The Meeker herald., 1922-09-23

JAW W. W. hau paiu Allliis SOLNCS 6A@"
rich: those connected with him pros.
pered: but with Corvet lived always
the ghosts OF those he had watched
die with the Miwaku-Of those who
would have prospered with Stafford exc
cept for what had been done. Cor.
vet had secretly sought and followed
the fate OF the kin OF those people
who had been murdered to benefit
him: he found some of their families
destroyed; he found almost all poor
and struggling. And though COrvet
paid luke to keep the crime from dis
closure. yet Corvet swore to himself
to confess it all and make such restl-
tuition as he could. But each time that
the day he Ind appointed with him
self arrived, he put 1t of and of and
paid Luke nsnIn and again. Spear.
man knew OF his intention and solne-
times kept lin from 1t. But Corvet
had made one close friend; and when
that friends daughter. for whom Cor.
vet cared now most of all In the world,
Ind been about to marry SpeHrman.
Corvet defied the cost to himself, aud
he gained strength to oppose Spear
man. So he had written to Stafford's
son to come he had prepared for con-
fesslOn and restitution: but, inter lie
had done this and while lie waited.
something Ind seemed to break In
his brain; too long prcycd upon by
terrible memories. and the ghosts OF
those who had gone, and by the echo
of their voices crying to lin from tho
winter, Corvet had wandered away:
he had come back, under tho name
of one of those whom he had wronged.
to the lake life from which lie had
sprung. Only now and then, for q
few hours, he had intervals when lie
remembered all: in one Of these he
had dug up the watch and the ring
and other things which lie had taken
from Captain Stafrord's pockets and
written to himself directions Of what
to do with them. when his mind again
failed.
And for Speurman, strong against
all that nssaiIed Corvet, there had been
always the terror OF the Indian Drum
the Drum which had beat short for
the Miwaka. the Drum which had
known that one was saved! That story
came from some hint which Luke had
spread. Corvet thought; but Spear
man, born near by the Drum. believed
that the Drum had known and that the
Drum had tried to tell; all through
the years Spcnrnan Ind dreaded tho
Drum which lad tried to betrny him.
So 1t was by the Drum That. In the
end, Spearman was broken.
The priests voice had stopped, ms
Alan slowly realized; lie heard Sher-
rills voice speaking to him.
ut was trust that he left you.
Alan: thought 1t must be TINT
trust for those who suffered by the
loss of your fathers ship. ! don't
know yet how 1t can be fulfilled; and
we must think OF that"
"Thnt'a how I understand It," Alan
said.
| Through the tumult In his soul lie
became aware OF physical feelings
again, and of Shcrrill's hand put upon
grasp Then another hand, small and
firm. touched his. and he felt Its warm
tightening grasp upon his fingers: he
looked up, and his eyes filled and hers.
lie saw. were brimming too.
| They walked together. later In the
day. up the hill to the small. white
house which had been Caleb Stafford's.
The woman who had come to the door
was willing to show them through the
house: It had only five rooms. One
Of those upon the second door was
so much larger and pieasanter than
the rest that they became quite sure
that 1t was the one In which Alan
had been born. and where his young
mother soon afterward had died.
The woman, who had showed them
about. had gone to another room and
left them alone.
There seems to have been no pIc'
ture OF her md nothing OF hers left
here that any one can tell me about !;
but" Alan clioked, ITS good to be
able to think OF her us ! can now.
| 81 menn--no one can say anything
against her now!'
| Alan drew nearer her. trembling.
81 can never thank you'll can never
tell you what You did for me. he'iev.
Ing in-her and in me. no matter how
things looked. And then, coming up
here as you dld-for me"
"Yes. II was for you. Alan!"
| constance! He caught her. She
let him hold her.
| The woman was returning to them
now and, perhaps. 1t wns rs well
for not YET, he knew, could he ask
| her all Tint he wished what had hap