HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1900-09-28, Page 7,sa dt , e# Lt ;A A •.A A Ea ♦ ♦ �► a A,,•�; O i
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^Ilas he answeredr if 1 bad been left. a helpiess little or-
"No, sir." phun like Tom ,:
• "'Perhaps he ciicln't get ft."I A groan was his only answer.
- "Now, there you go, to fretting, sir, ""there, dear. Dr. Govan will scop
it ain't a bit like you. The doctor says ` me sharply for agitating you is tilt
you was to keep calla.' l cruel way. Don't let us talk about it
"So he did, Reuben, so he did. If at all, papa, We believe in each other,
`he got the message,. when ought he to '!here, now. Go to sleep in your
„ naughty 011ie's arms."
b "I asked the ,tele graph man that e She laid her soft cheek against his
same question, Accwrding to his cal- f and crooned a soft lullaby, lie stroked
eulation, Mr, Thomas is due here her shining hair caressingly.
'about 1 a. tn." "Olivia, my darling, you heard that
"And it is now"— old woman's terrible charges. She
"Just half past 11, sit„ ; hurled thein at me over this precious.
The sick man closed his eyes wears- ' head."
•ly. How insignificant all things here ' She lifted her head and looked at
below now seemed! It was as it lie him gravely,
"She knows, better now, father."
"Knows better now?'
Ile repeated the words after her with
labored slowness. Ile looked bewil-
dered. Olivia smoothed the gray bair
back from his furrowed forehead with
a slow, mesmeric motion.,
"Poor old 'Mother' Spillman Is. dead.
father. She is at rest. I think Miss
IXalvina is scarcely sorry. She says
life has been such a burden to her
mother for a great many years that
death meant release. She says her
mother was very''Queer.' "
"And she is gone, actually gofie? Do
you know it. to be a fact, child?" He
labored to lift himself into a sitting
posture.
"I know it td be a fact, father. I
saw her myself, dead. She looked so
quiet. so serene. She is at rest."
"You saw Tier. Then you have been
to the Spillman cottage. What did you
go there for? His voice rang out in
challenge.
She shrank away from him until the
pile of pillows with which Reuben !lad
JVE
. scm►e--r gyro
I JEA JfrJETTE b4 W " LWORT
a
, by
Copyright, 1GA9,J Jeannette to �, '4P
galworth..
were getting his life, with all of its
loves, all of its ambitions, its toils, its
'achievements, its mistakes, in a true
perspective at last. And how mean,
how absolutely worthless, the sum to-
tal was!
All the capacity for loving he had
been endowed with he had exercised
'for one child. Ile had loved Olivia to
the exclusion of that broader, more
• elevating love for his fellow man as
his neighbor. To make Olivia happy,
,to secure her against any mischance in
the future, had seemed the one thing
worth doing. That she might have,
'others must give; that she might re-
joice, others must suffer. ',vheu he
. was working his way with strenuous
stubbornness to this goal, he had not
questioned his own methods nor the
danger of working harm, and not good,
to the idol of his life.
. With the presumption born of a phe-
'nomenally good physical record he had
looked forward to seeing Olivia enjoy-
ing the fruits of his wise stewardship,
while he aided and encouraged Thom- him into a sitting posture hid
:as Broxton in his ascent of the ladder propped
which it was well for every man to her pallid face from him. Was he go-
elimb in his youth. ing to force her to say why she had
IIe was not the first man who has gone to the Spillman cottage? If he
Rath -
beep surprised by death in the midst did, must she lie? Instead he spoke
..of unfinished schemes, and presently to Iter in the gentlest of voices. Rath -
Thomas Broxton would be standing er dld be seem to plead for mercy than
where that terrible old woman had upbraid her.
