Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-04-03

troubled ring In her voice, and an nnx-
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 dead
ly struggle In her face was look Of
intense loathlng; in his, a look Of tigrish
hatred.
why have you come here?" she stern
ly asked.
Il have told you, to inquire, on behalf
Of Silas Carston, the meaning Of this ad-
vertisement."
What is Silas Carston to you, that
you should come here upon such an err
rand? | refuse to make any communi-
cation to you. Let him come himself il
he wishes to know anything. This IL
my house, and l will not endure Your
presence in It"
Suppose insist upon remaining until
you answer my QuestionsW
II shall have you expelled by a con-
stable, and sworn over to keep the peace
towards me-"
ut would scarcely be agreeable to my
father. outcast as l am, to have his
name branded in a police court, even to
secure your safety"
He spoke in voice Of cold irony; Tut
the blood was singing in his ears, and
seething in his veins with passion.
What have the dead to 10 with the
petty vanities of earthly fame" 'she
asked, sternly.
"The dead" he whispered; the hot
blood changed to a stream Of ice, and
rushed back upon his heart, and he
stared at her, pale and aghast
THE dead" she reiterated, In the
same tone. She looked steadily In his
face, as though doubling the truth of
his astonishmcnt. 1t 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 chair, and was
staring into vacancy, repeating the wcrd
Dead" over and over again. Sudden
ly he asked, in low. anxious tone,
Did he ask for me? Did he wish to see
me before he died?'
He 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 cruel
answer: and when it came, he covered
his face with his hands and sobbed until
the tears dropped between bis fingers on
to the ground.
Still cold and pitiless rs an iron statue,
the woman looked down upon him with
ont a shadow Of sympathy in her rigid
face. After minutes pause, she said,
1T is useless to prolong this scene.
You can now see that all ties are brok-
en- between us. l trust l shall never
look upon your face again. AS for Sias
Carston, if he wishes to know anything,
| repeat. he must come to me himself.
take no interest in him. l simply desire
to do duty which I 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 mental work? Do you know
into what keeping you consigned him?
This man-this Rev. Mr.. Porter, as he
calls himself" he went OIL remcm-
Der as vagabond-a companion Of
mine. You will say he is converted
sinner. l tell you this man is the vilcst
Of hypocrites; a trader upon cant, whom
tomorrow l will expose in the midst Of
his congregation, and drive out Of the
town. His daughter was once for two
years clarvoyant in travelling mes
merism show. What do you think now
of the guardian Of your precious
charger
Leave this house, and never darken
it with your presence again"
The weapons had pierced deep, and
her voice was faint and husky.
Although you may never see me
again. YOU shall feel me-" he went on,
with momentary increasing passion.
Listen, woman, to the last words you
may ever hear me speak! l have never
injured, nor sought to injure you. From
tho moment you first saw me- you ha,ed
me because | would not cant and whine;
and because passed few boyish tests
upon your doctrines. you vowed my de
struction; you turned my fathers heart
against me. and had me expelled from
my home, turned adrift upon the world.
That act fell back upon yourself In a
terrible retribution; but while its conse-
uuences glanced off your steel heart and
left no lasting wound. they handed me
over body and soul to Satan himself
When, homeless and starving, l have
written to my father for money to luy
bread. the letters were returned unopened
not by his hands, but by yours; and
even on his deathbed you embittered his
heart with enmity against his only child,
For the sake of one dear memory, l have
borne all this. But there is limit to
all human endurance, and that limit Is
passed with me. 1t seems you have
one being still In whom you take come
interest-that you have one Vulnerable
point. and through that I'll strike you!
There is no revenge, however fendish.
that l will pause at. l will never cross
your threshold again, but my shadow
shall be upon you to the last hour OF
your LIFE
As he spoke, he drew close to her,
foaming with passion, and wildly gesticu-
lating, as though he would strike her
But not one step did she move, bu,
look ed him full and fearlessly In the face
though her own grew a shade paler. The
solemn servant. attracted by the noise
stood tcrror-stricken In the doorway. Al
he spoke the last words. he pushed heI
aside, and rushed out Of the house, with
Madame Rerne's voice ringing In his
| IN a.