Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-10-28

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name. Il don't envy you. Well, III
90 to bed. Tomorrow shall spend
with Mark"
His softened tones as he finished the
sentence provoked the exclamation:
you're devoted father, Mr.. Gerard"
He sighed.
y live again, Huge, in the person of
my child. I've had hard Iife-p,enty
of shadow, lad, and little sunshine. I've
peeped into most things and found them
hollow. Even my love for Mark, rs you
know, has been my greatest JOY and my
greatest misery. Good night"
pitied him profoundly rs l walked
upstars. Community OF suffering. ac-
cording to George Eliot, is the root OF
pity; and. sInarting beneath the knowi-
edge that Nancy could never be mine,
realizing that life without her would
prove saltless and sterile, could put
myself in the place of Mark Gerard and
say with him, all is vanity.
What q paradox the man was! What
a bundle of contrast. He possessed in
many material respects a mind Of the
largest scope-and also of the smallest
"a mind at once of the finest and
coarsest texture. His financial combin
ations had gained him an international
reputation. lie was known as one of
the plucliest bulls in the stock ring.
He had the tenderest affection for his
son. But knew him 10 be a sensua!ist
and a poltroon. Perhaps he had the
moral equipment which in these latter
days proves the shield of success, the
aegis against which the Sings and ar
rows of debauched and inscriptions
press rattle in vain.
The professional nurse assured me
that the patient had rested easily and
had taken 4 surprising amount Of ncur-
ishment. The slight symptoms of fever
had passed away, and the application of
the liniments caused less pain. He lay
upon his back, eyes and mouth closed,
sense!ess, apparently, to the outer
orid. | received careful instructions
as to diet and massage, and then the
nurse left me.
The room was the one usually occu-
pied by Demetrius. 1t had two doors
and n window. One door communicated
with the passage, and the other with
Marks bedroom, now vacant. Here, the
nurse told me, should find coffee and
light refreshments. a drawn portiere
hung between the rooms, but the door
was open, and n lamp burned brightly
upon Marks table, furnishing sufficient
light for the room beyond, where Bur
lington lay. The nurse warned me to
leave this lamp where it was: too much
light. he said, was bad for his patient.
took my seat by the head of the
bed, with my back to the portiere and
facing the window. The lower sash was
up, and I could see and hear the ocean.
| mention these details as briefly as pos
sinle, but they are important, as the
sequel will prove.
For an hour at least l watched Bur-
Gngton's impassive features. ! am no
rLysiognomist, but, unless my expert
ence was entirely at fault. this man
had the head of neither Grim IL Il no. n
maniac. The brows vero rarrat l''t
lofty; the mouth was beautifully mod
eled, but disfgured by deep lines run
ming from nostril to jawbone. His
hands were the next to attract my at
tention, and again l marveled at the
curious concatenation of circumstances
which had warped a nature unquestion-
ably designed for good rather than evil
purposes. Perhaps the fact that Nancy's
father was the object of my examina-
ton perverted my judgment; but sit
ting there in the dimly-lit room, with
the lullaby of the Pacific in my ears,
came to the amazing conclusion that
Burlington was guiltless of the murder
of Perkins, that his wife had been the
victim of circumstantial evidence, that
Gerard had fallen n prey to his natural
pusillanimity. Then | suddenly be-
thought me of the kilograms, and my
Imagination wilted.
AS my eyes still rested upon the
sinewy hands with their strong spat-
ulate fingers, Burlington addressed me
by name His voice was much stronger,
and the intonation clear, indicating an
unclouded brain.
"Are we alone?" he asked, not NOV
ing his head.
"Yes," said i; "but don't talk"
'T must" he replied, impatiently.
I've focused all my strength for that
very purpose. I want to see Mrs. Ger,
ard tomorrow"
He was certainly mad, / decided, and
must be humored.
Eyes, yes" murmured, soothingly,
"of course you shall see Mrs. Gerard"
81 don't know what the devil you
mean by of course" he said, irritably.
There are serious difficulties in the
way. She was once my wife, the very
light of my eyes. And she left me
me-" noted the accent of pride-"for
that slave of Plutus, Mark Gerard. /
let her go, d-n her, without n word.
But she is not anxious to see me again,
I'll warrant"
1 was too astonished to reply.
81 may have to employ you," he con-
tinued, calmly, cas- go-between. Mark
Gerard is welcome to my wife, but the
girl is mine, and L want her"
Nancy" gasPed.
'Is that her name?" said he. eyes,
she's mine. claim the girl"
He spoke so calmly, so sanely, that
forgot my duty as nurse, and spoke out
impulsively:
'You claim that girl, knowing the
reason which drove her mother from
your house?"
"Do you know the reason, Livings-
ton?"
81 do
'Then, in the name of God, share that
4. II I my
head reels!"
L tried in vain to calm him, but he
demanded imperatively an answer to
his appeal.
"Why did she leave me?" he repeated.
81 made her a 1od husband. / dare
say was jealous of other men-Gerard
in particular-but that was proof Of
love. 1 worked like a slave for that
woman-worked till my health broke
down, and then, just when l needed her
most, she deserted Ifr. The girl was
born months after thaf and 1 supposed
she was the child of Gerard. To-day
this morning. opened my eyes and
saw my face stamped u. hers. She
is a Burlington all over. swear it,
How dared that woman rob me of my
child? I've lain here, Livingston,
all this day, eating what they gave me,
submitting to that awful rubbing, pray
ing, ay, praying for strength 10 recover
and claim my child"
And Perkins" ?" ! whispered.
His eyes met mine with the inquiring
glance of a puzzled child.
''Perkins?' he muttered. Ferdinand