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" ISSUED SIMl-WEBKL^ " ' ' l m. grist & SONS, pabushers. } % ^antilg grospger: <jfor the promotion of the political, gocial, Agricultural and (fommecrial gnttrtsls of the geoplt. {TEKMSrafL0co^EFiKvENcE"TsANC^ established 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 19QO. NO. 24. LOVE 11 BY JEANNETTE Copyright, 1899, by Jeannette H. Walwor Synopsis of Previous Installments. . Tom Broxton comes to Broxton Hall from college, having been summoned to his father, who is dying. Mr. Matthews, Tom's guardian, passing "Mother" Spillman's cottage, drops a bag of papers. The next morning Matthews comes to look for one of the papers which have been lost. He does not find it, but Jimmy Martin, a Sardener, soon aft er brings it to "Mother" pillman, She pledges Martin to secrecy and hides the paper in the back of an old chair. Tom Broxton visits the room in which his father lies, finds some flowers on an easel and among them an unfinished letter from bis father to himself. Through ground glass doors he sees a figure tampering with the papers contained in his father's desk. Before he can enter the room the figure disappears. Approaching his father's body lying in his coffin, Tom looks for a seal ring worn on the finger, but it is not there. Olivia Matthews arranges with her father for a garden party at Broxton Hall on her eighteenth birthday. Her father, riding past the Hall, stops there and sees the mysterious figure standing over Colonel Broxton's , desk. After the lawn party Tom Broxton and his guardian sit at the Hall talking about it, ana Mr. Matthews proposes that Tom, after being graduateu at college, shall go abroad to study and declares that the Hall must be sold, to both of which propositions Tom demurs. MotberSpillmau cautions Tom against his guardian, but fails to convince him. Olivia rides out with Clarence Westover on horseback. Tom goes to the Hall, where he finds Olivia, who has been thrown from her horse, and carries her into the bouse. She is notseverely injured. The party remain at the Hall. At midnight a scream is heard. It has come from Olivia, who has seen the mysterious figure standing over Colonel Broxton's desk. Two years elapse. Broxton Hall is sold to the Westovers. Tom Broxton is studying abroad. He writes to Olivia declaring his love for her. His guardian writes him that his estate has beeu lost, and Olivia writes him that she is engaged to Clarence W estover. Mr. Matthews' study is burned under suspicious circumstances. CHAPTER XII. VTL MATTHEWS CALLS FOR HIS PHYSICIAN. Mandeville had the usual contingent of charitable and uncharitable people, of reticent thinkers and people given to speaking their minds plainly in season and out. In short, humanity was mixed there as elsewhere. Dr. Govan had to rebuke old Mr. Langdon, the druggist, quite sharply more than once for asking him, "How comes It Horace Matthews has got rich practicing law In Melton county, where no other man has ever been able to more'n grabble a living at that business?" And Mr. Mills, the most pro gressive man in Mandeville, who had actually had the temerity to import a man who had something to do with an electric light system, with a view to seeing if Mandeville could not be seduced Into discarding its old oil lamps, actually heard Lawyer Matthews talking to the electrician about his line of business, wanting to know if he could point out any opening for a young friend of his who would soon be returning from the other side and would want to go Into that sort of business. Of course his young friend must be Tom Broxton. Mr. Mills was one of the reticent thinkers, so he did not confide even to his wife his great astonishment at hearing that Rufe Broxton's son would have to go into any sort of business. But. although he discreetly refrained from proclaiming it upon the house tops, his private conviction was that "Horace Matthews' end of the seesaw had gone up as fast as Tom Broxton's had gone down." Dr. Govan would have scored Mandeville's most progressive man with the same severity he visited upon the irresponsible old druggist?"a quacking quack." as be bitingly called him? only it is impracticable to wage active hnctiiitips acainst a man who simply raises his eyebrows and shrugs his shoulders. Dr. Goran's broad catholicity and gentle judgment of his fellow man were the logical reflex of his own sweetness of nature and abounding good health. It was natural that