The herald., 1915-06-24
FROM THE DEAD PAST
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB.

his natural senses"
Il mean socially and morally"
Thus, two men at the club discusse
the member who performed his socis
functions as though they were a per
ance, and cast a chill over all thos
with whom he came in contact. TIL
first speaker went on:
1t was 10 years ago, when he al
rived at age. He lived in a town sew
eral hundred miles from here, ant
was engaged to marry beautiful girl
Her name was Elsinore Dayton. Their
was another sutton. His name, too
was Dayton-Horace Dayton, but b,
was no relation to the fiancee. YOUNG
Thearle had inherited some money
He had built a rare nest OF luxury fol
his bride-to-be. It was filled with tn,
costliest furnishings. Life never
seemed more roseate to a man. One
night Elsinore Dayton disappeared
Horace Dayton, too. They have neve,
been heard from since"
"Eloped?"
Presumably so. From that hour OF
perfidy and heart-break Marvin
Thearle has been as you now see
him-shunning all womankind, a tyrant
as an employer, not a real friend In
the world"
And the residence he built?"
with all its rich belongings went
up In smoke one night, and the next
day he left his native town forever"
Into the store of this misanthrope
there came two days later a tall, slen-
der boy Of tender age. He was neat
and clean, but his shoes were patched
and his well-brushed suit was thread.
bare. Mr.. Thearle gave him a mere
passing glance. The manager hired
the boy. who became known as Paul.
A week later the lad was called into
the office Of Mr.. Thearle. The latter
barely nodded to him.
Hang those pictures Of the new fac
tories" he ordered grufiy.
Paul obeyed. AS he stepped from
the chair after hanging the last pic
ture, however, he stumbled. His pen
ell, a knife and a cheap silver watch
he wore fell from his pocket. With
murmured apology Of embarrassment,
the lad started to pick up the scat
tered articles.
The case Of the watch had opened.
1t had landed directly against the foot
Of the employer, who stopped to pick
It up. AS he did SO, he could not help
but notice the photograph Of a wom-
ans face pasted inside the case.
With a start, with a thrill, almost
with an involuntary cry, Marvin
Thearle stared askance at the facs be-
fore him.
"Who-who is this?" he ground out
hoarsely.
my mother, sir" answered Paul.
You live with her"
mot here, not now. sir. She is in
another city. but as soon as 1 earn
enough hope to have her with me-"
"And your father?"
Il have no father, SIR" replied Pau,
sadly.
VERY well, you can CO."
Marvin Thearle sent for his man.
ager., Briefly, he gave his orders-to
discharge Paul at once.
Two weeks after that, as Marvin
rhearle was turning q corner, he al
most ran into q woman coming from
he opposite direction. He came to q
'tandstill, his face turning almost
chastity. 1t was Elsinore Dayton. He
would have passed on. She grasped
lis arm.
Walt" she spoke tumultuously. 'T
hould have found you elsewhere, 80
may speak here and now. You are
he man who employed my boy, and
asst him adrift without a character,
nd broke his courage. and he Is
ying. But that his kind-hearted land
ady sent me word, l should never
ave seen him again. He constantly
AYES Of your inhuman treatment.
Why was 1t done? How you must
ate me and mine-but why?"
Why! Even on the open street
hearle burst forth with his soul bur-
en- of years. In Amusement Elsinore
'ayton listened. He almost cursed
or openly.
Il eloped with Horace Dayton!" she
led. why. after he had proven to
70 by written evidence that you were
ready welded to another and fed
ON my misery, I never saw him
gain"
Howl" cried Thearle sharply-"the
". Paul?"
rs poor, homeless child adopted =
assuage my loneliness and Danish
emit"
Marvin Thearle trembled, a strong
an unnerved. The woman, still fair. : j..
bod humbly by his side.
He stood beside Elsinore Dayton
70 days later. listening to the low,
usical humming of a sweet homo :,
ne from the lips Of the recovering
valid In an adjoining room.
You have brought my boy back to
o." she said gratefully. But for '