The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-12-25

thoughts were unspoken, and would
remain so if their destiny wIlled it.
You have been generosity itself,
Sir Richard, my lady was saying (for
it was the Lady Alice herself); the
debt 10 you is common for us all; it
will lie heavily upon my fathers
shoulders and upon mine. We can
never repay, do what we will"
Sir Richards eyes shone softer in a
sudden ray o. moonlight hat pierced
the hedge. Every word that she spoke
was like music in his ears.
No debt is there when the task is
of a mans seeking, Alice. told
you 11x months ago that u poet,
Pope, was right when he said that the
greatest study of mankind is man. |
have studied men all my life. Your
brother Harry was but a human addi-
ton 20 my library. | found the pages
blurred and almost undecipherable;
but l read them, nevertheless. Here
was a fellow creature who had wan
dered upon all roads for want of a
signpost l began by asking him to
rest a little while in my house; I
showed the pages of life and the pic
lures that were to be painted upon
them by a mans will and by his in
dustry. tempted him to begin and
TO find excitement in the pursuit.
When the old gypsy inclination called
him away, l was patient, not angry.
He would come back, l said. Time
justified me, and the months have
4 o1aana1 tho hIaA1r ~ 49, hn-rrnoN IT,
night Harry is waiting at Ashford hall
for me. My work is done, Alice. /
need no mans thanks for a little pa
tience and kindness that have been
their own reward. They have given
me this opportunity to speak with her
to whom l may never speak again un-
til the n of my days"
The Lady Alice made no reply, but
she turned away her head. Perhaps
: there was something in her pretty eyes
which she did not wish him to find.
You are leaving England, Sir Rich
/ ard?" she asked anew, with her head
r still averted from him. The tone OF her
voice nerved him to speak of it.
"A mans country is dear to him only
when il gives him that which his heart
desires. If / leave England, Alice, il
will be because l no longer may hope
here. if l go, it will be because there
is one at Brede who would visit the
sins Of the son upon the daughter.
say it only to ask your forgiveness;
there is a duty which is above love,
let me speak no i'll of your father"
And, as they stood together, believ,
ing this to be the hour of their fare
well, suddenly the alarm bell rang
out from the castle, and almost at tn'
same instant they heard a mans voice
My lord is dying!' he cried to them.
"the Lady Alice has left him!"
You must go to him" said Richard
quietly. Though his heart was beating
fast, his wit was less sure than m!
lady's at such a moment.
Richard, you shall take me- She
whispered, refusing to release hi!
hand.
He kissed her gently.
You are right" he said, that f
wise, dear one; we will go together.
When they entered the courtyard
they found the servant beside himself
> HE walked from a dream and asked
for your ladyship,'' he said to the Lady
v Alice. She pushed him aside: and
/ still holding Sir Richards hand. shl
led the way to the great bedroom
where, upon a couch by the window
!: they found the lord of the castle lying
e pale and insensible.
He had walked from 2 troubled
# dream, as old Martin said, and, in vic
lent agitation, had insisted upon hi
If daughters being summoned to hin
forthwith. When thev searched 70
( her and found her gone, the truth wa
lie told to him.
"She is not here. M lord" the.
ID said; land this night Tom Forsyth
came up from the inn to speak of
stranger there" And, to their won
der. this master of the oath and tn
madman's anger spoke no word t
them; but, shrinking away as on
robbed suddenly of his reason. hid hi
face and cried: "She was all that
1r had; God ci heaven. forgiye!" An
then re had fallen prone and they ha
n, laid him uron the couch,
mus lUE Ldug AAAO0 ASNAA AAAAf go
is almost with the touch of her hand m,
lord reused and recognized her. H
A. gave 2 cry OF Joy and, raising himsel
feebly upon the pillow, put his arr
10 about her n held her to his heart.
'1hou. Alice! they have not take
is thee, them"
a q am here, dear father; they shal
o never take me from YOU"
There is another. Who is it stand
If there. Alice? Does Harry come to mC
then?"
e. 1T is not Harry, father; look again.
sir Richard H~ardinge-ah, I Nigh
!" AVE r.amed him. Where, then, is m
m SOM"
ID Sir Richard stepped forward and an
lg swered for them both; In my house
m earl. waiting for the message whic
he will bring him to our side again. A
le is well with him"
sr silence fell upon the room, a silenc
u restful and satisfying. When the ear
navt smoke it was to the daughte