The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-18

But what awaited this turn in the scale
when the next moment the whole mystery
was laid yet more bare to the light of day +.
The crackers of the escaped author Of the
confession were upon him.
Scarcely recovered from the wave OF Joy
which reversed between him and Royal, for
the moment at least, the positions of master
and slave, Leonard Ferret, turning, faced
his father.
Chance had, indeed, once more turned
traitor to its able servant. Royal, in setting
Andrew Ferret in the way of swallowing
the false bait OF Leo's confession.
But as only for a moment the lad and the
villain changed places, to return TO them
again with this new turn of affairs. SO once
more it seemed Royal would triumph.
With the beliefln the little blind girls
greater love for her father. even to COM
plete self-sacrifice, what could her unhappy
lover do but follow her example, II it was
to an even, yet sterner, endl
1t was indeed 20 be biuteT-bitter as well
could be- for, despite mis- vow. he would
have been more than mortal If Ee had not
chung TO every straw which made escape
possible, at whatever cost.
In all his life on his part Andrew Ferret
| never regretted any step so much as that
which had caused him 50 strangely to take
up the chance cleu of the confession, TO lead
more strangely still TO the very person of
| oil OLubio Al thO WITH ehFps Va COuAoCs bhO
son whom he did not know was alive or
dead. he would least willingly have bad to
do in such an affair, in anything, but what
| would be happiness and we'll being for him.
Leo was not slow to mark upon him the
| effect of his duty, and ere he could be
| seized by the old mans companions, who
stood respectfully at the French window by
which they had entered waiting his orders
-sprang to his side and claimed his atten-
! ton in a low earnest whisper.
Mr.. Ferret, grant me a word alone. l
have something l must say to you"
| The old man turned his eyes away from
the face which bad so powerful a fascina-
ton for him, and shook his head sadly
enough.
| But the lad would not be gainsayed.
| "For Nellie's sake-she is blind, and this
will break her heart-for my sake-as a
| dying man-for the sake Of my-my dead
| father-for the sake of--your son who may
| be yet alive, and in need Of even greater
mercy than l."
It was every plea that he could use, aud
the last won him his way.
| But to what end?
| How else could the old soldier of the law
meet his protestations of innocence under
| circumstances which lie would suffer az
guilty rather than divulge-his prayers
| Notwithstanding at last almost to
| frenzy-tO be allowed one chance of escape,
| DuL DY Sb6Tu Al laSb even on MS own part
| despite all-heartbroken refusal.
And then the truth came out.
Not from the unhappy lads lips. This,
the greatest plea of all which it seemed
could not fail-was indeed at last upon
them.
But his great selt-sacrlfce was not TO be
Swallowed by such stain.
He was silent then. But another voice
did the telling. Madge Royal glided for
ward from where she stood with her hus-
band, and the little blind girl, stock still in
| sheer dismay, as TO know what move to
make which would not make affairs yet
more disastrous than they we're already.
mot for tine lads dead fathers sake, but
for your own-Rot for your sons sake, for
he can be In no greater need Of mercy than
now" she said.
what do you meang' asked Andrew
| Ferret, the question needless, for in q flash
his, as it were, wilful blindness fell away
from.him, and he knew the truth.
"Silence, silence, for PHYS sake" gasped
Leo.
But she would not be silenced.
my boy Ny boy At last!"
And with an almost tigerish bound Ans
drew Ferret clasped his son in his arms.
For a moment the embrace was returned
with fervor which increased the long stored
up wealth OF love.
l. Then a new voice broke in upon the silence
proclaiming the truth yet further.
''Leo-you his son, and his prsonerm
1t was Nellie's white lips from which the
cry came, and as she spoke she put out her
banda to go to her lover In his pain.
i But for once, in this her sorest need, her
instinct seemed TO have deserted her, and
with half moan, half sob of anguish, she
made the old gesture which mad so often cut
her father to the heart, as if with her hands
she would try and tear away the darkness
| nj, har liiya ma vail Or rail
No one save Royal of those around her
understood the meaning OF it,
He did, only too well. But he did more
he was set to answer il as best he could.
There was but one way. Since not half
the truth could save her, the whole must
be told. He would tell it,
But be was not allowed even to 90 this.
Where she had stood dropping almost t.
the earth under the weight of the dreaC
mystery, the little blind girl suddenly
reared up, no longer plucking at the dark
ness upon her with her nerveless fingers
but pointing with stiff hand to him-tht
true murderer.
''No, Leo, not you, not you; but your
All In amazement those around hel
gathered near to know what it could mean
One OF them alone did not need know: diC
not stir. He could not.
Ralph Royal knew that this was no chanc
which had turned against him, miract
and nothing else it seemed had been per
formed to his destruction.
Nellie Huntingford was blind no longer
Her eyesight had been given back to her
| Not now would the innocent suffer for tn
, guilty, the punishment of whom it would
! 1t seemed, be beyond mortal means t.
award.
That punishment was indeed not left il
mortal hands.
Convicted out of the mouth of the woman
who was all but an angel to him, Roya
reeled slightly, and then fell like a log e.
|, the floor.
: The hand of mortal justice was upon hin
3 on the instant. But there was one quicke
1 | still
r The wife was true tn her wifehood in thi
4 the terrible end of all hopes-her widow
hood.
She had done her BEST Her task wa
: taken from her. She, too, fell down-no
? dead. but beyond all power to call her bacl
: to reason.
{ But this madness was strangely kind, TO
in it the truth was all reversed, and she hat
s in fancy the happiness she had and woul
a never have known anyhow else.
twas upon this strange scene the Ra
appeared when come to set the seal on al
that he could do, by parting with his chill
| hn aad Ha.k ID 81