Jeffery Farnol

“ The old man stood leaning heavily upon his stick, his head craned forward, his grizzled brows twitching above his bloodshot eyes, his mouth working with the fury of his anger. As he watched, he saw her hands clasp about Sir Jasper's neck—saw him bend his head to meet her kiss—and at the sight a sudden, inarticulate cry broke from him.
At the sound the lady sprang back, and her cheeks went white as she faced the little, shrivelled, fierce old man, who crept towards them leaning on his stick, with the skinny fingers of his right hand fumbling and groping for the hilt of his small sword. ”

“ So ends the accursed house of Frome! and 'tis I—I, old as I am and feeble, who have lived to see it! Dead! God, I thank thee—I thank thee!" And still laughing and muttering, he wrapped the locket and letter together, and, taking his stick, with no thought of his weakness, he walked to the house, and, coming to his daughter's chamber, entered.
The Lady Kate sat at a window with a mass of needlework upon her knee, but her hands were idle, and her eyes were fixed where the battlements and chimneys of Frome stood grey beyond the green of the trees. ”

“ Again he lifted the little trembling fingers to his lips; yet as he did so, Sir Ralph cried out sudden and sharp, and, stiffening his sword-arm, ran in upon him. But he stumbled; the sword flew from his grasp, and Sir Jasper caught him in his arms. Yet even then the old man spurned him feebly away, his foam-flecked lips working convulsively.
"Go! prithee, prithee, go!" cried the girl; and as she spoke, with a swift gesture she detached the locket at her neck, and pressed it into her lover's hand, and with a last lingering clasp, he turned and left her. ”

“ They carried the old man to his bed, and for weeks he lay, with small show of life in him, until one day, opening his eyes, he learned that Sir Jasper had taken ship with an expedition to one of the Madras Settlements, and from that moment he grew stronger.
And now it seemed that all his hate was centred in his pale-faced daughter; he would not have her near him; and did she steal on light foot to watch him as he slept, he, waking, would drive her from him, with fierce imprecations and curses. ”

“ The old woman sank upon the floor, and grovelled at his feet
"Oh, Sir Jasper," she moaned; "oh, Sir Jasper Frome, be merciful! Lord God! how may I tell it!"
Sir Jasper was trembling, and his eyes were wild. "Go on," he cried, "tell me all—everything!"
The old woman clung about his knees. "'Twas his doing—Sir Ralph's doing—I swear it! He told her you were dead, and she fell in a fit."
Sir Jasper clasped his hand tight upon his eyes. "The Lady Kate?" he asked.
"The Lady Kate; yes, yes," she answered feverishly. ”

“ The old man laughed a short, exultant laugh. "Dead! ay," he cried, "the last of them—the last! 'Tis the end of the accursed house of Frome. He is dead."
At the sound of her father's voice the numbed look passed away, and a wild anguish crept into her eyes.
"Dead!" she cried. "My God, it is not true—no, no, it cannot be—Jasper! Jasper!" and with the words she reeled and fell, with her head at the old man's feet, so that her hair swept over them. For a while Sir Ralph let her lie ”

“ Dim tales of horrors long since forgotten recurred to him with a devilish persistency, so that, lying there wide-eyed, he could almost fancy that evil face leaning out of the picture above to smile down at him with all its old malignity. ”

“ Sir Jasper's eyes grew fierce; he took a step towards the little, evil old man, whose glance ever sought his full of a half-veiled, mocking hate; but ere he could speak a soft hand was slipped within his, and at the touch his anger cooled, as he caught the cold fingers to his lips.
"So it may not be, this dream of ours, my Kate," he said softly; "I must leave thee, yet though the waiting may be long—a year—three—five years, I shall come back to thee; I shall return ”