Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1903 — HARRY’S MAJORITY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HARRY’S MAJORITY

HAT most cloHghtful companion Wof summer days—tlie sun —was shining brilliantly through the open window Into a cbnifmlngly appointed dining room one bright June morning. Breakfast was laid for three. At the head of the table sat Miss Priscilla Payne, n sweet-gray* haired woman, with what Is termed a “good” face, though lined with care and trouble. Yes; the bowl of happiness was low when her share was ladled out. There was a gentle look of resignation In her face, which was the reflection of a brave heart. She brightened up as she heard a quick, light footstep, and her niece, Jessie Burton, a sweetly pretty girl of about 18 summers, entered the room. “Good morning, auntie! Is Harry down?” she asked, kissing her guardian. “No, dear; but be soon will be, I'm sure. He can only have one tweutyflrst birthday." “Many letters for him?” , “A few; one is from Australia.” “Auntie*” said the girl suddenly, jrlth a tinge of lovely color flaming her yheeks, “—l—have something to tell you." “1 do believe I can guess what it is, Jessie.” “O, auntie, I am sure you haven't a notion.” "My dear, your face convinces me that my conclusion is correct. Come ikere and let your old aunt whisper it: TTarry has proposed and you have accepted him.” “How did you know?” ejaculated Jessie. “Yes, he proposed last night. Aren't you going to congratulate me?” “Yes, yes, darling. May you be

very, very happy," ;uul she kissed herniece lovingly. “Are you quite sure, Jessie, that you love h.ltn, and that there la nothing that would prevent you from marrying?” Jessie replied by a look that indicated such a question was entirely unnecessary. ‘‘You know, dear, I was in love once, and some one was fond of me, hut — but—things went wrong. Some day you shall hear the story, dear, then you will understand how it Is I am eo anxious about you. Ah, here Is llnrry!” At that moment a handsome young fellow entered the room. Jessie ran and kissed him, and led him to her aunt, who was smiling through tears of happiness and sorrow because she foresaw a hitter parting with Jessie. After oft-repeated congratulations and many happy returns, Harry was permitted to open his letters. The gist of the one froth Australia rail as follows: “My Dear Son: I trust--you will receive this on tite day you attain your majority. Now that you have arrived at an age of discretion, 1 wish you to know as much of my history ns is necessary. • * • Pray, my dear son, do not think hardly of me. *' * * All I have done I have done for the best. • * * i have instructed that good man, the Rev. William Nay laud, your guardian and counselor all those years, to tell you as much as he thinks fit. * • • He will see the lawyers for you. After to-day you will be able to draw ? 1,500 a year. • * * This will continue until njy death. When all 1 have goes to you. * • • Wishing you all happiness, my dear boy. Your most affectionate “FATHER.” Harry read this through twice, amid a strange feeling of uneasiness nnd emotion. It was the first letter he had ever received from his father, lie sat' down, looking rather pale, crushing the letter in his hand. Was his three mouths of perfect happiness at this bouse to be marred by some horrible revelation? lie trusted not. Somehow or other lie thought of James Bauton. his rival. Miss Paine had taken a great fancy to Harry when they first met, two years ago, and lie had latterly been ataylng with her and Jessie, with the Inevitable result that he fell head over Aars In love with her pretty niece. “My guardian, the Iter. William Nayland, will be calling to see me today, Miss Payn£.” he said at length, “about some business matter*. And, Jessie.” be broke off. ‘T should like to •ee you In the garden after break-

