The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-05-04

or these letters he seemed irritable
When the third one came, and me
with the same reception, Jeans won
derment and curiosity reached the
boiling point. Among other wild sur
misses one suddenly struck her Will
force. Suppose these letters wer,
from the son. trying to see or speal
with this father?
She could see the corner OF the LET
ter sticking out between others. Sh'
was entirely alsne with that letter No
one would ever know II she read II. But
Jean had strong sense OF honor. TC
read another persons letter was to heI
about the same as putting her hand In
his pocket and taking something; still
she reasoned, perhaps she could help
this man in some way, If she only knew
how. She was aware this was sophis-
try, but II got the better of her. She
looked again at the letter, drew II out,
and read 1t.
"Dear father" 1t said, 81 have re-
ceived no answer to any Of my letters.
At first | thought you might not have
gotten them, but / am forced now to
think otherwise. Still l am making
one more appeal, for 1t seems incred-
ible you should go on believing me
what you said. 1t has come nearer
to breaking my heart, and making
wreck Of my life than anything else
In the whole bitter experience. II
you will not listen to me or see me, at
least let me know If you are well.
have been out OF prison for over six
months, but have found 1t hard to get
anything to do. The taint follows me.
At present am working on railroad
with day laborers, but this job will
not last very long"
Jean copied the address, and put tho
letter back In the basket.
Her thoughts played havoc with her
work. The appeal and pathOs Of
the letter haunted her. 1t seemed
tragic to her that this father and
son should be so far apart. But
even suppose she could bring them to-
gether, what would she be doing for
herself? She had begun almost to
know that Shields felt toward her as
though she were daughter, and her
future seemed assured.
II am well punished for my curios-
ity," she thought. "If l had let that
letter alone, 1 would not have to be
fighting this battle with myself"
Day after day she put off doing any
thing, till only short time intervened
before the two weeks would be up.
There was only one right, one just thing
to do, and that was to try to bring this
man into his own. She wrote to him,
explaining who she was, and telling
him his father had never opened his
letters. She asked him to have con-
fidence in her, and to let her know any
change in his address till she could ad-
wise him further. He answered, ex-
pressing his gratitude for her kind
ness.
One day in the parlor of her board
ing house she faced a man of about
thirty, with clear-cut features, a good
pair of shoulders, and the bearing of a
gentleman. 1t was Nathaniel Shields. /!
He told her something of his story. A
whom he had found out to be |
IN adventures, had managed to gain |
he affections of his father some three |
II four years after his mothers death,
md when he had finally succeeded in
her to his father, so that |
he engagement had been broken off,
Ter revenge had not rested till she .
lad succeeded by the help of one of
Ter pals in throwing the guilt of the
Orged note on him. After his convic-
ion she had written his father that hey
meant to give the money to her, as
le had been giving her large sums to
'uy her silence, since he was deter
mined she should not marry him, and
hat all his stories were lies.
Jean believed him. The more she
aw Of him, the more was her conf
ence enlisted in his behalf. One day
he said to him: II can see but one
hing to do. will bring you to him. If
e sends me from the house never to
nter it again, it must be tried"
81 can't let you do it," he said.
"YOu must" she answered. ut will
e kinder to me to do as l ask than to
efuse."
The next day she took him with her
} the house. She put him in the
rawing room, knowing that Shields
'Ould not be likely to go in there. In
lie library she found the elder man.
"There is someone waiting for you,"
ne said. Someone you ought to
,e-"
"No" he broke in seeming at once
divine who it was.
"Yes," she said. "By the eternal I
Istice! by Gods justice, you must! !"
She went to the other room, and {
ought with her Nathan Shields. The [
d man stood like rock, not speaking
)r moving. .
"He is not guilty-and he is your t
H." she said. Then she turned, and
ent from the room. ]
Jean waited in the great drawing
ON wondering what would happen.
about half an hour a maid came and
ked her to go to the library. Peter
lields met her taking her hand in a
arm grasp. Looking in his face she
lew what had happened. n
''You must stay and dine with u.s." o
said. I'VE will have family par n
- h
Jean did not at once lose her posi- a
N as secretary, though there was a a.
ght interruption when she became
lthan Shields wife. VI