The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-10-20
Ills Hearts Desire
\ BY SIR WALTER BEsAfT
BY SIR WALTER BEsANT
NsSSSSSSSSSsSSSSSS

him, II thought would come here first
and see his grave--his grave--the place
where they laid him; and / thought
would read what they wrote over him
how he died, you know-just out of Curl
osity, and for something to remember"
Laid whomT'
II should like to think that had seen
actually seen-his grave" he went on
"But the night has turned dark. and 1
can't read the names, and haven't got a
match upon me. Will you tell me where
they've laid him?"
ing forT'
II am looking for the headstone of
Daniel Leighan. Old Dan, they used to
call him. Who died six years ago, or
whereabouts"
"You mean Mr.. Leighan Of Gratnor ?"
''The same, the samel suppose Mary
Nethercste got Gratnor when he died.
They always said that he would leave
her all he had, Gratnor Farm and Fox
worthy and Berry Down. Oh, she'd be
rich with all those lands"
"Who told you that Daniel Leighaa
was deadr" &A8
II saw It." he replied, hesitating-"I
saw It In the papers. There was some
talk about 1t at the time, believe. A
ia coroner's inquest, I was told; but
/ never heard the verdict. Perhaps you
remember the verdict, Will NetherQote,
and would kindly tell met am-yss-
am curious to hear what tho verdict
Of the jury was"
you are strangely misinformed. Dan
lei Leighan Ii not dead"
There is only one Dan Leighan, and
he IL dead" returned the strange man
II tell you that old Dan Leighan il
still living. He Is paralyzed in his legs,
if you call that dead; but If you have
business with him you will find that he Is
very much alive"
sNot deadT The man reeled and
caught at the pillars of the porch. "Not
dead2 Do you know what you are say
ingT'
'No more dead than you"
"Ohr he groaned; ''this Is a trick you
are playing. What do you play tricks
fort He il dead and buried long since. /"
II think you must be mad, whoever
you are. I tell you that Daniel Leighan
is alive, and now in his chair at home,
where you may find him tonight II you
please to look for him"
"Not deadl not deadw BY the fire.
quent flashes Of the lightning / had now
made out that he was a very rough-look-
ing man, In very ragged and tatteged
dress, looking like a laboring man. ''Not
dead-can 1t be? Then I've had all the
trouble for nothing-all the trouble fer
nothing. Not deadf' He kept en- saying
this over and over again, as IL the won
las AZ hA DO II
for him.
"What do you mean" asked, 'by
your rubbish about an inquest and a
verdict9 What inquest should there bs?
And what do you mean By saying that
ysu saw Il In the papersT'
"Not deadf~ Then how should his
ghoSt walk II he Ia not dead? Are you
sure that Daniel Leighan-Oh Dan
Ia alive this day-the Same Old Danfr'
II suppose 1t Ia the same Old Dan.
There never has been any other Old
Dan that know Of"
ut can't be the same. 1t must b
the evil one"
'"That u possible, and now you men
ton 1t, think he may be. and very like
ly Is. But I wouldn't say SO openly If I
were YOU"
"Not dead!"
He turned and walked slowly away.
/ heard him stepping over the stiIe, and
then the sound Of his footsteps ceased.
as Ii he was walking over the villaSe
green. which, In fact, was the case.
The voices of the choir ceased; the
candles were extinguished; and the sing
ers came cut. We two men walked home
with Mary. told them on the way my
little adventure with the strange mau
peering about among the tombs.
who could 1t beT asked Mary.
Il thought I knew his footstep. but
did not know his voice. I cannot tell
who 1t was. He knew your voice. Mary:
and yours, George: and Harry, the black
smith's-Good heavens.-for hare my
memory Of the man came back suddenly
with one Of the lightning Hashss-sgood
heevensi how did come not to recognise
him at once7 Mary, 1t was!-how could
! have forgottenf Why, the thing may
change your whole future"
"Will, what do you mean?"
"Your whole future, Mary. Your uncle
refuses his consent because he thinks
that David is dead; well, then, David is
alive! For the man who prowled among
the tombs and wanted to see your uncle q
headstone was no other than David
Lsishan himself-come home again In
rags."
CHAPTER TX.
The In upon Challacombs Green h a