W A S H IN G T O N
y&\To\f
M ^ V H M n r S V A M E R IC A N P R I E S A S S O C IA T IO N , I M A
[ A th u m lt-r,in . k n o ck in g foil on tbo
d o o r Mr. H ild r e th 's voice called :
“ M a jo r O v erto n ! M ajor O v e rto n ! C an
y o n o p en th e door?’ ’
A* i t n w n i i K w i d e R oyal O leve »railed
S o ftly a n d R a i d in R asps-
“ Dare.l N ow I am d ead— an d von—
s a fe — y o u w o n ’t ta k e back y o n r forgive-
» « hr ?’’
Hi« soul w e n t o u t w ith th e la s t word.
I
C H A P T E R X X II.
" T h is cap» th e c lim ax of v illain y , b nt
I see H a w k iu a in i t a l l , ” Mr. H ild re th
« aid w h e n a few m in u te s ' rap id speech
h a d m ad e h im m aste r of th e fa c ta
" H o w d id yon happen to com e thn» in
t h e n ic k o f tim e?” M ajor O verton ask
« d . D are hail risen, b n t stood w ith eyes
S till f a s t on th e d ead m a n 's face,
“ A sk those tw o ,” H ild re th said, w ith
at sh ru g , p o in tin g to Vanoe an d A llen
[K anntleroy. “ A ll I k now is th a t they
c a m e upon m e lik e a w h irlw in d about
d a r k , h ad m e sw o rn a sp ecial dep u ty , had
a posse a ll read y fo r m e an d th e n rode
e i t h e r sid e of mo, te llin g m e: ’G o fast!
i G o f a s tl’ W e w e n t first to R idgeley. It
p eem s th e y hail g o t a n in k lin g of w h a t
y o u r d a n g e r was. T h e re w e fo u n d o u r
s e lv e s th re e h o u rs too late, b n t w ith a
■plain tr a il to follow , w h ich , th a n k God,
w e d id n o t lose. B n t I te ll yo u it w as
prougli experience, p u s h in g th ro u g h these
{hills, th is tan g le, and never k n o w in g
!b u t th o n e x t h o llo w m ig h t le a d you in to
kunbnsh. O u r beasts are so b low n th a t,
{ little as I lik e th e place, I th in k w e
m u s t s ta y hero ti l l m orning. L u cid ly
t h a t is n o t f a r off. I t m u st be 2 o'clock
now . ”
“ L a te r, ” said Vanoe. “ B ut, F a n n tle-
»py, w h y d o n ’t yon speak? M a jo r.it is
a l l h is doin g . H e h as been w a tc h in g
y o u r en em ies, a n d os soon as th e y w ere
re a d y fo r th is g ra n d oonp he w as ready
w i t h ch ec k m a te fo r I t ”
“ I th a n k h im d e e p ly ,” th e o ld m an
sa id , w ith liis sta te lie s t courtesy. D are
w o n t im p n lrjv e ly fo rw ard, saying, w ith
q u iv e r in g lips:
“ Oh, M r F a u n tle ro y ! I h o p e you w ill
n e v e r k n o w ho w i t feels to be sn a tch ed
fro m th o very ja w s of d e a th .''
“ I (lid n o th in g , ” A lle n said. T h en in
a low w h isp e r: “ D are, I en v y th a t dead
m an . W h a te v e r h is sins, he tr u ly died
f o r yon. ”
‘‘H e a r t h e w in d , th e th u n d e r! T h is
is a sto rm to rem em b er, ” V ance said,
w i t h a sh iv er. “ Suppose w e w ere o u t in
i t on th o se b la c k h ills a g a in ! ”
N obody an sw ere d him . T h e room , lit
b o re an d th e re by a sm oky g lim m e r of
la n te rn s , w as w e ird ly spectral. In th e ir
lig h t th e d ead m a n ’s faoe seem ed to m op
a n d m ow as th o u g h th e soul h a d com e
b a c k a n d sa t th e re m o ck in g its fe llo w s
—
-c = r. a s W V ■ .
A lle n drew D are to hfm .
V an ce la id a h a n d k e rc h ie f over i t an d
m o tio n e d to tw o o f th e pease sta n d in g
h u d d le d ab o u t th e d o o r to l i f t th o corpse
t o th e lo n g ta b le a t ono side.
O n e cam e fo rw a rd re a d ily enough.
T h o o th e r h u n g back, w h is p e rin g :
“ W a it, w a it! D o n ’t ye k now li g h t
n i n g ’l l s tr ik e y e i f y e tr y to m ove a dead
m a n w h ile i t 's th u n d e rin th is w ay?”
T r u ly th e ru s h a n d ro a r o f w in d , ra in ,
th u n d e r , w ero a p p a llin g . T h e w indow »
o f h eav en seem ed to be open, th e e te rn a l
h ills to b e c ra c k in g n bont th e ir ears.
S t i l l V a n c e b e n t above th e d e a d m an,
lo o k in g alm o st in p ity a t th e face, so
w h ite , so atirless, so goodly. T w o or
th r e e o th e rs cam e fo rw a rd an d m ad e to
l i f t th e poor cla y fro m th e floor, w h ere
i t la y so i n e r t
S lo w ly , slo w ly th ey ra ise d it, la id it
f a i r a n d s t r a i g h t B efore a h a n d fe ll to
th o sid e th e re cam e s tr a ig h t o verhead
a n a p p a llin g flash, a d e a fe n in g noise.
T h o o ld ho n se shook a n d q u iv ered , groan
in g th r o u g h a ll its tim b e rs as its b ig
sto n e c h im n e y to p p led h a lf to earth.
