D ....
:
z:
t-Mf
IS. ft' i Hi ST-
VOL. II.
LINCOLNTON, N. C, "FRIDAY, JAN. II, 1889.
NO. 35
5v tff FV
m lift!
THE OLD HOUSE IN
THE HOLLOW.
n
15 Y KATE rUTMAX OSGOOD.
"What a funnv l ittle place ex
claimed Lett Yal-l, as she exam-i
hied the t wo hid d! icuiih eompri
ing the deserted building in which
the malic ptctiic party had taken
shelter from a sudden Hbower.
'Tuckol away down in this hollow,
why its like being out of the
world! Oil, I'd like, to keep house
here."1
"J'romise you'll keep houso for
rue, too, wou't. yon, Letty?" &aid
Larry (Jndeihiil, laughing, from
Mhere lie sat on a dilapidated ta
bl, "And me!" eliorured all the
young fellows, except om leaning
apat t, who now turned a dark and
scowling fnc upu the rest
Letty blushed as she glanced to-
ward him, and answered evasi vely:
.. I
"But thete isn't room for all 0f
you.
4-.Make your choice, Lotty," said ! snl I1'"1 to Hf"e howmuch at tention
Underbill, giavely. "Shut yonr!,j;,r,v U"dothiU paid to prejty
eyes, turn ri-u'id tliree times, and!1 ' ur umMii-.-iwi a "'" m
stivtch outyoui 1 1 j h t hand."
The girl bfiighitigly obeyed, and,
whether bv acrodenr n,- ,iwmi n..t !
i
her hand in that of tho lrk young
man standing alone. He grasped
it family, with a sudden smile like
sunshine on his lowering
lace, and forced her to remain
there with him, facing them all
"Bravo!1' cried Underhill. You're
in luck, Dallas. Now, just wlatl(
oill while 1 make a sketeh of you
.both.''
But Gabriel Dallas' face darkened
again. "No," he answered, "some
other time, Mr. Underhill."
Stove Thatcher gave a course
guff iw: "You needn't mind if its
about Letty, G ibe, for he's got a
Avhole cargo o' pictures
ot her. hain't you Mr. Underbill?''
Gabriel Dallas looked like an
Italian picture and Steve Thatcher
like a clown, and perhaps UnJer
hill's appreciation of this, rather
than Steve's evidcti t desire to irri
tate Gabriel made tho young ar
tist snub Ins loutish questioner.
"I don't pivciselyuo what you mean
by a cargo," he said suspiciously,
"but I generally jot down any
thing which strikes me. Ia that
way I hope to preserve the re mem
brauce of your own picturesque fig.
ure Mr. Thatcher.''
There was a laugh at this, for
Steve was long, lank and ungainly.
He colored angrily now; but, not
being able to answer Underbill's
mockery inkind, was silent. Fres
ently it ceased raining and they all
went out into the open air again,
Letty still with Gabriel Dallas.
Lett' had come to Stonybank
the previous spring with a family
named Bat ton, to whom she w as a
kind of adopted daughter. They
themselves, weie sluftlesss, ne'er do
well people not thought of much
itceount in Stonybank. But Letty
was not like them and then she
so bright, so winning, and so ex
ceedingly pretty that, before she
had beeu long m the village she
was its acknowledged belle. Gab
riel was supposed to the favored
lover but they had beeu kept apart
by his moody jealousy, which, once
aroused, amounted to a positive
passion, making hiui suspicious,
unreasonable and obstinate.
Gabriel cauio naturally by these
jealous instincts. Old Lawyer
Fernald, down at Stonybank Corn
er, who was a living record of all
the country history roundabout,
said that the young fellow waa a
descendant from a French or Span
ish sailor Manuel Daloz by name
who had wandered to Itockport
the nearest seaboard town and
from there to Stonybank where the
local usuage converted Daloz Into
Dallas. Gabriel, the latest de
ecendant possessed the peculiar
family temperament which had
marked Manuel Daloz, the wander
er from the hills of Southern
France.
