Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-06-20
DAILY EMPIRE.
THE OLD MAIDS STORY,
A wARwICKsHIRE TALE.
By oRooRoiANA 9. PRRDuE.
(oOEcLUpED }


l watched, long fakes Of ere shot up into the ai
A fearful suspicion crossed my mind the ha
must be In flames, and my father--Where IL h,
searched every corner, l called, he nnsw cred po
he came not at my cries An hour of terribl
suspense ensued. The haueshad died away. and
looking out into the still, dark night, doubte
whether all was not the delusion OF heated i'm
Imagination. step upon the gravel path mad
me fly to the door. "Fathor" cried, but alasi m
gaze rested not upon his face, but on that Of
stranger, whom by his dress, ] recognized as
constable, and behind whom stood tho steyar
and two farm servants from the hall
~ want John Flower" said the constable.
where he is.p
Every fue" answered tho man brutally, "but
| by your leave, must search"
| The steward, seieng my pale afTrighted look
said kindly, "Don't be alarmed, Miss Flower, /
ne can prove an ahbf he is safe, and no one wish
es him well out Of IL more than do"
"Mr. Jepsoni' cried, 30, pray explain 70 m,
what has my father dono-why docs this mar
seek him?"
"Why, IL is a sad case, but the squire's thre,
largest ricks are burnt down. and as farmer Flow
or has been threatening to be revonged, we suspeo
he knows more Of the affair than any one else.
As the steward uttered these words, my fnthe,
stood upon the Threshold aud with cry Of joy
elaspod him to my arms, Foolish girl that L was
fsnoied that there he was safe but was soor
undeceived. STEPPING quickly up, the constable
placed his hand upon his shoulder, saying IJobu
Flower, you are my prisoner"
"l know what you suspect me Of" said my fafh.
er, ''and solemnly declare | know nothing of /,
further than that was guiding gentleman and
his servant, who had lost their way, we watched
the connagration from the top Of Closton Hul.
lnd after setthem on the right road for Warwick,
| returned through the village to learn what had
happened"
"If that's the case" said tho constable, with
more politeness than he had shown before, "you
are safe enough, If you can bring your man for
ward II not, you must come with me-"
Then" replied my father, with a bitter SIGH.
81 must 90 with you, for neither know the Ren :
tleman's name, nor anything about him, exee,t
that he was going to Warwick, and had lest his
way" Then addressing me, he said consolngly,
"Jessy, don't be alarmed, my poor child; shall
get oil, never fear. Mr.. Jopson will tnke care Of
you until return
"That will, said the nd.hearted steward,
"She shall not want for anything that can eel
her."
Gently yremoving the arms stiT held round him.
my father entered the cart that was waiting for
him. The steward took a scat on one side: the
constable on the other. They drove of, leaving
me with an aching heart to pass my hrst SOLITARY
night in this cottage.
That long night was over at last, and the frst
gray dawn Of morning saw me on the road 70
warwick. My one desire was to seek out the
nameless stranger on whose word hung my faith
er's liberty. 1resolved to let nothing hinder mo
until found him. The sun was high In the heav
ems, when, hot, tootsore, and wenry, passed up-
der the arehway of that ancient town; but nv
heart beat high with hope, and my sorrows seemed
10 sit less heavily upon me, now that the energy
was aroused. From inn to inn 1 went At only
one had gentleman arrived the previous night.
lnd ne had come from direction contrary to our
village. inquired diligently ifany one had beon
received into private house during that evening
without success. None to whom applied had seen
,he strangers pass through the town, even. Bro |
zen down and crushed in spirit walked wearily |
'aek to my dessolate home. Many Of tho neiRh- |
'ors came in during the evening hours, but their
'tioious pity annoyed me, while the certainty with
which they spoke of my poor fathers guilt enraged
ne. was too glad to beloft to pass another lone
y night Very often, during tho long hours did |
ny thoughts turn to Frank, with n longing wish |
hat he was near me. thought if he only knew
ur peril, that be could save us.
