The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-01-01
My Ancestor.


mingway ana | were very chummy.
Indeed. there Was but one thing To-
prevent our being engaged. ana that
was that one of my ancestors in
colonial times had turned highwayman,
whereas 40 stain whatever rested on
tie EmIEingway eScUtcheOn. con
sidered it very hard that | should
have to give Up my love for the sins
Of one who had preceded me by four
generations.
Miss Enmiugway's father was an
Old man in his dUtage. who was never
permitted 10 go ont except attended by
his valet. One evening when | was call
ing Oh his daughter my wallet. which
ut the time happened to be well sup
plic;l with bills. slipped from my peck
ct. | didn't miss it till after ! had
left the house and returned for it. 1t
was not to he found. A few days
later Mr.. Emmingway' valet came to
see me with the pOcketbOOk. informing
me that he had found it in his mas
tcr's possession. asked him if he
had Informed Miss Emmingway Of the
facts, and he said that he had: that
the lady was overcome with mortified
ton. | gave the valet $40 for his hon
esty and his trouble and charged him
to keep the secret.
Soon after this | received q summons
to go to Miss EInmingway immedi
atcly- On reaching the house found
her I'm great distress. Her father had
stolen away alone. and when he re-
| turned his valet had found his pockets
full Of jewelry. My good offices being
asked, | examined the articles de-
termined the store they had been taken
from. went there. told the head of the
firm that the old man was in bis
dotage and returned the articles. For
this ] received Miss Emmingway's
hearty thanks.
The old man came to be known
ut certain stores as a kleptOmaniac.
When he was caught stealing things
bills were sent to bis house, which his
daughter Immediately paid. The valet
had orders when stolen articles were
found In his pocket to return them i'm
mediately. But a great many articles
were paid for that were not found
Soon after the discovery Of the old
| mans failing | renewed my suit to
Miss EmmingwPy. to he again put off
IN account Of my rascally ancestor
IF you love me-" said. that should
make no difference. My ancestor
very remote-had u weakness for other
peoples things. but he had the manli-
ness to take them at the point of
| pistol"
while my father is only a sneak
thief" she added dejectedly.
Not at ALL Your father has simply
arrived at an age where he is breaking
up. | alone know Of his weakness.
except his valet. and so long as you
keep the valet we'll fed he will keep
the secret. l. Of course. would rather
die than have you suffer from the mat
ter getting out among your friends"
| "IOu are a noble. good man"
| When woman uses such language
to a man it is an indication of yield
ing. l knew myself to be very COM
mOnpIace person. but l had The sense
to press my suit and won.
I'VE both suffer from like causes"
she said. I'VE must comfort each
other"
/ kissed her a dozen times and Sc
cretly hoped the old man would con-
tinue his depredations till after our
marriage. Indeed. | hurried up the
wedding. fearing that he might sud
denly recover his honesty or his brain
yigOr, didn't much care which.
Not long after the wedding was in
store and saw Mr.. Emmipgway saun-
I tering through the aisles. occasionally
deftly snatchlng some article from the
counters. At first thought he was not
observed. but soon saw a man fol-
lowing him, and every time the cid
man took anything the follower made
note of it. Mr.. Emmingway left the
store, and followed him. To my sur
prise. he was joined outside by his
valet. And what astonished me more
was that instead Of taking his masters
arm to support him. as he Invariably
did when they left the house together.
the two started briskly OF. as If they
were chums. l followed them to
dingy building they entered. hurried
after them and caught them just be-
! fore they were going into back room.
! entered with them and closed the
door behind ME.
| Your games up." said.
The valet became deadly pale. The