The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-04-24

True, Jack; see how you are help
| ing me with the story On one side
| of the gate grew lilac that bloomed
early and gave to spring its sweetest
fragrance; on the other side a lofty
pine"
The blackbirds sang in its branches
all day long"
| He said this SO quietly and with such
seeming faith in his recollection that
even she, who was striving with all
her strength for this result, was
startled. Then hope leaped in her
| heart; her eyes shone with renewed
light and the warm blood stirred and
kindled in her bosom.
There was spring at the foot of
the SLOPE" he continued.
Eyes, yes"
| "And just above it grew a pollard
willow"
| The nervous strident quaver had
| gone from his voice and he spoke with
the calm assurance of one who is NOV
ing over familiar ground.
1T was pretty place, Jack" she
| forced herself to say, land there were
some who used to run up and down
the path trying to count the jewels"
| Three" he said confidently; 1.-TWO
boys and a girl. One of the boys was
slight, with hair like gold and great
blue eyes that seemed always to look
| beyond the hills into another world.
The other was sturdy Lad with thick.
dark hair that fell in wavy masses
round his sun-burned face. They
called him Jack"
True. true; go on. The third,
| the girl-can you remember what she
was like, Jack?"
They seemed to have changed places,
| the brain-sick man and the brave,
| patient woman, for she was now all
| agitation while he was cool and self
| possessed. She used all her strength
! to appear calm, lest he should notice
| her excitement and lose himself again.
She must Mad him on.
The other, Jack, the girl-have you
| forgotten here"
II have never forgotten her." he
said, the light in his eyes softening.
She has been with me always. She
was neither dark nor fair, but halted
Just between the two, as though I'M
certain which became her most. She
was the constant playmate of the boys
and gave her favors to both alike. The
three were cousins, but she was loved
by both with more than cousins love-"
How she twined herself about their
hearts, he unused. Both loved her,
l am sure"
NO, no." she cried with sudden
yebempncp "nOt h0th
Zone loved her, 1 know, and Jack
was"
WAS YOU" she prompted; you.
And the girl"
"Was you"
Eyes, yes; but let US go on with the
story" She was trembling Like Leaf
in storm.
1.-The story shall be finished" he said.
eve used to take long walks-we
two--through shady lanes. by running
brooks, in which the long lush grasses
trailed their shining blades-use ed to
sit for hours under trees that clasped
| leafy hands above us and whispered
secrets we tried so hard to catch, but
| could never quite understand. But
there was a secret that learned and
after that the world was desolate."
Her face was buried in the pillow.
| her cheek pressed against his. She was
so still she did not seem to breathe.
| The .Vrning point in the trial had
come. His reason hung upon the next
word he might utter
"Onc day." he cried, with the ring OF
| bitterness in his voice, II came across
letter hidden among some old papers.
It was addressed to me in the hand.
writing of my dead father. 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 the third generation since the APP
! pearance of the curse and are fated tc
be the victim. 1t has been so for hun
dreds of years. 1 have sinned beyond
forgiveness in bringing you into the
world to suffer. Do not follow in my
footsteps. Harden your heart; take no
woman to wife, that the race may die
out with you. 1 sat all night with that
awful heritage in my hand. What
! thoughts 1 had, what horrors l suf
| fered, no one will ever know. In the
morning I fed, down from the old
home-out. out into the world of which
knew SO little, caring nothing whittier
l went so that L might forget.
worked that 1 might not think, and
lived on, but ever before my eyes hung
| that awful word"
Her arm crept lovingly around his
neck, but she did not look up nor
speak.
Il tried with al! my strength to ban
ish that horror from my mind. Some
times 1 thought I had succeeded, but
4 chance word would bring it back
again. At last 1 felt the prophecy was
to be fulfilled. and 1 sent you letter
L i LIZ,