The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-06-09
VOL. l..

Il
knocking, cynical look. The man was
Birney Graham, second assistant at the
Thirty-first National Bank, the persons
who had pitilessly pursued the erring
cashier till he was convicted and sem
fenced. As Birney Graham sat there
now, leaning his'cheek against his hand,
gazing steadily out the window. he seemed
a man who would have hunted his own
brother to death, so cold, so merciess he
looked Surely this man had had Bit
ter experience Of no common sort. The
faintly>sneering expression deepened in
his face as he heard a light footstep APP
preaching. Was the GOODNESS Of his face
the GOODNESS OF a stone, of a lava-bed, died
out upon the surface, but smoldering
with volcanic fires beneath? There are
two kinds of cold faces, you know. Bir-
ney Graham bowed profoundly as Alice
Marlay entered the room. She did not
return the bow. She laid one delicate
hand upon the back of chair, and stood
looking at him with naughty, angry
face. Each faced the other steadily,
with glittering eye, and there was that in
the look of each which said:
a stand here your enemy till die
Neither said it in so many words.
though. The girl at length spoke first,
and she said this:
what have you come here for?''
ITO see you, Miss Alice-what else?''
"If L had known you were here |
wouldn't have come in" she said.
81 think you would, Miss Marlay," he
answered, calmly.
She shrugged her shoulders impatient-
~ but did not reply. What she said was
true. Birney Graham seemed TO have a
strange, strong power even over people
who did not like him. The sneer deep
ened in his face again, and he bowed
mocSingly.
81 came here TO receive your express
sion of gratitude, Miss Alice, solely. By
my efforts alone have been enabled to
send dangerous character to just pun-
ishment, and at the same time to save
your fathers bank no end ofloss. am
sure you must be boundlessly grateful to
me. To hear you say it with your own
lips-this is why / am here, Miss Alice,
exactly"
He was curiously like flint, cold and
hard as adamant of ITSELF but with the
power of striking fire into the heart Of
other materials. Alice Marlay flushed
and then paled again with anger.
81 did not care much after came to
know him, for him you have hnnted
down." she said, in a low, husky voice
although he was an angel compared
to you. knew of what he had done be-
fore you made it public. and | never would
have married him. He was but a poor
weak creature, blown about by every i'm
pulse. The man l marry must be
a strong man. lfyou thought to wound
me deeply there, you have failed, thank
God But hate you, Birney Graham
as never thought could hate any hu.
man being. All my world knew l was
betrothed TO that man. This one pities
me, that one laughs at me, another one
SAYS it is good enough for me, because ]
thought myself above my betters. Ny
name is on the tongue of every gossip and
in the newspapers. Oh i could murder
you"
She covered her face and burst into
tears; not gentle. girlish tears, but pas
sionate, burning tears.
"You could murder me?" questioned
Birney Graham, coldly. do! DEATH
at your hands would be sweet"
Alice looked up again. hear tears dry
"But for you," she said, "it would have
been hushed up. What was anything
had ever done to you that you should
have Inundated me like this?"
81 have done nothing but my Duty
replied the cold, sneering voice of Bir'
ney Graham. my dear young lady,
fear you don't understand law. If had
concealed your friends misdemeanor
knowing what he had done, should have
been held as guilty as he was 1t is what
the law calls compounding felony, Mis-:
Marlay. It's really strange, but ladie:
never will understand law, | think"
Il never thought you worth minding
before" said the girl. in hot, scornful tones
but you have caused my name-my nam,
Alice Marlay-to be on the tongue o
every gossip in this city. For this, for the
bitter humiliation you have brought OF
me, henceforth | pursue you as you pur'
sued him. You smile your cold, wicked
smile, do you? You shall see what veal
girl can do. Mark my words, Birney Ora
ham. From this day forth / shall figh
you till die"
A faint. almost imperceptible flush ros,
into his face at last. What had you don,
TO deserve this, Miss Alice? | will tel
you. Years ago, long before that little
delicate, blonde face of yours began t,
haunt idiotic young men, the founder o
your race in America, an iron faced miser
took from my ancestor a little home h
had nearly made his own. That was on