The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-08-25

age. N0OHsse 0btigee :,
Damned If know whether there was a
General Proctor or not" he would mutter,
perplexed, to himself afterwards.
Well, there was an end to it all now.
The lie had been played successfully
for years, yet, now all Jacks world
was to know it was a lie. Sitting
by the fire, in his shirt sleeves, tapping
his knees with his clumsy fingers, the
Major went over it this afternoon. 'There's
nobody who knew me in Virginia, and
knows my name il Richard and not Dan,
who can't tell about the boy" He saw
no way of escape. ''If to call himself my
friend was ruin to the lad, what will be-
come OF him rs my son?' And to-day
Jacks fate stood in the balance, as M'Mnr-
ray had said Again and again the Major
reasoned round the dreary circle.
s'On one side the charge of great
church, wealth, and the woman he loves;
on the other-me. There was nothing be-
yond that Tonight must end it one way
or the other. The drumming of his ting-
ers grew slower and slower OH his knees,
till he sat like block staring into the fire.
The knawing hunger tearing at his flesh
made his brain clearer. He was to be hung
on his boy like milestone to drag him
down, till one or the other of them died.
What if he were dead now? Great gain
would follow, and as for loss.
The Major rose mechanically, the eyes
us22ier his grizzly brows growing strongly
keen and glittering. | don't know that
am of much account if one took stock in
me-" lie passed his hand with aqneef
body, then glanced hastily towards the
pile OF MSS, on which no publisher had
drawn for months
| Proudly conscious for moment of the
genius which had been his birthright l
never made my mark though, he mutter-
ed. He repeated that once Or twice.
The stock was taken.
He stood quiet moment, and then lap
ped his face with his ragged white hand
kerchief. He was strangely composed and
grave. He went to n closet and took down
from the orderly shelves bottle full of
dark brown liquid, from which he half
filled goblet which lie placed ready on
the mantel shelf; then, as though doubt
| ing its efficacy hs took out tiny vial
full of white powder and hid it in his
pocket. Unlocking desk be took out an
' L. l.,
and began turning over the leaves te find
the family record.
Born. January 3lst, John, only child OF
Richard and Mary Standish. "...
lie read it over as he had done every
day since he gave the boy up. He fanced
God came to him in those words as he
could in ne ofhers in the book. It was
the only page he ever read She had
written them there.
'.She knows whether have loved her
and you. Jack, " STOPPING to kiss the faded
writing. Your old father shall never be
a weight On you, boy. He opened knife
and cut the leaf 1t was loose now; he
held it in his hand and stopped over the
fire irresolute. After all his real hold on
life for good many years had been
through that page; as it began to crisp he
glanced up quickly at the goblet and then
out Of the square dormer window. Lights
were beginning to geam in the houses
across the Schuylkill. The sky warmed
red as cinnabar on the frosty sunset, while
wisps of feathery smoke from some pas
sing steamer waved across it. The world
gave him friendly look for the last.
He threw the paper in the fire, put out
his hand for the goblet-When there was
sudden, soft furry behind him, and two
nervous little hands were clapped over his
eyes. The next thing was a hearty kiss
right on the mouth.
"Why Madeline child is it you?
| GOT course it il not me. There are SO
many pretty girls stealing in to kiss you
without leave. .Oh, dear, I'm quite fro
zen, Uncle Dan!"
/ She looked as if she were. Her chub-
| by, dimpled face was quite blue, and the
rimy drops stood in her eyes. She perched
herself up on the Majors chair, beating
hands il their woolen gloves together. II
only you could unlace my boots. My feet
haven't had Il bit Of feeling for an hour.
Five miles did they tramp. didn't want
to break the note for car fare. It's the
half yearly payday, you know. just look
at it" fnmbling in her bosom under her
sack, and bringing out warm and crisp
bright new note. II couldn't sleep until
we had both seen it, Winking with both
eyes and laughing all over in the most
ridiculous and affectionate way. The
Major had taken off her shoes, and stood
with them in his hands looking down on
her. She was SO alive with beauty, warm
blooded, and happy. She seemed to come
to him like sudden youth or summer IN his
last desperate hour. There hung about
her even the faint scent Of roses. 1t seemed
SO easy to come back to sit down beside
his little daughter, who loved him with all
her honest heart, and be happy, and jolly,
and alive as always.
But he knew what he had to do.
"How long are you going to stay,
Maddy?a
Until to-morrow-unless you would
rather / should 90 tonight" quickly.