Gabriel had a good farm, he
was sober and industrious, and
when. not m one of his dark moods
open aud kindly. He waa striking,
ly hapdsome, too, with hia black,
liquid eyes, his clustering tawny
Iiiir, and the watmstoned bronze
! f his con plexion. He micht al
! .
j most have his pick among the vd
jlaKo nirls, b.f nooue had seemed
j t- make any led impression on'
him until he fell in lovo at. first !
i I
sight wit L ty Walsh with whom
I however hi jealousy had prevent-
ed a detiuate underrtandtni- till the
day whea tho girl laii her hand in
liis, down there in the house in the
hollot'.
They were, nurried after a very
whort. engageiiH'tit. The 5artons.
like true rolling stones, were about.
hi ie,irowHij(iwuk km ww piuce.
111 1 imiar vesr. mi uw weooiny
iook ptaeo oetore mey wenr. AH
Stony bank wh there besides a
good part, of ''the Corner" the fami-
lies of which mostly represented a
much higher social grade. Among
those who came was Layer Feinald
with whom Gabriel was a favorite,
anl his grattdaughter Gora,a young
l.k,lf-t II' ..k I.a.I Its...... lit. .1 l.tl. .... ' ...
" -y ' ' , a i 11 -'
idy boa'ilmg school. The othei
I., j . ' iw v
above most of the village belles
tbou.ii i.cttyitau snmeumes dopu
rallin.l about him-they did not
mind his devoting himself to Mks
Fernald, who also moved in a range
beyond their own- Letty herself
was really the prettiest girl in the
room, and her deep blue cvos.
with their shading of curling Mack
hair and lashes, her bright coin
ph'xion and soft, sweet look con
tiasted e.lectivelv with Gabriel's
intenwer southern beauty. So
thought UnderhilFas his eyes lin
gered on them. The yonng art
ist was an old acquaintance of Lef
ty's, having boarded with the Bar
tons the summer before they came
to Stonybank. Careless easy going
and reflecting, he led a wandering
life in pursuit of his art, but, being
iudependant of it, he was not
forced to continued exertion so that
his painting was like himself a
thing of beginnings and caprices.
The weeks went by, the Bartons
hadloug been goue aud still Larry
Underhill stayed, on in Stonybank
driving, walking and sketching
with Uora Fernald. lie did not
leave tho place until near No
vember and then it was repotted
that she hail received a letter from
him.
"What'd I tell you that night at
Gabe's wedding?'' sage:y remarked
Lben urentham. "And since
then I've seen, many's ihe time,
trampin' the woods after leaves and
things tor her.1'
Steve That jher gave a coarse j
laugh, "Did ye ever watch a j
groimd-sparrer try to get you off i
the track of its nest? It'll keep
iiutterin' round a tree stump as if 1
there warn'c anything on this earth
it cared for but that particular
spot.''
"You mean the Fernald girl's the
tree stump?"
"How bright you are Eb, to find
that out! ' answered Steve mock-
i'-glv.
"Hut where's the nest, Steve?
asked E en looking puzzled.
Steve tnrued his head, and a look
of constpriifitioii came over his
heavy face as he saw that Gabriel
Dallas was listening. "I must be
goin' home,', he said abruptly. 'T
ain't got no more time to fool round
here' and he started up the
road. .
Gabriel jo:ned him. For a time
they walked on in silence, Steve
seeming constrained and uneasy.
Finally Gabriel spoke.
"Steve he said what did you
meau by what you said to Eb about
Slips Fernald?"
"Ob, I don't know; just some of
me and Eb's foolin' I guess," an
swered Stevo evasively, looking
askance at the set face that belied
the qniet words.
"Look here Steve," and Gabriel
faced round on his companions. "I
know you meant something. Now
what was it!
