The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-03-04
CHAPTER xiV-Continued.

since the OlO man Snatcneu the pic
ture the Pearlhunter and the girl had
been staring at each other. Events
were happening, developments unfold
ing, too fast for comprehension. The
old man was staring at them both,
from one to the other, as If unable TO
grasp revelation that had been twen-
ty years coming. He stretched up his
hands at last to the young man, pulled
his face down to him, gazed on it as
at something of which he had long
dreamed but never hoped to see !;
turned back to the man on the floor.
) Martin Redmond, I'll requite the
deed you've done, the one good deed
of your evil life. The little girl I've
raised as my own, the child of the
good woman you cruelty killed, the
child you deserted, your daughter
stands before you"
The girl recoiled in horror. The I'M
natural father strained his glazing
eyes toward the daughter his thought
had outraged; a cry muttered up out
of his chest and brought with ii gush
of froth and blood; he stiffened; his
face frightened horribly; he fell heavy
against the arms of the sheriff-dead.
The girl turned away from the grue-
some sight. stole a half faltering
glance at the bewildered face of the
Pearlhunter, threw herself down by the
side of the couch and bowed her face
upon the old mans bosom.
"Unsay 1t, Daddy Oh, Daddy, I'M
say 1t"
He softly stroked her hair with his
great. gaunt hand.
ats the truth, Dotty, and can't be
unsaid. But you owe him no respect
a parent only, never father. He de-
serted you, and killed your mother
in ways unspeakable killed her-a
woman of the high blood Of the
Dawns." He fumbled the picture up
off his breast, held it before his face
moment, laid it back. "Godl" he
groaned. "The ruin he wrought! Fo
years l searched for her"-he spoke
the name In reverence, land you, my
SON."
His hand found its way back into
the Pearlhunter's; his eyes strained
hard toward the face bending over
him.
They seemed hungry to know many
things-the twenty years of wander
Ing; the death of the woman of the
picture; how the young man came to
be just there; of his wounded arm.
But with the steady courage of sol
dier who knew the end was near, he
put them by. and dropped his eyes to
the girls hair.
"Your grandfather, Dotty, old God
frey Dawn, cast your mother off when
she married Martin Redmond. Alone
and dying in poverty and want, she
sent for me at last" The girl was
crying softly. He stopped, put his
arm about her and drew her close. II
had the privilege-and honor-of max
ing her last hours less terrible. She
lied withdrawing you. You were
three years old when l gave up the
search, left everything In the hands
Of my good friend, Judge Eskridge,
md came up here to lose myself in
-hese vast woods along the Wabash,
/ present from General Jackson"
His eyes closed YEARLY. He lay
20 still, and the pallor on his face was
20 CHASTITY that the Pearlhunter bent
lnxiously over him. But the heavy
ids presently Enclosed; the voice, |
queer and hoarse from long disuse, |
md noticeably growing weaker, fall
cred on.
"Seven years 1t seems only this
morning he shot met And yet, 1t |
ouldn't be, or Dotty wouldn't be the
wonderful woman she has become, nor
on, my son, the man you are-the man
was when / led Jacksons rangers.
Iesper Dawn Red" the quavering
oice hesItated. NO, no, let that
anne perish with his who disgraced
/. The judge knows. Hesper Dawn;
David Wulf Warbritton. Both of the
Ugh blood of the Dawns; your moth,
RS both named Hesper Dawn, distant |
ousins, both the same name, and both
GU be ashamed, my son, of your name
( Warbritton. 1t has been more or
ass on the tongues of men since the
rave days of Saxon Harold. Share
cur estate with Dotty. 1t is In the
Ill that you do so, and there's ample
Or you both. The judge will know"
The Pearlhunter was on the point
f mentioning the letter-the death
{ the girls grandfather, his relenting
is will. But the faltering voice left
i'm no opening.
MY son, you are a man grown, but
Du will not deny your father the
cart hunger of twenty bitter years."
His voice was fast failing; his eyes
rained hard to find the Pearlhunter's
zee, though he was bending low over
m. The young man read the mean
e, the twenty years of longing, in
e straining eyes. He knelt down and
i'd his face against the old mans
leek. An arm stole about his neck
Id held him close.
A long time the old man lay still,