“ I k n o w ed i t
1 to ld ye, b n t ye
d i d n 't b eliev e it, ” sa id th e m a n w h o h ad
s h r u n k fro m la y in g h a n d s on th e dead
m an . T h e r e s t sto o d s i l e n t in aw ed e x
p e c ta n c e o f th e y k n ew n o t w h a t I t
m ig h t b e ev en a d e a d lie r flash. B n t th e
s to r m k in g h a d d o n e h is w o r s t V ery
s h o r tly th e w in d sobbed I ts e lf o n t; th e
v a in ceased; th e th u n d e r d re w a w a y to
t h e r iv e r v alley . A s th e e a s t reddened
f o r d aw n , s ta rs w e re p e e p in g in th e sky
th r o u g h veils o f lacy m i s t
“ T h a n k G od a n d m y f rie n d s for d a y
l i g h t ! I n ev er th o u g h t to see i t a g a in ,”
M a jo r O v erto n sa id fe rv e n tly , h is h a n d
o n D a r e 's sh o u ld er. S u d d e n ly V ance
g a v e a «harp, low cry. H s stood a t th e
r o o m 's en d , c r itic a lly c o n te m p la tin g th e
l i g h t n i n g 's w ork. A s th e re st tu rn e d to
lo o k h e d a r te d across th e w id e h e a rth ,
O a n g h t s o m e th in g th a t la y a m id th e
m asses o f loosened rock, w av ed i t in
fro n t o f them , c ry in g o n t:
" T h e record, th e record! M ajor, no
m a tte r w ho saved y o n r Ufe, I h av e as
good a s fo u n d y o u r f o rtu n e .' ’
T h e re in d is ,i w a s th e m issin g volum e,
released by th e lig h tn in g stro k e from
its 60 y e a rs ’ entom bm ent.
“ O pen i t q uick, q u ic k ,” M ajor O ver
ton alm o st shouted. Vanoe h u rrie d ly
tu rn e d leaf a fte r leaf, th e n sile n tly held
th e book before th e old m a n 's eyes.
T h en a fine h u b b u b broke ont, for
there, p lain to view , u n d isp u ted , in d is
p u tab le, th e O verton c la im w as fu lly
confirm ed upon those y ello w pages.
" H o w on e a rth d id i t ev er g e t here?”
asked H ild reth .
M ajor O verton th o u g h t a m in u te , th en
said slow ly:
' T rem em b er now . T h ey w ere b u ild
in g th is c h im n e y w h en th e first h in t
cam e th a t o n r t i t l e w as in dispute.
B ruce S tirlin g no d o u b t stole th e book
an d g a v e i t to old Ik e to h id e for him .
Ik e a s a c o n ju re m an easily te rrifie d the
black ch im n ey b u ild e rs in to p u ttin g it
here. N o d o u b t i t w as in a so rt of niche,
w here, if need w ere, i t could h ave been
reclaim ed. D are w as r i g h t T h a t ac
co u n ts for th e p ath . J in c e y k n e w and
a ll those y e a rs h a s com e h ere to g lo at
over h e r s e c r e t ' ’
“ S h e rep e n te d a t last. See w h a t she
g ave m e, ” D are said, la y in g in th e la w
y e r ’s h an d s th e p a p e rs fro m th e bottom
of th e cheat. A fte r one g lan ce he said:
“ T h e d ay of m ira c le s is n o t past, m a
jor. W ith th e deeds, th e record, o n r case
is w on. Yon, M iss D are, are th e g re a te st
h eiress in th e sta te . ”
A lle n F a u n tle ro y cam e fo rw ard , h o ld
in g o n t a h a n d to th e m a jo r a n d to h is
g ra n d d a u g h te r.
B oth w ere eagerly
elaspcil, th o u g h D are d rew h e r hand
q u ic k ly aw ay, n o tin g th a t i t bore y e t th e
s ta in of R oyal C le v e 's blond.
“ H eav en o n ly know s how g la d I am
th a t th is w ro n g is r ig h te d a t la st; th a t
a fte r so m any, m an y y ears yo n a re to
com e in to y o u r ow n, ” A lle n said, look
in g fn ll in to th e o ld m a n ’s h n m id oyes.
M ajor O v erto n h a lf tu rn e d aw a y h is
head, say in g :
“ S ir, in th e presence of d e a th w e fo r
g e t m uch, v ery m uch. I am a n old, o ld
m an ; y o u jn s t u p o n th e th resh o ld . In to
y o n r h a n d s I c o m m it b o th th e fo rtu n e
th a t is m in e a n d th e w o m an to w h o m it
m u st r ig h tf u lly descend. I do n ot say,
‘T ak e ca re of th e m .' Y o n r c o n d u c t for
th e la s t m o n th proves to m e th a t yon
oould do n o th in g else. ”
A lle n d re w D are to h im an d led h er
o n t in to th e fresh, d rip p in g m orning.
As th e y crossed th e th re sh o ld w h e re
th e ir f a te h a d so s tra n g e ly c u lm in a te d
he sa id , lo o k in g o v er h is sh o n ld e r a t th e
rig id figure th e y le f t b eh in d :
“ Daro, d a rlin g , I d o n o t envy h im
an y m o m P oor fello w ! H e loved an d
lo st y o u ! A n d th o u g h h e d ied for y o n r
life, i t is m y p riv ile g e to liv e for y o u r
happiness. ”
D are sa id , “ 1 love yon, A lle n ,” b n t
she, too, looked b ack a t th e dead, an d
h e r sig h w a s h a lf a sob.
C H A P T E R X X III.
