River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-07


made it lighter task.
81 would first of all tell you, Harry,
that / have an unbounded faith and re-
gard in your father, who, under the
most adverse circumstances, has won
the esteem and respect of all with
whom he has come in contact since re-
siding in Australia. He only made one
slip in his life, but it has cost him
well, God only knows what! When he
left he expressed a hope to me that, if
he married, / would take care of any
children with whom he was blessed
and bring them up in total ignorance
of who their father was. This prom
ised to do. He married out there and
you were born, but in giving birth to
you your mother died. When you were
four years old he sent you to me.
When you attained your majority he
instructed me to tell you the secret of
his life, and begged that you would
not judge him too harshly. Through
hard work he has gained a substantial
fortune, and from this day you will
receive from the lawyers sufficient
capital that will yield an income OF
800 year. You will now hear
"Stop!" said Harry, quietly, with a
strange, hard look in his face. Il can
not and will not touch one penny OF
my fathers money. He has deceived
me. He had no right to bring me up
with the thought that his life had
been beyond reproach. 1t was cruel
cruel-cruel!"
He was pacing the room now; his
face was white and set.
"Jessie-the girl to whom I am en-
gaged-what will she say? What am
l to tell her?-I, who have always
been taught to be truthful and open
ever since L learned to speak. have
been kept in ignorance of that which
l ought to have known, and what she
ought to have known"
at was done with a noble purpose,
and worthy of the noble mind that en-
tertained it, broke in his guardian
quickly. 'Were your fancee to know
the whole story she would revere
and honor the name you bear"
81 shall hear nothing until we are
married." retorted Harry, with rapid
ly rising anger. SIS it not enough that
my-my father has killed my faith in
him? Now you wish to kill her faith
in me. No! no! no! I can't hear the
TRUTH" and he strobe from the room.
He staggered blindly into the dim
ing-room. But he paused on the
threshold. He sawJessie standing near
the window, and by her, with his hand
roughly Selling hers, stood James Ban
ton, his rival.
Jessie, [ desire an explanation" he
said, quietly, but with a voice that
shook with suppressed passion and
jealousy.
With startled cry the girl turned
round.
MY explanation is this" put in
Banton, with sneer, "that the son of a
common forger is not suitable hus-
band for Miss Payne's niece!"
Recall those words!" shouted Har-
ry, you lying scoundrel!"
''They are true" sneered Banton.
'Twenty-three years ago your father
forged check, was convicted, impris-
oned, and finally left for Australia,
where he has since lived. If you don't
believe it, have ample proof. Go and
ask Rev. William Maryland"
ct is lie a lie! liar!" Numbered
Harry
ut isn't true, it isn't true" cried
Jessie, moving towards him.
The shout had brought Miss Payne
and Rev. Nayland into the room.
-. e
ing, as you think, but of James Tren-
ton, the forger, one and the same
mani"
Atthese statements, Miss Payne gave
strange cry. Jessie ran to her.
"Auntie, auntie, say it's not true
Then Rev. Nayland stepped forward
and told them tale of how a man had
fallen among evil companions. had got
into debt and had forged check; how
he had once been engaged to Miss Pris-
ella Payne, and how he had gone to
Australia to start life afresh, feeling
that he was unworthy of her great
love. He told them of the honored
name he had won, of his hard, bitter
struggle, and of his fortune reaped by
long years of toll, of his marriage to
woman who, in giving birth to Harry,
had died; how the father swore that
his child should never know what his
father had been, SO he sent him to live
in America at a sacrifice that none
would ever know.
And you, James Banton," thun-
dered the clergyman, with righteous
wrath, you, the only one in the fam
lily who knows the secret, through
jealousy must use your knowledge in
base and foul way, in order to crush
the love of that true, pure girl there
pointing to Jessie-''for Harry, the
son of that splendid spirit, James
Trenton, threatening disclosures I'M
less he sent you more money. Check
after check you received
1T is scandalous lie!" gasped Ban
ton, with a livid face. mo one can
gainsay it."
Eyes, will gainsay i'll" said low,
quiet voice: Il arrived from Australia
last night. 1 am James Trenton. alias
William Daining."
All looked up startled, In the door
way stood an old man with bowed
head. Miss Priscilla looked up:
20, James, Jamesl" she cried. run
ming to him, you CONS Eo.:a ..:ter all
these years! Thank GoG: Thank
God! Chicago Tribune.
An things ma baked To last n month