Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-11-06

came in" pursued the mother, refusing
70 abandon the clew to which her w0-
manly intuition had led her. HE
brought you bad news? Tell me, dear!
I'm your mother, and love you"
"You are making my course more
difficult for me by asking such ques-
lions, mother" he answered wretched'
ly, land r.
81 only want to help you, Alwyn. l
can't bear to see you miserable. A
woman's wit and mothers love- are
often a combination that can solve
problems beyond even the wisest
mans powers Of logic. Let me help
Sou."
81 was trying to make up my MIND"
vaguely replied Bennett, sorely dis
tressed by her pleading, whether
man ought to follow his conscience,
even n II leads to heartbreak for those
he loves, or whether he ought to let
conscience 60 by the board for once
and protect the happiness Of his lsyea
ones"
"Alwyn! How can you hesitate q
second over such question. One must
do right, ne matter what the conss'
Quence."
81 don't know about that" be said
modify.
"You know 1t perfectly we'll. II II
what your father would have advised
and But, Alwyn, you surely arc not
making yourself unhappy over . mere
suppositltious case"
WELL" he continued, "let us take q
mere supposititious case II you like
Suppose, for instance. that man hold
ing a position Of trust had had ia
Their whose memory he honOred and
reyered as do my own fathers"-
"Yes?" prompted Mrs. Bennett ~ 10
paused. =
Suppose some one tempts him to be-
tray his position Of trust, even al
have lately been tempted, and threat
ems In case of his refusal to make
public certain facts which would prove
his dead father to have been scoun-
drel. Now, what should the man do?
Should he let his fathers sacred men,
ory be trampled In the mud. let bis
duty go by default and save
1T would be an awful responsibility
to decide such question" said Mrs
Bennett. with a little shudder. "but
there could be only one reply"
"And that Isl"
"He must do his duty. be the results
what they may"
"You really think soY
There can be no doubt. Right -
right and
at shall be a. you say" groaned
Alwyn.
"What?" querled Mrs. Bennett. star
tied at the despair in his voice. do
you mean 1t Is an actual casef Some
friend of yours. perhaps"
Bennett nodded.
"Oh. the poor, poor fellow" she sym
pathized. What terrible position
for him! 1t was he, perhaps, that
heard talking to you in here just now.
No wonder he seemed excited! The
sins of the fathers shall be visited upon
the children even unto the
at Is something less hard on the
children than on the wives" mused
Bennett, half. to himself.
'0The- wives? Your friend has n
mother living? That makes 1t doubly
hard. Oh, my son, every day ! thank
God in all humility that my husband
lived so blameless a life and left 80
honored name! How grateful you
and I both ought to be for
1T is easy enough to decide for some
one you have never seen." retorte'
Bennett almost rudely, "but suppose
the dishonest man In my story had
been father and
Il refuse to suppose anything Of the
sortw interrupted his mother indig-
nantly. rising to her feet II wonder
that you can speak sol How can you
suggest so horrible thing?"
"Just q tboughtless, tactless speech
Of mine. That's ALL" lied Alwyn, TITS
very late. You'll have a headache. I'm
afraid Won't you go to bedr
Eyes. 1t is late, and I'm keeping you
up. Good night. dear. | wish your
friend
She checked herself suddenly. with a
little gasp. Bennett. glancing up to
her, saw that her eyes were rlveted on
bit Of pasteboard lying on the corner
of his desk directly beneath the read
! ing lamp.
1t was Horrigan's card.
Slowly the mothers gaze shifted
from the card to- her son. From her
face the color had been crushed by
some swift emotion that left 1t very
old, pale and sunken.
"Alr. Horriganw she murmured. ut
was he who Vas your visitor tonight?
Surely he isn't 3he sort Of man to
care about his Others reputation for
honesty. He"-}
you're tired. mother" interrupted
Bennett in haste4 Wont you
wait" she paA fed. "His visit hare