The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-20
THE ADVERTISERS z DAILY SHORT STORY

had such commanding tone that tn
 dog began bowling even before he reach 1 ed the door.
 The old man asked some questions con corning New Orleans, which led Hinto Il to believe that he had once been a resl dent of the Crescent City. Putting tn question abruptly, the man replied in tn | negative. After a while the maimed an 1 shrunken figure brought down a bottl | of whisky and offered Hinton a drink | which was taken. This made the glT | open wide her eyes, for never had sh | known of a similar occurrence.
 l After that Hinton became regular wis ] ltor to the cabin. In one corner or tn | room were number of books. Ove 1 these in a scabbard. rusted with age. wa | a sword. One day Hinton asked hin about the weapon, at which the old maj | became so violent that he would hav' | struck his visitor had he been able t | reach him. Instead he ordered him iron | the cabin. with the injunction never t' attempt to apologize but Lamonthe wa. ineoraxble. As he left the door he cas one agonizing look at the girl. who seemed to tell him, with her eyes, that Two weeks elapsed, when one day sht walked down to the tented city and found him. Eagerly he took her hands and held them. even if hundred miners were looking at him. Hinton's soul was In his eyes He could hardly refrain from talk ing her in his arms.
 My father regrets his conduct toward you and has often asked about you. Now you mst go to him, just as If nothing had happened. But you must not let him know that I came to you. Go now; and tomorrow I will meet you by the ferry as the sun goes down."
 Hinton found the old man lying across his rude bed in terrible agony. The dog was coiied up near the fire. Finally La monthe spoke:
 T am so glad you came. I know am going to die; I feel the cold breath creep tng closer and closer. l do not know these people who surround me with theiI picks and shovels. I have had no com munication with any one for years, save my daughter; and she must not know what1 am going to tell you. l was afraid no one would come and that no other liv- ing person besides Marie would hear me say that He whom you call the God of Mercy Is a beast.
 Know you that [ also am of Louisiana that the richest and purest blood of that State Is in my veins. l was educated in Paris and when I returned to New Or leans I soon fell in love with one of the most beautiful of creatures-Antoinette La Comte We were married, and the earth seemed filled with all that was lovely and poetic.' Here the mans voice was choked by a cough, and 1t was some minutes before he could proceed
 Well one day I went home and found her in another mans lap. She was smoothing back the hair from his fore head while he alternately kissed her lips and a bunch of roses I had sent her an hour before. Instantly I rushed in, tore the flowers from her corsage. and with the sword hanging there stabbed dead the despoiler of my home, and with the same weapon killed my wife! Godt I can see sec her pleading eyes now;I have seen them every breathing hour since that aw. full day. That evening I gave myself uI to the civil authorities. was tried and sentenced for life. I entered the peniten- at Dat 1d cor three years. and then escaped. I longed to hold my baby, Marie, in my arms. When I reached New Orleans the first person saw was an officer. who rearrested me and returned me to the prison walls where I was whipped and maltreated be- yond endurance. You see. the man whom I killed was a kinsman or the warden attempted to report his cruelty to the municatins with the outside. Three years elapsed, when I again made my escape. This time I was more fortunate. l reach ed the city without being discovered, found my daughter and came to this ter ritory, where I have since resided with none other for company than Marie. Buried under this house is enough gold to make my daughter comfortable the balance of her life, and l want you to see that she comes into possession of it.
 You wonder why I hate the monster you call your God? I have prayed: Lord of Justice and Suffering. have pity on me: On, most TDeTtlIul gran tHdt may be well and strong again. If need be- now take my life, but. God of our fathers. spare me these pains But in- stead of answering He visited me with more agony He has filled my cup with the bitterest draughts."
 Quietly the door opened and Marie came in. A low sob broke from the girf heart, and in another moment she fell night the old man lay in a state of semi- unconsciousness: As the first gray streaks came through the pine needles from the east, Hinton saw that the suf- ferer had but short time to live. Hast fly he went to his room and returned with a New Testament. a gift from his sister
 Let us pray for him." said Hinton to the girl. They both knelt down. The Bible was opened and Hinton turned to the book of St. John, Chapter vx.
 Hinton read on until he came to those words so full of strength-when Jesus summoned the weak and distressed. say ing unto them: If the world hate you, know that it hated me before you" Sud- denly the mans eyes opened and two large. round tears rolled down his worn cheeks.
 The dying man made a feeble effort to lift his hands but they fell back inert. Then in weak but clear voice he mur- mured: For the sake of your suffering. o Lord, pardon me-
 The dying mans gaze turned, his lips moved, and in a low. almost inaudible  good little doggie. never curse God any more.'
 At the sound of the mans voice, the animal with a sad yell. rushed to the hand which. now rigid. hung out of the bed: but this was already cold, the eyes were closed, a low rattle came from the mouth, the body grew stiff and the man who had endured so much had ceased to suffer. No sooner had death claim d his master than the awful stiffness was broken hy the cries of the dog. In vain did the living attempt to pacify him that, never having received from his master an order like the last one. did not understand and was faithfully doing what had so long been his duty. He parked and yell cd furiously, returned to the bed. jumped on the frozen hands to receive the usual caress. But the master remained unre- sponsive, the hand hung lifeless and the dog. panting and hoarse. went back to the threshold with renewed zeal to send forth its maledictions to Heaven.
 Presently Hinton reverently covered the