Horace Matthews should have come in ' for a goodly share of discussion at the time of the fire, for Mandeville was never so rich in sensations as to let one slip too rapidly through its mill. But It was time to create a diversion. The doctor began his missionary work at home. If he could convert Mrs. Govan into a partisan. Matthews would be reInstated with his neighbors. A man's wife is His best and surest safety valve. Mrs. Govan innocently immolated herself. "I was down to see the old lady yesterday. John. Malvina says she wishes you would stop in the first time you pass their gate." "What's 'Mother' Spillman up to now?" "Nothing new. Malvina jusi gets fretted over the way the old lady pecks on Horace Matthews. She says it's a regular monomania. She says she is almost afraid to let any of the neighbors mention Mr. Matthews' name in her mother's presence for fear she will blaze out something ugly about him." "And yet," the doctor said gravely. "Matthews has been consistently kind to the old creature. He has kept up all the friendly services Braxton used to render her." "I know it. I know that, John, but 'Mother' Spillman's a woman of strong convictions, and she is not to be bought over by any amount of flattery or substantial help." ISA. WAY. H. WALWORTH. ( I tb. , ] ""Bought over?" Dr. Govan gave his wife au "et tu. Brute." look and open- ^ ed his battery without the preliminary of a curt challenge. "Now, see here, Matilda! Have you 1 gone over to the enemy?" 1 "Gone over to the enemy? Which I enemy, John Govan?" She smoothed < the white bands of hair on her temples < nervously. John had such a dreadful- ' ly incisive pair of eyes. He was using ' them just then as he used that sharp, shining probe among his surgical In- ' struments. ' "Well, I should say pretty much all Mandeville stood for the enemy at this 1 juncture, and I should be sorry to see my wife aligning herself with them 1 and sitting in judgment upon a man ' who has never committed one overt act ' that man or womau could point to and < say. 'That Is wrong.' " < "Well, but, John"? "Let me have the floor a litle while 1 longer, if you please, my dear. 1 really feel as if Matthews needed a friend, a I champion, if you choose. #I will say to I you in strict confidence 1 don't think he will be here many years longer." ? "What, John? Oh, that poor girl!" I "Of course this Is for no ear but 1 yours." i "I have been a doctor's wife 32 years. John." "And better one never doctor had." , An air kiss was floated from the doc- i tor's mature fineers to bring a smile I to Matilda's mature lips. "But about Mr. Matthews?" "Yes. about Matthews. I believe he is not unaware of the hostile attitude some of his old neighbors have assumed. Not all of them. The solid men of this community, the men who do their own thinking and can look at a subject all around, see Matthews as I do. a shrewd, close mouthed business man, with one object, and only one, in life." "Olivia." "Precisely?Olivia. I doubt if there's any man in Melton county who knows Matthews as well as 1 do. I knew him before his shell developed, knew him when he was in love with Lucettn Broxton and looked forward to marrying her. Matthews was ail right then. He was changed by her death into a silent, almost morose, man. lie was a fairly devoted husband to Olivia's mother, but uothing lias ever come between him and his first love. All the pent up forces of his nature have expended themselves ou this girl. He has slaved to make her rich. lie would die to make her happy." Mrs. (Jovau moved restlessly in her chair. John really was not telling her a single thing she did not know already. "Yes; but. John, nobody has?that Is. nobody should"? She started and opened her mild blue eyes to their widest extent. John was positively pounding the arms of his chair with his clinched fist. "I say it is an inhuman shame to damn Matthews because Tom Broxton's property has depreciated and his father's investments turned out badly. Are Broxton's riches the first that ever took wings to themselves? And because. by close attention to his business, Matthews has amassed a little bit bigger pile than the common run of Melton county attorneys the wise ones of the earth have added two and two together, with malicious cliuck?hot Mnttl.uu-o Ic n auu uvciucvi inai. *uaiii?v?c ?? u scoundrel of the blackest shade." 