Steve gave an awkard langh. "I
don't see what business 'tis of yours
anyway, Gabe," he said. "I ain't
answerable to you, I s'pose, for "
Gabriel laid his hand on the oth
ctfl m and his face looked
straiued and eager. "Will you toM
.1 r I rniir kimr.,,1 unv.l O . .1 r if
,
isu t auy business of mine?' he
said.
Steve. sbufnVd ami couched; final -
ly hebrokedown a'togeihi r. "Gabe"'
he stammered, ,I I can't tell ye
that. Don't ask me no more. Well,
w... . ".'iw, i..n
then'" as GabtieTn giap still
tightened on his am, "It yon trill
, have it. don't blame me."
j Hh thon decrtlel a seen 1m-
J t ween Fuderhill and Gabr. el's wife
which he (Sieve) had witt.e.e,l i
the woods on the evening helot e
; v mleT ,mH departure trom stony
t,,,nk. He said that tho artist had
,vd Itty in his ami, and given
j ,.r repeated kisse.s which she had
j returned. There had been alius -
j sions to former evenings when the
had boen with him under cover ot
j ,rumg to meet her hntd!id and not
u,,til an incauti.ius movement o!
sieve's startled them,d;d they sep-
j antre, Lnuertsiii going back to tin-
. WT . . '1! 1 ....
(.oniPr iCtt htm yiug home,
liaiuiiM dot nor say a worn auring
j rhis st(; y, onty Ins eJinchod hand
shook Steve's arm whenever the hit-
ter made a pause. At the elope tie
j Hyu h0ars?l: -If yon have lied to
me! " For a mo.oenf Stevo saw
his face livid in the Minset ilo.v,
and then he was g-oiio down the
wcod road.
He went striding along his home
ward wav with a devil tearing his
heartr that old stubborn devil ot
jealousy, which, once entered tool
utter possession. When lie opened
Mie door Letty spr up but
stopped at the si gh of his changed
face-
"Why Gabriel,'7 she faltered, "is
anything the mattet ? Are you ''
fie cut her snort, seizing hor
hands and dragging her to t lie win
dow, where the light fell full on her
face. Then withoot any preface:
I)il you meet Lain Undeihill in
the woods last Fnday atternon!''
he said.
Letty blushed crimson.
"Yes,'' she began pleadingly,
"hut "
"And did l e ki.-s you iuten
rupted Gabriel between his sot
teeth.
"Oh Gabriel let me tell yon
how '
"Yes or no, did he kisa you?'' re
peated Gabriel, with fierce eyes
searching her lace: There was a
long, sickening pause, then Letty
faltered again:
"Yes but "
He let go her hands so suddenly !
that she fell back against the wail, i
Jie Had waiiceit awav to tue otner
wintlow, where he stool with aver.
ted face. There was another s-.ilence
then Lefty saul with trembling
eagerness: "Gabriel, dear, let me
tell you how it all was may If'
There was no answer . She
crept up behind him and laid her
hand on his nun. He Hung it
off. Don't touch :ne!" he said in a
voice she would not have known
for his.
"Oh! Gabriel, (latbng, only near
me!" and again she caught at ','i
sleeve. He turned lound then.
"Hear me. " he said, "I don't
want any explanations, I don't
want you to touch me, only to go
! awav where 1 never shall see your
! face again wait a minute." as Let.
ty tried to speak, "I don't want to j
hurt you but if you don't go in five
minutes I swear I wiil shoot myself j
where I stand.
He took a revolver and placed it ,
with his watch on the table beside;
him. Then he turned ins back io
his wife again ami waited.
The minutes ticked on monoton
ously Letty sat in stunned silence
until. she saw him makea movement
then she sprang forward and threw
herself upon him. "Gabriel!" she
cried in a voice of agony, "oh for
the sake of our love "
"Not a word of that.'' he inter
rupted, it is time. Will you go
or " lio put his hand on the re
volver. She gave him a look of
passionate desperate appeal, then
as he made another movement
with a wild s.creum she rushed out,
of the house.
