Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-11-27

/ 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 hope TO me that, if
he married, l 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
81, 500 a year. You will now hear"
"Stop!" said Harry, quietly, with
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 reproaeh. 1t was cruel
cruel-cruel!"
He was pacing the room now; his
face was white and set.
''Jessie-the girl TO whom / am en-
gaged-what will she say? What am
/ to tell her?-I, who have always
been taught TO be truthful and open
ever since l learned to speak. l have
been kept in ignorance of that which
/ ought to have known, and what she
ought to have known"
1t was done with a noble purpose,
and worthy Of the noble mind that en-
tertained it," broke in his guardian
quickly. Were your fiancee 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
~ rising anger. rs it not enough that
my-my father has killed my faith in
him? Now you wish TO kill her faith
in me. No! mol no! can't hear the
truth" and he strobe from the room.
lie staggered blindly into the din
ing-room. But he paused on the
threshold. He saw Jessie standing near
the window, and by her, with his hand
roughly Selling hers, stood James Ban
ton, his rival.
Jessie, l desire an explanation" he |
said, quietly, but with voice that |
shook with suppressed passion and |
jealousy.
With a startled cry the girl turned |
round.
MY explanation is this" put in
Banton, with a sneer, that the son of a
common forger is not suitable hus-
band for Miss Payne's niece!"
Recall those words!" shouted Har-
~, you lying scoundrel!"
They are true" sneered Banton
"rwenty-three years ago your father
forged a check, was convicted, impris-
oned, and finally left for Australia,
where he has since lived. If you don't
believe il, have ample proof Go and
ask Rev. William Maryland"
1T is lie! a lie! har!" Numbered
Harry.
1T isn't true, it isn't true" cried
Jessie, moving towards him.
The shout had brought Miss Payne
and Rev. Maryland into the room.
you are not the son of Henry Dam
ing, as you think, but of James Tren-
ton, the forger, one and the same
mani"
Atthese statements, Miss Payne gave
a strange cry. Jessie ran to her.
"Auntie, auntie, say it's not true"
Then Rev. Maryland stepped forward
and told them a 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 a
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.
Ily who knows the secret through
jealousy must use your knowledge in
a 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 un.
less he sent you more money. Cheek
after check you received"
1t is a scandalous lie!" gasped Ban.
ton, with a livid face NO one car
yainsay it,"
Yes, ! viii gainsay III" said a low
quiet voice: Il arrived from Australis
last night. ] am James Trenton. alias
William Daining."