The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-20
CHAPTER u.
The slon es the Three.

tUo osNU w WV t"Ne'
out-of.doors. high brazen noon.
day in spring. the clamorouB life OF
New York running az fluent as quick
silver through its brilliant streets.
withlndoors. neither sound nor sun
beam disturbed q perennial quiet that
was yet not peace.
The room was like wide. deep
well OF night. the haunt Of teemins
shadows and sinister siiences.
Little, indeed. was visible beyond
the lonely shape tat brooded over
Il, the figure OF ah old man motion,
less In a great. leather.bound chair.
His hair was a. white as his heart
was black, The rack OF his bones,
clothed In thick black dressing
gown with waist.cord Of crimson silk.
from the thighs down was covered by
black woollen rug. He stared un'
blinkingly at nothing: Q man seven
eighths dead. completely paralyzed
but for his head and his left arm.
Presently a faint clicking signal dis
turbed the stiffness. Seneca Trine put
forth his left hand and touched one
of row Of crimson buttons embedded
in the desk. Something else clicked
this time latch. There was the
faintest possible noise OF n closing
door, and n smsllish man stole noise
iessly into the light. paused beside the
desk and waited respectfully for leave
10 speak.
"Wellg"
"a telegram. sir-from England"
Give II met"
The old man seized the sheet OF yel'
low paper. scanned II hungrily. and
crushed Il IN his tremulous claw with
gesture OF uncomfortable emotion.
Send my daughter Judith here!"
Two minutes later q young woman
in street dress was admitted TO the
chamber of shadows.
You sent for me. father?"
Sit down"
She found and placed q chair at the
desk. and obediently settled herself
in II.
'Judith--tell ms-what day Is thisf"
MY birthday. am twenty-one."
And your sisters birthday: Rose.
too, is twenty one"
Yes"
'You could have forgotten that" the
old man pursued almost mockingly.
do you really dislike your twin sister
SO intensely"
The pIrrs voice trembled you
know" she said, I'VE have nothing In
common beyond parentage and this
abominable resemblance. Our natures
differ as ligl from darkness"
And which would you say was
light"
Hardly my own: I'm no hypocrite.
Rose is everything that they tell me
my mother was. while THE girl
smiled strangeiy--'T think-I am more
your daughter than my mothers"
A nod OF the white head confirmed
the suggestion. 1T is true. have
watched you closely. Judith. perhaps
more closely than even you knew.
Before was brought 10 this"-the
wasted hand made q signihcant ges-
ture-'J was man OF strong pas
sions. Your mother never loved, but
rather feared me. And Rose is the
mirror OF her mothers nature. gentle,
unselfsh. sympathetic. But you. Ju'
dith. you are like q second self to
me-"
An accent OF profound satisfaction
Informed his voice. The girl waited
In silence that was tensely expect
ant.
Then, II on this your birthday !
we're TO ask service OF you that
might injuriously AFFECT the happiness
OF your sister,"
The girl laughed briefly: only
ask H."
And how far would you 20 to do
my wilI?"
Where would you stop in the serv-
ice OF one you iovedH"
Seneca Trine nodded gravely And
after a brief pause. Rose is IN love-"
he announced.
"Oh, know--I know" the father
affirmed with @ faint ring OF satlsfac-
ton. Il am old. a cripple prisoner OF
this living tomb: but all things |
should know-somehow--T come to
know IN course OF time!"
TITS true--that EnglishmaD sho
scraped an acquaintance with on tho
Riviera last year-what's his namsY--
Law, Alan Law"
In the maiD." the father corrected
mildly. you are right. Only. he's not
English. His father was Wellington
Law, OF Law 4 Son"
She knew better than to Interrupt,
but her seeming patience was belied
by the whitening knucklcs OF a hand
To-, .,t,hi, tA,a uttla ,naI 90 hIu.I