The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-04

ing one who was never worthy to touch
the hem Of your garment The Enclosed
will give you true insight into the char
acter of the late Captain Blaydes. but I
make a separate packet OF II 50 that you
may destroy It unread II you prefer not
to know and to think me the liar.
You may remember telling me that
Captain Blaydes had the room that 4
have now when he was here and was
not That was the week before last. The
weather has been so warm the fire has
not been alight since my return, and to-
day quite by chance discovered torn up
In the CRATE the fragments which have
put together and now inclose. win not
tell you the word that caught my eye
and irresistibly impelled me TO put the
letter together and read It through. nor
will seek TO defend an action that will
no doubt condemn me In your eyes for
ever. II was dishonorable. admit 1t.
But am believer In instinct My In
stinct always told me that that man was
a bad man. and my instinct told me then
that was within reach OF proving its
own unerring truth and the measure OF
a Villains villainy. l have done both, as
You will soon see II you can nerve your
self 70 know the truth II not. condemn
me with glance or with words as bitter
as you please. and / leave this house
what have done, You mourn traitor.
and had rather forfeit your respect
nay. and my own honor TO boot-than let
one so divine waste another sigh on one
so devilish!
But II you forgive me. oh, let me hear
II from your own sweet lips. and will
move heaven and earth 70 atone for
what present misery this may infiict!
One day you win thank me, Meanwhile
a
your lightest word shall be my law. II
only ] could do something for you! My
one remaining chance of happiness is in
serving her | may not love. Humbly and
sincerely always.
JAMES Z. W. DAINTREE.
Claire arrived at the last paragraph
with a mind made up. She perceived
with amazement the writer's theory
regarding the wretched Blaydes and
herself. 1t had never struck her thar
her every agitation might be thus mis-
construed. and her first impulse was 10
set Daintree right upon the point. She
would then return the discriminating
inclosure unopened. That would be a
sufficient rebuke for an action. as Ii
were. so honestly dishonorable. And
mt these decisions her nlmble mind had
arrived before she came TO the last
paragraph.
This she read over more than once
with puckered forehead and a
changeful eye us eagerness, reluctance,
hesitation and decision. shame and
pride whipped across her face Ike
shadows and sunbeams on gusty day.
And suddenly she tore open the IN
closure and felt rs mean us D9intree
from that moment. though she barely
glanced ut what she found.
II was an obviously genuine letter.
addressed 10 Rlaydes by some poor
woman bnt that was all Claire allowed
herself 10 discover \ feeling Of in
credible meanness made her hot all
over. and she turned the letter upside
down 70 examine the method o. recon.
struction With abominabIe ingenuity
Daintree had pasted the scraps upon
| a sheet A few were missing. Many
were black from the Goals. Claire shnd.
dered and glanced at her own fireplace
| II was laid and all ready for lighting
A moment later Il was lit. and the
dead mans letter was blazing in lis
midst Then Claire breathed again and
took another look NJ Daintree's warn
ing before burning il too.
"An interesting revelation Of char
acter," said she when this was done
! II shall never think the same Of hin
again, or Of myself either. But wha
docs that matter since can neye
think the same OF Tom; Nothing mat
tiers except saving his life. And her
Is a man who says he'll do anythinI
sor me. VIII he: We shalt see"
She had a word with Daintree be
fore dinner. Forgive yoa5 than
I you with all my heart" said she. An,
great was the change In her this even
Ing. II was 10 time for gayety. Blu
Claire was animated. Her eyes spaI
killed.. She conversed freely on ID
topic Of the hour, and when SIR. Hard
Ing was moved after all 10 give DAN
tree n JudIcious version of his attemr
10 provide fair play for dastardl
constituent. with the result. the glI
took her fathers breath away by Tool
Ing hard at their guest and declarin
that she would finance the defense heI
SELF n Size had the money.