The state herald., 1921-05-13
By DAVID ANDERSON

or rroth and blood: he stinened; his
face tightened horribly; he fell heavy
against the arms of the sherifr-dead.
The girl turned away from the grue-
some sight, stole a half faltering
glance at the bewildered fnce 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, un.
say it,"
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 father. He de-
serted you, and killed your mother
In ways unspenkable killed her--a
woman Of the high blood of the
Dawns." He fumbled the picture up
or his breast, held 1t before his face
a moment. laid 1t back. "Godw he
groancd. "The ruin he wrought For
years | searched for her'-he spoke
the name In reverence. "and you, my
SON."
His hand found Its way back into
the Penrlhunter'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 ut last" The girl was
crying softly. He stopped, put his
arm about her and drew her close. Il
had the privIlege-and honor-of max
Ing her last hours less TERRIBLE She
died seeing you. You were
three years old when gave up the
7 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.
present from General Jackson"
His eyes closed YEARLY He lay
80 still. aud the pallor on his face was
50 ghastly that the Pearlhunter bent
anxiously over him. But the heavy
lids presently unclosed. the voice.
queer and hoarse from long dlsuse.
and noliccably growing weaker. fal-
tered on.
''Seycn years II seems only this
morning he shot mel And yet. II
couldn't be, or DUtty wouldn't he the
wonderful woman she has become. nor
you, my son, the man you are-ihe man
Twas when | led .IackSon's rangers.
Hesper Dawn Red" the puayerlng
voice hcsi,ated. "No, no. let that
name perish with his who dsgraced
II. The Judge knows. llesper Dawn;
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
you be ashamed. my son. OF your name
Of Wnrbrltfon. II has been NOR. or
less on the tongues of men since III.
brave days OF Saxon Harold. Share
your estate with Deity. !. Is In .hr
will that you do 81. and there's ample
for you both. tn. Judge VIII know"
The PsTrlhunler wns On the point
Of mentioning the letter-ihe death
Of the girls grandfather. his relenting
his viii. but the fnlrerlng voice left
him no opening.
MY son, you are II 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 Ia iind the rcnrlhuntcr's
face. though he was bending low over
him. The young man r,ad the mean.
lnr. the twenty years of longing. In
the strnining eyes. lie knrlt down nnd
laid his fncc against the old mnti'r
cheek. An arm stole about his nocl,
nnd held him close.
A long time the old man lay Nlll,
his right arm around the girl knrollng
nt on. side of the couch. his left nru
around the mnn nt the other. So slll.
so motlonless he lay that the deep
silence became burdened with henyy
fear The sierlif NJ the foot NJ ihc
couch bent forward The rcnrlhunirf
turned his fnce. looked mud bowed hls
head. The girl rnls"d her eyes, glnd
ln,enily NJ the placid features. threw
herself nero the motionlrs4 hu'll
and wcpt aloud.
The graceful musician. the inlrpd
HOldlci-wnh dead.
CHAPTER xV,