" W e m n st b rin g h im h ere a n d a t
once. I t is tho o n ly th in g to do, ’' V anco
sa id to M a jo r O v erto n as tho s tru g g lin g
d a y lig h t fe ll f u ll on th e ta ll, d ead m an,
so s tr a ig h t a n d stock a n d still. T h e old
m an nodded, say in g :
"Y es. I t w ill ta k e h a lf a d ay to g et
o u t of th is w ild ern ess. B esides w e could
n e v e r c a rry h im , a n d to com e b a c k ” —
ho sto p p e d w ith a h a lf sh u d d e r— “ is im
possible a n d im p o litic ," V ance finished.
E ven as th e y spoko cam e a noise of pick
an d shovel o u tsid e. D ozens of r n s ty tools
lay u n d e r th e r o ttin g sheds ab o u t, an d
w illin g h an d s w e re p ly in g th e m to p u t
o u t of s ig h t th e poor, reck less c re a tu re ,
w h o hail p a id tho f u lle s t p e n a lty o f his
sins. By tim e th e su n w as above th e
tre e to p s a lo n g g rav e h ad been scooped
in th e l i t t le g lad e b ack o f th e o ld house.
D are a t th e sp rin g sid e , h e r face, h e r
han d s, refresh o d a n d spotless, tu rn e d to
A llen , sa y in g so ftly :
" A s k th em , please, g ra n d fa th e r an d
Mr. H ild re th , if w o m ay lin e th e g rav e
w ith b o u g h s a n d p u t o th e rs above h im . ”
' ‘ S u re ly w e m a y ,' ’ A lle n said, p ressin g
h e r so ft p a lm to h is cheek. “ My D are,
i t is lik e y o u th u s to d o good to th em
th a t d e s p itc fn lly use you. W e w ill
m ake to g e th e r fo r o n r en em y a green
bed a n d g iv e h im a p illo w of flowers. ”
H a n d in h a n d th e y w e n t a b o n t th e
w ood p lu c k in g sh e av es of goldenrod,
s ta lk s of c a rd in a l flow er, of iro n w eed
a n d e a rly asters. A lle n h a d spoken a l i t
tle a p a r t w ith th e g ra v e d ig g e rs A l
ready th e y hail to rn flat, leafy lionghs
fro m th e th ic k e t a n d covered w ith th e ir
g reen a ll th e d a n k cold clay. A cross th e
w estern e n d of th e n a rro w y a w n in g p it
A llen la id th e flow er sheaves fresh from
D a re ’s hand. A n d d o w n in th a t cool an d
flow ery d a rk n e ss th e y la id R oyal Cleve,
h is tw o h a n d s folded p eace fu lly u n d er
m ore green leaves, to a w a it th e sum m ons
a t w h ic h a ll life m n st a n sw e r fo r th e
deeds d o n e in th e body.
T h en , a s th o u g h a w e ig h t h ad been
lifte d fro m a ll souls, th e cav alca d e m ade
its w a y o n t of th e w ilderness. M ajor
O v e rto n 's horse h a d been le ft b eh in d , so
p re c ip ita te w as th e flig h t of h is captors.
D are ro d e upon a n im p ro v ised p illio n
b eh in d h e r lo v er w h e n th e ste ep h ill
road d id n o t m a k e i t necessary for both
to d ism o u n t. T h ey sa id little , those two.
T h e sile n c e o f o v e rfu l h e a rts lay betw een
them . B u t M a jo r O verton ta lk e d an d
sm ile d w ith h is frie n d ly law y ers in a
fash io n nono h ad ev er seen before.
“ Oh, fo r an h o u r o f H a w k in s n o w !”
H ild r e th sa id to V an ce as th ey fonnil
th em se lv e s n e a rly a t th e o u te r edge of
th e iro n lan d .
“ Y on w ill h a rd ly ev er en jo y it, 1
f e a r ,' ’ V anoe ri-tn rned. " P la g u e on th a t
sto rm ! B u t fo r i t I m e a n t to tr y to
g e t a t h im before be learn ed th e m isc a r
ria g e o f h is sc h e m a As i t is, he h a s no
d o n b t h e a rd it in tim e to q n it th e c o u n
try. ”
" D o y o n th in k so?" H ild re th asked,
w ith a n odd s n iila “ M an alive, th ere
is m> th in k a ls m t it. H a w k in s is os fa r
fro m b e in g a fool as from b eing an h o n
est m an. A fte r th is — w h y , i t 's a h a n g
in g m a tte r w ith th e proofs w e h a v a ”
" N o d o n b t, if w e d o n ’t nse t h e m ,"
H ild r e th s a i d " Y o n fo rg e t be h a d a
COUNTY
p a r tn e r in a ll th is — one, too, w h o w ill
m ak e i t possible for h im to go soot
fre a ”
" D o yo n m ean— i t c a n n o t be Mrs.
T o w n ley ?” V anoe s a id
M a jo r O v erto n lean ed fro m h is sa d d le
to say very low :,
" G e n tle m e n , good frie n d s, please f o r
g e t th a t— th a t yo n h a v e spoken. W h a t
ev er w e m ay know , D are h a s no snspi -
cio n of th e tre a c h e ry of h e r ow n blood.
P ra y do n o t m a k e i t necessary th a t she
sh o u ld be sa d d en ed w ith sn ch k n o w l
edge"
"A g reo d , on one co n d itio n , m ajo r—
th a t yon le t ns s e ttle w ith H aw k in s. He
is n o t th e m a n a g e n tle m a n can touch.
