Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-12-10

was so still she did not seem to
breathe. The turning point in the
trial had come. His reason hung up
on the next word he might utter. She
could do nothing but pray.
"0ne day." he cried, with a ring of
bitterness in his voice, Il came across
a letter hidden among some old pa
pers. 1t was addressed to me in the
handwriting of my father. l
broke the seal and read the awful
words: God pity you, my son. Take
no woman to wife. Madness is in your
blood. You are of the third genera
ton. since the appearance of the
curse, and are fated to be the victim.
1t has been so for hundreds of years.
I have sinned beyond forgiveness in
bringing you into the world to suffer.
Do not follow in my footsteps,
Harden your heart; take nc
woman to wife, that the race may
die with you sat all night with that
awful heritage in my hand. Over all
there spread an inky cloud and on il
written in letters of blood 1 read tbs
one word. Madness Down the road
| fled, down from the dear old home
out, out into the world of which ]
knew so little, caring nothing whittier
I went so that l might forget. worked
that I might not think, and lived on,
but ever before my eyes hung that aw-
full word" ,
Her arm crept lovingly around his
neck, but she did notlook upnor speak.
She did not dare disturb the thread OF
his recollection, and yet she feared to
have him go on. She prayed with that
intensity of soul which Is the offspring
of hope and despair. Her petition was
like the worship of a flower, unheard
but all-pervading. The man seemed te
feel its influence and continued:
81 tried with all my strength t.
Danish that horror from my mind
Sometimes l thought I had succeeded,
but a chance word would bring it back
again. At last | felt the prophecy was
ito be fulfilled and I sent you a letter
telling you 1 know not what, and
them"
"And then we came to find you; our
cousin Claude and |, as We could only
GOMEZ in the flesh, he in the spirit, for
he had died with a confession on his
lips and a prayer for your forgiveness"
"Forgiveness"
twas TooIy far bo LoJ r,nc+ orJ,a11N
wronged you. The letter you read was
not written by your father, but by you.
cousin. You can guess why he did it,
Jack. 1t was wicked, cruel, but he suf'
fered-"
Jack raised his hand and put a tremb,
ling finger to her lips. The shifting
light was gone from his eyes, and in ita
place was the peaceful, happy glow OF
trusting contentment.
B "Say no more of him,"he said gently
"Tell me of yourself"
She turned her face aside, but h,
could see the rich blood leap up hcI
throat and turn her cheeks 10 crimson
"The old place was not the same afte,
| you went away, Jack. We talked of lit
tie else but your strange disappear
ance. Then Claude fell sick, and When
5 he knew he could not live he told us OF
the deceit and pleaded to be forgiven
| Then we waited for some word tina,
| would guide us to you and lift from YOU
mind that awful shadow. At last YOU
letter came, so filled with wild forebod
ings that I resolved to find you. Provi
dence was my guide, but oh, Jack!"
I She buried her blushing face in tn
pillow close to his own pale cheek, ant
wept tears of love and thankfulness
! The bells in the steeple rang out tn
hour of ~, and it was Christmas morn
, ing.