1 "All the same, It is a great pity that \ all of his papers are burned," said t Mrs. Govan quietly. i "An awful pity," the doctor replied c solemnly. "I do believe that it is the t loss of those papers which has preyed on Matthews' mind until he is almost t ready to take to his bed. You see, all ( of his vouchers as Tom Broxton's ( guardian went up in that Are." t "But Tom"- I "Oh, Tom is all right! Matthews showed me a letter be got from him in answer to the announcement that all the papers were gone. lie is a graud 1 fellow. Ilufus Broxton's own son." "1 wish 1 could have seen it." "Oh, it was short! But it had point i to it?by Jove, it had! 1 do not sup- 1 pose 1 could repeat it verbatim, but 1 I could give you the sense of it." 1 "Try. John, just to give me the sense < of it. I do so want to hear how the t dear boy took it. 1 don't mean about 1 the fire, but about his losses. lie is f so young." < The old man threw back his head 1 with an air of pride in the son of his 1 "lie took It grandly. 1 could not : help thinking, when I was reading that f letter, how proud it would have made * Kufus. He said he did not suppose he was the flrsf man who had merwith disappointments just as great on the threshold of life; that the blow was softened In his case by the reflection that no one would suffer by his losses but himself; that if he could uot provide for his individual wants the money expended on his education had been poorly placed. As it was not at al) probable he should ever marry, the future did not cost him an anxious thought." "Never marry! Why, he was up to his eyes in love with Olivia Matthews before he left here." "Yes, but Westover got in the way of that." Mrs. Govan pursued her own line of thought in an aggrieved voice. "That would have made things a little more even, and somehow I have always looked forward to seeing another Mrs. Broxton at the old Hall." "Events have a provoking way of 3haping their own course without any respect for our wishes or preferences. Matilda." To which sententious bit of wisdom Matilda accorded a grave affirmative. 'But go on about Tom's letter. John." "Well, it seems that Matthews had urged bis coming here as bis guest, to stay while they were going over the capers, to which Tom replied that as. jwing to the unforeseen intervention if the elements, there were no papers to be examined It would scarcely be idvisable for him to come to Maudeville just now. The visit could only De productive of pain to him and discomfort to others." "Others, 1 suppose, meant Ollie." Mrs. Govan interjected. "He wound up by telling Matthews that he begged to assure him of his unaltered affection and confidence. There was no room in his heart for any Dther feeling toward the man his father had loved and trusted. "Did he say that, John? Poor Tom! Dear boy! Poor, poor laddie!" Mrs. Govan's tears were dropping fast upon the sewing she had laid upon tier lap. "1 think the reason Matthews showed me that letter," said the doctor retlectlvely, "was because he wanted me to know just how Tom felt about? ibout things." "Yes; that was natural, I see. But Tom?where is he going to locate, lohn? Did the letter state? Mrs. Spillman was askiug me this morning if 1 knew where Tom was." "He thinks his chances as an electrician will be best out west in some growing place. He mentioned Kansas City. Shouldn't be surprised if he Drought up there." "And so that is the last of the Brox:on name for Melton county. Dear, lear, what changes oue does see in a ihort lifetime! Why. John, about the 5mn vrm hroiicht me here a bride the Broxtons were just everything In the :ounty. The men couldn't project any :ounty affairs of any importance with)ut Rufus Broxton's opinion and help, Mrs. Broxtou led in all the social and ;hurch movements, and half the unnarried men In the county were courtng Lucetta." "That's all so." said the doctor gravey, "but it only goes to prove the nutability of human affairs." Mrs. Govau refused obstinately and ilwnys to mount her husband's rhetorcal ladder. She preferred the safer if owlier tableland of her own practical efleetions. . "I'm not afraid. John, but what Rufus Broxton's sou can make headway ivherever he plants himself, but 1 do tope he will be careful ubout his flanlels and things. Lucetta and his mother died so young. John. If I knew Evhere the boy was, I would write to lim in a motherly sort of way. you enow. He may be slow making new 'riends out there, you see." "And that's a kindly thought, Mailda. I'll tiud out from Matthews aud et you know." Then his office bell rang, aud the doc;or left the