Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-07-27

lllShb nav 'I'pI''t lhi' a 'tttp Sluihbtl
but "The Boys" were making Il great
noise in the biliard-room, and now and
| then peal of laughter would arouse me.
| At last my eyes refused to become even
languOrous, and | began thinking
| thinking of old times, old sccnes-yeS.
and of an old love that ought to have
died wears ago when my own brother
married the object of it. But it never
did, and years after | realized that it
never would, and when, one evening the
woman whom | loved entered our home
and laid IA little boy baby at my feet and
begged with all il mothers cloquence
that for her sake and his l would take
and keep her little Clarence and love
him as my own, the old love i'll my heart
awoke into old-timc tenderness and l
persuaded the dear woman who was my
wife to take the child, pleading that it
was my brothers SON
The boy was only year older than
my own little son, whom | loved as
dearly as a father could. But my atfec-
ton for Clarence was hardly less Ny
wife, too, loved him. indeed, no one
could help loving the affcctionate little
fellow.
Yet my poor, handsome Clarence was
not faultleSs. To Il stranger seeing him
for only few hours or days or even
weeks, he would have seemed Il paragon
But those intimately associated with him
knew that he had inherited the worst
fault of his beautiful mother Il quick,
flashing temper, uncomfortable as sud
den, and the result of which was some
times so distressing that the deep re-
pentance of the poor lad could scarcely
atone for it.
was thinking all this when strange
knock at my door startled me. Come
i'll, responded, not knowing what to
expect, the rap was so unusual.
The door opened. Clarence entered
appearing more like an old mans face
than that of boy of nineteen. He shut
the door quietly and, to my amazement,
locked it. "Uncle," he began to say in
IA choked voice, ''you have loved and
cherished me from babe. Have | ever
proved ungrateful, unloving?'
The lads face alarmed me- What
had he done? apprehended we'll that
| was about to hear Of his latest outbreak
but little did dream how far his misfor-
fortune had carried him this time.
Yet, uncle" he continued, with all
my love and gratitude to you and yours,
try as | would, could not overcome my
bent to outbreaks of evil passion. These
have cost me much before, but now
now -
Clarence threw up his arms and, be-
fore | could stay him, he was stretched
unconscious at my feet. Poor lad, my
heart ached for him. Finding glass of
water ON my desk, l moistened his face
and he soon rcgained consciousness He
gazcd around in frightened way as if
to call up Il memory.
Did | tell You all? 1t was only a
whisper.
Again great fear took possession of
me. "No,' answered impatently, de-
spite my pity; "speak out, Clarence. |
know all about your failing. If it is
within my power to forgive you once
again you know l will do it."
My poor Clarence. He was looking
at me now with despair written on his
face. go, | cannot tell You! - He
moaned-"come come!! come :"
He unlocked the door.
I followed. Arriving at the billiard
room, he unlocked that also. Then hav-
ing entered, he turned to me. Never
again, hope, shall see such a look as
that on Clarence Lcroy's face. On the
floor, i'll the shadow of the great table,
was stretched some object covered with
an old Afghan. Clarence bent forward
and gently removed the robc-then- -
the room echoed with the heart-broken
cry of father. The beautiful face of
my own dear son cleaned white at me
from out of the shadow. My little
Maurice! How vain an attempt to tell
what | felt What appalling wonder
surGcd through my whole being that he
whose laughter rang sweet and clear
few moments ago should now fail to
hear and respond to his fathers voice !
And him the one standing there O,
not the hate, loathinG, fury, which
seized my soul could never be described
BY my sons side lay IL sharp steel pen
knife. 1t was covered with blood. The
cash i'll my darling's throat told the re-
mainder of the horrible story
Now, | wonder that in my agony and
despair did not thrust it into the breast
of the other. Instead | walked with
quick steps to the door, opened it and,
pointing into the dark passage, said
simply "gor'
The boy was writhing i'll his own great
agony. He would have spoken hut my
look forbade. | did not wish to hear
again ol his affiictiou, nur even the sound
of his voice.
That was years ago was Young
man of forty or so then. Now am pre-