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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1907-12-13, Page 39L4L9L4Z9L9L9i4L9l9i9i9i9g9L9YStX9L4L9Xs1X9i9'�i319• Ylo 9"fl siggimprfZ1�►l antN>4l'176iVIISIM V2MCIO The T:iie' and The False "I never wished to harm you, sweet and noble lady but hied Oh! he did me a horrible injury!" "You have sutrered a terrible wrong by a -cruel wrong. My husband was its fated executor. I do not defend him He does not defend himself. But he has suffered only less than you. There is a world 'that rectifies all that has gone wrong in this. You are very near its bourne. Had you passed the happiest, instead of the moat unhappy life, it would, be all thw dame to you now. Think of that. But what is esential— what will make all the difference --s the spirit in which you will pass away. Do not be obdurate. Do not be unfor- giving." "And do not you talk nonsense to me, gentle lady? 1 • cannot &range Loy heart." "The Lord can change it. Pray to Him." » "I cannot pray. It weer hypocrisy. "Let me pray tor you." "Do not mock me, gentle lady." "Heaven forbid. Let me pray with you. Let me kneel by you, and hold your hands in mine, and pray with you. Comet you are not so hard as you seem. You are softening now. God waits to pardon and bless you. Angels hover around your bed to see what you will do." "One angel does, lady. But concern yourself with your child, lady. Why don't you ask about her?" "Because I am satisfied about my child; I know all that is necessary to be known." "Ah! you do! Who told you?" "Your word's and actions, and circum- stances already known to me." "But—but you do not know all—all?" "I know that in the frenzy of your grief aad anger, when you forgot God, n"-1 esel,l not hear what your better spirit said, you took away my little child, anis gave her a new name—called her Sylvia Grove—and gave her to your daughter-in-law, Ellen," said the lady, gently. "Yes, yes, yes," muttered Nora to herself, with a perplexed look; "and yet yon do not know all!" "No!" suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Hun- - ter, as a spasm of pain convulsed her beautiful countenance; "there is . one thing I. must ask you: Was Ellen a party to the —I mean, did Ellen knew, whose child it was, that you committed to her caret" "NO, no—oh, no! she never even sus- pected itj I am sure." "Thank God!" exclaimed. Augusta, fer- vently. "Oh, it would have hurt you more if Ellen had been so wicked? Poor Elleni she has not been to see me in a long time, it seems to me." Mrs. Hunter did not think proper to inform the sufferer of her daughter-in- law's death. She said: "And now I ani satisfied about my child. She has grown up a good and beautiful maiden; she has received no harm from the act that 1 feel sure you have repented. Now think of yourself!" "Oh, yet! I do repent of taking her from you! Toward. him I have no re- pentance ---nine! But toward you—oh 1 lady, I have always repented—always repented!" "Oh, Norah, repent toward the Lord." "But you --do you forgive me? Oh, Mrs. Hunter! that night, when hurry- ing through the crowd upon the shore, I bore your infant away; I heard your distant shrieks of anguish—they piereed my ear—they were echoed from my heart! I have heard them ever,since. I have heard them in my solitude. I have heard them in the night; they have startled me from my sleep! Had 1 mui•clered you, lady, my sufferings could not have been greater! But. I would not give up my vengeance. And. I could not bear remorse. And between them 1 maddened!" She paused and covered her haggard face with her dark and skeleton fingers. And after a few minutes she removed her hands, and her sunken eyes blazed an altered. voice: "I am dying, yet I cannot ask the Lord't pardon until I have obtained' yours, and yours I know 1 shall neevr have. It is useless to speak of it. Gen- tle and no8ie • as you are, you could not grant it, even if you would. I know by my own heart, that it is impossible. For, as I cannot cease to loathe him who refused to spare my son, I feel that you cannot choose but hate me, who bereaved you of your little child!" And with a shuddering sigh that shook her whole frame, the wretched woman once more covered her face with her talon -like fingers. Mrs. Hunter sank woven softly on her knees by her side, and bending closely, tenderly over her, said: "Norah- look at pre. You'fire deluded. When you sent