Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-15

back awhile with closed eyes. He waited
reveran.lJ, such an awe has even the ante
chamber OF death. Then he motioned John
and he came near.
81 Observation-Disclosures he said
in a hurried s~taccato voice. Lift my pill
low-no-not you! Let Rupert's wife do it.
She loved him-you hated him. What she
has done of good or i'll was for his sake
II I have sinned, it was for his sake-his
sake"
So, unjust TO John and hating him to the
last, the old laird would not permit the
best son in the world to lay so much as a
finger on him in the day Of his mortal
sickness, and indeed made no attempt to
conceal his distaste at his mere approach.
Well, l could make that up to him-and
l would.
Very gently Kate adjusted the pillows.
If l had had to do it, living or dying l
would-but L am told that l must not say
what I would have done, and II is true
that it does not come into the story. Yet
how can one help ones feelings at the
sight Of Injustice, wherever one sees It?
There never was a son like John, and /,
who know him so we'll, will maintain 1t.
81 have not much to say" Gregory Glen
donwyn continued, clearly and feebly, NOR
yet as l think a great while to say It in.
/ have arranged that the money belonging
to my ~wife-which was left to my son John,
and which l ought never to have used as |
did to pay my son Rupert's debts, shall be
refunded to him year by year, principal
and interest, as the estates will allow of It,
My son knows of the forgery and malyersa-
tion Of trust which was committed on that
occasion, and therefore shares with Mr.. In
gals here and Mr.. Fiscal McCrosty the
criminality of compromising a felony! I am
going where Letters Criminal do not run,
and In a few hours l shall be safe under the
Greatest of all statutes Of limitations. And,
indeed. a greater penalty hath been exc
cuted upon me for my sins. told you and
DR.. Warner told you that I have gotten a
stroke. 1t is a true word! Behold it, gen.
tlemen!"
And with a quick movement OF the hand
Gregory Glendonwyn threw aside the brown
dressing gown and shove a bandage stained
with red, drawn tightly across his left
breast.
The same movement revealed under the
c~overlet two small swords, one Of which
was stained with blood six inches from the
point.
The two lawyers started to their feet
and came hurriedly forward. John Glen
donwyn cried out a loud, sudden word and
leaped to the door. But his father called
him back.
Nay" he said. do not go. You heard
what / promised to DR.. Warner. Bear him
WITHSTAND me. What / have said is the
truth. But stRy-take the babe away. He
troubles mel"
Kate snatched her Babe Rupert to her
bosom.
None shall ask me twice to take my child
away" she was beginning Indignantly, but
Veronica took her gently by the arm and
led her out, throwing a glance back at me
which said, Stay where you are-I will
take care Of her!"
AS soon as the door was shut Mr.. Glen
donwyn took up his tale.
ITO be brief, l quarreled with DR. War
ner about my son, Rupert. He had been
his companion abroad, and desired to trade
upon certain knowledge he possessed in
order TO blackmail me. ] struck him in
the face fof something that he said about
my son, and the tablet which ! had put up
TO his memory. He would have gone away,
but being angry, / challenged him TO tight,
giving him his choice OF sword or pistol.
We fought in this room. And at the, second
engage he ran through the lung. II Is
bleeding inwardly, he says, and / cannot
live. The doctor from Kilgour will be
here in an hour-Dr. Arbuthnot, from
Drumfern. in the morning. Warner was
to send them on as he passed through.
He viii keep his word. l know, as I did
mine to him.
He lay a good while mOtiOnlsss, breath