-stood. defiant, accusing, merciless. fIeDon't cower behind my pillows. my
;opened his eyes from what Reuben had poor child.. Come where I can look
thought was a tranquil slumber to say into your dear eyes. You have uoth-
tuu•riedly, "I think 1 should like to see lug to be ashamed of, Olivia. 1 know
.my daughter. Reuben, before Mr. what took you there. Ygu went in
Broxton gets here." search of a vindication for your most
And it was then that Reuben, going- unhappy. father." Her head drooped
sin search of her,.Lad found her in her • until it touched his pillows. "You
,own room. sitting with her head bur- thought to learn something more about
led In her outstretched arms. ' the papers •which she claimed to be
For the first time in her life Olivia for Thomas."
b
holding
!obeyed the summons to her father's "Yes. father."
resence with reluctance. Dr. Govan A gleam of gratification shot into
+had reassured her on the subject of pa- ; the shrewd eyes of the dying man. It
sralysis. was almost as if itis departing soul
"Your father was violently agitated paused to score on more pitiful little
by the visit of that poor old irrespon- triumph.
sibie creature and temporality lost bis "Poor old magpie!
powers of speech. All agita ion must herself. Now they
,positively be avoided, my dear, and retina."
when you go into his presence you i "Were they very valuable to—Thom-
must remember how much depend! as -father? That is, if you dou't mind
•upou your personal observance of this , telling me. dear."
,caution." i 'yl%uy were—they are." be amended
Then for the first time in her life slowly "of no value to any one. Thom -
she must act a falsehood. She must as would not be one dollar the wealth -
go into her father's presence with a ler for the finding of them."
heavy load on her young heart, long- : A silence fell between father and
ing to ask • him questions that must daughter. The sick man seemed to fall
not be asked. yearning to have him into a sudden doze. Olivia brought a
•exoreh a the demons of suspicion and light chair and seated herself as close -
•distrust awakened by ..hat old wo- ly as possible to his side.
•t The clock struck half past 11. Reu-
ttnan's cruel words. Perhaps he would ben was to come on watch at mid -
,die and leave them uncontradicted. , night. She twined her small. cool fin -
Could bereavement hold a sharper i gers about the sinewy wrist that lay
sting? , nearest to her and found its pulse.
She got up heavily and; going into The moments passed on. She waited.
her dressing room, bathed her eyes to • I, or what?
efface the marks of recent tears and 1 The ticking of the clock on the man -
smoothed her hair into trimmer shape. telslelf and the beating of her own
Then she walked resolutely into, the heart seemed equally loud.. A low
sick man's presence. He held out muttering from the sick man's sunken
both wasted hands and drew her lips ,Wade her bend her ear quickly.
down upon the bed by him, murmur i Every syllable that fell from his lips
Ing familiar terms of endearment, nor, Was a thing to be hoarded. In a
"You are better, father, much bet' : state of semiconsciousness Horace
ter. Dr. Govan tells me so," she said, ; Matthews was doing battle with his
returning his caresses gently. t•onsc!ence for the last time.
The sick man sighed wearily. "it was for her sake, for my tender
"'or a little while, for a cert'' little I .little child's sake. Good Lord, forgive
while, my darling. 1 have told Govan me' She could not battle with the
to keep ale here until Thomas gets I world in poverty, only a helpless, w'etlk
home." '
TILE MOAN TIMES SEPTEMBER 28, 1900.
halt we don't avant theta."
"Bet we don't Want Weal," he echoed
dully, "leo, we don't want them. It
won't last very Much longe!', my child.
1 aux just waiting to see Thomas, and
then I will go."
"Father, father, have you no thought
for tae?" The wail escaped her ma -
'guarded lips with plet'cint; sllrilluess,
"No thought for you? God forgive
ale, Olivia, there has been room in my
brain for no one but you. For you, and
you alone, I have Ilva(1, l have labored
anal"—his voice dropped to a tired
whisper—"yes, sinned."
"Sinued? Father, take that one'word
hack. 1 know you. do not mean it,
Take it back in pity for me. Don't
leave it to me as a horrible puzzle.
It will torture me all the rest of my
days: Death is not the very worst
that can befall us, father. Leave inc
the reverence for you that has gilded
all my young life, father. 1 know
you have loved me too well. Perhaps
in your tenderness for the you waxed
careless of others' interests, That was
all, papa. I am sure that was all."
She was ou her knees by the bed.
Her slight frame was quivering under
the storm of emotions no longer un-
der her control.. The dying man laid
his hand on her bowed head. When
he spoke, his voice was calm and sol-
emn. but very wealr.
"True, ellild, death' is not the worst
that can befall. 1 have confessed
everything to my ?Baker. 1 had meant
to confess to Thomas, but niy strength
ebbs fast. I doubt if 1 shall be here
when he comes, The temptation to
secure your future against the possi-
bility of want was too mighty for rue,
Olivia. My idolatrous loge for you
turned my ho.lsted strength into weak-
uess. Opportunity was my undoing."
