Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-05-20

1
tracked me, have you. You are play
ing spy upon Inc"
: Gas Heaven is my Witness" replied
the clear, firm tones of Mr.. Airlie, 81
never dreamed you were under this
roof; Or, as stand here, I would never
have placed foot in it."
"You expect me to believe that I"
"You must, seeing that could
gain nothing by such proximity to
you"
| ssNothing nothing! You sneak
ing hound Do you think I am blind"
cried the old man, and we heard the
| stick with which he walked strike
sharply on the floor. 'Not gain
Kathleen, supposed How do I know
4 you would not persuade her to wed
you on the sly, and thus rob me of
my money, How do l know that you
have not done so. You are both capa
bic OF the trlck. -
"Beware, sir calculated our lodger
his voice all of a culver. 'Call me
what you please-all terms are alike to
me, coming from such fathers lips
but, by Heaven! you shall not malign
that poor, noble girl, who has sacrifc-
ed herself to you. When you drove
me-your son-from your doors, I off:
cred to share my home with her,
knowing the miserable lite to which I
left her, but she sacrificed love to graft
tude; and, because you had brought her
up, poor orphan from the cradle, bow.
ed her gentle head to your cruel will,
and remained under your tyrannical
rule. You had used hard words to
me, sir. and hard words to her whose
memory is dearer to me than life; but
l have managed to keep my hands off
you. But take care there are bounds
to every mans forbearance. Do not
speak ill of Kathleen"
"Dare you threaten met" shrleked,
the old man. 'True son of q shame
less mother"
ooh Heaven, have care and the
sound of Mr.. Airlie's voice showed the
stupendous self control he was exert
ing. "You drove my mother from your
roof, as you drove me"
"Your mother left it of her own &C.
cord; she ran away, the"
The word he uttered shall not be
written. 1t was followed by loud,
fierce cry, and sound which told Mr..
Airlie had flown at the speaker. There
was the noise of a struggle, the gasp
ing cries of the old man, blended with
his niece's screams for assistance.
"Help- help" she shrieked. ooh
Richard-Richard, let go. Reflect
he is your father; he is old-he is i'll;
you will kill him !!
We had rushed up stairs, but before
we reached the landing, those plead
ing words of his cousin had Gained the
just ire of the man, and his passion
was again subdued.
We found Mr.. Fortescue leaning
against the drawing room door, pant
ing for breath, and half supported by
Kathleen Milbrooke, whose fearful
eyes were turned with COMPASSION up.
on MI. Airlie, who stood apart, his
arms folded, bis head dropped upon his
chest.
"Would you kill mes gasped the
old man, as we arrived.
"No," was the answer, 81 would
have you live that Heaven may sof-
ten your heart by slower approach OF
death, so that you may, on your knees
beg my dead mothers forgiveness for
the i'll you have done her in word and
deed. She may pardon you; as yet
cannot.
At this Mr.. Fortescue's fury once
more broke forth; but his niece making
John an imploring sign, they managed
to bear him back into the room. swear
ing terribly against his son, and vow
ing he would disinherit his niece il
she ever exchanged word with him
again.
| She did, however, for when the old
man lay exhausted and insensible from
his fury, she left us in charge, and
slipped out to he1 cousin. When she
returned tears were in her eyes, and
caught these words through the closing
door: a.s
'My own darling; you are TOD good
for me to blame, though l am the suff,
erer. Know will ever love and watch
over you until my DEATH"
l expected after this that Mr.. Airlie
would leave, and he did that night.
He told me his father was very rich,
but almost a mailman from selfish,
jealous temper; that he had so cruly
treated his wife that she had been com
pellied to leave him, when he had cast
the most shameful accusations upon
her, even after her death, which accu.
sations, repeated to his son, had driven
him away also.