The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-02-24
CHAPTER xlv--cOn.Inued.

ilC ~ AAdSh 90 6OAhS Aooss DNH ~
raised his face and muttered hoarsely {:
"The boy-stands before you"
Since the old man snatched the pic
ture the Pearlhunter and the girl had
been staring 1t 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 a revelation that had been TWEEN
ty years coming. He stretched up his
hands at last to the young man, pulled
his face down to him, gazed on 1t 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 you cruelty killed. the
child you deserted, your daughter
stands before you."
The girl Iecoiied in horror. The un-
natural father strained his glazing
eyes toward the daughter his thought
had outraged; a cry muttered up out
Of his chest and brought with it a 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 he 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 It, Daddyl Oh, Daddy, I'M
say I'll"
He softly stroked her hair with his
great, gaunt hand.
IT'S the truth, Dotty, and can't be
unsaid. But you owe him 10 respect
a parent only, never a 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 1t before his face
a moment, laid 1t back. "Godi' he
groaned. "The ruin he wrought! For
years / 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 owe
him.
They seemed hungry to know many
things-the twenty years of wander
ing the death Of the woman of the
Lpicture; how the young man came TO
be just there; of his wounded arm.
fiut with the steady courage Of a sol
Etier who knew the end was near. he
put them by, and dropped his eyes TO
,he girls hair.
"Your grandfather, Dotty, old God
rey Dawn, cast your mother Off when
he married Martin Redmond. Alone,
al dying in poverty and want. she
mt for me at last" The girl was
wing softly. He stopped, put his
IN about her and drew her close. Il
d the privilege-and honor-of max
her last hours less terrible. She
d without-seeing you. You were
zee years old when l gave up the
rch, left everything In the hands
my good friend. Judge Eskridge,
came up here to lose myself in
e vast woods along the Wabash,
resent from General Jackson"
Is eyes closed YEARLY. He lay
k.ili. and the pallor on his face was
hastily that the Pearlhunter bent
eusly over him. But the heavy
presently Enclosed: the voice.
and hoarse from long disuse.
poticeably growing weaker, fall
lon.
Zen yearsi 1t seems only this
hg he shot mel And yet, II
Z be, or Dotty wouldn't be the
rful she has become. nor
son, the man you are-the man
5when / led Jackson's rangers.
Dawn Red" the q~uavering
fiesitated. "No. no., let that
erish with his who disgraced
judge knows. Hesper Dawn /;
yulf Warbritton. Both Of the
Rod Of the Dawns: your moth
named Hesper Dawn. distant
both the same name, and both
me high blood. Neither need
Manned, my son, OF your name
fitton. 1t has been more or
he tongues of men since the
Us Of Saxon Harold. Share
to with Dotty. 1t Is In the
|S0u do so, and there's ample
bth. The judge win know"
Arlhunfer was on the point
hing the letter-the death
IL grandfather. his relenting
BUT the faltering voice left
ening.
you are a man grown, but
ot. deny your father the
Rr Of twenty bitter years."
was fast falling; his eyes
& to find the P~earlhunter's
he was bending low over
pune man read the mean
nty years OF longing, in
eyes. He kneIt down and
against the old mans
RI stole about his neck
~ - $500 1av stiu