Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-21
CHAPTER VI.

!
CHAPTER VI.
/ A darkcned room. through the par+ v.
| open window of which the r.oises of The
/ street came subdued and muiled. OWING
/ to the tan that was laid down outside,
a White capped nurse sitting by the side
OF the bed, and on it stretched a quiet
| hgure, its head cnveloped in bandapes.
Such was the scene which had witnessed
three weeks hand to hand struggle
with death. during which Hugh Beverley
hatt gone well-nigh down into the VALLEY
or the shadow and was even now slow
~ but surely reaching convalcsccnce.
Burnt, bruised, almost asphyxiated.
with slight conclusion of the brain from
his fall, it had seemed almost q miracle
that he had not died that day when he
had been brought down to the excited
crowd below, who were waiting to re-
ceive him with frantic enthusiasm.
But the King OF Tenols had had that
starchest of all opponents-youth-t
9rapple with, and it had won the dav.
and now the young man. weak and. i'll
though ne still was, was gaining strength.
lie had been taken to his own lodgings
and a nurse procured for MIN.
This afternoon he was stronger than
usual, and the nurse was presently
aroused from the book she was perusing
by the sound Of his voice, with a stronger
ring in it than it had had before
You say Mr.. Boale is better?" he sid.
rs he able to go out yetf"
Yes, be has been here twice to inquire
for you; his Injury turned out to be
much less serious than the doctor sup
posed. He is anxious to see you when
you are strong enough"
81 am strong enough now"
81 dent think so; but in two or three
days time, if you continue to progress
tavorably, there is no reason why he
should not come"
1t was five days, however, before per
mission was given; by that time Huch's
injured eyes we're better able to bear the
light, and Mr.. Bcale was allowed to in
terview him.
Hugh listened anxiously as the time
drew near for the sound of the familiar
tread upon the stairs, but when he did
hear it, for the moment he did not rec
ognize it. Then the door opened, ara
Mr. Beale came in.
He crossed tho room in silence to the
lads side; illness had altered and soft
ened the man, and to anyone whose
heart was not of stone the contrast be.
tween the bright, strong looking young
man of old, and this pale-faced, fragile
invalid. was pathetic enough.
lie stood beside the bed for a moment,
and Hugh looked upat him with faint
smile.
81 am glad to see you are better, sir"
he said.
Perhaps it would have been as WELL"
Mr. Beale said, gloomily, ''to have let me
die there, Hugh; you have brought back
TO life man who has no right to it
who has abused his privileges in every
way. My boy, it was your deadliest
enemy that you rescued so nobly that
day"
Wont you sit down, sir?" was Huch's
only answer. for he saw that the man
was shaking like leaf, and great
wave of compassion for him surged UP
in his heart.
The hop merchant seated himself in the
chair beside the bed and covered his eyes
with his hand
Hugh, are you strong enough to listen
to what | have to say!'
Il think so; but please don't distress
yourself by telling me what you would
rather not. / can guess some of it, and
don't want TO know the rest"
But it is right YOU should know. and
it is the only thing | can do in repara-
ton"
There was another long silence Hugh
looking at the outline Of his guardians
face, as it was partly turned away from
him, was painfully conscious of the
change in it, of the look of age it wore
and the deep lines that trouble and re-
morse had carved round the once genial
mouth.
Hugh" he began at last, from what
YOU say, you have already suspected that
| have played a dishonest trick on you
those suspicious were correct. / purpose
~ encouraged Your quickness at initial
ing writing, because [ could see that by
means of it, it would be possible to get
you into my power, and to place you in
such a position that YOU would be bound
to consider my wishes. I never forgot.
as of course it was not likely | should
do, the incident of the signing of the
promis ;ory note But no one but myself
can ever know what | suffered"
Hugh stretched out Il feeble hand and
laid it on his arm.
Don't 90 on, sir" he whispered;
please DON'T
Il must; you know the facts now; you
know how basely l used you, but you
don't know the motive. Hugh, / am
ruined man. You, in common with all
the Mordstone people. have thought me
rich So I might have been, so / once
was; but the curse that has blighted
thousands of lives, and viii continue to
90 so, suppose, as long as the world
lasts, was on me. / am a gambler, my
bov, one Of those miserable wretches who
viii throw away all the good things Of