The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-19

uOW tuhie he W huON Ills lutneT WIS u
thiefT'
"That I am thinking of, and before I
answer. is there more you can tell me
of him or his peopleT'
Darrell rose and. lighting a torch of
pine. stuck II In the ground; then he
opened his leathern pocketbook and
took out number of cuttings, much
worn and apparently from old news
papers. He put on his glasses and be-
gan to examine the cuttings.
"Tbe other day" said he 81 found an
account of his mothers death. had
forgotten, but her death was an odd
tragedy"
And the tinker began reading slowly
as follows:
"Sbe an her mother, a lady deaf an
feeble, were alone, saving the servants
In a remote corner o. the house. A
sound woke her in the still night. She
lay awhile, listening. Was IL her hus-
band returning without his key? She
rose, feeling her way in the dark an
trembling with the fear of nervous
woman. Descending stairs, she came
Into room o. many windows. The
shades were up, an there was dim
moonlight in the room. A door with
tanels o. thick glass led to the garden
walk. Beyond 1t were the dark forms
of men. One was peering In, his face
at panel, another kneeling at the
'ock. Suddenly the door opened. The
ady fell falnting. with loud cry.
Next day the kidnapped boy was born"
Darrell stopped reading, put the clip
ping into his pocketbook and smoth.
cred the torch.
"It seems the woman died the same
day." said he.
"And was my mother" The words
came in a broken voice.
Half n moment of silence followed
them; then Darrell rose slowly, and a
tremulous. deep sigh came from the
lips of Trove.
"Thy mother, boyr Darrell whispered.
The fire had burned low, and the
great shadow or the night lay dark up
on them. Trove got to his feet and
came to the side of Darrell
"Tell me, for Gods sake, man, tell
flush, boy! Listen. Herr the wind
In the trees" said Darrell
There was breath of silence. broken
by the hoot of an owl and the stir of
high branches. "Ye might as well ask
O. the wind or the wild owl" Darrell
said. 81 cannot tell thee. Be calm,
boy, and say how thou hast come to
know"
Again they sat down together, and
presently Trove told him of those silent
men who had ever haunted the dark
and ghostly house of his inheritance
"'Tls thy mothers terror-an' thy
fathers house-I make no doubt" said
Darrell presently In u deep voice. "But,
boy, l cannot tell any man where Is
thy father, not even thee, nor his name
or the least thing tending to point him
out until-untll I am released o. me
vow. Be content. II I can find the
man ere long thou shalt have word o.
him"
Trove leaned against the breast OF
Darrell, shaking with emotion. His tale
had come to an odd and fateful eli
max.
The old man stroked his head ten
derly.
"Ah. boy" said he. 81 know thy
heart. I shall make haste-I promise
thee l shall make haste. But II the
good God should bring thy father to
thee an thy head to shame an sorrow
for his sin, forgive him, In the name O.
Christ, forgive him. Aye, boy, thou
must forgive all that trespass against
thee"
"Tf I ever see him he shall know I
am not ungrateful." said the Young
man.
Trove and Darrell walked to the clear.
ing above PARKWAY. At a corner on
the high hills. where northward they
could see smoke and splre Of distant
villages, each took his way. one lead
Ing to HillsbOrough. the other to AL.
lens.
"Goodby. An when return l hope
to hear the rest O. thy tale" said Oar
rel as they parted.
"Only God Is wise enough TO finish
IT," said the young man.
"'Well. God help us; tits world to
see,'" Darrell quoted, waving his hand.
'If thy heart oppress thee, steer for
the Blessed Isles" .-s...ys.~.>.