Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-06
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
Hark-what tamult is that in the hallg
what footsteps are those rushing, hur-
rying so wildly? Who is that bursts open
the door go furiously, and flies into the
parlor where are seated the family? See
he. the strange intruder. has fallen at
MerrilI'S feet. He clasps his arms about
the old man, and his hands fall upon his
lap. Can that be Harry Merrill? Can that
be he who so long ago stood in that room
in all the pride of beautiful boyhood, his
cheek flushed with the excitement Of
youthful and virtuous ambition? Can
that weary, trembling. haggard. kneeling
supplicant be he? Yes. it is even so. /;
must be; for there are the same glorious.
raven LOCKS. the same high, white, blue
veined forehead, though the veins now
seemed bursting. the same proud. flash
ing eyes, now all swollen and bloodshot.
He remained there on his knees, while
the stricken group are too dismayed to
speak. And the poor old father looks
down upon him with look in which grief
and sternness are mingled. as if he were
struggling between the impulse to lift
him and clasp him to his heart, or spurn
and throw him from him. At length
the boy raises his head. and in voice
hoarse and shaking with tfcar, screams
out
Father, give me two thousand dollars
or consign to prison cell. And
quicki-they are after me--the officers!
they are on nv track; they know | am
here. Quick" and he sprang to his feet
with look and gesture Of anguish and
fear.
Now the father rallies.
Father Aud how dare you? By wha:
authority do you call me father? Did
not tell you never 30 call me father
that you were none of mine? And
meant SO. Depart from here. Ask me
not for two thousand dollars. neither for
one farthing. | never will help you
more. Away! Yon are none of mine."
And he pushed the clinging arms from
him, for the boy had again knclt at his
! feet.
"Oh, my father sobbed the suppl
cant. "you arc still my father. aciB
call you SO, for you are all have in the
J
| | go? who will be my father? Oh, will
you forsake your wre.ched son? Do, oh
do forgive me. l have sinned, but oh.
how grieve. repent. was led away, l
was so tempted, and was not strong e
nough 10 resist. have gone from sin TO
sin. till now-oh curse me not-1 have
done such a sin-I have" and he bent
to his ia athers ear and whispered the fear
full crime, for it was too awful to be
brea thed aloud. He meant the tone should
have been a whisper. brt in his agony he
hissed it forth, so that all in the room
heard. as though he had loudly uttered
it; and oh, what shudder thrilled each
frame: Louise, with moan, sank swoon-
! ing in her mothers arms.
Yes, father, even this your poor boy
has done. They are coming-I tell you
they are in pursuit of me! But oh. on
ly give me the sum / ask, and twill save
perhaps my life
"No!' thundered the father. "Get up
from your knees. Ask no pardon of me!
Away with you! or stay till they come.
if any are in pursuit of you. | will not
save you from their grasp. Truly. knew
you had grown an adept in evil, but new
er could | have dreamed that her child"
pointing to the portrait--"couid CON-
nit crime so fearful as this. But you
are not mine; up from your knees! l
went on my knees to you, once, and you
would not listen to me. Aye. on my
very knees, you needed me not. And
now, heed you not"
Harry said no more, but seemed 10 have
yielded to the power of unutterable fear
and anguish. Now he would weep and
sob convulsively, and then, fixing his
gaze upon his mothers portait. would
become calm, as if her spirit were COM
muning with him, and whispering hope
in his ear from her home above.
And poor Louise reused herself, and,
winding her arms about her fathers neck,
wept, and pleaded with all the strength
of her childish eloquence, for that broth
er she loved so we'll. But in vain. He
put her from him, saying, ait is impossi-
hle, seek not to make me; he is not fit to
be of us. and he shall not"
There was silence, deep and awful
silence, save now and then smothered
moan of despair from the terror-stricken
and repentant boy, as he wildly turned
his burning eyes towards the windows.
expecting to behold his pursuers. The
father buried his face in his hand. and
Louise, who had flown to Harry as if she
would protect him, when she found her