The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-05-11

bridge. He was alone. Some high,
fierce word passed between US. 1 taunt-
ed him with having met his base born
son designedly, at the tavern, down yon-
der. He retorted furiously "To-mor-
row, I will acknowledge him before all
the world And, bark We, John Basil,
that boy is my heir. Every dollar of
my money goes to him. My will is
made, signed, and scaled With all
your cursed arrogance, you shall give
place to him at lastp That was what
he said. I was disinherited And for
whom The man whom I hated above
all others-the man who had robbed me
of your love-whose blow was even
burning hot upon my cheek! / looked
at the cold, taunting face Of my father,
and hell Itself yawned before me. 'Nev-
erp answered him then tore from my
bosom this stiletto, which / had brought
from abroad and plunged it into his
heart! Barbara, you know the rest. 1
hid the weapon there under that bunch
of WilleSss issots. The deed / fastened
on Cnyier Half way to Hammel's tay-
ern found this handkerchief, and
brought it back to the bridge, and steep.
ed it in our fathers blood Then l fed
home and searched for the will. Bar
bara, you will find it in the frame of
Colonel Basirs portrait, hanging in the
old library. have kept it safe to feed
my hate upon, to battle remorse. Bar
bara! Barbara! pity me dying! have
lost, in spite of all, and Dirck has won"
Barbara started u2 with a bitter cry.
"John Basil, you cannot die, you must
not die, till he is righted-till this awful
STORY has been told to other ears than
mine" ..s. z.-..i
A few drops of bright blood tIickled
over his lips.
"You are right" he whispered, feebly.
$50 for help-go quickly. am fail
ing fast"
She laid his wounded head under the
old willow tree. She tore the shawl
from her own shoulders to fling about
him, and rushed away.
II cannot die till return" he said,
staring at her with Wild, despairing eyes.
He did not. That unhappy heart that
had loved her so madly MUST beat its
last upon her own. When size came
back half hour after and knelt fearful.
ly down beside him, he looked into her
face and smiled. 't
Joe Hammel raised him to his shoul-
der-held him there till the dreadful
confession was repeated to the group Of
amazed and Mortified men that Barbara
had brought to the scene. Three times
he cried with loud voice: 'l4t'l Ht
81 am the murderer of my father! I
only am guiltyP' a. +
Then, slipping from Joe Hammers
arm, his blonde head found its old rest
ing place on Barbara Peale's heart. A
gush of blood dyed his lips. She heard
a gentle whisper: - s'.. 4
"Forgiver' q
After which the stark figure straight
ened itself rigidly. He was dead. gaa
There was no execution in Danbury
jail-yard on the morrow. Only great
surging crowd took Dirck Cuyler on
their shoulders and bore him triumphant
ly into the sunshine and the free airs of
heaven. st
The scafold stood raised and ready,
but there was no victim.
The purple twilight burned duslily in
the west, as Dirck Cuyler opened the
little gate, and went up the path to Bar
bara Peale's door. She stood in the
porch awaiting him. Hetook her hands
in his own His sober eyes, dimmed
with sudden mist looked passionately
in hers. ' .-.-' ~. ..'i
$50 as by fire." he said.
Clasped to his heart, she pointed west
ward over the solemn twilight fields
Not at the closed house on the hill, not
at the lorGly heritage that was Dirck
Cuyler's now, but only at the blue, bright
heaven above.
Lo! the promise of morrow filled it,
warm and golden, and a morn was there,
and stars