathers papers, he replied
1.-The contents of which have made me very
uneasy. They represent that my father
once behaved very badly to him. But
can't believe that this is the true version
And-l-l thought that perhaps he might
have told you the rights of the case"
Father Rawston made no reply, but stood
silent and perplexed. At length he asked:
May see these letters-in confidence? p
Yes, Yes.' said the other, quite welcom,
ing the suggestion. Il should like you to
see them, Father, in order that you may
advise me. For l am very unhappy about
them. and l do not know how TO act. Come
into the library. | will show them to you
They went into the library. Young jill
lingstone unlocked a drawer. took out the
letters and handed them TO Father Raw
ston. The latter read them all through ir
silence. Then. looking up at his youns
friend, he said:
THE fact of your having been put in pos
session of this story. independently. makes
my position easier than it would otherwise
have been and clear away the doubts
which 1 have felt as to my proper course OF
action. Your poor father, indeed. did no
bind me to secrecy. On the contrary, I be
lieve he would have asked me to commune
cate what he told me to you. only his voic,
and his strength failed, and he became in
capable of further articulate speech. New
ertheless. to have told you without an ex
press charge from him would have seemed
a violation Of confessional sanctity, where
SIS not to have told you would have shu
the door against possible reparation of
great wrong. So-painful thought 1t is
am glad, Jim. my boy, that you hav,
found these letters"
Jim's face turned deadly pale while tn,
father was speaking.
1T is true, them" he gasped. and m,
father confessed it to you upon his death,
bed?'
Yes" was the grave reply. "And he hat
intended so he told me, to leave half hi:
fortune to those he had wronged. But III
deferred altering his will, and that las
fatal attack caught him unawares. Had
he not been even then in articulo mortis,
should have felt IL my duty. as a priest OF
God, to have sent for a solicitor and wit
nesses and have urged him then and Their.
to make the necessary act of PREPARATION
But ii was too late. So, feeling that he haC
truly repented in intention, though physi
cally unable to prove it in practice, l gave
him absolutlon, and he died In peace.
do you mean that my father intended
to leave half his fortune to Henry Reb
beck?' demanded the young man, in a low
tense voice. His face was now as white a:
marble. The muscles about his moutf
twitched nervously.
mo, my boy. Not to Henry Rebbeck
That poor old man has long since departed
where earthly riches cannot follow or avail
him. But, dying penniless, he left ar
orphan child, a daughter. That daughter
still lives"
"She does? You know where she lives?'
Young Jillingstone's voice was thick anC
hoarse.
Il do. She is in London. this minute
earning her living as a teacher of music.
believe she makes $50 a year"
The other made no reply, but sat silent
and, as ii were. paralysed: his ashen fac.
working with violent emotion.
Then. at length, his feelings found words
and, like a little one who. faced by some
distracting childish problem. flies headlons
TO its mother, secure of her safe direction
he cried
Tell me; tell me. father. What mus
1 do?'
The father answered gently, but very
firmly.
Your course is clear. Jim. 1t is a hare
$500 d..