Then the question, Had he a
right to tell?--for his father had not suffered the penalty of the
law and, mind you, men thought him honest."
"'Tis just," said Darrel; "but tell me, how came he to know his
father was a thief?"
"That I am thinking of, and before I answer, is there more you can
tell me of him or his people?"
Darrel rose; and lighting a torch of pine, stuck it in the ground.
Then he opened his leathern pocket-book and took out a number of
cuttings, much worn, and apparently from old newspapers. He put on
his glasses and began to examine the cuttings.
"The other day," said he, "I found an account of his mother's
death. I had forgotten, but her death was an odd tragedy."
And the tinker began reading, slowly, as follows:--
"'She an' her mother--a lady deaf an' feeble--were alone, saving
the servants in a remote corner o' the house. A sound woke her in
the still night. She lay a while listening. Was it her husband
returning without his key? She rose, feeling her way in the dark
and trembling with the fear of a nervous woman. Descending stairs,
she came into a room o' many windows. The shades were up, an'
there was dim moon-light in the room.
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