I k now y o n w a n t to shoot h im , b n t th a t
w o u ld re s u lt in som e a w k w a rd ex p la n a
lions, ” V ance s a i d la y in g a h a n d on
M ajor O v e rto n 's arm . S till H ild re th
sm ile d q n eerly , lo o k in g a l i t t l e o v er h is
sh o n ld e r to w h e re A lle n a n d D are w a lk
ed in b lissfu l com pany. A t lu st he said:
“ M ajor, h ere w e a re a t th e b ack side
of E x eter. 1 m ove th a t w e go in anil
b re a k fa st w ith M rs. T ow nley, o r w ith o u t
her. ”
M a jo r O vertoil sa t u p v ery s tra ig h t,
sa y in g : " E x c u s e m e, sir. I c a n n o t break
b re a d there. T h e s ig h t o f th a t worn -
a n ” ------
“ M ajor, I a sk i t as a p e rso n a l favor, ”
H ild r e th in te r r u p te d V an ce looked a t
h im h a r d
“ I n th a t case I h a v e n o choice a fte r
la s t n i g h t ,” M a jo r O verton s a i d w ith a
sh a d e of th e o ld te c h y s ta te lin e s s H i l
d r e th sa id only, " T h a n k you. ”
F iv e m in u te s la te r B lac k P a tse y w as
c ry in g o n t: “ Do law sy, M iss D are, y o ’
Jo s done fo n n y o ’s lf des too late. M iss
Mel, sh e des done g o t m a ’rid te r d a t
e r c ra n k m o n f Mr. H a w k in s a n d rib
'w a y lic k e ty s p lit w id lib e ry sta b le
horses— say de g o t te r k e tc h do tra in . B n t
sh e know som ehow y o ’ w u s oom in, com in
hyer, to le m e g i t b re a k fa st ready, an
h a b i t good, a n g ib h e r love, a n say she
w ish y o ’ w ell, a n sh e g w in e w r ite ef
sh e c a in ’t w a it te r see y o ’. D e preacher,
h e ’s in d e p a rlo r room yet, a n how corns
i t y o ’ g o t sech e r m a n y g e n tle m e n s te r
fine a n fe tc h y o ' o u te n d a t d u r co alin '«
p lace?”
“ I ’ll te ll yon, P atsey . T h e re 's a n o th e r
w e d d in g on h a n d , ’ ’ V an ce s a i d h is eyes
tw in k lin g ; th e n as he g o t d o w n fro m h is
ho rse; “ L e t m e h elp y o n a b it, m ajor.
I t h in k y o u w ill be th e b e tte r fo r b re a k
fa st a n d six h o u rs of rest. ’ ’ M a jo r O ver
ton w av ed h im b ack a trifle im p a tie n tly
a n d niailo to d ism o u n t in th e o ld a le r t
fashion. B n t even as he s w u n g h im se lf
fro m s tir r u p a p a llo r o v ersp read h is face.
H e to tte re d a n d h u n g lim p across th e
saddle.
K in d h a n d s lifte d h im re v e re n tly
thence, b o re h im in sid e a n d la id h im in
th e w id e d im halL D are k n e lt a t h is
side, ch afin g tho nervous, v ein y h an d s
th a t w ere le a rn in g th u s la te in life
w h a t i t w a s to trem b le .
“ D rin k t h i s Y on a re o v e rs p e n t,”
H ild re th said, h o ld in g to th e o ld m a n ’s
lip s a d r a ft of m ilk a n d b ran d y . M ajor
O v erto n d ra in e d it ; th e n , a s h is face
g row less g ray , beckoned to V ance an d
h a lf w h isp e red :
” 1 k n o w w h a t i t m eans, th e b e g in n in g
of th e end. I m u st liv e a few h o u rs lo n g
e r th o u g h .
D are— A lle n — sh e m n st
n o t” -------
'W h a t is i t th a t you w ish , m ajo r? W e
w ill do i t o r h a n g , b n t n e v e r th in k of
dy in g . Y ou aro good fo r y e a rs y e t ,”
V ance said, tr y in g to speak in h is old
ch eery voice.
M a jo r O v e rto n ’s lip s
m oved, b n t h a rd ly a so und cam e fro m
them . A llen , h u r ry in g to h is side,
c a n g h t th e o ld m a n 's eyes of appeal.
K n eelin g , he took D a re ’s h a n d s w ith in
h is ow n, th e n la id th e tw o clasp ed across
th e o th e r nerv eless palm . I n s ta n tly M a
jo r O v e rto n 's eyes b rig h te n e d . H e w h is
pered p a in fu lly , “ Yes, ta k e h e r— n o w .”
D are la id h e r ch eek so ftly to th e w i t h
ered one on th e p illo w an d said , sobbing:
“ O h, g ra n d fa th e r, so re ly yo n do n o t
w a n t to b e r id of me. L e t e v e ry th in g go
u n t i l y o u a re w e ll ag ain . ”
“ I — am — w e ll— now . L ife has— been
— a f e v e r ,” th e o ld m a n sa id in a
stra n g e , h u sk y w h isp e r. H ild r e th to u c h
ed A lle n 's arm .
“ I h a v e se n t a s w if t m essenger fo r a
lic e n s e ,' ' h e s a id h a lf n n d e r h is b reath .
“ I n tw o h o u rs i t w ill be here. Y ou
m u st m a rry D a re a t once. I t is w h a t th e
m a jo r w ish e s a n d th e o n ly th in g to do.
P o o r o ld fello w ! Ho h as liv ed on his
hope a n d co n rag e th is 40 y e a rs o r more.
N ow t h a t tho s tr a in is ended, no w onder
h e h a s b ro k en dow n. ”
“ I a m m ore th a n re a d y to do as he
w ish es, ’ ’ A lle n sa id in th e sam e hn sh ed
voice. ‘ ‘ B n t D a re —c a n sh e b ear fu rth e r
e x c ite m e n t a f te r a ll sh e has u ndergone?”
