Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-11-29
The Mystery Of a Hanson Cab
By FERGUS w. HUME.
CHAPTER XXX

been preached by George Eliot, swhen she
says that our lives are the outcome of our
actions Every action, good or bad, which
we do has its corresponding reward, and
Mark Frettlby found il SO, for the sins Of his
youth were now being punished Ia his old
age. No doubt he had sinned gayly enough
in that far Off time when life's cup was still
brimming with wine, and no asp hid among
the roses; but Nemesis had been an unseen
spectator Of all his thoughtless actions, and
now came to demand her just dues. He felt
somewhat as Faust must have felt when
Mephistopheles suggested visit to hades, in
Repayment for those years OF magic youth
and magic power So long ago it seemed
since he had married Rosanna Moore, that
he almost persuaded himself that it had been
only dream-a pleasant dream, with dis
agreeable awakening When she had left
him he had tried to forget her, recognizing
how unworthy she was of good mans love.
he heard that she had died in London hos.
pital, and with passionate sigh for a per
ished love had dismissed her from his
thoughts forever His second marriage had
turned out happy one, and he regretted the
death Of his wife deeply Afterwards, all
his love centered in his daughter, and he
thought he would be able to spend his declin-
ing years in peace This, however, was not
to be, and he was thunderstruck when Whyte
arrived from England with the information
that his first wife still lived, that the daugh-
ter of Mark Frettlby was illegitimate.
Sooner than this, Frettlby agreed to any
thing; but Whyte's demands became too ex
orbitant, and he refused to comply with
them. On Whyte's death he again breathed
freely, when suddenly second possessor of
his fatal secret started up in the person of
Roger Moreland
The day after he had seen Moreland, and
knew that his secret was no longer safe, since
it was in the power of man who might re
veal it at any moment in a drunken fit or
out Of sheer maliciousness, he sat at his desk
writing.
There seemed to be only one way open to
him by which he could escape the relentless
fate which dogged his steps. He would write
a confession Of everything from the time he
had first met Rosanna, and then-death. He
would cut the Gordian knot of all his diff
culties, and then his secret would be safe
safe, no, it could not be while Moreland
lived. When be was dead Moreland would
story Of her fathers sins; yes, he must live
to protect her, and drag his weary chain of
bitter remembrances through life. always
with that terrible sword of Damocles hang
ing over him But still he would write out
his confession, and after his death, whenever
it may happen, it might help if not alto
gether exculpate, at least to secure some pity
for man who had been hardly dealt with
by fate His resolution taken, he put it into
force at once, and sat all day at his desk filling
page after page with the history of his past
life, which was so bitter to him He started at
first languidly as in the performance of an
unpleasant but necessary duty Soon, how
ever, he became interested in it, and took a
peculiar pleasure in putting down every
minute circumstance which made the case
stronger against himself. He dealt with it,
not as criminal, but as a prosecutor, and
painted his conduct as much blacker than it
Really had been. Towards the end of the
day, however, after reading over the early
sheets, he experienced revulsion Of feeling,
seeing how severe he had been on himself, so
he wrote defense upon his conduct, show
ing that fate had been too strong for him. 1t
was weak argument to bring forward, but
still he felt it was the only one ho could
make. 1t was quite dark when he had finished,
and while sitting in the twilight, looking
dreamily at the sheets scattered all over his
desk, he heard knock at his door and heard
his dauSher's voice asking if he was coming
to dinner. All day long he had closed his
door against every one, but now his task
being ended, he collected all the closely writ
ten sheets together, placed them in drawer
Of his escrtoire, which he locked, and then
opened the door.
"Dear papa," cried Madge as she entered
rapidly, and threw her arms around bis neck,
''what have you been doing here all day by
yourselfF'
Writing" returned her father laconically.
as he gently removed her arms
"Why, thought you were ill.," she an
swered, looking at'him apprehensively
"No, dear" he replied. quietly mot i'll.
but worried"
~ knew that dreadful man who came last
night had told you something to worry you.
Who was hef'
"Ohl friend of mine. answered Frettlby,
with hesitation.
"What-Roger Morelandr
Her father stared
"How do you know it was Roger More.
land~
"Ohl Brian recognized him as he went out.
Mark Frettlby hesitated for few mo
ments. and then busted himself With he n
uers OF his desk, Gs hepncd in y lnw vote
Y ~ ~, ;" g.. = vs., liH
he is vcIy hi.rA ui', AID Us he was friend o
poor Whyte's, asked me to assist him, whicl
did"
He hated to hear himself telling such
deliberate falsehoul. but there was no hell
for it Madge must never know the truth II
long as he could conceal it.
Just like you," said Madge, kissing hin
lightly with filial pride. 1.-THE best and kind
est of men,"
He shivered slightly as he felt her caress
and thought how she would recoil from hin
did she know ALL "After ALL" says som
cynical writer, ''the illusions of youth ar
mostly due to the want of experience.
Madge, is norant in great measure Of tn
world, cherished her pleasant illusions
though many Of them had been destroyed b.
the trials of the past year, and her fathe
longed to keep her in this frame of mind.
Now 60 down to dinner, rIy DEAR" h
said, leading her to the door 4 will folio,
soon."
Don't be long" replied his daughter, 20
shall come up again." and she ran dow
stairs, her heart feeling strangely light
Her father looked after her until she van
ished, then heaving regretful sigh, returne
to his study, and taking out the scattere
papers fastened them together, and indolse
them, "My Confession" He then place
them in an envelope, sealed it, and put
back in the desk "If all that is in tina
packet were KNOWN" he said aloud, as he lef