Middletown transcript., 1903-08-01

ooocoooooooooo ooooooooooOOO
tCoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
The young fellow laughed, but
the color deepened in his hand
some boyish face, and there was
a little touch Of impatience in his
voice as he answered
Yes, she has gone, but you
might have given her a more cor
dialreception, mother dear. She
can't help having a scoundrel for
a father. Italways seems SO un-
just to me to visit the sins Of the
fathers on the children. Ii the
case were reversed, and the faith
ers suffered for their children s
sins, there would be some sense
in it, for I suppose they are re-
sponsible more or less for their
progeny's shortcomings eh,
what do you say? Will you be
content to take the burden OF
your sons misdeeds upon your
shoulders?
It would not be a very heavy
burden, Paul-my shoul lders
would be quite strong enough
for it-and Mrs. Sullivan's face
softened as she looked at her son
proudly. But it would be quite
impossible to give cordial vel
come to any of John Sullivan's
Children hate the whole brood.
Yes. The lad elevated his eye
brows and looked at her gravely.
You are good hater at all events
mother. Can't you forget and
forgive? He wronged my father
Iknow-but that was many years
ago. You would be much hap
pier if you would try to forget
instead of allowing that old wrong
to rankle in your heart.
Mrs. Sullivan laughed.
You have mistaken your voea-
ton, Paul-you ought to be a
priest-not a farmer, she said
coldly. You can't understand.
We are mother and sen, it is true,
but our natures are widely differ
ent. You are gentle and forgiv-
ing, like your father; am hard
and vindictive, and I cannot for
get. Cannot? Ah-and her eyes
glowed-I would not if I could!
Should cease to remember those
terrible days of poverty and sick
ness-those hours when I sat by
your fathers bed and watched
his life ebbing away for want of
the food and nourishment which
I could not give him, even if I
worked these fingers to the bone!
and she flung out her hand with
a passionate gesture. Should I
forget the day when | closed his
eyes in his last sleep? Oh, when
I forget that time-when those
memories cease to haunt me-
then I may forgive, but never till
then. And my day will come,
Paul. Everyone has their turn, |
and mine will come some day
never fear! I can bide my time.
But mother, you may be wrong
ing him after all. He had the law
on his side, I suppose? Paul said.
The law! Yes-he had the law
on his side, as you say! We have
no written proof that the old man |
his injustice and sent a
of forgiveness to the son
whom he had disowned and disin-
herited-no written proof that
John Sullivan swore to respect
his fathers wishes and restore
his brother sinheritance to him
but we know thatit twas SO! Never
mind-Mrs. Sullivan gave a grim
a little, and the meas
ure he meted out to US shall be
meted out to him-ful measure
heaped up and running over!
Paul looked at her with half
half-impatient smile. |
What doyou mean by these dark
insinuations, mother? I wish you
would speak ont instead Of stand
ing there, looking like a sphinx
in a widows cap, he said irri-
tably.
I will speak out when the time
IS ripe-not before. Come, let US
60 into the house, Paul, she said.
Several weeks passed before
The lad saw his little friend again.
He had almost forgotten her, un-
ill one day while hunting for ane-
mones among the rocks at low
tide he heard a voice calling to
him and saw Hilda coming across
the sands. She seemed unfeign-
sdly glad to see him and told him
that her brother was i'll Of scar
atina, and that she had been sent
away from the Hall to the house
If her old nurse until all danger
IF infection had passed. Tt was
very dull and lonely, she said,