The Portland daily press., 1897-12-14
(ALL RIGHTS REsERvEp.l

RESERVED.l
bound. l found him conscious and living
in a darkened room. He told me that he
believed himself to be dying, and he en-
treated me to convey to you the assurance
OF his penitence for the great wrong he
had done you. I promised to send this
message to you, and besought him to
mako his peace with God. AT his desire
ne confessed to me, and l absolved him,
Today l am going to visit him again.
DIR. Croley assures me that there is little
or no hope of his recovery.
Il forgot to mention that Mr.. Lang
ford himself has 10 suspicion as to his
assailant-indeed, he seems quite inoif.
feEent on the subject, and when inter
rogated by the police, was unable to give
them any information. [ have nv own
suspicious, but of course, they are only
suspicious But Of one thing am cor
tain-that if the unhappy man dies. his
death will give rise to further trouble.
The Connellys, father and sons. adore
Mr.. Langford, and in expressing to mo
their belief that the man who shot at him
was your cousin, Patrick Blake, or if not
Blake himself, one of his creatures. they
have clearly intimated that they will re-
taliate and avenge their master. Thus,
you see, one evil deed begets another.
Here in Connaught the peasantry still
|
and dread what may shortly happen.
week after Catherine received this
communication, Philip Langford was
still living, but tossing in fever, he
novered between life and DEATH By his
bedside, in the darkened room, sat a
woman, dressed simply and plainly like a
hospital nurse. ssThe doctor a young, pow
efrul looking man, was bending over the
bed taking the patients temperature.
After some minutes he left the room,
beckoning to the woman to follow.
The fever's on the turn" he whis-
pered, outside the door. ''If mis- strength
keeps up he may pull through after all
Thank God!' said the woman. "Oh.
Doctor Croley, save him, save himr'
"Sure, I'll do my best,'' answered the
doctor, "but you must help me- It's
lucky indeed, he is, to have a nurse like
you"
Several days after the fever had almost
passed away. Langford opened his eyes
from sound sleep, and encountered the
bright CLEAN of two black eyes-those Of
Father John O'Donnell.
YOU'RE better now, my son." said the
good priest, gently, patting the wasted
hand which lay on the covelet, 'and
soon, with God s blessing, you will be up
and about"
The invalid shook his head sadly.
m not looking for that he said.
Doh U yoQ Wuut w i've! ttShGu bu0
other. Come now, l wrote Miss Power
your message, and like an angel as she is,
She has sent you her forgiveness. Isn't
that enough to put life into you?' he ad-
ded, smiling? Good bless her." said
Langford, answering the smile sadly and
wearily. "All the time, while I've been
lying here I've been thinking of her, and
sometimes it seemed she was by me, look
ing down and smiling sweetly on me.
When am gone, Father, tell her that I
died blessing her. / couldn't help loving
her! ! couldn't help loving herl'
More shame to yei' exclaimed the
priest, beaming benignantly. Loves .
snare, sir, and delusion. And ye he
haved like q scoundrel entirelyi''
God knows I did, Father; it was in
this very room that kept her prisoner.
and to be lying here, where she was once,
is like lying in the light of heaven
"Ye're profane man." returned
O'Dennell, with an expression that be-
lied the rebuke, land I'm shocked at
if overlook your depravityp''
"There is nothing left to live for. She
was the light of my life, the pulse of my
heart, the breath of my breath, and
loved her better than God May he bless
her now and forever; but / wish to die. y
AS he spoke he heard the sound of
low sob, and turning his face to the bed
eyes Fl xed on his.
Catherine" he murmured, gazing at
the vision like one in dream, but as he
poke the word. two loving arms were
drown around him, and q warm cheek,
set with tears. was pressed against his
arm.
"Yes. Philip said the voice of his be-
owed. 81 ain here beside you, and you
arc going to live for my sake. Don't you
remember what I once told you--that
here was something charming in the old
Jays, when marriage by capture was the
fashion, and the strongest man won.
And how, said too, that | would never
surrender TO any man, unless he made
me-.
Eyes, l remember.
"Weli, DEAR" continued Catherine, sob
bing and laughing together. GIVE come
back to tell you that you were the strong
est, and that, if you don't mind, and
promise to get we'll quickly, I'm going
to marry you after all. ;"
(The End)