The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-01-14

by the door crying out: What have
you done? What have yol done:"
Ladd lay on the floor mid the ruins
of a chair. Beside him Il little gray
Frenchman with Il face like Il rat was
dancing with excitement and trying TO
talk in both English and his native
language with one breath. Relapsins
finally into French, he became intclli-
gible
1T was the good news tie yelped.
Listen. He asked me to trace for him
some old pictures. and what do lind?
A fortune. | have told him as gently
as | could, but lie was unable TO bear
it."
caught him by the arm aud shook
him.
Speak out plainly" | exclaimed
"He is not that poor devil of paint
err he made answer. He is a rich
American. only son and heir of what
you call it:-trust na@natc. The IA
ther is dead som" years This Young
man inhcrits everything. Ii was he
that found this Warrington Ladd starry
ing in Paris and fed him full 10 the
Gullet. Three times Il day he fed i.:n.
as had not happened II this Ludd since
his birth. Then they 20 of together.
walking and painting, for this young
man is also i painter. but without tai
ent. and he studies from the other 10
one knew where they had gone War
rin%tOn l.aId fell into Il crcyas>e on
i,yi i
tried to Kill this one and failed"
Put why did he think he WAS
Ladd:' | demanded, speaking in Eng
lish because of my excitement
lie have the picture" replied the
Frenchman. WAS not the nnmc sign
to it in tie corner: So they think they
know thc man. They call him War
drive that name into him. thinking
that they question him. He-hc know
nothing At ii! except what he is told"
"hut if l.add's body was found
1T was found yesterday re-
manned Of IT," said the Frenchman.
but there were clothes and letters to
identify it. 1t was Il partner of mine
him, also Il cable from America"
And this mans name:"
rs Duncan Stuart" said the detec-
tive.
For some strange reason. perhaps un-
der the mysterious impulse of Sympa-
thetic thought. | sprang toward Lucy
and she toward me- We clasped hands
wit out either being conscious of it.
Ladd was sitting up by this time. prop
ped against Il chair.
"Thats who you arer' cried to him.
Il remember YOU perfectly. But, great
heavens, yOu have changed"
1--WE met at lantry's studio" said
Lucy. 1T was only few minutes.
Yet II never quite forgot you. When
you said you were Mr. Ladd. that faint
memory deceived me- thought that
l must have seen you somewhere per
haps when you were poor and starry
ing"
Meanwhile the little Frenchman
stood at Stuart's feet. bowling with alb.
surd reverence.
Il congratulate you. feIicitate
you"
"Please go away" said Stuart YEARLY.
and then to Lucy: My poor child
did not mean to do this. | thought the
picture was mine. am only com
monplace fellow. | never did anything
worth while"
81 love you just as much.' she whis
pered. kneeling beside him. You can't
help 1t. You inherited it. this money
and the making of money We Will
bear it together"
Stuart slowly got upof Iii, feet h.S
hand claspod in hers
what shall | be in the new year"
he askcd-''in the new year that is so
close to us? Only my poor self"
"It is the same with ALL" said Lucy.
"Perhaps that's III" practical view"
responded Stuart. with something like
a return to his former manner. per
haps that's why 50 many earnest reso-
lutions fail and so much advice is val
uelcss. No man can escape from his
own individuality: no man can escape
from his ancestors. for that matter
Some poor and slight amendment Of
our faults. some little striving upward
is all Ihat is permitted US, yet that Is
duty. | cannot be the new man that
promised you to be. but can be n
better fellow, Lucy, than I have been.
VIII that scrve:'
l understood her to say that it would.