pleasant sitting room fireside. made all the brighter by Mrs. Doctor's sweet old face, to ausewer it. Presently he put his head in the doorvay to say: "It is something of a hurry call from Matthews. I shouldu't be surprised if ! paid him a good long visit. Matilda." That was his formula?always to ceep Matilda posted as to his moveneuts. She had a formula too. "And give my love to Olivia. Tell ter if there's anything in the wide vorld I can do to send right back for ne. I'll drive over anyway this afterioou with some salt rising bread and juince marmalade if you dou't forbid hem." Mandevllle would have been put to It o find man or woman who. having 1 ;ver been sick enough to call in Dr. 3ovan, had not been treated to salt ising bread and quince marmalade by drs. Dr. Govan. CHAPTER XIII. 'mother" spii.i.ma.n speaks out at i last. Notwithstanding its capacity in the natter of mote magnifying and the wilding up of substantial charges 'rom straws and wisps. Mandeville tad a heart, and when it was known :hat Lawyer Matthews had actually aken to his bed and that Dr. Govan ookcd very grave when questioned i ibout Ills patient's chances for recov- | ;ry this heart swelled with a great i )ity for Olivia's prospective desolation, with the result that she was overwhelmed with neighborly offers of help ind sympathy. Touching this wide- ; spread demonstration, she said to Miss dalvina. with shining, grateful eyes: "I always knew papa deserved to be i evered by his neighbors, and it makes no so proud to be assured of the estination he is held in. But 1 don't think te would like any of them at his bedside. lie told me so. I think Reuben ind I can manage the case. He Is not 1 rery sick, you know. It Is just a nerv)us attack. He has been in a dreadfuly nervous condition ever since the Are. He was so frightened for me that light, you know." To which Miss Malrina answered "No, of course," and then "Yes, of course," vaguely trying to meet all requirements. She was thinking of how very ill Mr. Matthews really was and of how entirely unconscious Olivia was of the impending catastrophe. But It was uot for her to furnish enlightenment. Some one, Miss Malvlna decided, cer- ' talnly ought to be within call at night I In case?In case of the worst. Dr. Govan was out of the question. He was ' too old and too necessary to the well 1 being of the rest of Mandevllle to be ( risked. She thought of Tom Broxton, 1 but Tom was hundreds of miles away, 1 hard at work. Mr. Matthews had told ' her he was in an electrician's office in Kansas City. Ollle never heard from him at all nowadays. She thought of 1 herself, only to think next of her moth- ( er. She could not stay away from the 1 cottage at night. Why should not Clar- 1 ence Westover stay? She gave Olivia ' the benefit of her views on this point. "I think, my dear, you ought to have some one besides old Reuben In the house at night. It Is just possible you might want to send for Dr. Govan during the night. I was thinking that Mr. Westover would be just the one." "Clarence to sit up at night? Oh, then you must think papa very ill Indeed!" "1 don't think anything of the kind," 6aid Miss Malvlna recklessly. "I was Just thinking that naturally it would cheer you up some to have him about" A soft glow spread over the girl's tired face. The mere suggestion had proved cheering. "Oh, he Is just as nice as can be! He comes every day and has wanted to help nurse from the very beginning, and?and?it would be immensely comforting to me just to know that he was within call, but papa seems to have such an aversion to any one being in his room. He has said over and over again that^he hoped I would not take advantage'of him when he was asleep to leave a stranger in charge of him. As If I would take advantage of him under any circumstances!" she added mournfully. "The very best of men are selfish pigs when it comes to sickness," said Miss Malvlna. with scorn In her eyes ? flv/?/l nnunAoa I ?i hnf hoflPt ami ct iiACu j;uov ?ij uv.i uv.141 vi She found Clarence Westover tethering his horse to the Matthews rack. She went toward hini eagerly. "Well. I call this providential; that I do. 1 was just casting about in my mind how I could get a message to you." "Worse?" He nodded gravely toward the house. "No: 1 can't say that 1 see any change at all. but it Is just this way: Things are iu too critical a condition for that child to be left alone at night, with no one but old Reuben to call on in case of?of"? "1 understand. 