Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-07


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 canvas 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 open the door and stood con-
fronting the man whom he had last seen
dead, as he thought, killed by his own
hand. He tried to face him brazeniy,
but broke down and stood before him
with hanging head and guilty eyes
80, said Daniel Leighan, sit is Da-
vId come back again. We thought you
were dead"
You hoped I was dead; say it out"
said David, with a ropy voice.
Dead or alive, it makes no difference
10 me. Stay; you were in my debt when
you went away. Have you come to set
tie that Notwithstanding accountY
David stepped into the room and shut
the door behind him.
You have got something to say to me
first" he said in a husky voice. Have
it out now, and get it over. Something
you've kept dark, eh?'
w hat 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?''
were uneasy and suspicious.
Say, rather, who fooled away his in
heritance with drink and neglect?"
Robbed me, | 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
comes back, We'll have it out. We won't
have a family scandal Well, l am
back. | thought you were dead"
Il am not dead as you see.'
well, go on. Say what you've got
to say. III sit and 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
that the whole of your family, with its
prol1igacy 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
q y &c hot -
you went away. That is all | have TO
say to you, David. What are you staring
like 4 black pig for?"
OH cried David. els it possible?
What does he mean? Come. old man.
don't bottle up. You can't do anything
to me now, and l might do a great deal
for you; l might, if you didn't bottle up
and bear malice. Come-you and me
know-let's have it out"
What do we two know? All I know
is that you have been away for six years.
and you come back in rags, that YOU had
a fit of some kind last night up at Josenh
EXon's. Have you got any account to
give of yoursef?"
Don't bottle up" David said. feebly.
There's nobody here but you and me.
III own up. And then I can helm Won
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
world?"
Leave off this nonsense about hiding
and pretending and inferring. One would
think you had been numbering some
body"
David sat down. staring with the
blankest establishment. He had by this
time succeeded in impressing upon his
brain the fixed conviction that his uncle
kept his murderous assault a secret out
of regard for the family name, and he
came prepared to be submissive to ex-
press contrition, and to offer, in return
for the secret being still kept, to give
back to his uncle the long-lost box full
of papers. And now, this conviction de-
stroyed, he knew not what to think or
what to say.
1T can't be"' he said, ''it can't be,
Uncle, you are playing some deep game
with me. You are like a cat with a
mouse. You are old, but you are foxy:
you've get a game OF your own to play.
and you think you'll play that game low
down. Come" he made one more effort
to ascertain if the impossible really had
happened-"come. It's like a game of
bluff amt it? But let's drop it, and
play with the cards on the table. See
now, here's my hand-I heard last night
that you were alive and hearty, though
| had every reason to think you were
dead. l was quite sure you were dead
| knew you were dead. You know why
l knew. Every night l was assured by
yourself that you were dead. Come, now.
Well, when l heard that you were alive
and hearty, l said to myself, Tomorrow
III go and have it out with him when
all the people are at church and there's
nobody to listen;' because they told me
YOU could not remember-you know
what"
Couldn't remember? I'd have you
to know, sir. that my memory is as good
as ever it was
OH said David, ''then you do re-
member everything?'
"Of course I do"
Then. uncle have it out. Let us talk
open. I've never forgotten it. | have
said to myself over and over again. I'm
sorry | done it. | wished | hadn't done
it, especially at night when your ghost
came; who ever heard of a live mans
ghost?"
CHAPTER NJ.
The mans stark, staring madr' cried
Daniel Leighan.
Come, now. Either say, David,
forgive you, because there was not much
harm done after all; l forgive you if
you'll help me in the way that you only