The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-09
An Old
Beau
By RALPH HAMILTON
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"Oh, an old beau of LeSbia'S," was
the way Mrs. Durand replied to a
neighbor when the latter, noticing Il
stranger coming and going from the
Durand home through two days, was
curious to know his identity.
mot very old, Mrs Durand," OBJ.
served the Inquirer. Slightly ode,
than Mr.. Mayhem, but still young
man."
"Oh, yes,'' replied Mrs. Durand, "but
he always was staiG and reserved and
looks beyond his years. When we
lived at Rochelle, Foster Brock was a
favorite caller at our home, sort of
chum of my son and 4 willing atten
dant and faithful slave Of Lesbia's.
When l say beau, Go not mean that
they were in love with one another
Just boy and girl friendship. When
Alton Mayhem got acquainted with
Lesbia and married her. Foster
seemed glad and happy to have her
settle down in life with SO worthy a
young man. He is on his way to Ore,
gon, where he expects to join some rel.
atives, buy small fruit farm and be-
come bachelor agriculturist.'
HE is fine looking man, and 50
gentle and pleasant in his ways"
commended the neighbor. He had a
coterie of little children about him yes
terday, mending a top for one, fixing a
kite for another and feasting the en-
tire group on ice cream cones. He
seems beyond the average in his good
ness of heart
Yes, Foster Brock had good heart,
and an aching one, if it must be
known, but he had concealed that fact
for long time and was likely to pre-
serve it as secret. Little did Mrs.
Durand read this sterling friend
Alright. His was nature deep and
lasting in it's loyalty, full of noble in.
spirations but patient, resigned where
he did not receive the reward de-,
served. The one impelling emotion Of
his life was love for Lesbia. He had
repressed the impulse to tell her of it.
His attitude was that Of devoted
friend with a brotherly interest in her
welfare. She had never suspected his
real sentiments. Had he disclosed
them before her maiden fancy was cap
tivated by Alton Mayhem, il might
have been different, for Brock was a
person any girl might honor and re-.
spect. So he bore his cross in silence
when she married and now had de-
cided to isolate himself and seek to
forget the pain of his disappointment.
Lesbia had received him with all of
her Old-time girish friendliness. Her
husband made this sterling friend of
the family heartily welcome. He was
certainly a model husband, and Brock
was glad that something he knew had
never reached the ears Of Lesba. He
had ascertained that in the past for
over year Mayhem had led a reck-
less, irregular career. It seemed, how
ever that the influence of Lesbia had
Won him from even the memory of
that bad year in his life. It's incidents
had been confined to far distant Sec
ton, and Brock was gratifed as time
went Or that not so mucn as whis-
per Of the truth reached the ears of
the woman he loved.
1t was his last afternoon in the city
and about o'clock Brock walked over
to the pretty little home of Alton and
Lesbia Mayhew. They were out for
an auto ride, the maid told him, bat
had left word that if he came he was
to wait for them and she placed an
easy chair for Brock on the cool and
shady porch.
man rame up the garden path a
few moments after Brock had COM
fortably seated himself He was a
shrewd faced, keen eyed man, suggest
ing the collector or pettifogger. He
slid uniEyited into a chair beside
Brock, bestowing upon him a search
ing glance.
II hoped to find you alone, Mr.. May
hew," he said, looking about to see
that no one was in sight II would
dislike to arouse the suspicious of
your wife or bring any public disgrace
to you. think we can fix up mat.
ter that hangs over you and dismiss
it once for ALL
"Speak on" ordered Brock grimly.
The covert threat implied the warning
that the happiness of Lesbia might be
involved in this mans visit and
aroused Brock to keen interest at
once, and he allowed the fact that he
was accepted as Alton Mayhem tC
pass.
Briefly and finally, them said the
stranger, "a client has placed in my
hands a document you forged eight
years ago. You will recall it. You
were under the influence Of bad adj
visers at the time and no one suf-
fered loss, but the note you so fool
ishly gave stands against you to dis
rupt your happiness and that of those
dear to you unless you redeem it,
'And tie amount involved?"
1.-TWO thousand dollars"
The sum almost exhausted the full
amount Brock had to invest in the
farm he coveted. His lips set and then
softened as he thought of Lesbia.
II will pay the moncy-give me the
note" he said, as quietly as though