Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-30

vague touch Of decency belonging to the
days when he was young and happy, and
when honor was still Il word to which he
clung with all his might, renders this
coarse epithet. as applied to the pretty or
phans committed to his care, insupport-
able.
You hardly remember, perhaps, that
you are speaking of my nieccs," he says
with an angry frown.
"IIoity toity! None of your airs with
me- says she, sternly She advances
step nearer to him. "Rcmember Dysart,
that l can either make or mar you. l,
and l only"
II would | were sure Of that" says he,
moodfly. But Have you forgotten
Sedley? He knew"
'Pish. He's dead; let him rest. What
q one you are TO worrit! Twenty years
and more, and no sign OF him, and l ask
you was he the one to remain quiet, if he
saw way to forcing a sovereign out Of
you?"
True, true" says Dysart, eagerly
| catching at this suggestion. And yet |
would give much to know that he was in
the grave"
"Ay, and l in mine! know you,"
! says she, with an evil look. you fear
me-"
Il fear nothing" says he. coldly.
What" says she, slowly, regarding
| him closely; mot even that your son
should know?"
| She pauses, pleased with her work. All
at once. AS it were, on hearing this ques-
| ton, the old man quails before her like
beaten hound. The life goes out of him,
| he seems to shrink into himself, and puts
| out his hands as though to ward off some
| fatal blow.
mot that. Anything but that" he
| mutters, fecbly.
well, don't drive me to it," says she,
sulkily.
| Remember, it was for him l did it,"
cries he, sharply. after all my love, my
care, my secrecy, to have it now laid bare
to him! tell you"-his fingers working
vely-"ra; her than that he should
know, it seems to me that it would be a
sweet and simple thing to murder him
who would betray me-"
I'm not going TO bctray you," says
she. And as for saying twas for him
you did it, why"
For him. For his sake only"
Partly, think" says she, dryly
| "Entirely; altoge:he What other crea-
ture had to love me-to love? His
mother, as you know, hated me; and
when she died was glad" says he,
crushing his fingers together.
Yet the deed was scarcely necessary
if done for him." says Crunch, holding
her ground. THAT old aunt of his-the
| mothers sister-put want out of the ques-
| ton for him.
| II knew nothing of her desire to make
him her heir--then.'
| You know it now, anyway" says she,
with nasty sheer. And it is never too
late to mend-to find by accident that
paper you have just locked up"
| II have thought of it," says he, with
lowered brow and eyes bent upon the
ground, dreamed of it: and all my
dreaming has but convinced me that
things had better stay as they now are.
Into what better hands could they have
fallen? Who would have husbanded it
all like me? You know the care. the
trouble, the sleepless days and nights |
| have devoted to the management of-of
| it. You know whether it has ever been
joy to me-rathcr grief, wcarying Of
| the flesh, a CURSE The word comes from
between his lips with little kissing
sound. but it is all for him. for him."
he says, in dying tone.
| With restless, feeble steps he begins to
| pace the room.
HE believes in me. He trusts me; he
aone-now. But if ever he were to learn
| the truth he would spurn me from him.
| swear to you"-he turns and fixes his
burning eyes on hers-"Id stransle you
with these hands" holding them out be-
fore her, trembling with passion, yet
strong and 1.-the, "6efore the words could
pass your lips"
| '1'm not going to play traitor. I've
| told you that" says she. frowning. "I've
| had chance before this if l wished to do
it: and I'm not going to help his children.
| whatever happens" Her brow grows
black and her eyes Tighten. MAY curses
follow him wherever he be, even through
| the gates of DEATH"
Amen" says Dysart. carelessly. Then,
| in different tone: "Seaton is coming
| home tomorrow"
you have design" says she. fixing
her sharp eyes on him with searching
| regard.
"True; and l think well of mentioning
it to YOU" says Dysart, slowly. After
long and careful thought have decided
on abandoning more ambitious schemes
and wedding him to my elder niece,
Vera"
| (TO be cOntinucd)