Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-11

| ing 10 the ROiueu ray tnat plcTc's tHe
gloom and marks the pathway up TO the
light His arms were about his boy
again his baby boy, though the cheeks
he pressed were bronzed and bearded.
And they knelt there side by side, their
hands clasped and their heads bowed
and their suppressed sobs breaking the
stiffness.
So they were kneeling when Nora
and her mother came back and softly
entered the room and bowed down BE-.
side them. Louis was the first 10 rise,
and he reached down and lifted his fa-
ther up beside him, and there was a
light on Valentine Kyle's face that had
never been there before. The burden
had fallen off, and he felt as one who
has come 10 the mountain tops from the
Stygian depths.
my brother Frederick" said Mr.
| Kyle, as we shall continue Ia call Val
entine Weldon, after all had composed
themselves, ''at the time Of the great
war was a strong Union man, and a
strongly advocated the other side. Up
to this there never hiai bcen Il misEA-
| derstanding between us-even as boys
we never quarreled, n the best II broth
ers are apt 10 do. But at the beginning
| Of that terrible war men were seized
with excitement, and the stronger the
past love the stronger seemed the hate
that famed up between those that took
opposite views
Il never knew Frederick 10 drink be-
fore that day. and /, ever excitable and
impetuous, had never drunk so much.
was not myself A friend had presented
me with sword, and in my mad van
ity | had strapped 1t 10 my side and
wore IL ~ | rode home with my brother.
We got into dispute about the north
and south. He was cool, 50 cool that II
maddened me. \ storm came up, and
by the flashing If the lightning could
see his pale face and cleaning eyes,
and, as God is my judge, when we halt
ed on the banks Of Beaver creek 10 see
if the rain had swollen the ford,
thought | saw pistol in Frederick
hand. Too late learned my mistake
Excepting that cursed sword / was un-
armed. How drew it and how, by the
lightning's flash. ! saw IL splitting
down his face seems like the memory Of
n fcvercd dream.
"IIe fell from his horse with cry Of
% God. my brother! The next instant
was down and beside him. | hurled
the sword into the current Ifelt his face
and the blood spurted out on my right
arm. From forehead Ia chin the blade
had cut. BY the lightning gleam | saw
that H. was dead. | heard horsemen be
hind me and craven fear came upon
me. flung myself into the saddle and
dashed into the stream. Preached home;
told my wife all kissed my baby boys
and fed into the mountains. There
remained for months without taking
part in the conflict that was raging
around me.
Then IL was that you knew u the
Blanchartls. " said Louis coming back
20 a subject that would assert itself.
''Dr. Blanchard's wife was my sister
Mary, your aunt. " replied Mr.. Kyle.
And these young ladies' and Howard
Blanchard are our cousin!"
They are. -
And il j. because # your misfortune
for q terrible misfortune it was, rather
than wroug-that you do not wish
your relatives 10 know of your where
abOuts, and why you want me 70 keep
away from them''
Yes. Louis. that and more, replied
Mr. Kyle.
What more
"Perhaps should not tell you. but
il is better that you should know all.
Mr.. KYLE hcsitated and his wife said,
"Tell them all, Valentine, tell them
all. "
"The Wpldons were rigid, stern
and religious people until they began To-
intermarry with the Blanchards. But
perhaps | should not cry down blood
that runs in my own veins. Still 1t has
cursed Us and you should know II. some
one child of each such union has become
reckless and gone To the bad. but they
have wronged themselves more than
they have others. Ny grandfather, John
Weldon, hated them. and | blamed him
much for his treatment Of the Blanch-
ards. But since | have had years 10
think it over feel that the alliance was
bad Each in its purity was good enough,
but the French Huguenot and tho
Scotch Irish strain made bad mixtarc
in our case. +"
And for this reason you would have
me remain aloof:'
"For this reason, my son, and anoth-
er that is even greater, replied Mr..
Kyle.
lyon mean the fear that Henry and
l shall meet?"
Mr.. Kyle nodded his head, but did
not dare to speak.