La Junta tribune., 1899-04-01
CAPTER ".

key In n secre, drawer OF his mothers
cabinet, was standing In the room that
had been locked up for so many years
The room was about twelve or four
teen feet square. with but one window:
opposite TO the door stood the chin
ney and fireplace. with a high buffet
Of dark wood on each side. On table
near by was bunch OF keys. With
one of these he opened the wooden
doors OF the buffet, revealing an iron
safe.
4 second key on the bunch opened
the iron doors; and Philip found him
self In possession OF considerable
sum OF money. amounting, as near as
he could reckon, to ten thousand
guilders. in little yellow sacks. Philip
replaced the sacks, and locked MP the
cupDoards. after having taken out of
one. already half emptled. a few pieces
for his immediate wants. Then turn
ing and gazing at the table again he
bcheld partly concealed under some
embroidery, the sealed letter which his
mother had declared had been left
there by his father seventeen years
ago He dashed forward. seized the
letter, and burst out OF the fatal room.
Il cannot, dare not. read 1t here.
exclaimed he; mo. no. it must be nn-
der the yalut OF high and offended
Heaven that the message must be re-
ceived." Philip took his hat. and went
out OF the house in calm despair he
locked the door. took out the key, and
walked he knew not whittier.
Philip looNed about him for some
spot whore he might be concealed from
obseryation-wh he might break the
seal. and read this mission from a
world OF spirits a small copse OF
brushwood. In advance OF q grove OF
trees, was not far from whore he stood
He walked to 1t and sat down. so as
10 be concealed from any passers-by.
Then he broke the zeal. which bore
the Initials OF his fathers name. and
read as follows:
To Catherine:
One OF those plying spirits whose
eyes rain tears for mortal crimes has
been permitted to inform me by what
means alone my dreadful doom may
be ayerted.
Gould | but receive on the deck OF
my own ship the holy relic upon which
| swore the fatal cath. kiss 1t in all
humility. and shed one tear of deep
contrftlon on the sacred wood. | then
might rest Ia peace
How this may be effected. or by
whom SO fatal task will be under
taken, / know not. Oh. Catherine. We
have son-but. no. no, let him not
hear OF me. Pray for me. and now.
farewell
"I vANDERDEcKEN."
Then 1t is true. most horribly
true" thought Philip; and my father
is even now in living Judgment. And
he points to me-to whom else should
he? Am | not his son, and is II not
my duty7"
Yes. my father'" exclaimed Philip.
aloud. falling on his knees. you have
not written these lines in vain. Let
me peruse them once more"
Philip raised up his hand: but. al
though it appeared to him that he had
still hold OF the letter. It was not there
he grasped nothing. He looked on
the grass to see IL 1t had fallen--but.
no. there was no letter; 1t had disap-
peared. Was 1t a vision? No. no, he
had read every word. Then 1t must
sion was intended. accept the sign"
Hear me. dear father-if thou art
so permitted-and deign to hear me,
gracious Heaven-hear the son who.
by this sacred relic. swears that he will
avert your doom or perish. To that
will he devote his days, and having
done his duty. he will die in hope and
peace. Heaven. that recorded my rash
fathers oath. now register his sons
upon the same sacred cross. and may
perjury on my part be visited with
punishment more dire than his, Re-
ceive 1t. Heaven. as at the last trust
that in Thy mercy Thou wilt receive
the father and the son; and IL too bold.
oh. pardon my presumption"
Philip threw himself forward on his
face, with his lips to the sacred sym
Dol. The sun went down and the twi-
light gradually disappeared; night had
for some time shrouded all in dark
ness. and Philip yet remained in al
ternate prayer and meditation,
But he was disturbed by the voices
of some men. who sat down upon the
turf but few yards from where he
was concealed. The conversation he
little needed; but It had reused him.
and his first feeling was to return to
tho cottage thai he might reflect over
his plans: but. although the men
spoke In a low tone. his attention was
soon arrested by the subject of their
conversation when he heard the name
of Mynheer Poots mentioned. He lis
tened attentively. and discovered that
they were four disbanded soldiers. who
intended that night to attack the house