Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-08-01
She's ALL THE
WORLD TO ME-.
By HALL GAME,
Author of "Thc MdnrmdR," "7he Deem
Stcr," etc.
PROEAI
CHAPTER XVII

.
pass her and run into the house. She rec
ognized Danny and his uncle, but not
Christian. Perhaps the darkness deceived
her, but she thought tho other two were
Corteen and Killip. After "a few minutes
she heard loud voices from the cottage
mingled with terrific oaths. If the police
returned suddenly, and wcro made wit.
nesscs of this turmoil, discovery and con
viction were certain. Mona crcpt up
meaning TO warn the men and get them
to put out to sea She knocked and had
no answer. She tried the door, and it was
barred. Still the loud quarreling contin
ued
Among other voices she recognized Kis,
seeks and Danny's. Christians voice she
could not hear but in her perturbation
and the angry tumult any voice might es-
cape her. Then came the pistol shot, the
cry, the fall and a long silence. She
knocked again and yet again. She called
on Christian. She had no reply. She call
ed ON Kisseck. Then came the words
"Dill is gone to bed" Somehow, she knew
not why, the words chilled her to the
hearts core. Fearful, distraught, in the
agony of uncertainty she fed away to the
town. Christian, where was heY Had he
indeed passed her among the restY Was he
in that house when that shot was tlredH
At whomp BY whom2 Wherefore? The
suspense was more terrible than the real
ity could have been.
Through Peel and on to Balladhoo Mo-
ma ran with shuddering heart She asked
for Christian first. How well her fears told
her that he was not there. She asked for
the gardener Jenny Quark Balladhoo,
like Tommy Bill-beg, was away at the
waits. Something must be DONE for some
thing terrible had occurred. The hour
was late but Mylrea Balladhoo would Ger
tainly be awake and waiting the return of
Kerruish Kinvig with intelligence Of the
expected capture.
"Tell Mr. Mylrea wish to speak with
him at once and alone said Mona.
In another moment Mylrea Balladhoo
came to the door with lamp held above
his head to catch sight Of his late visitor.
"Ah, tho young woman from Kinvig
Come in, my girl Como in, come in"
Mona followed the old gentleman into
the house. Her face in the lamplight was
ashy pale, the pupils Of her eyes were di-
lated, hsr lips quivered, her fingers trem'
bled and were intertwined.
SIS Mr.. Christian at home, sirP" said
Mona
Mylrea Balladhoo glanced up under his
e,ectacles. What kerruish Kinvig had
tnce said of Christian and this young
woman flashed across his mind at that in
slant. "No, my girl, no. Christian is
helping the Castle Rushen men to lay
hands on that gang of scoundrels, you
know"
"He is not with them, sir, said Mona
with fearful effort.
"Oh, yes, though; sent Jenny after
him to instruct him. But he'll be home
soon. l expect him every minute. hope
they We captured the vagabonds.
1t was terrible to go on. Mona lifted up
her whole soul In prayer for this old man,
whose hour of utmost need had come And
she herself was to deal the blow that must
shatter his happiness. "God help him."
she muttered passionately, and the volun-
tary prayer was made audible.
Mylrea Balladhoo rose stiffly to his feet.
He looked for an instant and in silence in
to the pale face before him.
"What Is itP" he faltered, with an af.
frighted stare "What newsP Is Christian
where Is Christian? Have the scoun-
drels-injured himp"
HE was one of themselves, said Mona
and dropped to her knees in the depth of
her agony.
Then, slowly, disjointedly, inconsequen.
italy, repeating incident after incident,
beginning again and again, explaining,
excusing, praying for pardon and clasping
tho old mans knees in the tempest Of her
passion, Mona told the whole story as she
knew it; how she had heard too late that
Christian had gone out in Kisseck' S boat;
how she tried to compass his rescue; how,
at the very crown and top of what she
mistook for her success, the hand of fate it.
self seemed to have been thrust in to the
ruin of all She finished with the story of
the flight of the four men to Kisseck's cot
tage, the quarreling there, the pistol shot
and the strange answer to her knock.
Mylrea Balladhoo stood still, with the
stupid, bewildered look of one who has
been dealt an unexpected and dreadful
blow. The world seemed to be crumbling
under him. AT that first instant there was
something like CHASTITY smile playing
over his pallid face Then the truth came
rolling over his soul. Tho sight was fear
full to look upon. He fell back, with a low
moan. But tho good God sent the strick-
en- old man the gift of tears. He wept
aloud and cried that he could better have
borne poverty than such disgrace. "Oh,
my son, my sonl How have you shorten
ed my days How have you clothed me
with shamel Oh, my son. my sonp' But
love was uppermost even in that bitter
hour.
1t was not for this that Mona had made
her way to Balladhoo. She wanted help
She must find where Christian was and
whether in truth he had been one Of the
four who passed her on the mountain path
Together she and Mylrea Balladhoo set
off for Kisseck' S cottage. How the old fa-
ther tottered. on the wayl How low his
head was bent, as If tho darkness itself
had eyes to peer into his darkened SOUL
When they reached the cottage in the
quarry, the door was wide open. All was
silent now. No one was within. A can
die burned low on the table. The fire was
out. A soft seamans cap lay near the
porch Mona picked 1t up. 1t was Danny
Fayle's. They stepped into tho kitchen.
A shallow pool was in the middle of the
floor, and the light from the candle flicker
ed in it. 1t was pool of blood
My son, my son!' cried Mylrea Ballad
hoo. His knees failed him, and he sank
to the floor. Tortured by suspense, be-
wildered, distracted, in an agony of doubt,
he had jumped to the conclusion that this
was Christians blood and that he had
been murdered No protest from Mona,
no argument, no entreaty, prevailed to
| disturb that instant inference.
| He is deadl He Is headr' he cried.
"Now is my heart smitten and withered
like grass" Then rising to his feet and
gazing through his poor blurred eyes into
Mona's faco with a look of reproach,
"Young woman" he said, "why would
you torture an old man with words of
hopep Christian is dead. My son is dead
Deadp CAN'T be trueP Yes dead. Lord
Lord, now let me eat ashes for bread and
mingle my drink with weeping"
| And so he nnurnd Ollt his snul in n for.