Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-06-25
tEange that you should care for me as you

strange that you should care Tor me as you
do"
Care for you? How strangely you speak
Are you not my mother?p
cry like that of a heart wrung with
torturing remorse or pain burst unreservad-
ly from the woman's Inns.
oh, God.- sne cried. tearing her hand
from Edith's clasp and clenching the cever-
lid in frenzied grasp; cannot tell her,
dare not
A wild look Of amazement sprang into
the clear blue eyes.
Mother, mother, cried Edith, in alarm,
it is you wish to say. Why do you always
seem to be suffering some dread anguish.
Let me know all. and if you have some
secret WOO let me bear it with you as
dutiful daughter should. 7.
A vague, wondering suspicion trayersed
The girls features, as her mother, catching
her hand and drawing her nearer to the
bed, glanced apprehensively around her.
The heart Of Edith. coneeaing emotions
the exclEed sufferer little Imagined, wasslm-
pressed by her manner deeply.
On the verge of d revelation, these two
women, the hearts Of both weighed down
with secrets most mysterious and portent-
Gus, were silent for moment.
1t was the sick woman who with power
ful effort, crushing back the hysterical emo
tons which conyulsed her trembling frame,
spoke first. Even then her voice was sob:
inclination and fear battled fercely for the
mastery, and rendered her words almost
incoherent.
If I dared to tell you-oh, my wronged
child your love and faithfuIness deserve
better recompense than"
Than what?"
Despite herself Edith's tones were sharp.
The slowly augmented suspense had strung
her nerves to their highest vitality.
Bend closer" whispered the sufferer,
hoarsely, her eyes distended, her pale face
White as marble. You are not ST.
lencel it is he!"
She thrust Edith so rudely from her that
driven to wonder at the strange scene, and
solcitude for the painting, exhausted figure
on the bed, the girl did not notice the cause
,of her mothers action until heavy foot
step sounded by her side and gruff, harsh
voice broke the silence with word:
Edith. .
She turned quickly, to meet the keen, sus-
piclous glance of Reuben Leslie. If be-
meath the rough exterior dwelt heart warm
enough to win from her true filial affection,
uSI OEOOpl4g eyes IOlQ IQdL LQo SoQUmeQC
was mingled with fear.
Go to your room. my child. he said. Il
have something to tell you, but wish to
speak to your mother first.
She glanced quickly at iscoarse, flushed
face as she silently obeyed him. She
paused in the hallway as his hoarse voice
struck harshly on her hearing.
@What have you been telling her? More
sentiment, curse you.
The pain-Tacked form on the bed framed
mute, agonizing protest, as the white thin
hand seemed to express what the choked
utterance could not.
DO you hear me2" cried Leslie, angrily.
aHaye your senses been running away with
you again9"
Il have told her nothing" gasped the
frightened woman, covering before the ad-
yancing form Of the man.
You'd better not. I've guarded my secret
too long to have your silly ideas Of right
and wrong upset it. I"
There was brief silence; the girl, paus-
ing in the hall with bated breath, her hand
pressed tightly over her throbbing heart,
peopled the darkness around her with wild
pictures of what was being enacted in the
little room, as her staring, alarmed eyes
peered forth like two scintillating stars of
light.
A heavy footstep pacing the room fell
dull and steady on her ear. Then it stopped
and she could discern that he had ap-
preached the bed again.
Where are the papers2"
There was rustling sound, the transfer
of a package, and then, in pleading, an
guished tones:
aReubenl"
He turned quickly.
"Well?" he asked, with fierce sullenncss
IN manner and voice.
aYou do not intend to wrong the girl?
Obi Reuben, for her sake, for my sake; ],
who have learned to love her; promise me
that no harm shall come to her,"
An angry oath escaped the mans lips
"Are you mad2" he asked, brutally "Is
not her interest mine also? It's lucky I've
come to take her away from you, for you'd
blab the whole game in another day."
A cry like that of wounded dove es-
capped the patients lips.
Take her away2 Reuben-Reuben, my
husband, you would not be so cruel. Tell
her IL; give her the choice. and she would
not leave me here to die alone.
The man deigned no response, and the
girl, hearing him about to leave the room,
glided to her own apartment.
A pale face met the shifting glance Of
Reuben Leslie as he appeared at the door a
minute later.
4Put on your things" be said, in that
stern voice which indicated that he was
wont to receive her submissive obedience
to his commands.
She trembled, but wavered.
you wish me to go with you, father7"
Yes.
4Where?n
He started and his brow grew dark.
@What is that to you?" he replied. But
he moderated his tones as he said, supple
mentarily, II have business to do which
you must aid me in.
The sight Of his powerful frame, his deep
set, scowling eyes, subjugated her to his
will. If the mysterious conversation she
had overheard suggested fear to her mind,
she dispelled cowardice Mt the thought
Was he not her father? Harsh and unsym-
pathetic as he was, he could mean her no
harm.
She donned hat and mantle and came
to the door. She started slightly as she
saw carriage standing at the edge of the
curb, admiringly regarded by group Of
surprised denizens of the square, to whom
it was an unusual sight, except when fu-
neral called forth its occasional requires
ment. Leslie seemed annoyed at the gap
ing crowd. and, taking her arm, pushed her
hastily before him.
Edith's eyes were troubled as their glance
wandered to his somber face. She ven
tured to speak at last. The repression Of
thought and speech was becoming painful
to bear.
Are we going far, father?"
He started from deep, abstracted rev
erie.
AYes, to the old works.
Her mind grew clearer at the words.
The old works was structure in the
northwestern limits Of the city, near West
ern avenue, in which Leslie had once had
charge Of the quarry supplies for firm for
which he worked She had been many
times to the place with her mother, who
had pointed out the abandoned building as
the meeting place Of the strikers, OF whom
II H. - l.