Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-06-07

MIR. PeytOn cut him short.
" Is this the return you make for my
confidence" he exclaimed" you whom
l have trusted and taken so much inter-
est in ?"
"I am unconscious, sir, of having
abused your trust, or ill-requited your
Kindness" replied the youth, with a
touch of the others pridein his manner;
"nor can perceive aught that is rep
rehensible in the honest attachment I
have this day declared for Gertrude
Gray"
"Would you do her a real service %
81 would die for her r said George
earnestly.
"You can do her a greater favor at
less COST" returned the other dryly.
"Name it.
"Never see her-never speak to her.
am not one lightly to make or break a
promise and l solemnly promise that,
should you repeat your foolish avowal
to Gertrude, and should she be weak
enough to listen to it, instead of bring
ing you the fortune with which it has
been my purpose to endow her, she
shall come to you beggar like your
self"
You do me rank injustice" replied
George, whose cheek flushed, "by the
intimation which has just escaped you.
L have never thought of Miss Gray with
an eye to any prospects she may havein
| connection with your fortune. [ have
loved her for her own sake"
"Then for her sake desist from q
scheme which, if successful, must re-
duce her to beggary. If you possess a
tithe of the unselfshness you profess,
you will heed this warning and go your
way. [ have other plans for Gertrude"
A moments reflection convinced
George that, harsh as Mr.. Peyton's
words were, in one respect they were
in seeking happiness at the cost of her
whom he pretended to love.
{" shall leave this place tomorrow"
he said, and turned away.
The morning papers announced the
loss of great steamer, bound for San
Francisco. Nearly all on board had
perished ; and among the names of the
lost was that of George Hayne. Ger
trude Gray swooned when she read it,
and Mr.. Peyton felt not quite easy in
his conscience.
That evening, as he stood moodily in.
his study, he was interrupted by a
visitor, woman, whose form, once tall,
was bent with age, and whose wrinkled
face and wild dark eye had something
sinister in them.
" Pray be seated and explain the
reason of your visit, madam" said Mr.
Peyton, pointing to q chair.
Taking the proffered seat, sheremain-
ed for time silent, gazing intently on
the face before her. Time had craven
deep lines upon it, and sorrow deeper
still. AS she perused them, a smile of
satisfaction, more like a shadow than a
smile, fitted over her countenance.
" You had son once" she said.
The lines grew deeper on the face
she was studying, and panied ex-
preston come over
81, too, had son." she continued,
{" an only one, as yours was. In
sudden affray, he had the misfortune,
in moment of passion, to slay his an
tagonist, who was quite as blamable as
himself. The jury decided it murder,
but recommended him to mercy. The
judge joined in a petition for clenency.
My bOys's life was in your hands. [
begged it of you on my knees. The
law had intrusted you with the dispen-
sation of mercy, but you had no mercy.
You turned aside from my prayers, and
my son was left to die a felon's death. )"
Geoffrey Peyton remembered now the
face that had often haunted him since
the day it had been turned pleadingly
upon him, and wildly recalled the look
of anguish it had worn when he spoke
the relentless words that crushed hope
out of q mothers heart.
"That day." she resumed, ct took
an oath to make you feel, if possible,
all that felt I stole away your
child"
"My child lis he alive ?"
Listen. I stole away your child,
and left you to mourn him as dead. I
took him to distance and reared him
as my own. bore no malice toward
him. [ only hated yOu [ broughthim
up tenderly, educated him as my mod
crate means would allow, ndfelt thank
full that in infiicting punishment on the
father, 1 had been enabled to do it with
so little injury to the child"
els he alive ?" cried the old man,
piteously. "Speak, woman !-have you
no mercy?"
You had none when I sought to ap-
peal to it," she answered. "That your
son is notalive, and that your conscience
may accuse you of his death, is the
reason [ am here. The young man you
drove away because he presumed to love
one for whom your pride had prepared
other plans, was your own son ! Before
he went, he confded to me the cause of
his going; and on reading the announce
ment of his fate, I resolved that you
should feel over again the agony of a
parents bereavement, heightened now
by the sting of remorse."
" Your story is false p he cried,
springing up-"a devilish invention,
gotten up to torture mel But I will
put you to the proof. My son bore q
mark upon his person, put there clan.
destinely by an old nurse in India, when
we Travelled in that country, who at.
tached some superstition to it. If the
child you say you reared was my son,
you muSb naVe seen ana can describe
that mark"
GA serpent's head and some strange
characters, in India ink, on the left arm
below the elbow" was the answer.
Geoffrey Peyton staggered, and fell
into the chair from which he had risen.
He seemed as one stunned by terrible
blow. The woman stood over him fol
moment, peering down into his an.
guish-stricken face with look of tri.
nmnh. ard then walked nnietlv npnv.