Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-09-18

And that you should come to my house,
of all the houses in the parish, first, and
me not to know you! and you in this CON
dition! But you'll soon change all that;
and III make up the bed for you-and
your uncle and Miss Mary will be down
right glad to see you, Mr. David! To
think of my not knowing Mr.. David"
CHAPTER X.
1t was exactly IL o'clock Sunday morn
ing when Mr.. Leighan was suddenly
startled by mans step. He knew the
step somehow, but could not at the mo-
ment remember to whom it belonged. The
man. whoever he was, knew his way
about the place, because he came from
the back and walked straight, treading
heavily. to the room where Mr.. Leighan
was sitting and opened the door. 1t was
David coming to call upon his uncle on
his return. There was some improve
ment in his appearance. Joseph Exon
had lent him certain garments In place
Of those he had worn the day before;
the canvas trousers, for instance, had
gone, and the terrible felt hat with the
hole in the crown. His dress was now
OF nondescript and homogeneous kind,
the sailors jacket ill asserting with the
rustic corduroy trousers and waistcoat.
He threw open the door and stood con-
fronting the man whom he had last seen
dead. as he thought, killed by his own
hand. He tried to face him brazenly,
but broke down and stood before him
with hanging head and guilty eyes.
49," said Daniel Leighan, ut is Da-
vid come back again. We thought you
were dead"
"You hoped l was dead say 1t out"
said David, with a ropy voice.
Dead or alive, 1t makes no difference
to me. Stay; you were in my debt when
you went away. Have you come to set
tie that long outstanding account?"
David stepped into the room and shut
the door behind him.
You have got something to say to me
first" he said in husky voice. Have
it out now, and get 1t over. Something
you've kept dark, eh?"
What do you meanT
Outside they knew nothing about It.
That was well done. No occasion to
make a family scandal-and me gone
away and all-was there? Come. let us
have 1t out, old man. Who robbed me
of my land!"
His words were defiant. but his eyes
were uneasy and suspicious.
Say. rather who fooled away his in
hertance with drink and neglect?'
Robbed me, l say!"
IF l had not bought your land some
one else would. If you've come home in
this disposition. David, you had better
go away again as soon as you please.
Don't waste my time with foolish talk"
"'Davids gone you said. When he
comes back. We'll have it out. We won't
have a family scandal Well, l am
back. l thought you were dead"
II am not dead, as you see."
"Well, 20 on. Say what you've got
to say. I'll sit and listen. Come; we
owe you so much. Pay it out, then"
David" said his uncle, quietly.
drink has evidently driven you off your
head. Family scandal? What was there
to hide? Good heavens. do you suppose
that the whole of your family, with it's
prohigacy and drunkenness, was not
known to all the countryside? Why. your
history is one long scandal. Things to
hide? Why, the whole parish was so
you went away. That is all | have to
say to you, David. What are you staring
like black pig for?"
"Oh." cried David. SIS it possible ?
What does he mean? Come, old man,
don't bottle up. You can't do anything
to me now. and | might do a great deal
for you; | might. if you didn't bottle up
and bear malice. Come-you and me
know-let's have it out"
What do we two know? All know
is that you have been away for six years,
and you come back in rags, that you had
fit of some kind last night up at Joseph
Exon's Have you got any account to
give of yourself?"
Don't bottle up" David said, feebly
"rhere's nobody here but you and me.
I'll own up. And then | can help you
as nobody else can-if you don't bottle
up If you debut why should you ::
What's the good? There's nobody here
but you and me. What is the good of
pretending that there's nothing? Did
you ever forgive anybody in your life!
DO you think | believe you are going to
forgive mc-you Of all men in the
world?'
and pretending and inferring. One would
think you had been numbering some
| body"
David sat down. staring with the
blankest establishment. He had by this
time succeeded in impressing upon his
brain the fixed conviction that his uncle
kept his murderous assault a secret ont
of regard for the family name. and he
came prepared to be submissive, to ex
press contrition, and to offer, in return
for the secret being still kept, to give
back to his uncle the long-lost box full
Of papers. And now, this conviction de
stroyed, he knew not what to think OF
what to say.
1T can't be- he said, cit can't be
Uncle, you are playing some deep game
with me- You are like a cat with {
mouse. You are old. but you are foxy
you've got game Of your own to play
and you think you'll play that game low
down. Come" he made one more effor
to ascertain If the impossible really hat
appened-"come. It's like a game o
bluff, amt It? But let's drop it, ant
play with the cards on the table. See
now. here's my hand-I heard last nigh
that you were alive and hearty, though
had every reason to think you wer
dead. l was quite sure you were dead
l knew you were dead. You know VIII,
knew. Every night was assured b.