The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-12-11
CHAPTER yIn. (Continued)


"Yes. But Bernard Carlyle was
the owner then-died of fever; that's
inst about the time your father met
me. Bernard left a 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 his
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. Then
we were married. In less than a fort
night afterwards. John was in such a
hurry he would not wait for a decent
rousseau for me- don't see how he
could have been more impatient il he
had been young. He was about twice
as old as l."
Ralph listened, not taking his eyes
OF his mothers face.
what was the matter with the child
the heir?" he asked.
ooh. twas a sad ending. The child
had had the measles, believe. Any
way Ii was recovering-nearly we'll
and they sent it down to the seashore.
somewhere on the coast of this state,
and-its nurse must have been care
less. | think--anyway it fell into tho
water from a rock and was drowned,
and they never could find the body.
So your father was heir, and was rich.
But what a spendthrift he vast 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
aOafn Tyhorn xraa my fothnr whpn
the boy was drowned?"
The mother was too busy with her
recoHections to notice her sons face.
where was he? l believe he was
OF la California, or somewhere"
HE couldn't have been, and heard
the news land returned to marry you
in fortnight, mother Think again."
said Ralph.
"Bless me, no, he couldn't! Well,
he was off 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.
81 have reason TO be-" was the an
swer, given in such grim tone that
II 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 he?"
Don't be worried about that" said
Ralph, impatiently. Eyes. / should
say. undoubtedly, that father was heir
after that child died."
There was silence for while, dur
ing which Mrs. Caryi fidgeted, nerv-
ously. about the room, longing to ask
questions, but not daring to do so.
She had always been ruled by her hus-
band. and then by her children.
II always hated my father!" sud-
denly, fiercely exclaimed Ralph, turn
ing and walking back and forth.
"Hushi You mustn't say sol" cried
his mother. "He was your father, and
he is dead"
II 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 a decent fell
low now, instead of the blackguard
that j am. He made home hateful to
me; he did everything a man could do
TO drive a son to poTdition, and was
weak enough to go. But never knew
he was a criminal. never knew"
He paused in time to save himself
from the utterance of the suspicion
within him.
His mother had sat down in a 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.
81 mean that John Caryl was a brute
that he meyer deserved a soft-heart-
ed creature like you for his wife-that
he-weil mother, what's the use of
talking This over?"
Il don't know what's the matter with
you. Ralph" sobbod Mrs. Caryl.
what has made you burst forth in
such a TRADE rs this, l don't know
and qpout your father, too, who should
be sNft to rest in peace, now he's
dead"
"He never Jet US rest in peace when
he was alive" muttered the son. but
we won't talk any more about him
now. have been too bad cub my
self TO have any such talk come with a
very good grace from me. I'm sorry
I've wasted as mgch money as have;
and thank fortune never got mort
gagejpn this place; it's about the only
thing there is left, isn't it,"
'sYes-and my little annuity. which
John could not touch, you know. and
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 in
my head now that may amount TO
something IL work II out properly"
so hope 1t will amount to some mon
ey," said his mother. simply.
Il hope so, too. And now I won't
keep yog up any longer, mother. It's
already the next day Let's go to
bed"
And the mother and son separated,
neither In a at frame OF mind to sleep.
CHAPTER TX.
caryi- Brother and Sister.