Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-04
THE OVERTON CLAIM.
By uARTEA ECULLoOH WILLIAMS.
Copyright. 1884, by American Press Associa-
toni
CHAPTER XIII.

said to 11aJor OTcrtt II as the struggling
+ daylight fell full Oh the tail, dead man,
SO straight and stock and still The Old
man nodded, saying:
Yes 1t will take half Gay to get
out of this wilderness. Besides we cCGld
| never carry him, and to come back
! he stopped with half sIudder-''is i'm
| possible and impolitic, - Vance finished.
Even as they spoke came anoise of pick
and shovel outside. DoZcIis Of rusty tools
| lay under the rott:ng sheds about, and
willing hands were plying them to put
out of sight the poor, reckless creature,
| who had paid the fullest penalty of mis-
| sins. By time the sun was above the
tree tops n long grave had been scooped
in tie little glade back of the old house.
Dare at the springsiGc, Ecr face, her
hands, refreshed and spotless, turned to
Allen, saying softly:
| "Ask them, please, g42n'af'ther and
Mr.. IIildreth if we may line the grave
with boughs and put others above him. -
Surely We may, ALLEN said, pressing
! her soft palm to his cheek. My Dare,
il is like you thus to do good to them
! that despitefully use you. We will
make together for our enemy a green
| bed and give him pillow of flowers -
Hand in hand they went about the
wood L!ucIing shcaves Of goldenrod,
| stalks of cardinal flower, of iron weed
and carly GstCrs. AlIe6 had spoken lit
tie apart with the Gravediggers. AL
ready they had torn fat, leafy boughs
from the thicllet and covered with their
green all the dank cold clay. Across the
| western end of the narrow yawning pit
Allen laid the f,ewer sheaves fresh from
Dare's hand. And down in that cool and
| fiOwCry darkness they laid Royal Cleve,
his two hands folded peacefully under
more green leaves, to await the summons
| ct which all life must answer for the
deeds done in the body.
Then, as though weight had been
lifted from all souls, the cavalcade made
its way out of the wilderness. Major
Ovcrton's horse had been left behind, so
precipitate was the flight of his captors
Dare rode upon an imprOvised pillion
behind her lover when the steep hill
road did not make it necessary for both
TO dismount. They said little, those two.
The silence of overful hearts lay between
them. But Major Overton talked and
smiled with his friendly lawyers in
fashion none had ever seen before.
"Oh, for an hour of Hawkins now!"
Hildreth said to Vance as they found
themselves nearly at the outer edge Of
the iron land.
You will hardly ever enjoy it,
fear. " Vance returned. Plague on that
storm! But for it meant to try to
get at him before he learned the miscar-
r hic Ac &c no hos
doubt heard it in time to quit the coun-
try"
do you think so?'' Hildreth asked,
with an odd smile MAN alive, there
is no think about it. Hawkins is as far
from being fool as from being AN hon
est man. After this-why, it's hang
ing matter with tho proofs we have
mo doubt, if wo don't use them, "
Hildreth said. "You forget he had
partner in all. this-one, too, who will
make it possible for him to go scot
free. -
do you meant cannot be Mrs.
Townley:'' Vance said.
Major Overton leaned from his saddle
to say very low:
Gentlemen, good friends, please for
get that-that you have spoken. What
ever we may know, Dare has no suspi-
cion of the treachery Of her own blood.
Pray do not make it necessary that she
should be saddened with such knowl-
edge
agreed, on one condition, major
that you let US settle with Hawkins. He
is not the man a gentleman can touch.
know you want to shoot him, but that
would result in some awkward explana-
TONS" Vance said, laying hand on
Major Overton's arm Still Hildreth
smiled queerly, looking 4 little over his
shoulder to where Allen and Dare walk
ed in blisSful company. At last he said:
Major, here we are at the back side
Of Exeter. l move that we go in and
breakfast with Mrs. Tc wnley, or without
her
Major Overton sat up very straight,
saying: Excuse me, sir. Icannot break
bread there. Tho sight of that wom-
Major, ask it as personal favor, "
Hildrcth interrupted Vance looked Mt
him hard.
in that case have no choice after
last night, :" Major Ovcrton said, with
shade of the old techy stateliness. Hill
drcth said only, THANK you"
Five minutes later Black Patsey was
crying out: DE lawsy, Miss Dare, yo'
dcs done form yo'slf dcs too late, Miss
Mel, she dies done got ma'rid ter dat
er rank mouf Mr.. Hawkins an drib
WY licl1ety split wild hbery stable
horses-say de got ter ketch de train. But
she know somehow yo' WIS comm, comm
hyCr, tole me git breakfast ready, an
hab it good, an glib her love, an say she
wish yo' we'll, an she gwine write eff
she CANT wait ter see yo'. De preacher,
he's in lie parlor room yet, an how come
t yo' got sech er many gentlemens ter
fine an fetch yo' outen dat dar coalin's
placer
I'm tell you, Patsey. There another
wedding Oil hand, - Vance said, his eyes
twinkling; then as he got down from his
horse: Let me help you bit, major.
l think you will be the better for break
fast and six hours of rest. Major Over
ton waved him back trifle impatiently
and made to dismount in the old alert
fashion. But even as he swung himself
from stirrup a pallor overspread his face.
He tottered and hung limp across the
saddle.
Kind hands lifted him reverently
thence, bore him inside and laid him in
the wide dim hall Dare knelt at his
side, chatting the neEyous, veiny hands
that were learning thus late in life
what it was to tremble.
Drink this. You arc overspent,
Hildreth said, holding to the old mans
| lips draft of milk and brandy. Major
Overton drained it; then, as his face
| grew less gray, beckoned to Vance and
half whispered:
'Iknow what it means, the beginning
of the end. mus live few hours long
- eIo