1 have thought so all along. 1 have pleaded with her for permission to stay. She has refused me with singular obstinaucy. I canuot stay iu spite of her." "That is just exactly what you must do. I know, it is all ids doiugs. She would he glad to have you. 1 know It. But she wouldn't go against Ids wishes for the universe. I don't suppose he can help being selfish, seeing he is a man. She needs you desperately. Mr. Westover. What are you going to do about it?" A second of silent reflection fell between them, and then Westover solved the problem cheerfully. "I have It. I can be on hand and he none the wiser for it. I don't suppose, now, any one is likely to visit the little side porch his room opens on after dark?" "No. Splendid! There is a hammock swung there just outside his windows. You can hear everything that goes on in the room." "I'll do it," said Clarence with decision. "I will come after dark. Fortunately there is no moon to tell on me." "Nor any dog," Miss Malvlna added reassuringly. "My dear Mr. Westover. what a load you have lifted off ray heart!" And as she trotted briskly homeward. with that much lightened organ warming toward Ollie's lover, she said to herself that she guessed they had all been unjust to this young man because they had dedicated Ollie to Tom Broxton and maybe because he wore patent leather shoes in the daytime. Mandeville had Its own standards, and Miss Malviua stood by them. Patent leather stood for holidays and holy days. Her loving heart was very full just then. What with pitying tenderness for Ollie. somber anticipations for Lawyer Matthews and growing anxiety for her mother it could not well be fuller. She had to admit to herself that her mother was growing queerer every day. And tlte queerer she grew the more frenzied became her dislike for Ilor I ? Lam nffnufo f a O A I ilt'L' .U il 11IJL">\ IU uui uuui to iv uv count for it .Miss Malvina recalled the psychological fact that mentally unbalanced people frequently selected some one individual as the object of their especial detestation. Sometimes It was those they had most reason to love aud admire. Iler mother was certainly a monomaniac where the lawyer was concerned. When she had beard of the sale of Broxton Hall, for Instance, she bad laughed maliciously and said that Tom could send that business higher than n kite. She had all she could do to keep her mother from breaking out into her dreadful tirades of abuse before others. So .Miss Malvina in her little three , roomed cottage and Olivia Matthews In her mansion of many rooms were each winning their way through the shadows with heavy hearts amid foreboding fears. As ordered by Dr. Govan, Reuben was night nurse and Olivia tended the g sick man during the day. Said the J gentle old doctor: a "Reuben can stand loss of sleep bet- 1< ter than you can. my dear, and It v would distress your father to see you 1< aDout him when you should be getting n your proper rest." ti But Ollie liad her doubts about Reu- j ben's superior powers of endurance. 8 and after stealing into the dimly light- } ed sickroom twice in one night to find s patient and nurse both in a profound f slumber she aroused Reuben aud drew v him cautiously out into the hall. I "It is nearly midnight, Reuben, and ^ I have been sleeping nicely ever since b o ciock. xou go now ana rest uuiu v daybreak. You say be does not get c restless before then. Come back at i first peep of day. and be will never v bave missed you." D Tbls suggestion fell in so comfort- 8 ably with Reuben's own desires tbat b she did not have to urge It very strenuously. With yawning thanks be shuf- a fied out of sight. ti Olivia stole noiselessly into the sick- a room to take his place. The sick man a was in a profound sleep. She lowered a the lamp on the hearth a trifle and h moved the screen so that the shadows 0 cast by It on the celling above the bed 3hould take on fewer fantastic shapes. j( She shook the water pitcher softly to a make sure of the presence of ice in It ^ She examined the tumblers of physjc ^ to be quite sure of the next dose in ^ case she had to administer It before n Reuben's return. a Gratified to find the patient remain t( unconscious of all this subdued actlv- j Ity, she curled herself up in the great j armchair on the side of the bed next to the wall, where she would be completely hidden should her father open v bis eyes, but need no attention. Then a she administered a small dose of com- a fort to her