Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-03


Vance laid a handkerchief over it and
motioned to two of the posse standing
huddled about the door to lift the corpse
to the long table at one side.
One came forward readily enough.
The other hung back, whispering:
"Wait, wait! Don't We know light
ning'll strike We if ye try to move dead
man while it's thunderin this way?"
Truly the rush and roar of wind, rain,
thunder, were appalling. The windows
of heaven seemed to be open, the eternal
hills to be cracking about their ears.
Still Vance bent above the dead man,
looking almost in pity at the face, so
white, SO stirless, SO goodly. Two or
three others came forward and made to
lift the poor clay from the floor, where
it lay so inert.
Slowly, slowly they raised it, laid it
fair and straight. Before a hand fell to
the side there came straight overhead
an appalling flash, deafening noise.
The old house shook and quivered, groan-
ing through all its timbers as its big
stone chimney toppled half to earth.
II knowed it. l told We, but We
didn't believe it, said the man who had
shrunk from laying hands ON the dead
man. The rest stood silent, in awcd ex
pectance of they knew not what. 1t
might be even deadlier flash. But the
storm king had done his worst. Very
shortly the wind sobbed itself out; the
rain ceased; the thunder drew away to
the river valley. AS the east Redeemed
for dawn, stars were peeping i'll the sky
through wells of lacy mist.
Thank God and my friends for day
light never thought to SEQ it again, 4"
Major Overton said fcrvently, his hand
on Dare's shoulder. Suddenly Vance
gave a sharp, low cry. He stood at the
rooms end, critically contemplating the
lightning's work As the rest turned to
look he darted across the wide hearth,
caught something that lay amid the
masses of loosened rock, waved it in
front of them, crying ont:
"Thc record, the recordi Major, no
matter who saved your life. l have Us
good as found your fortune
Wtko ttlS IllksblilS
released by the lightning stroke from
its 80 years ontombment.
"Open it quick, quick" Major Over
ton almost shouted Vance hurriedly
turned leaf after leaf, then silently held
the book before the old mans eyes.
Then a fine hubbub broke out, for
there, plain to view, undisputed, indis-
putable, the Overton claim was fully
confirmed upon those yellow pages.
How on earth did it ever get here?"
asked Hildreth.
Major Overton thought a minute, then
said slowly:
Il remember now. They were build
came that our title was in dispute.
Bruce Stirling no doubt stole the book
and gave it to old Ike to hide for him
Ike as a conjure man easily terrified the
black chimney builders into putting it
here. No doubt it was in sort of niche,
where, if need were it could have been
reclaimed Dare was right That ac-
counts for the path. Jincey knew and
all these years has come here to gloat
over her secret.
"She repented at last. See what she
gave me-" Dare said, laying in the law
yer's hands the papers from the bottom
pf the chest After one glance he said:
1.-THE day of miracles is not past, ma
jor. With the deeds, the record, our case
is won. You, Miss Dare, are the greatest
heiress in the state.
Allen Fauntleroy came forward, hold
ing out a hand to the major and to his
granddaughter. Both were eagerly
clasped. though Dare drew her hand
quickly away, noting that it bore yet the
stain of Royal Cleve's blood.
Heaven only knows how glad I am
that this wrong is righted at last; that
after so many, many years you are to
come into your own" Allen said, look
ing full into the old mans humid eyes.
Major Overton half turned away his
head, saying:
ITO be continually