Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-11
Hi. Fathers Son
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD
t@. 1870. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.

t@. 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper syndieate.)
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 popularity Of his
own. 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 Incorporated 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-
Guided at the end of the sad story,
"that now 1t lies with you to make
worthy the name you bear. 1t was
your fathers also. but through you
II may again become honorable"
And 1t 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
mother. whose scanty resources had
been practically depleted by the ex-
pense of her sons education. Then,
shortly after his return, his mother
had died. and Roger. bitterly, but
truthfully, blamed the heavy burden
of sorrow she had borne for so many
years for her untimely death and his
consequent 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 and one great
love of his life. The love was for this
same Virginia. the hate for her cousin,
Wilbur Howard, nephew Of the pres
Ident OF the bank where Roger
worked.
1t had been Wilbur's slurring re-
marks concerning Rogers father that
had made Virginia, at that time q
slim, leggy little girl with swapping
brown eyes and fyaway pigtails,
thrust a protecting arm through Rog-
er's and declare: you're a hateful
thing, Wilbur. II you are my cousin,
and no matter what you say about
Rogers father. he has the most beau
tiful mother in the worldl" Virginia's
own mother was dead.
Roger had never forgotten her par
tisanship. Not that the old antago-
nism between her and her cousin had
developed. Rather the contrary. For
rs Virginia grew into tall, slender
girl with her pigtails loosened Into
waves and curls on her stately head,
and Wilbur became a dapper youth
with q thin mustache Of which he was
Unfortunately 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
bank, shook their heads and gave ut
terance to vague remarks about hered-
ity, "bred In the bone," ''like father,
like son." And Wilbur himself, vice
president of the bank largely through
the grace of being the presidents
nephew, had felt 1t incumbent upon
his position to demonstrate with his
uncle.
"Uncle WILL" he began with slight
embarrassed pull at his mustache,
"isn't it-er-rather risky to employ
young Benrett?"
William Howard laid down the re-
port he was reading and regarded his
nephew over the rims of his glasses.
SLOW SOP" he asked CURLY.
"Well, his father"
"rm not employing his father. He's
dead" said Uncle VIII. "Close the
door as you go out. Wilbur"
Then. late one winter evening, Rog-
er, returning to the bank for forgot
ten package. surprised light in an
inner office. Investigation discovered
Wilbur, rather illustrated, who after
an involved explanation Of his pres
ence. departed hastily. Roger puzzled
over the matter then dismissed 1t
from his mind. He could not know,
of course, that Wilbur was forgetting
his own dismay in wondering what
was the nature of his (Roger's) er-
rand
It CHANGED that on the day the bank
examiners elected to visit Tylerville,
Wilbur was out of town. AS he got
off the train on his return he stepped
into such a hubbub Of excitement as
his native village had not known for
years. Knots of people stood on the
corners in gesticulative discussion.
An attempt to use telephone found
all lines busy. The one evening paper
Haunted the news in glaring type.
Large sums missing from local bank
books tempered with-suspicion d.
rected toward certain well-known
Citizen"
With fingers that tried In vain to
be steady Wilbur held the sheet and
read. Only at the end, as he saw that
Roger Bennett was being held for in
vestigation. did the color return to his
face. II looked bad for Roger. Poor
chap-it did that And with what lit
tie information he could give In ad-
ditlon to that which was evidently al
ready known. Well, what could they
expect7 And he had warned his
uncle.
At that very moment, parolled at
the instance Of the president on his
own recognIzance. Roger Bennett sat
IN bis room facing the great crisis of
&c life. Upon his action depended
the happiness Of three people. Did h,
assert his innocence and tell all he