own anxious heart. "He Is better. He must be better. ^ Dr. Govan said if he could only sleep ? petter all would be well, and now be Is sleeping splendidly." With folded arms and closed eyes ? she fell to picturing things as they would shape themselves as soon as her a father should leave his sick bed. She * would tell him how Clarence was pleading for an Immediate marriage so ? is to help her take care of him In his 5; Jeclining years. It was lovely to have * tier lover so fond of her father, but u :hen everybody looked up to and reverenced her father. It would be terrible c U) have a father whom all the world eould not look up to. And thus com- ? *orting herself after the manner of all v :hings young and innocent she settled ? aerself to keep vigil. In five minutes she was sound asleep. Not for very * ong. She fell a-dreaming, an unpleas- n int, startling dream. She fancied some P :errible, wild thing was standing over ler father's sick bed with flame in its v ?yes and venom on its tongue. She ^ writhed as one docs in the conscious a jffort to shake off a nightmare and ipened her eyes, only to cover them with her trembling hands as she smoth- f ?red the impulse to cry out. Standing close by the pillows of the ? sick man was the tall, white robed b igure. never to be forgotten, that had >nce before deprived her of the power e >f reasoning. High over a tumbled 0 nass of snowy white hair it held the 8 small bedroom lamp that had been ^ jurning low on the hearth. 11 The Broxton ghost stood revealed in 1 'Mother" Splllmnn! In that one 8 'rightened glance Olivia had made that t( liscovery. But how was she to get :hls determined old woman, this avow- b id luuutic, away from her father's bed- n side quietly? Petrified by fear, belpessly casting about for a plan of ac- u Jou that would not react upon her be- a oved patient, the girl shivered with enewed terror as "Mother" Spillman, 0 n a low voice, made intense by the d ioncentrated passion of purpose, en- a :ered upon her awful arraignment: " "You are ill. Horace Matthews, ill into death perhaps. 1 have been bid- N ng my time. Before another night 8 lasses over your head you may stand f n the presence of your Maker aud d rour Judge. What will you answer when he asks you how the orphan has b 'ared at your hands, how the son of ^ :he man wbo loved and trusted you rar j leyond your deserts had been treated? EVhy has Rufus Broxton's son waxed si poor and you rich, Horace Matthews? n "You know me. Oh. I see that you ti lo. for all you are staring at me as if it rou saw a specter. You've looked at t< lie many a time that way. Horace, d ivlien I've caught you at some of your a ricious boy tricks long ago. And 1 d tnow you through and through. 1 aughcd when I heard of your books b tnd papers being burnt up. That was n )ne of your old tricks. You burnt up b i composition book when you were a Y x>y when your theft of an essay was ti threatened with discovery. You burnt J*' tp your philosophy to escape an extra Y jard task. It has been a silly but a w ricious practice of yours ever since ci rou were 10 years old. It served you si n good stead when vouchers that did ei lot exist were to be produced. "But I did not come here to rail at O rou for bygones. I came here to plead a< :he cause of the orphan son of the best it ,'riend you ever had. As you hope for w forgiveness hereafter. Horace Mat- O thews, make such restitution as is possible to that poor boy. You have jjj uiued him. and you know It. The y( i mt */-?? <rirl . noney you nave pwi-u up lu> jp yill never do lier any good, never! k, "You have bedecked her with stolen 5, lewels, and you know it. You fasten- j1( ;d Lucetta Brox ton's pearl necklace 0I ibout her pure young neck the night the was 18 years old. just the age at m vbich poor Lucetta died. It is a won- fa ler it did not scorch the child's flesh. "You see. I am old, but I do not roret my friends. They call me crazy, ly own girl has jotued in the cry gainst me. But I have mind enough ?ft to remember the things that are rortb remembering. I remember the ave and gratitude I owe to every . lember of the Broxton family. I have ried to serve Thomas, but his faith In ou was not to be shaken. You lost ome papers the night bis father died. ,'ou did not make a very thorough earch for them. I think you preerred to have them lost But they rere found and brought to me. The .ord put them as a weapon in my and. I read tbem, and 1 bid them. "I meant to give them to