The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-01

you can, no doubt, imagine that
Just at first this dear boy, the pledge
of our love, was hateful in my sight,
for had not MS ADVENT caused the
death of my hearts idol? Of course
this feeling, however, was soon swal-
lowed up by the yearning of a faith
er's heart for his own flesh and blood,
and all the tender love had lavished
upon his dear mother was transferred
to him. l suppose this blind devotion
of mine rendered me Obtuse to his
faults and always ready to cOndone
his misdOings. In fact, I am afraid I
was always TOO lenienJ, and that : am
now merely reaping what I myself
sowed. But. ali, Doctor, it is hard
hard. even though it may be just, TO
condemn ones own. You must eX-
case me. Doctor, and bear with me a
little longer ere I take you to your pa
tieut.
suffice it to say that my boy, whose
name is Richard. grew to mans estate
without one wish or desire unqualified.
At twenty-five he was graduated from
Princeton, my own almer mater, and
it was my earnest desire that he
should succeed me in business at
Philadelphia. where | had long been
a prosperous importer. But he had
no liking for business, and soon after
his graduation. led by a set of fast
young men with too large allowances,
pursued a life | could not approve of.
So long. though, had I INDUCED him in
every fancy, that my remOnstrances
were vain. At last, a year ago, he
came to me in my office and informed
he of his intention to wed, asking my
consent. and that I would renew my
offer to take him in the Office with
me. He expressed himself as through
with frivolities, and assured me Of his
earnest desire to lead a useful and
honorable life in business with me.
Of course ] Was owe iOyed. and
hastaaei to assure him O. my q Hsent,
but Upon my asking him Urrl whom
he had bestowed his affection he nam
ed a notorious actress-a beautiful
woman. but heartIess, sordid, vain and
wicked. II happened that | knew her
we'll from a child. as we'll as her ante
cedents, and it was impossible to re-
ceive such as she for a daughter. All
the facts of the case I told him, in a
vain attempt to reason with him, but
such is the infatuatiOn of yOuth-he
would have none of it. In the end we
had bitter words, and | informed him
that if he persisted in his intention of
marrying this woman l would dlsin-
herit and never again own him as a
son. He left me with a curse, and
swore he would wed her and make his
own way, in spite of me. Fearing
/ he would carry out his threat, and that
/ the woman would marry him with the
hope that | would relent, | closed my
! business and came here. after leaving
/ instructions with my lawyers to tell
! him where | was, and to come TO me
when he had given her up, if he ever
did. With a sore heart, | took up my
/ residence here, buried from the world
and did not hear from my dear boy
until two weeks ago, when he wrote
me from St Louis that he had verified
/ the truth Of all my statements, and
J telling me he was on his way here to
ask my forgiveness. That was all;
and I looked for him every day. I'm
agine my grief and how shocked . was
when he fell in my door at daylight
/ his clothing soaked with his own
blood. He told me that he had been
wounded by the express messenger
on the west-bound express, and he
was barely able, before his strength
failed him entirely. to give me an &C
count of the attempted hold-Up ct ths
! tank.
Now, Doctor, I realize. of course
the position and danger he is in. Cir
cumstantial evidence seems to impli
cate him in the attempted robbery
but | feel that he is guiltless. A
heart he was always honorable anC
upright. You must save him. He i:
dangerously wounded, but before
take you to him you must give ms
your word not to betray him. On your
honor you must promise, and l viii
give you my word of honor that if h
RECEIVERS 1 will myself deliver him t.
the sheriff, provided the real culpri
is not captured in the meantime. Ok
you agree?"
OF course / accepted his conditions
and he Immediately led me to tn
back of the house. where, not NOR,
.