Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-09-04
CHAPTER Y.

Daniel Ieighan, or Old Dan. or Mr..
Daniel, according to the social position
of those who spoke to him. awoke with
a start from his afternoon nap.
He was the rich man of a parish in
which there was no squire: he was tn,
village miser he was the terror of those
who owed him money; he WAS the driver
of the hardest bargains; he was the
strong and masterful man: he was the
scourge of the weak and thriftless, he
was the tyrant of the village. He knew
all this. and so far from being humiliat-
ed. he enjoyed the position.
The girl who sat working at the open
window was his niece. Mary Neither
cote. She lived with Daniel. and took
care of him. He rallied at all the world
except her; he Quarreled with all the
world except his niece; and those persons
who averred that he was kind to her
because he had the keeping Of ner money
and took all the interest for himself
and had her services as housekeeper for
nothing, were perhaps only imperfectly
acquainted with the old mans motives
and his feelings Yet the statement was
true. He did have the keeping Of her
money! good lump Of money; and he
did give himself the interest in return
for her board and lodging; and he did
have her services as housekeeper for
nothing
Daniel Leighan awoke suddenly with
4 cry. and sat upright in his chair.
clutching the arms, his eyes rolling in
horror and Amusement
Mary! he cried, II saw him; l saw
him-the man who robbed me. l saw
him plain-and l have forgotten-1 have
forgotten! 1t was-oh, l knew just now
Il have forgotten. Mary"
Patience. uncle, patience" Mary
patted and smoothed the pillows into their
places. Another time you will remem-
Der; you are sure to remember, If the
dream only comes again. Lie down again
and think"
He obeyed, and she covered his head
again with his silk handkerchief. He had
started from his sleep. as if stung into
wakefulness by the recollection of some
thing horrible and painful; and his dream
had vanished from his memory, leaving
not a trace behind. But the terror was
left. and the foreboding. Mary saw the
terror, but she knew nothing Of the fore
boding. Yet her uncle's mind was filed
with anxious fears. She saw the rolling
eyes, the clutchng of the chair arms,
and the look of bewilderment; but she
only thought her uncle was startled, like
child. in his sleep, and crying out,
like child. for help when there was no
danger He lay still for few moments
while she stood beside him and watched.
Then he tore off the handkerchief and sat
up again.
1T is quite gone" he said. in despair.
hov lnst bo ola or |
oh, | saw him, clear and distinct
the man who robbed me- And while I
was going to cry out his name-just as
/ had his name upon my lips-l awoke
and forgot him"
IF it comes again." said Mary. in
credulous in spite of her words. you
will be sure to remember. Perhaps it
will come again. Patience. uncle
Patience. when had the clew? Pa
thence. when l could follow up the rob
Der, and tear my papers out of his hands
Patience. don't be a fool, Mary"
"Well, uncle, if it has gone. you cant
bring it back again, try to forget that
it ever came: that is the wisest thing to
do You shall have your tea, and then
you will feel better"
"Mary''-he turned to her piteously-
Der? Think Perhaps talked in my
sleep-some men do. Have you never
heard me say anything-cal some one
by name? If had only the least little
cew. should remember"
why, uncle. how should l remenl-
ber?"
at came back to me-all so clear--so
clear and plain. And l have forgotten.
Oh, Mary, my money. my money
Yes. uncle. But it is six years ago.
nearly. and you have done very we'll
since. And it is not as if you had lost
al your money. Why. you have pros
pered while all the rest have been doing
badly. You must think of that"
Lost all my money!" he repeated tes-
tly; "of course I've not lost all. AS if
man could bear to lose a single penny
of the money that he has spent his life
in saving DO you know what have
lost, girl!' She knew very well, be-
cause he told her every day There
were bonds and coupons in the bag to the
sum of near upon hundred and fifty
pounds a year-nearly three thousand
pounds they meant. AS for the share
certificates. they didn't matter: but cou.
pons-coupons. Mary; do you hear-pay-
able only to the bearer-a hundred an!
fifty pounds a year-a hundred and fifty
pounds a year.-near three thonsa nd
pounds His voice rose to a shrek, and
suddenly dropped again to a moan
"'rhree thousand pounds. Payable ia
the bearer. and l haven't got them to
present. IL | were a young man OF
thirty | might recover the loss; but
am old now, and can never hope to make
ii up-never hope to make it up again"
1t was six years since that loss had
occurred; but this wall over the los,
money was raised nearly every day, and
almost in the same words. SO that the
girl felt little sympathy.
1T was six o'clock when | left Ash
burton" The girl had also heard this
story 80 often that her interest in thl
details had become numbed. six o'clock
when | started to ride home. l had sew
enty pounds in gold upon me-fifty
pounds in one bag and twenty in an
other; my tin box in a blue bag was
round my neck. and it was filled with
securities and bonds and share certif
Gates. At half past seventh was darl
then-I rode into Widdicombe. After
that l remember nothing. Why have
forgotten the ride through the lanes
Why don't l remember passing through
Howedstone Gate to the open down