It was soon noised about Stony -
bank that Letty Dallas had left
her husband's home and disaps
peared from the town; Old Law
yei Fei tutd questioned Gabriel, but
t',inti,1 lii'n f i . 1 1 urii .111. 1 niuliiint.i
v. . ...... " - ii'ht.
j ' Don't ask me any ;), M-. IV r
jnahl" he said nspecifUly but firm J
. ly. "You've always been very good
to me, and I don't . wa -t to offend
! you, but I can t and shan't talk
i about, I his." The ohl man'shook his
! head atid turm 1 aw;; U,r he sart
that the t nmble wa beyond Ins
' mending
: After tb. s no o ie iixMitioued Let
tv s oanie to Gibi ie! except that
onc S-eve riiatcaer vU?geS,ed that,
u ' g" 1 ' rde. h.ll. Hut ;
1 "
; 1 "- ' "".i uom
;rvr i peai.ivtg inn utea ami pres-
j'iUly the ottly rem tinier of Ldty's
' A ?ht was the eha'igo it had
wrought in labrid.
That, ore Atonal darker mood Gf
- former days seined to have, taken
! popsessiou of hitji i.nv?. lie was
;io.mv and abstracted, he went no
I . . I
; where ami t-poice to no one save on
i business, -Did day alter clay he
woi ue't as n orivcn rv nerce uiis
jrest- So pa;-d tho first voir
the maniige which had known
ir of
on-
; iy a tew happy montnf; t!o Jong
U ,M winter wore away, the spring
, blossoms opetied and ell and the
joaly gh'.ry of a id-oi auaer had m ar.
ly completeii its round, and still no
Tord from Lefty.
Bur one hot day in August Lefty
'herself thoiu-h tho mere shadow
of Iter former self came ba.'-k to
Sfo'jjb'ink. She enriol in her
trims a little . sickly wailing infant,
and iouked weary enongh to have
dropped by t lie way yet she pressed
on to the corner where Lawyer Fers
paid lived. lie owned the old
house in the h"llow at-d she wanted
to get his lea veto occupy it. The
old man tried to induce her remain
for a time uuder his roof but here
he or. no
in sudden conflict with a
certain gentle pride and obstinane.y
which wire marked constituents of
Letty's character. No arguments
could nifike her open her lips about
Gabriel or consent to any favor
more than the use of the old house
and Mr. :(L nald wa1? reluctnntlv
obliged to give way.
So Letty ict up her poor little
borne w;thin the desertel walls
wher sno had once laughingly de.
ciaied she would like to keep house.
She supported herself .'rod little
Gabrielle tor so she had named
the baby by needle work and bv
such odd jobs as she could find
atnonor the village housewives,
They w-re glad to do what they
could for her; and, as she was thrit
i tv, and liemoms ci living cost, bat
little in Stonybank, her small eani-
ings answered we'd enough.
IV o pie wondered at first what
Gabriel D-tHas won d do, now that
his wife hail ie urned to the neigh
borhood. But Gabriel simply ig
nored her. Once only did tie show
that he was aware of her presence.
Lettie has gone over to Stonybank
Corners to do a pice of wotk, and
the biby was with her, one thin
urm ca,v about her neck. At
Lawyer FeniabS s gate they came
! suddenly face to face with Gabriel,
Lv10 Wfw ,n, o-jt. and the child.
j,noV(J,t hy som. impulse, began to
erow Hnd stretch cut its little fraifl
! i10,ia . idm ubmisf fntlinor frfmi
j its m0(i,ers shoulder- Gabriel in-
8tinctivei.v put up Ids bands to
ateady it, and over the babies head
tlie husband and wife for a moment
looked into each other's faces, Gab-
rieis ,lrtlk and He,, as usual now,
jetty's pale and wasted, but with
th 8nmft s.VGnt j0ok in the deep
bine eyes. Then Gabriel turned
away without a word, and Letty
passed ou silently.
"Poor Letty! how she has
changed" said Mr. Fernahl, who;
from his doorstep, had seen the
meeting. Gabriel made no answer.