The meal having concluded, with painful evidence that things had gone atwlst, Harry strolled into the garden with her. “Darling what Is It? What Is the matter?” she added gently, nestling up to him. “Something has gone wrong, and who should share your trouble with you but I?” The doubts and perplexities which entangled his mind for a moment seemed to overwhelm him. Then, without a word, be took the girl In his strong arms and held her closely to him. “Jessie,” he began falteringly at last, "if —if—-there should be anything that might come between our marriage, don't think too hardly of me. If there he n secret In my family, and I have kept .it from you, believe me when I say that it was through no fault- of mine. I had no Intention to deceive ” Harry! Ilarry!” sobbed Jessie, now thoroughly alarmed. “I don’t know what you mean, indeed I don’t,” she concluded, with a flood of te&ra, and nothing would comfort her till she had sobbed out her heart to her aunt. That afternoon, the Itev. William Naylnud called, and was closeted with Harry for nearly an hour. Harry had the greatest admiration and affection for his guardian, who had been like a father to him for seventeen years, and had he known the painful nature of the duty which the clergyman had to perform that afternoon he would surely have made it a lighter task. "I would first of all tell you, Harry, that I have an unbounded faith and regard In your father, who, under the most adverse circumstances, has won the esteem and respect of all with whom he has come in contact since residing in Australia. He only made pno slip in his life, but it bas cost him—well, God only knows what! When he left he expressed a hope to me that, if he married, I would take care of any children with whom lie was blessed and bring them up In total ignorance of who their father was. This I promised to do. He married out- there and you were born, but in giving birth to you your mother died. When you were 4 years old he sent you to me. When you attained your majority he instructed me to tell you the secret of his life, and begged that you would not judge him too harshly. Through hard work he has gained a substantial fortune, and from this day you will receive from the lawyers sufficient capital that will yield an Income of $1,500 a year. You will now hear ” “Stop!” said Hurry quietly, with a strange look In his face. “I cannot nnd will not touch one penny of my father’s money. He has deceived me. He had no right to bring me up with the thought that his life had been beyond reproach. It was cruel—cruel —cruel!”

He was pacing the room now; his face was white and set. “Jessie—the girl to whom I am engaged—what .will she say? What am I to tell tier? —I, who have always been taught to be truthful and open ever since I learned to speak. 1 have been kepUn Ignorance Of that which 1 ought to have known, and what she ought to have kuown.” “It was done with a noble purpose, and worthy of the noble mind that entertained it,” broke in his gunrdiau quickly. “Were your fiancee to know the whole story she would revere and honor the name you hear.” “I shall hear nothing until we are married," retorted Harry, with rapidly rising anger. “Is it not enough that m.v —my father has killed my faith in him? Now you wish to kill her faith in me. No! no! no! I can’t hear the truth;" and he strode from the room. He staggered blindly Into the dining room. But he paused on the threshold.. He saw Jessie standing near the window, and by her, with his hand roughly seizing hers, stood James Banton, ids rival. “Jessie, 1 desire an explanation,” he said, quietly, but with a voice that shook with suppressed passion and jealousy. With a startled cry the girl turned round. ' ; “My explanation is this,” put in Banton, with a sneer, “that the son of a common forger is not a suitable husband for Miss Fayne’s niece!” “Recall those words!” shouted Harry', “you lying scoundrel!" “They are true," sneered Banton. “Twenty-three years ago your father forged n check, was convicted, imprisoned, and finally left for Australia, where he has since lived. If you don’t believe It, I have ample proof. Uo and ask the Rev. William Nayland. “It is a lie! a lie! liar!” thundered Hnrry. “It isn’t true! it isn’t true!” cried Jessie, moving towards him. The shout had brought Miss Payne and the Rev. Nayland into the room. , “You are not the son of Henry Daining, ns you thiuk, but of James Trenton, the forger, one and the same man!” At these statements, Miss Payne gave a strange cry. Jessie ran to her. “Auntie, auntie, say It’s not true.” Then the Rev. William Nayland stepped forward and told them a tale of bow a man had fallen among evil* companions, had got into debt and had forged a check; how be had once been engaged to Miss Priscilla Payne, and bow he had gone to Australia to start life afresh, feeling that be was unworthy of her great love. He told them of the honored name he fe*d won, of his bard, bitter struggle, and

of his fortune reaped by tong years of toil, of his marriage to a woman who, in giving birth to Harry, had died; bow the father swore that his child should never know what his father had been, so be sent himito live In America at a sacrifice that none would ever know. “And you, James Banton,” thundered the clergyman, with righteous wrath, “you, the only one In the family who knows the secret, through Jealousy must use your knowledge In a base and foul way, in order to crush the love of that true, pure girl there”—pointing to Jessie—“for Harry, the son of that splendid spirit, James Trenton. I have been told of your cruel letters to James Trenton, threatening disclosures unless he sent you more money. Cheek after check you received ” "It Is a scandalous lte!” gasped Banton, with a livid face. “No one can gainsay It.” "Yes, I will gainsay It!” said a low, quiet voice: “I arrived from Australia last night. I am James Trenton, alias Henry Dalnlng. All looked up startled. In the doorway stood an old man with bowed head. Miss Priscilla looked up. “O, James, Janies!” she cried, running to him, “you come hack after all these years! Thank God! Thank God!”—Chicago Tribune.

HIS FATHER'S FIRST LETTER.