The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-19

the garden, watches the children at
their play with moody brow and lips
compressed.
Upon Hilda more especially his gaze
is fixed. What a fTail life-a mere
breath. as it were-tO stand between
his and (what is far more to him) the
boys advancement
That this baby should inherit what.
but for her unWelcome birth. would by
law have been his, emhitteTs and makes
wretched every moment Of his life
What a little fragile thing she looks.
fitting about in the sunshine in spite
of her merry laugh and Joyous dispOSi-
tiOn-a thread that might be easily
snapped!
Yet how slow is the great King of
IerrOrS in claiming those whom we
would wish away-hOw swift to clutch
at those we. would give our hearts
blood to retainl
At this moment he sees the children
leaning over the bank perpendicular
and utterly unprOtectedl at the base
of which the water runs so rapidly.
The boys warning to stand back
comes to him upon the air.
What if the child, STOPPING too far.
should Overbalance herself. and sink in
to the foaming depths beneath-swol-
len with last nights rain-and be car
Tied onward to the cruel ocean? Whose
fault would it be? Who would be to
blame? Such accidents happen very
frequently.
Idly the awful thought presents itself.
bearing with it fascination hard to
combat. Heart and brain it fills. to the
exclusion of all other thoughts
Meantime, Hilda has stopped short.
and in her shrill. sweet treble has order
ed Dick to go indoors and bring her
out the dolly that shall represent an
other unhappy captive to his powerful
and daring arm.
Dick engrossed in the reality of his
game, departs for the fresh prey. moth
ing lOath, leaving her alone in the ouiet
garden, with no eye upon her save his
who watches with disfavOr her every
movement.
At first. when left alone. she stands
her little finger in her mouth. as though
uncertain what next to do. Then a
butterfly, blue as the skies above her.
crossing her path. she gives chase. and
runs untIt 1t IS beyond her reach. and
she herself IS once more close to the
fatal bank before described.
She is singing softly a little CAV song
all about that silly Bo-peep of ancient
memory. and the song is borne inwards.
even TO the ears of Penruddock. as nc
sits behind the curtains. cold and mo-
uonless, waiting for he hardly knows
what.
Whatever fendish thought has taken
possession of him. he is. as vet. scarce
" aware of 1t, but tdTTies. with white
lips and d.Stended eyes, that follow
eagerly and glaringly each fOOtstep Of
the child outside.
HIlda. with all the youthful longing /
for forbidden fruit. gazes eagerly down [
upon the Water-lilies that are rocking I
to and fro on the disturbed breastof the /
agltated river.
STOPPING over she examines them /
longingly, her eyes intense. a
rant smile OF pleasure on her lips.
Presently; kneeling down, she sus-
penqs half her small body over the slOp-
mOwledge of the coveted flowers.
PenruddOck, shrinking back. with
)ne hand graSps the curtains. and trem-
pies violently, whilst great drops Of
lew lie thick upon his forehead, that I
already in anticipation seems red with
he cursed brand of Cain.
Eagerly he gaZes on the little one.
She IS barely balanced; the slightest
ouch, the faintest motion, NAV send
Ter over into the river.
prompted, it may be. by his good
nigel, he makes a step forward. as
hough to stay the catastrophe so i'm I
nInent. Then he suddenly stops.
y Wretched memory that but belongs
O his vile desire comes to him. and
rusheS all good within him.
Has he not somewhere heard that to
peak, or call, or cry aloud to child
yhen in dangerous position is but
witt and sure means to cause its sud
peak.
And as though virtuous feeling alone
rOmpts him, he holds his peace. and
RES to believe that his nOn-interfer-
nee may yet save the child.
ct ID reality, and he knows il well.
e does not 50 believe. No, he can not
0 deceive himself
The little heiresS creeps still nearer
D the brink, always with her soft and
ender song upon her lips.
She SWayS suddenly. seeks to recover
eTSeH, and then the poor babv-fIjed
nth her childish longing for the unat-
and with all her little soul rapt
admiration of the fatal lilies-falls
)rWard
For a moment she cIings conYulsive-
7 TO the slippery bank then. with a
larp and bitter scream, rolls down.
ard, and is instantly snatched to the
oSom OF the greedy river as it rushes
inward to the sea.
The whole awful tragedy has occuDied
'arcely more than one short minute.
Ienrudd0ck- rOuSing himself when it
too late, springs through the window.
lt INTO the garden, past the rOSes-tbat
Ill smile and tremble coquettishly be-
cath the touch of the tickle breeze as
lough no horrible thing had lust been I
)ne-and gains the fatal spot
Gazlng with wild and too late remOrse
ito the river, he fails to see signs of
bite frock, or whittier limbs, or small
ce. pale with terror.
The river has caught the little body.
10 hurried 1t along, past the curve of
le rock, through the meadow. perhaps
ready deadly swift it is-out into
ie open sea. No tiny. struggling mass.
III instinct with life. can be seen
lthing but the turbid waters.
IenfuddOck- with gTOan. sinks uD-
4 his knees. and, falling each second
Wer, soon lies prone, an inert and un-
nsclous heap, upon the grass.
How long he remains there. pros
ate. and merclfUI.y lost to time. he
'Ver knows. but voice. sweet and
wing, rouses him to life again.
" W hat IS H. papa?' says Dick, bend
2 over him. Are Won iUp You will
tch cold. 50 get up. Nurse is aiwavs =,
ying THAT Hilda and | are sure TO :
tch sore throats If we lie on the grass" !
As the little ones name passes the
,y's lips. Penrudduck starts and
ivers, and after q few seconds. by a {
nreme effort, raises himself TO his !
Never shall the boy know how evil / !
IS been this deed he has committed.
lie moves very feebly indeed toward
Z house; but Dick follows him. Q
where is Iuldas" he asks. standing !
tiptOe. to bring his face nearer To i
$ fathers 5. Il can lind her anywhere.
q | left her lust here Sh= is a lIffte =
p, and is always hiding from me: but / (
g viii come back when | want her \
Ida" raising his voice to q shout. Il y
all pick the eyes ont of Miss MauJ" !
le doll II yea don't come soon. One j
,uld THINK she MAS dc I'll, she Is so 81 q
1t. NliY, papa, l;uw pale you arel /
d how III yuu look. Has any one C
en- veVing v0il?7 /
y ,. q