your glance so deeply in- to my eyes just now, you read no auger, no resentment there. Look up—meet my eyes egain—read my heart, if you ean; you will read nothing there but deep compasanon tar your rstlfferittgl3, and earnest desire for your welfare. Norah, lok up. We are children of the same Father. It is your sister that speaks to you." The sufferer uncovered her eyes, and gazed long and wonderingly upon the lady's heavenly countenance, and then she spoke calmly: "I tore your young, nursing baby from your bosons, and left you to years on years of anguish, and yet you do not hate mel and yet you do not reproach me! You forgive me, you pity me, you pray for me—your countenance beams heaven's own love upon me! Your mercy breaks down my heart! Oh, Mrs. Hunter, 1 can in part conceive God's mercy by yours!" I long to see our child, I cannot leave this suffering soul. When all is over, I will hasten after you.'= "Augusta, you are a good`wouian-" "Carry my heart to Maud. Tell her I am not. surprised -I always felt she twas ray ell her child, never not` peak alnow l your own love, and she will bear mine." Daniel Hunter pressed her hand, say ing: understand you, ' 1 feel all that you would have me say ficin yoa." And then they talked over some little temporary arrangements, and took leave of each other. WS. :Rueter returned to pray with her patient, and Daniel Hun- ter, leaving the young people for the pre- sent at the hotel, threw luinself into the stage coach and was rattled dean to Alleghany county as fast as the old- fashioned vehicle could evening It was late Saturday'' when he arrived at Howlet Hall, and much too late for him to think of, visiting Silver Creek that night. He found his young relatives and their Tittle nestlings well, and the former, in expectation of his whole party, and not a little disappointed at seeing him alone: He satisfied them, however, by saying that 'argent business hacl brought him down in advance of the others, who would follow' in a day or two. ['le did not think proper to com- municate upon that -night the strange dis- covery that had been made to him ---an fact, he felt strongly Apposed to hearing and answering the multittel • of ques- tions with which he felt certain the frivolous Lucy would greet the communi- cation. He therefore ,eanante+t hitnself with inquiring, in an off -hand moaner, via eagerly interrupting him. after the health and we11•heing of Airs. } •'\o, my dear, Mrs. Hunter remains hunter's little favorite; - Sylvia (.rove, for the present in Baltimore. Mr. hunter and having received a- satisfactory an- can=e down alone on very important bus- swer, he pleaded fatigue and retired to + ices., and 1 fancy his business lies with bed. Very early the next morning he I one of yon, for this morning, _before -arose, ordered his' horse, and hastily 1 any of us were out of bed, he ordered swallowed a cup of coffee standing, his horse and set out for Silver Creek. threw himself into .the saddle, and gal- i And you have not seen him. Surprising! loped rapidly toward Silver Creek, "lie left very early, sir. \Vas Mrs. „ Ai. A Linknent—An ILAbsolute Cure for . Rheumatism A new remedy to" Canadians, .but thousands in other countries hays been cured. See what a prominent Toronto citizen says of Ajax Oil. Toronto, Nov. 26. LW. The Ajax 011 Co., Toronto, Ont, Dear Sirs,—This is to express my mppreolatlon for your rheumatism cure. On the advice of a friend 1 purchased a bottle of Ajax 011 Liniment tor rheumatism, and ran safely say It certainly is a specific for rheumatism, I suffered intensely for years and tried nearly every known remedy, also had the advice of the best physicians but without any satisfactory results till 1 used your Ajax 011, and now I can safely say I am completely cured. I give this testimonial entirely unsol!etted, so that others similarly afflicted may know of your wonderful treatment—Ajax 011 Liniment. - Yours very truly, Deo. Milligan, Mfr. "Arabella" cigars. Sold 1n 8 oz. bottles -22.00 per bottle. Send 22,00 by Money Order or regis- tered letter and you will receive a bottle of Ajax 011 by return mail. AJAX 011 CO., TORONT CANADA aerseasasearsisa Sas. "Mr. hunter!" exelaimed Sylvia, with church. There were but few people thin - the light of joy !springing to her eyes. ly scattered about in the pews. "Mr. 11.uiter1" growled Falconer, But there, before the altar, knelt Syl- grinding his