Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-24

Hardly as she tried to speak in tone
of calm sternness, there was an anxious
troubled ring in her voice, and an anx-
ious look in her face. as she waited his
answer.
Now that the ice was broken, all his
nervousness vanished. Fearless and bitter
as herself, he confronted her. For mo-
ment they stood eying each other, like
two wrestlers about to engage in a dead
ly struggle. In her face was a look Of
intense loathing; in his, look of tigrish
hatred.
"Why have you come here?' she stern
ly asked.
81 have told you, to inquire, on behalf
of Silas Carston, the meaning of this ad-
yertisement."
"What is Silas Carston to you, that
you should come here upon such an er-
rand? l refuse to make any communi-
cation to you. Let him come hipself if
he wishes to know anything. This is
my house, and | will not endure !cur
presence in it.
Suppose l insist upon remaining Until
you answer my questions"
II shall have you expelled by a con-
stable, and sworn over to keep the peace
towards me-"
at would scarcely be agreeable to my
father, outcast as I am, to have his
name branded in police court, even to
secure your safety
He spoke in a voice of cold irony; Tut
| the blood was singing in his ears, and
seething in his veins with passion.
''What have the dead to DO with the
petty vanities of earthly fame?" she
| asked, sternly.
''The deadv he whispered; the hot
blood changed to stream Of ice, and
rushed back upon his heart, and he
stared at her, pale and aghast.
1.-THE deadv' she reiterated, in the
same tone. She looked steadily in his
face. as though doubling the truth OF
his astonishment. It was too terribly
real to be doubted even by her. But
it could not excite one touch Of pity in
her stony heart; for she added, III a
voice of bitter irony, "a terrible COM
mentary upon your life, Edward Mo
rant. Your father has been dead three
months, and you do not know it."
| He had sunk into a chair, and was
staring into vacancy, repeating the wcrd
'Dead!' over and over again. Sudden
ly he asked, in a low, anxious tone
did he ask for me? Did he wish to see
me before he died?'
sHe had broken with all earthly ties
months before he died; his thoughts and
words were given to heaven alone"
Eagerly the man waited for the crue
answer; and when it came, he covered
his face with his hands and sobbed until
the tears dropped between his fingers OF
to the ground.
Still cold and pitiless us an iron statue
the oman looked dowu upon him with
out a shadow of sympathy in her rigid
face. After a minutes pause, she said
"It is useless to prolong this scene
en- between us. I trust l shall nevel
look upon your face again. As for Siias
Carston, if he wishes to know anything
l repeat, he must come to me himself.
take no interest in him. l simply desire
to do duty which 1 have pledged
myself to perform"
''Why, then, was he sent to such /,
place as Tabernacle House?" he de
manded. "Kept in ignorance of his par
ents-put to menial work? Do you know
into what keeping you consigned him
This man-this Rev. Mr.. Porter, as b,
calls himself" he went on-'1 remcm
Der as a vagabond-a companion O.
mine You will say he is a converted
sinner. l tell you this man is the viles
| of hypocrites; trader upon cant, whom
tomorrow | will expose in the midst Of
his congregation, and drive out of tn,
town. His daughter was once for tive
years clairvoyant in a travelling mes
merism show. What do you think nov
of the guardian of your precious
charger
Leave this house, and never darker
it with your presence again.
The weapons had pierced deep, ant
her voice was faint and husky.
Although you may never see m
again, you shall feel me-" he went on
with momentary increasing passion
Listen, woman, to the last words yo1
may ever hear me speak! 1 have neve
injured. nor sought to injure you From
the moment you first saw me, you hare
me because l would not cant and whine
and because l passed a few boyish Jest
upon your doctrines, you vowed my dc
struction; you turned my fathers hear
against me, and had me expelled fror
my home, turned adrift upon the worl6
, That act fell back upon yourself In
!, terrible retribution; but while it's conse
!, qrences glanced off your steel heart an
, left no lasting wound. they handed IN
over body and soul to Satan himself
When, homeless and starving, l hav
; written to my father for money to l.u
bread, the letters were returned unopene
mot by his hands. but by yours; an
even on his deathbed you embittered hi
heart with enmity against his only chilG
, For the sake of one dear memory, hay
borne all this. But there is limit t
all human endurance, and that limit
passed with ME. 1t seems you hay
, one being still in whom you take som
interest-that you have one vulnerabl
point, and through that I'll strike yo,
; There is no revenge, however fendisl
that l will pause at I will never cros
/. your threshold again, but my shado'
shall be upon you to the last hour {
your lfe!''
: AS he spoke, he drew close to he
: foaming with passion, and wildly gesticl
e lating, as though he would strike he
But not one step did she move, b,
}, look ed him full and fearlessly in the fac
D though her own grew a shade paler. Fl
!. | solemn servant. attracted by the nois
/ stood terror-stricken in the doorway. A