The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-07-29

-st--'-ES
Haca- To!!s Arthur CT His Faregtaso.
Arthur Stanley. dead or awe, hatl feat
ed unseen down me river. lna sheriff
faded to find Arthur at the camp.
It vas with blSaa.llg eyes that aagar
nfronted Artl2sll when he was strong
enough to bear her fierce reeroaches.
MY sacrifice l.as been all in vain,''
she cried bitterly. "a ruined man and
q murderer, you have wasted every
chance II life for which ] bowed my
head in bittcrness3 and sorrow Better
had YOU been bred the poor gypsy you
were born, rather than 80 be a s. gitiFe
HnpoStor who has sqTanGered 4 her;t-
age that WAS net l:s.''
arthur regarded her as though she
We're. what she seemed to him, an III
sane harridan. who ragged at him in
half incohereslt frenzy. Then iIagar
drew a brass bound box from It's hid
ing place, and, opening 1t with Il key
from her bosom. handed him q sealed
doc1I1eIt yellow and inusty with a@a.
Oh the outside OF which were the
words:
''0o be opened only after my death
in case M son, Arthur Stanley %.
should prove unworthy OF the name of
Stanley"
With trembling hands he broke the
seal an1 realized the woman before
him had spoken TIE drcauf1i truth.
Esr -alags, a4ss71Sz2s. wo.3 II seie--astsGe Of
G'olonsl a',alse., which Pc kfsAs- well,
81 oil =,
as wAness.
Nothing belongs to ycu, rot even
your name. ana much less this for
wilish you stained your hands with
blood.' erica IssEsssar hystcricaIy. aid
she threw down into TIE opea brass
boz wish {, gesture Of disGain the dia-
molld from tIla Sky.
'3Et / am not guilty Of the death
Of Dr. Lee; ha was my friend Pc
plied Arthur hosrz>ly 81 did xii my
supposed cousin Blair. and he Row
liea;in q grave dug for another. but not
for this" and lie pointed 30 the Daleful
jewel. - killed Blair Stanley because
he spoke Il! of Esther. Why have you
driven her ont TO reproack me with
| what I an not guilty? Tell me, il I
am not Aitilu. Stanley, who is she?
| Is she my sister? I ask this, for lsy
every Wild deed Of my reckless life in
| the past and for every good deed I
| hope 20 achieve I love herr
'No matter who she is, you are not
good enough 10 breathe the same air
with her!' replied Ifagar fercely.
| ;2laze the better man OF yourself shat
| you boast you will. Make Il name for
| yourself III place OF the one you la .
| lost and then return to me Cor 4 moth
| er's blessing and to learn WHO Is
| Their isi''
SO saying Iiagar, for she felt her
fertitu&e giving way. walked with dry
| eyes and head erect from the van.
Arthur picked, up the diamond fson
the sky IN her agitation IIagar had
| forgotten it, and Arthur was Of the
| belief tAlt his Spartan mother ha.s 7e #
It there that he might take it and
| make some temporary Use CT it to
bui1l his fortunes with. For Arthur
believed that Blair still lay dead BY
his hand in the grave dug for another
and with him the last male Stanley
save the old earl in England had per
tsaed.
AS Arthur passed from the van he
saw Esther come toward him from
Hagar'S side and was glad TO note his
fierce, stern mother made 80 attemp!
to stay her. And Esther had evident
~ been told rs much as Hagar cared
to tel her.
She called him ''brother' and walk
ed with him to the woods at the edge
Of the camp, and there they PAUSED
ana made their farewelIs.
BE q good man, Arthur, my broth
eT, and let ne be proud of your rs
Their whispered tenderly. And Arthur
folded her to his heart and kissed he
and strobe away.
!, He looked back once and saw he
leaning against q great tree and weep
ing. But neither he nor the weepin.
Esther heheld the dark face Of Lux
, Lowell peering at them through tn
) shrubbary.
1t was not until next morning tha
> dagar sought for the diamond ant
7 found it missing. Again her race a
AftntT burne@ high. Hagar hated IN
: 'et&Elos 1aa.Eae ami aesbEsed eve,sr stsa
LET Possession, but she was resolve G.
3 since all the Stanley line was near a
/ end that Esther, aefrauded OF ever
e other birthrigllt. should have the dia
| | lnOnd from tie sky.
S Hagar had not wholly believed Al
! thur guilty Of DR.. Lees murder, eve
e when she had first learned OF his bain
suspected from Esther's lips when sh
e had come for Esther to Fairfax til
n day before. Hagar resolved to so t
Rlchnond, the nearest big c.asv, Zee
S ing sure Arthur would be thesf in hi(
i Ing, IN the hope of finding him and 81
s curing the diamond from the Sky f.
O Esther, even if it were necessary /
Y give Arthur, her own son, up to th
@ law.