The Washington herald., 1906-10-29

grandfather is not worthy such considera.
! ton. lad he Is one Of the wickedest mer
on earth
rs il not wrong to take-to steal from
the wicked. theu?" The boys words
were without an afterthought; he asked
the question simply from the depths Of an
! Incompatible innocence. Cressinghan
met his pure inquir ng eyes and felt quite
a thrill as be looked. Answer he could
/ find none for a moment, but then he said
/ 1T is wrong 20 steal from anyone, De
sire"
"Then I shall put the jewels hack TO-
/ morrow. 1 have them hidden IN the
/ house. and cannot get them tonight"
DO you always do what you think :,
/ right Desire?" asked the man, who felt
| amazed and 4 little shamcd before the
boys srangely frank straightforwardness
Il always try" said Desire.
/ Cress.ngham felt iu his heart a sudden
glow Of eager hope. L sten. boy" he
said; "listen attcntively. for I am going
I 70 try 10 show you. make you understand
/ great cnance taat has come into your
/ life 70 do a great good to the world
Yes my lord
You know the objects which this ter
/ rible society TO which you belong has in
1 view?'
Pardon me-" interrupted the boy; L
! know what you would say, I think. but
4 the abbe taught ne all that He wanted
/ me to help him 20 kill my grandfather and
/ afterwaTJ escape with him. He told me
/ that by doing 30 I should ria the wor 4
/ of g monster and earn the gratitude Of
nations and Of kings"
"Ahr'
7 thought that he was right. ! felt
he was right in heTe''-(he pointed to his
hoart)-"and / tried 70 bring myself %
do what he advised, but / could not, ny
| lord. / had not the power. / DO not
love grandfather. but somehow, even
when he beats me, I could NOT even try
to harm him."
Cressinghan was silent and the lad
Continued, speaking almost apologetical-
ly. you zee. my lord. / have always
lived with him, and sometimes he has
been kind 10 IRE. Besides, 1 have never
been able 10 harm any one or any thing.
When grandfather has any Of the negroes
fiogged. il hurts me almost as much, 7
ara sure, as 1t does them, ard their cries
ring Ia my ears for days ! always have
% run away
In spite of his keen disappointment.
Cressiugham could not help feeling q
sincere respect rise in his heart for this
strange, sWeeL-ni tured boy, who had
grown up pure and good amidst q fester-
Ing mass Of evil and OF crime 4 should
not have asked YOU 10 hii your grand
father, Desire. he said quietly Only
TO help Miss Elliott and me TO escape
and 70 yourself accompany rs. Then we
should be able with your help 70 frus-
traje The counts diabolic purposes. and
perhaps, nay surely, save the lives Of
great and good men whom he hates be-
cause OF their goodness and his oWn wick
edEess."
The boy shook his bead. q would love
TO escape he said, "but that is not pos
sIbleT
Cressingham pointed TO the silver boat:
'Sot with the helP Of that? even with
out engines. with oars aHd sail We eou.a
mauage,"
Desire blushed O. this. and muttered in
a low voice. his eyes on the floor. Il
scarcely ike 70 tel you. sir
Speak, Desire
you may think me foolish and wicked"
',lo, promise Eot CO."
FWeN. ever since you spoke 70 me last
night, I've been thinking Of what you
said. I know you are right and kind and
good and I ana wrong ana wicked o.
though J want terribly 20 do what you
say, but 1 can't, because
WeU2"
Because he trusts me
Trusts you. does he2 Didn't he take
the plates from you then?"
Desire g1sped, Yes. but have the key
Of the poyLcullis; if he had really ceased
% trust me, be have taken that FIRST"
Crc5Singham almost gro2ued. Have
you given MIN your word?"
"NC. ] wouldn't mind 80 much If ne
had asked me for that. lie just trusted
me because ne felt he could. couldn't
cisappolnt him. cCJ.d !. siT?"
You ought 10. Desire. if you really
desired TO do right II say. you had
promised to kill q man. would you keep
your wordg''
40, but that IS not trust. not silent
trust"
II by keeping that trust ny life is
sacrificed, what thenT'
The boy got slowly to bis feet and
answered gravely. I should be sorry,
my lord"
"Ah"
But If my own life were 10 be sacri-
feed as wen as yours. ! would still 90
the same, because I could not do any
thing else"
You are hard, my boy; hard and ob-
stinate."
Desire drew himself suddenly erect and
walked Immediately TO the tunnel door
which he threw wide. ''You had better
return, sir. TO the cavern" he said coldly:
you cannct mss il il you take the first
turning 70 the right Your lamp and
food are there. I shall visit you TO-
morrow"
why this sudden change, Desire"
The boys lips trembled but he stared
Cressiugham straight I'm the eyes. Look
Won, my lord, he said: I have spoken
10 you Just as I used TO speak to the
able, and told you all about myself just
as I am. because YOU asked me. I can
not help myself. I am rs I was made
and cannot alter. But because cannot
bring myself to do what you want, you
inSulted me and called me names" At
this he gave q great sob, and to Cres-
singham utter amaze broke down and
wept Ike a veritable girl
The man was entirely nonplussed. and
for a time could only stare silently at
the boys shaking igure, He watched
his chest heave up and down with big
choking sobs; he saw the tears trickle
through his fingers and fall TO the
ground in q perfect stream. Quite un-
nerved by the sight, he tried TO sooths
him with muttered apologies, but Desire
seemed heart-broksn and vept on unre-
Cressingham patted him on the
shoulder with enc hand and passed his
free arm round the boys slender body.
TO d0d how slight he was
and 1.-THE. Then with a sudden gasp Of
sheer aSto0ishment he star ed back. In a.
fash Of light dozen mysteries having
been explained to him. Desire was a
girl.
Good God" he cried sharply. what is
The meaning OF tLiS?''
Ills sudden start and cry shocked De