“ A sk h e r ,” H ild r e th said, s te p p in g to
th o bedside. T h e re he took M a jo r O ver-
to n ’s h a n d in h is a n d sa id alo n d : “ Now,
m ajo r, a ll is as yo n w o n ld h av e i t T h e
m in is te r is h ere; th e licen se soon w ill
be. Y on m n st d r in k som e m ore b ran d y
a n d go to sleep n n til w e w a k e yon for
th e w edding. ”
“ Yes, ” sa id V anoe as th e o ld m an a l
m o st sm iled, “ b n t first le t m e te ll yon
th a t M iss D are is even m o re a n heiress
th a n w e t h o u g h t O n r frie n d , th e p a r
son, h a s jn s t p n t in to m y h an d s a deed
of g if t to E x e te r an d a ll i t co n tain s, ex
e e n te d by Mrs. H a w k in s w ith in five
m in u te s o f h e r m arriag e. I t m ay n ot be
q u ite valid , b n t I th in k i t w ill s ta n d .”
“ No. I fe a r w e h a v e lo st H a w k in s for
good an d a lw a y s ,” H ild re th sa id as
M a jo r O v e rto n ’s ey elid s fell in sleep.
T w o h o a rs later, robed a ll in w h ite ,
w ith a w h ite rose in h e r h a ir an d a n
o th e r a t h e r b reast. D are g ave h e r hand
to A lle n F a u n tle ro y , s ta n d in g jn s t w h ere
h e r m o th e r h a d m a d e h e r b rid a l vows.
T h ey h a d flung w id e d o o r a n d w indow s.
O u tsid e th e su m m e r sn n fell golden; th e
su m m e r w in d s la n g b e d so ftly th ro u g h
th e leaves. W ith in th e h eav y ta rn ish e d
sp len d o rs k ep t s till th e ir n o te of gloom ,
th o u g h P atse y h a d done h e r fa ith fu l
best to b r ig h te n th e m w ith fe a th e ry a s
p arag u s. sp ray s of sc a rle t tru m p e t v in e
an il w h ite A u g u st lilies.
S tre tc h e d h elp less upon a ric h faded
conch, M a jo r O v erto n looked th ro u g h
te a rs a t th e la s t of b is lin e , g iv en th u s
a t h is ow n w ish in to th e k eep in g of her
h e re d ita ry enem y. B u t th e y w ere n ot
b itte r tears. T h o u g h D a re 's eye* w ere
m odestly do w n cast, hap p y blushes chased
HATCHET,
one th e o th e r elo q u en tly over h e r face.
A lle n 's co u n ten an ce said even m ore
p la in ly th a t h e h a d com e th ro u g h storm
and stress to h is h e a r t's d e a r desire.
“ I pronounce yon m an an d wife.
W h a t G od h a th jo in e d tog eth er, let no
m an p u t a s u n d e r,” th e m in iste r said
sonorously. A nil w ith one th o u g h t the
w edded p a ir tu rn e d fro m h im to kneel
in fro n t o f M a jo r O verton an d bow th e ir
heads fo r h is blessing.
H e hail seem ed past speech an d m o
tio n , b u t w ith a last flash of th e w ill
th a t h a d n ev er q u a ile d he h a lf raised
him self, laid liis h a n d on D a re 's head
and said , w ith cle a r d istin ctn ess, “ God
bless m y c h ild re n a n d keep th e ir h earts
fn ll o f love. ”
’’A m e n !” sa id th e m in iste r, a n d every
liste n e r o n ly echoed it. T h en a solemn
h a s h fe ll on th em all, fo r th e old face,
"G od bleu» m y ch ild ren a n d keep their
hearts f ull o f love.”
th e o ld eyes, w e re r a d ia n t; a sm ile lay
a b o u t th e p a rte d lip«, th ro u g h w hich
cam e th e s w if tly sh o rten in g breath.
O utsido a th r u s h b eg an sin g in g loud and
clear. T h e w in d dropped. A v ag ran t
sun ra y slip p e d in to th e room . I t fell
on D a re ’s h ead as she stood too ra p t for
tears, h e r eyes fu ll upon th e d y in g face.
B efore i t m o u n te d to th o w a ll th e gasp
in g b re a th w as done. F ra n c is Overton
sle p t w ith h is fath ers. H e had won a
life lo n g tig h t, an d th e h o u r th a t b ro u g h t
victory fo u n d also d e a th
THE END.
K IN G O F B E L L S .
M o n s t r o u s M a s s o f M e t a l W h i c h W e i*
Cornell t h e C z a r t o M o s c o w .
T h e g re a t hell w h o se boom ing th u n
d e r a n n o u n c e d th e o p en in g of th e co r
o n a tio n fe s tiv itie s In M oscow is th e
s tr ik in g th in g w ith in th e K rem lin . It
is In th e C a th e d ra l of th e A ssum ption,
w h e re th e c o ro n a tio n to o k place. It
r e s ts a t th e b a s e o f th e g re a t Ivan
to w e r, 335 fe e t In h e ig h t, a n d is called
th e “ K in g o f B e lls.” I t resem b les a
h u g e te n t o f b ro n ze w h en it Is a p
p ro a c h e d . I ts w eig h t is 44-4,1 HMi pounds.
