Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-02-06
THE DEAD PAST
By CEClLLE LANGDON.

ElsssazsiAGEE.
! Copyright 1911 Western Newspaper Union.)
81 am glad you have found friend
at your new place Of work, Roland
! said Mrs. Vincent.
"He's a good friend, too" replied
Roland Vincent. "ft 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 like
school. I thought they would say
wouldn't do when l blundered ana
made mistakes half dozen times.
Then my new friend, who has charge
of the stock room, spoke to me ana
told me to see him at the lunch hour.
"What is his name, Roland? IN
uuired Mrs. Vincent.
"Robert Leigh. He is queer act
ing man, hardly ever speaks to any
body, but has been so kind and helptui
to me-"
It got to he so finally that Roland
visited Mr.. Leigh regularly once a
week. When he did so, he remained
till after ten 6tlock at night.
'Tt's just jolly" Roland told his
mother repeatedly. "Mr. Leigh has
a gas stove and regular housekeep-
ing outfit. He gets up meal about
as fine rs yours, mother, and that's
saving a lot. Then he clears the table
and gets out the books, and goes over
what have read for the week. I am
learning so much mother"
"Does he never smoke, or drink, or
play cards, or that lke?" questioned
Mrs. Vincent anNiously.
"Oh, never that!' replied Roland,
quickly. "TIe 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 a no.
torious murderer and 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. It was so interesting"
Mrs. vlncent's eyes dilated. 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 card !"
"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, Roland" said Mrs.
Vincent. ave must return his cour-
tesies 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 I could not tell
him much" and Roland glanced close
ly at his mother. and then at framed
photograph on the wall.
Always he had believed that coun-
terfeit presentment of an austere, dig
nlfled looking man to be that OF the
father he could not remember. She
became strangely agitated.
"Roland," she said, 81 have taught
you from childhood to regard your IA
ther as dead to u.s."
"But not really dead, mother" per-
sisted Roland.
"At all events lost to the world and
to u.s." continued Mrs. Vincent. II for
bid you ever to mention his name
again." Mrs. Vincent broke down in
tears and hurried from the room.
One evening Roland came home in
a great state of excitement. He was
earlier than usual, and his ami
mated face told that he was stirred up.
"Oh. mother, guess our good luck
has GOMEZ! he cried huoyantly. "What
do YOU think? The house is going to-
open n branch in Rio de Janeiro, and
Mr.. Leigh is to take charge of it at
big salary. He says he has been work
ing for the promotion for years, and
he has the privilege Of appointing his
own assistants, and he says If we will
remove to Brazil he will start me In
us his chief clerk at four times the
salary I am now getting"
Mrs. Vincent had been dusting the
furniture and wall hanglngs when Rol-
and came in, and now she listened to
him. duster suspended.
"Won't you come and call upon him
with me?" urged Roland. Maybe you
would consent to move to Brazil after
hearing Mr.. Leigh tell of the great
business prospect it would be for me-"
"Yes," assented Mrs. Vincent, after
moment of thought. 81 think we had
better have talk with him together.
There Is the door bell" and she left
the room. AS she passed into the hall
she struck the cord suspending the
time-honored photograph. Frame and
all came to the floor with crash. Two
photographs fell out upon the carpet
As tho under one caught the eve Of RO-