The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-11-24
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but the mans quickened bSeathf
as he read the letter, written.
in a delicate feminine hand.
Duncan Halstead Hooked from the.
paper to the strong, benevolent face
of the president. He attempted to
speak, but a construction Of his throat
cut OF the words. For a time hetwo
men regarded each other in silence;
then recovering from his emotion Hal
stead spoke;
81 have no words with which to
thank you. The men are;few who are
willing to trust an ex:conwct"
"one mistake should not'be allowed
to spoil a mans Life" the president
said kindly.
~ wish there we're more people who
thought SC. / came out four months
ago-got IS OF for good behavior
and since then, until tonight, l have
not found Que man who would trust me.
at is easier to believe in your re.
pentance than to believe i possible
that your mothers son could ever be
a convict"
Halstead met the presidents eyes
unainchingly. DO you know what it
means to see your mother dying when
her life could be saved for a few pal
try hundred dollars? I knew it was
a criminal offence to inappropriate
the funds Of the Worthington Trust
Company, but. God knows how sorely
l was tempted"
"Yol took the money to save your
mothers life, when she would have
preferred death to dishonor." The
president pronounced each word i'm.
,presslyely.
Though Ha1stead WINGED t the
tone, his glance never wavered.
"That is why you made no defence"
the president continued, "but your
mother knows now. When did you
tell herr"
81 have never told her" quickly
denied Halstead. "She thinks that the
money which paid her expenses at the
sanitarium was hired from her uncle.
All knowledge of the affair a kept
from her until she recovered"
what does she think you took the
money for?"
81 don't know" Halstead ~hesitated,
then he went on slowly. Sometimes
I fear she thinks 1 did it from vicious
ness"
The president reached for the let
ter. Folding 1t so only these words
we're visible, he passed the letter to
Halstead:
Years ago you promised that If 1t
were ever in your power to prove your
gratitude to me you would do SO. To:
night l claim the fulilment Of that
promise.
"You are familiar with the story of
Duncan Halsteaf, but did YOU know
that his mother was once Pauline
Hail, or that Duncan stole the money
to save her from a. sl6S', painful
death?" S''+a 'i'0 ''''N
Halstead read no farther. He bow
ed his head on his hands, while tears
slipped unchecked down his cheeks.
Anger. remorse, humiliation we're over
Swallowed by the knowledge that his
mother knew. 1t was several minutes
before Duncan realized that the presi-
dent was taking. As he lifted his
head, the president continued in the
slow, even tones Of the narrator.
81 was a ragged. dirty boy, not
wholly deprayed for my intense love
for beauty saved me from that, when
your mother came on a visit to II
town. One day she was going by IL
house when my step.mother. an ignor-
ant, indoleht, high-tempered woman,
punished me severely for some triling
offence. My screams as I ran from the
house attracted your mothers atten-
ton.
Though more than 30 years have
passed since then, have never for
gotten the picture she made. standing
there in her thin summer dress, her
hands filled with flowers, and such a
compassionate expression on her
sweet, lovely face. She soothed my
grief with tender words, and when she
saw me touch her flowers with 'caress-
ing fingers, she placed themin my hand.
"My new friend shrank neither
from my rags nor my dirty, tear
stained face, but taking me In her
arms, she pressed warm. elInging
kisses on my lips. These kisses COM
pletely won my heart, as my appeal
had won hers. When, in a few days,
she returned home, notwithstanding
the teasing Of her friends at the con.
quest she had made, she secured my
fathers permission and I went with
her.
Through her influence ] was
adopted by a wealthy man. who, soon
after, went abroad with his family for
several years. When I returned, IS
years ago, was the last time l ever
saw your mother.
az came here nbout the time OF
your trouble, but until tonight I
never, received the faintest intimation
that the Mrs. .Halstead tGf this town
was the woman whom / knew. years