"1 will make restitution, father, He
shall have everytltln,"
"And blacken my' name in the grave?
Restitution lies in one direction only.
At least my failing souses can point
out no other course. You alone can
right the great wrong 1 have,done Ru-
fus' son."
"1, father?"
"Don't speak. Listen to me. Would
you help me undo what 1 have done
for your sake?" 1
She shivered as if an ague hacl seiz-
ed .her, but here gaze never left his
face. .
"You know I would, father! Oh.
you know there is noticing 1 would riot
do for your dear sake!"
"A few weeks ago I could not have
humbled myself before my own limo -
cent child as 1 am doing now. my dear,
but when the shores of eternity seem
actually in sight the mortal vision
broadens, and we can slough all that
She overreached
never will be
CII1,VT1I11 ♦i I IL
'rtix IMMIX or 'run nt;'I0.
Mandeville waa. oat so well supplied
with roads as historic !setae, to which
all roads hats Only one led to and
film). Mandeville. One Might indulge
his Iuclls'idual preferences in the ttlat-
ter of a route after leaving that se-
cluded. spot some :a0 miles in the' real;
hitt. whatever his hila! :destination,
the wayfarer must snake his start
from a modest little depot labeled
"Loot) and Twine It, R." .on the out-
skirts of the town. Clarence Westover
recalled this ueces,ity with. some sat-
isfactiotl as be jumped into his smart
little cart and urged his horse toward
the depot at its best speed.
Having failed to find Thomas Brox-
ton either at the Commercial Alen's
home, Dr. Govan's or Miss Malvtna
' ipillmau's, he proposed heading bite
off at the station. IIe flung the reins
to his map and lumped out of his cart
just as. Thomas, dusty of foot and
heavy of heart, mounted the platform
steps with bag in hand. Ile advanced
with eot'dInlly extended band.
"I'tn awl'uliy glad I'm in time, We -
ton, You carne very near giving ale
tit! slip,"
Thomas met the extended hand with
perfunctory politeness. He wished be
mulei feel more cordial toward Olivia's
lover, but deep wounds need time for
their healing.
Westover was distinctly aware of
this wordless antagonism. Ile rather
ruspeeted he should have felt quite as
sour and behaved even more churlish•
ly if natters vete• reversed, but at
this particular juncture be could not
afford to resent Totn's aloofness. fIe
had pursued him with a definite ob-
ject in view.
"You see." be said easily, falling into
step and golug with Tom toward the
waitiug room. "I want to talk to you
about a matter of tuterest to both of
us. 1 don't want to lose sight of you
just yet. Can't 1 !educe you to spend
the uight with me?" Isle stopped and
reddened. It occurred to him that the
last of the Broxtons Would not care to
accept the hospitality of strangers un-
der his old rooftree. Tom covered his
confusion courteously.
"You are very laud, but I came
down only at an urgent summons from
my guardian. arrived too late to do
him any good, staid to the funeral and
now must hurry back to my work."
He flung his bag on a bench to the
waiting roots and consulted a moon
faced clock over the ticket q^ice. It
showed a margin of half an hour be-
fore ttaintime.
"Race you to get your ticket?" West-
over asked.
"No; 1 bought a round trip . ticket
When I left Kansas City." adding.
with a bitter little smile; "Cheaper,
you know."
"Then. after all. I've got plenty of
time for my say. I'm tremendously
glad we've got this old barn io our
selves."
"The tide of travel does not set very
heavily this' way," said Tom. seating
himself near his bag. inwardly Buri-
ous, he watched his rival with entire
composure as he unbuttoned his coat
and brought from an iunt'r pocket a
handsome pocketbook of Russia leath-
er.
"I have here, Broxton," said Charence.
selecting a paper from the contents of
the book, "a document. which. 1 think,
ought to be in your possession. 1 have
taken the liberty of copying It and
have sent my copy to Genoa. where
my father is and will he. for some time
to come on account of my mother's
health. I took that liberty because the
Westovei's are as much interested in it
as yourself."
Tom cast a look of 11ingrid interest
toward the sheet of yellow paper
which Clarence still retained between
his finger and thumb.
