The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-21

hat. Listen! Listen, you fool! h
man whom o AVE condemned, whom
you have condemned to die, Is not only
my husband. welded to me three years
ago, but your father-your father, Ferd-
inand Cludde."
CHAPTER Xxx.
I stood glazing at her.
You We're q blind bat, or you would
have found 1t out for yourself" she
continued scornfully. "a babe would
have guessed It.. knowing as much Of
your father as you did"
Does he know himself?'I muttered
hoarseiy, looking anywhere but at her
now. The shock had left me dull and
confused. l did not doubt her word,
rather 1 wondered with her that I a
not found this out myself. But the pos
wide world into which 1 had plunged
to escape from the knowledge of his
existence had never occurred to me.
Had l thought of it. 1t would have
seemed too unlikely, and though 1
might have seen in Gardiner a link be-
tween us. and so nave identified aim,
the greatness of the chancellor's tran
sactlons, and certain things about Clar-
ence which had seemed or would have
seemed had / ever taken the point into
consideration, at variance with my
ideas of my father, had prevented me
49, N4SCii IilS
doe he know thai you are his son,
do you mean?" she said. mo; he does
not"
Have you not told him?"
NO., she answered with q slight
shiver.
I understood. I co~mprehended that
even to her h eagerness with which,
being father and son, we had sought
one another's lives during those DAYS
on the Rhine had seemed SO dreadful
thai She had concealed the truth from
him.
When did you learn IT," I asked.
trembling too.
Il knew his right name before 1 ever
saw YOU" he answered. yours I
learned on the day / left you at Sam
Ton. Looking back, I remembered the
strange horror. then inexplicable, which
she had betrayed, n 1 understood it.
So 1t was hat knowledge which had
driven her from us! What will YOU
do now?" she said. You will save him?
You must save him! He is your fa.
ther.''
Save him? I shuddered at the thought
that I had destroyed him; that I, his
son, had denounced him! Save him!
n perspiration sprang out in beads
on my forehead. If I could not save
him. I should live pitied by my friends
and loathed by my enemies!
III 1t be possible" 1 muttered. st
will save him.
You swear it?'' she cried. Before
could answer she seized my arm and
dragged me up the dim aisle until we
stood together before the figure and
the cross. The chimes above us rang
IL. A shaft of cold sunshine pierced a
dusty window and, full Of dancing
notes, shot athwart the pillars.
swear" she repeated, with trembling
eagsrness. turning her eyes on min
and raising her hand solemnly toward
the figure. Swear by the cross!"
Il swear" i said.
She dropped her hand. Her form
seemed to shrink and grow less. Max
Ing n sign to me to go. she fell on her
oversher ICE I walked away on tiptoe
down the aisle; but, glancing back from
the door of the church, / saw the small
solitary figure still kneeling In prayer.
me sunshine had died away. The
red lamp glowed duly above her head,
7 seemed to see what the end would be.
Then I pushed aside the curtain and
slipped out into the keen air. 1t was
hers to pray. 1t was mine to act.
| lost no time. but on my return 1
could not find Master BERTHE either in
the public room or In the inn yard. so
! sought him In his bedroom, where I
found him placidly reading a book. his
patient waiting IN striking contrast
with the feverish anxiety which had
/ n IlOld VI lle ~ w HAL is IL. la n 1O
he said, closing the volume and lay
ing 1t down on my entrance. You look
disturbed"
II have seen Mistress Anne" I an
swered. He whistled softly, staring at
me without a word. "She knows ALL
I continued.
How much is all?" he asked after
a pause.
Our 1ames-all our names-Penrud-
docke's. Kingston's, he others-our
meeting place. and that we hold Clar-
ence a prisoner. She was that old wom-
an whom we saw at the Gatehouse tav-
ern last night"
He nodded. appearing neither greatly
surprised nor greatly alarmed. Does
she intend to use her knowledge" he
said. II suppose she does"
Unless we let him go safe and un-
hurt before sunset"
They will never consent to It," he
answered. shaking his head.
Then they will hang!" I cried.
Hc looked hard at me a moment, dis
terness OF my last words. Come, lad"
he said. you have not told me all.
What else have you learned?"
How q 1 tell you?" l cried wildly,
waving him off and going to the lattice
that my face might be hidden from
him. Heaven has cursed mel added.
my voice breaking.
He came and laid his hand on my
shoulder. Heaven curses no one.' he
said. Most Of our curses we make for
ourselves. What is it, lad?"
I covered my face with my hands.
"He-he is my father" I muttered. do
you understand? Do you see what I
Hal" Master BERTHE uttered that
one exclamation In intense %astonish-
ment. Then he said nc more. But the
pressure of his hand told me that he
understood: hat he felt with me;
that he would help me. And
that silent comprehension. that silent
assurance, CAV the sweetest comfort,