The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-12-23

him and lasted
for two or three
days. / often
wondered at these fits of melancholy,
but dared not ask my father, and he
vouch-safed no explanation Ny moth
er l never knew. She died when
was born. Would to God that I, too,
had followed her.
l passed the usual uneventful life
of the country squire's son until I
was twenty years old, and then, as Is
only human. I fell in love.
My love was returned and the hap
piest 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. He 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 I
opened the door, 1 heard a heavy
booming sound like some immense
church bell tolling for funeral.
hastily ran to his side and forced
some brandy through his clenched
teeth This seemed to revive him
somewhat, and he motioned me to
open the drawer of his secretary. /
did so and found a paper addressed
to myself He glanced at it 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, 1 unfolded it. This
is what 1 read:
ITO my son, John Vereken:-I adj
dress these words to you, as it were,
from the grave, and 1 trust that you
will forgive my great sin. There is
curse in our family and I, poor, weak,
fool, have transmitted it to you. You
no doubt, heard the sound of the bell
when l died l will tell you the story
of it.
Your great-grandfather grand
fatherNwas of generous but hasty
nature. He was quick to strike, and
as quick to repent of the blow. His
greatest friend was Richard Bassman,
whose family died with him. Ny
grandfather loved Richard as a BROTH
er. They were always together. But
one day they quarreled and Richard
Bassman was shot by my grandpa
Their. He died instantly. My GRANDPA
Their was so struck with horror at the
deed that he tried to kill 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. 1t has tolled II times.
and the sexton pulled the rope for the
thirteenth stroke. The bell gave forth
a booming sound and breaking loose
from its fastenings, 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 such
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 I loved
and fell Will you be stronger than
I? Already the bell tolled IL times and
/ feel that my end is near. My SON.
forgive me, and heed my adrnonition.
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. NV
resolution would vanish and / would
sin as my father had done before me.
She died six months later-of a bro
ken heart.
This is my story. Thirty yeara
have passed since that fearful night
when looked upon the dead face OF
my father and read the paper that
sealed my doom. am an old man.
have heard the bell toll 10 times ana
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 ana
knew that she waits for me. an.7--.ss
lHere the MSS suddenly breah1
on The body was found BIZ the fable
sitting in chair, as in HE. 4 men
was still clutched in thti nervelese.
fingers + 1900