The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-10-07
An Old
Beau
~ RALPH HAMILTON

t'lgibnf NI'N ih' ihtttrs Hhtl'iNE "
stranger coming and going from The
burand has. through two uay~ was
curious to know his Identity
Not yer, old. Airs purnnd." oh
served the inquirer. slightly older
than Mt Mayhcw. but still y"uus
man
"Oh. YES" replied Mrs. purand. hut
he always was staid and reserved and
looks beyond his years. when We
lived nj Rochelle Foster Brock was u
fa,orit, caller at our home. q sort ~
chum of NV son and willing att.u-
dant aGd faithful slave Of i.eShias
when ! say beau do not mean that
they were Nm love with one another
Just hoy aud giri friendship. when
Alton MAYHEM got acquainted with
I.shla and married her. Foster
seemed glad aud happy to have her
settle down In M, with 50 worthy q
YOUNG man lie IL on his way to ore
.on where be expects io Join some rel
ati,es. hu, = small fruit farm and be
com. . bachelor asriculturist
lie i nnc l""kiu. man and -
gentle and pleasant in his WAYS,
commended the u.ighhur Tie had y
cotcric ~ little children about him yes
'"rdaN mrudius q top Tor one tNirs y
kitc FOR another and fcastins tli" 90.
tire group 90 lc. cream comes lie
seems h"y"nd the aVcras. m hi good
hess ~ heart"
Yes. Foster Brock had good heart.
aud an aching one. II u must b.
known. hat b" had concealed that fact
for "A long time and was lik-l, tn pre-
s"rN" Il ~ secret Little lid Mrs
purund Rad thls ~t"rl.n- fri'ui
Alright His was nature deep and
lasting IN it, lovaity. fun ~ mobile in.
spiraiions hut patient. resigned whore
b" dii no. receive the reward n.
served m, one imp'lllng emotion ~
his ne was love fof fcshia he bad
rrprcssrd m" Impulse fu tell her ~ II
His attitude was that ~ devoted
friend with truth~rly interest IN her
welfar" She had never suspected hi
real sentiments Had he disclosed
them before her maiden fancy was cap
iiVaied nv Alton Nayh.W. ~ might
have been different. for Brock was y
person any girl might honor and -.
spcct. So be bore his cross In silence
when she married and nov had lie
cid.d To- isolate himself and seek 20
forget the pain ~ his disappointment
t..shia had received him with ~ 81
her old-tim. gIrllsh frl.ndlines~ Tier
hushapd made this sterling friend %
the family heartily welcome H. wns
certainly n model husband. and Hrort
was glaf that something he knew had
never reached the ears ~ I.>hia He
had asceriained that In the past for
over year Nayhew had led reck-
loss. irregular career u seemed how
ever that the influence Of i.~hia had
won him from even the memory ~
that bad year In his No. Its incidents
had been confined To far distant see
'ion. and Brock was gratifei rs time
wen, on that no, 80 muon a. whis
p.r ~ the truth reached the ears -
'he woman he loved
n was his last afternoon In the city
and about 3 o'clock BROCK walked over
20 the pretty little home 81 Alton and
...esbia Mayhev. They were out fo'
n auto ride. the maid told him. hut
mad left word that n d. came he was
20 wait for them aud she placed IN
easy chair for Brock on the cool AMI
shady porch.
4 man came up the garden path a
Few moments after Brock had com
foriably seated himself lie was n
shr.wd faced. keen eyed man suggest
ing the collector or p.iilfogger. He
,lld unlimited into chair heslh.
Brock. hestowIng upon him search
Ing glance
Il hoped 10 fini YOU alone NJ NAV
hew." b. said. lookin. about tp s"e
that no on, was In sight Il would
dislike To arous. IA. suspicious Of
your wife or bring any public disgrace
10 YOU. think we can nix NJ mat
ter that hangs over you and dismiss
II once for all"
"Spcak on" ordered brock griml,
III. covert threat Implied the warning
that the happiness Of Iesbia might be-
Involved IN this mans visit and
aroused Brock TO keen interest ~
once. and he allowed the fact that b.
was accepted n Alton MAYHEM to
pass.
Briefly and finally. then" said the
stranger. "a client has placed IN ny
hands document you forged eight
wears ago. You viii recall H. You
wer. under the Influence ~ bad al
ylssrs M the time aud no one suf-
fercd a loss hut IN. note You ~ fool.
SHY gave stands against you 10 dis.
rupt your happiness and that Of those
dear To you unless you r,-isem H."
And the amour, in,olyedf'
Two thousand dollars"
The sum almost exhausted the full
amount Brock had 20 invest In the
farm h. coveted. Ills lips set aud then
soficn.d a. he thought of Leshls.
4 viii pay the money--giye me the
note" he said. a. quietly ~ though
he was purchasing some cheap hnn.
hl.
And Alton Mathew never knew. nor
I.esbia And q lof.ly man. toiling for