The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-17

return Of my lady's father. An uninform.
ID servant who had learned only half Of
the truth met him at the drawbridge and
told him Of the supposed 30 be sad news Of
his daughters marriage, and the old gen.
tleman, still with the blood Of war in his
nostrils and needing nothing else but the
fact as he thought 1t was, that his name
had been dragged In the dust by his child,
dashed into the castle and pushed his way
unceremoniously into her room, where she
lay sweet picture upon her bed, the child
In her young arms, the sunlight streaming
through the open window over her and the
little one
without word the half erazed cru
sader snatched the baby from Its mother
arms, and swinging 1t about his head he
dashed 1t down to the courtyard below,
where 1t lay dead almost before 1t had
breathed the breath Of life. Then, before
the terrified, stricken mother could realize
what had happened, the Moor appeared in
the doorway, his dark face wreathed in
Christianlike smile, waiting to greet the
father. With an imprecation the crusader
sprang at him, and ere the Moor could
draw and defend himself he was run
through by the sword that had been the
death OF many Saracen before him and
lay weltering in his own blood at his fa.
ther-in-law's feet. Then the girl widow
understood, and, mad with grief and hor-
ror at the terrible deed, she pulled herself
to her knees, and stretching her white
arms out, her yellow t9Gr glistening like
FURNISHED gold in the sunlight, she cursed
the wretched man-cursed him us only
woman Of that day and age could curse
one. AS the last awful word dropped from
his lips she sank back upon the bed uncon.
scious, and few hours after she was dead
From that hour the knight was a
changed man. Serious and grave, with a
haunted, frightened look upon his hitherto
rugged countenance, no went about his es-
tate, broken, decrepit old man, hardly
shadow of his former self A few years
later he, too, died, but-but l believe that
is as far as l can go unaided, old man,"
concluded Carwin abruptly, turning to
Thorndyke.
"Why-why-you leave off in the most
interesting part, Carwin," said the other,
resting from his exercise, which he had
kept up in a lazy way while the other talk
ed "The old knight died, to be sure, but
have you forgotten how Well, no got into
trouble with another old fellow over some
land, and the other chap fell upon him, un-
armed though my forefather was, and slew
him. AS he fell, he turned his head and
gazed on the wound, which was in his
right side, and which he tore the clothing
from, and after one glance he covered his
eyes with one hand, shrieking out some
thing about the Moor's head as he did so.
There in the shadow of his castle he
died few moments later, and when the
servants cume running to find him-hav-
ing heard his death screams-they knew
the first curse had fallen for from the gap
ing wound in their masters side a clot of
blood had risen and taken the form Of u
head. And to their excited imagination
and from the color of the dark fluid it took
upon Itself the resem blance to the Moor
whom the knight had slain rs unmercful-
ly as his enemy had just put an end to his
life.
Then they remembered the curse, and
looked at each other frightened and awed.
The old knights only son lived to be 80,
when one day he wounded himself in the
arm. He thought nothing of it until the
Moor's head appeared, when he lost his
SO for generations it ran, and never once
has the eldest son of the eldest son died
aught but violent death, and his death
has always been preceded by the appear
ance of this silent messenger, who has new
CT given false warning, That is the leg
end, and I'm sorry to say 1 sometimes
feel as if my death would have to be a vio-
lent one to carry out the wretched curse,
Being the eldest son of my father, it would
end with me were | to die now
81 trust SO, but pray be little more
cheerful and talk of something else be-
sides dying just to accommodate the
charming malediction. You are good for
many years yet, and-be careful, Thorn
dykcp'
The other man was lunging at heavy
old bronze plaque which hung on tho wall j
opposite him as Carwin spoke, and the
sword bent and snapped buck again at each
thrust i'll manner unpleasant to the lat
ter's ears, as if fOreboding some evil. In
deed, hardly had he spoken when there
was sharp crack of breaking steel, and
thepoint of the weapon whistled buck from
the wall. Thorndyke sprnng aside, but too
late. The rusty tip of the sword, broken
already reached him and sank deep into his
breast just below the heart, and with II
suppressed gronn of pain he tumbled into
his friends outstretchcd arms.
Carrying him to the cushioned scat near
the fireplace, CaTwin tore the coat and
shirt from about the wound, and taking u
firm grip upon the bit Of steel, which just
showed itself above the wound, he with
drew it slowly with his muscular fingers
and hurled it into the glowing fire.
As he did SO Thorndykc opened his eyes
and struggled to sitting position, though
the other stroye to keep him upon the pill
lows
ooh, heavensp' screamed tho wounded
man wildly Look, Carwin, look! 1t is
it is the MoOrs head And - He
stopped, SILVER passed over his now damp
body, and he swayed against the wall and
from there slid down to the couch dead.
Carwin, with curious light in his eyes,
glanced about the room as an animal
might and then back at the Moor's hear.
Then he swept one hand down over his
friend S bare breast and tore the cloth from
the wound, squeezing it yiciously in his
hand as he did so.
A moment passed during which there
was no sound save the deep and nervous
breathing of the man crouching beside the
dead body of Thorndyke. Then slowly the
head appeared again, and again he swept
1t of and crushed it in his hand.
A third time the head came, and Car
win, with staring eyes and chalklke face,
staggered to his feet. Then, with one mad
lock at the horrible thing, he rushed to the
door, and wrenching it open screamed for
help Exchange.