"She used to look so bright aud
fresh,7' pursued the old gentleman
reproachfully to Gabriel s back, "I
remember yoor wedding Gabriel, I
thought I'd scarcely ever seen such
a pretty girl and uow "
Gabriel's shoulder twitched, but
that was all.
"Gabriel Dallas,' burst forrh the
l0u man indignantly, "arejou a
jstone, to see your wife die by inches?
jnu the baby, too, poor little thing,
your own flesh and blood "
J Gabiul tuurd round, th n. and
i Iklo I.-..., ...... I 1.. ....
I ' " wis 1 ne one mio'tore.
i .'w. i-vn-i'i M.niii'u niiiii in- o iii.iiils-
i "Mr. Fi nai l." gas-ed, "d ,,'r ' ! the d s " ew sh i t aid 'd
don't- I car bar any .nor.-! " j 1 he mp,w an - V al Vili e lod C,,
And lie started I nnning down the ! out of s -r ihe tm ! m -ive u-d-r
'road in the opposite direction to'tii i.,.mi. .l t i"i
I 'iiri.uuii 10 me .u in look. IjtMty 1 1 ,..! lit-1 ;
j tliat which Letiie had taken. s undisturbed for the present by Mr'
j . Xo one at the C unor saw G ibi :el i Fernald. He was biditi" his time
g s ed, -d ... r !
ar any tnoiv !
jfo: a week altei litis, and hf-u
i reappeied he was more tstcitui n
Lan ever.
As lot L-tty, whatever;
...... " .fiseo.ieoniatiuog an indignant denial of
a'iu went, on as betore.
l.'.t one October day the baby
.It ,d, wthered up like a frail lit tie
:, """-(iii:n mms- i.veiy
; o.e wa-sotry, lor whatever the!
ii-htd ot it, ectween Gabriel and his!
. wife, l.etty and the baby had enlist-!
ed getura! sympathy. So, in their'
j s rnple way, they did their best to'
j comfort ?er, and, ly her wish, the: .
I ny grave was
t'ale bericalh the
lr n ch -s of a hemlo, k tree
beside
n.un.r i'l ."III- ISS II a U 11 -
t!e window. wji-ve v1!.. eenhl see it I i i
11 u "Jmerlv. And, apai t . ln.ni ins: no t ive
1 Vk!v I unwiibngn ts to let any m)stci.
Aga:n people woiuleird about Ga battle Ins leg d a-ninen, he had the
briel. Would he be at the lu'iera'? vo-mg ouple's happinos verv urn -It
lie was not there, bar one who was, a h.art. He would have liked to rj
and who saw him the same day. ' at one- to Gabriel, t r.t the fust
tnought. she could never forget t he 'great sno s'ot m was on its way and
scene. Cora Fernald had come over ' the thick ait and heavy roads ob-
with her gratMlithet to the eld j iiged hon to defer his purpose, till
house in the hollow, bo', when the w merrow.
wte about to ivtnm home, Mi. I lll;lt ,;(1IM. ,,,ll0otl G;thl ie, was
i. ' . ....... i . i 1 1 t . i . . . . .i
i o.u.uu.e.-onec.eo a n.aMCl o i-ns.
? -Iduo ni..a t'.j.xr ...:i,
-.mU., ,vv m..-s ii.M.iei oii,so;(lie Wieid.l.ain toothers
i.umi.ii uh
TV.....!- fl.. ,1, ... I. ..I,.
