The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-01-22

= 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. My moth
er I never knew. She died when l
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 I was sitting at the drawing
room fire thinking of Lucy, when
servant entered the room and said my
father wanted to see me. He had
taken suddenly i'll and was in his bed
room.
I arose hastily and started for the
room, for this was the first intimation
/ had had of his illness. Just as l
opened the door, I heard a heavy
UOOA11A6 SOuAu AlhO oOAAAO
church bell tolling for funeral.
I 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. l
did so and found paper addressed
to myself. He glanced at it and made
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, I unfolded it. This
is what I read:
'To my son, John Vereken:-I ad-
dress these words to you, as it were,
from the grave, and I trust that you
will forgive my great sin. There is
curse in our family and I, poor, weak,
fool, have transmitted 1t to you. You
no doubt, heard the sound of the bell
when died. I will tell you the story
of it.
''Your great-grandfather- grand
father-was 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. My
grandfather loved Richard as 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. It has tolled IL times,
and the sexton pulled the rope for the
thirteenth stroke. The bell gave forth
booming sound and breaking loose
from it's 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 l resolved to follow his
request, but I 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 admonition
\ Do not transmit this curse to anoth
4 er, for it will cause your loved ones
Il untold misery"
Il The next day I told Lucy all.
never saw her again for 1 knew that
should 1 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 bro
ken heart.
| This is my story. Thirty years
/ have passed since that fearful nigh
| when I looked upon the dead face O.
4 my father and read the paper tha
Il sealed my doom. I am an old man.
Il have heard the bell toll II times anG
II l feel that my end is near. I have
suffered much, but as look back upo,
the life, already spent, am glad tina
l kept my vow. Many a time have
been-in communication with Lucy, ant
l know that she waits for me, and
II (Here the MSS suddenly break,
off. The body was found by the table
~ sitting in chair, as in life. A Del
was still clutched in the nerveles
LII fnvors