teeth in rage and sorrow. via and Falconer—and the clergyman, "Yes, young folks, Daniel Hunter! Ho with his book open, was performing the reached Bowler 41511 last night, and—" marriage ceremony. Daniel hunter burs "Has Mrs. litutter conte?" inquired Syl- ried on; one glimpse he got of his daugh- ter's lovely face, shining as a star 1n the darkness of her drapery; and with a rush of love and admiration, he ex- claimed to himself: - "Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! She is beautiful as --her mother!" They were all too absorbed to notice his quick approach. The ,minister was bending closely over them. Falconer held her left hand, and with the wedding -ring held on her finger, was repeating, af- ` ter the minister. the words of the ritual: "W"ith this ring this ring I thee wed— with all my worldly goods. I thee endow in the name of the---" "Hold! I forbid the marriage!" ex- claimed Daniel hunter, stepping up. The clergyman looked up in amaze- ment. to see Mr. Hunter there, and to hear him prohibit the ceremony. Sylvia started, looked around, recog- nized tbe speaker, and clung to the altar railings for support. The wedding ring dropped from her finger and Falconer sprang up; his feet rebounding fro mthe floor like steel springs; his breath drawn hard through bis c1 ched teeth; his swollen and empurpled veins throbbing on his crimsoned forehead, and the white circle flaming around his darkened. eyes. "By what right, sir?" lie asked, in a deep, stern, husky voice. "By the holiest in nature, young man —a father's right," answered Daniel Hun- ter, oomposedly. Then addressing the meiden, be said: "Conic to me, Maud Bunter. Come to me, my dear child, I am your father." (To be continued.) "The Lord's mercy speaks to you through me --the Lord's love inspires me —freely have I received for your sake, and freely, freely give! May it redeem you—may it bless you." "I believe it—I believe it! Oh, Mrs. Hunter! while you hold my hand and talk to me so, and look at me, with Heaven calling on me through your eyes, I feel my heart changing, changing in my bosom! Oh, Mrs. Hunter! if you could. stay by me --if it were possible you could stay by me -1 ruight not then be lost spirit." ' I twill not Ieave you. •I wi with you•: till the last."' "What! Mrs. Hunter, will you.: s with me!" "Yes—be calm." "You! in this miserable place with me!„ "Yes; for 1 trust in Heaven to do you good." "But your daughter! I thought you would make instant preparations to hasten to her." • "I can wait for that. Gori, who has watehed over her all these years, and made her such a good and lovely maiden, will 1• eon her safe till I meet her." "Oh, how you must love her!" "1 do—more than all under heaven, except her father." "And now you must long to hasten to her." "Be calm—I do not wish to leave you" "Heaven bless you for that! Heaven bless you!" • The conversation was interrupted by a low knock at the door. Mrs. Hunter arose and opened it. The nurse stood there with a message from Mr. Hunter, desiring to know when Mrs. Hunter would be ready to return to the hotel. The lady said that she would answer the message in person. And, leaving the nurse in her place, she went down the long hall to the end, where Daniel Hunter and the doctor stood, near the stove, and drawing lir. Hunter aside explained to him her wish to remain near the patient until her death. "But our child --hut Mandl I have already sent to the stage office and taken places down to Allegheny county." "Then •ro alone, ttr•. Hunter. Much as whither we mast precede hini. CHAPTER XXIV. A sharp, cold, clear, sparkling morning in December, with the ground covered with snow, with the sun s:iining daz- zlingly, the creek frozen l=ard, t he squir- rels hopping through the bare woods, and flocks of snowbirds alightiit,• on the fields. Early Sylvia left her • sleepless pillory, the youth, coldly. and never maiden arose upon her bridal ••`o—no—not in this there d are us morning with a heavier heart. She could some half-dozen people just ust p not think why.. She loved laleoner well and seated themselves in their psits, —she was willing to pass her life with they will witnessthe rites. the young mei" upon her bosom ind lir Loyd preceded him --yet there lay p'i. heavy weight, a vague an'iety, a sorrow- `pie • up tlx its e ful foreboding which she could neither 1 and took his stand throw off not quite understand. "I hope yon will not be harried till I come, for you are very, young, dear child." • These word.