Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-02-09
from that day to this and that was eleven
years ago.
But had she euer forgotten him or his prom
use to return?
CHAPTER XXI.
use to return!

CHAPTER XXI
MILLIONS OR-NOTHING,
With a start, he awoke from his musings
over the past and hastily began to search
for some proof of the womans identity
As he opened the locket he staggered
backward in arnazement. In one side was
the face of an old gray-bearded man, a face
he never could forget. In the other, bent
and worn, a small tin-type of young lad of
eighteen or nineteen.
The first was the Greek merchant of Tan
giers; the second, himself, the college
sophomore of eleven years ago. He remem-
bered fishing it out of his sea-chest and Civ
ing it to Haydee just before he sailed.
And was this Haydee? His child pupil,
Haydee? Come from far Tangiers on that
burning Morocco shore9 Cast zap by the
sea, here on these rugged, rocl6-bound
coasts2 The woman Haydee, come thus to
recall to his conscience-smitten soul the
recollection of his broken promises, after
these many years had passeds
Horror-struck at his objectionable neg
lect, he bent over her and murmured:
30, Haydee! my little Haydee! And
forgot you So"
Hidden in the folds of her robe, tightly
pressed to her bosom, was sewed roll of
Ms. Blurred though it was by the sea-
water, he could yet read it. Closely, yet
neatly written, its English was terse and
clear.
The pupil had well profited by her masters
instructions.
Sat last''-so began the MS. s'we are
steaming within sight of his native land and
Heaven soon will put an end to all my long,
long weary years of waiting.
Il know not what unseen power impels
me to write this or guides my pen to shape
that mournful word, FareweR! l know not
what fills my terrified soul with vague fore
boding. But like not the lowering looks
of those bad men, and, when that villain,
Matteo, bends upon me his evil eye, my
heart f1utters like a frightened bird, and
grow sick and faint.
Il see their many, secret, low-muttering
groups. l catch their hasty glances of fear
and malice toward my good captain and his
mate, Luigi. And am oppressed with an
horrible dread.
''Ah! why did I seek this vessel? And
yet, when Ali'-her Nubian slave-''breath-
less and terrified, came rushing in, that IA
tai night, with the news that the Sultans
minions were without, ready to drag me to
his harem, could we do aught else but fly
down those narrow, sitting lanes and seek
safety on the first outbound steamers!
mo sooner had stepped upon her decks
than my soul told me that death abode
there. Too late! For she was already leav-
ing the harbor. And, now, daily and hour
ly, my eye and ear verify that awful pre-
sentiment.
Last night nv father stood beside me,
clad in his death-shroud.
'''Fear not, my daughter said he, with
his rare, sweet smile of old, the end is at
handr
cay! the end is at hand! But, if it be not
to meet thee, beloved, it lies in this sharp,
steel dagger, or in yon chilly waters.
80 my teacher of the olden days my love
Of now and all time, JareweW Thou knew
est that l loved thee, then. with a child's
pure love. And have come to prove to thee
that love thee now, with the deathless
love of a woman whose vain warnings have
been pent up within her bosom for d half
score years of ceaseless watching. And,
come life or death! thou shalt yet know my
love was undying.
None, save 1 and yon strong box, wherein
is hidden the clew to the place of conceal
ment q would have left it with Abou Has
san, my dead fathers scribe; but, alas !!
that cruel flight forbade, and Ali, who
bears about in his breast the papers which
he has sworn to protect to the death, until
he deliver them to thee-none save we
three know where lies that treasure that
shall make thee the peer of the richest
Prince on earth.
"And, when it comes to thee-Gs 1t
surely Shdil-give but one thought to that
little Haydee, who, living, loved thee, and,
dying, breathed out her soul in prayer for
thee, and she will ask no more"
The brain of many better man has been
turned by scenes less trying than those
through which Fairfax had been passing;
and when he finished reading these words
it seemed to him that he would lose his
reason. Putting his hands to his head, he
tottered like one who has received a death
blow. a binding mist came before his eyes
and a horrible, ringing, sound filed his
ears. One straws weight more, and he
would have gone, stark, staring mad-lil1e
those poor creatures whom he once saw in
their iron-barred cells, gnawing and biting
at their chains and shrieking out in their
frenzy.
Was it hideous dreama Was he really
mad:
The most audacious flight of the widest
imagination could not have equaled this
step of one brief moment from worse than
utter poverty to possible millions. Who
ever saw or knew or heard or dreamed OF
such thing.
Suddenly his eye fell upon the dead Hay
dee at his feet-how gloriousiy beautiful
she looked now.-his little sweetheart,
Haydee, whom the sea had cast up to him
with her heart ard her wealth, ali his
His frenzy ceased. He grew quiet and,
with tears of genuine affection, stopped