Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-10-25

He roared and ragged if by any
chance Edith was out Of bis sight.
For two weeks she did not see Ores
tes, but when the third Wednesday
came she put on her bonnet, with the
air of a person not to be gainsaid.
At the door of the squire's room, she
paused to say: "If you want any
thing, father, ring your bell-it's right
there at hand-and Sally will come
in. You'd better ring it every little
while-else she'll 60 to sleep. hate
going-but there is no other way
not unless YOU
She stopped tentatively, her eyes
wistful. The squire glared at her,
his eyes full of fury. "Sol This Is
your notion Of duty" he said thicklY.
Every well. Go your gaitl I'm old
and helpless-but there are a few
things l can do"
"Yes-you can ring for Sally and
scare her out OF her wits," Edith said,
trying to laugh as she walked away.
At the doorsteps she was tempted to
go back, but the thought Of Orestef
waiting go patiently at the roadside
was too much for her.
The Squire lay for ten minutes
tensely brooding, his face drawn and
lined. Then he sat up and began
recklessly to hitch himself out of bed
Within reach were the crutches which
he was to essay tomorrow. Once be
put out his hand to the bell, but drew
it back, muttering. "Nol By the
Lord, I'll do it all myself. I'll show
them they can't run over me-not
quite" Then, still muttering and
mumbling, he wrapped himself in his
dressing gown. reached for the crutch'
es and swayed and staggered across
to the door.
The So uire sat down heavily upol
the second step of the broad stairway
and began craftily going up backward
He lifted himself from tread to tread
then drew the crutches after him
By some within he had kept his desl
and all his papers in the big soutl
chamber that had been his wife's,
He was going there now-if he lived
to come back from it he would leave
behind a new will-one that woulC
come near to disinheriting his rebel
lious child. 1t would do more thar
that-it would set forth her rebellion
her neglect of him, in such fashion al
to shame her, here where honor to
parents was 30 vital part of decen-
cy.
Painfully, with set teeth and agon'
lied twinges, he won to his goal, anc
sat in front of the opened desk. 81
found the will readily, and tore il
through angrily-then wrote upor
the biggest fragment: "This is thu
work of neglected father" But al
this had taken time and dusk was
falling rapidly.
He snatched up fresh sheet and
began to write, but the racing dark
ness was too quick for him. Befor'
he was half through he stopped anc
looked about him, full of thwarted
impotent rage. He flung out hi
hand and struck it against a tape
which had lain there 80 long he hae
forgotten it. By its feeble light h
finished the new will, and signed hi
name with a heavy, scrawling flourish
Slowly, heavily. hegot up and tried
to steady himself while he put tn
crutches in place, but sharp twing'
made him stagger. He lost balanc'
and fell prone, ovsrturning the Lighted
taper and bringing it in contact will
the contents of an open drawer
ute the whole room was ablaze. AS b
lay helpless he saw the flames lick a
the carvings on the top of the desk
Then, indeed, the squire groane'
aloud and dragged himself to the opel
window.
A wall of FIRE was behind him
Before him fall Of almost 20 feet
To swing out and drop below mean
certain death, even if he had strengtl
for it. BE shouted, but nothing cam
of it. Sally was really fast asleep i
the cool back yard. He shut his eye
and thought of Edith's mother.
In the great extremity there came,
fash of comfort-when he was dea'
both wills would be burned ant
Edith, his only child. would hav
everything. he ought to have bee
- L