The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-11-22

and since then | have lived far fron
the larger oonoourses OF men. NJ
weekly sermon. for twenty years, ha
been the essence OF my weekly toll II
establishing the authenticity, first, o
the entire second gospel. and second
of the ten doubtful verses in the III
teenth chapter My work is now &C
complished--for all time, believe.
From the inception Of what ! con
sldered my life mission, made the re
solve 10 bequeath 10 Agatha Shaw
whatever manuscripts or other mate
rial Of value my work should lead me
to accumulate, together with this
house, in which ! have spent all the
later years OF my life. You are Aga
tina shaw's only child, therefore tc
me a foster-child.
Another reason, four years ago, led
me TO confirm my former testament
From time 10 time ! have Informed
myself concerning your movements
and fortunes The work you have
chosen, my dear Agatha, can but be-
lieye to be fraught with unusual dan
gers to a young woman. Therefore
l hope that this home. modest as II
is, may tempt you to an early retire
ment from the stage, and lead you TO
more private and womanly career.
This I make only as request, not as
a condition. | bid you farewell, and
give you my blessing
Faithfully yours.
HERCULES THAYER."
Agatha Redmond folded the thin
sheets carefully. There was a mist in
her gaze as she looked Off toward the
distant city lights.
Dear old gentleman! His whole
love-story, and my mothers too, per
haps!" Her quickened memory re-
called childish impressions Of visit
to a large country house and Of a
solemn old mamie seemed incredibly
ancient TO her-and of feeling that in
some way she and her mother were in
special relationship TO the house. 1t
was called the old red house. and
was full of fascinating things. The
ancient man had hidden her 60 about
and play as IL 1t we're her home and
then had called her to him and laid
open a book, leading her mind to re-
gard Its mysteries. Greek! It seemed
TO her as il she had begun it there
and then. Later the mother became
the teacher. She was nursed, as it
were, within sight Of the windy plains
of Troy and to the sound Of Homeric
hymns-and all by reason of this
ancient scholar
There was a vivid picture In her
mind, gathered at some later visit, of
a soft hillside, a small white church
standing under its balm-of-gilead tree,
and herself sitting by a stone in the
old churchyard, listening to the strains
of a hymn which floated out from the
high, narrow windows She remem-
bered how from without she had |
Joined the hymn, singing with all her |
small might; and suddenly the asso- |
citation brought back to her a more |
recent event and a more beautiful |
strain of music. Half in reverie, half |
in conscious pleasure in the exercise |
Of facile organ, she began to sing:
'Frec Of my pain, free of my burden of
sorrow,
80 last ! shall see thee
The song floated in 4 zone Of ST.
Ience that lay above the deep-mur-
muring city. The voice was no moro
than the half-voice of a flute, sweet,
gentle, beguiling. It told, as many
songs tell, of little earthly Love in the
grasp of mighty Fate. Still she sang
IN softly.
Suddenly the song ceased, and the
smile gave place to an
of surprise, as the singer
became conscious of deeper shadow
alling directly in front of her. She
glanced up quickly, and found herself
ooking into the face of a man whose
;imlet-like gaze was directed upon
lerself
Quickly she rose, she could not
urn into the path before the gentle
nan, hat in hand, with deep bow and
learly enunciated words, arrested her s
impulse to fight.
Pardon Mademoiselle, 1 am s
tranger in the city. ! was directed s
his way to Van Cortlandt Hall, but | {
nd l am in error, intrigued-in con- {
lsion. Would mademoiselle be so c
God as to direct me?" {
The tones had a foreign accent. E
here was something, also, in their '
land impertinence which put Miss
edmond on her guard. He was a
Ood-sized, blond person. carefully
ressed, and at least appeared like
gentleman.
Miss Redmond looked into the d
nooth, neat countenance, upon which @
0 record either Of experience or of Il
fought was engraved, and decided a
eetingly that he was lying. She W
dyed him capable of picking up ac- 8,
laintances on the street, but thought O.
lat more originality might be ex- b.
,cted of him ia
Suddenly she wished that she had Il
turned sooner to her car, for though tc
e was Of an adventurous nature, her hi
avery was not of the physical order; fc
Id she disliked to have the appear it
ice of unconyentionality After the dl
st minute she was not SO much e2
raid as annoyed. Her voice became fo
gid though her dignity was some