The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-16
CHAPTER xIII-(continued.,

sAother'' Spillman! In that one frighten
Cd glance Olivia had made that discovery
But how was she to get this determined
old woman. this avowed lunatic, away
from her fathers bedside quietly? Petri'
ned by fear heiplessly casting about for
q plan OF action that would not react
upon her beloved patient, the girl shiver-
ed with renewed terror as Mother" Spill
man. In a low voice. made intense by the
concentrated passion of purpose. entered
upon her awful arraignment:
"You are i'll. Horace Matthews. III unto
death perhaps, | have been biding my
time. Before another night passes over
your head you may stand in the presence
OF your Maker and your Judge. What will
you answer when he asks you how the or
phan has Jared at your hands. how the
son of the man who loved and trusted you
far beyond your deserts had been treat
ed? Why has Rufus Broxton's son waNed
poor and you rich, Horace Matthews?
You know me. oh, | see that you do,
for all you are staring at me as u you
saw specter. You've looked at me many
Q time that way. Horace, when I've
caught you at some Of your vicious boy
tricks long ago. And know you through
and through. I laughed when l heard OF
your books and papers being burnt up
That was one Of your old tricks. You
burnt up a composition book when you
were a boy when your theft or an essay
was threatened with discovery. You burnt
UP your philosophy 10 escape an extra
hard task. 1t has been silly but VI
cious practice OF yours ever since you
were 10 years old. II served you In good
stead when vouchers that did not exist
were TO be produced.
But did not come here 10 rail at
you for bygones. | came here TO plead the
cause OF the orphan son Of the best friend |
you ever had. As you hope for Forgive
ness hereafter. Horace Matthews, make |
such restitution as is possible TO that |
Door boy You have ruined him. and you |
know IL. The money you have piled up |
: for your girl will never do her any good /
neverl
you have bedecked her with stolen /
Jewels and you know Ii. You fastened
Lucetta Broxtons pearl necklace about
her pure young neck the night she was
Is years Old just the age at which poor
Lucretta died. tt rs wonder tt did net
scorch the child's flesh.
You see ! am old. but | do not forget |
my friends. They call me crazy. My own
girl has Joined In the cry against me. But
have mind enough left TO remember the
things that are worth remembering. l re-
member the love and gratitude ] owe TO
every member OF the Broxton family. /
/
in you was not to be shaken. You lost
some papers the night his father died.
You did not make very thorough
search for them. think you preferred to
have them lost. But they were found and
brought to me- The Lord put them as
weapon I'm my hand. / read them, and
hid them.
II meant to give them to Thomas
when he should come Of age and your
control Of him cease. But l lost them.
] think l know how, but l can't say
where. You see my poor head plays
me tricks sometimes. 1t is not as ser
viceablc as II was when you were a boy.
Horace.
I'm the envelope you lost there was
an unfinished letter from Rufus Brox-
ton to his son. i went up TO the house
at night to give it to him. He was
asleep poor laddie and l twisted II about
some flowers that l had laid over his
fathers picture as my poor tribute of
love
You see, l wanted him to have that
letter but I did not want you TO know
about IL. for then you would know where
the other papers were. So l resorted TO
q clumsy trick to make him believe there
was something supernatural about his
getting the letter. and then l knew he
would hold his tongue. Some time or
other Tom and / will have a good laugh |
about the Broxton ghost.
Il carried all the papers with me when
went up TO the hall | was afraid to
leave them behind was afraid NAL
vina would get hold OF them and give |
them to you. Malvina is on your side.
SO had TO be sly. oh, so sly. Horace. |
But / lost the papers. They are lost.
lost. lost.
Il see the gleam Of triumph in your
glazing eyes. Horace. But | know the |
papers sll by heart. I VIII tell II all In |
open court some day IL the dear Lord will |
only leave me here until Thomas comes |
back. l will swear that you could not |
give title to Broxton hall, and then
Thomas can get II back. But, OH. grow |
SO weak. and Thomas tarries so long!
II don't want to go before Thomas
comes. may die tonight. ! may die
tomorrow I've used my last strength |
TO drag myself to your bedside. lie who /
forgave the dying thief upon the cross
can forgive you. too. and lie will Horace. |
II you will only make restitution 10 that
poor boy. He is God Of mercy. in whose
name / make this appeal"
Gasping one coming out OF deep
waters does. Olivia threw herself upon
the bed and stretched sheltering arms
about the sick man.
Father. father, forgive me, ought
20 have protected YOU better | was so
frightened could neither move nor
speak. II is just poor old crazy Mother
spilman. ! shall call Reuben 10 take her
home"
He was breathing stertorously Ills
eyes wae fixed on the stern white face
OF his accuser. Terror was legibly in
scribed on every line Of his pallid face
He looked beyond Olivia. as II her loving
voice had not reached him. II reached
the old woman. who gave start OF sur
prise and said In gcntler tones than she
had yet used:
II am sorry you were close by. child
but l had a duty TO perform. IL could
not be put of any longer"