The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-08-16


"Am I so great fool, think We, as
to claim an evil that Is not mine? An
would ye keep In me the burning O.
remorse when I seek to quench IT?
warn thee. medCle not with the bus.
ness o. me soul That is between the
great God an me-
Darrell stood to his full height. the
red handkerchief covering his head and
falling on his back. lie BEGAN with
tone of contempt that changed quick
ly into one of sharp command. There
was little silence. then quick rap.
Come in," Darrell shouted as he let
the handkerchief fall upon his face
again.
The district attorney. constable and
the bank clerk. who had been injured
the night of the robbery. came in.
HE is not guilty" said Trove, rising.
II command ye. boy, be silentw said
Darrell sternly.
Have We ever seen that hand?" he
ndded, approaching the clerk and point
Ing at a red mark as large as dime
on the back of his left hand.
yes" the clerk answered. with sur
prise, looking from hand to handker-
chief; then. turning TO the lawyer, he
added. This Is the man"
"Now." Darrell continued. rolling up
his sleeve, "I'll show where thy bullet
struck me in the left arm. See; there
II scared the nesh!'
They saw scar. quite an inch long
midway from hand to elbow.
'Do you mean to say that you are
guilty of this crime?" the attorney
asked
81 am guilty and ready for punish
ment," Darrell answered. "Now. dis
charge the boy"
Tomorrow, said the attorney. "That
Is for the court to do
Darrell went to Trove, who now sat
weeping. his face upon his hands.
"Oh, the great rivers o. tears" said
Darrell. touching the boys head. BE
yond 1t are the green shores of happi-
ness. an | have crossed. an soon shalt
thou. Stop. boy; 1t III becomes thee.
There is dear. dear child whose heart
is breaking. Go an comfort her."
Trove sat as If he had not heard. The
tinker went to his table and hurrledly
wrote line, folding and directing 1t.
go quickly. hoy, an tell her an then
take this to Riley Brooke for me-"
The young man struggled n moment
for self mastery, rose, with Il sigh and
stern look, and put on his hat.
1T Is about bail?' he whispered.
YES" Darrell answered.
Trove hurried away. A woman met
him at the door within which Polly
boarded.
rs she better?" Trove asked.
"Yes, but has asked me to say that
she does not wish to see you"
Trove stood moment, his tongue
halting between anger and surprise.
He turned without word, walking
away. bitter feeling In his heart.
Brooke greeted him with unexpected
heartiness. He was going to bed when
the young man raped upon his door,
Brooke opened the letter and read the
words aloud. Thanks; shall not need
thy help"
"Whatv Trove exclaimed.
HE says he shall not need the help
| offered him." Brooke answered.
Good night" said Trove who, turn
ing, left the house and hurried away.
Lights were out everywhere in the vii
| lage now. The windows We're dark at
the Sign Of the Dial. He hurried up the
old stairs and raped loudly, but none
| came to admit him. He called and lis
tened. Within there were only silence
and that old familiar sound Of the sec.
onds trooplng by. some with short and
some with long steps. He knew that
soon they were to grow faint and
| weary and pass no more that way.
He ran to the foot Of the stairs and
stood n moment hesitating. Then he
walked slowly to the county Jail and
looked up at the dark and silent ouild-
Ing. For little time he leaned upon
q fence there In the still night, shaken
with sobs. Then he began walking up
and down by the jail yard. He had
not slept IN hour In weeks and was
weary, but he could not bear to come
away and walked slower as the night
wore on, hearing only the tread Of his
own feet. He knew not where to go
and was drifting up and down. like q
derelict In the sea. BY and by people
began to pass hlm-weary crowds-and
they were pointing at the patches on
his coat and beneath them he could
feel kind of burning, but the crowd
was dumb. He tried to say, II am not
to blame," but his heart smote him
when 1t was half said. Then, sudden
ly. many people We're beside him. and
far ahead on a steep hill. in dim, gray
light, he could see Darrell toiling up
ward. and sometimes the tinker turned,
beckoning him to follow. And Trove
ran. but the way was long between
them. And the tinker called to him,
"Who drains the cup of another's bit
terness shall find 1t sweet" Quickly
he was alone, cropping for his path in
black darkness and presently coming
down stairway into the moonlit
chamber of his Inheritance; then the
men Of the dark and feeling Of faint
ness and great surprise. and broad
blue field all about him and woods In
the distance. ana above the growing
light of dawn. His bones We're aching
with illness and. overwork. his feet
sore. II have been asleep" he said,
rubbing his eyes. "and all night have
been walking"
He was In the middle of broad
| field He went on slowly and soon fell