The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-23

experience Gabriel HEREFORD never forgot or un-
derrated. 1t was education; 500 acres, all
| clear rolling plain, soft flowing river and noble
forest. The wild, glad life suited his strong,
| poetic nature; the long gallop from place to
place; the gusty wind in his ears; the voices of
| men at work; the skies above him; the grass be-
| low him
To Gab1iel's surprise, Barker, the man whom
| he had superseded staid on in Miss Penfeld's
employ; he had accepted an inferior post with a
| scant salary, and Gabriel was not slow to per
/ ceive that the man was doing himself an Unjust
ice filling it; the fact was patent that David
Barker was scholar; he was man of splendid
! ly developed powers, of keen, flashing wit and
proud temper. Why was he staying there,
| thuss
Within six weeks Gabriel flattered himself he
| had found out two things, for mysterious hand
| writing came to flow along the walls and write.
| First, David Barker was in love with Moy.
Second, Miss Penfeld was afraid of David
| Barker; she did not wish to offend him, but she
wished to get rid of him.
| For Gabriel was witness to a scene that moved
! him profoundly. He was sitting in the deep
| window of the morning room where Miss Pen
fields desk was, and he was looking over some
accounts while waiting for his mistress: the cur
tain dropped, hid him from view, and he did
not look out when Barker entered. just in that
moments pause and silence an opposite door
opened to admit Miss Penfeld. With a little
murmur the lady came forward to David, hand
| ing him an open letter
Just read that, David, she said, rather ex-
ultantly.
With quiet look he read the letter, and then
returned it to Miss Penfield
yes, it's very grand thing" he said. Miss
Penfeld turned pale.
! ''You-you will accept the-the chance, won't
| youl You won't let such an offer passl"
mo; / shall not accept itn
| "Oh, why--why mott"
| Because wish to stay here"
ITO stay herel Oh, David, it's no place for
you. Go-go where you can do better" Then
| she clasped her hands together II beseech you
| to 60 and leave us in peacei'
| The man laughed out aloud-a long, bitter
laugh.
| "Ycu want me to go 30 much4 Well, / viii go
4 on one condition--that Moy geeswith me! Give
me Moy for my wifei You tell me to go to
where L do better. Miss Penfeldr His
! words were like iron missiles dropped in Mary
Penfeld's heart 'TeH me where that place is;
where can do better than on my own land2-
! for this is mine. l own the Bowerie my title is
| older than yours; / have got it, proved and
sure. BGt"-he advanced toward her. his
words hung over her like Ga threatening lash.
| "In destroy it-as sure as there is the blue
sky above u.s. I1l destroy it il your sight; I'll
| give up every scrap of title, If youth give me
Moy"
He stopped, white with passion. Miss Penfeld
stood with her hands covering her bowed face.
The silence was terrible; it seemed to beat about
these two actors like waves of heavy sea run
ming over them. Gabriel sat silent; he did not
dare to stir now; his great fear was that he
should be discovered.
Finally Miss Penfeld looked up.
'Moy, give you Moy?' she rlurmured, wonder
ingly. why, man, the child does not love
you"
"Never mind; I've love enough for two. I'll
teach herto love me-"
The words seemed coarse, but there was hot
fever in the tone
Miss Penfeld at this lifted her dropped head;
some spark of proud temper lit her eye; she
Strengthened her tall form.
'Moy, nay little fair Moy You win give me
the Bowerie If give you Moy?"
Se9 mad this while been carrying in her hand
beautiful white, broidered handkerchief-a
beautiful, costly trifie. With strong fingers
she now tore it through the middle, stra ght
across, from edge to edge, complete.
"There is the contractn she said in her proud
contempt. and she dropped the pieces on the
floor at David Bankers feet.
The matter rested there for time, and time
went by, weeks and months; but the look of pain
deepening in Miss Penfelds face grew at last
more than Gabriel could bear. Everybody won
dered at the change in the mistress. 1t seemed
to Gabriel that he had lived through it just be
cause Moy came and went like the rain and
sweet light and dew Of heaven about the house;
their little Moy,' 'Iittle Miss Noy"
''My dear aunt" said Gabriel one evening,
dropping on the floor by her side as they sat
about the great log fire--''dear aunt wish you
wouldn't look like that Cry, for Heavens sake,
cry if you must, but don't look like that!'
Miss Penfeld put her hand on the mass of
rIddy hair resting against her
you are a good boy" she said, gently; her
thin face quivered.
81 wish ! could help you,' Gabriel went on,
entreatingly "Tell me your trouble; let me try
and help you; let me share it"
Tell you? Soon there will be no need of my
telling; all the world will know it. Oh but it's
wickedm
She stopped in her wild words for a fiercer
storm of the winter elements ragged without. A
great rust of icy wind struck the door and shook
it fercely. The windows ratified in their stout
frames They could hear the wild toss of moan
ing treetops; the creak of shattered bougbs, the
sough of creeping, shuddering flying winds.
Moy came and knelt on the other side of Miss
Penfeld, her lock was like that Of a spirit
II am afraid" she whispered there is some
thing dreadful outthere. can hear it walk, it
steps lightly. but it.coInes."
Hush, childp said Miss Penfeld, angrily
what are you raving about" She seemed to
listen to some sound. II wonder where David
Barker isl All, what's that
Then came a low whine, scratching at the
Its Fleet l had not missed him before
stranSe2" She spoke of the huge house-aog
whose place was usually of an evening before
the fire at her feet "Ah, there he is again; let
him in, please, Gabriel How the storm beats
the door in
Gabriel moved to obey; he felt strangely re-
luctant-a voice seemed to cry to him Stay"
He was holding the door in his hand. ANXIOUS
to let in as little of the drift as possible when
he felt himself flung backwards Some terrible
thing shot forward and precpitated itself
against him. He staggered down under the
blow. He struggled heroically. He was
scious of a thunderons weight on his chest, of
foaming jaws at his throat of huge claws at his
breast and hot breath burning him. Still, he
would not die; he had heard cries. and now
there was another sound the voice of a cherub
floating out of heaven where God is:
Save him, save him!"
Moy was there; her slender girls arm was be-
tween his throat and the VOLTS jaw. Moys little
hands were striving to drag the wild beast away.
Must she die, tooF
"'Ware there" cried a calm voice outside and
the Suffering crack Of a rifle-shot was heard.
Gabriel sat up dzzily striving to peer through
the smoke of storm and powder. 'Moy' he
cold bOapSalv