Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-06-16

Jean had been Instructed to slit the
ends OF envelopes ard lay the mail
ready for Mr.. Shields, but not TO open
or read any letters unless called upon
TO do so. Two letters addressed in a
masculine hand she had noticed he had
tossed into the wastebasket without
even taking them from the envelope. At
first she thought not much about IT,,
supposing he took II for begging let
ter or some inconsequential matter
about which he did not wish to be both
cred. But she noticed that after each
of these letters he seemed irritable.
When the third one came, and met
with the same reception, Jeans won
derment and curiosity reached the
boiling point. Among other wild sur
misses one suddenly struck her with
force. Suppose these letters were
from the son trying to see or speak
with this father7
She could see the corner OF the let
ter sticking out between others. She
was entirely alone with that letter. No
one would ever know II she read II. But
Jenn had strong sense Of honor. To
read another persons letter was to her
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 1t out,
and read IL.
"Dear father" 1t said, II have re-
ceived no answer to any of my letters.
At first l thought you might not have
gotten them, but am forced now to
think otherwise. Still / 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
a wreck of my life than anything else
in the whole bitter experience. If
you will not listen to me or see me, at
least let me know If you are well. l
have been out Of prison for over six
months, but have found it hard to get
anything to do. The faint follows me.
At present l am working on a railroad
with day laborers, but this job will
not last very long"
Jean copied the address, and put the
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
herselfp She had begun almost to
know that Shields felt toward her as
though she were daughter, and her
I future seemed assured.
81 am well punished for my curios-
ity," she thought. IF had let that
letter alone, would not have to be
fighting this battle with myself"
Day after day she put off doing any
thing, till only a short time interviewed
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-
fldence 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
woman whom he had found out to be
an adventures, had managed to gain
the affections Of his father some three
or four years after his mothers death
and when he had finally succeeded in
unmasking her to his father, so that
the engagement had been broken off.
her revenge had not rested till she
had succeeded by the help Of one of
her pals In throwing the guilt of the
forged note on him. After his eonvic-
'tien she had written his father that he
meant 10 give the money to her, as
The had been giving her large sums to
buy her silence, since he was deter
named she should not marry him, and
that all his stories were lies.
Jean believed him. The more she
fsaw Of him, the more was her conf
'dence enlisted in his behalf. One day
she said to him : II can see but one
thing to do. 1 win bring you to him. II |
me sends me from the house never to
|eneer 1t again, 1t must be tried"
] Il can't let you do It," he said.
J You must" she answered. at will
be kinder to me TO do as ask than 10
refuse"
The next day she took him with her
10 the house. She put him in the ,
drawing room, knowing that Shields
would not be likely to 20 in there. In