The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-01-21
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

AdAHCN Ills 1dGN anu tnuKIeTeU nOdEEEi1
THE bOy-stands before you
Since the old man snntched the pic
ture the PearIhunter and the girl had
been staring at each other. Events
were happening Developments unfold
ing too fast for comprehension. The
old man was staring al them both.
from one 10 the other as if unable TO
grasp a revelation that had been TWEEN
~ years coming He stretched up his
hands al last to the young man. pulled
his face down TO him. gazed on il as
at something of which he had long
dreamed hut never hoped 10 see ;
turned back 10 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
natu.uI father strained his glazing
eyes toward tie daughter his thought
lad outraged cry nuttered up out
OF his chest and brought with il a gu~h
or froth and blood ne stiffened: his
face tightened horribly; he fell heavy
aSainst the arms of the sleriff-dead.
The girl turned away from the grue-
some sight. stole a half faltering
glance mt 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 it, Daddy on. Daddy. I'M
say III"
He softly stroked her hair with his
great. gaunt hand.
Its the truth. Dotty, and can't be
unsaid. But you owe him no respect
parent only. never a father. he de-
serted YOU and killed your mother
In ways indispensable killed her-a
woman of the high blood of the
DawHs" He fumbled the picture 1p
OF his breast, held it before his face
moment. laid it back. God. J" he
groaned. The ruin he wrought. For
years L searched for her"-he spoke
the name in reverence "and you. my
son"
Ills hand found its way back into
the Pearlhuuter'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 10
he just there; of his wounded arm
But with the steady courage of a sol
der 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. Il
had the priviIege-and honor-of max
ing her last hours less terrible. She
died withdrawing you. You were
three years old when l gave up the
search, left everything In the hands
of my good friend. Judge Eskridge.
and came up here to lose myself in
these vast woods along the Wabash.
a present from General Jackson"
His eyes closed YEARLY. He lay
so still. and the pallOr on his face was
so CHASTITY that the Pearlhunter bent
Rnxiously over him. But the heavy
lids presently Enclosed; the voice,
queer and hoarse from long disuse.
and noticeably growing weaker. fall
tered on.
Seven years. 1t seems only this
morning Ire shot mel And yet 1t
couldn't be. or Dotty wouldn't be the |
wonderful woman she has become nor |
you. my son. the man you are-the man |
/ was when I led Jackson's rangers. |
Hesper Dawn Red" the quavering |
voice hesitated. mo. no. let that |
name perish with his who disgraced |
it. The judge knows. Hesper Dawn 4;
David Wulf WarbrittOn. Both of the
high blood OF the Dawns; your moth |
ers both named Hesper Dawn, distant
cousins. both the same name. and both |
of the same high blood. Neither need
Won he ashamed. my son. of your name
OF Warbritton. 1t has been more or
less on the tongues OF men since the
brave days of Saxon Harold. Share
your estate with Dotty 1t is in the
will that you do so. and there's ample
for YOU both. The judge will know"
The Pearlhunter was on the point
Of mentioning the letter-the death
of the girls grandfather, his relenting
rs Will. But the faltering voice left
him no opening
My son. you are man grown. but
you viii not deny your father the
heart hunger of twenty bitter years"
His voice was fast failing; his eyes
strained hard TO find the Pearlhunter's
face. though he was bending low over
him. The young man read the mean
ing. the twenty years of longing. in
the straining eyes. He knelt down and
laid his face against the old mans
cheek. An arm stole about his neck
and held him close. II
A long time the old man lay stiIl.
his right arm around the girl kneeIing
:. one side of the couch. his left arm
around the man at the other. So still.
so mOtionless he lay that the deep
silence became burdened with a heavy
fear The sheriff at the foot of the
couch bent forward The Pearlhunter
turned his face. looked and bowed his
head The girl raised her eyes. gazed |
intently at the placid features. threw
herself across the FnOffnnip4g hn1v IN