River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-11-12
His Z ather'S
Sin
By JENNIE EDDY
Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

ANL1 seven days mOIG! WdlCcX
J Jaynes drew the slender figure Of
his promised wife closer to his side and
looked fondly into her upturned face.
She laughed happily.
at seems too good to be true, doesn't
It, dearest?"
Eve must be the exception that proves
the rule, this time" he answered. Sure
ly the course of true love never could
run more smoothly than ours and in an
other week you will be mine forever.
Sometimes" he went on musingly, 1t
does seem too good to be true. L feel
as If it were all beautiful dream and
dread the awakening. But you do love
me, darling" He paused, waiting for
the whispered Eyes" he knew would
come.
"Doyou know, a long time ago, when
first met you, used to fear that you
might marry Stedman. He's such
splendid fellow, rich and brilliant and
all that Didn't you ever care for him,
Trudieo"
mo" she denied emphatically. II
never cared for anyone-until you came.
But did think once that perhaps-if it
had not been for his brothers disgraceful
conduct | might have let myself care"
Sweetheart, what do you mean?
Would the fact that mans brother was
drunkard prevent you from marrying
him when he was all that is good and
noble?"
eyes, I mean just that. 1t sounds hard,
doesn't it? But | could never marry
man who could not give me name I'M
stained Few of us ever think what black
pages of ancestry most people have hid
den away--the hideous skeletons in their
closets. And the blood will tell sooner
or later bad blood as well as good. That
is why-you see, with Mr.. Stedman. His
brother has already developed a weak
trait 1t may be only a matter of time
when he, 100, succumbs to some vice
equally despicable."
They were both silent a few moments,
busy with their thoughts. Then, as
neighboring clock tolled the hour, Jaynes
rose to go. "You don't know how glad
l am, sweetheart, that my family record
Is clear"
81 could never have loved you if it
hadn't BEEN" Gertrude Elliot answered,
seriously.
The next day was Sunday and they
had planned a long drive together 1t
was day of perfect happiness for them
both The conversation of the evening
before had been forgotten-the pleasure
of the present shut out all serious
thoughts. AS they drove home in the
lengthening shadows, that silence which
is the sweetest communion of two united
souls fell upon them. A white object
suddenly fluttered in the grass at the
roadside. The horse SHE'D, then quieted
down at the sound of his masters voice.
What is it, dear?" asked Gertrude.
"Only newspaper. / think"
There! That reminds me of what
wanted to tell you. read such strange
story after you left last night-not a
book, story in the evening paper And
the queer thing about it is that the man
has your name, Walter Stanton Jaynes,
Sr"
Jaynes laughed. THAT is certainly
peculiar. l never come across anyone
of that name outside our family. The
Oldest sons have borne it for genera
ti0ns back. WHAT about the mani"
"He has just died in the states prison
at Jackson. 1t seems he was sent up
from Detroit for ENLIGHTENMENT. His
crime was such fragrant breach of trust
that the full extent of the law was given
him. He was president of the Wayne
County bank and was so highly regarded
that hundreds of poor people, widows
intended to replace what he had stolen
in time, but the tank examiner came
Unexpectedly and discovered the situa-
ton"
81 suppose mother would remember
the case. We lived in Detroit until was
five years Old said Jaynes. But aside
from the coincidence of names it is rather
a common story"
"But haven't come to the strangest