The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-06-16

should be wise, for you Are certainly
the son of n fool"
He turned to 60, but l clutched bis
arm and prevented him, crying out
despairinGly-
20 father. father, what have you
Gone? Unsay your words, and believe
with me that uncle Sam has done us
! much kindness and no wrong
! Ny passionate plea received no an
swer. Uncle Sam gently disengaged
| himself from my grasp and moved to-
wards the door IF at any time you
should need friend he said, address
ing me. Il hope you will think of your
uncle. Stay: had almost forgotten
to give you this" and taking a letter
from his pocket he tossed it to me;
but 1 was too daZed to catch it, and 1t
fell on the carpet. Then, waving his
hand in token of farewell, he hastily
quilted the room and was gone.
l looked at my father. He was sit
ting on a low seat, his elbows resting
Oh his knees. and his head buried
in his hands. / spoke to him
l forget what it was that l said-but he
took no notice of me, when through
the open window l saw uncle Sam
| passing out of our gate. AS soon an
he was off our premises he stood still
and looked intently at Holdenhurst
Hall for little while, then turned alb
| ruptly and walked at a great rate
down the road which led towards
Bury st. Edmund's.
This spectacle, in itself pathetic, and
symbolizing as it did, the collapse OF
my fervent hope, enraged me. Being
weak from loss of blood and other
consequences Of my recent accident,
think my reason must have sue
cumbed beneath MY accumulated load
of disappointmeuts and anxieties, for
| in a sudden burss Of artificial strength
| I rushed at my father. laid my hands
upon his shoulders, and forced him
into an upright position. while l
screamed out
"It Is false! 1t is false! l will 60 to
my uncle and beg him to pardon you"
My father started to his feet, and
grasping me by the wrists, held me at
arms length. 81 would to Heaven II
were false" he exclaimed, "but 1t is
true-too true. Shall / show you the
proofs?"
"You cannot" I shouted; you have
no proofs"
Then for the first and last time IN
his life did my father burst out in
anger against me. us everybody in
conspiracy to madden me?' he asked
excitedly. Il tell you, your uncle has
stolen those sequins, and that recent
ly. Still, would not have told him
so, or complained to anyone, if he had
not sought to extort contrary declar.
alton from me. Do you think J. would
denounce my own brother on doubtful
or slender evidence? If you can think
so badly of me, where then shall i
turn for sympathy in my trouble!
Must l publish what / would fain
conceal in order to induce you to be-
lieve your own father? Look at that,
and he took from his pocket a large
thin gold coin and placed 1t in my
hand; "that is one of the sequins you
went into the crypt to fetch-one OF
the two hundred and fifty thousand
seauins you ought to have found there.
Where the others are l don't know;
but what do know is that your uncle
found means to convey them away
from here about a week ago. I will
tell you the details, if you want to
know them, when you come to your
senses and remember that 1 am your
father"
1 sat down on a couch and burst into
an agony of tears. In a moment my
father was at my side, holding my
hands in his. and earnestly endeavor,
ing to comfort me. Presently grew
calmer and got up-that unnatural and
piteous product of adverse circum-
stances, a youth without hope.
The kindness of my i:.sher was such
as none but the parent Of an only child
can understand. In endeavoring to al
leviate my distress he appeared to
forget his own. This is great mis-
fortune" he said, 'the greatest which
has befallen me since your dear mother
died; but We must try to forget it. l
care nothing for the loss of the money
Il would it had been sunk in the sea
or that the Turks had had it-but l
deplore my brothers conduct, more
especially as he has won your good
will, and had hoped and believed that
good would come of it,"
After space my father resumed:
when you feel disposed to hear the
story I will relate all the circum'
stances OF your uncle's recent" he
paused, as If unable to find the pre-
else word he wanted-'act. or Adams
shall. if he RECEIVERS sufficiently to DO
so; he was an eyewitness of thc-the
act. But 1 have grave fears the old
man will die. and even DR. Thurlow