Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-06-19

1
doubt It could be arranged"
"No," said Harry Raymond, flushing
scarlet, as the more generous impulses
Of his nature rose to the surface. Il
have come on very different errand.
He paused. 1t seemed impossible
to tell this fiorld, benevolent, prosper
GUS looking man, the very image and
symbol Of all that wealth and good
repute could do, that he had been a
thief, and worse than a thief--that be
had allowed another to suffer the PEN
atty Of a deed for which he himself
was chiefly responsible. Yet Harry
Raymond had resolved that he would
do 1t.
II want you to clear my fathers
name of the stain that lies on it." he
said abruptly.
Graham started and changed color.
1T Is true then; he does not mean
to deny IT." said Raymond to himself
exultantly..
How can do that3" asked the old
er man quietly.
by telling the truth. The time has
come, Mr.. Graham, when the truth
must be told"
And that isr
I'm word. that my father suffered
for your fault"
"Ah! who told you this, may I askH"
my mother"
your motherr
Yes, my mother. l only learned II
to-day. My father kept your secret
while he lived--kept 1t though you had
ruined his life. But it must be told
at last"
The rich man sat silent, his head
supported on his hand, his elbows on
the arm Of the easy chair. He was 81.
lent and preoccupled.
Graham nodded.
And suppose refuse to do any.
thing?" be asked after another pause.
Then l will publish the facts ev.
erywhere! cried the young man holly.
II Will proclaim to the world that my
father suffered your punishment-was
made the scapegoat for your slnS"
Il owe that to my dead father" said
the young man after a long silence.
Again Graham nodded. Then he
arose and, going to cabinet, unlocked
drawer and took from 1t a small
packet Of papers. This he laid on a
small table, which he carried to the
spot where the young man was sitting.
Perhaps 1t would be as well for YOU
to glance over these papers before you
take any such steps as you have Just
mentioned" he said dryly. ~ will leave
you now, and come back when you
have finished reading them" With that
he left the room.
Harry Raymond took up the packet
and began reading the first paper he
took from 1t. 1t was an account of
his fathers trial and his face changed
as he read.
"All liesl" he muttered as he threw
1t down and tore another paper from
the bundle. That he laid down with a
groan and took up another.
So he went on. till the table was
strewn with papers The footman came
to him with decanter of wine and a
plate Of biscuits. but Raymond did not
even know that he had entered the
room.
When he had read the last line he
put his elbows on the table and his
hands over his face and groaned In
the bitterness Of his spirit.
AlasI 1t was his father and not
Graham who had been the moving
spirit In the piece Of guilty folly they
had perpetrated. and his father alone
had benefited by the fraud. Graham
had done little more than hold his
tongue when he might have prevented
the crime by telling what he knew.
The world knew-the truth. His
mother, Of course, had believed what
his father had told her.
"Are you satisfied Of the truth Of
what you have read?" said Mr.. Ora
hams voice at his ear.
He started and looked up. His face
was white and haggard like that of the
dead.
"Here-drlnk this" and Graham
held a glass Of wine to his lips "You
are soiEg to faint"
''No, am not going to faint"
"Still, drink this"
He obeyed.
Nov, ask you, have l cleared my
self in your .sightr
The young man nodded. He could
not say the words
''Then l think there Is no use In
keeping these old papers any longer"
He threw them Into the fire; they
blazed up the chimney, and the two
men stood side by side watching them
till the red in their ashes turned to
gray.
"And now. about that desk In om
officer
II will come, SIR" said the young
man, simply. II would rather serve yor
than any one else"
There is just one other thing" said
Mr.. Graham, as the young man picked
up his hat, don't tell your mother
Promise me that you will not"
Harry's lips moved, but no sound
came from them. The older man grip
ped his hand and turned hastily away,
while the younger one went out into
the darkness Of the night.