"My possession of it needs some soil.
of an explanation, so you will have to
read the preface. a thing i always es-
cttpe by skipping. If you were left to
suppose that either my father or I
!mew of the existence of this paper
when we purchased Broxton Hall, I
being part owner of it on the strength
of a gaud maternal legacy, you Would
be put to it to decide Whether we Were
fools or knaves."
"I don't. iu the least catch the drift
yet," said Tom, smiling faintly, "but so
far I have never placed you in either
eat egory."
"Not yet, but you will after rending
this. But the preface waits. Did you
ever happen to bear 'Mother' Spillman
rave about some papers she bad lost,
I yo girl.
He is strong; he is young; he is
"Thomas? Why, papa, have you g
ambitious. It will all is out tight
sent for Thomas'?" I for bins. He will carve out a name and
She was trembling violently: A. s a fottitne for himself. Pat—but--1 ism
deathly pallor 'spread over her sweet i going to met them. I am going to see
her
Had t shall
Hha
gray e[1W
v of them
facelike aall
young Lucetta, Rufus, father any confession to anal:! to I I says What can I tell them? Unfaith-
shuntosstroxton? Why did he want I ful friend, false steward, sinful man -1
him Theo come'? hear theta crying it in chorus. Thomas,
sick man looked at her implor= forgive mei Lucetta, don't turn your
Iin"1 dear face away from me! Rufus, friend
.,to
sato.
ri
ht
er
dao 1,
myg boyhood."
f ouo
I begof n b
gof l 3
y
Is
n II
is Start. stat With Stied erre all your fortiouda: Your ag He opened his eyes Witt
r o . yo yourself. inc. You are losing man. I first fully conscious gaze fell upou
o youdself. t am a eery ill &V- 1 Olivia's face. Its drawn, frightened
ovan does not try to deceive rue. !yew= look startled him. lie grasped her wrist
1 da a"*o I made Reuben send a I a force that p i d leer
era days, With ,
""ton, Be Indy
telegram ttl Thomas »tea
be here at any moment"
""Yes, father." She spoke in dull
an000tolte, but her eyes looked tender.
4st pity Into his.
"I want to beg his pardon."
"rot what, father?" in the same 'sad me. It is only I, father, your loving lit -
Monotone, tee daughter. There is no one else here,
"Fee Iny bad management of his at.no one rat all,"
Pairs," his "1 know, I know --only you, poor city
Olivia dropped on her knees by Ile lonely girl; only you, my precious
bedside. Selo clasped both her hands ,ons„
about elle of his, as if imploring him She answered him with a pathetic
to vindicate his own good name before little boast.
de left her. "Oh, 1 could have half the toren If 1
"But you did the best you could, fa* wanted tol Everybody has been beg -
titer. Of course you did, Oh, I i noW ging to hell! nurse you. Overybody
yr$u did'. 1 know you did by Thomas bolds you ib Stich high e:steetsti, dearest
.1 his father would have slope by met
a
nc
a k In my
talk 1
1 y
•., Did I
have been dorlu�,.
sleep? Did I say anything silly, as
sleep talkers always do?"
"Yon talked a little, father, just a lit-
tle. There, dear. Don't stare at me so.
!OU took as if you Were angry With
>t1111��t
MCMULLEN'S
POULTRY NETTINGS
"Only you, poor little loncty girt"
is mortal of us with contemptuous pity
for its infirmities, its temptations and
its mistakes. I have beeu an unfaith-
ful guardian to Thomas Broxton. You
can make the losses I have brought
upon him as nothing. Weighed in the
balances against bis happiness."
A perplexed look carne into the wide
eyes fixed upon his face. "I. father?"
"You, and you alone, cnu turn a curse
into a benediction."
Again that pathetic "I, father? Oh,
tell the how!"
"Marry Thomas Broxton. IIe loves
you. You know that he aloes."
"But 1 do not love him, father?"
":harry—Thomas—Brotton."
"Father, have you forgotten Clarence,
forgotten that 1 betrothed myself to
him with your full consent? 1 belong
to Clarence Westover, father, and 1
love him."
