The Owosso times., 1902-04-25

fact that it was largely on his own
account, for the sake of his own
peace and quiet, that he had left Willis.
An answer came promptly that
week. 1t was In some particulars ex-
actly what he had anticipated. In
other ways parts Of the letter sur
prised him.
It was q matter Of great surprise to me-Mrs
Preston wrote-that you had left Willis. He
writes me every week, and he said nothing about
Il In his letter that received yesterday. am
more grieved and panied than l can tell you. OF
course do not excuse Willis for his conduct. It
Is what has been breaking my own heart for
years now. He knows full we'll the consequences
and yet he chooses his course. l never told you
that his grandfather drinking man. He
used to boast Of his temperance in drinking and
said any man was q fool to let the habit get the
better Of him. He also claimed the liberty, as
he called 1t. to do as he pleased, and on several
occasions that know Of he resented attempts to
restrain the liquor drinking in his own neighbor-
hood. His son, Willis father, was born without
any taste for liquor, and think he never touched
q drop. but Willis is suffering from the sins of
his grandfather. Willis Is apparently victim OF
the passion that his grandfather indulged in SO
boastingy and without any apparent personal
harm. Oh, when will men learn the terrible truth
that what they do or will be repeated some-
where, some time In the third fourth genera
tion, and II they don't suffer some one will in
the futuref It seems to be Of the inexorable
laws Of God. But what have you done. Mr..
Blake2 Are you sure you have acted in the best
wayG Was there no other way for you to do but
to leave my son alonef What influence will you
have nowf Did you plead with him as you
might, or did you leave him In anger? Suppose
I. his mother. had abandousd him after all the
times he has annoyed and disappointed and evSu
times seven have forgiven him on my knees before
God That is because am his mother, while you
were only his friend. But did you do all that q
friend ought to dor God help me not to be un-
just to you. ] have tried to realize the position
In which you were placed. But IL our Father in
heaven dealt with us too severely how many of us
would ever come into the kingdom? What fear
for Willis now is that he will go down faster. He
will become more and more reckless and make
his friends more among the fast set than hereto
fore. II in any way you can still prevent this,
pray God you will do so. l do not know any
other student in college who has any power over
him. / have thought to write the president, but
j know he is burdened with a great load, and
hesitate. II have said in this letter things
should not pardon me. You know the
heartache of a mother for her frstborn and only
son. The Lord bless you and give you success.
Your friend, LUCILLE PRESTON.
Edward reread this letter gravely.
The last part of it added to his self
accusation. At one time that same
evening he was almost on the point Of
going over to see Willis and talk over
matters. But his pride and also his
natural obstinacy in keeping at thing
he had once decided upon kept him
back. He answered the letter, after a
fashion, and said in it that he would
serve Willis in any way he could If
opportunity offered. All the time he
was writing it he felt more or less like
a hypocrite. Was this friendship? Had
he done all that friend could do? The
questions faced him repeatedly as he
tried to go on with his college work
and were seldom out Of his mind.
Along with it all was present that
tinge of jealously and bitterness to
ward Willis that dated their real be-
ginning from his talk with Freeda.
(pO BE CONTINUED