Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-05-13
CHAPTER XVII.

Reuben Culwick was in the loyal city
early the next day. The cathedral bells
were ringing when he was searching in
Mitcheson's place for Edward Peterson.
The man who had leaped from the top
window Of the button factory and broken
both his legs was not difficult to find
the inhabitants Of Mitcheson's place
knew all about him, who he was and
where he was, and the country police had
been watching for his convalescence for
weeks past, in order to conduct him to
safe quarters. Edward Peterson was
too ill to be removed at present-ind.ed,
of late days the police had not been vigil
liant, turn for the worse having taken
place in the sick mans condition, and it
being tolerably certain that he was drift
ing from the laws of his country in un-
due haste.
Reuben understood the position before
he had reached the house-a policeman
on duty in the street gave him the full
est particulars. 1t was the back room
of the first floor to which he had been
directed, and where he knocked softly
for admittance. Some one crossed the
room lightly, opened the door, and looked
hard at him, with the color Pickering
family on her cheeks. It was Mary Hol-
the landing place.
"You have found me at last, thenT
she inquired.
They did not shake hands-the shadow
of the past mistrust was still between
them, and there was no getting from it
in the first moments of their meeting.
"You know that we have been search
ing for you-advertising for you" said
Reuben.
eyes; but 1 did not care to answer
get" she replied.
"You are attending upon Edward Pc
terson?
"My husband-yes"
"Your husband" repeated Reuben
slowly.
HE is wholly friendless now-he is
terribly alone-and at the last I have
found the courage to do my duty" he
said.
"Then the little girl-Tots-
"Is mine. 1t was his promise that 1
should have the child back-it was the
revelation that she lived-that kept me
silent when my suspicious might have
given a clew to the truths which per-
picked you. To have betrayed him at
that bitter hour was to kill my little girl.
He swore it-and knew how desperate
a man he was, years ago." she added,
sadly. "When he first came to Sedge
Hill 1 wrote. warning you of dhnger-
but not knowing what the danger was
which threatened Sarah Eastbell"
81 see," murmured Reuben Culwick.
81 was a woman in the tolls, and knew
not what to do" she continued. when
Sarah had disappeared, he said she
sv,
I would keep my peace-and I was fore
me too harshly-it was my child's life,
my child's happiness against Sarh East
BELLS, and I acted like a mother, in the
one hope of clasping her to my heart
I could not have brought your cousin
back had l owned that man for my bus
band-I was in the dark with you--and
my little Bessie lived"
"And you love this man?"
She answered: He killed my love
years ago. l do my duty in calm ap-
athy, that is all. Years ago he was my
hero. He was honest then, and 1 was
very young" she said. 1--WE were mar
ried secretly. When he grew tired of
me, when he went wrong, he abandoned
me without remorse, and took my child
with him, in a spirit of revenge that
nearly broke my heart. My marriage and
that child's birth were not known to the
world I found at Worcester-although
your mother always doubted me. 1 tried
hard to live apart from the past, when
1 believed my little girl was dead, but
it all came back last autumn. This"
she added, almost bitterly, sis strange
time for explanation"
II have not come for explanation-I
have no right to demand it." said Reu-
ben; 'but let me ask If my father knew
Of your marriage to Edward PetersonT'
81 dared not tell him. was very poor
Il was alone in the world, without a
friend, and he had confidence In me, aDd
liked me for my dead fathers sake.
Would he have wished you to marry me
had he dreamed Of this?" she added,
with an impressive gesture toward the
door of the sick room.
why did he wish this marriage
said Reuben.
He told me on the day he died that
he had ruined my father-dsesirsd him