The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-11-04
CHAPTER xxyI.

| l.
There was no wedding breakfast at
Sidcote, or any festivities at aIl--not
even a wedding cake. George drove his
bride and his mother home after the
service, and presently they had dinner
together, and George kissed his wife.
and his mother cried, so that there was
little outward show Of rejoicing. Yet
they all three rejoiced in their hearts.
end felt stronger and more hopeful, just
because they could now stand together.
In the afternoon Mary asked George to
60 out with her.
Il must go and see my uncle" she
said. II cannot bear to think of him
alone. Let us ask him to keep his money,
but to let us part friends"
They walked hand in hand across the
stubble fields, and through the lanes,
where the blackberry leaves were putting
on their autumn tints Of red and gold,
and the berries Of the hedge were all ripe
| and red-the purple honeysuckle, the
Pink yewberry, the blackberry, rowan,
hip and haw-to Gratnor
| Strange, George, that we shall go
away, and never see the dear old place
again." said Mary, with a sigh. LET
4
it before the trees are stripped, and
while the sun still lies warm upon the
hills"
! In the parlor Mr.. Leighan was still
| sleeping, though it was past his waking
time. Mary touched George by the
hand, and they sat down behind him in
the window and waited. They waited
| for a quarter Of an hour. Then they
| heard step outside.
1T is David" George whispered. "He
| will rouse his uncle. Is he come already
| to ask for his fortune, wonder?"
Just then Mr.. Leighan awoke, perhaps
| disturbed by David's heavy step, and he
! awoke just as he had done twice before
namely, suddenly and with a startled
shrek OF terror. Just as he had done
twice before he sat up in his chair, with
horror and fright in his eyes, glaring
| wildly about tho room.
Mary, accustomed to witness this
nightmare. looked to see the terror
change into bewilderment. But it. did
not.
For awhile his mind was full of his
dream; while he yet remembered the
place, the time, and the man. and before
| the vision had time to fade and disap
pear, the very man himself of whom he
had dreamed stood before him at the
open door. Then he no longer forgot:
| MS dream became memory; he was
| riding across Heytree Down in the even
, Ing; and he was met by his nephew with
a cudgel, and the nephew cried out.
WHO robbed me of my land?' and
struck him across the temples SO that he
fell
Murderer! Robber!r' he cried. "Help.
| help! l am murdered and robbedr'
And then, 10! miracle For the par
alytic, who had had no power in his legs
for six long years, sprang to his feet and
stood with outstretched arms, crying for
help to seize the murderer And David
stood before him with such q look of
! hatred and revenge as he wore on that
| night, and In his trembling right hand
the cudgel ready to uplift and to strike.
1t was over in a moment, for the old
| man fell helpless and senseless upon the
| floor, though David did not strike. The
| skull cap was knocked off by the fall.
| and exposed the angry red scar of the
| old wound. He lay upon his back, his
arms extended in the fashion of a cross,
as he had fallen upon Heytree Down:
and as he lay there, so he lay here
with parted lips, streaming hair, and eyes
wide open, which saw nothing though
they gazed reproachfully upon his MUIR
| derer. Then for a space no one spoke:
but David bent over his uncle, breathing
hard, and George and Mary looked on
wondering and awe-stricken.
| "A second time, David?
David started, and turned It was his
German protector, Baron Sergius Won
Holstein, and the tall figure of the baron
stood In the door, accompanied by nv
self. But on this occasion counted for
nothing.
"A second time, David"
| David gasped. but made no reply.
| you came home, David" said the
baron, ito give yourself in charge for
numbering and robbing your uncle. You
struck him over the head with your
cudgel, SO that he fell dead at your feet.
You robbed him of box of papers and
a bag of money. The thought Of the
crime gave you no rest by day, and at
night the ghost of your uncle came to
your bedside and ordered you to 20 home
and give yourself up. You came home.
Your uncle was not dead. Have you con-
fessed the crime:'
David made no reply.
Have you restored the papersw
Again he made no reply.
This is your uncle; he looks as IL
you had killed him a second time. Mad
ame"-he addressed Mary-I am sorry
to speak of such things in the presence of
a lady. but have in my pocket the con-
fession of David Leighan."
He was not killed, after ALL" said
David. What matters the confession p
But he was robbed. Where are the
papers,"
Here they are-all that are left"
observed that he had big book Of some
kind under his arm; he laid this on the
table. There are his papers. Now
what's the odds of confession or twoT'
lis this mans presence desired by his
uncler' the baron asked.
NO." said Mary He comes every
morning and drives him nearly mad. He
had some power over him-I know not
what. He has made my uncle's life mis-
cradle for three months"
II ssMv dufv aeeYna nlain - N IN tha ha yov,