Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-08-25

SAID. 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 yeWberrF, 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
us go as soon as we can, so as to leave
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 a 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 be had done
twice before he sat up in his chair, with
horror and fright in his eyes, glazing
wildly about the 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
cudgel, and the nephew cried out.
WHO robbed me of my land?' and
struck him across the temples so that he
| fell
Murderer, Robert he cried "Help.
help! l am murdered and robbedr
And then, 10. a 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 a look of
hatred and revenge as he wore on that
night, and in his trembling right hand
the cudgel ready to upift 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 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 1t 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, ''to 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 a box of papers and
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 go home
and give yourself up. You came home.
Your uncle was not dead. Have you con-
fessed the crime"'
David made no reply Sc
! Have you restored the papers?''
Again he made no reply
This is your uncle; he looks as if
| you had killed him second time. Mad
ame"-he addressed Mary-'I am sorry
to speak of such things in the presence of
lady, but l have in my pocket the con-
tcssion of David Leighan."
He was not killed, after ALL said
! David. What matters the confession ?'
But he was robbed. Where are the
papers?"
Here they are-all that are left" l
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 a confession or two?"
rs this mans presence desired by his
uncle?" 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
! My duty seems plain" said the baron
Il shall go to the nearest police station
and deposit this confession. They will,
l suppose, arrest you, David. You can
not, | fear, be hanged, but you will be
shut up IN prison for very long time
The wise man, David, flies from dangers
against which he can no longer struggle
The door is open" He stood aside. Fly,
| David. let fear add wings. The police
will be upon you this night if you are
| still in the village. Fly, David. even if
it is once more to face the ghost of your
murdered uncle. Better hundred ghosts
than ten years of penal servitude. Fly.
| David!-fyr'
David has not since been heard of:
and the question whether Mary's fortune
was forfeited by her marriage has not
| been raised. Nor can It be raised now
| For Mr.. Leighan remained senseless for
| three days-the same period as that
which followed the assault upon him.
And when he came to his right mind. be-
| hold! it was another mind. He thinks
that the whole parish of Challacombe be-
longs to him-all the farms and cottages,
and even the church and the rectory. He
is perfectly happy in this belief. and Is
constantly planning improvements and
L nf,3 -r~t-c IS l.. l. III