Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-02

dcred from the chair to the slim q.
ure of the girl who sat by the screen
This was Jessica IIolne, the orphaned
daughter of friend Of the old mans
early years. who had recently come to
The house in the nspens to Gil the void
left by Highs departure. Harry could
soc the contour Of thront and wrists.
the wild rose mesh of the skin against
the Romney blue gown. the pcntcous
rcd bronze hair nncniled and falling In
a single braid aud the shndowy pathos
Of hcr eyes. Clear hazel eyes they
were. wide and full but there was in
them no depth G. expression. for les
slca Iloline was blind AS the crisp,
deliberate accent pointed the judicial
period as with subterranean echo of
irrcfutahle condemnation Harry saw
her under lip indrawp. her hands clasp
tightly. then uuclasp In her lap Pliluf.
gra ccful hands. he thought, which even
blindness could no. make maladroit
go on rasped the Old man.
'''i'hc residue of my estate, real and
personal | do give and bcqueath to
my waI0. JesSica IiOlue"-
He broke off suddenly, for the girl
was knecling by the chair cropping for
the restless hand that wandered on the
afghan and crying in n strained. ng.
tltcd voice: "No--no-you must not.
lie ia your son.
In tie eyes OF the law, yes. But
not otherwise" His voice rose. What
has he done to deserve anything from
me? What has he bad all his life but
kindness? And how has he repaid It?
BY being waster and Il prodigal. BY
setting me in contempt and finally by
forsaking me in my old age for his
own paths of ribaldry."
The girl shook her head. You don't
know where he Is now or what he Is
doing Oh, b was Wild and reckless,
have no doubt. but when he Quarreed
and left you wasn't It perhaps because
he was too quick tempered? And If he
hasn't come back isn't 1t perhaps be-
cause he is too proud?"
"Jessica. I've not forgiven him seven
times. I've forgiven him seventy times
seven But he doesn't want forgive
ness To him am only the old man
/ who refused to put up longer for his
fopperies and extravagnnces. When be
left this house six months ago he de-
clnred he would never enter 1t again
Very well; let him stay away! He
sban't come back when | am in my
grave to play ducks and brakes with
the money he misuses. And I've fixed
it so that you won't be able to give it
away either, Jcssica."
The girl. still kneelng. turned half
about with n 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 flcrccncss. lifting his hand. 81
dare say You think | am hard but
tell you there has never been a day
since High was born when wouldn't
have ini! down my life for him. You
are so like, When look at you seem
to see him as he might have been but
for his own hayward choice. II he
were only as like you in other thing'
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 divini
~ student, and Hugh-my SOM! comes
out roisterer with gambling debts. q
member of the 'fnst set one Of disso-
Lutte fraternity known as The Saints,
whose very existence. no doubt. was q
shame to the institution
Harry Sanderson turned slowly tc
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 rs the REV Henry Sanderson.
Il think | ought To say that | was
the founder, and Mt the time you speal,
Of. the abbot Of The Saints. | was In the
same year with Hugh. We sowed oul
wild onts together, tidy crop. fancy
for lis both. That page OF my life Is
pasted down. ! speak Of It now be
cause 1t would be cownrdly not to.
have not seen Hugh since college
closed four years ago. hut then | was
al YOU called hlm-a waster and q
prodlgal. And was more. for while
others followed. l led. At college
was known rs Satan Snndersoa.'
ut is the Hugh OF the present tina
! am dealing WITH" said the old man
For David Stires WINS Just and ne was
feeling a grim respect for Harry'i
honesty.
Harry acknowledged the brusqut
kindllness OF the tone with little mo
ton of the hand. AS he spoke he ha(
been feeling hts way through maze o.
contradictory impulses FOR moment
I ne had bern back in that Old irrespen
: sibie time; the Hugh ha had know!
. then had sprung to his minds eye, al
r Initiative idler, with II certain grac
b and brlllnucy OF manner that mad
r him huil-feilow- well-met but witha
: shallow, foppish and incorrigibe,
8 cheap and shabby imitator of the on,
7 ward manner, not the inner graces, @
q good fellowship Yet Hugh had hee
u one OF his own fast set" They ha,
u called him "Satan's shadow" a trihut
. ta the actua resemblance as we'll a
= 10 the pGlpable imitation 10 affected
s Harry shivered little. Tho situate
: seemed, in nntic irony, to be revers
9 ing itself, 1t was rs not alan
u Hugh, but no, Harry Sanderson, In til
s person Of that past OF his, was po,
{ brought to bar for Judgment Ia tina