The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-08-16
Pr V

ing when Mr.. Leighan was suddenly
startled by a 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 anvas trousers, for instance, had
gone, and the terrible felt hat with the
hole in the crown. His dress was now
Of a nondescript and homogeneous kind,
the sailors jacket i'll asserting with the
rustic corduroy trousers and waistcoat.
He threw pen the door and stood con-
fronting the man whom he had last seen
dead, as he thought, killed by his W
hand. He tried TO face him brazenly,
but broke down and stood before him
with hanging head and guilty eyes.
So" said Daniel L.eighan, sit is Da-
vid come back again. We thought you
were dead"
You hoped / was dead; say it out
said David, with a ropy voice.
Dead or alive, il makes no difference
to me. Stay; you Were in my debt when
you went away. Have you come to set
tie that Notwithstanding ~account?"
David stepped into the room and shut
the door behind him.
You have got something to say to me
first" he said in n husky voice. Have
it out now, and get it over. Something
you've kept dark, eh?"
What do you mean?"
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 it 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
heritance with drink and neglect"
Robbed me, l say"
IF / 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"
"'David's gone you said. when he
zones back, Wen have it ont. We won't
have a family scandal Well. l am
back. thought 0 were dead"
II am not dead, as you see."
swell, go on. Say what you've got
to say. Ill sit ana 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
tina. the whole of your family, with its
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
ashamed of you that it rejoiced when
you went away. That is all ! have to
say to you, David. What are you staring
like a black pig fory"
"Oh,'' cried David. rs it possible?
What does he mean? Come, old man,
don't bottle up. You can't do anything
to me now, and I might do a great deal
for you; | might. if you didn't bottle up
and bear malice. Come-you and me
know-let's haze it out"
what do we two know? All l know
is that you have been away Cor six years,
and you come back in rags, that y0,nh had
a fit of some kind last night up at Joseph
Exon's. Have you got any account to
give of yourselfY"
Don't bottle up" David said, feebly.
There's nobody here but you and me.
I'll own up. And then ! can help yon
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 l believe you are going to
forgive me--you of all men In the
worids'
sAes-e es this aeasAase aheat hiding
and pretending and infcrring. One would