The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-27
IN SEARCH OF A
FATHER.

Neither worked for q living, but they
did not appear to be in want OF funds.
Their station seemed to be that Of
upper servants. iAS
The child, Arthur, as he grew from
babyhood to boyhood. was Of a widely
different type from bis parents. While
they were homely, be was handsome;
while they were dark. he was fair;
while they were of coarse grain,
there was that about him akin to the
manner born.
Finally the source from which they
drew their income seemed TO be failing
them. The man--Trainor was his name
made frequent trips somewhere, no
one knew where. and ON his return the
family's finances seemed 10 have inn
proved, but only temporarily. At last
the woman died. After her death the
father disappeared, leaving his son,
now about thirteen years old, to shift
for himself. He had not been required
to work and, now that he was thrown
on his own resources. knew not what
to do. He desired to find his father
with view to having his wants pro
vided for, as before. He wandered
about aimlessly. doing odd jobs and
eking out a miserable existence.
Two years had passed in this way
when one day while he was at work in
field he saw his father drive by in a
buggy. The boy ran to the fence and
| called, but did not succeed in making
himself heard Running after the bug
/ gy, he followed It for miles. now losing
it, now regaining sight OF II, TIL at last
he saw 1t turn into handsome coun-
try place.
Arthur was by this time exhausted,
so he sat down on stone to catch his
breath, keeping bis eye on the place
his father had entered II was
slightly place the house being large
and the grounds spacious He won
dered who lived there and why his
father went there. How beautiful life
must be TO one who could call such a
place homel AS soon as he had re-
gained bis wind he got up and ran on.
The place was more than mile away,
and he was some time In reaching it.
When be did be entered large gate
way with d massive stone pillar on
either side aud followed winding
driveway TO the house. The horse his
father had driven was hitched TO a
post before the front porch.
Suddenly the front door opened, and
an old gentleman ushered Trainor out,
saying:
Not cent. Find the child and I'll
square the account with a thousand |
dollars, but till then never let me see
your face again"
Suddenly Trainor caught sight Of
the boy.
why, Arthur be exclaimed. Then,
turning 20 the old man. be said: There
he Is. Now You may atone for your
villainy."
The old man stood staring at the
handsome boy, all ragged as he was,
and gasped:
as that my grandson
HE is. He's your daughters son I
and your grandson Then to Arthur
MY boy, I'm not your father. This
old gentleman will tell you who you
are"
The old man took the boy in his
arms, then. running into the house,
called:
alice, your boy is hereI''
In moment lady Of middle age
ran down winding staircase, and, see
ing the astonished Arthur. she took
him in her arms and would not release
him.
Some eighteen years before Alice
Archer had run away from home to
marry man her father disliked. Her
father had followed her and succeeded
in getting her back to bis home. where
be kept her quasi prisoner A child
was born, and Mr. Archer made up bis
mind TO get rid Of 1t. Giving the baby
to Trainor aud his wife. who had been
his servants. he agreed TO furnish them
with money as long as they needed It,
But Trainor became so importunate
that Mr.. Archer was obliged to shut
off a part Of the supply and finally all.
The man Alice Archer had married
died, and The mother at last prevailed
upon her father TO restore her child.
But by this time Trainor bad deserted
the boy and lost track Of him After
this Mr.. Archer refused to pay Trainor
any more money till he produced the
boy. But on the day Arthur came
home his grandfather paid Trainor a
Jump sum on condition that be would
use 1t to leave the country never TO
return
Arthur Archer, or, rather. Reginald.
which was the name given to him be.
lore he was sent away. was first put
INTO bath, then clothed In apparel be-
fitting his station Then commenced
he process Of making up for the years
le had lost in the matter Of education.
lie is now man. Often he saunters
II the road TO the spot where he sat
Town TO catch his breath when follow 4
ng his supposed father. and, gazing
i the place he then looked upon so
lovetously. he recalls the picture OF his
loyhood days and contrasts them with
be present His grandfather is dead
nd he is master Of all the old gentle
nan possessed In Mr.. Archer's old
&c he came to see his sin In turning :.
way his own flesh and blood and
ould not do enough BY way Of atone
aent But be never entirely forgive
is daughter for running away and
carrying against his win and after
is death II was found TINT he had laff