} lead been written to her by hlrs..Ii Biter. Yet, now she seemed to hear the lady's voice speaking them to her—speaking them with irresistible au- thority. And in what she was about to e -felt an undefined sense of wrong • wlticlt She,. could not reason aµ... Hunter well. sir? "Very well. She will be down in a few days." "Will you be good enough sir, to pro- ceed with the business that brought us here?" asked Falconer, impatiently. 'Certainly—certainly— certainly-- but —where are your attendants? have you no friends with you?" "Is that a necessary form, sir?" asked aisle, 1 , entered within the rai ing of the altar, ain front of the reading desk. Sylvia and Falconer knelt before him. The people that were in the church were roused up at this sight; a wed- ding is always interesting, especially an inipronlptu .Ane in a church; they were on the qui vine, and pricked up their ears for the words of the minister, and the responses of the parties, back aa and—but we hour must, leave then and go -M 441DO 0.0 0 Her system is called upon to supply nourishment for two. Some form of nourishment that will 426 4 041,04404 NursiLg baby? It's a heavy strain on mother. be easily taken up by mother's system is needed. Scoie s' Emulsion contains the greatest possible amount of nourish. anent in easily digested form. Mother and baby are wonderfully helped by its use. . pleted 1,4."' ti ,ry as Wtaai ti . dotild alone, A black silk gown, a black cloth shawl, and a little black silk bonnet—her usual Sunday dress were now her wedding garments. Like a star on the edge of a dark cloud shone her beautiful face from these shrouding draperies. She went out into the little parlor, where the breakfast table was set, and where Falconer awaited her. The youth stood at the chimney cor- ner with his elbow resting on the man- telpiece, his head bowed upon his hand, upon the lady's face, and she said, in and his long fingers driven through his black, elf locks. Ile looked little like a bridegroom—his face was haggard, as with sleeplessness and anxiety. He, too, felt a sense of wrong-dg—felt thin thattt it was an unmanly,unrighteous "iii take advantage of the gentle girl, and draw her into a marriage that promised nothing but misery. But he would not forego his selfish passion --no, not though his bride should die heartbroken; he hurled all misgivings from him, and trampled all compunction down. The young people scarcely touched their breakfast, and soon arose from the table. The little wagon stood at the door; Falconer handed Sylvia in, entered, and took the spat at her side, and drove off. The sparkling splendor of the winter morning --411e fresh, brisk, invigorating air, the merry twitering or hopping about of the honest hardy little denizens of the leafless woods, the snowbirds, or the squirrels, that frequently crossed their path—all contributed to enliven the spirits of our young travellers. Then Falconer asked: "What were you looking so grave about, Sylvia?" "I do not quite know, but I felt as if this were a runaway match." �'Gaaerl, Fir: 'g "Ilene-nl-nil. Whom are we running '"Gauged? ir. 'g , =Chat do you loran." away from, Sylcertainly, so." ."Gated. sir, ',}'aged to he married, sir "No one, s. l imite only it seemed g "From Mr.. hunter, isn't It?" —and Marne Falconer.- she's an putty, "No, the dear lady, she is the last one and he's r}so leraalonealons ( ora felaogre osheyour 'l frl in the world to put a fetter on lne. They journeyed on. They reae]ted the , class in the Snudty schoolt Summit, and drove up to the church just i be seen and 'mired and mad much of, its the Sunday school had been taken in. i adson to bntly mighte t him married tut mor'- The church below stairs was empty. The I gone congregation had not even begun to j " assemble. Falconer alighted and se- cured his horse, and assisted Sylvia to descend from her seat, and they entered the church 1ngeUter, A little while they heel to ..•^:t wl,ile Mr, Lovel coneln'led the opening services of the Sunday school, alta then 1''al,:nller sent a message to him by a late pupil who was going up. Mr. Lovel cane down and met the young pair. and shook hands with them, and when Falconer had explained the business that had brought them thither, he looked surprised, amused, and turned such a quizzical glance upon Sylvia that the maiden blushed' and dropper: her eyes. "Yes, certainly," he said,"always happy to make others happy.' Oh, by the way, have you seen Mr, Hunter this morning?" ost•000tiolol000lc•000cp000lopoo: ALL oavac�srs. ca. AND S,.ao ALI. DRUGGIST$¢ Soo. .