Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-12-11
CHAPTER VIII. (continued.)

just ABOUT IQe llue NOul AdIuSA uc
me. Bernard left little child-a boy
I think-who was his heir. of course
After your father had been forbidden
to come and see me. on account of hi:
poverty, this little Bernard suddenly
died. and John, your father, though he
was of The other branch of the family
was still the nearest of kin, and the
property passed into his hands. Their
we were married, in less than fort
night afterwards. John was in such 8
hurry he would not wait for decent
trousseau for me. I don't see how he
could have been more impatient it he
had been young. He was about twice
as old as IT,
Ralph listened. not taking his eyes
off his mothers face.
What was the matter with the child
the heir?" he asked.
"Oh, twas a sad ending. The child
had had the measles, believe. Any
way, it was recovering-nearlyw we'll
somewhere on the coast Of this state
and-its nurse must have been care
less, think-anyway it fell into the
water from rock and was drowned
and they never could find the body
~ SoOA 4dLnCA " al l1SlA. 1uo W as A4Sh
But what a spendthrift he was! What
made you think of all these things
You must have known the story be-
fore?"
YES" said Ralph. 81 did know the
story; but happened to want to hear
1t again. Where was my father when
the boy was drowned?"
The mother was too busy with her
recollections to notice her sons face.
Where was he? believe he was
of In California. or somewhere"
HE couldn't have been, and heard
the news and returned to marry you
In fortnight, mother. Think again,
said Ralph.
"Bless me, no, he couldn't! Well,
he was of somewhere don't remem-
Der where. Of course. as the heir, he
heard the news directly. Aren't you
rather particular about this, Ralph?''
looking up at him.
Il have reason to be-" was the an.
Fwer, given in such grim tone that
1t alarmed Mrs. Caryl.
And she instantly reverted to the one
topic that mostly occupied her
thoughts.
"You can't mean that there's any
fuss about the property" alarmed.
~'Your father was the heir, wasn't hep
Don't be worried about that" said
Ralph, impatiently. eyes. 1 should
say, undoubtedly, that father was heir
after that child died"
There was silence for a while, dur.
ing which Mrs. Caryl fidgeted, nerv-
ously. about the room, longing to ask
questions, but not daring to do So
'Gho ho olx r,,1o I1,1 o. h,,,
band, and then by her children.
Il always hated my father!" sud
denly, fiercely exclaimed Ralph, turn.
ing and walking back and forth.
Hush! You mustn't say SOL" cried
his mother. "He was your father, and
he is dead!"
Il will tell the truth" continued
Ralph II know that he is dead, and ]
know that his death released you from
a horrible thralldom. He was hard
and cold, and cruel, and tyrant; you
know he was that. If he had been diff
ferent. might have been decent fell
low now, instead of the BLACKBOARD
that I am. He made home hateful to
me; he did everything man could dc
to drive son to perdition, and l was
weak enough to go. But never knew
he was criminal never knew"
He paused in time to save himself
from the utterance of the suspicion
within him.
His mother had sat down in chair
and was sobbing, with her handker.
chief to her face. At his last words
she looked up, still more frightened.
ooh, what do you mean-talking like
that" she cried.
II mean that John Caryl was brute
that he never deserved a soft-heart
ed creature like you for his wife-that
he-well, mother, what's the use 61
talking this over?"
Il don't know what's the matter with
you. Ralph" sobbed Mrs. Caryl
what has made you burst forth in
such TRADE as this, don't know
and about your father too, who should
be left to rest in peace, now he's
/. dead"
HE never let us rest in peace whe1
he was alive" muttered the son. "But
I'VE won't talk any more about him
nov. have been too bad cub my
self to have any such talk come with 3
very good grace from me. I'm sorry
I've wasted as much money as have;
and thank fortune never got mort
gage on this place; it's about the only
thing there is left, isn't it,"
"Yes-and my little annuity, which
John could not touch, you know, ane
which is all that supports us now"
Ralph gave low whistle.
Its been pretty hard lines for us
ALL" he said; "but have an idea il
my head now that may amount t.
something if 1 work it out properly"
&c! hope it will amount to some mon
ey," said his mother simply.
II hope so, too. And now l won
keep you up any longer, mother. tIt's
ALREADY the next day. Let's go tt
bed. "'1t = - s1i., 4 lt::f.G
-. And the mother and son separated
neither in fit frame of mind to sleep
CHAPTER ix.iSIs.:. e:,.@; ) II /
.fGaprpyIIi --Rrothefr ,as rfd! Sister sttsH..,
1t was nearly noon of the next da,
before Ralph came down. He foun'
1,is ,,uother ,d,,sff1p ihf#df}7i nSs Ssdon