Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-04

striking resemblance to each other. They
became very good friends in spite G.
the fact that they had come from differ
ent environments. In the course of 8
month, Jaynes' partner, Number 372
was seized with diphtheria 10 the night
Jaynes did not summon the guard until
morning, and when the sick man was
removed to the hospital he had or
Jaynes' clothes and number, which was
S45. He died the same day and Of course
Jaynes' friends were notified, but on
account Of the eontagion they were not
allowed to claim the body. The chap
lain suspected the trick, but Jaynes re-
fused to acknowledge it all these years
ION account Of his family. He said it was
better for them to think he was dead
| though It meant assuming the othei
mans sentence, which was for life. But
| Just before the end came, few days ago
the chaplain induced him 10 own up. He
argued that Jaynes' wife had right to
know at last what a splendid sacrifice
he had made, when all these years he
| might have heard from her and seen her
| occasionally Even that did not move
him until it came to disposing Of bis
earnings He had been made superin-
| tendent Of one of the shops and had
drawn a good salary all these years. II
! made a handsome sum and his desire
to leave It to his wife brought out the
| truth"
The gathering darkness hid from Ger
trude Elliott the whiteness and pain in
the face Of the man beside her. Busy
with her own thoughts of the tragic
story she did not notice that he made no
comment But when they stopped in
front Of her house and she asked him in,
he shook his head.
Have you the paper. Gertrude? !
should like to read that story"
Walter, how hoarse you are! You
have taken cold. Come in and let me
get you something hot"
mo. mother is waiting for me. must
go at once, If you viii get me the paper,
please"
/ She brought II to him, hurt at the re-
fusal of her care, and more hurt that he
offered her no parting caress. Only, as
he gathered up the lines, he bent towards
her
"Oh. Trudie, Trudie!" he murmured
hoarsely, beloved. goodnight, and God
keep you"
Ten minutes later he burst into the
room where his mother sat waiting for
| him. She was a beautiful woman, old
beyond her years, on her calm counte-
/ nance the peace attained only through
/ great suffering. Her face lighted up as
II her son entered. He flung himself down
beside her with the frenzy Of a mailman.
Mother" he cried. tell me about my
fatherl"
She looked startled a moment, then re-
piled calmly, What do you wish to
know. dear? He died when you were a
little boy. scarce five years old"
"Of malignant diphtheria?"
yes
Tn the Jackson prison? Mother, for
God sake, tell me. was my father Grim
inal? I must know the truth.
She took his hot hands in her own
and caressed them gently. MY darling
had hoped to spare you this. | gave up
home and friends more than 20 years ago
TO save you from pain and disgrace. Per-
haps / was wrong. but did II for the best.
Your father was president OF rich bank.
| His sisters husband was cashier Taylor
lost everything gambling. His poor wife
loved him to distraction. and just before
her baby was born Il was discovered that
Taylor had appropriated thousands Of
the bank funds Your father had sus-
peeted him before but tried to shut his
eyes to the truth. Taylor contrived that
the blame fell, not upon himself, but upon
my poor husband. For Julia's sake he
said nothing, never thinking he could
be convicted Of another's crime. But he
was. and be told me he felt Il just pun
ishment for not acting against Taylor in
the beginning A month later he died in
prison. / came here TO the far west, my
one prayer that you should never know.
But. Walter. now that you know you can
appreciate the great soul that could suffer
even disgrace for the sake Of another"
Listen" said he. and unfolding the
| paper. be read the story Gertrude had
told him. do you know what il means
70 me. mother? Gertrude will never
marry a man who cannot give her an I'M
stained name
Must you tell herr"
Mother Can live lie the rest Of
, my days3"
With the fierce strength Of despair he
snatched his hat and fairly ran to. the
eirl he loved There he poured out the
whole pitiful story. not stopping when
she tried to interrupt lest his strength
fail before the end
Forgive me. Trudie Had known Il
before ! should never have dared 70 tell
YOU my love. All ask IS that you believe
me Innocent OF the knowledge ! shall
never see you again, but 7 cannot help
loving you. Gertrude. Il is too late for
that. Good-by" He turned 10 90, but
his unsteady feet did not reach the
threshold when a pair Of strong young
arms caught and held him
J. tfrrr-s.-- -. -r,u not ffat-a mo fhF-