The Washington herald., 1911-01-07
CHAPTER Xxx.
At the Dawn Of Day.


! When the door closed after Paul Cliff
| ford laid his head in his hands and
i groaned. He had done his best to make
! his son-his only son. the child of the
only woman he had ever loved-a MUIR
derer. But for chance nay. was il
chance? Or was there an overruling
, Providence who had saved him from a
lifelong horror? Then he raised his head
as he told himself Julias son would
never have stained his hands with blood
He Mad often wondered what had made
him take such pleasure in Pauis society.
Now he understood: it was kinship as
! SertinG itself.
Then. amid the chaos of his mind.
there arose one comforting thought-he
had saved his son from committing sui
eide
! Gradually he became calmer. and his
mind reverted to the matter under dis
russion just before he discovered that
Paul was his son. He can't marry the
girl: he will give her up, now he realizes
the wrong her mother has done me-, he
thought. but in his heart Clifford was
doubtful
At that moment there was gentle tap
on the door. and Rachel Falk entered
She looked tired and heavy-ryed.
Sit down. Rachel: you are the very
person | wanted. I've made a discovery.
| WonlSTl vi discovery.
| She looked keenly at him. her eyes
seeming to become bright and alert at
| once
What have you found outcc" she
>ked.
Rachel. you know the story Of my
| life. I've found my son. and he iS Paul
Clelland. said Clifford. and there was a
| joyful ring in his voice that she had
never heard
The little JewesS' face frightened.
| I'm glad. He's a son any one might
he proud of. And YOU are good friends?
she said in a questioning tone.
Good friends" he echoed Rachel.
We have Guarreled. and | was telling him
little bit OF my life. in order to bend
| him to'my will. when the truth came out.
! Hes got my wifeS locket. and the Ger
| tihCates Of our marriage and his birth
arc in it. He cannot have known how to
! open il or he would have known more
| than he does. | must talk to some one
| and I can trust you. Did YOU know that
| I saved his life? He was going into the
| river and | stopped him. suppose
| should have done il if | hadn't been in
| terested in him, but I'd noticed him. and
hr seemed suitable fellow to carry out
| my schemes. | thought he looked well
! born though h" said he was a nobody.
I'd planned to have my revenge on the
Shenstones. Everything was ready.
was wanting
| Q He came. and | made bargain with
! him. He calls il devils bargain The
| man I chose To he the instrument of my
vengeance WIS my own son.
Rachel. if he had killed Judge Shen-
| stone | should have paid an awful price
| for my revenge. The hand that avenged
! my wrong would also have avenged
theirs. as my life would have been a tor
nent.'
so yOull owe some thanks to the
| party who murdered the judge I'm
thinking. sir. that revenge isn't always
! sw eet: ii turns to dust and ashes in your
| mouth
Did you ever suspect that Cielland
| was my SOM asked Clifford
! No" sir: | cannot say that | see any
| likeness. Does he take after his moth
| er"''
Not in the least. but that he is my
| son | am certain. DO you know he
wouldn't agree to give UP Margaret
| Shenstone and marry HaEar?"
The old woman'S eyes flashed
Don't let Hagar know you've been Of
| fernE her like a bit of mercha ndise: the
| chld's got will of her own as well as a
| heart. The God of Abraham bless her."
She loves him. he said.
The old woman shook her head.
She did love him. but Hagar is a girl
% II. anu i tnlnk Sne = Deen 6Olng
battle with herself. Anyway. she would
not have him now. because if he gave up
Miss Shenstone she'd be quick enough to
see il wasn't of his own free will, or she
might think he'd forsaken the girl when
she was in trouble, and Hagar would de-
spiSc him
Clifford looked troubled
My son cannot marry the daughter of
my bitterest enemy he said, grim deter
minaton in his tone
Rachel Falk watched him silently. then
she said:
We cherish our wrongs till they grow
bigger and bigger: then We tell ourselves
only blood will wipe them out. and we
plan to do murder. Then when we've
flying, and we'd undo our work il we
could. but there's no undoing the past.
In the old times there were cities Of
refuge to which the shedder of blood
could flee, but l guess he spent his days
in prayer and sacrifice. until. worn out,
he lay down to die. unless he went out
and let the people do unto him as they
would
Clifford watched her curiously. She
seemed to be speaking as in a dream.
What are you thinking about, ,Ra-
chel?'' he asked
She woke up.
Il was thinking about revenge. 1t
doesn't seem to me to pay. do you feel
happier man now that Judge Shen-
stone lies in his grave and his wife is to
be hanged for the murder?''
Clifford's face clouded.
Il did not expect their destruction to
bring happiness, but l wanted to be
avenged. / told myself when there was
only one solitary girl left, and she so
covered with disgrace that no decent
man would marry her. I should feel that
/ had paid the debt / owed. Judge Shen-
stone died. and without any help of
mine his wife was convicted of the mur-
der; then my own son declares he shall
marry the girl. Rachel. / am beginning
to lose faith in my own powers"
The old woman rose.
Mr. Clifford, take an old woman's ad-
vice. Let the lad marry Margaret Shen-
stone. and from the ruined lives there
may come a better race. men and wom-
en- who will keep pure hearts and clean
hands, and as she finished speaking she
left the room.
Clifford looked after her In surprise.
What has come to Rachel? She might
be prophecies. 1 did not know she had
the gift of language" he thought.
Meanwhile the old woman went quick
ly upstairs. and going to her bedroom
she put few garpents in a bag. 1T
won't be many I shall need she
thought. When her packing was done
she took a sheet Of paper and wrote:
Th,ar suSvS I Aoea'f