The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-02-08

| pOlllCSu Ndyy w llCH d SCI Ntiiib IletilOlS
him a clumsily faded, hastily pencile
note, written evidently in an eXtrem
ty of pain and determination.
He saw that much at a glance {
the etremUlous Ography-tremulou.
and yet indicating, in Its up and dow
stroke, a dOgged stubbOrmess to sa
what was to he said, if the penalt
of the eXertiOn were severely pai
when the name was subscribed-Hel
bert WestertOn, with a long strugglin
mark Mt the bottom Ofthe first letter
looked as if the pencil and hand har
fallen and dragged across the paper i
| sheer prostratiOn when the effort wa
completed.
Mr.. WesteTtOn's bTows contracted
then his mouth compressed to NOR
than its usual stern expression, as II
saw the signature for the first time il
years and years-fOr the first tim
since his brother had gone from hom
50 long, long ago.
And now the message from him was
'Roland, ] ann dying. Come to Sc
me at once, as you will value your owl
peace of mind in your last extremity
For heavens sake, come and let M
confess and be forgiven"
Was it wonder that the angry
parting of nearly score of Years agon,
was forgotten i'm that solemn adiura
ton? Was it amy wonder that within
two minutes the Westerton carriage
was dashing along, with Roland
WestertOn and the messenger inside,
in the dense darkness of the tempest
uOus night.
The summons had been sent none
too soon. Herbert Nesterton was
dying, and Roland knew it the instant
he saw the glitteriny supernatural
eyes, in contrast with the cadaverous,
ghastly face, the tense blue mouth,
from which the unnaturally strong
voice came shrilly.
~ am glad you lost 10 time, Roland,
old boy. \ GU see there is no time to lose.
Don't tell me not to talk. / can only
hasten the end by a little, and when
I've told you the secret / dare not
carry into eternity with the rest of my
sins, | don't care how soon it comes"
Roland had taken the icy cold hand
that lay, waXen and pallid, on the
counterpane. He had opened his lips
to say something, but Herbert had
anticipated him.
Now he answered quietly
al do not fancy that there can be
sAliN AliIiis1 ~ hiiNlht Oit y NONAi NClAlNlNAANN
against me as need make you feel as
yOd evidently do. suppose l grant
any forgiveness you ask, and We'll let
the matter rest. I"
"NO, no! You shall know it was |
who ruined your life, blighted your
happiness, and separated you and
Beryl. 1t was |, Roland. Before my
Judge l swear it was no fault of
Beryl's! | took you into the ecOnserva-
tory to see IL meeting between 8eryl
Dean and her brother-a fugitive from
Justice, who had taken that occasion
to see his pet sister. 1t was | who i'll
famed your jealousy purpOsety to
separate YOU because loved her, too,
Roland, and that is the only shadow
of excuse can find. | loved her, and
she hated me, and you know the rest.
Roland, | don't deserve il; but ] am
dying: Will YOU forgive me: Will
yOu-will yOu!"
Roland sat there motionlCsS and
pale as statue, his eyes blazing in
perfect storm of fury and woe; and he
looked straight into the humble face
of the man who had 80 wOefully
wronged him-the man who was al
ready more possession of the Angel
of Death than of Life.
This serious fret Appealed To him.
He raised his head in solemn dignity.
"Herbert, forgive you. 1t is hard
hard to do when | think of myself
When think Other it is harder still.
Nv heaven! 1t was an awful thing
to do, Herbert. But forgive Youu'
He laid his hand OH the cold one, 50
weak, so helpless, but the fingers
closed spasmodically over it.
"HeaVen reward you for it! But
there's worse yet-a letter! 1t came
from her to my old address, week
ago-and / would-not-send it to
you-as she prayed. Roland, Roland
.trunk-fOrgiVe--"
Roland stood like Il man i'm Il dream
.daZed, stunned into mOmentary be-
The dead face of his
brother before him; the terrible reve-
Iation he had heard, and more start
ling than either, the fact that Beryl
Dean had sent a message to him
through his brother, and that brother
had
Roland had to crush down the
thoughts and feelings that threatened
to madden him.
The trunk stood open, and the letter
was undoubtedly in 1.-THE letter that
would seem like n message from an
other world almost, So long had heand
Beryl been parted; and his heart SEEM
ed almost stopping its beats as he
plunged among the papers to find an
envelope directed to his brother in the
old well known hand, that 81 many
years ago thrilled his very soul.
1t was the briefest message, in
Beryls own hand, bidding Herbert
tell hIm-Rolaud--tO come to her
lNnfnpa sln Iira1 Of tho SlII-
den illness that might any hour term
mate her life-to come for the mem-
ory's sake of Olden days. If she died,
it would do no harm; if she recovered
they could go their ways again. But
TO come-Only once.
Roland WestertOn was almost beside
himself us hs read it, Beryl, his own,
Beryl, even yet, aHq l4ayhan dying,
begging him to come, and he-yOnder
man called to his account--had sup
pressed the summons, and now
heaven knows lit might be too late.
He Tivete,i the directions on his
whirlipg brain with one Fea1iEg, he
gave a direction or so 70 the servant of
the hotel, regarding his brothers. re-
mains, and then rushed to his car
riage, and was driven frautiOaliy TO
the station, where he merely caught
the last train that night, that landed
him i'll the bright sunshine Of the nest
morning in the city where the love OF
early days awaited him.
There were wild prayers on his lips
and vague hSpeS in his heart, and sharp
sudden glimPscs OF igS. as he was
driven to the address Of the leitet; and
then, when he gave aringof the bell at
the door, il seemed as if it was u sum-
mons that decided some terrible thing.
An elderly lady answered the door, to
whom he put his question 50 abruptly
that sbe looked at him in distrustful-
ness,
81 wish To see Miss Dean at once, il
if YOU please" he said.
She turned tO sweet faced young
girl who passed through The hall AT
that moment.
"The gentleman wishes to see Mis-
BeryI, llisS Oracle. Shall | show him
in?''
Certainly JUDITH"
And the Roland WesteTtOn followed
| the lead of the quiet voiced, placid
faced woman until he stood beside
an open coffin, from which Berry
| Deans white, wan, aged face looked
mp, stamped with the mystery ofdeath
with the peace that passeth human
understanding.
! He said nothing. He stood there
/ floods of thought surging over him