Thomas rhen be should come of age and your ontrol of bim cease. But I lost them. think I know how, but I can't say rhere. You see. my poor bead plays ie tricks sometimes. It is not as ervfceable as It was when you were a oy, Horace. "In the envelope you lost there was n unfinished letter from Rufus Brox3n to his son. I went up to the house t night to give It to him. He was sleep, poor laddie, and I twisted It bout some flowers that I had laid over is father's picture as my poor tribute f love. "You see, I wanted him to have that itter. but I did not want you to know bout it, for then you would know rhere the other papers were. So I reorted to a clumsy trick to make him elieve there was something superatural about his getting the letter, nd then 1 knew be would bold his angue. Some time or other Tom and will have a good laugh about the Iroxton ghost. "I carried all the papers with me Then I went up to the Hall. 1 was fraid to leave them behind. 1 was fraid Malvina would get bold of them nd give them to you. Malvina Is on our side, so I had to be sly, oh, so ly, Horace. But 1 lost the papers, 'hey are lost, lost, lost! "I see the gleam of triumph In your lazing eyes, Horace. But 1 know be'papers all by heart. I will tell It 11 in open court some day If the dear iOrd will only leave me here until Tiomas comes back. I will swear that ou could not give a title to Broxton lall, and then Thomas can get it back, iut, oh. I grow so weak, and Thomas irrles so long! "I don't want to go before Thomas omes. I may die tonight. I may die omorrow. I've used my last strength o drag myself to your bedside. He rho forgave the dying thief upon the tTAii Ma onH ho will L UOO K.CLL1 LVlgil V J VU, IVV| uuv? uv .. ...T lorace. If you will only make restitulon to that poor boy. He Is a God of aercy, in whose name I make this apeal." Gasping as one coming out of deep raters does. Olivia threw herself upon tie bed and stretched sheltering arms bout the sick man. "Father, father, forgive me! I ought a have protected you better. I was so lightened I could neither move nor peak. It is just poor old crazy 'Mother' plllman. I shall call Reuben to take er home." He was breathing stertorously. His yes were fixed on the stern white face f his accuser. Terror was legibly ineribed on every line of his pallid ace. He looked beyond Olivia, as if er loving voice hod not reached him. t reached the old woman, who gave a tart of surprise and said In gentler anes than she had yet used: "1 am sorry you were close by. child, ut I had a duty to perform. It could ot be put off any longer." Olivia pressed her hands tenderly pon her father's wide stretched lids nd whispered caressingly In his ear. "There, dear, don't look at her. It is nly poor old 'Mother* Spillman. who oes not know what she is talking bout. They ought to keep her under >ck and key." Stretching her hand for me bell on he table by the bed. she rang a sharp ltnmnnc for Reilhon on it. She TOSe rom the bed and turned with gentle ignity toward the old woman. "Mrs. Splllinau, I have rung for Reuen to see you borne. Miss Malvina rill be dreadfully frightened about ou." She was as an autumn leaf In the trong current of the relentless old woinn's will. As a candle will someinies burn its brightest before flickerig to its death. ".Mother" Spillman Miiporarily recovered the strong inIvidunlity that had made her as the liulster's wife the terror of every eviloer in her husband's parish. "Girl. 1 am sorry for you. truly sorry, ut I have work to do. For his sake," odding her white head toward the ed. "keep your man at a distance, our promise. Horace. There is yet me. Do uot go into the presence of our Maker with a sin burdened soul, ou know whether my words are the ords of truth or the ravings o? a "azy old woman. You know, and"? ie raised one long arm to point solinnly upward?"he knows." Her father's awful silence appalled livia. lie was staring stonily at his :cuser. The muscles of his neck and lws twitched convulsively, but no ords came from his parched lips, livia lost all control at the sight. "He is dying, dying, and you have llled him! Father, don't die before )u have answered her! Don't go with jr awful words ringing In my ears! I aow they are false, all false, father, Jt I want to hear you say so! Silence rAtit-onlf fnfhopl Snonlr tn mp rmlv ice! Spenk, papa!" "He cannot." said the old woman ercilea?ly. "The Lord has striken his lse and deceitful tongue. It is paralized." TO BE CONTINUED.