The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Stj-anQc Rcvenoe. 667
In a short time Julia was restored to consciousness
and to miser}-. P^ixing her ej'es on her father, slie said, in
a voice of quiet resignation :
—
" I came here to find }-ou, and I heard Richard's voice.
This room being empt}-, I came in ; the
heard all. \o\\ start, father—oh !
(jod,
—
partition is thin ; I
what a man for a
father !—and I lo\ed \-ou so, and thought you so kind.
Vou can no more be the same father to me—never again.
It is you who arc the murderer if Flora dies— I and dear
Richard }'our tools— your poor innocent tools."
" You and dear Richard ; what mean you, Julia?"
" I mean that Richard is the man I love more than my
life. It is \-our own doing. You have broken his heart ;
mine also is utterh- broken—for me, life is over."
The Professor clutched a chair, and his eyes became
transfixed on the pale, beautiful, sad face of his daughter.
He scarcel}- }-ct comprehended the terrible import of her
words, the disaster of the dangerous game he had played.
Then, as the truth flashed upon him, he staggered from the
room, looking a broken man.
That night, a solitary horseman galloped over the
north-going highwa)-. People paused as he passed, and
and ojie pedestrian, at least, was right
looked after him ;
when he said it looked like "a ride for a life."
I'lO BE CO.VI INUEU.J