The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-06-11
CHAPTER XXVyI.

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 10
safe quarters. Edward Peterson was
too Ill to be removed at present-indeed,
of late days the police had not been vigi-
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 I'M
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. 1t was Mary Hol-
land. pale and thin, who faced him on
the landing place.
'Ycu have found me at last, then p
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.
"Y0u know that we have been search
Ing for you-advertisIng for you?" said
Reuben.
Eyes: but l did not care to answer
yet" she replied.
"You are attending upon Edward Pc
tcrson?"
"My husband-yes."
"Your husband" repeated Reuben
slowly.
HE is wholly friendless now-he is
terribly alone-and at the last have
found the courage to do my duty" he
said.
'''Then the little girl-Tots-"
us mine. 1t was his promise that I
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.
lie swore it-and / knew how desperate
man he was, years ago." she added
sadly. "When he first came to Sedge
Hill l wrote, warning you Of dnnger-
but not knowing what the danger was
which threatened Sarah Eastbell."
II see" murmured Reuben Culwick.
Il was a woman in the tolls, and knew
not what to do" she continued. "When
Sarah had disappeared, he said she
should return in safety to Sedge Hill If
l would keep my peace-and was fore
ed to trust him. All, sir! do not blame
me too harshly-it was my child's life,
my child's happiness against Sarh East
bells, and acted like q mother, in the
one hope Of clasping her to nv heart
could not have brought your cousin
back had l owned that man for nv bus
band-I was in the dark with you--and
my little Bessie lived"
"And you love this manT'
She answered: He killed nv love
years ago. l do my duty In calm an
athy, that is all. Years ago he was my
hero. He was honest then, and l was
very young" she said. 1--WE were mar
&N~S 0SNAStAS" " ACkA AS grew ElEGU
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 found at Observation-Disclosures
your mother always doubted me. / tried
hard to live apart from the past, when
l believed my little girl was dead, but
It all came back last autumn. This"
she added, almost bitterly, 'is a 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 Peterson p
II dared not tell him. l was very moor
Il was alone in the world, without
friend, and he had confidence In me, spd
liked me for my dead fathers sake.
Would he have wished you to marry me
had he dreamed Of thisr' she added,
with an impressive gesture toward the
door OF the sick room.
why did he wish this marriage I"
said Reuben. ~ = d..
He told me on the day he died that
he had ruined my tathsr-decelvsd him