W ith in th is bell, w h o se w a lls arc. two
feet th ic k , fo rty p eople c a n assem ble
THE
“ K IX O OK
11 E l . I , S . ”
a t on e tim e. In fa c t. Its c a v ity h as
been used a s a ch ap el. It w a s c a s t a s
long ag o a s 1730, a n d th e g r e a t gap
In Its sid e w a s m ad e soon a f t e r the
m a s s of m e ta l cooled. T h is f ra c tu r e
w a s d u e to a flaw m ad e, it is believed,
l>y th e Je w elry , coin a n d p recio u s m etal
th r o w n Into th e liq u id by th e lad ies
of th e city . T h e piece w h ich fell o u t
w eig h ed elev en to n s, a n d th is accid en t
p ra c tic a lly ru in e d th e w o rk . T h ro u g h
th e a p e r tu r e th u s le ft a ta ll m an m ay
p a s s w ith o u t sto o p in g . In th e to w er
n e a r It h a n g n o t less th a n th irty -six
bells, tw o o f w h ich a r e silv er. T h e
la rg e s t in th e to w e r w eig h s 130,000
p ounds.
T h e H a r b e r W h o D o e s n 't C u e G an.
A G e rm a n to w n b a rb e r h a d ju s t fin
ished la th e r in g h is b est c u s to m e r's faoe
th e o th e r d a y w h e n th e d o o r g en tly
opened an d a m ild lo o k in g m a n w ith
p in k w h isk e rs en tered th e shop. “ My
frie n d , ” h e in q u ire d , “ do y on nse gas?”
N a tu r a lly in fe rrin g th a t th e qu estio n
im p lie d a d o n b t as to h is a b ility to re
m ove th e h irs u te a d o rn m e n t of th e face
w ith o u t reco u rse to anaesthetics, th e
b a rb e r arose in h is w r a th an d sm ote the
s tra n g e r sore.
W h en fin a lly sep arated ,
th e m a n w ith th e p in k w h isk e rs em erged
fro m th e fra y w ith a b a tte re d face, and
th e floor w as s tre w n w ith gas burners.
" Y o u d i d n 't g iv e m e a ch an ee to fin
is h ,” h e sa d ly re m a rk e d as he w iped
h is face w ith a b a n d a n n a h an d k erch ief.
" I am in tro d u c in g a n ew g as b u rn e r on
th e m a rk et, w ith a p a te n t tip , an d I
th o u g h t p erh a p s yon w o u ld lik e to try
som e. ” In h is con trite n e ss o f sp irit, the
b a rb e r b o u g h t tw o doxen.— P h ila d e lp h ia
Record.
I t P o o le d t h e ring.
th in g a s th e so h o o lh u s 's Mowin' a0_ ,
W ill we, y o u n g u n s ? ”
•'You b e t y o u r b o o ts w e won't,"«k,— I
I married my wife, why?
ed th e boys.
Listen and I'll tel! you;
Not because she makes (food pie,
T h a n k in g h im f o r his eucoumgo
Tho' sne can, 1 tell you;
w o rd s M iss K a te a n d h er faithful U hl
Not because- she's wondrous wise.
f l o c k s ta r te d f o r h o m e a long w„ | k
Versed i i Greek and L atin;
a tu lle a n d u h a lf b e fo re her.
[
Not because she likes to dress
I t w a s In th e lov ely springtim e of th,
in line silk or satin;
y e a r a n d th e a i r w a s so full 0f
N'ot because she ride« a wheel,
so n g s o f b ird s a n d th e sw eet rragrsm,
I still wear the bloom era;
o f flo w ers t h a t th e y soon recoveiwi
Not beeauae ir. kindliucs*
All my crochets liumora;
th e ir good s p ir lts a n d had uot
Not because ou polities
v ery f a r w h e n th e y had to stop , w
She keepa alwaya poate«!;
h av e a good h e a r ty lau g h over the fn,.
Not because she knowa how I
ny m isfo rtu n e .
Like my meat when ronated;
O n e b y o n e th e bo y s an d blrls bid,
Not because of beauty rare,
th e ir te a c h e r g o o d -b y us they rescb«i
T h at is quickly over;
th e ir h o m es, r u s h in g w ith eugernewti) I
Not because while she worka hard
tell th e e x e ltlu g n e w s to their liarent».
1 could live in clover;
Not because she does poaaeat
w ho w o re tilled w itli w onder when they I
Fortune th n t’9 immense;
tuiw th e ir c h ild re n retu rn in g
I
Simply ju st because a he* a fo t
school ho e a r ly In th e day.
Good sound common sense.
D u rin g th e e v e n in g MI hh Kata f » |
-Charles \ \ \ Hird. in Boston Font.
re iv e d th e p ro m ise d r a il from Mr. Ca^
w ho b r o u g h t th e w elcom e new* thn
th e g ch o o lh o u se w a s to be immediately I
re b u ilt, t h a t th e tr u s te e s had deter-1
tv )-* « iL iW in
m in ed to b u ild it m uch nearer her
1 V -•
„
h o a rd in g -p la c e , In a p re tty , little shel. I
If ^
THAT
te re d dell.
U n til it w a s r e a d y , \Nhi.-ii in* thought I
BL<Hv j
w o u ld b e in a b o u t a w eek, Hhe wag to I
h o ld h e r c la s s e s in his front room
NOBODY
A g ain th a n k in g him for hi« Kind-1
. 6 0 0 0 .
ness a n d b id d in g him “good - night," *hi I
w en t to b e d w ith a v e ry happy heait
T h e n e x t d a y th e ch ild ren met with I
th e ir te a c h e r in Mr. ( ’nse** front room, I
a n d e v e ry d a y a f t e r th a t until ttal
school b u ild in g w a s read y .
M r. C a s e ’s h o u se , by th e way, roo-1
sla te d o f tw o tin y room s, the one la I
w h ich th e le s so n s w e re recited being I
th e fa m ily Hitting a n d bedroom.
