The Lamar register., 1921-01-19
His Fathers Son
By II. LOUIS RAYBoLD

Roger Bennett had grown up In
the shadow of his fathers disgrace.
Since his early school days he had be-
come accustomed TO sly innuendoes
and looks askance. which at first he
attributed to some peculiarly of his
swn. But little by little he gathered
stray bits OF information until one
memorable day shortly before his
graduation 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 misappropriuted trust funds, had
been Indicted and had committed sui
eide IN prison while serving his sen
tence.
Don't forget. my son." she had con
cluded at the end of the sad story.
THAT now It lies with you TO make
worthy the name you bear. IL Was
your fathers also but through you
IL may again become honorable
And II was with This thought al
ways In mind that Roger left the high
school, went through college and came
back to make living for himself and
NHpNt rthiAf '''ff
been practically depleted by the cS-
pense Of her sons education. Then.
shortly after his return. his mother
had died. and Roger. bitterly. hut
truthfully. blamed the heavy burden
Of sorrow she had horne for So many
years for her untlineiy death and Ills
consequent great loneliness.
His one comfort during the sad days
was the kindness Of Virginia Dacre.
Back In Rogers school days hai been
horn the one great hate and one great
love OF his life. The love WIS for this
same Virginia. the hate for her cousin.
Wilbur Howard, nephew Of the pres
Ident OF ihe bank where Roger
worked.
II had been wilbur's slurrine re-
marks concerning Rogers father that
had made Virginia. ut that time u
slim, ieggy little girl with swapping
brown eyes and fiyaway pgtniis.
thrust u protecting arm through Ros-
er's and declare: You're q hateful
thing. Wilbur. II you are my cousin.
and no matter what you say about
Rogers father. he has the most beau
tltul mOtncT III tile NoTiu NHSihH =
own mother was dead.
Roger had never forgotten her par
risanship. Not that the old antago-
nisIn between her and her cousin had
developed. Rather the contrary. For
as Virginia grew into tall. slender
girl with her pigtaiis ioosened into
waves and curls on her stately head
and Wilbur became a dapper youth
with thin mustache OF which he was
inordinsteiy proud. people began to
hint that the kinship between the two
was not going TO prove an obstacle
TO a closer relation. and Roger feared
the downfall OF the hopes he had long
cherished.
And people limited at other things,
also. For Instance. there were those
who. when Roger was taken Into the
hank, shook their heads and gave ut
terance TO vague remarks about hered-
ity, bred In the bone" like father,
ike son" And Wilbur himself. vice
president OF the bank largely through
the grace OF being the presidents
nephew. had felt It Incumbent upon
his position TO demonstrate with his
uncle.
Uncle WILL" he began with a slight
embarrassed pull at his mustache.
isn't it-er-rather risky to employ
Young BennettT
william Ho laid down the re-
pot he was reading and regarded his
nephew over the rims of his glasses.
How so?" he asked curtly.
"well, his father"
I'm not employing his father. He's
dead" said Uncle WIN. "Close the
door as you go out. Wilbur"
Then. late one winter evening. Rog-
er, returning to the bank for a forgot
ten package. surprised a light In an
inner Office Investigation discovered
Wilbur. rather illustrated. who after
IN involved explanation of his pres
ence, departed hastily. Roger puzzled
over the matter. then dismissed II
from his mind. He could not know,
Of course. that Wilbur was forgetting
his own dismay In wondering what
was the nature of his tRoger's) er-
rand.
II CHANGED that on the day the bank
examiners elected to visit Tylerville,
Wilbur was out of town. As he got
Oh the train on his return he stepped
into such a hubbub Of excitement as
his native village had not known FOR