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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1889)
WEST SHORE. orod Dermot's sallow faco. " Arthur will kill mo by his actions," moaned tho old man. " Why are you hero to-night ? " Dermot asked. " I can not stay away," was tho half-stilled answer. ' I came to examine tho books, and found Arthur ly ing outside tho door. I had hardly got him in lefore the mob eamo. Oh, Dermot. I am in sore distress. Look there, where my son, my only son, lies disgraced, lie on whom I had thought to proudly lean in my old age. A ripe old ago my dreams have shown me, un harrassed by want and care, and yet with this great, dreadful misery comcB another. I am ruined, Dermot, financially ruined." '' Let me help you homo," Dermot said, taking the trembling hand, "you can do nothing more here to night. We must not attempt to remove him till to morrow. If he wero discovered " " Yes, yes, Dermot, I know ; he has done some thing cruel. I suppose," with a weary sigh. "It is better that ho should stay here, his mother " It was a pitiful sight, tho tears streaming from the father's eyes, as he kissed his prostrate son's cheek. " Help mo, Dermot," he said, brokenly. It was a slow journey to Milllmry Heights, but they at length turned into the avenue which led to the Hrigham homo. When they were near the house they saw tho figure of a young girl, the moonlight Hooding her head. " Kittie I " There was an indescribable tenderness in tho tono as the broken-hearted man clasped her to his breast. " 1'ttpa," sho said, her voice trembling with anxiety. Then giving her hand to Dermot, who had stood with lowered eyes, his face blanched to an almost ghastly pallor, " I thank you for Itcing kind to pupa." t It was an eternity in a moment. To Dermot there was no past, though his heart had bbnl and sull'cred. For all he must suffer, there was the remembrance of that hand clasp when her heart hail gono out to him, even though only in gratitude. It was the Sunday following tho riot in Milllmry a cold, cheerless day. Tho mist came in so heavily from the sea that it fell from the eaves of the houses in a steady drip, drip. In the dining room of the (ioldthurst home, on St. Timothy's hill, father and daughter were at tea. It had Wn a silent meal. Mr. (ioldthurst, always studiously mindful of his daugh ter's wants, was more than usually attentive. Alice felt that his eyes were on her face, and though she toyed with her almost untasted food, and presented an outward composure, she was struggling to conceal her annoyance. " It is unfortunate," said Mr. (ioldthurst, breaking tho long stillness, '' that we are not a more united fam ily. Tho inclemency of the weather will oblige us to endure each other's company." Sho glanced at him. Many times of late she had U-en forced into this covert observation. Mis face was turned toward tho window. She had always Uvn proud of his haughty, clean-cut, refined features, yet no girlish impulse had ever moved her to go to him with a daughter's filial tenderness, and win him from his cold, scheming self. " Shall I read to you ? " she asked. I ler ryc were scarcely less cold than his own. Knowing him so well, sho correctly construed his exaggerated surprise, as he replied " I should be delighted." Ho heM the door wide open for her to pass into the library, then seated himsolr in an easy chair, and ly ing back, clasped his hands over his eyes. Alice se lected a novel and read, but it was iniHs8ihle for her to do the author justice, knowing, as she did, that sho was Wing watched. She lieeanio distraught, and in her frequent, long pauses, wove lines of action with her self as the principal character. " You are weary," he observed. She started from her dream, closed the lunik and waited. Any other father would have had an excusa ble pride in the graceful, queenly figure. " Do you think you treat me with the confidence I deserve, Alice? " he Itegan, looking at horncnly. " I have never known of your wanting anything you did not receive." She had been ever ready with a retort, but this was so far from anything she had expected, that she re mained silent. " You know that I am in dillieulties," he continued. " Your silence on my lust question is an acknowledg ment that I have faithfully itorformed a father's duty. In my declining years I ask you to compensate my indulgence. What I Bsk would not cause you exer tion, or even inconvenience. In fact, the granting of my request secures your future happiness," " You refer to my marrying," she said, in a chilly, business-like time. " I do," slowly. " You wished mo to wait longer. I have waited, patiently, you would say if you knew how heavily I am involved. I have thought since that it was llawkcs to whom you referred on the night of our reception, and then again I have doubted, for I credit you with much greater discernment than to har bor such hopes. llawkcs Is a creature of circum stances. Left wealthy early In life, ho was placed, by his money and the inlluene'e of still more wealthy rel atives, in his present nsitinn. lie happens to U able to hold that position. Now what is the result T He is pampered by wealthy mothers who have marriagea ble daughters. This fact alone is sulliclent to convince you of the hopclcuncs of your chances, for he will never marry a beggar." Every word tortured her, yet she controlled herself. I ler teetli sank into her lip and she kept her eyes on her hands. " I trust you will believe me when I say that If it Is au affair of the heart, I am sorry for you, ' he went on. "but I Hatter myself that I know human nature, and I think it my duty to-tell you that Ilawkn would not marry you. Now as to Hrigham, an unfortunate ter mination of my affairs will U' disastrous to the house of Hrigham A' Co. You can easily see that the son would Is- hardly eligible, However," after a pause, during which he regarded her with half-closed ryes, " I have no fear on that mure. I thould badly think that after your treatment of him when he last called that he would come here again." " You beard T" liking up, her face livid. " Yes," coolly. " His airusations as to the compa ny you keep. I confess it was a surprise to tno. 1 do tint chide you," waving hi hand as sho attempted to