Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-04-04

establishing the authenticity, first. OF
the entire second gospel, and second,
OF the ten doubtful verses In the M
teenth chapter. My work is now ac-
complished-for all time. I believe.
From the inception Of what con
sidered my life mission, | made the re-
solve to bequeath to Agatha Shaw
whatever manuscripts or other mate
rial OF value my work should e 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
me a foster-child.
Another reason, four years ago, LED
me to confirm my former testament.
From time to time | have informed
myself concerning your movements
and fortunes. The work you nave
chosen, my dear Agatha, / can but be-
lieve to be fraught with unusual dan
gers to a young woman. Therefore
! hope that this home, modest as II
Is, may tempt you to an early retire
ment from the stage, and lead you 10
a more private and womanly career.
This I make only as a request. not as
a condition. l 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 a visit
to a large country house and OF q
solemn old mamie seemed incredibly
ancient to her-and Of feeling that In
some way she and her mother were In
a special relationship to the house. 1t
was called "the old red house." and
was full Of fascinating things. The
ancient man had hidden her go abowt
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! 1t seemed
to her as If she had begun 1t there
and then. Later the mother became
the teacher. She was nursed, as 1t
were, within sight Of the windy plains
Of Troy and to the sound Of Homeric
hymns-and all by a 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, hall
in conscious pleasure in the exercise
Of a facile organ. she began to sing
Free of my pain. free of my burden o.
sorrow.
AZ last l shall see thee"
The ong fioated in a zone Of 81
lence that lay above the deep-mur
muring city, The voice was no more
than the half-voice of a flute, sweet
gentle, beguiling, 1t told, as man!
songs tell, of little earthly Love In tn,
grasp Of mighty Fate. Still she san,
on softly.
Suddenly the song ceased, and tn,
reminiscent smile gave place to al
expression of surprise, as the SINCE
became conscious Of a deeper SHADOW
falling directly In front Of her. Sh,
glanced up quickly, and found hersel
looking into the face Of a man who's
gimlet-like gaze was directed upol
herself.
Quickly she rose, she could NO
turn into the path before the gentle
man. hat in hand. with a deep bow an
clearly enunciated words, arrested he
impulse to fight.
Pardon, Mademoiselle. l am
stranger in the city. l was directe
: this way to Van Cortlandt Hall. but
find I am In error, intrigued-in cor
| fusion. Would mademoiselle be O
r good as to direct mel"
The tones had a foreign accen
) There was something. also. in thei
r bland im%pertinence which put Mis-
Redmond on her guard. He was
+ good-sized, blond person. CAREFUL
I dressed, and at least appeared nk
, a gentleman.
Miss Redmond looked into III
smooth, neat ~countenance, upon whic
r no record either Of experience or 4,
thought was engraved. and decide
fleetiugly that he vas lying. 81
8 Judged him capable of picking up a
quaintances on the street, but though
d that more originality might be e
pected OF him.
n Suddenly she wished that she hs
returned sooner to her car, for thous
s she was Of an adventurous nature, h,
n bravery was not Of the physical ordeI