Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-10-15
Curse . Darlington
J BY X TEMPLE MOORE.

By X. TEMPLE MOORE.

1C6i0 dEO. AnOrG bnlEC 4EdiC 4 NdA~
not reveal, though this | will say
they were stained by no crime OF my
committing
And she answered me:
love, ! would not know II I could
Let me prove how wholly / trust you,
$50 we were married; and one year
after, you were born. For a time I
thought that gaining my daughter I
had lost my wife, so i'll was Margaret.
But at last, by slow degrees, shG be-
gan to improve.
One night, hurrying homeward.
hopeful and joyful, I met In the surg
ing crowd my old Partisan roommate,
face to face. had barely time to note
the strange triumph in his eyes, the
exultant smile on his lips, when he
had dashed by me and was lost in the
busy street.
II went home, chilled with a strange
forboding. My wife was awaiting me.
Standing erect in the little room, her
eyes ahlaze, her cheeks aflame with
excitement, she held an open letter
above her head.
"She held 1t out to me as ! entered,
with a look In her eyes which will
haunt me dead. She did not speak q
word. | took 1t. l read it. 1t was
the story of the three lost years Of my
life. 1t was a minute and most hor-
rible account OF the theft, the trial, the
galleys. 1t was signed, boldly and
legibly. with the old, familiar name.
Besides. I knew the writing. 1t was
that OF the friend of my youth.
When / had finished reading 1t I
looked UP at Margaret. Whether 1t
was the prolonged strain of suspense,
or something she read in my face, l
know not, but the feverish light faded
from her eyes. the bright flush from her
cheek, and she reeled and fell like a
log at my feet"
WELL" Laurie gasped-well?"
There is no more to tell. The ex-
element brought on fever-fever,
DEATH"
The clock on the mantel tolled. sill
very, ten.
ut killed her. papa9"
AYE, it killed her!"
The night wind stole in, soothing
the sick man with his touch-cool,
caressing, infinitely refreshing, till he
fell into light sleep.
The night vas passed. A chill wind
swept by the window. A cold gray
ness crept into the air. The light of
morning vas deepening In the East
when Laurence Isle woke from his
restless slumber.
He started up in bed with strange
fierce. restless energy. And you knew
his trouble had been with him In his
dreams-so quickly. SO impulsively
he spoke.
IA life ruined he oried-"bIasted
and ruinedi A fair life-a goodly life
blasted and ruinedl And all be-
cause OF one boy-ah, no, no, one
man. He is a man now. All because
OF him. He sent me to the galleys!
He murdered my aife, my darling!
He murders the future of my child.
Revengel Reyenge!"
His daughter flung herself on her
knees beside the bed.
NO." she pleaded. vengeance is
Gods. MOI"
But life was strong in him; the
flame was fiaring luridly before it went
ont forever.
Swear" he cried, pa~ssionately, his
voice ringing and ~resolute and hor-
ridly distinct in the solemn dawn.
Swear! Swear IL ever he should cross
your path to deal to him, as far as is
in your power, the merciless rigor OF
the old Mosaic Iaw--'an v for an
eye, a tooth for a tooth!' Sweari"
He Is delirious; his mind is wan.
dering." the girl murmured, p~iteously.
looking up at the doctor. who had just
entered.
He shook his head grayely.
No" ne answered, he is quite con
scious."
Swear" repeated a hollow voice.
with passionate vehemence.
Slowly Laurie rose to her feet. She
was shuddering sharply like one
chilled to the heart. She had not talk
en- time to change her dress. she still
wore the soft white lawn. with its gay.
r~ose-colored RIBBONS. d had donned
the previous morning.
"Ob, / cannoti" she murmured. faint
ly. 1T is too dreadful cannot"
A dark flush, born Of Irritation.
surged over her fathers face.
The physician started forward in
alarm.
you are Fastening the end by this
contradiction he cried impatiently.
You may meet the person Of
whom he speaks. Promise-gratify
him! 1t is his last request!"
His last request! And how he had
loved her! How he lad w~orshiped and
adored her every word and look and
action since she wss q wee, motherless
child. And this was his last request,
and she-yes, she would grant 1t.
What was this man to her that she
should spare him7 this man who had
wrought her such bitter. such irrepar-
able wrong?
The imploring lips were growing
~fofd. thn ufoff,l h.n-~.x 49, 80.