Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-09-30
Short Stories For Evening Hours
A WILLING VICTIM

sum then Day by day the temptation
grew. A vessel hove in sight, and we
were rescued. Yet all through the
voyage that followed brooded upon
what | might achieve with your faith.
er's money, and In the end yielded"
Berry, WAS listening now with bated
breath; truly this man had sinned
against her, yet she was conscious OF
no bitterness or shadow of anger as
the truth was disclosed. Presently
he went on again, In the same re-
morseful tone.
ut was so easy to sin: second
will took the place of the first. The
signatures were traced and few could
have told which were genuine and
which false. ! took advantage of the
well known friendship existing be-.
tween your father and myself. This
regard and esteem were set forth as
the reason for his bequest."
you were confided to my sole care
until you were 81 | was to maintain
and educate you, and take the place
OF him you had lost. When you came
OF age you were to have the sum Of
$4,000, the remainder was left to
me. You know the rest already. The
will was proved, the death Of the wit.
nesses was passed over.
my profession carries with 1t a
certain guarantee of responsibility:
would to God I had lived up to that
standard. For years I have bitterly
repented the step took, yet there
has been no chance Of retreat. And
now my end is near, and the shame
Will fall, not upon my head, but upon
HIS whom I love better than all the
world-my son."
He broke of abruptly, and Beryl
heard him groan. For some time
there was silence In the room, then
he turned and faced her.
81 have robbed you, too, of the hap.
piness you thought was yours" he
said. humbly. Little did I think that
In SHINING I should blight the hope of
your inmost heart and Of his. did
not dream that you would learn to
love him--that he would grow to
worship you, and desire you for his
wife" ,.
And now the seed is bringing forth
fruit, and the sins OF the fathers are
visited upon the children: he will
make you PREPARATION to the uttermost
dollar, and then he will turn his face
away from you forever. know his
pride; he will inherit my shame, and
never for one moment forget 1t, or its
bitter penalty"
Beryl stood up; she was thinking
rapidly. Too well she knew the
truth of her guardians last words.
The question of the money had
troubled her little, but II II touched
her love--if It robbed her Of him--the
penalty Of this mans sin was indeed
great. She looked down; something
was In the old mans outstretched
hand.
Take IT," he said huskily, like
many another guilty man have kept
the proof Of my crime; many times
have resolved to destroy 1t, but al
ways / have held back: take 1t, 1t is
your fathers true will" s ....
She took 1t from him and opened It.
A glance showed her that he had
spoken truly. Suddenly new idea
occurred to her; she sat down and
tried to think. Slowly the idea grew
till 1t merged into resolve, then she
lifted her head.
"Is this known to any save our
selves?" she asked quickly.
mo-" he said humbly, IL have hid
den 1t even from my SON."
She bent down earnestly.
"Will you promise to reveal 1t to
none save MYSELF" she asked; you
say you have sinned against me; II
you die with the secret still unspok
en-. shall deem 1t sufficient repara
ton. Will you promise me?"
He looked at her In bewilderment
But that will not help YOU" he
said.
She smiled.
1T will save me from lifelong un
happiness" she said gently; ut will
prevent the separation you fear"
He looked at her fixedly.
But however," he asked.
Because ], too, Wills keep silent,
she replied softly.
He started, and his dim eyes bright
ened.
But you will lose the money he