uown there, it was a relief to bo in
tiie open air, and sin
went along
enjaying the beauhlu! Indian snnis! ,,,, ip th,ji. Ios Jh.v k;10i ()f ! tm ,. 15,lf t,oi hing hr.d been s.. n
rrer likeday, f he splend-d colois ol ,1(),ilfi st(,vo (, b,.,.n d, ...king ! ..f him there either, since the pre
the forest tohage and Ihe sweer ! !n0,e th n ihu .1 thai dtVi-nd I vions morn.ng when ho started off
smed ot the withering brakes. A ; VHI y A , i;, hi nr)Vement- j wiili the lo;iMg p. ty. F.ben, on-
branch of brilliant sctrlel nupie I 3,j,!v, v fcy H smhlen Inch he fell j .-my. went homo aud informed his
iMugnr ne' eve ami urew . tier n
search .-f it. Knti-ring a t.:nall clear
ing, she came suddenly Up-il Ga'M i-
I S at the foot of the bieod
red maple tree. He was iHin-
,f"
ki iog, his head in his hai.ib, and j ., ,
I "Here s a had business, said
great tears dropping down his!IM .in o.
, , 'LbMi W lelifham. as he held Steve
cneeks. inegiri spke . with nepu!-!
sive it.) :
"Oh, Gabiie!," she said. "T am so!
soriy the .o?i 3dte thing is dead
so sot i y for yon ami L-t(y !" j
Gabt iel had stai fed up and dashed j
his hand over his face. He stood '
looking sfra'ght. at her, as she!
stopped confuted. J
"Thank von.1" he answered wiihi
grave courtesy, "but there are some
things it does no good to talk j -hicl spoke to him reassuring
abr.ut." Hetoucbed his hat and ; ' v h(i Parted -d the team. But
i ,-'' aWv then, Hs if moved by a
j ''hbo) thought, came back again.
"Miss Fernald'' he s-r.d abuiptlv.
i yui uer irom .u-. L mi.-rtu: -
n--)wf'
The young inly was taken aback
by this question, so directly vet so j
respectfully put. Gabriel stood aH-l
ing and under t! e spell of hisj
gloomy black eyos she answered j
b( pitatingiv:
"Why. yes sometimes "' j
"Doo'r many him.'' said Gab'iel!
earnestly. "Don't have anything'
to do with him. He is a bad man.'
He paused and added simply: 1
"Don'f be offended with me for;
speakng so to yon; but- you and j
your grandfather have been very j
U0oI to m, and I don'r want you
? lM? ""'PF'.v. H I ever saw tt af
mau again I should kill biro.'' With
that he struck ofl' into the woods.
Cora Fernald was completely be
wt.Ulered, ami fold her grandfather!
;
that she thought Gabriels troub'es!
" i
:iad turned his brail?. But the od!
man tnoui-iit lie saw a glimmer '
lighr upon the mystery. Quietly,;
without a word to Cora, lie w rote to:
Underhill, asking him seme
C1'
ii!i-iM riiii'k:i.iriiis v lilt tiiiq tit a 'a k !
'.v a s
forced to be content. Any furthtrl
appeal to Gabriel would tie useless.'
and with Letty it had already been.:
made in vain at the baby "s death.
Less than ever would she attempt
anv reconciliation witli her husband.
, , . .
that chance meeting when she had
seen his sullen face ana abrupt!
"
withdrawal, but not his subsequent
emotion. Her life was bard, but if
it hatl not mattered before her!
child's death, it surely did net mat-j
ter now. TerfuUvTiut tirrolv she ;
thanked Mr. Fernald for his kind
ness beg'jed him to urge her no
more
So Letty was left alone in the old
house in the hollow. The leaves
Sost tie i. !,: iilint e !,i
f
nd win.N
oil.i!.ds:
sweet t i.m 1 1, i .. ..t. l...
t'.e d is g.ew sli ,i t a ,d r 'd a-d
t he snow a n - al tio e. 1,1 .e
The - enl jutdiel I. Mo.
! weeks nu-r
cone a letter
riderhil. awav across tl,. mvot..
