Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-26

ef h wen k1own. He Is not gentleman
like the son is-not a bit of a gentleman
but proud, hard man, without mef-
sci of love for his own boy"
"You must have had all this stuff from
Reuben. He talks against his father all
day here, I see."
'He never mentions his name. Once
when spoke of his father he was very
angry with me-"
'And who are you?' he rejoined.
"a poor girl whom he tried to rescue
from the streets-his second-cousin-verS
much below him in the world, who was
first afraid of him and doubtful of him,
but who has learned to love him very
much for all his kindness. If 1 am ever
saved" she cried enthusiastically--"an
Lucy thinks I shall bet will be Cous-
in Reuben who led me to the light, when
there was nothing but darkness about my
awful life. He want time to turn
roundv' she cried scornfully, "why, he's
above all help from mortal man, sir
HE saved you, and you are his second
cousin. whats your name?' he said
sharply.
Sarah EastbeIl."
''The girl who tried to pass bad money
down in Worcester?'
"Ah-yes! That's true, sir, most of
it,
'But not all of it," said the thin hard
voice of Lucy Jennings, who had come
downstairs noiselessly. "There was no
guilty knowledge. The money was given
her to pass by scoundrel"
''It is the usual story-every one
trumps up that excuse"
Her story will be believed; it has been
already believed" said Lucy.
Il don't care whether it is or not. It
is no business of mine," replied Simon
Culwick.
His head began to move again amid the
creases of his thick black stock in it's old
mechanical fashion, and the eyes We're
upturned to the picture once more.
DO you want to sell that thing?" he
said to Lucy. ''That old painting over
the looking glass;"
''Is it worth anything?" asked Lucy
curiously.
"A couple Of pounds, perhaps, if it
were touched up. l would not mind Civ
ing a couple of pounds for it, as a specu-
lation."
''It's worth considering" said Lucy.
The love of the man for pictures SEEM
ed affecting his mind; he woke up to so
much interest and anxiety concerning
John Jennings one specimen. He had
met with a surprise here, and it had
taken the thoughts of his son out of his
head, till Lucy recalled him to himself.
IF you will go upstairs to your sons
room and wait for him, 1 will bring the
picture to you"
Mr.. Culwick rose at once and toiled
with difficulty up the stairs, like man
anxious to be rid of Objectionable COM
pany. He went into his sons room,
where the appointments surprised him by
contrast with the room which he had
quilted; where there was evidence Of
comfort, if not Of luxury, and where there
were many shelves of books. He walked
to the table and looked down at the let
ters and papers; he walked to the window
and looked out into Hope street; he walk
ed to the mantelpiece and peered in a
short-sighted way at a photograph, from
which he suddenly bobbed his head back
as though he had been stung. 1t was
the portrait of his wife, reverently en-
shrined in a gold frame. There was a
huge armchair in the room, into which he
cautiously lowered himself, and set his
hat by his side; but he rose with the
alacrity of youth again as Lucy came
In with the picture in her hand.
81 hope it will amuse you till your son
returns" said Lucy, land 1 give him the
good news that you are waiting for him.
1t will be good news, surely, for you have
come to this house in a contrite spirit, to
forgive him, and to ask forgiveness in
return for your own hardness of heart
to forget the past, and be friends"
Pooh! Nothing of the sort"
tTo De continued.l