Calumet watched her covertly for a moment, and then gave his attention
to the contents of the envelope.
There were a number of sheets of paper on which Calumet recognized his
father's handwriting.
"MY SON:--Feeling that I am about to die, it is my desire to do what I
can toward setting things right between us. Betty Clayton will tell
you that I have repented of my treatment of you, but she cannot tell
you how deep is the realization of the injury I have done you through
my inhuman attitude toward you. I fear that I have ruined your
character and that it may be too late to save you from those passions
which, if not checked, will spoil your life.
"I know that children sometimes inherit the evil that has abided with
their parents, and I am certain that you have inherited mine, because
while you stayed at home I saw many evidences of it, aye, I used to
delight in its manifestation. Toward the end of your stay at home I
grew to hate you. But it was because of that woman. If ever there was
an evil spirit in the guise of a human being, it was she. She--well,
you will learn more of her later.
"I am going to try at this late day to repair the damage I did you. I
have come to the conclusion that the surest way to do this is to force
you to give me in death that respect and veneration which you refused
me while I lived.
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