The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-03
The DEAD PAST
BY CEcILLE lANGDoN.
,opyrlght. 1p17. We.tern Newspaper unIon.l

Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union
: IL am glad you have found friend
at your new place of work, Roland,
said Mrs. Vincent.
Hes good friend, too" replied
Roland Vincent. 1T was awful strange
and awkward the first day or two, for,
you see, knew nobody among my fell
low workers, and it isn't much like
school. / thought they would say l
wouldn't do when / Numbered and
made mistakes half dozen times.
| Then my new friend. who has charge
of the stock room, spoke to me and
told me to see him at the lunch hour"
"What Is his name, Roland?" In
quired Mrs. Vincent.
"Robert Leigh. He is a queer act
Ing man, hardly ever speaks TO any
body, but has been so kind and helpful
| to me-"
It got to be so finally that Roland
visited Mr.. Leigh regularly once
week. When he did so, he remained
till after ten o'clock at night.
ITS just jolly!" Roland told his
mother repeatedly. "Mr. Leigh has
gas stove and regular housekeep-
ing outfit. He gets up a meal about
as fine as yours, mother, and that's
saying lot. Then he clears the table
and gets out the books, and goes over
what / have read for the week. / am
learning so much, mother"
,'Does he never smoke, or drink, or
play cards, or that likeT questioned
Mrs. Vincent anxiously.
"Oh, never that !" replied Roland,
quickly. "He has cabinet of curl
osities. Once, long time ago, he says
he knew all sorts of men. for he was
doing some detective work. In his cab
met he has the rope that hanged no.
torious murderer and a knife with
which a foreign prince was assassin
ated. He showed me last night trick
gambling outfit and proved to mo the
frauds employed to defraud gambling |
victims. 1t was so interesting"
Mrs. vincent's eyes dlated. She |
seized Ronald's arm with trembling
hand.
"Oh, my son my son." She spoke
In so intense tone that Ronald view
ed her in wonder, promise me never,
never to touch a card J"
"Don't worry about that" returned
Roland at once anybody hearing Mr.
Leigh tell what gambling leads to
would never do So"
81 wish you would ask Mr.. Leigh to
tea some evening Rol0nd," said Mrs.
Vincent. "We must return his cour-
.esies in some way"
II did once" explained Roland, but
ne said he never went anywhere. do
wish you could meet him. though. He
seems interested In anything that con-
,erns me. You know. l could not tell
lin much" and Roland glanced close
Y Mt his mother, and then at framed
on the wall.
Always he had believed that coun-
erfeIt presentment of an austere, dig
lifed looking man to be that OF the
ather he could not remember. She
'ecame strangely agitated.
"Roland," she said, 81 have taught
0u from cHlluHOou 10 Tebdfu yum Ia
her as dead to us"
"But not really dead, mother" per- r
listed Roland.
"At all events lost to the world and
0 us" continued Mrs. Vincent. Il for
i'd you ever TO mention his name
gain" Mrs. Vincent broke down in
ears and hurried from the room.
One evening Roland came home in
great state of excitement He was
arlier than usual, and his ami
lated face told that he was stirred up.
"Oh. mother, / guess our good luck
as come !" he cried buoyantly, What
o you think? The house Is going TO
pen branch In Rio de Janeiro, and
Ir. Leigh is to take charge of 1t at
* salary. He says he has been work
ig for the promotion for years, and
2 has the privilege of appointing his
vn assistants, and he says If we will
move to Brazil he will start me in
his chief clerk at four times the
larry am now getting"
Mrs. Vincent had been busting the
rnlture and wall hangings when Roll
I'd came in, and now she listened to
H. buster suspended.
won't you come and call upon him
It'll me?" urged Roland. Maybe you
ould consent to move to Brazil after
,aring Mr.. Leigh tell of the great
slness prospect 1t would be for me-"
ayes" assented Mrs. Vincent, after q
oment of thought. II think we had
tier have talk with him together.
lere is the door bell, and she left q