The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-02-07

f uJtA tudk = tAt VA "a hSiuSuf
said Lord Gowrie, with the tremu-
/ lOus tenderness which comes into
mans voice sometimes when be
speaks of good wife ~i'll go and
ease her mind, aud tell her all Is well
over
Not yet Tell me first" said the
young man, putting his hand upon
bis fathers arm
/ What an ease it was II was not
so good to my father" be thought to
himself, with sudden penitence for the
long past, long forgotten fault, which
indeed, be had never realized as
fault before. And then be told the
son what had been the story Of his
life-how be had scarcely ever sat
alone without feeling, from some cor
ner of the room, from behind some
curtain, those eyes upon him aud
how in The difficulties o! his life, that
secret inhabitant os the house had
been present, sitting by him and ad-
vising him. Whenever there has
been anything to do; when there has
been a question between two ways,
all 10 a moment | have seen him by
me; | fee when be is coming Ii
does not matter where am-bere or
any whereas soon as ever there is a
question of family business and al
ways he persuades me to the wrong
way, Lindores. Sometimes | yield
to him, how can | help it! lie makes
every thing so clear; be makes wrong
seem right If | have done unjust
things in my day"
Ou have 4, father
Il have there We're these High
land people | turned out. | did not
mean 10 do it, Lindores; but be
showed me that it would be better
for the family. And my poor sister
that married Tweedside and was
wretched all her life IL was his
doing, that marriage; he said she
would be rich, and so she was, poor
thing, poor thingl and died of it
And Old Maealisier's lease-LInfores'
Lindoresl when there is any business
ii makes my heart sick l know be
viii come, and advise wrong, and tell
me-something / will repent after"
The thing TO do Is to decide be-
foFehaud that, good or bad, you will
rot take his advice"
Lord Gowrie shivered. II am not
strong like you, or clever; | cannot
lresist Sometimes. | repent in time
and don't do it; and then But for
your mother aud you children, there
is many a day | would not have given
farthing for my life )"
Father" said LindOres, sp-inging
from his bed, 1.-TWO of Us together
can do many things. Give me your
word to clear out this cursed den OF
darkness this very day
"Lindores, hush, hush, for the sake
of heaven ~
Il will not for the sake Of heaven.
Throw it open, let everybody who
likes see it-make an end Of the Sc
eret-pull down everything, curtains,
walls What do you say !! sprinkle
holy water? Are you laughing at
me ?"
81 did not speak," said Earl Cow
rie growing very pale, and grasping
his sons arm with both his hands
"Hush boy; do you think be does
not hear ?f
And then there was a low laugh
close to them-so close that they both
shrank; a laugh no louder than a
breath.
"Did you laugh, father 2"
"No, Lindores." Lord Gowrie had
his eyes fixed. He was pale as the
dead He held his son tight for a
moment; then his gaze and his grasp
relaxed, and be fell back feebly in a
chair.
"YOu see," he said; whatever We
do it will be the same we are under
his power"
And then there ensued the blank
pause with which baflied men con-
front a hopeless situation. But at
that moment the first faint STRINGS os
the house-a window being opened,
a bar undone, a movement Of feet,
and subdued voices-became audible
in the stiffness Of the morning. Lord
/ GOwrie reused himself at once We
must not be found like this" be said /;
Eve must not show how we have
spent the night 1t is over, thank
/ God and oh, my boy, forgive me
| sm thankful there are two Of us 10
bear it; it makes the burden lighter
though / ask your pardon humbly
TOR saying so, | would have saved
I you if | could, Lindores"
Il don't wish to have been saved (;
but | will not bear it. | will end II, !"
the young man said, with an oath out
of which his emotion took ell profan-
I itv. His father said, Hush, hush"
With G look Of terror and pain, be
left him and yet there was a thrill
Of tender pride in his mind. How
brave the boy was ! even after he
had been there Could it be that
this would all come to nothing, as
every other attempt to resist had done
before7
Il suppose you know all about it
now. LindOres," F" said his friend Far
rington, after breakfast 'unlueky for
Us who are going over the house.
What a glorious old place it is :"
Il don't think that Lindores enjoys
the glorious old place today said
another Of the guests under bis
breath. How pale be IS He.
dosen't look as If be had slept"
Il will take you over every DoOk
where have ever been" said Lin
dores. He looked al his father with
almos; command in hIs eye. Come
with me, al Of you. We shall have
no more secrets here"
"Are you mad ?" said his father ia
bis ear.
Never mind" cried the young
man. ooh, trust me; | will do it !
with judgment IseTerybody resdyz'
There was az excitement about bin
that half frightened, halt reused the
party. They all rose; eager, yet
doubtful. His mother came 20 him
and took his arm.