.

THE SINS OF THE FATHERS.
The suspense which had held us tense and speechless was for the moment relieved and Mr.Steele allowed himself the following explanation: "My hand trembled and the bullet penetrated an inch too high." Then he relapsed again into silence.
Mrs.Packard shuddered and went on: "It may seem incredible to you, it seems incredible now to myself, but I completed my journey, entered my uncle's house, was made welcome there and started upon my new life without letting my eyes fall for one instant on the columns of a newspaper.

I did not dare to see what they contained.

That short but bitter episode of my sixteenth year was a nightmare of horror, to be buried with my old name and all that could interfere with the delights of the cultured existence which my uncle's means and affection opened before me.

Two years and I hardly remembered; three years and it came to me only in dreams; four and even dreams failed to suggest it; the present, the glorious present was all.