The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-21
I as if he were choking. MaXey hastily
hnshnd q chair toward him.

'iolr, L am not Ill. deny IL. ue-
cline all courtesics Do not offer me
any. If you do, you will regret it when
| am done. / am to be spurned and spit
upon. That is my only use in society,
and / may mention parenthetically that
society found that out some time ago.
Don't forget that, sir. / will not detain
you. / will not needlessly keep You
standing here ! have come to tell you
what neglected to tell you before about
this child whom brought VI"
"Well!" calculated Maxey nervously.
Mr. Dye cast an apprehensivo glance
at the artist.
"Say You do not want to hear me, sir,
even now, and will go away, and You
nor she shall ever see me again. Do you
say it?"
Mr.. Dyes tone was portentous and
besecching. For an instant MaXey hesi-
tatcd, but for an instant only.
"No, Mr.. Dye Il do not say it. Coon,
sir Tell me the truth.
"Sir you have pronounced your YER
dict. For better or for worse | shall
speak now and ease my conscience Of a
bad matter told you l did not know
this child's parontage. l told you a
falschood know both her parents. One
was n scapegrace son OF proud family;
the other was a servant in his fathers
house. Now you know the whole. I am
done"
The blood rushed to Maxcy's head.
"Tho proofs! Where are the proofs?"
Mr.. Dye again glanced at him appre-
hcnsivoly and backed step or twonear-
pr the door.
"Sir, there are no proofs. y
"None?"
"Not a scrap. 1t all rests upon the
word of worthless yagabond whom no
body would believe, who is in fact such
villain and u liar that he can hardly
believe himself. If you wish to believe
that he has lied, there is everything to
encourage You in that belief, nothing to
discourage you"
"And why have you come here to
tell me this?"
"Did not explain? Twas forced to. "
"By whom?"
"Sir, not by whom-by what. By
my conscience.
MaXey raised his arm with a gesture
Of impaticnce. The somber man shrank
back rs if he expected q blow. He cried
out apmehensively:
Don't believe mel Don't believe
mer'
"Do you acknowledge it to he q lie?"
"No, no. Not that, only-don't be-
lieve me-"
"Mr. Dye" said Maxey suddenly,
will you swear a solemn oath, here in
my presence, that you have told me the
truth?"
"Sir, will not. No oaths. Not to-
night No oaths. l have said it, and /
will do no more, No, not if the sword
falls, / will say no more. That is all I
came to say l have said it. will 60
away again"
"Go, then!" cried Maxey hotly. eco,
while you can with safety get out of my
reach, and if ever you show your face
i'll this house again, unless you either
como to confess that you have lied or
hold the proofs Of what you have said
in your hand, you will regret it to the
last day of Jour miserable life. Hold
on bit! Not quite so fast, my good
man. have not done yet If you over
breathe word of what you have told
me today to any living soul, and hear
it,
MaXdg did not finish his sentence, but
he was all the moro impressive, for he
looked unutterablc things.
Pardon me, sir, the canton is not
needed 1t has cost mo much to say it
to you. / shall never repeat it, But !
must, I must warn you that ] am not
the only person who knows this to be the
truth. If I had been, I never should
have come Sir, thought it was better
that you should know tho whole before
-bcforo you took any rash step or steps
than hear of it aftcrward, when it would
be somuch moro painful to both hor and
yourself. You UNDERSTANDING Eo-7??"
Mr.. Dye suddenly turned, opened The
door which led into the vcstibulo and
glided out. Maxcy sprang after him, cx-
claiming:
"Stop sir, stop! I do not-I do rot
understand you!'
Maxey reached the vcstibule only
second Or two behind his strange visitor
and would undoubtedly have dragged
him back over the outer threshold, but
at the very moment when he put out his
hand to seize him he heard the rustic Of
woman's dress. He changed his inten-
tion in the twinkling of an eye In an
other instant Mr.. Dye was free, the outer
door was closed, and Maxcy, pale and
breathing heavily, stood upon the inside
with his back against it, facing the as
tonished Annette, who was coming,
quite unconscious of any intrusion, into
the vcstibule.
SIS anything the matter, Mr.. Maxey?"
"Nothing-nothing at all. It was
mere You startled me; that was all. "
"Who has been here?"
"You do not know, then? You heard
nothing Of what he said?"
"Why, how strange you looll How
could ~"
81 don't look strange" said Maxey.
cts the bad light I'm in. 1t was no.
body you care to know. Let us go back
to work again. There was something I
was going to say when I was interrupt
ed"
y
Mr.. Dye was staggering down the
steps, clinging to the railing with one
hand, looking the personifcation of de-
spaif. He muttered as he walked and
crushed with his left hand q paper in
the pocket of his threadbaro coat-a pa
per ON which delicate feminine hand
had traced these words:
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