Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-10-25

or much account IN youth. and OF thcj
two l preferred James Davfe 20 Davie1
Kingston.
ny life was now extremely pleasant
and, except when I got a letter from.
my uncle. ] scarcely thought OF the
horrors OF the past was surrounded
by young companions. lived the free.
open life OF boy. and II did not en-.
Joy my studies overmuch l made IN
for my lack Of intellectual energy by
developing wonderful aptitude for
games.
During this period my uncle proved
q most consistent correspondent, dis
patching a letter TO me every week
with unSailing regularity. IL was a
contract we had entered into. for Il
would DO the means whereby I might
know II be was still alive. In turn
was TO write as often, but after having
had few letters sent to his club he
begged me to desist and send them on
to his lawyer. to whom was at once
to telegraph In case OF an emergency.
He did not explain himself more fully,
but needed no fuller explanation
Then he began his wanderings. and
1 got letters In succession from Hast
ings, Bastbourne, Brighton, worthing
and so on from many towns and many
counties, and they all repeated the
same note: 'I am stiu searching for
the man with the strange eyes" To
me II seemed singular that ne should
not forget and once even went so far
as to suggest something of the sort,
but the answer I received made me
feel ashamed OF my presumption. -She
was my sister," he said, "and yet
cannot forget, but she was your moth
err" Only those few underlined words,
yet what world OF meaning they con-
veyed.
With the advent OF the holidays he
always came and took me away with
him. and upon each successive occasion
1 saw how sadly his quest was affect
ing him. From jolly fellow he had
grown morose and gloomy and wasj
losing weight In a manner that might
have been considered alarming had itS
not suited him so well. Truth TO tell,
he had been somewhat Inclined to
heshiness and a ruddiness Of counte-
nance OF which a fastidious observer
could not approve. Had I not known
the cause OF this change should prob
ably have welcomed IL; knowing, had
some difficulty In concealing my alarm.
The world was not big enough for him
and his sisters murderer. He was like
one cropping in the dark, but some
where behind that darkness was the;
light, and he would see il one day.
In the comparatively calm seclusion
of this school the next two years of my
life slipped peacefully away. The past
was dropping further and further
astern. The horrors of two years ago,
IL not quite obliterated from my mems
DRY (such thing could hardly be with
my uncle, still pursuing his grewsomel
quest), had grown faint in the distance.
and with the happy fortune of youth 1
looked forward, with but an occasional
glance back. Not that had forgotten
or ever could forget my mother. but az
II one cannot paint the world black.
paint he ever so vilely.
And yet II had ever INDUCED In the
hope that my misfortunes were at an
end l soon had good cause 70 regret my
premature congratulations. Fate had
only been trifling with me SO far. My
real trial was about to begin.
L remember one day being sent for
by the head master and told that n gen
tleman was waiting 60 see me In the
visitors room. Thinking II was my
uncle and delighted at this unexpected
visit, 1 rushed toward the door, and.
finding 1t open, bounded In, my hand
outstretched. But instead of encoun-
tering the well known face and figure
a gaunt stranger slowly rose from
chair In the far end OF the room, where
he had been sitting, his back to the
light. bis beard was gray, his hair
gray and worn thin about the temples.
/ saw that he had deep sunken eyes
and heavy brows that brlstled conspic-
uously. Once a man OF conspicuous
stature, his powerful shoulders now
dropped forward in a way that be-
tokened the presence OF III health. His
face was very pale, and across the
bridge Of q commanding nose the skin
was drawn tightly.
Without speaking he advanced slow
~ toward me, and saw that his eyes,
deep set and piercing as they were,
wore a frightened, hunted expression
which filed me with considerable ap-
prehension. Nor was I the more re-
lieved when he threw a stealthy glance
from side to side and nodded for me to
close the door. 1 grew suspicious In an
instant and inyoluntarily drew back
from him. remembered my uncle's
warnings and beheld In this man a pos
sible enemy. He saw my indecision
and smiled, and that act recalled me to
a sense OF dignity. was now a big
fellow and not to be frightened by q
shadow.
Your name Is James DavieY' he
said.
eyes, sir"
"But It used to be Davie Kingstonr'
Startled and more suspicious than
ever, watched him closely.
II Will not deny it." 1 said. "But how
do you known
He advanced still closer and fixed his