The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-02-20

ample. I can scarcely think you-i
woman-are as utterly without com
/" passion for the sufferings and atone
ment of a most unhappy man as he
seems to be-"
'My sister needs no schooling IL
$ her duty, sir," said Hugh, enraged al
this boldness.-"M Margaret, speak fol
. yourself, and satisfy Mr. Tyrren that
on point of honor, we Churchills
! always think alike.
l The young autocrat uttered this
imperiously, but for moment no an
swer was returned. The Pickering
play of the freight rose and fell
many times before Margaret spoke
from her nook of shadows-spoke
gravely, yet very gently:
'I think Hugh is quite right Mr..
Tyrrell, in declining to accept the be-
quest Of which you speak. Apart
from his influence, am sure that it
would never have occurred to me for
a moment to accept any obligation
above all, such an obigation-from
the hand that shed my fathers blood.
Blu" her voice seemed to gather
strength here-'I think Hugh is very
wrong in his great bitterness of feel
ing, and 1, having heard and believed
all that you said of his remorse, would
be glad if your father stood here this
moment, to learn how fully and freely
one Churchill, at least, forgives the
crime he committed and the wrong
he has done"
There was minutes silence after
these words were uttered. Indeed,
it would be hard to say which of her
two listeners Margaret had taken
most by surprise. Tyrrel, however,
recovered his power Of speech and ac
ton first. While Hugh still glared
in amazement at his sister, he rose
and went over to her side. She GER
tainly had not meant to give him her
hand, but he took it in his own, new
ertheless. =
''God bless you!" he said, in voice
that quivered with emotion. "You
have spoken as brave, generous wo-
man should speak, and II shall new
er cease to be grateful to you'll"
More than this he could not say,
even if be had desired to do so, for
Hugh interfered, scornfully and cold
ly:
"My sister is woman, as you re
mark, Mr. Tyrrell, and, after the
fashion of her sex, she has introduced
purely irrelevant question into
matter Of business. Since we have
both agreed in declining your fathers
legacy, however, I believe there is
nothing more to say"
This time Roland Tyrrell took the
hint SO curtly given. He released
Margaret's hand, and, with a parting
bow to her, passed out of the room.
But at the door of the cottage
whittier Hugh had followed him-he
paused.
'1s there any reason, Mr.. Churchill, "
he said, frankly and kindly, ''why the
unfortunate enmity of our fathers
should be revived and perpetuated in
the second generation? Is there any
reason why aoe should hold aloof for
the sake of the sins or errors of 9th
ers? I confess that it would make
me very happy to bury the miserable
past, and to greet you as friend"
AS he spoke, he extended his hand,
with cordial grace which few
men could have resisted, but Hugh
Churchill drew haughtily back.
'It is very magnanimous in you,
Mr.. Tyrrell, to be willing to bury
past that has never injured you" he
said. 'But I am not yet in position
to meet your generosity on equal
ground. When I have paid, to the
uttermost farthing, the debt which 1
owe your father, and when I have gain
ed once more the level from which my
father was cast, then, if you choose to
offer your hand again, I may accept
it. Not before"
'EBeieve me, 1 am sorry" said Ro-
land Tyrrell, ia low tone, 'and be-
ieve, also, that you cannot readily do
any thing which I shall resent. The
great wrong my father wrought-the
wrong for which I would freely give
my life to atone--stands ever between
us like shield. Yet, I do not think
I shall be likely to offer again the
hand you have once rejected. Par
don me now for having, in measure,
thrust myself upon you, and-good-
evening"
He lifted his hat tremendously and
walked slowly away in the gathering
dusk. Standing at the parior-window,
Margaret Churchill saw his tall, state
ly figure vanish from sight as he pass
ed out of the gate, and took a path |
which led through debris of newly
rising houses, to where the long lines
of quivering lamps marked the popu-
lous town.
CHAPTER II.
A gray, lowering sky overhead, the
earth soaked with rain underneath,
and a general air of dreariness and
dampness everywhere, was what met
the eye on chill, November after