A nd w o rs t o f a ll. th e re w as a teething I
b a b y In th e h o u se, w h o se peevish oriei I
Yes, th a t’s th e title of m y sto ry . "O h, o fte n d ro w n e d th e voices of teacher and I
we w on 't like th a t sto ry a t all," I pup ils.
th in k I h e a r you ex claim , b u t p lease
M y! ho w g la d a d a y it w as whentb*l
begin It, an d I tb ln k you will en jo y It. little u n p a in te d sch o o lh o u se wag ready I
I t's tru e, every w ord, an d h ap p en ed fo r Its o c c u p a n ts once more,
nin eteen y e a rs ago in a co u n try d is th o u g h It h a d no floor 3av«» the owl
tric t ab o u t th irty -fiv e m iles n o rth of f u rn is h e d
by
M o th e r F a rth -e v a l
th e city of S sn Diego.
th o u g h its sto v e a n d clock were warped |
T H E STORY.
an d r u s ty an d its b o oks and map*tit-1
“ W hy, M iss K ate, 1 don’t see th e te re d a n d to rn . T h e n th e kind tn » |
school-house.”
tecs h ad p la c e d it In su ch a pretty spot. [
“ I th in k p erh ap s w e're not n e a r
All d a r i n g th e d a y « o f the sprint I
enough y et," an sw ere d Miss K a te , rn th - te rm th e o n e little w indow and tb*I
e r dou b tfu lly .
do o r w e re th r o w n w id e open to admit!
“ Oh, yes, we are. D o n 't you re m e m th e sw e e t s c e n ts a n d th e sound* of tbc|
b er we could alw a y s see It w hen we season.
reached th is tree?” said th e little boy
M o ck in g -b ird s sa n g in the canyonil
again.
close by.
"W ell, W illie, I do believe you a re
T h e little s q u ir r e ls w ere wont to com« 1
rig h t an d th a t o u r ow n little school- a n d sit on th e w ood p ile by the opeil
house h a s been e ith e r sw allo w ed up or door.
blow n aw ay !”' exclaim ed th e you n g
H u m m in g -b ird s, oh, so brilliant, dart-1
teach er, a s she stopped su d d e n ly In ed h ith e r a n d th ith e r, an d the flowenl
th e p ath , gazing w ith a sto n ish m e n t a t w ere so a b u n d a n t n nd so gorgeous that|
th e place w h ere th e b uilding should th e dell se em ed to h a v e been deluged I
h av e been.
w ith v a ri c o lo red p a in t from the gmtl
"W e w eft It all w ig h t yes’d a y a f~ po ts of th e g ia n ts o n th e mount*l*|
noon, d id n 't we, M lth K ate?"
to p s ab o v e.
"Yes, D aisy d ear, b u t It's gone now ;
So you see, m y d e a rs , it was notsudl
le t's go up to w here It stood an d se e If a n ill w in d , a f t e r all, th a t one nigbtl
w e can discover w h at h as becom e of b lew d o w n th e little country school-|
It."
house.
So tip th e ste ep hill they clim b ed ;
w hen th ey arriv ed a t th e spot, w hich
U n c le S a m '« M e n ag erie .
w a s really a very b arre n , u n sh e lte red
T h e so v e re ig n p o w e r of the go?er>|
place, th ey found th a t som e m ischief-
w o rk er had been very busy d u rin g m en t h a s w o n a v ic to ry In a legal c
tro v e rsy w h ich U officially lab eled '^
th e ir absence.
O ne of th e w alls of th e b u ild in g lay U n ited S ta te s vs. se v en teen boxes 0
a t q u ite a d istan ce, w hile th e o th e r sn a k e s a n d tw e n ty - th re e monkeys." Ill
th re e w ere piled on top of each o th e r w as a p e c u lia r case, and appears t»|
huve b een th e o u tc o m e of the jealoi
n e a r a t hand.
T h e hills a n d knolls aro u n d w ere { of a cliq u e o f Im p o rte rs of snake* aiil
stre w n w ith a m edley of papers, clock, m o n k ey s In N ew Y ork tow ard a riull
stoves, pencils, chalk, desks an d bookB. T h e m e m b e rs o f th e clique made a?|
W ho o r w h at had done the m ischief? th e ir m in d s th a t th e y would not I
a te a n e w d e a le r, w h o might beeoiwl
H ow could It hnve happened?
A fte r ta lk in g It o v er q u ite a w hile a fo rm id a b le c o m p e tito r In the ipm -J
th ey decided It m u st h av e been a s u d ket. W h en th e y w ere called on as e:
den sq u all of wind, purely local, w hich p o rts to tix v a lu a tio n s they natndj
bad play ed havoc w ith th e ir little te m th eir e s tim a te s so high th at the <•*•*
ple of learn in g w hile th ey had beeu sig u ee o f th e s n a k e s and monkey
could n o t a ffo rd to p ay th e duty a*i
so u n d ly sleeping th e night before.
D isp a tch in g one o f th e boys fo r th e oil. T h e g o o d s w e re detained by Ml
tru s te e who lived In th e neighborhood. cu sto m -h o u se a u th o r itie s and idacoflj
M iss K a te and th e rest o f th e ch ild ren in bond. G o v e rn m e n t officials did nf
w en t to w ork to g a th e r up those o f th e k n o w ho w to ta k e c a r e of ;be
fu rn is h in g s w hich had uot boon ruined. S n a k e s sh o u ld h a v e a bath every day.]
T h e sehoolm a'am felt p retty b lu e: th e an d th ese d id n o t g e t p ro p er treatment
hot te a rs filled h e r eyes ns she bent T he m o n k ey s, too. w e re not well care
o ver h er task . W hat w as sh e to do? for. T h e r e s u lt is th a t about all ^
H e re sh e w as f a r aw ay from home. re p tile s a r e n o w d e a d , and the »
Ah. th e th o u g h t of h er m other, b ro th sion of th e c o u rt is th a t the gover
ers an d siste rs In th a t hom e, whom she m en t n eed n o t m a k e good tin» large 1«
w as try in g so h ard to help, an d now o f he co n sig n ee. T h is may he gN
sh e had no schoolhouse In w hich to law . h u t w h e re in th e Ju stice of it*
sis ts it is im p o ssib le to see.--BuffM
teach ! W as It not d ish e arten in g ?
