Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27

man whom he persistently regarded as his
enemy. What sort of heart must q man
have to ignore the bonds of blood, desert
wife and child, and trouble himself no more
about the woman who loved him and grieved
for him, than If she had never existed. Mr.
Norman's absorption In machinery and his
enthusiasm for the marvels of nature, filled
the young man at times with q savage wrath
which he could with difficulty repress. For
what were steel and iron compared to flesh
and blood; what were pitiless screws and
levers compared to bleeding hearts and
weeping eyes? 1t was not easy, indeed, to
maintain in Mr.. Norman's presence. this
hostile attitude. And had Gunnar had
sufficient insight to know what possession,
what an imperious mania genius may be,
he would have pardoned his father and
loved him instead Of persuading himself that
he hated him.
He ioresaw plainly that if he were to fill
his role as avenging angel, he must strike
quickly and blindly before his lurking af-
fection should get the upper hand of him.
Torn with conflicting emotions he hurried to
Mrs. Tonneson's boarding house in Wicker
Park and took counsel with Mathilda. See
ing that she could not prevent the expose,
the shrewd damsel swiftly conceived plan
by which she might shield Gunnar from the
consequences, and at the same time earn for
herself little cash, of which she was sorely
in need for a new dress. She persuaded her
lover, with the. aid of caresses and tender
cajolery, to let her manage the affair, and be,
after many remonstrances, finally acquiesced.
Only there must be no delay. The blow
must be struck at once. He feared, though
he did not confess it, that if she gave him
time for reflection his courage would desert
him. The next day was SATURDAY., and
Mathilda gave her word that in Sunday
mornings papers Mr.. Norman's crime
should be properly trumpeted, with haring
headlines and spicy details.
1t was really great relief to Gunnar to
escape striking the blow with his own hand
And yet he was anything but happy. A
kind of perverse sense Of duty, which he
had stimulated by meditation upon his
mothers wrongs, forbade him to withdraw;
and yet he felt mean and dastardly, as he
sat opposite to his father at the dinner ta-
BILE, listening to his kindly and instructive |
talk. The desire to benefit and instruct him
was so obvious that every remark cut the
son to the quick and made him quiver with
suppressed excitement. He was on the
point of breaking down and confessing his
plot; but the thought Of his mothers toll |
and suffering braced him up again and |
made him adhere to his resolution. When |
the meal was at an end he was about to |
hurry away from the kindness that scorched |
him; but Mr.. Norman put his hand on his |
shoulder and asked him to step into the |
library, as he had something very particu- |
lar to say to him. When they were seated |
in easy-chairs before the open fire they |
smoked for. awhile in meditative silence. |
But the face of each betrayed dimly the |
emotions which wrestled within him.
Finn" began Mr.. Norman, blowing a |
slender column of smoke toward the fire. |
place, will you do me favor?"
~ snail have to know first what it is"
"Well, you are right in not making rash |
promises. But when 1 tell you that my |
peace of mind, my, happiness, depends upon |
your doing this for me, 1 think you'll not |
refuse"
Gunnar's heart thumped in his throat. |
He dreaded what was to come, and vet he |
could not tell whether it was wild Joy or |
a desperate anxiety which chased the blood |
through his veins and made the pulse ham,
mer in his temples.
''The fact is, Finn, have a wife and a
son." Mr.. Norman continued. 81 know
they are both living, and 1 want you to go
to them, tell them am alive and love them
as much as ever. Tell them I am rich
man, and that want them to come and
spend the rest of their days with me-"
He stared fxedly into the fire while speak
ing; but Gunnar saw his lip tremble, and a
sudden moisture clouded his eyes, and made !
him rise abruptly and pace the floor.
"How long is it since you left your wife and
son?" asked Cymnar, with a mighty effort |
not to betray his emotion.
Eighteen years, my boy" answered Nor
man huskily, "18 years"
He continued to walk up and down on the
floor, with his head bent.
"You think am much to blame; and you
ire right I wish could explain it to you;
out can't. was miserable in the Morse
utterly, inconceivably miserable
because there was something in me which no
me understood-and myself least of all. I
old in my innocence the Norwegian parson
# it, and he said it was the devil tempting
ne. thought for o while he was right My
wife agreed with the parson; was of no use
% her, and gave her many bitter hour
lad no choice but to break away. She her.
elf consented to it. Hard and toilsome, but
lot unhappy years followed. found my
york, and bless God for that. I have not
known really unhappy hour since, though
have suffered from remorse and q longing
or those who are dear to me-"
"Why, then, did you not go to them?"
Isked Gunnar, in voice which no effort
ould steady.
'Young man, it may seem foolish tn you,
fl say that 1. never had the time" an
wered Norman, finging himself again into
he arm chair; "but for all that, it is the
act. Ny work has possessed me like first
owe which kept me awake at night. post
,oned and again postponed doing my duty,
because I dreaded to see the Norwegian
parsons in my house, until I should feel |
trong enough to fight them on their own
.round. I assumed the name Norman sim
ply to escape the same influence in my life.
axe the place to which my ability entitled
ne in the American community. 1 could
never have done that if had again assumed
he spiritual yoke which it cost me such
lire struggling to throw off" +,
"Then it is as a burden you take back
vile and child?" asked Gunuar with re-
entful glance.
"Oh, no. I love them;I have longed
Ifter them. want themp' cried his father, ,
tarting up again and resuming his restless
walk.
"But know can never make it plain to |
vou, how you can love person and yet de-
,lore certain phases of his character. Once !
ny wife came near subjugating me, and
rom the best OF motives crushing out that
which was noblest and most precious in me.
As long as I feared that, feared her. Now |
fear it no longer and I can afford to let
Ter know that love her,"
They talked on for about an hour; and
sunnar without undisguising himself as I
umed the proposed mission. He began G
imly to comprehend that his father, driven /
nd impelled by his genius, which was an I
force in his life. could not be ]