The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-01-18
CHAPTER TX.
The details 1 learned later.

DemetriuS, it seemed, had asked the
boy to loosen the rope which Jap, with
hearty good will, had llnotted so tight
~ 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 bleedingwrists,
had consented to slacken one end. A
powerful wrench had freed the Greeks
right arm as Gerard entered the hut;
and Demetrius, faithful to his oath,
had grasped d 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-
fee of his own, a sacrifice cheerfully
cOnsummated.
Demetrius was arraigned for the
murder of his master and convicted.
The day before his execution his iron
nerves gave way, and he was baptized.
a 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 u jealous hatred of the
man, who had supplanted him, and,
Cvershadowing that, the lust of gold.
Familiar intercourse with the CrOesuS
had aroused n passion of envy. Gerard,
doubtless, had dangled 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 the
crime upon Burlington, who had begun
to suspect him, was an afterthOught.
He left all his money, large sum,
carefully invested, to the archiman-
drite of his native town; and he faced
the hangman with smile upon his pal
lid lips.
Gerard fingered several weeks, the
happiest, so he assured me. of his life.
The tangled skein was at length I'M
raveled, and it was characteristic of
the man that he accepted his sentence
of death without repining or remOn-
| STRANGE.
eff Mark" he said to me, only the
day before the final summons came,
''if Mark profits by my experience 1
don't grudge the price. I've always
held, Hugo, that reform rises, as 1
rose, from the ranks, but I've learnt
that it falls, like the sunlight, from
above"
Under the terms of his will re-
ceived 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 headwaters of the
Saskatchewan, hunting and fishing.
| But around my campfire lowered the
image of Nancy, alluring, hooking!
Upon my return to San Francisco a
letter advised me of the approaching
marriage of Burlington and Mrs. Ger
ard. l was invited to the wedding and
assisted at the quiet celebration that
followed. Both Burlington and his
wife welcomed me warmly, but Nancy
so l fancied-held aloof, and greeted
me with chilling civility.
81 presume" said I, at parting, with
forced smile, that you will be kind
enough to send me a card for your we'd
ding"
my wedding?" she faltered.
Surely that devotion you spoke of
that night, you remember-will-''
Her bosom began to heave as she
turned from me.
Nancy" 1 cried, taking her hand in
mine, sit is well with you, Nancy, is it
not? You are happy?"
No." she whispered, 81 am not
happy"
Not happy? If some fellow has
dared to
Don't look so fierce" she MUIR
INJURED. Mamma has new interests
now, and of course, feel a little out in
the cold"
at was your mother, then? For her
sake you re"
Yes
Nancy took her sweet face be-
tween my two big hands-"Nancy, I'm
going to marry you, whether you like ii
or not. Do you hear that?"
Her eyes were upturned to mine, and
in their luminous depths 1 saw the re-
Election of my own face. Was it mir
Tored likewise in her heart?
YES" she murmured,. Il hear"
and what do you say?"
Il think, "a smile rippled across
lips and cheeks-"I think, Hugo, that
l shall like it
! THE END.