It w as a v ery lonely place; th in ly se t Kx p ress.
tled . T he tru ste e s had been p ay in g her
T h e tf s k im o C h ara cter.
a high sa lary , an d had even given her
W e fo u n d th e I u u u lts very QuK*,f
a n e x tra a m o u n t fo r teach in g on S a tu r
ted a n d I n te llig e n t; w ith uuvaryii
d ay s. because she w as th e very first
good n a tu r e a n d a k een appreciation
In stru c to r who had been w illing to re
fun. th ey p ro v e d th em se lv e s comp*
m ain d u rin g a w hole term .
ionnble in s p ite o f th e ir uncleanlinrt
T h u s h e r th o u g h ts ran. her face g ro w
T h e ir sk ill m a n if e s te d itself in m**
ing m ore serio u s all tile tim e.
w a y s d u rin g th e s e long cxcurtWJ
" I t w as a good th in g it h ap p en ed a t
L a te r in th e y e a r it show ed it«etf*
n ig h t. M iss K ate," said one of th e boys,
one o ccasio n , in a p a rtic u la rly inter-
tr y in g to cheer her.
ing w ay . H a v in g fo u n d it nect1“
“ Yes. B enny.”
to cro ss a g la c ie r on a hunting trip.®
" J u s h shlnk. M lth K ate, if it had
h n p p 'n 'd th e d ay you fo rg o tten to In n u its p a s se d a t th e edge and
b w ln g th e key, an d we all had to ew lm h loed to a s c e r ta in th e direction w
In an d out of th e w lndo” W e’d been echo. O n th e r e tu r n a sto n n ot ^
all b u rie d h ad w y wen. w o u ld n 't we'-" a n d fog h a d o b lite ra te d all landm
b u t th e I n d ia n s e a s ily found th e 1
ch im ed in d e a r little D aisy B row nie
•Gh. h ere com es Mr. C a s e - they by m e a n s o f t h e echo.
T h e re w a s a lw a y s a charm In 1
sh o u ted , ru n n in g to m eet th e easv go
s tra n g e m elo d ies, a n d p a rtic u la r!
ing. g o o d -n atu red m an.
“ W all, 1 d eclar', Miss K ate." r « m hp n ig h t, a s th e y slo w ly row ed al°n*
puffing a n d b lo w ing a f te r his clim b' b lack w a te r s a m o n g ghostly.
• th is Is too bad, reel,-! W hat are vou icebergs, u n d e r th e sta rle s s sky.
such m elo d ies! T h e y were w *
a-going to do?”
"M r. C ase. I th in k 1 11 pack my tra n k sig h in g o f t h e w in d s, low. «•onttf
fu ll-b re a th e d , y e t w ith an unrtert
an d s t a r t fo r hom e to -n io rro w I he
lleve a ste a m e r sa ils from San Diego sa d n e ss. B u t a t tim e s t h e i r song*
fo r th e n o rth to-m orrow . , w s |, n o t,.. v eh em en t w ith Joy an d action. (
tu ry .
said she. w ith trem b lin g h p a p d flagv
Ing eye.
W HY?
a
I n a N ew Y o rk re sta u ra n t, w h e re an
o re h e stra p lay s d a r in g th e ev en in g d in
n e r ho u r, one of th e n u m b ers recen tly
w a s acco m p an ied by a uovel im ita tio n
o f a fe lin e R om eo se re n a d in g h is J u lie t.
T h is so ex cited th e fe e lin g s of th e p ro
p r ie to r 's fox te rrie r, w h ic h w as tied in
th e co llar, th a t i t set u p a terrific b ark
in g a n d co u ld n o t be q u ie te d fo r an
honr. T h e m u sic ia n w h o im itn te d th e
"T h a r. th a r. n o t so fast. O f co u rse I
c a t w a s v a s tly pleased, an d a ll th e cus
c a n t say Ju st w h a t th e o th er tru stee«
to m ers seem ed g re a tly ¡unused.
o f th e d eestriet will w an t t . do b u t I
sw an , w e'd a ll h a te to h av e yon’ go.
1» r n M n t n».
"I g uess I'd b e tte r b itch up th e old
W illie — I d o n 't b eliev e i t is w icked ro an a n d Jest d riv e o v e r an d le t Mr
to chew tobaeon.
Jo n e s an d M r S y k es know 'b o a t tlli.
N e llie — Wliy, W illiel
o -h a p p e n ln . a n d com e an d tell von
W illie — W ell, i t a i n 't I tr ie d it and
th is ev en in ' w h a t w e decide to d o '
i t m a d e m e sick.
W icked th in g s is all
• Now. you go hom e, like a good g tr L
good.—Cincinnati Enquirer.
a n d Jest m ake np y o u r m ind th a t w e'li
not let you g et off fo r su ch a Utti«
N ot • F in an cier.
"L o o k h e re .'' sa id th " '
J
the new re p o rte r, “y ou allui1pj \ _
■U'.r> to M r B ox w ell a s a
“ W hy, h e h a n d le s a great
1
m oney."
"I d o n ’t c a r e If h e doe*. 1 dw*
you to c all h im a financier. ^ _
an y aide w h is k e rs ." —^Washing#*!
T h e re Is a c e r ta in k in d of 1
no a m o u n t o f e ffo rt will
1
m ao o a t o L