The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-07-28
Entering the
forbiddins portal


air in his anxiety to concentrate all
his attention on his answer.
Il am a man of few sentimental
ties" he coldly averred. II have loved
but one person in my whole life. Why,
then, should | be expected to mourn
over niece who did not care enough
for me to invite me to her wedding?
1t would be an affectation unworthy
the man who has at last come to ill
his rightful position in this community
as the owner of the great Moore cs-
tate. For great il shall be- he EN-
phatically continued in three years
you will not know the house over yOn-
der. Despite its fancicd ghosts and
death dealing fireplace, it will stand
Al in Washington. !, David Moore.
promise you this. and | am not man
10 utter fatuous prophecies. But
must be missed over there
Here he gave the maStff the long de-
layed kick. "Rudge, stay here! The
vestibule opposite is icy. Besides, your
hOwls are not wanted in those old
walls tonight even if you would go
with me, which doubt. He has never
been willing to cross TO that side of
the street" the old gentleman went on
10 complain. with his first show of ir'
ritatlon. But he'll have 10 overcome
that prejudice soon. even If | have to
tear up the old hearthstone and recon
struct the walls. can't live without
Rudge. and | will not live in another
place than In the old home of my an
cestors."
was by this time following him out
"You have failed TO answer the sug
gestion | made you a minute since"
haZarded. "Will you pardon me If |
put IL now as question? Your niece,
Mrs. Jeffrey, seemed TO have every
thing in the world TO make her happy,
yet she took her life. Was there Il
faint OF insanity in her blood, or was
her nature so impulsiye that her aston
ishng death in so revolving place
should awaken in you 80 little won
derf'
A CLEAN Of what had made him more
or less feared by the very urchins who
dogged his steps and made sport of
him at q respectful distance shot from
his eye as be glOwcred back at me
from the open door. But he hastily
suppressed this sign of displeasure and
replied with the falntest tlnge OF sar
casn:
"TLcre. You are expecting from me
feelings which belong 10 youth or 10
men Of much more heart than under
standing. ! tell you that have no
feelings. Ny niece may have developed
insanity or she may simply have drunk
her cup OF pleasure dry at twenty-five
and come to its drcgs prematurely.
do not know and do not care. What
concerns me is that the responsibility
OF large fortune has fallen upon me
most unexpectedly and that | have
pride enough TO wish to show myself
capable OF sustaining the burden. Be
sides, they may be tempted TO do some
mischief 70 the walls or floors over
there The police respect no mans
property. But am determined they
shall respect mine. No rippings Up ol
tearings down will | alloT unless
stand by TO supervise the job. an
master OF the old homestead now and
mean to snow it, Aud with las
glance at the dog who uttered ths
most mournful of protests In reply, bs
shut the front door ana betook himself
to the other side OF the street.
As noticed Ills assured bearing ~
he disappeared within the forbiddinl
portal which. according to his owl
story. had for so long time been shu
against him, asked myself II the can
die which ! had noticed lying on his
mantelshelf was OF the same make
and sizs as those ! had found in my
late Investigations in the house ne wal
then entering.