The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-12-20

ness came over
him and lasted
for two or three
days. often
wondered at these fits Of melancholy,
but ] dared not ask my father. and he
youch-safed no explanation My moth
er never knew. She died when
was born. Would 10 God that /. too,
had followed her
/ passed the usual uneventful life
Of the country squire's son until
was twenty years old. and then, as Is
only human. / fell In love
Ny love was returned and the hap
pif It moment Of my life was when
Lucy Derrick promised to become my
wife.
Later ] was sitting at the drawing
room fire thinking OF Lucy, when a
servant entered the room and said my
father wanted to see me. lie had
taken suddenly i'll and was in his bed.
room.
arose hastily and started for the
room. for this was the first intimation
had had Of his illness. Just as
opened the door. / heard heavy
booming sound like some immense
church hell tolling for funeral
! hastily ran to his side aud forced
some brandy through his clenched'
teeth. This seemed to revive him
somewhat. and he motioned me 10
open the drawer of his secretary. |
did so and found a naper addressed
TO myself. He glanced at Il and made
a feeble effort TO nod his head. The
next moment his whole body shook
with commissions He half rose from
the bed. gasped and fell back. My
father was dead.
The paper was still in my hands,
and, mechanically, ! unfolded II. This
Is what l read
ITO my son. John vereken:-I ad.
dress these words to you, as Il were,
from the grave. and | trust that you
viii forgive my great Gin. There is a
curse in our family and !, poor, weak,
fool. have transmitted II to yol. You
no doubt, heard the sound OF the bell
when ! died. will tell you the story
Of it.
"Your great-grandfather- grand
father-was of a generous but hasty
nature. lie was quick to strike, and
as quick TO repent of the blow. His
greatest friend was Richard Bassman,
whose family died with him. My
/ grandfather loved Richard as a broth
er. They were always together. But
one day they quarreled and Richard
Bassman was shot by my GRANDPA
ther He died instantly. My grandfa-
ther was so struck with horror az the
deed that he tried to kin himself. but
/ friends prevented the act. Richard
Bassman WAS buried the next day,
and as the body was being carried to
the grave, the bell in the church tolled
out his years. II has .olled 70 times.
and the sexton pulled the rope for the
thirteenth stroke. The bell gave forth
a booming sound and breaking loose
from its f9stenings, fell to the ground.
My grandfather had been deeply af-
fected by the tolling OF the bell. At
each stroke he was seen TO shudder.
Then came that fatal thirteenth
stroke. His face grew livid and sHch
an expression of unutterable horror
came over it that everyone who saw
him shuddered His great form sway
ed and fell to the ground dead
My son. it is my earnest plea that
you let our accursed race die with
YOU My father implored me never
to marry and ! resolved TO follow his
request. but | met the woman loved
and fell. VIII you be stronger than
/? Already the bell tolled ~ times and
! feel that my end is rear. My son,
forgive me. and heed lay admonition
DO not transmit this curse to anoth-
er, for It win cause your loved ones
untold misery"
The next day told Lucy all.
never saw her again for knew that
should / look upon her dear face. my
resolution would vanish and I would
sin as my father had done before me
She died six months later-of a bro
ken heart.
This is my story Thirty years
have passed since that fearful night
when ] looked upon the dead lace Of
my father and read the paper shai
sealed my doom. am an old man.
have heard the bell toll Y times and
I feel that my end is near. have
suffered much. but as look back upon
the life. already spent. / am glad that
/ kept my vow. Many time have
been in communication with Lucy. and
] know that she waits for me. and
Here the MSS. suddenly breaks
on. The body was found by the table
sitting in a chair. as in life A per
! 80 -sLLL -.l..-.L--a 4. IL --..---l----