The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-19
A PASSIVE CRIME.
THE MOMENT ArPRoAcHFs.
BY THF DUCHESS.


CasJle, IN all its Gothic and somewhat
savage grandeur. fTOwns down upon
She yale beneath: upon plain and mp
Idhu' park and winding stream. and the
/ pretty cottage far below. that lies halt
/ hluden by the spreading foliage.
/ 4, Although belonging to sunny June
the day IS dark and lowering.
Inc ocean with a sudden roar. is
TuShlng inland, to break out with furi-
Gus misses upon the long, low beach
Inc SKY is overcaSt;nO faintest CLEAN
OF sunshine comes to Tighten the gloom.
OF throw some brightness on the scene.
so TepIete with heaviness and a vague
I melancholy.
Ana such winter wears the face of
lieaVen,' that all the happy birds lie
| covering out of sight.
Upon the castle walls the flag waves
, iiIetIulIy IN the breeze. y sense of desc
IaJlOn and of coming evil is over all the
. pIace. 1he servants go softly to and
| ITO, as though waiting solemnly for
/ ueath 5 messenger. who comes with
hurried teet. The moaning winds and
uII JLng clouds muTmuT of misery. and
PLAINLY tell of dawning grief.
/ Beneath, in the evallev. upon the grass
/ plot that belongs to the cottage, a man
/ IS walking slowly up and down with
/ lowered mead, and heart filled with
/ envy and vain longing. His face. though
handsome and suggestive of good breed
IIT4g' is dark, stern, and impenetrable
SlS arms are crossed behind his back
Just now an expression, almost evil.
mars The Beauty of his features. His
thoughts, busy with the past and the
present, are full of discomfort.
sometimes, as though uncOnsciOusly.
ne mus ms eyes to gaze upon the Grim
son nag floating so high above him
marking the spot where his sister-in2
law, the Lady of Pcnruddock. lies at
the point of death. very certainly to fol-
low her husband into the land Of shad-
OWs.
=. Within twelve months they will both
lie buried, and all this gOodly HERITAGE
these swelling fields and softly HndTIa,
tng PLAINS, viii pass into the hands of
child, feeble gIrl-a creature sc1rcp
III TO combat with the winds that blow.
whilst his boy, his treasure beyond ali
price, must through all his life toll for
daily bread.
At this moment a merry I9uph rinos
our upon the all. and from the house.
Win ldlr ualr flying. q lovely bow of
seven runs eagerly and jOyOuslv. with
arms extended. to the man SO deep in
enylUuS thought.
As the sound of childish ravetv
smites upon his ear. his whole eynreS-
SION changes, and he lifts his head. and
gladly welcomes the child with word
and gesture, as he filings himself. breath
less, upOnthe man 5 breast.
Inc boy cllngs TO him. murmurinQ 4
joyful story Of his escape from nurse
and tutor without fear of reprOof, and
with no dread of the dark features and
cleaning eyes above him. that betray
some sense of cruelty.
Perhaps his little son is the one thing
IN all the world that does not shrink
from George PenTuddOck and is. there
fore, dOubly dear to him on that ac-
count.
lie holds him now closely clasped
against his heart. as though the contact
were sweet TO him, and whispers in his
ear words of fond endearment that are
almost WOmanish in their Tenderness
ct even as he holds the yOungster in
his arms dark thoughts come again.
and take fast hold Of him.
3ut FOR the puny baby in the castle
above, all these lands around him nlirht
be the boys, anc wealth and position
be assured to him.
That thought it is which is now tort
uring, and which has long driven from
bis heart every feeling save only Cne
that should inspire n human being
lie loves his little son; for him it IS
that this man is ambitious. and would
enrich evenly a crime.
The daughter OF Alice PeuTuddOcIy /
konce 50 yamly loved, now so long de (
teSted) viii soon be i'll posSeSsiOnof all I
whilst his little son, his pretty Dick. /
must forever remain pOrtiOnleSs. 1t is I
this thought that constantly tortures. I
that poisons and lays waste his every /
hour.
The boy has darted off again chasing
from flower to flower a snowy butter .
fly; and once more PenTuddOck looks
up sharply to where the crimson flag
should be. But it is no longer there;
and almost it seems as though a faint
cry comes to him upon the rising wind.
lie shiverS. and then cries shame lIp-
q lG
self 1t is but the shrek of the sea-gulls
flying inwards from the storm
The click of latch makes him turn
his head. The gardeu-gate is thrown
wide, and a tall woman, of servants
rank. but finely formed and of the
gypsy type. comes hurriedlv up to him.
Her eyes are peculiarly large and dark,
and there is determination. a StOlidity,
about her lower jaw SOmeWhatTemaTk-
able. Perhaps the touch of ROmany
blood Is rather more dlScernible in car
rage and complexion than in ewes and I
hair. though both are dark as midnight.
Penruddock grows little pale as she
approaches. and acknowledges her pres
snce, not with speech, but by a slight
gesture of the hand.
The woman takes no notice of his
greeting, but, drawing herself up to her
'ull height, for several moments gaZes
It him thoughtfully.
"Well?" he asks, at length, as though
Unable longer to endure her scrutiny.
MY lady is dead" saws the woman,
lowly. rather than cUrtly, and with a
Iifiiculty which is very apparent to him.
Penruddock starts, and moves back
tep or two. However prepared we
nay be for such news, the plain telling
f it must occasion shock.
"Ay." says the woman, quietly.
"Dead,' saws PcnruddOck, in a low
one. so sOOn-sO very suddenly"
"NeS. IT is always So" returns she,
lOOdIly gazing al the SNard; the yOung
nd the gay 90 soOIiest. She is clay
ow. though a week ago she could chat
eT with the best; nay. SO lately as an
our ago She called me by my name,
nd held my hand-sO. / can feel the
ressure still. But II is all over: she is
till and cold now. poor soul, And it
lay be happieE Tor her heart was
r0ken."
"How dreadful it all is-how depress-
~, | feel it as though"
"No more, Penruddock," says the wo-
IAN. suddenly, raising her head, and
iHging up her hand with an uncOn-
-Ollable and almost naughty gesture.
O standing she is quite beautiful; and
lough wearing the garD. loses all the
spect of the menial. Hypocrisy is a
lie sin; and why try to deceive NET
here was no love lost between you.
ven at the last, the very last, when
fC was nearly over she"
There is Il pause, and Penruddock. in
n agitated voice, says. with some ex-
dement,. go on. DO not hesitate.-
III me the worst. Esther. At the last
he spoke of me! What was i'll Did
lef0rgive?"
"Ncyer," says the woman, firmly.
80, not even then. You know how
le disIilod the masters win, and your
ing left sblcguardiaIi Of the child in
.e event Ot her death. Isay nothing"