The Meeker herald., 1907-07-06

0our.
II am sorry, Hugh" he said kindly.
ut It hadn't been your fathers dying
request l wou.l have told you sooner.
or-not at all"
II was = helliah thing to dol" NUT
tered the young man through closed
teeth. ITO wait until man IL about
70 be married. and then to tell him
ny God! I cannot bear to think OIL
II know, l know" said the lawyer
soothingly. and 30 reasoned with
your father at the time. But, having
passed through the fiery furnace Of
ahliction. It was his only aim to save
you, his only son. from q similar fate
II possible"
my poor mother. did-did she know
OF this before she married my father?"
he asked.
The lawyer shook his head with
slow dissent.
No. | think not he answered. II
have reason to believe she was kept
In Ignorance until after the birth Of
her first child"
And that was. of course. I. But
why was Bn0 tOI0 INeu
Your mother had two children"
said the lawyer briefly.
Hugh wheeled In his chair and ixed
his penetrating eyes upon the mask.
like face Of the old man.
my mother had two children" he
gasped incredulously.
Your sister-for 1t was girl. died
many years ago in . private asylum.
where she had been placed by your
parents as soon as they found her
reason was dethroned." ti--a
Hugh groaned aloud. and once more
his head fell upon his arms.
And my mother?" he whispered.
Died OF grief when you were four
years old"
Poor mother" he murmured pity
ingly. what q life! Was-was my
father ever vtolent?"
, Only once that l know Of. was
there at the Time" explained the law
yer. when your father. In sudden
frenzy, turned on your mother-who
was then In delicate condition-with
cienched fist. and would have felled
her to the floor had not interposed.
He was big man, while your mother
l0ksd like mere girl. She made all
kiais Of excuses for him. but In the
end 1t broke her heart. And he was
q changed man from that time until
bis death. which occurred few
mocths aftey that Of your mother.
He. who had once been 70 5ovial. be-
gan to avoid strangers, and would sit
for hours In his study breeding over
thu wrong he had done his young
wife by marrying her and thus per-
petuating the family curse"
hut don't see how he kept every
thing 30 quiet" Hugh said curiously.
"four father was irrational only at
times," replied the lawyer. with the
cunning Of insanity he would deny
himself to all callers whenever he felt
the paroxysms coming on. So that
mona Of his friends or acQuaintauces
eve. knew the terrible secret which he
20 carefully guarded. Even your sis
ter was taken to another state and en-
tered in private retreat under an
asailmed name. Very few were aware
Of Ter existence
WAS 1t before my sisters birth
that-that-"
''is WAS" replied the lawyer, sur.
missing the question the young man
feared to ask. And there was no
doubt but your fathers murderous at.
tack on your mother at that time was
partly the cause of your sisters de-
mentia. You can see why he left that
request. In all probability you will
escape the family affliction-for you
are the image Of your mother. and all
her people were strong-minded and
healthy. But -our children, II you
ever have any. might inherit your
fathers tendencies. So II you marry
Estelle Carter. and admire your
choice. and believe she would wed you
even II she knew Of the grim spectre
that has haunted your family for gen
creations. It must be with the full
knowledge Of the sruesome story
have Just related. But ~ q frisnd of
yours. Hugh, and love you as we'll
as II you were my own son. don't put
that sweet girl to the test. Make
some ptauelbie excuse to break the
engagement, and then go abroad for
few years. l know she loves you
truly. but she is young. and better a
little unhappiness now than q broken
heart and wrecked life In the years
to come"
AS the lawyer finished speaking he
carefully placed his legal documents
IN leather bag and left the room.
An hour passed. and then another:
nothing broke the stiffness but an oc-
casional groan. Hugh Conway was
wrestling with his soul.
A timid knock on the door aroused
him at last, but the battle was won:
he had conquered himself.
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