The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-19
Fiction
HIS INHERITANCE.
BY CLINTON DANeERFIELp.

ceased, and TO John Rlngwood, stand
ing before him, It seemed that the
whole world was suddenly enveloped
in a mist of red shame. When Ring
wood spoke his accents were curiously
quiet and constrained, for was he not
addressing Molly's father?
"And So" he said. wondering vague
ly II he were the same John Ringwood
who ten minutes ago had asked so
! hopefully for the girls hand-"and so,
sir, this is your objection to me--be-
/ cause my father was a-a-coward"-
/ the word came out with n gasping
sound-"you think must be one also"
Blood tells" returned Henry Morris
hoarsely. "But, remember, lad. would
, never have forced this painful knowl-
edge Of mine on you II you had not
compelled me to say why could not
/ trust my girl to you. Your fathers
shame, known only to you and me,
would have slept with him in his
grave, but--you would know"
"That will do" said Ringwood thick
ly. II am my fathers son, as you say.
There is no chance here, or | might
prove to you that God does not always
make us mere copies of those who go
before But that is idle. There is one
thing l am gone tell Molly that
/ loved her; that asked for her hand,
but that there was "a barrier be-
tween us. She shall not think was
making summer love TO her She shall
not hate me for that"
"Very we'll" said the elder man
grimly "But II l had known the girl
would interest herself IN the first good
looking stranger thrown at my gates
by broken ankle / would have taken
preventive measures long ago"
81 will take the stage tomorrow"
pursued Ringwood. Until then l must
tre5pass on your hospitality"
And welcome" said Morris hearth
ly. you've met what I said like
man. Here's my hand"
"Is that necessary" returned the
other briefly "You may as well avoid
contamination when you have con-
demned another into hereditary lep.
rosy"
Morris left the taunt unanswered
and just then the library door swung
open, and a curly haired boy OF six
teen pushed in with spoiled freedom.
"Everythings gone to sleep on the
ranch" he said pettishly "when's !
Markham and Molly coming homer
"Your brother said he would bring
your sister home by 8 o'clock" re-
turned Morris.
"Gracious! hope he WILL" said the
boy. but she said they might cut
across to Denham's. She wanted to !
see old Aunt Hannah or some such |
nonsense. told her she was going |
after one of Hannah's love charms, |
and she turned as red as you please"
"Try to talk sense" said his father
irritably, and Rlngwood crossed to the
west window and stood watching the |
sunset fires die TO an ashen gray
$50 rose the fire of my hopes" he |
thought. Like this, II died In bitter |
ashes-fung to my fathers levell The |
son, oh, mercy, of-a cowardw
Eight o'clock came, but neither the
elder son nor Molly Morris had re,
turned. At 0 a negro groom brought
note saying they would sleep that |
night at the Denhams', some fifteen |
miles away. A thrill, half anguish,
half relief. shot through Ringwood. |
Best indeed that they should never
meet ngain. He would take the stage
early next morning.
Then on the heels of the negro stun
bled I'm Lee Hung, the cook. who had
been granted an afternoon off. Blanch-
ed to the palest Of yellows, he STAN
mered out tale in his almost incom-
prehenslble lingo which, translated,
ran as follows:
Coming home on foot, he was aware
OF a tiny fire at the foot OF SEWERS
canyon. Inspired by ancestral deities,
he had crept up to overhear the stran-
gers converse Developed, they had
learned OF Markham Morris deposit
that day with the express agent at Ra-
vanshood; that they resolved that this
money would circulate better at home
and had shot the unfortunate express
agent through his window, dead men
being proyerbially close mouthed; had
seized the packet, which waited the
midnight express, and now only tar
ried the rising Of the moon.
Young Morris went white with rage
and despair, That package stood be-
tween his family and financial ruin.
His eyes flashed.
"Of course Wen get 1t back, dad, at
once"
"Yes, lad. Lee Hung, how many
men were thereT
"Allee samee fingers one hand-no
thumb"
-Four. I'm sorry your brother isn't
here, Stanley. Yen are bit young for
such work The foot OF Sewer canyon.
Let's see We can be on them 10 half
m hour"
'"Take the short cut through the can
yon, dad. and we can be at 'em In
twenty-five minutes"