Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-08-16
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V By Frances Warner Walker. q
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By Frances Warner Walker.
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A strange bitterness had crept into
his tone. His hand, still resting on her
hair unconsciously clenched. A light,
half anger, half pain, shone in his
eyes.
Harry" she exclaimed.
The question in her voice restored his
composure.
He laughed, but it was not the old,
mirthful laugh which had ever been as
sweet music to her ear. There was a
hard, discordant note which Jared
upon her.
tune, Grace?" he said. "a quixotic
generosity worthy of you, little one;
but men cannot accept such gifts, my
child. Wait, Grace. One of these days
your fortune and your heart will go to-
gether,. and I will convert myself into
a whole orchestra-con .ealed from
view, by the way, by screen of smi-
lax dsn't that the proper place for or
chestras, as per latest fashionable in
telligence?)-and strike up, 10! the
conquering hero comes!"
Strange! For the first and only time
in her life, Harrys jests hurt her.
He refused her gift, and talked light
ly of her loving and leaving him.
II shall never marry-never!" she
exclaimed, vehemently. care you and
uncle tired of me, Harry, that you
want me to leave you?"
"Tired of you, Pussie?" and again
something sad and pathetic stole into
his tone. "Why, all the sunshine
would go out Of the old house, dear, II
you should run away from it. I can't
even picture it without you; I don't
think I ever have been able to picture
it without you since that long-ago day
when your little baby hand locked it.
self in mine, and your baby voice whis-
pered, I like your Grace, last night,
dear, as lay awake in my boating
tent, down on the river, it's waters
silenced into glorious beauty by the
moonbeams, thought of you, and a
strange longing came over me to look
into your eyes and feel again the touch
Of your hand. 1t seemed to me that
you were the one thing true-the one
heart loyol-in all this great, bitter
world. o, Grace, you could not curse a
mans life-tell me you could not?"
His voice died in groan.
But the girl, listening felt a new
Sll dlSS lullll VI rapture NlllCIl ClloCA
in pain for the suffering, ere she had
paused to question whence and how it
came.
Yet her woman's intuition taught her
that words could bring no healing to
this wound, and so, only lifting her
hand to slip it into his, she leaned her
head against his knee, in silent sympa-
thy with this unknown grief.
One by one the minutes slipped
away, until a step, heard in the outside
corridor, startled them both.
A moment later, Edgar Reynolds en-
tered the room.
He was a man not yet sixty years Of
age, but his hair was already white,
though his form was still erect and Wig
orous.
Between father and son strong like
ness was apparent, as their eyes met.
Grace did not stir, but her hold I'M
consciously frightened on Harry's hand.
A momentary CLEAN of surprise shone
in the elder mans eyes; then he came
forward, outstretching his hand.
Harry, my boy, welcome back
again."
Thanks, father!" the young man re-
piled, now rising from his seat and ac-
cepting the proffered hand-clasp.
Then he resumed his old position,
and in few minutes all We're talking
about trivial matters, as though but
yesterday they had parted. It was a
meeting characteristic of both men.
Had the months been years, it would
stration. But that night, when Grace
I, 4 11f< a.
moned his son into the library.
zone question, my boy" he said,
after carefully closing the door, "and
then the matter never shall be opened
between US. You've .given"-a mo-
ment's -"her"-strange bitter
emphasis on the pronoun-"up forev-
er!'
A harsh, discordant laugh broke from
Harry Reynolds lips.
"She's given me up, father" he an
swered. Eyes; she whom you termed
adventures and schemer has thrown
me over for penniless lieutenant.
You see how you have wronged her,
father, when you imagined my money,
or yours, her aim. 1t was her heart led
her astray-her heart! Oh, God! that
the pulses of life should beat in such a
stone!''
"You will live to thank her for your
deliverance, my son. I, too, owe her
such debt of gratitude, that am al
most tempted to forgive her the misery
that she has brought upon us both,
Harry, it was but an infatuation-a
dream! You will waken to look shud-
deringly back upon it, as one recalls a
nightmare! All, my boy, the confession
of your deliverance lifts stone from
my heart, and gives me courage to
point out to you true path to happi-
ness! Harry, all my life I have
dreamed a dream. Must put it into
words to make it clear to you? 1t is
that you should make Grace in very
truth, as she is in heart-my daugh-
teri"
The young man gave visible start,
and his face paled.
Marry Grace! Why, father, she is
but a child, and always I have looked
upon her as sister,"
mo tie of blood unites you, and
Grace has already passed the threshold
Of womanhood. If I mistake not, I'M
suspected even by herself. her heart is
already yours. If not, a little struggle
and you can win the prize. Harry, my