$1.00' aule x.-.. . .,✓l Hunter left':Itowlet Hall, ire r•,ie'oha,„at a brisk pride 'through the interrrening fields between the Hall and the Barrier, but had to slacken his speed in going through the dangerous mountain pass, which, long negleet and wintry wee - Hier hnd rendered nearly impa -able. This impeded his progress and worried and fatigued has horse, so that be could go oily at a very moderate rate through the, valley lying between the Barrier and the ridge of Silver Creek. .\n.1 over the ridge, by reason of the washed and gut- tered roads, the mountain pass was still more difficult and dangerous. Ile was a long time getting through and the morn• ing was well advanced when he reached Silver Creek cottage. He alighted at the gate and walked in. There was no one in the room. Comfortable as the cottage was with its little parlor in perfect or- der, and cheered with a bright wood fire burning in the chimney. it bad a vacant, disappointing look. With the end of his riding -whip he rapped several times on the floor before any one cam. t length, however, just as he was growing y impatient, Aulit Moll appeared at the kitchen door. "Well, lloW is your young mistress?" he said. "Fuss rate, sir, 'deed is she, and purty. Miss Silvy had a class in the Sunday school. only Marse Falconer, sir, he wouldn't let her keep it." A crimson spot. that not the infuri- ated mob could have raised there, now glowed upon Daniel hunter's daelm& are fixed while he kept his glittering upon tbe face of the loquacious old wo- man and asked: "But why ----by what right does Mr. O'the yLeary Ylady lady's- occupationsere with lisandviatmuse- ments?" riey's '",fed" Why, yon see, sir. a• - "What," cried Daniel hunter, starting to his foot. "Yes, sir, clew's gone to ehureh to be married this morning, 'fore service" "Good heaven! and I have been wast- ing time helot Why dbth't you tell me before. How long have they been gone?" anxiously inquired Ilii, Hunter, seizing his hat and gloves. 'Deed. sir. 1 didn't know as you was 'ticaler 'corned in knowin' of it. Dey's been gone about an hour" "Concerned in knowing it. She is my daughter!" exclaimed Daniel Hunter, throwing himself upuon horseback and gnllopi-ng rapidly away. He reached the Snlnmit in half an hoer's hard riding, raeg from Ms horse, and hastened, breathless, into the Bream and Bedslats. (From the Chicago`Tn 'ri3c'rt1ri,'-�3' It is impossible to enumerate all the different kinds of blithering idiots who are running around just now with their mouths open, but here are a few of them: The inan who regards it as "only a flurry in Wall street." The man who asks: "Do you think we're going to have a panic?" The man who says that 'it has cleared the atmosphere." The man who says "it's looking better" since those "crooked banks" shut. up. The man who argues that those ''dew York swindlers' ruined themselves t•s "get even wit:= Rooss t." The man who is sure t iest "Morgan, Rockefeller and Harriman just did it to scare Teddy." The man who suspects a "bank con- spiracy" onspiracy" to hoard currency and "squeeze up all," while "they buy cheap stocks with our money." The man with the amethyst ring and nickel -headed cane who (ut1lututces every- where that "they can't bluff Teddy," and "he's got the Wall street gamblers go- ing." The man who proclaims that "it helps the situation" to "smash the rotten banks," and that "Teddy's got the fin- ance vill•aine on the run." The man who borrows $10 and then tells you "it'll be all right in a few days, because there's just as much money in the country as there ever was." The man who sits at the pie counter and tells everybody that it is a "good thing" to "smash every bank in the coun- try,' and save the "common people" from "slavery" to the "money jower." The man who says "it had to come anyhow," we "ere going too fast"; "Roosevelt is the greatest President we ever had," and "ought to have a third term" or "as many more as he wants." Perhaps these men have brains, but they sound as if they had only predi- gested bedslats under their hair. How have they lived all these years in a great city without being run over by the cars? The Lord only knows.