The people all
respect you so much, and they know he was quarrelsome and insulting at
times. Think, father, think!"
"I have thought," he answered, "and I tell you I cannot be hanged!"
then going swiftly to his bed-room he came back with a Bible in his
hand, and standing before the white-faced girl, said to her: "I see I
cannot trust you, unless you swear upon this book, never, while I live,
to breathe to any living person what has been done here to-night. When I
am dead do what you like, but swear now, as you hope for heaven, never
to tell!"
And Hannah took the oath which he dictated to her, and kissed the sacred
book which seemed to burn her lips as she did so. She had sworn. She
would keep the vow to the end, and her father knew it, and with this
fear lifted from his mind he became almost cheerful in his manner, as he
explained to her what she was to do.
And Hannah obeyed him, and with limbs which trembled in every joint went
with him to the attic and helped him bring down some boards which had
lain there for years and on which she and Burton had played many an hour
in days gone by.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167