A grayish pallor was creeping over
the sick man's pinched features She
did not know that it was death: She
had never before stood in the presence
of the gran conqueror. flee father's
voice was lifted to a clear high note in
a supreme effort to impose his will
upon her:
"Marry Thomas Broxton! I command
its"
A cold current of air swept across
the bed. Olivia rose quickly to close the
door by which It had entered. Another
th-
theo
•, •softly shot ft01u
Land drew it S
er side. She turned toward the bed to
!titer her final protest against this
monstrous invasion of her rights.
"But, father, would you want me to
live my life out a. stupendous false-
hood?"
oda
„
The unseeing eyes stared straight be-
yond her; the tired lips fluttered and
drooped; a heavy sigh, stillness—Hor-
ace 11tatthews was done With beseech-
ing, done with commanding.
In a piercing ery she called
name
aloud anti again. It brought to the
chamber of death Reuben, Dr. Govan,
who had just arrived; Clarence West•
over, who had been waiting and watch.
Ing in the distant drawing room, and -
Thomas Ilrolton.
It was toward the latter that Reuben.
turned his eyes anxiously.
"Oh, iter, Thomas, it ;you'd only got
here a hour earlierl It's your faun to
be always too late."
"It is my fate, Reuben, as you stay,
Iso we won't sluarrei with it," 1.#roxt0n
answered ttuietly and turned to tlues-
tion Dr. Goayals.
F' � p C
' INf
1
are not surpassed in the WOIt1 D.
Their 'Woven Wire Pent'ings have stclod
stood over fifteen Veal:: of very sueoesaftg.
testing on li'A1hN 111111 RAILWAY,
yS�pe�,c,�,i/alppotters made this; year on 10100
A'.J♦S {J li GIr
Theso goods are all 1nauufaetured by
The Ontat Wire4
enijn Co., limited, of Pinion, Ont.
T'or sale by the r:a.rdaval.e Merchants tat General Dealers. throughout Carada.
Also by the Can. Hardware Jobbers.
Gen. Agents --Tho 13, Greening'Wiro Co., of TT'alnilton and .Montreal,
Agent for Railway Vencing:;aures Cooper, Montreal.
fi"'Ciorrespoltdettce with the manufacturers invited.
1 , n "!wMMAI'1r
t�.std�•,r:�
t ANADIM SONS
I"a?E."VELD
4
Just
Elb diel,
An anthentio account of the Canadian Contingents in the
South African War. By T. G. Mnrgis, B. A. Introdubtion by
Very Rev. Principal Grant, LL.D. Eased on the official de-
spatches of Lieut -Col. Otter and other commanding officers at
the front. .• omplete in Otto Volume, WO pages, riglily Illus-
trated, oni� $1.50, Agents Coining Money. GET FREE.
Wt0SPECTUS.
'I` I BEAII)LEY-GA.laBET SON CO, Limited.
1';Iih.11TF011D.
CiREMEDEE
some papers that were of value to you.
Brotiton?"
Toro's face and voice softened.
"Yes, poor old bedlamite! She was
faithful In her attachment to Inc for
the sake of those who went befora:.
She urged the with considerable vio-
lence to look more closely into toy own
agates and hinted wildly at some pa-
pers that 1 ought to examine. But 1
t
knew toy guardian, and 1 trusted his,.
That my affairs turned out disastrous-
ly was no fault of his. 1 am glad of
au opportunity to say this. 1 believe
he Was truly fond of me, also perhaps
for the sake, of "those who went ins
fort:."
He cotild not tell Westover. he could
not tell any one, that his faith and
affection for his guardian bad been re-
vived by 'hearing those high pttehetl
words: "Marry Thomas Broxton. 1
''
command you.l" 1 o know that his
guardian hod &Oh wished hila the in-
effable happiness of coilithg Olivia
"wife" httd been balm to his sore
young heart
"Yes; 'but, my dear fellow. It seems
that the 'old bedialnite,' as ,you eon the
tate respected Mrs. Spillman and Its we
all thought her,, Was not so far off us
wo all pronottncetl her. 'there watt n
lot of papers' lost and found rtthd lora
again. 1 ant in a deucedly delicate rho
anion, lroxton, Confound lfi 1 wish
'oat felt more kindly toward me. Not
that 1 would to your plaice. But,. you
.see, it is just this way: I redly would
lice to di!sctya this ILllttter treeIS' crd;W
0
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TIMES IC ,
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