The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-06-19

establishing the authenticity, FIRST. OF
the entire second gospel, and secon
OF the ten doubtful verses in the nj
teenth chapter. My work Is now &C
compllshed-for all time, / believe.
From the inception of what ! con
solve to bequeath to Agatha Shaw
whatever manuscripts or other mate
rial of value my work should lead me
TO accumulate, together with this
house, In which l have spent all the
later years of my life. You are Aga
tina Shaw's only child, therefore to
ny a ;oster-child.
Another reason, four years ago, LED
me to confirm my former testament
From time to time I have informed
myself concerning your movements
and fortunes. The work you have
chosen, my dear Agatha, / a but be
neve to be fraught with unusual dan
J gers to a young m Therefore
| hope that this home, modest as II
is. may tempt you to an early retire
ment from the stage, and lead you TO
a more private and womanly career
Thfs make only as a request, lot as
a condition. / bid you farewell, and
81 g o my blessing.
Faithfully yours,
HERCULES THAYER."
Agatha Redmond folded the thin
sheets carefully. There was a mist In
bss gaze as she looked off toward the
"~irtant city lights.
Dear old gentleman! His whole
ove-story, and my mothers too, per-
hapsl" Her quickened memory re-
ca led childish impressions Of a visit
to a large country house and or a
so~emn old mamie seemed incredibly
al :ient to her-and of feeling that In
so oe way she and her mother were In
a special relationship to the house. II
Was called "the old red house" and
w~s full Of fascinating things. The
ancient man had hidden her go about
and play as IL 1t were her home, and
then had called her to him and laid
open a book, leading her mind to re-
gard its mysteries. Greek! 1t seemed
w hCi d0 IL DIG ndu DCSuh IL bhSA
Snd then. Later the mother became
xhe teacher. She was nursed. as 1t
we're, within sight of the windy plains
ct Troy and to the sound of Homeric
hSmns-and all by reason OF this
s~ucient scholar.
There was a vivid picture in her
! mind, gathered at some later visit, of
II soft hillside, a small white church
%stending under its balm-of-gilead tree,
and herself sitting by a stone in the
old c~hurchyard. listening to the strains
OF a hymn which foated 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 a facile organ, she began to sing:
Free of my pain. free of my burden OF
sorrow.
| IA last 1 shall see thee
The song ioated In a zone OF ST.
leuce that lay above the deep-mur-
mering city. The voice was no more
than the h~alf-voice of a flute. sweet.
gentle, beguiling. 1t told, as many
songs tell, of little earthly Love in the
grasp of mighty Fate. Still she sang
on softly.
suddenly the song ceased, and the
reminiscent smile gave place 90 an
expression Of surprise, rs tho singer
became conscious Of a deeper shadow
falling directly in front of her. She
| glanced up quickly. and found herself
looking into the face of a man whose
| gimlet-like gaze was directed upon
herself.
Quickly she rose, she could not
turn into the path before the gentle
man, hat in hand. with q deep bow and
| clearly enunciated words. arrested her
impulse to flight.
-pardon, Mademoiselle, I am a
| st, anger In the city. ! was directed
| TINS way to Van Cortlandt Hall, but I
find | am in error. i~ntrigued-in IN
.union. Would mademoiselle be SO
good as to direct me?"
The tones had a foreign accent.
There ysas something. also. in their
! bland impertinence which put Miss
| Redmond on her guard. He was a
go~d-sized, blond person. carefully
| dressed, and at least appeared like
= gentleman.
Miss Redmond looked into the
smooth. neat co~untenance. upon which
nc record either of experience or OF
th-ught was engraved. and decided
rsstingly that he al lying. She
Jagged him capable OF picking up ac-
QsrlptaRees. on TIE street. but thought
Asx more originality migtt ex.
s>ceed Of him,
Suddenly he Wished that she had
seurrned sooner to her car. for though
xhs-xas Of An adventurous nature. her
~ cry was not Of the physical order: