The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-02-08
AN ENGLISH VENDETTA.

sU IlNOllOtI ullvUl To
Give me half the fortune your father
made out of my brains, and I'll hear you"
II don't understand this. Did you not
accept 5000 for yonr invention, In fact,
sir, J. a seen letters of enthusiastic
gratitude which you addressed to Sir Philip
at the time. Do you mean that they are
forgeries.n
II didn't know the value of my discov-
cry; yo r father did, and he bought for
that wretched sum an invention that has
earned him half a million. ] say that I'll
have no help from you, Frederick Stay
mer. Ii can hurt your father no. other
way, I'll %starve, and my death will avenge
me!n
81 cannot argue with this spirit, Mr..
Kelley, and, if you alone were concerned,
l should say no more. But you have lit
tie daughter, / understand"
Don't think of me, father. II you took
a morsel of dry bread from them, it would
choke me-
Young Staymer turned in establishments;
he Thought they two were ;lone in the
miserable ROOM Upright by the window
stood a slender girl, whose large eyes
burned and thin lips quivered with pas
sicnate excitement. He crossed the mar
row floor, and seated himself on the small
bed beside her.
my child he said, you are terribly
prejudiced against us. Do / look q vii
lainf''
no" she answered, snllenly. "but you
came from YOU father"
"Ay,' cried the sick man, "aud go back
to him! Tell him what you've seen. Give
him my daughters ansmer IF we took
u morscl of dry bread from you or yours
it would choke us"
Have you no kinder word?" Frederick
asked the girl.
She did not answer.
Then | will leave you, Mr.. Kelley" he
said, rising. Five thousar i pounds will
be deposited this afternoon at the Bank Of
England in your name and this young
lady's, if you will give it me-to be hers in
case OF yodr death"
II refuse the name"
"Well, probably ! can do without It,
But mark me, sir, this is no restitution, no
acknowledgement of II claim. Sir Philip
gives it in remembrance of his former as
ISOLATION with you, as u sign of respect for
yonr great abilities and your ill success in
life"
And I throw it back.'' the dying man
cried, rising, gaunt and ragged, on his
mattress, eyes atlaine and hin cheeks lit
with the glow of fever. ~ throw it back
in his teeth wish il were five Thousand
pounds weight in gold! Have / asked
anything from you or yours? scorn you
too deeply, know you too well. and my
wrongs are too bitter. ! accept no restitu-
ton in this world, Frederick Staymer, lest
is should be placed to your father's credit
on high, and spare him one pang of the
vengeance which u Just Heaven will exact.
Amen!'
Goodbye, little girl! Yo know my
name, and my address is easily found al
ways. Remember that n fortune is wait
ing you at the Bank of England from this
day. 1t would be useless to say more to
you, Mr.. Kelley, but | wish you we'll"
When Staymer had gone the child came
across and kissed her father, nesting to
him, but they did not speak for a long
while.
81 have lone wrong, Amy"
"No. mop
"Aye, l have, pet. It's a small thing for
a man to be brave and firm when he is
doomed. But | should awe thought of
my daughter, as he said. Attraction of the
sum which is my right would be comfort
ahu htPPiiSso Sou. I've Iulleu your
life with my ~obstinacy."
Don't imagine such q thing, father.
What l said to the young man is truth
their money would choke me-"
"Ahl / began the mischief long since.
Heaven forgive me- It's sad that a child
of your age should know the wickedness
of men and cherish bitter feelings. But
the money is there, safe in the Bank of
England, When Pm gone darling, your
aunt will take you to claim it. I think
she's honest, but trust no lawyer-don't
trust her too far"
"Father, +"
81 am tired, Amy. Kiss me now and let
me sleep till Jane m 1t will be weari.
some to speak to her, and this excitement
has disturbed me terriblv.n
long kiss they exchanged, and the
girl left him. She withdrew to her pooh
at the window and read till the light failed
then dropped asleep.
The opening of the door aroused her.
us that you, Aunt Jane? Fathers doz-
ing" she whispered.
II can feel my way" a voice replied;
"don't move" But the next momen a
chair fell with a crash.
TITS nothing, father" Amy cried. Aunt
Jane's come"
But there was no answer, and in breath
less alarm she struck a match.
The sick man lay still. Amy ran to him.
"Oh! Aunt, aunt, come!p In the dark
ness they leaned over him.
My poor little girl, he's out of his trou-
bles now" Mrs. Dermot said, with rough
tenderness. I'm be u mother to you, 80
fur as my poor means 60"
1t is needless to describe the scene. That
night Amy was taken to her aunt's lodg-
Ing, crowded with children already. Three
days afterwards she attended her fathers
funeral.
When Sir Philip Staymerh heard his sons
report, softened though it was, he fell into
passion.
81 gave you my word, Fred. and l don't
withdraw from it. There is the checkl
But l knew how it would be. Kelley is d
malignant fool, and always was. Did you
show him his own letter in answer to this
raving5"
HE is in no condition to argue. It's
enough that our conscience is clear, Sir,
and that you can justify every partof your
conduct if summoned"
But Pm sorry You didn't read him the
letter which says that he had .ried every
means to launch his invention and would
hand it over to me in toto for a thousand
pounds. With that offer before me, Fred,
| gave the fellow five thousand, and now
he declares i swindled him.
II know the truth, but that was a rea-
son for not pressing it,"
well, take your check at once, or may
eepeut-the ungrateful ASST
81 have it safe, sir.'' Fred answered,
laughing. Did you know Kelley had a
daughter"
81 know nothing about his affairs. How
old is she?'
VERY much too young to justify the
suspicion which l see in your look, sir. A
very pretty child of ten or ~thereabout, and
even orcinteresting than pref y. Ishould
like to feel that she was provided for, In
dependent of her father"
What! The settlement l nave made is
moro than ~enough-five thossand pounds
more than enough. One can see, young
fellow, that you were born with n silver
spoon in your mouth. When you have