: any connection uitt t he tn.uhlo in
! Gabriels household. Tho w,iterad tM rapid'y faibno- IM.t Mnd
; ddd that he should come ir. per- ! t ,sf 1 Vmt? re, d..,".d ,1..
sun f o M"i v::mk to invest b'ate a
t ivsfei y with whutt h;s n,iiu was
mixed
Mr. Fein a Id tubbed his hands?" The next day dawned bright, but
g'eetul.'v over the ycung artiifsj witt; that intense coht wliic.lt Hiune
manly and stiatghtfarward bttf r, I titoes follows a heavy simw storm.
irrto d with Which he felt iii.it he
. nni.i ,1,1,,.in .i. r-.i..:,.i ...,,i
ii M ,iiri iri II II .1 MMUM
! ,... ..i. ........ . 7 n ..
, 0,,t lodging ,lh .St.voTl.atel.MliMl
Hnoito-h
..snow hud laden cioliei in the monih
but the
toeilt seVele S:01M1 seliiuniv in.
u their u o-k . so 'o ob
j oudei the ream. and must have ben
killed outright if Ga'oiel hat not
fJlli.k y ,M,Ued him out. As it vvst hej
sidl-red very serious mimy, whiie
' Gabriel's aim was tenib'v lacerated.
upon the cart. "Snowing, too, like
ail n;s -esed ! How d' e b ' I now.
Slivt ? Ji-iols bke de-it h, don't he f
1:1 an all.tible aside.
S'e'. was ghasllv pab indeed.
j iMid his Teeth chaffered and
iii;-
eve rolb'd toiind c Mitinu illy
I
"Oh, LomI !"' U- m ull,'.', "I'm a'l
j i-one to smash. Gd me home, boys,
j quick !''
th iiinlim S eve gavi a groan
si;d his b ' id f-ll to etie side.
Then
: ' 1 , . l ' ,
t"-n it !ns eves a am anu caiieo
V, "Gabe ! '
Wlut is il
I eve !
"I'm done for,' said Steve, who
evidently fancied hims'-lt dying,
j "atol I want to tell ye something.
jGabe. I I lied t ye that time,
about about Letty "
Gnbrnd had drawn aw-iy his
hritids and stood pd" tnl lowering
" cr Steve. The otto r two fell ba:'k,
1 asking on wondetitiL'b .while Steve
in broken sentences told th fue
sfory of that evening. HJi.dt-i hilt
had met Ltty bv chwiice in th
wool-road hikI tiad ai I god
tiy ro her, saying that he was
iroing away on the morrow. As )io
he;d her hand in parting he h?ut
down arid kissed her : but Ltt
! sternly fieed lierself, with an excla -
i mitioii of utio-er T'nderhid la-iyhed
. . . t ir , '
and promised not to otb-rol again, j
, ... .it.!
and pre-en'lv tney separated. Tn is
'
': ;.s thu kernel of in i in that lie
i . , . , . ...
ll.'l U 1 1 "11 I .H111;n. IIHUIiri IKFir
i the frequent embraces, these were
r.,11 ,.r,:,,r,l ,.f si... ...,,- r..l
I envious mind, bent on inpning the
three against whom he had a
grudge.
i When Steve had finished his
I story, Gabriel said hoars ly. "You
i swoar helYr fod this is true ?"
.. T , . , . n ,.,
uAs I hope to be forgn en !
.
gasped Steve.
.- .- . ii i
riil.rii.1 lifluil hivj olir.i..il liciriil.
j VJ '--'' 111'.'. ..
i Eben Wrentham caught it. "No,
t
j no, (Jal)e. you wouldn't not when
Steve's hurt so t a t
"Hurt ! ' muttered Gabriel,"hurt !
where's my baby Thai's doid!
and Letty ?'
He wrenched his hand suddenly
free, and brought it down so vio.
lently that thd blood gushed afresh
from the ragged wouud made in
rescuing Steve, "Curse the hand
tltat saved him !' If- ni'ittered
1 1 1 r saved him
it-un "I 1
' 'T.'Vm'iirlm1
oi U ink t i
i lU
business ot the
Stew "said Fbe r
'nnde of it alto'
ag on as lie clashed down the roid
the Wrenlham l.rnthp, r1(,r
urned back to the
moment. "WVI,
1 good jo' you' o
altogether! I .s'pose
Some . ve'll have to get you back some
f i 010 1 how now.''
