Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-03
THE WELDON ESTATE.
By ALFRED E. CALHOUN.
Copyright. 1896. by American Press Associs'
ton.
CHAPTER xxx.


CHAPTER xxx.
Old Lawyer Bliss in West Virginia
got the dispatch Of his son Tom from
Deadwood Ii was full and therefore
an expensive telegram. 1t told him that
he was wanted in the far west with all
the money he could raise, and it further
informed him that Valentine Kyle was
living, and that he should come prepared
with all the papers and power necessary
for arrest So fur Lawyer Bliss had sue.
cessfully combated the efforts Of the coll
lateral heirs 10 possess themselves Of the
vast estate of old John Weldon, "tho
| patriarch. " The sole executor Of the es-
tate defeated them at every point with
the one argument that the claimants had
no proof that Valentine Weldon or his
children We're not then living.
II there Were ever sons who deserved
TO be- called chips Of the old block, y
Sim and Tom Bliss were the men. Fa-
ther and sons were as much alike a. two
Of last years peas III company with one
of the year before. From man who
had deserted from BOuton's party and
was making his way 10 the settlements
Lawyer Bliss learned the whereabouts
Of the Kyle and Blanchard families.
Though not sure Of il, he felt confident
that the former were the missing Wei
dons. The lawyer brought guide with
him. and this guide led him 10 the can
yon. at the entrance Ia which they left
the vehicle in charge II the driver and
continued down through the pass on
horseback.
Lawyer Bliss had 10 men with him,
and his son and self made IL. They Were
all armed, but the shrcwd old man
placed more reliance IN the legal proc
csscs which he carried in his pockets
than in the aggressive or resisting power
of his party. They entered the valley
after the fight was over and Captain
Brandon and the Prophet had gone 10
the cave
The fiickering light from the altar
fell ON Henry Kyle's face and revealed
deaths unmistakable pallor. From the
brave breast the red current was ooZing.
He clung to the hand of the dying girl
beside him, and her glazing eyes were
turned to him with their old fond ex.
preston DR. Blanchard had examined
the wounds If Henry and Kushat, and
when he rose and shook his head sor
ruwfully Mrs Kyle threw herself on the
floor beside the son who had So braycly
redeemed his errors, and she cried with
that hcartbroken agony that only a
mother can feel:
"Oh, my SON, my sonl Would 10 God
that could die with you or for youl'
Brave, dear mother" he gasped.
kiss me and say you forgive me- -
Forgive you, my son! oh, you never
sinncd against my love! To me You Were
never false! | knew you would come
back to me and back to YOURSELF IL was
Your head that erred and not your heart
that harbored evil. We were 10 blame,
for we took you away from the active
life for which you were designed. But
YOU will livc-my brave boy must live!
Ny kisses Will warm your cold brow!
Oh. Henry. do not leave me now that
you are back, pure and white souled as
when your first cry-the first cry Of my
first child-told mo was mother
Poor mother The bullets that passed
through your brave boy found u lodging
place in your heart.
Where is father Henry managed
10 ask. and with unexpected strength
he turned his head and looked up at the
anxious faces clustering around.
II am here. my boy" cried Valentine
Kyle, and he was beside him. kneeling
with the same expression he wore when
he knelt beside Louis and told him the
crime that weighed so heavily on his
soul.
At that moment the poor youth re
called the story Of the Prodigal Son,
which his father had often read 10 him,
and he sighed
MY father, l have sinned against
heaven and in thy sight, and am no
more worthy to be called thy SON"
"Bravely have you compensated for
the SHINING, and Valentine Kyle kissed
his son and wept.
Can Kushat be saved?" asked Henry
feebly.
IL am beside you, she said in low,
sweet voice that i'll no way told Of the
agony she must be suffering II am be-
side you, Henry, us said | would be
when the hour for parting with all 9TH
ers came To me you were never bad
man. You were TO other men as tho
summer sun TO the stars. y
He giveth his beloved sleep, broke
in the Prophet solemnly But from
that sleep there shall be glorious
awakening.
He went 10 the altar, put fresh fuel
ON the perpetual fire and added oil TO
the lamps burning on the corners
"Nora-Louis?" said Henry, with a
questioning expression.
I'VE are here, dear brother-here be-
side you.
kiss me, Nora Take my hand,
Louis" They did so, and a sweet smile
passed over his face, and he looked 10
be enjoying pleasant dreams in calm
sleep
"Uenrv " whispered Mrs. KYLE,