The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-02-16
The Return of
the DiSinherited.


Miss Acton stood by the center table
Of the library with a match i'll her hand.
The big room was as dark as cave.
She could see absolutely nothing, but
what was it she heard? Surely some
one was moving softly over the heavy
carpet.
who's there?' cried the girl
The only answer was sound of sour
rying feet. Someone was hurrying to-
ward the door communicating with the
conservatory. Instantly the knob clicked
sharply, but the door did not open be-
cause it was locked. as Miss Acton we'll
knew.
The girl had an impulse to scream and
another to run away, but her strongest
desire was for light. She feared dark
ness more than the mystery that it hid.
1t required less time than the tick of
clock for her to turn OH the gas in the
drop light and strike the match that
was ready. in her hand. The gas was ig-
nited with explosive suddenness. All
that was in the room seemed to leap into
being out of the vanishing shadows.
With his back against the conservatory
door and his outstretched hands upon the
wall, as if to steady him, stood IL young
man. i'll, lean and pale. He wore a long
black oyercoat, but it was hung open and
revealed the garb of a convict;
do not be alarmed" she said. II
KNOW who you are, and l will not betray
you. Sit down, and we will decide what
it is best to do
Il read in newspaper that you had
escaped" she said, but l did not sun
pose that You would dare to come here.
Yet l believe that your father expected
You and that he went away to avoid
the risk of meeting YOU
The convict said nothing, but the in,
tensity of his facial expression was a
distinct contribution to the conversation.
You don't understand" said the girl.
probably you don't know who 1 am.
Let me tell you the whole situation in
few words. You know of your fathers
second marriage?''
''Certainly.'
He married my aunt. and came
here to live with them by your fathers
great kindness. We knew that he had a
son, and that his name could not he
mentioned in this house. but neither nv
aunt nor myself had the slightest knowl-
edge of the cause of the estrangenlent
between you and him. 1t was only by
accident that l found out where you
were.'
How did it happen?' he asked
Through your letter to him last
spring. 1 noticed the Sing Sing postmark
on it when it came. OF course, did not
then know it was from you. but he wrote
in return. He sat at this table, and aft
erward l saw upon the blotter a part of
the address, reversed, of course, but legi-
BILE, The State Prison, and your middle
name. Irving"
arthur Irving Vanc. Well?'
Then knew that you were convict,
k~ l.
and your disgrace had caused your father
to renounce you. But let me tell you a
secret: he loves you yet. l know it; am
sure of it: and that is why l am going to
help YOU tonight, though he would never
forgive me if he knew it,
And YOU read Of my escape?"
eyes, read q few days ago that q con-
vict named Irving had escaped with two
others. l knew, of course, that you had
dropped your last name for your family's
sake, when you were arrested"
There was a moments silence Then
the young man leaned forward with his
face close to hers, and asked in a low, in
tense voice, what are you going to do
for meY'
what do you need?' she asked.
Food! A hiding place"'
He sprang to his feet so suddenly that
the girl was frightened almost to the
point of crying.
THAT'S what T' I need lie with Mn'S %onev
enough can get out of this country and
begin new life Oh the other side of the
world. If 60 back to prison it will kill
all the, good that's in me. If I don't-if
make of myself?''
II believe that there is much truth in
what you say" she replied. IF 1 could
have advised you before you broke out of
PRISON L would have told you to sever
your sentence and then begin life anew.
But know that if you are captured now
you will have to serve years and years
Ill addition to your original sentence.
cannot ask you to do that. 1t is very
wrong Ct me, but shall help you to
escape. How much money do you need?'
More than you can get, I'm afraid"
said he glOomily. II must make Aus
tralia somehow"
There was safe built in the wall of
the library. Miss Acton walked I'D to it.
turned the knob Of the combination lock
and swung open the iron door. Within
was second door of thin metal, which
the girl opened by means of key that
she took from her pocket
There were books of accounts on each
side of the safe within, and between them
three little drawers, with pigeonholes
above and below. Miss Acton took a roll
VI lnOucv liOlu Tue lOWeSL OF the drawers
and handed it to the convict, who counted
it rapidly.
-Four hundred" said he. 81 can never
do it with this
1T is all that belongs to me-" she said.
Of course. we cannot touch your ia
TIERS money" 49,
An inward struggle convulsed the
young mans slender frame.
Why not?" he said at last. ''You said
that he still loves me-" - :.
1T would not be honest" she replied
do dot ~ you'd be theft. Can't you make this
"Austnlia is long way off," said he
i think my father ought to contribute
''No, said she, firmly, II will MT CON-.
sent: and You should not ask me"
I'm afraid it's all up with me-" said
the convict, sinking into chair.
Miss Acton reflected deeply. X ~.
1T is possible that il asked INV annt
she might do something for u.s. she said
but can't get to her now, because fher.,
are people in the hail. They might InoE
IN here if l opened the door, - :
There certainly are people out there J,
said he. I've heard them talking for
the last few minutes. But I could hide.
you know. = . .. S.. >e .'>t'
. True" said Miss Acton, ssand perha no
hats the hes! way. Get behind thnsa
curtains ut the window . .
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