The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-06-13
CHAPTER XII-Continued

ter-more than harshly, for he has even
hid her away in a strange town, to try
every means to make her marry his son,
in order that he may not have to give
an account of the dead mans property.
And here is letter which have re-
ceived this morning from her other
guardian, who was Herr Steinhardt's g
best friend when he first came to Eng
land, and whom he has almost ruined.
He has found the young lady, and
taken her to his own house; but he
fears he cannot keep her, for Herr
Steinhardt may now ruin him outright.
l must therefore return; and this,
Fraulein, is my only hope of effectual-
ly hindering Herr Steinhardt from, do
ing what he will-by frigtening him
with my knowledge. But l do not yet
know enough to do that.
1t will thus be seen that told Frau
lein Haas just enough of the case to
convince her OF its urgency; but she
guessed something | had not told her.
~ understand now, Herr Pastor"
che said, "why you are so interested in
Emmanuel Steinhardt's crime; it is
more love than vengeance that pushes
you on. And that, too, Herr Pastor,
will make you better understand why ]
am interested in Emmanuel Stein
hardt," she said, simply, looking not
at me, but at her thin clasped hands.
"He was many years ago not the Herr
Steinhardt he seems to be now; he was
good and gentle, though his heart and
mind we're set on being rich. But !
detain you,' she added, glancing up
suddenly. Her hands frightened their
clasp on each other. "If," she said,
with rapidly growing vehemence, 81
tell you what have seen, in order that
you may be able to deliver the dis
tressed young Fraulein, promise me,
Herr Pastor, for the sake Of my past,
and as you hope to be happy and peace
full in the future-promise me that you
will use what 1 tell you only for the
purpose you say, and that you will keep
it, so far as ever you can, from becom-
ing public"
gave the promise at once without
reserve.
"AndR' she said, "you will leave
Emmanuel Steinhardt's punishment in
the hands of Almighty God2"
answered / would--though it was
a strange question to have to answer.
She then turned almost away from
me, partly, thought, that she might
be less conscious Of my presence, but
more that she might concentrate her
attention on her recollections. Her
hands clasped and unclasped several
times before they settled, the one in
the other, and she began;
at was, think, in the March
month of a year ago. had slept
long time very soundly, for had been
very tired, when suddenly | felt as il l
were taken up and carried awsy-faT
away; and was made to look at En-
manuel Steinhardt. He looked at me
as il he wished me to help him; at his
feet was a large wooden box, the lid OF
which, l was made to understand,
would not close. From the opening
protruded human hand, strangely
discolored. awoke all trembling. /
put out my own hand to make sure |
was in my own bed; my mother was
sleeping quietly beside me. l tried to
dismiss the vision from my mind-fool-
ish dream, thought it. But l could
sleep no more. In two or three hours
it was daylight, and arose. l went
about my duties all the day as usual /;
was busy, and had the impression of
the vision much worn away when /
went to bed in the evening-rather
early, because was very tired. ] had
slept not very long, when again | was
as if seized up and whirled away, again
to see Emmanuel Steinhardt, with
something at his feet again-not now
the wooden box, which was aside, but
three packages of canvas. Again En-
manuel Steinhardt looked at me, as il
he wished me to go to him, and again
! awoke, all trembling"
She paused in her story of the Wis
ions, took her handkerchief and wiped
her damp brow with trembling hand.
I watched her intently, sensation
of creeping excitement and mystery
held me bound to her quiet but intense
recital. She resumed suddenly, with
out looking at me.
az slept nc more that night for
thinking of what had seen, and so
saw Emmanuel Steinhardt no more; l
tried to sleep in order that might,
but could not. A terrible night to
me it was. But next night l was
sleeping a light, disturbed sleep, when
was taken away again to Emmanuel
Steinhardt; this time knew was not
in room; there was no light. He
looked at me across newly dug spot
of ground, and then turned away. l
did not really wake, though felt con-
scious was in my own bed at the same
time as I was held where he had left
me, close to wall. After some time,
how long l cannot tell, he came back
with rope. ] knew at once what he
was going to do before he had done it
-fssten the rope in an iron something
on the other side of the wall and pull it
over do not know why l did not
think it imrossible for single man to
pull wall down with q rope. but did
not. In a little while he pulled, and
the wall fell fiat, and, curiously, un-
broken, covering over the newly dug
spot and all around it. Then awoke,
as with the noise, and slept no more.
After that night saw him again for
several nights, for q dim moment or
two, at the same place. They were
but glimpses, which, as the nights
passed on, became DINNER and DINNER,
and then ceased altogether-until some
weeks ago, when again was summoned
to face him at that same place with
the fallen wall. He looked at me
earnestly, and then over his shoulder
at some one whom did not see, but
who | knew he feared was watching
him. This happened three, four
times, and then no more. There has
been no more yet, but what may be,
God only knows. That is all, j" she
said, with sigh as of relief, turning
TO me. "And now, Herr Pastor, you
know what have had to tell, and you
will not forget your promise to me
you will not set yourself TO bring pun
ishment on Emmanuel Steinhardt."
81 shall hold my promise to you,
Fraulein," said l, ''as sacred"
Possessed as ! was with the exciting
thought engendered by her story, was
almost forgetting that had no result
- - I ,,..lI -