Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-13
CHAPTER w.
Tragedy!

ment enjoying the deep beauty of the even
Ing. The air was still and clear ana
over the bay hung one star sparkling in a
sapphire sky.
Idris, seated with her. had eyes for MOTH
ing but the yacht Nemesis. which still lay
out in the offing, rising and falling with
the motion of the tide, and showing tiny
light at the stern.
Look, mother!'' he cried suddenly.
''They are putting out a boat"
BY the faint starlight they could see In
the boat seven men, one of whom steered
while the rest rowed Their garb was that
of ordinary French seamen, but Mrs
Breakspear noticed with surprise that each
was armed with cutlass and pistol.
why are they not coming to the har,
bor?" asked Idris. question which found
an echo in his mothers mind.
The boat glided smoothly on, and finally
vanished behind the cliffs to the east OF
town.
ing them?" said Idris. HE said that the
men in the yacht were smugglers and that
they would come ashore this evening. And
sure enough they've come
IF the men in that boat are smugglers
don't you think. Idle that they would wait
till it is much darker?"
Idris was forced to admit the reasonable
ness of this remark
Why they are all wearing swords?
Perhaps they are Vikings, after all?" he
went on, 10th to believe that such heroes
had vanished from the earth.
His mother shook her head in mild pro-
test, not knowing that there was good
deal of latter-day Vikingism in the enter
prise that was taking these seven men
ashore.
Now as Mrs. Breakspear sat in the silence
and solemnity or the deepening twilight she
became subject to feeling the like of
which she had never before experienced.
A vague awe, a presentiment of coming Ill,
stole over her. and, yielding to its influence.
she resolved before it should be too late,
to carry out a purpose she had long had in
mind.
Idle" she said, closing the easement and
moving to the fireplace, come and sit here.
I have something to tell you
Wondering much a her grave manner the
little fellow obeyed.
Idle she began, you have been taught
to believe that your father died when you
were an infant I have told you this, think
ing it right that you should know nothing
of his sad history. But, sooner or later
you are sure to hear 1t from others; told
too, in way that l would not have you
believe. Therefore ii is better that you
should hear the story from me; and remem-
guidance in all future years; and If men
should speak Ill of your father, do not be-
lieve them, for who should know him better
than l. his wife?'
q W
to this sort Of language, made no reply.
Idle your father is not dead"
ldris' eyes became big with wonder.
Then why doesn't he live with us?" he
asked.
Because" replied his mother, sinking
her voice to a whisper, because he is in
prison."
AS prison is a place usually associate
with crime ldris naturally received shock
which his mother was not slow to perceive.
Idle, you know something Of history
and therefore you know that many a good
man has found himself in prison before
today
'Oh. yes; there was Sir Walter Raleigh.
and that Earl of Surrey, who was a poet;
and-and-I can't think of any more at
present, but can find them In the book"
:. well your father. like many others in
What do they say he did?"
They say" replied his mother, once more
sinking her voice to whisper. they say
he committed murder. But he did not;
he did not; he did not. l have his word
that he is innocent. l will set his word
against all the rest of the world"
How long is he to remain in PRISON."
He is never to come out" replied Mrs.
Breakspear; and, unable to control her
emotion, she burst into fit of sobbing
ldris. touched by the sight of his mothers
grler, began to cry also. Now for the first
tlme ne understood why his mother so often
Wept In secret. How could men be SO cruel
as to take his father away from her and
10 smut him up in prison for crime he
had not committed?
Why didn't they put him under the
gulllotine?' he asked, when his fit of crv
ing was over 80
A natural question, but one that caused
his mother to SILVER
10 not use that awful word" she said.
ta ne was condemned to death. but the SEN
fence was afterward changed"
certain past events were now seen nv
ldrls In new light ~
=. mother, know in what prison father H.
II Is the one on the moorIaud over there -
his hand ''e''oii Win
You are right. Idle; and now you know
why I'VE at Quilaix. 1t is that / may be
indeed l may use the word happy in sneaL.
Ing OF myself-than In any other place, T
nave a beautiful house at Nantes. hnt T
cannot I'VE there In ease and luxury while
your father Is deprived OF everything that
makes life bright. Now listen, Idle. for Il
am going to require OF you a solemn nrom
Use. since your father did not commit the
murder 1t is certain that some one else did
l want you to find that man.
Il, mOther?'
or course l do not mean now In after
years. When you are a man."
dead?" '0 oo
you must find him, living or dead. n
living you must bring him to Justice: r.
dead, you must show to the world that
youi otHei was SuHtl6SS OF the deed. He
himself confined as he Is within prison
walls, can do nothing to establish his limo
cenee, and as for me 1 have the feeling
that l shall not live long. Grief is short.
ening my days. TO you, then, 1 leave this
task; to 1t you must devote your whole
NE You Will be spared the necessity Of
having to earn your living, since you are
well provided for. But though health,
strength and fortune be yours, YOU will And
these advantages embittered by the con.
slant thought. Men think me the son of a
murderer! win you let the world do Won
this Injustice? VIII you not try to clear
your fathers memory? Will you not ever
bear In mind your mothers dearest wish?''
Moved by her earnestness Idris gave the
required promise, consoling himself over
the present difficulty of the problem by the
thought that 1t would perhaps seem ca sier
in the days to come.
You have not forgotten the story we
read the other day." continued his mother.
of the great Hannibal; how when he was
a boy, his father, leading him to the altar.
made him swear to be the lifelong enemy
OF Rome! You. too, must make a simila r
oath. Bring me the Bible
Idris brought it, and at his mothers
command laid his hand upon a page of the
open book. and repeated after her the fol-
lowing words: -o
Il swear on reaching manhood to do nv
Tor,