Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-02
HUGH coleman DAVIDSON,
Author of The Green Hills by the
Sea, "''Not q Momentto Spare"
"The CID ADAM" sc.
Copyright, 1891. by II. c. Davidson.
CONTINUED,
CHAPTER XVIII
on THE BRINK.

on The BRINK.
IN the shed were q number OF garden
tools, a pile Of wood, litter OF chips
around the axe on ths floor, and dustin
abundance. George hunted every
where, throwing the tools in confusion
and turning over the whole pile CT wood,
but could not find trace OF the missing
knob. More than an hour elapsed De-
fore be would admit that it was not In
the shed; when at last that fact was
forced upon him, he stood staring ABOUT
him helplsssly, with sn awful look OF
despair ia his young face. Surely,
surely, he thought, the stars Ia tneIr
courses were fighting against him.
Then what was the use OF his strug-
Cling? What was the use OF trying 70
o. right? Better let his enemies take
him at once, aud do with him what they
would.
bu. after time Ire reused himself
sgain. lie had others beside himself 20
consider, and bis hurt would be taelrS
also. On, II ha0 only paused TO think
OF that before I dealt that fatal blow,
how much misery might have been
avoided! George thought OF his father
and mother, of Hattie aud Rachel, aud
the life that had gone out OF his veins
returned with a rush. Determined TO
fight on 70 the end, he went outside and
continued his search there.
The shed was situated in corner,
and the low stone wall or the garden
was utilized to form part OF its back
and OF one side, both being constructed
OF planks above, as also were the front
and the remaining SIDE. II was Ia
dilaDidated condition, the timber being
rotten and broken away Ia places,
while there were several gaps 10 the
matched roof.
Beyond the garden were grass fields,
vet and swampy, lying Cd the margin
Of Gorragh Bay. There was no path
way through these fields, ana seldom was
anybody seen in them, only an occasion
al sportsman after snipe during the
winter months.
As tho road lay on the side OF the gar
deu reinots from the shed il was in the
highest degree improbable that any
passerby had overheard the converse
tion on the previous night, aud without
the knowledge which might thus have
been obtained nobody would attach any
value 20 the top Of a stick. No, it could
not have been carried of By an outsid-
er. Then, perhaps his father had taken
70, or bis sister, or perhaps In the hurry
of :he moment be himself had put IL
somewhere else. So George tried 10
reason himself into q cslmer mood.
. While he was still hunting about the
garden, wandering up and down among
the rows of cabbaRes, his father came
ia " n .
troubled aud his eyes were bent upon
the ground as If he was searching for
something which be had lost. AT tho
sight Of his sOn he started and changed
color.
81 didn't know you were here,
George" be said, neryouslY. What
has brought you back so sOOE? What
has brought you out hereP Nothing
Important. Is it?'
Aud George answered evasiveiy, while
the old man dared not look into his sous
face, for each was harrassed By secret
which he wished 10 keep from the other.
This secret came between them and
rendered them awkward in the extreme:
both were longing TO put questions
about 10, but neither dared. As they
walked 10 and fro in the garden, they
casting ste9lthy glances right and left,
a.. the time pretending TO be eng.OSsed
In conversation, aud avoiding the shed
as II 10 contained a pestilence.
Presently Mrs. Vsne saw them from
awindoW, and calling them in, rated
George soundly for not having come
straight back TO her, and her husband
for having detained him. But her talk
soon turned 10 fannes and warm socks,
and many other things which she con-
ridered necessary 20 residence In Can
ada. George had 10 answer and 10
listen with q show OF interest, though
the Canadian life Of which be had
dreamed had become such q shadOwy
thing that be could believe Ia it no
longer, and ell his thought was Of the
missing stick.
Mr.. Vane had seated himself near the
door. After few minutes be rose
hastily as il he had forgotten some urg-
ent business, and went out. George,
though most anxious 70 follow him,
tried hard TO invent some excuse for
getting away, but his mother kept q
6rm hold upon him. II was Dot until
her presence was required In the kitchen
that be was able 10 make his escape.
lie found his father ia the shed, dis
tractedly turning over the pile Of wood
Just as he had done himself. The old
man, caught in the act, looked as guilty
as il be had been committing some at
trocious crime. Pretense was useless
after that
"Then you haven't taken it, iatherP"
said George.
Taken the stick-the top OF IL, at
leastP No, I haven't touched 10. And
you haven't? 1 was afraid OF that. I
felt all along that it would bring disas-
ter upon US. Oh. my sou, what have
We done that an this trouble should
come upon us?' And the old man
wrung his hands.
81 dOu't kaow," said George misers-
bly,. at is some curse. II follows like
fare. There is no getting rid Of IL.
That is why I wanted TO tell the whole
truth. aud so came back here for the
knob"
81 saw YOU lay it upon the shelf"
said his father, lOOktag about in =
dazad wav. Eyes, 1 certainly saw
that. But 1t is gone now. Some enemy
has got IL"
George was so affected by his fathers
distress that ne forgot his own. He
put on a cheerful countenanee aud be-
gau 10 talk as u, after all, 10 were only
a trivial matter that had been worrying
them. As be racked his brain for words
OF encouragement new ides occurred
20 him.
~ listen. father" said he, 81 will tell