The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-03

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TEo days later the widows funeral
vas over, and Philip having found the
1ey in a secret drawer Of his mothers
aabinet, was standing in the room that
aad been locked UP for so many years.
2 The room was about twelve Of four
zen feet square. with but one window.
opposite TO the door stood the chin
aey and Fireplace. with a high buffet
II dark wood on each side. On a table
near By was a bunch Of keys. With
one Of these he opened the wooden
doors Of the buffet, revealing an iron
safe.
a second key on the bunch opened
The iron doors; and Philip found him
self in possession OF a considerable
sum Of money. amounting. as near as
ne could reckon, 10 ten thousand
guilders. in little yellow sacks. Philip
replaced the sacks, and locked up the
,upooards. after having taken out Of
'ne, already half emptied, a few pieces
'or his immediate wants. Then turn
ing and gazing at the table again he
0eheld partly concealed under some
embroidery, the sealed letter which his
mother had declared had been left
there by his father seventeen years
ago He dashed forward, seized the
etter. and burst out Of the fatal room.
cannot, dare not, read it here"
exclaimed he; no, no, it must be un-
Ter the yalut Of high and offended
Heaven that the message must be re-
sived." Philip took his hat. and went
out Of the house; in calm despair he
ocked the door, took out the key, and
walked ne knew not whittier.
Philip looked about him for some
spot where he might be concealed from
Observation-Disclosures he might break the
seal, and read this mission from
world OF spirits. A small copse Of
0rushWood, in advance Of a grove OF
-rees, was not far from where he stood. |
de walked to it and sat down. SO as |
10 be concealed from any passers-by.
Then he broke the seal, which bore
ne initials Of his fathers name, and |
read as follows:
To Catherine:
"One Of those plying spirits whose
eyes rain tears for mortal crimes has
been permitted to inform me By what
means alone my dreadful doom may
be ayerted
Gould l but receive on the deck Of
ny own ship the holy relic upon which
swore the fatal oath, kiss it in all
humility. and shed one tear of deep
ontrition on the sacred wood. | then
night rest in peace.
How this may he effected. or bv
whom so fatal task win be under
AIKEN, I know not. Oh, Catherine. we
ave a son-but, no, no. let him not
ear Of me. Pray for me. and now.
areweil.
Il. VANDERDECKEN."
Then it is true, most horribly
-ue," thought Philip; and my father
even now in living judgment. And
e points to me-to whom else should
e? Am I not his son, and is it not '
" duty?" !
Yes. my father," exclaimed Philip.
oud, falling on his knees. you have a
ot written these lines in vain. Let I
e peruse them once more" '
Philip raised up his hand; but. al a
ough it appeared to him that he had /
Ill hold Of the letter, it was not there e
he grasped nothing. He looked on v
e grass to see if it had fallen-but y
}, there was no letter; it had disap- Il
AIRED. Was It vision? No. no; he a
ID read every word Then it must t
to me, and me alone, that the mis- r,
IN was intended. accept the sign" II
Hear me, dear father-if thou art
permitted-and deign to hear me. q
acious Heaven-hear the son who.
Shis sacred relic, swears that he will If
ert your doom or perish. To that tc
Il he devote his days; and having b
ne his duty, he will die in hope and Ii
ace. Heaven, that recorded nv rash d.
hers oath, now register his sons W
on the same sacred cross. and may "
rjury on my part be visited with
nishment more dire than his, Re dT
We it, Heaven, as at the last 1 trust Dc
It in Thy mercy Thou wilt receive Of
} father and the son; and if too bold. VI
pardon my presumption" tn
Philip threw himself forward on his
e, with his lips to the sacred sym th
. The sun went down and the twi- tn
at gradually disappeared; night had he
some time shrouded all in dark nj
IS. and Philip yet remained in al
nate prayer and meditation, tn
'ut he was disturbed by the voices by
some men, who sat down upon the mi
but few yards from where he
5 concealed. The conversation he tol
le needed; but It had reused him. Of
his first feeling was to return to TIL
cottage, thac he might reflect over Th
phns; but, although the men thl
ke In low tone. his attention was TO
n arrested by the subject Of their on
versation when he heard the name / s
Aynheer Poots mentioned. He lis de;
ed attentively. and discovered that tn;
y were four disbanded soldiers. who
.nded that night to attack the house o
he little doctor, who ha,. they knew, nal
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