Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-11-25

times. I've forgiven him seventy times
seven. But lie doesn't want forgive
ness. To him am only the old man
who refused to put mp. longer for his
foppe:ies and eXtravagnnces.. When he
left this house six months ago he de.
clared he would never enter 1t again
Very well: let him stay away! He
shan't come back when | am In my
grave to play ducks and brakes with
the money lie misuses! And I've fixed
1t SO that you won't be able to give 1t
away either. Jessica."
The girl. still kneeling. turned half
about with Il hopeless gesture. "Oh.
won't you help me?" she said. She
spoke more to herself. 1t seemed, than
to either OF the men who waited.
"Sanderson." said the old man with
bitter fierceness. lifting his hand, II
dare say you think | am hard. but l
tell You there has never been day
since Hugh was born when wouldn't
have laid down my life for him! You
are so like! When look at you I seem
to see him as he might have been but
for his own hayward choice! If he
We're only as like you In other things
as he is In feature! You are nearly the
same age. You went to the same col,
lege. believe. You have had the same
advantages and the same temptations
Yet you, an orphan. come out a divini
ty student, and Hugh-my son!-comes
out roisterer with gambling debts, O
member of the fast set. one of a disso
Lutte. fraternity known US The Saints,
whose very existence, no doubt, was
shame to the institution"
Harry Sanderson turned slowly to
the light. A strange panorama In that
moment had flashed through his brain
Kaleidoscope pictures Of an early
reckless era when he had not been
known as the REV Henry .sanderson.'
II think | ought to say that was
the founder. and ut the time you speak
OF, the abbot OF The Saints. l was In the
same year with Hugh We sowed our
wild oats together. II tidy crop. fancy,
for MS both That page Of my life is
pasted down speak of it now be.
cause 1t would be cownrdly. not to. 1
have not seen Hugh since college
closed four years ago But then was
all you called him-a ,wastcr and q
prodigal. And Twas more. for while
others followed. led At college i
was known ms Satan Sandersoa.'"
at is the Hugh Of the present that
l am dealing with" said the old man.
For David Stires WAS Just and he was
feeling grim respect for Harry's
honesty.
Harry acknowledged the brusque
kindness of the tone with a little mo.
ton of the lland. AS he spoke he had
been feeling his way through maze Of
contradictory impulses For moment
he had been back In that old rrespon
sible time: the Hugh he had known
then had sprung to Ills minds eye, an
initiative idler. with certain grace
and br!lliancy of manner that made
him ail-fellow-well-met but withal
Shallow. foppish and Incorrfgible, q
cheap and shabby imitator of the out.
ward manner. not the inner graces, of
good fellowship. Yet Hugh had been
one OF his own fast set" They had
called him "Satan's shadow" tribute
to the actual resemblance as well Us
TO the palpable Imitation he affected
Harry shivered little. The situation
seemed, In antlc irony. to be revers
Ing itself. II was as II not alone
Hugh. but he. Harry Sanderson. in the
person of that past of his. was now
brought to bar for judgment In tina,
room. For the instant lie forgot how
utterly characterless Hugh had shown
himself of old. how devoid of all de.
Sire for rehabilitation his present rep
utation In the town argued him. AT
that moment 1t seemed as II 10 saving
Hugh from this condemnation, lie was
pleading for himself as lie had been.
for the further chance which he. but
Tor circumstances. perhaps. had needed
too.
"You," he said. have lived u life OF
Just and balanced action 1t is bred
In the bone. You hate. all loose con.
1uct, and rightly. You hate it most in
Hugh for the simple reason that lie is
your son. The very relation makes IT
more impossible to countenance. He
should be like you-of temperate and
prudent habit But did you and lie
start on equal terms2 Your grand
tather was Il Standish; your ancestry
was undiluted Puritan. Did Hugh
nave oil your fund of resistance! With
ne 1t was the turning of a long lane.
Hugh perhaps has not turncd-yet."
A breath of that past life had swept
NEW over Harry. the old shuddcring
'ecoil again had rushed upon him. Ii
gave his voice curious energy us he
ended: AMI | have seen how far u |
nan may 80 aul yetcomp hack"
There Was pause. The jndgp had
IN Inspiration. He folded the purcb.
nent.
Perhaps 1t would be as WE'LL" he
aid In matter Of fact way. IF the
ignins be left open for the present.
He rose us he spoke and laid the doc.
Iment on the table.
fro BE Continued
An error gracefully acknowledged is