The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-13
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
His Fathers Son
BY H. LOUIS aAYsoLo.

cr's disgrace. Since his early
school days he had become accus'
toned to sly innuendoes and looks
askance, which at first he attribu-
ted 10 some popularity OF his own.
but little by little he gathered stray
bits Of information until one mem
ornble day shortly before his gradu-
alton from high school he con-
fronted his mother with his scraps
OF half-knowledge and learned
from her the whole bitter tale; how
his father had Incorporated
tTust funds, had been indicted ana
had committed suicide in prison
while serving his sentence.
Don't forget, my SON" she had
concluded at the end OF the sad
story, that now 1t lies with you 10
make worthy the name you bear. j;
was your fathers also, but through
you it may again become honor
able"
And It was with this thought al
ways in mind that Roger left the
high school, went through college
and came back 10 make 4 living fOI
himself and mother. whose scanty
resources had been practically de-
pleted by the expenses OF her sons
education Then. shortly after
his return, his mOtacr had died, and
Roger. bitterly but truthfully, blan-
ed the heavy burden OF sorrow She
had borne for SO many years for
her untimely death and his consr-
Quent great loneliness.
His one comfort during the sad
days was the kindness OF Virginia
Dacre. Back in Rogers school days
had been born the one great hate
TAU ne one great love OF his lie
The love was for this same Virgin
"a, the hate for her cousin. Wilbur
howard, nephew Of the president Of
tlt&e pnnk where Roger worked.
Y 1t had been Wilbur's siurrlns re-
marks concerning Rogers father
that had made Virginia, AT that tine
4 Yslim. leggy little girl with snap.
L ting brown eyes and hyaway pig
iialis. thrust protecting arm
Through Rogers arm. and declared:
You're a hateful thing, Wilbur, 4
YOU are my cousin, and no matter
what yUu say about Rogers father.
no has the most beautiful mother
in the world. Virginla'3 own moth
IN was dead.
Roger had never forgotten her
craftsmanship. Not that the old an
tagonism between her and her
cousin had developed Rather the
contrary. For us Irginia grew i-to
Il tail, slender girl with her plgtuils
loosened into waves and curls ca
her stately head and Wilbur be
came dapper youth with thin
nusIuche OF which lie was !nordin
ately proud people began TO hint
that the klnsnip between the two
g4s not going 10 prove an obstacle
a closer relation. and Roger fear
d the downfall Of the hopes he had
tdong cherished
And people limited at other things
also. For instance there were those
who, when Roger was taken into
the bank, shoow their heads and
gave utteranCe 10 vague remarks
about heredity, bred in the bone,
like father like SON" And Will
bur himself. a vicc-presIdcnt OF the
bank, largely through the grace OF
felt it incumbent upon his position
" IGL4OuSklGAtG Will his uliG4Gs
Uncle WILL ne began with a
slight embarrassed pull ut his mus
tache, isn't it-e--rather risky to
employ young Bennett?"
SytLIani howard laid down the
report he was reading and regard.
eutE1s nephew over the rims OF his
i giusses.
ASfIow so?-" he asked CURLY.
Z siWell, his father"
I'm not employing his father.
Hes dead" said Uncle Will. "Closc
he door as you so out, Wilbur"
Then late one winter evening.
Roger, returning 20 the bank for a
10 gotten PACKAGES, was sur
piised TO find light in an
Inner office. Investigation dis.
covered Wilbur, rather flustrat-
alton of his presence, departed has
oily. Roger puzzled over the mat
ter, then dismissed 1t from his mind.
He could not know, OF course. that
Wilbur was forgetting his own dis.
may in wondering what was the na-
!ure of his (Roger's) errand.
1t CHANGED that on the day the
bank examiners elected to visit Ty-
aANgEhlGlIa w AAbAA " OAG IA AO"A 40
De got or the train on his return he
stepped into such hubbub Of eX-
element as his native village had
not known for years. Knots OF peo-
pie stood on the corners in gesticu-
iating discussion. An attempt to
use a telephone found all lines bu.
BY, The one evening paper Haunted
The news in glaring type. Large
sums of money missing from local
banks-books tempered with-sus-
picion directed toward certain we'll
known citizen"
With fingers that tried In vain to
be steady Wilbur held the sheet and
read. Only at the end he saw that
Roger Bennett was being held for
investigation, did the color return
/. to his face. 1t looked bad for Roger.
Poor chap-it did that! And with
what little information he could
giYe in addition to that which was
evidently already known. Well,
what could they expect And he
had warned his uncle.
at that very moment, parolled at
y the instance OF the president on HIS
4 own recognizanCe, Roger Bennett
lsat in his room facing the great
z crisis of his life, Upon his action