: St..v n,,ie .,mt..i .1..,.
ted u j the team aain.
Thev were
'nr. ... I t.i t.. .... 1 ; -
ditlii nit v hile t he ni.ht is f tin r
m bittetiv
cold with a sttlirMtit?
! wind.
I J tie sk V hiid 1 h cl. nr. nuln hbw of
.,. .. ... i.i... ; ...
, . , l"i am h ..-. I I K I IWUI V ' ' ' S,
! ... ... , 1 1.,.. ... i.i . i i ..
' I . I Ii l 11; I i 11 I- it I ll SI lit I K;e' I. I .II v
i i- , .
er 1 .rnild, looking out at the
;jiih d up di i ts, concl.nl d that he
j would linve to wait yet another day
to see Gabriel Dallas.
The Wtciitham luotheis, l.-ow-
i ever, who li d in Gabriel's neigh -
boi lomd, were 'concerned to know
ho he t. ached home, in view ot his
; injured at m and his desperate state
of mind. So, alter breakfast Uei
! luoue his wav over,
i
G iblie not theie. Tim house
' was shut up, and fheie was no ap.
; e,iratiee of
i't) about the place.
; Iva n mad his way to the next
Iioilsi!' wln-rn l. ibiitd hml nsi-.l In
i ake his me-ds since his wit. 's d
j br ot het ot the tesult of his exie-
) bt ion The two stood
looking at
- a - h other, und the same thought
e;tni" into tl e e es of ho'h.
f jef ' ! suid F.ben.
"The rld itoiise in the hollow!"
exclainn-d William in the s ia
breath.
The l aitie-sed a heavy bLe,
nd .; ted out fo'vatd the old
house. 'Jiii'ie uelelio iildlcat'0:S
hatGabiid l ad passed along the
' wood -load divergitig to the hol'ow,
Mil v -steida s abundant snowfall
voi'd doubtless flfice h's t:;o:kH.
1 'hey labored oti until the" house
itself was leached. Hre, too, was
the sam silence, the same desolate
loneliness The onh suggestion of
life, a bfe w hich had gone on' in
! death was f he little white grave
mder tin- hemlock tree.
They went up to the door, wh'ch
the wind lud wrenc'ned paitiy off
ui the nitrhr. A great, heap of s tow
ay within the small passage as
they stepped inside, tit there was
no sign of human presence, only a
dead cold that seemed to chill the
blood in thnr veins. William stop
ped with his hand on the larch. "J.
boi't believe they're here, Kb." he
said htsifaf ing'y.
"They must be,Lettyat any rate,"
answered Ebert : "open the do r,
a ill you. Bill!"
They entered, but there was no
mi there. Ihev crossed the rloor
and pans-d on the tfie tineshold f
the next and only othwr room of the
rude Idtie structure. William s;ood
' still, with chatting teeth, for the
' cold seemed to increase at every
! -den. The door was iust alar, and
. . . , . . .
over his brother's shoulder r,n-ii
i i i , i . i i i
reached forwjrd and pushed It
V OOfll.
At first they thought that this
room, too, was empty ; but after a
moment the figures of a man and
worn in were diccernable at the far
ther end. The man was lying ou a.
nairow bed, the scanty covering of
which wis reddened with a gieat
dark stain. H;ilf-kuediug beside
him, with her head elo8e-ta.li is ami
her arm about him, rested the
woman's form. Neither stiired at
the noise of the entranc.
"It As Gabriel, and thev 're both
fast asbep," said E'eu in a tone of
relief. "But I should think they'd
freeze."
He leoked at his brother, but
William's ees, as th-y met his,
were dilated wish a strati ge terror.
"Oh, Eeu!" he g-ped, "that
ain't sleep. Tbej they ure froze!'4
Ebeu bttred, speechless fir a m j
ICuntinued to Fourth Paye.