Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-04-02
Satan 4
|6anderSOn


things in a hackneyed way Conven
ton sat lightly upon Harry Sanderson
He recognized few presidents either
In the new methods and millinery with
which he had invested the service OF
in his personal habits. Instead of at
tending the meeting of st Andrews
guild. after the constant custom OF
his predecessor. he was apt to be found
playing his violin "a passion with
HIM In the smart study that adjoined
the gothic chapel where he shepherded
his fashionable flock or tramping across
the country with a brier pipe In his
mouth and his brown spaniel, Rummy,
nosing at his heels. His athletic frame
and clean chiseled features made him
a rare figure for the reading desk. as
his violin practice. the cut of his golt
hannels, the immaculate elegance OF
his motor car, even the white carna
tion he affected in his buttonhole,
made him for the younger men a good
ly pattern of the cloth, and 1t had
speedily grown to be the fashion to
hear the brilliant Young minister
Something OF all this was In the law
yer's MIND as he paused IA perfunctory
pause-before he continued
Il do give and bequeath the sum OF
ST GOO and the memory OF his misspent
youth
Harry Snndersons eyes had wan.
dered from the chair to the slim fig.
,.f . 81 st,, hx
This was Jessica Holme the orpha, ri
daughter Of Il friend 81 the old mans
early years, who had recently come to
the house in the aspens to I'll the void
left by Highs departure Harry could
see the contour of throat and wrists
the Romney blue gown. the pIenteous
red bronze hair uncoiled and falling in
a single braid and the shadowy pathos
of her eyes. Clear hazel eyes they
were. wide and full but there was in
them no depth of expression, for Jes-
sica Holme was blind AS the crisp.
deliberate accent pointed the judicial
period as with subterranean echo of
irrefutable condemnation Harry saw
her under lip indrawn, her hands clasp
tightly, then unclasp in her lap Pliaut
graceful hands, he thought, which even
blindness could not make maladroit
go on" rasped the old man
1.-THE residue of my estate, real and
personal, l do give and beqreath to
my ward Jessica Holme'-
He broke off suddenly. for the girl
was kneeling by the chair cropping for
the restless hand tkat wandered on the
afghan and crying in a strained, agi-
tated voice: 'No-no-you must not!
He is your son.
SIN the eyes Of the law, yes. But
not otherwiser' His voice rose. What
has he done to deserve anything from
me? What has he bad all his life but
kindness? And how has he repaid iii
BY being a waster and prodigal. BY
setting me in contempt and finally by
+ forsaking me in my old age for his
own paths of ribaldry."
The girl shook her head. You don't
know where he is now or what he Is
doing Oh, he was wild and reckless,
have no doubt, but when he quarrelet
and left you wasn't 1t perhaps because
he was too quick tempered? And If ht
hasn't come back isn't 1t perhaps be
cause he Is too proud?"
"Jessica, I've not forgiven him sever
times. I've forgiven him seventy times
seven. But he doesn't want forgive
ness To him am only the old man
who refused to put up longer for bis
! fopperies and extravagances! When h
/ left this house six months ago he de
4 clared he would never enter 1t again
4 Very well: let him stay away! HI
4 shan't come back when am In m,
| grave to play ducks and brakes will
| the money he misuses! And I've fixet
it so that you won't be able to give /
away either, Jessica"
The girl. still kneeling, turned hal
about with a hopeless gesture. "Oh
won't you help me?" she said. Sh
spoke more to herself. it seemed, thai
to either of the men who waited.
"Sanderson." said the old man wit
bitter fierceness. lifting his hand. e
dare say you think | am hard, but
tell you there has never been a da
since Hugh was born when | wouldn'
have laid down my life for himl 70
are so like! When look at you / seer
to see him as he might have been bu
for his own hayward choicel If h
were only as like you in other thing
as he is in feature! You are nearly tn
same age. You went to the same co
lege, / believe. You have had the sam
advantages and the same temptations
Yet you, an orphan. come out diyin
ty student, and Hugh-my SOMEONE
out roisterer with gambling debts.