The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1914-07-09
A Case Of
Repentance
By MARcARET G. DEVEREAux

pentance must come before death
Eleanor Blake lost her father when
she was little girl. and her mother
took for a second husband one VII.
liam MARYLAND. wIdower with a son,
at the time OF the marriage twelve
years older than his stepsister. The
widow was very poor. and Mr. Mark
land was rich. His son. Joseph, was
a singular youth. sometimes under the
influence OF pure and noble emotions
and sometimes apparently swayed by
the devil himself. When be was ia
the former condition be was very kind
TO Eleanor. but when In the latter be
seemed 10 hate her.
Eleanor was q fayorite with her step
father and be hoped when she grew
TO be a woman she you'd marry his
son. for he was aware OF the latter's
DR. Jekyil and Mr.. Hyde disposition.
and he believed that she would be
able 10 tide him over bis evil periods.
but be only wished for this: be did
not attempt 10 bring Il about Flea
nor's mother died when she was 6f-
teen years old. and after being made
again 8 wfdower Mr. Markland's af-
lection for his little stepdaughfer was
much enhanced. His sons periods Of
wickedness seemed 10 be increasing on
him and were a source OF distress to
his father.
Then Joe MARYLAND. when Eleanor
WAS seventeen years old. delighted his
father by showing evidence that be
was falling in love with bis sfepsisteF
Eleanor. however. seemed 10 regard
him only as brother. but as such was
extremely fond OF him he asked for
= different love. and when she told
lsim that It was not possible for her
to give II 10 him be fell into one OF
bis wicked states and treated Der
shsmefBIIy
Joe MARYLAND disappeared one day
and was not seen az home again for q
long while Meanwhile bis father
failed IN health. and Eleanor was his
sole comfort She considered IL her
duty as well as her preference to re-
main single and TO minister 20 him.
though she had many suitors. All
this time no one knew where Joe
MARYLAND was til few months before
his father died. when Eleanor received
a letter from him evidently written In
one OF his angelic moods. He regret
ted that she could not love him, but
did not blame her. He wrote 10 ask
her forgiveness for the way be had
treated her.
Eleanor wrote that his father could
not live long and begged him TO come
home and gire the invalid what CON-
fort be could during the short time
that remained before death. Joe wrote
that be would come at once: but,
though only a few weeks were need
ed for the journey, he did not arrive
for several months. He reached home
the day his father died. and 1t was
perhaps as wen that he did not ar
rive sooner. for. though he showed no |
signs OF his mood TO those |
who did not know him well. be was.
in one Of his deviiish |
His father was barely 4
able TO bid him goodby and whisper
"a to him that he hoped be would |
some day secure Eleanor for his wife. |
Joe took charge Of the household /
and household affairs ill after the fU- /
neral. when a search was made for /
he will No win was found Joe.
being sole heir az law. took posses
don Of the property and told Eleanor
hat II she would marry him be would
tnrn over the management OF IL TO her. |
Eleanor refused. Quite possibly. know
ng as she did that her stepfather de
Tired the match. she might have yield
"a. but she saw that Joe was at the i
lime not hts better self
Joe MARYLAND remained AT home
ong enough to put his estate under
/ competent manager. whom be direct
"A to pay his sister $50 month and
her TO remain In the home
tead.
One morning looking out of an up
'er window she saw her stepbrothev
oming. Though some distance from
Ter. he appeared bedraggled. He was
raikIng rapidly. and she bad scarcely
cen him when she heard him at the
COR. She ran down to meet him. but
q was not where she had expected 30
nd him. Thinking be had entered be-
ore her. she went into the living room.
here stood Joe with heavenly look
n hts face such as she had often seen
here when he had become repentant
he was about 20 spring toward him
'hen she noticed that be was dripping
Tlth water. And singularly enough
here was a salt odor about him. She
an out of the room to get something
4 which to wrap him till be could
hange his clothing. aud when she re-
armed with a blanket she had snatch
q from a bed Joe was not there.
What had become OF him. She was
bout TO run into the ball TO look for
ina when she noticed on table
1ldcd document. She took it up aud
,und it soaked with water. Cltnging
, Il was a tine strand OF seaweed.
The paper was found to be will Of
William MARYLAND. leaving all his prop
rty to bis stepdaughter. Eleanor
lake
Eleanor was found lying on the fool
! swoon. and an illness followed