The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-13
M0DRED.
By CHARLES LorIN HmDRErH.

but 1 cannot be his wife, father. I
dread and dislike him."
Listen. Cecile." said my father. and as
he raised his head from his hand saw how
pale and haggard his face had grown since
the receipt OF the letter which lay open
upon the table before him. Hitherto
have kept the truth from you. but 1t is nec-
essary that you should know it now. You
believe we are rich. In reality, we are
beggars. Not an acre Of this estate is ourx
This house and all in IL belong to another
Modred Yale"
But howl" l asked, with growing sens
of terror.
81 do not know answered my father.
helplessly. II needed money, and be loaned
it. l gave him mortgages. They brought
me papers TO sign. and signed them. / am
no man Of business, Cecile. don't know
how it all came about. But everything is
his. and at a word be could turn US out,
homeless and penniless."
And would he have the hearth" ex-
claimed. angrily.
I'VE have no claim upon him, Cecile,"
said my father; unless you become his
wife,"
| remembered Modred Yale perfectly,
though was but a child when he went
away Co travel in the east I had always
shrunk from him with an instructive re-
pugnance, for he had seemed to my fancy
something uncanny-not a man, but a
gnome. With a face whose pale, cold
beauty was marred by an habitual sheer,
his body was deforred almost out Of SEM
blance to humanity. He was a dwarf
with twisted limbs and hunched shoulders,
aud arms of enormous power, depending
almost TO the ground as he walked.
Yet, when he chose, Modred Yale could
ha 81 .1nw -
steal defects. In his gentler moods his voice
was soft and musical Richly endowed with
more than ordinary talents, keen observer
of men and things, and q brilliant and witty
talker, one might forget the deformity Of
his body in the charm of his intellect But
| have seen him-as rare intervals it is true
when it seemed as il the very spirit of
| evil bad taken possession of MIN: when his
| voice rose to a harsh scream, and his face
| darkened with she rage and malice of de-
mon. This was the man who demanded my
| hand in marriage.
"He will be here tonight or tomorrow"
said my father, looking at me anxiously.
l arose and went out. 1 was sick aud
trembling in every limb, and l wished to
| escape from the fate which seemed impend-
ing over me. Modred Yale's wifei As
went slowly along the quiet lane under the
| cool shadows OF the old oaks, the thought
grew moro and more incredible and abhor-
rent, like nightmare OF which one Is half
conscious, yet which will not be thrown of.
"Cecile!n
turned with glad cry; and the load
| seemed lifted from my heart, as / saw the
handsome, boyish face gazing at me over
the side, with that look In the frank blue
| eyes l knew so we'll
Sylvan" 1 exclaimed, 20, I am so
miserable;" and Irested my forehead upon
the fence between US and burst into tears.
He spraug over the stile and stood beside
me.
"What is it, Cecileg" he said, taking my
hand. what has happenedf'
/ related the interview which l had just
had with my father. As l went on his
bright face darkened with an expression Of
anger aud alarm.
"But this cannot shall not be-" he ex-
claimed, impulsively. 81 have never spo-
ken before, Cecile, because I believed you
were rich. But now / have a right to.
Cecile." his voice grew very low and ten
der, 81 love you, and l have often hoped
that you returned my love. Is it so, dear r.
"Yes," l answered, forgetting all reserve
in the sweetness of the moment, 81 love
you, Sylvan"
"Then 1 will work for you and your
father, and you may defy this man to do his
worst"
Il
voice, near at hand. "Quite idyllic.
We started away from each other and
looked around. There. at the distance Of a
| few feet, gazing at US with mocking leer
| that distorted his features into a repusive
mask, stood dwart1sh figure that recog-
nized but too we'll. 1t was Modred Yale.
At his side was another shape, hardly
more hideous than himself. 1t was that of
II huge ape, as tall as his master. BY the
wicked gieam of bis red eyes and the grin
that displayed his yellow faugs,sthe brute
seemed to understand and share the dwarf's
malicious humor.
With low bow, which the ape initiated
| as he did all of his masters movements
Modred Yale drew nearer, and. speaking in
the same harsh hooking tone, said
"If l were an artist, now, / should con-
slider myself fortunate In having CHANGED
upon so picturesque a group. and should
| lose no time la transferring is to canvas
But pardon me, am addressing Miss Cecile
| Ayre, presumem
81 bowed gently, for I was unable 70
| speak at the moment.
II am Modred Yale" he resumed with
| the same exaggerated air. whom you re-
member, of course. But you have forgotten
to introduce me to your friend"
"Mr. Sylvan Games, a neighbor," STAN.
mered.
He returned Sylvan's distant acknowl-
edgement with salutation that was almost
insolent in Its grotesque extravaganza.
81 must not forget my friend, my con-
slant companion and adj wiser, Gorgon," he
said. Come here, you brute. and make
your bow" He struck the animal violent
blow with the heavy cane he carried, as he
| spoke. With grin of terocious hatred at
his master the ape shambed up and ducked
his head at us. was 80 full of vague terror
that the scene had no humor for me.
sand now" added the dwarf, insinuat-
4 ingly, my dear young lady, will you
graciously conduct me to your good father 2
Mr.. Gaines will, am sure, be kind enough
to excuse u.s."
Was there something of the master In his
tone, alreadya / thought there was, and so
did Sylvan: for saw his cheek redden and
his hands clinch. Fearing an alteration, /
ba le him a hasty good-by. and promising to
see him soon again, and joined Modred Yale.
| Giving the ape another violent blowout
of pure cruelty, apparently-he ordered
him to go on before, and in this weird array
we proceeded toward the house.
| l hardly know how to describe the days
that followed, so full Of strange terror q ID
suffering were they. With Modred Yale's
| advent there was an immediate change in
our hitherto peaceful household. Almost
| from the first he assumed an air Of author
| ty, all the more repugnaut from the mock
| ing politeness with which he treated my
| father and myself.
My father seemed completely cowed. He
rarely spoSe 10 the presence Of the dwarf,
1 :. "a A. n