The following day L learned that my father,
aving appeared before the magistrates had been
for trial at the assizes, which were to be
eld the following week. How passed the days
ntil the time of the trial, know not. Some few
ind friends, out ofpity for my condition. exerted
themselves to trace the strange gentleman In whose
xistence, however, scarcely one of them, fancy.
elieved. Whether it was their want Of faiih
iade them luke warm, know not, but their ef
orts were unattended with the slightest success.
Ialf the village went to hear the trial. in which
lany OF the Inhabitants took deep interest Farm
r Flowor was much respected, and more than one
ersOn considered the burning of the rcks m act
fmerited retribution. Mr. Jepson drove mo over.
nd obtained for me q seat in court, there he left
10, for he was one of the witnesses. The room
He'd rapidly, on every side were familiar faces by
nd by the squire entered with a partv of his
iandg lOOkinU raznluta nd nd A IL
oppressed hiss greeted him, which he either did
OF hear or else he scorned for he took the seat
looted to him with the air Of injured but be.
At length the judge appear
!, and last Of all, my dear father, with a firm
ep, stood before the bar.
The usual forms were gone through several
illnesses were called, to prove the threat uttered
= my father, and that he was seen on the evening
the FIRE hurrying away from the direction Of the
lrning ricks. The steward and constable rela-
ID the fact of his absence from home and of his
Ipture. The case was thus strong against the
isoner. when the judge called upon him for his
,fence.
At this moment barrister, whose presence I
I'd not before observed, rose and intimated, that
} appeared for the prisoner at the bar. Every
70 ives turned upon him, for 1t was well known
at no advocate had been employed on my fathers ,
'haf. Youthful, slight, and pale, ut first glance
} seemed but feeble champion, but whom his
CO WIS IuTueu tOWhIus me- anu Hhrkeu the eyes
quick and piercing, the frm, iudomitabl 10 energy
that noble countenance, joy, hope and wonder
ok possession Of me. Was it, could IL be?-so
anged, and yet SO like! The first syllabe of his I
ice assured me ittoas Frank Stopford-ny Frank
who pleaded for my father and such pleading
the glorious, eloquent words that flowed from =.
lips! the very breath of his hearers seemed sus-
nded. Allmy years. sof pate waiting-of earn
I, faithful love, were richly repaid me in the
Ippiness of that hour! The words he uttered have
ssed from my memory, absorbed 10 the feelings :
eY called into fresh life all but his last words,
lich were these: Gentleman, / was the horse
IN whom farmer Flower guided on bis road, an I
t Of kindness which had nearly cost him SO dear
y servant who was with me, will zorro borate my
timonyj and trust you will need no farther
idence to satisfy you of the prisoners complete
loeence of the charge laid against him"
Without leaving the court the twelve jurymen,
lid the tears Of some and the hearty cheers Of
iers, declared John Flower mot Guilty"
Five minutes ai:erward, in a small back room.
was waiting for my father With heart over.
wing with 10y and gratitude, when the door u
ened, and Frank Stopford, entered. Forgetting }
years we had parted, forgetting all but that he r.
S the delivorer Of my father, the one idozed
ought Of my life few TO him, l covered his n,
nds with kisses and with tears. Frank, believe p
restored to me at lastl" said, ''o never let US
It again.
Madame" he replied, in an agitatod voice, al
s not prepared for such a scene as this. / did :,
look for this excess of gratitGde."
%, Frank" cried, with tears, "you no longer
Q me-you are cold and changed"
'JesSy," he answered, trembling from head to
I, "what means this2 had you loved me- YOU
uld have answered the letter sent you the day
sr our parting"
The letter you sent me-What letter. 1 received
ie." Z
And have you these seven years kept the prom .
you made to me under the slms Of Stratford-l
love, and hope, and waltz
Yes Frank have never forgotten II or caasad