The Irish standard., 1897-08-21
family. I'm ready to die now, anyH
way"
CHAPTER TX
.iA,a4lIul.is
:, = --'1S0
The details l learned later.

The details learned later. '---'
Demetrius, it seemed, had asked the
boy to loosen the rope which Jap, with
hearty good will, had knotted so tight
ly as to cut the flesh. Mark, in abso.
Lutte ignorance of the true nature of
the beast, and moved to pity at the
sight of his swollen and bleeding wrists.
had consented to slacken one end. A
powerful wrench had freed the Greek'A
right arm as Gerard entered the hut:
and Demetrius, faithful to his oath,
had grasped a knife and turned upon
the boy. With both feet tied, he
moved slowly and with difficulty, and
Gerard had time to fling himself be-
tween the miscreant and his victim.
He saved his sons life by the sacri.
flee OF his own, a sacrifice cheerfullN
consunnated.
Delnetrius was nrraigned for tho
murder Of his master and convicted.
The day before his execution his iron
nerves gave way, and he was baptized,
trembling penitent, into the commu-
MON of the Greek church. Before the
ceremony, and in the presence of the
warden Of San Quentin, he confessed
to the murder of Ferdinand Perkins.
The motive was a jealous hatred of the
man, who had supplantcd him, and,
cvershadowing that, the lust of gold.
Familiar intercourse with the Croesus
had aroused IL passion of envy. Gerard,
doubtless, had danglcd his dollars be-
fore the young mans eyes, and had
trained his pupil in the CONSTRUCTED
area of the grossest materialism. But
the prize, partnership, had been given
to poor Perkins. The fastening of tho
crime upon burlington, who had begun
to suspect him, was an aftcrth1ught.
He left all his money, a large sum.
carefully invested. to the archi1nan-
drite of his nntive town; and he faced
the hangman with a smile upon his pal-
lid lips.
Gerard fingered several weeks, the
happicst, so he assured me. of his life.
The tangled skein was at length UNI
rnveled, and it was characteristic Of
the man that he accepted his sentence
Of death without repining or remon-
STRANGE.
"If Mark" he said to me, only tho
day before the final summons came,
"if Mark profits by my experience I
don't grudge the price. I've always
held, Hugo, that reform rises, as T
rose from the ranks, but I've learnt
that 1t falls like the sunlight, from
above"
Under the terms of his will j Tcr
ceivcd II handsome legacy, sufficient
to insure independence and abundant
leisure to scribble, leisure also to brood.
To exercise the demon of unrest,
turned to sport, and spent the summer
and fall upon the heatlwatcrs of tho
Saskatchewan. hunting and fishing.
hut around my campfire lowered the
image Of Nancy, alluring, mocliing!
Upon my return to San Francisco
letter advised me of the approaching
marriage of burlington and Mrs. Ger
ard. ! WAS invited to the wedding and
assisted at the quiet celebration that
followed. Both Burlington and his
wife welcomed me warmly. but Nancy
so | fnnced-hcld aloof, and greeted
me- with chilling civili,y.
II presume" said ], at parting, with
Il forced smile, chat YOU will be kind
r.
ding"
"My wedding" she faltered.
''Surcly thnt devotion you spoke Of
that night, you rcmcmbcr,-will--"
Her bosom began to hcuvc us slla
turned from me.
Nancy" | cried, tnkinR her hand in
mine, cit is well with you. Nancy, is it
not? You nre hnppy?"
NO" she whispered. 81 am not
happy"
not hnppy' If some fellow has
dared to"
"Dont look 40 fierce" she MUIR
INJURED. "Mnmmn has new interests
now, and of course, l feel IL little out in
the cold"
at was your mother. then? For her
sake You re-"
"Yps"
"Nnncy,"-l took her sweet face be-
tween my two big hnnds-"N Nancy, I'm
going TO marry you. whether you like it
or not. DO you hear that?"
Her eyes were upturned to mine, and
in their luminous depths l saw the re-
Election of my own face. Was it mir4
Toretl likewise in her heart?
"Ycs," she murmured, II hear"
"Ana what do you say?"
81 thinl,"-a smile rippled across
lips and cheeks-"l think, Hugo that
l shall like it,"
THE END. ,,.r
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