Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-01-13

.She has been with me always. 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-"
NO, no.. she cried. with sudden
vehemence, mot BOTH
She was a woman now with all
woman's love, with all woman's weak
ness, while he was growing stronger
with every moment. drinking the wine
of memory.
Zone loved her. l know" he said;
''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 a storm. He seemed to par
take of her intensity, and continued,
speaking rapidly.
''The story shall be finished. We
used to take long walks-we two
through shady lanes, by running
brooks. in which the long lush
grasses trailed their shining blades
used 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 under
stand. But there was a secret that /
learned, and after that the world was
desolate."
Her face was buried in the pillow,
his cheek pressed against his. She
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.
Zone day." he cried. with a ring of
bitterness in his voice, 81 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
l 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 with you l sat all night with that
awful heritage in my hand. Over all
there spread an inky cloud and on it
written in letters of blood | read the
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
went so that 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 not look up nor 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 to
feel its influence and continues:
81 tried with all my strength to
Danish that horror from my mind
Sometimes thought had succeeded
but a chance word would bring it back
again. At last felt the prophecy was
to be fulfilled and / sent you a letter
telling you I know not what, and
them"
"And then we came to find you; our
cousin Claude and I. as we could only
COME in the flesh, he in the spirit, for
he had died with confession on his
lips and prayer for your forgiveness"
"Forgiveness?"
eyes. Jack, for he had most cruelty
wronged you. The letter you read was
not written by your father. but by your
cousin. You can guess why he did it,
Jack. 1t was wicked, cruel, but he suf-
fered-''
Jack raised his hand and put tremb-
ling finger to her lips. The shifting
light was gone from his eyes, and in its
place was the peaceful. happy glow of
trusting contentment.
Say no more of him." he said gently.
"Teu me of yourself"
She turned her face aside. but he
could see the rich blood leap up her
throat and turn her cheeks to crimson.
"The old place was not the same after
you went away, Jack. We talked of lit
tie else but your strange disappear
ance. Then Claude fell sick. and when
he knew he could not live he told us of
the deceit and pleaded to be forgiven.
Then we waited for some word that
would guide us to you and lift from your
mind that awful shadow. At last your
letter came, so filled with wild forebod-
ings that resolved to find you. Provi-
dence was my guide. but oh, Jack!"
O. = II