The evening Republican., 1902-07-29
THE SINS OF
A GRANDFATHER

a bar to our happiness. He is one
man against whom my father harbors
any hatred. The wrong done him by
your grandfather will never be for.
gotten. And might have been SO
happy, were 1t not tor this one mis-
fortune-forit Is misfortune great
err than you imagine. Oh, the deuce
take grandfathers!'
Watching the sun drop from one
stratum OF cloud to another and
: slowly and silently sink into the sea
Robert Horton and Virginia Wrigh,
sat upon the sands Of the Monterey
beach, forgetful that the hour for
dinner had arrived and that the con.
Vention Of wearing evening clothes
at dinner had not been abrogated.
During the previous winter they had
met IN New York for the first time.
Virginia Wright was product of
the West, and in point of beauty,
manner and style she might suffer
any judgement or criticism. Robert
Horton was Of New York, a lawyer OF
some promise in his profession, with
an income greater than even his
promising career before the bar
could ever reach uuder the most
ffuclifying circumstances, His wealth
Came to him from his grandfather,
whose vast estate devolved entirely
upon him by right of inheritance. as
there were NO other closer heirs.
Save for the breaking Of the surf
the beach was as silent as the sad
great sea. The twilight had come
upon the couple, and the DISCRETION
was general. The man mad confessed
his love and been assured of the
girls in return. In telling Of his
family Robert Horton mentioned the
name of his grandfather. The dis
coycry was a great shock to the girl
for She knew of the mans treachery
to her own father when the latter
was quite a young man, how his
business had been wrecked by the
vlndictive opposition OF the former
aud how finally her father had quit
the seethng. triturating life Of Wall
street to come 10 new land to build
his fortunes Oh u new foundation.
She had often heard the story from
the wrongcd mans lips. In'her heart
she felt that parental acouiescence
would not be Forthcoming when Rob
eft Horton should expose the gem
ea'oglcal map TO the eye of her
father.
or course, the young man felt OPP
pressed at the unexpected difficulties
OF his position. lie hal heard and
read "f the peculiar business meth
cos Of his grandfather, who was not
u lovable person. In fact, he rarely
agreed with, and only protected his
inheritance by keeping as far distant
from his grandfather as was possible
under the circumstances. But he
could not use this disafIec,lon as all
argument to Horace Wright. On the
very face Of things he could not de-
mean himself or abuse the memory
Of one Of his oTn proscnltors, even
though it be 10 hep him ride smooth
ly through a rough sea.
That night on the porch of the Del
Monte club house Wright and Hor-
ton sat over their Scotch and solas,
discussing finance. The younger
man anglel to draw the older into
the troubled water of his early Wall
street career, but without success.
For more than half an hour they
talked, and Horton had made no
progress. Then just as they were
about to break the parti pour deuX
Horton ordered another round Of
drinks and lone of those heavy Ha-
vana CIGARS The influence of the
balniy ali. the sweet smell of the
flowers the mellowness that comes
from socialbility mingled with fac
Scotch and its tempting soda, ro-
du ed the reserve of the girls faith
er and he went back to his Wall
street days.
The scared memory allowed no
cicatriZation. He told of his early
struggles and the death blow deliv-
cred by Edward Thornclitfe, damn
ing without stint the grand-sire Of
the man before him. His vehement
speech seemed TO exhaust his wrath
fer the concluding words
OF h1s speech were:
yet what good will ever come of
my hatred to E lwarl Thornuiif
He is dead ROW, and the law of
God orders him to be allowed to rest
in peace"
Here WAS the chance the young
had been awaiting. Without Il mo-
mcut'> hesitation he jumped INTO the |
midst OF his hearts desire and asked
fol the hand Of he daughter So |
rapidly did he speak that the father J
was forced to listen TO him until he
had completed his account OF himself, |
his family and the impossible grand.
father. Concluding lie said:
ut is not for you to Judge the sins
Of men out Of the generation. 1t is
not your province to visit the Sins Of
the grand father on the grandson. |
love your daughter. | have her word
that my love Is returncd.'
With dignity that was SO free
from assumption that it could not be
from the personality of
Horace Wright and leave whole be.
ing The father answered:
"Mr. Horton, personally I have no
objection to you, but an alliance Of
our families isimpossible."
lie left and walked to the hotel.
Horton sat at the table smoking aud
tor several hours. The next
lay the Wrights left for San Francis
%. Horton returned to New York.
Six months later Horace Wright
found it necessary to go to New