The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-08-07

lUTetch'S tte7"
respectable people. Spare him, and he
will continue to live miserably, die and
be forgotten. His punishment is him
SELF"
1.-THE mercy you ask is impossible.
He had one for me, " said Wayling,
trying to shake off his hold.
But Peter threw his arms about him,
and his utterance was broken and rapid
as he looked with desperate e~ntreaty
into Wayling's eyes. He scarcely knew
what he said, but the thought that this
mans life perhaps hung upon his words
lent him a responsiveness and eloquence
quite new to him. Cautley sat with
open mouth and livid face, scarcely
breathing in the agony of suspense.
"See! Mortal fear has left it's marks
upon his face. Death has terrors for him
unguessed by a man like you, and
should he live a thousand years he could
not forget this hour-no, he could not.
All, be satisfied with this revenge. To
stoop to deal him blow for blow is I'M
worthy of you"
why do 1 hearken to your" asked
Wayling impatiently, while his hand
nevertheless fingered almost caressing-
ly on Peters shoulder. Twill you be ST.
lent? This is child's play. What? At
this last moment u the idea
which for two years has given stimulus
to my life? Useless to ask it. I am not
a saint. l cannot forgive in such boun-
teous fashion"
Forgive? Nay, who could expect
you to forgive? Not I. in sooth, butt
mot one man in a hundred would
agree to your WISH" exclaimed Way.
ling.
"Ninety-nine would not. The hun
dredth might. Will you?' asked Peter,
stepping suddenly back and holding
out his hands, trembling with eagerness.
There was something in the lads i'm
pulsive attitude, his wide, imploring
eyes and thrilling voice which touched
Wayling strangely. In all his life he
had never come in contact with a ma
ture SO appealing, SO refreshing, as Pc
ter's. Their reciprocal attraction had
been instantaneous. The boy seemed the
embodiment of everything beautiful in
his own youth. The illusions he had
lost looked at him from Peters sunny
eyes. 1t was a poignant moment. On
the one hand were the possibilities of g
satisfying friendship with Peter in the
future, on the other the Cutting of an
old revenge. Which would he choose.
But Wayling did not choose. The pow.
er to do SO seemed to pass out of hii
hands. Nothing appeared of much con.
sequence except Peters sympathy anG
trust in him. The thought of these was
unutterably sweet.
!, A change crossed his face. The veinl
: showed like purple st.ipes upon hi
3 white forehead, and he remained silent
looking at Peter like one fascinated.
4 "You hold this mans life in you
hand, Peter continued in his strong
sweet tones. lyon can crush him a
easily as a fly struggling within you,
r palm, or you can fling his liberty in hi
+. face. saying, i, whom you have SO in
famously wronged. / give you your re
manning years. All, the nobility of tina
r gifti And which, think you, would b.
the greater ~revenge?"
There was a deep silence in the room
oAohSh Oh'y W thS iohCiy CIy VI u pSll
man who paused beneath the window.
"a dark, foggy night One by tn
clock. and all's well, all's wellr'
May" said Wayling, lowering hi
head, ''all is ill indeed. My soul is stirre
within me. l cannot tell the reason @
it, lad, but you have squeezed the sweet
, ness from my revenge. Open the door
Let the creature go untouched. l vii
not look upon his face again."
Cautley staggered to his feet, his fac
expressing unutterable gratitude. Heed
: ing Peters gesture to be silent, he CAV
one terrified, backward look, as if doubt
ing the reality of his release, and crer
J into the dark hall.
A moment later they heard the stree
. door family close after him. The Hin
doc smiled.
LET us go also." said Wayling in
! quiet, weary voice. ''There are paper
! and books at my lodgings which I mus
take with me ON the ship. Let us 9
pow"
He slipped his arm through Peters
and the Hindoo followed. On reacbin
! the street they found a heavy fog brood
ing like a specter over the silent town
Net many yards away the bellman'