The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-04-29

again SOOn-ln minute" she SAID,
looking back, with her hand on the
= lock, smiling to them with the en-
plIatic nod with which she usually
put the seal on her sentences, and dis
r appeared.
She did not come a. she promised.
: An hour passed. The sunset refiee-
q tions died out Of the room, and the
, chilly moonlight shOne into the win
dow.
: There was always 80 much warmth
and light i'm Bart's room that she
seemed mere absent when they were
gone. No one spoke. Laurence pa
ced silently up and down. The Squire
smoked his pipe in growin98ll-humor.
Kirke sat by the window, dOggediy
nursing his leg OH his knee. They all
looked from time to time ste9lthily
down the darkening ravine to the
mill, that stood blaeker and grimmer
in the moonlight. IL was a natural
weakness of human nature that their
: thoughts were busted with the secret
treasure concealed under the black,
threatening arms. Fantastic thoughts
came TO all of them heap of gold
gIittering under the fat lOam the
great IustrOus shining of the pearl in
the mould some faded parchment
that could bring back to the family
wealth and renOWn.
What was the secret which Bart had
learned tonight?
Kirke told himself that the treas
ure was a delusion. Muller had been
a mOnomaniac on the subject. he
had deceived himself and wasted his
own life with it. Could he tempt this
girl TO do the same? Was the love OF
money then so deeply rooted in every
heart that it needed but breath to
make it suddenly grow and bear foul
fruit Was il in hers?
iiShe gives up her chance Of the
treasure or she gives up me-" he said
10 himself stiffening his body, his
heart growing heavy and hard as
iron.
The Squire knocked the ashes out
of his pipe at last. 81 doubt Berthy's
sore tried" he said, uneasily. Satan
tempts US all, as he did the Lord in
the desert once in our lives. By the
chance of money. That's whats tries
a man to the marrow. Iwish Berthy
had some gOdly experience to
perfect her in this he hour"
tShe has "a religion of her OWn,"
/ hesltated Laurence.
Laurence! She has q happy-go-
lucky way Ofmakingthe best of things,
and an affectiOnate heart. don't
know as hearty or cordial woman
alive as yer sister. But what is that
but the carnal flesh ? And the carnal
flesh is at enmity against God Now
is the hour of her temptation, and
we'll see how her religion III sustain
her"
1--WE will see,'' said Sydney Kirke,
under his breath.
1t grew so late, and yet she did not
come, that Kirke rose and motiOned
| toward her door. "YOur sister Is i'll,
1 fear,n he said to Laurence. 1t SEEM
ed To him that the blood in his own
veins for a long time had been slug
gish and cold When Muller open
ed the chamber, however it was
empty.
But Langley at that moment caught
sight of dark figure going slowly
down the ravine. "She is on her
fathers path % he cried, and then
was suddenly silent. But the other
men looked at each other. The old
miser's path had never been trOdden
in since his deatlf.
'Go after her, lads" said the old
man. "She walks as if she was daZed,
or dragged along agen her,will.' While
they were gone he turned into the
room, and sat down by the hearth
He had not the heart To stir the fire.
sit is the hold of the money that is
on her." he muttered to himself.
1t would have been less bitter to
Kirke if he had found dying or dead.
Was it the hold of the money? When
ne came near to her she was standing
i'm the door of the old mill, in the
very place which her fathers feet had
worn on the threshold. Her features
had already the pinched, distracted
look of his her eyes ranged as his
used to do along the log flooring of
the mill, seeking God only knew
what secret beneath. Her lips mOv-
ed, talking 10 herself; it had been
constant trick of the old mans. How
strong the likeness was between them |
now, which had never been seen be-
fore 1t was as if the secret of his
Hssold, coming from his grave, had |
f6iighted her with the first touch in |
body as i'm soul, even contracting her
wholesome, sanguine flesh into some /
CHASTITY resemblance of his own.
Looking up when they came near,
she started, motiOning them back |
with a rough gesture, so unknown TO |
her old self that they stood amazed and |
silent.
keep back this is my ground,
Laurence" in a whisper, as though |
some invisible presence We're beside |
her.
"You have made your chOice?"
"ChOice ?" bewildered for Il min
ute. She came closer to themI and /
said, after a pause, Eyes, the mill is
mine. With all that pertains 10 it,
Yes, Pn take it, Sydney" her voice
rising almost into cry.
She was standing i'll the moon
light between him and the square
patch of darkness made by the open .
door. As she spoke she raised both |
her hands and held them out 20 him,
looking behind her.
But Kirke made 10 reply by word
or touch, only turned and walked /
hastily down the hill. She followed |
him.
When he was near the house, and |
they were alone, he halted and put out
his hand to stop her. She looked
humbly up into his face. She had
only a blanket shawl over her head, |
and by the moonlight he could see
her plainly. Why, it was the old,
honest little Bart, after all! When |
had she ever cared for money? de /
touched her and she crept quickly |
close to his side. She had always |
seemed too firm and resolute to need |
caresses, but wOmanish and weak as
she was now, he held her to his breast |
with a strange, aching love for her,
new to him. "YOu have had hard |
time of it, tonight, Bertha. You are
so young. Grace would teach you,
my love, how poor are worldly riches. !
She did not heed him, but kept her
eyes fastened OH the mill. LET us go |
in as soon as you cam" she said, un.
der her breath.
"What are you afraid Of?' impati- |
emily. "HaS the the miserable pelf so /
fascinated you? Gomez" leading her
to the house, gently, but not as tender
ly as before. People like Bart are apt /
to make US selfish. They give out so /
much comfort and heat that We forget /
they too need to be warmed and fed. /
She had made such a sultan of this |
prig Kirke that he came off his throne |
down to her with difficulty. "YOu 1
forget" he added as they went along, /
''that if yOn accepted this mystery, |
whatever il be, you gave up-me.-I
Life will be practical with me. have
no time to go grubbing after buried |
treasures"
Bart stopped short. They were in
the doorway now; the moon threw
her short, broad figure into strong re-
lief, the shawl fallen from about her
head.
al don't understand you, Sydney"
she said. She held his arm tight when
he would have drawn it away.
al think ii is plain enough" Then
he hasitated. II there haC been any /
pEsttiaess of pink and cheeks or pO'lt-
ing, dewy lips TO fan his love into life,
he doubtless would not have gone on. |
An artist would have studied the
strOngly-cut tragic face with its pierre
ing, steady eyes, but it was simply |
hOmelier than usual TO Kirke's ardi- |
nary sight. Bart was well enough
though most people thought he had
stopped in marrying her, but this story |
= a-Nww a