The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-05-09
The DEAD PAST
BY CECILIE lANGDON.
tcopyrisht. 1917. western Newspaper Union,

at your new place Of work, Roland"
said Mrs. Vincent.
: "He's a good friend, too" replied /
Roland Vincent. ut was awful strange |
and awkward the first day or two, for,
you see, knew nobody among my fel- |
low workers, and it isn't much ike
school. thought they would say
wouldn't do when blundered 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 queer act
ing man, hardly ever speaks to any
body. but has been so kind and helpful
to me-"
1t got to be so finally that Roland
visited Mr.. Leigh regularly once a
week. When he did so, he remained
till after ten o'clock at night.
'It's just JOLLY" Roland told his
mother repeatedly. "Mr. Leigh has
gas stove and a regular housekeep-
ing outfit. He gets up 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 like?" questioned
Mrs. Vincent anxiOusly.
.Oh, never that" replied Roland,
| quickly "He has a 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 40
| toriOus murderer and a knife with
which a foreign prince was assassin
ated He showed me last night trick
gambling outfit, and proved to me the
frauds employed to defraud gambling
victims. 1t was so interesting"
Mrs. Vincent's eyes dilated. She
seized Ronald's arm with trembling
hand.
"Oh, my son! my SOM" She spoke
in so intense tone that Ronald view
ed her In wonder, promise me never,
never to touch n card !"
Don't worry about that" returned
Roland ut once. Anybody hearing Mr..
Leigh tell what gambling leads to
would never do So"
Il wish you would ask Mr.. Leigh to
tea some evening. Roland" said Mrs.
Vincent. 1--WE must return his cour-
teses in some way"
81 did once" explained Roland. "but
he said he never went anywhere. / do
wish you could meet him, though. He
seems interested in anything that con-
Germs me. You know, | could not tell
him much" and Roland glanced close.
~ at his mother. and then at a framed
photograph on the wall.
Always he had believed that coun-
terfeit presentment of an austere. dig
nifed looking man to be that of the
; father he could not remember. She
became strangely agitated.
Roland" she said, Il have taught
| Their as dead TO u.s."
: But not really dead. mother" per
| sisted Roland.
! AT all events lost to the world an(
to u.s." continued Mrs. Vincent. II for
bid you ever to mention his nam,
again." Mrs. Vincent broke down IL
! tears and hurried from the room.
One evening Roland came horne Il
n great state of excitement. He wa
earlier than usual, and his ami
mated face told that he was stirred III
'Oh, mother, l guess our good luc
i has comet" he cried buoyantly. "Wha
: do You think? The house is going t
g Mr.. Leigh is TO take charge of it at
II big salary. He says he has been work
ing for the promotion for years, an
/ he has the privilege of appointing hi
f own assistants, and he says If we wi
n remove to Brazil he will start me /
+ as his chief clerk at four times th
n salary am now getting"
I, Mrs. Vincent had been busting tn
! furniture and wall hangings when Ro
n and came in, and now she listened t
IS him, buster suspended.
n won't you come and call upon hi
with me?" urged Roland. maybe yo
= would consent to move to Brazil afte
! hearing Mr. Leigh tell of the gref
: business prospect it would be for me
Eyes" asSented Mrs. Vincent, after
: moment of thought. 81 think we ha
- better have talk with him togethe
le There is the door bell" and she le
l. the room. AS she passed into the ha
s she struck the cord suspending Il
n time-honored photograph. Frame ar
r all came to the floor with crash. Tv
at photographs fell out upon the carpt
II AS the under one caught the eye of r
% land he uttered quick ejaculation.
y was Mr.. Leigh!
"Fathcr!' he said simply, extendir
. his hand and looked appealingly in
the eyes of the other
"You know, then" began NJ
Leigh.
"Only that you must be the father
have longed to know. Oh, tell n