The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-11-08

unconscious, / ip a swoon, he dead.
When sense and feeling returned
to me | was in you house. You,
Hiram Mould, bid the body where
you can find itslremains to convict
me. The public believed that
Charles Harper was murdered; you
created that belief; but to use me
all my life you took successful care
that the finger Of suspicion should
not point to me, lest the law might
kill the goose that lays the golden
egg"
While the tortured man was say
ing all this, far more incoherently
than we have written it, the un-
moved conspirator had rapidly
skctched a picture Of a gibetcd
felon, and as the merchant conclu-
ded, Hiram Mould placed the in
significant sketch before him.
Such shall be your fate, if Ra-
chael Agmoor refuses to become
my wife," said he, pointing at the
hidcous picture with his long, lean
fore finger.
Again the merchant yielded be-
fore the terrible threat, and his
head sank upon his bosom.
"Now call in Thornton Clair and
dismiss him at once" said Hiram
sternly, che loves your daughter
she perhaps loves him. Yon have
foolishly allowed him to visit at
your house; it shall be my care
that he shall find other employ
ment in this city"
81 am in your power" groaned
the unhappy man, rising and open
ing the door; but as he did so his
daughter Rachael stepped quickly
from the side of Thornton Clair,
with whom she was eagerly con-
versing, and said:
""I wish to see Hiram Mould i'm
mcdiately, dear father" and glid-
ing by her astonishcd parent, she
entered the private office.
The merchant closed the door
and turned to address his child
Tall and quecnly in person, a love.
ly brunette of eighteen summers,
with large black eyes, usually full
of softncss, as became her amiable
and atfectionate nature, but her red
lips curled with scathing contempt,
Rachael Agmoor motioned to her
father to pause for moment, and
bent her gaze upon Hiram Mould.
He seemed i'll at ease as those su-
perb eyes slowly scanned him from
head to foot, bathing him as it
were in wordless scorn. lie rose
to his feet, and recovering his nat
ural GOODNESS said
81 am happy to see that Miss Ra-
chacl Agmoor considers so humble
a person as Hiram Mould worthy
Of so continued a gaze"
"This is the thing that dares to
hope to call me-wife!' said Ra-
chael, and though the words were
cutting, the tone and manner pene-
tratcd to the marrow of the rascals
bones, and flashed bitter words to
his lips. rs
"Thc thing is honored in being
so called, my naughty damsel.-
You are proud, now, Rachael Ag-
moor, but the time shall come
when you shall humble before me
as the trembling man who stands
near YOU" ..
"If 1 reject and defy you, you
will attack the life and reputation
of my father" said Rachael.-
"You must be very confident of
your power, to send such a message
to the woman whom you wish to
mako your wife" ..-
81 am conscious of my strength
do you desire to see proof of it ?"
sneered Hiram. D..
Rachael bent her head contempt
uously. Hiram Mould was at
loss to comprehend this unexpected
defiance, but sure of his ground, he
said ..o'- ... +. |
"Thcre is a young man in your
fathers employ whom he loves as
his own son. Rather than harm a
hair in that young mans head,
James Agmoor would willingly lop
off his right hand, verify believe,
if the sacrifice could avail either
Mr., Agmoor, call in Thornton
Clair" ."
He looked to see Rachael pale
and trembling; but she was calm
and collected. The timid father
timid before the cashier alone,
obeyed, and Thornton Clair stood
in the party, but his blue eyes were
blazing with menace so profound |
and deadly that Rachael laid her
soft hand upon the strong arm that
was swelling as if for Z q sudden
blowito be dealt at the serpenteyes
of the sneoring cashier, and2whis-
pefed: "Wait-for my,sake." |
= 71"Mr. Agmoor," said Hiram, but |
reeoiling somewhat from thereacht
ofthat arm, "as this young man
dared to make love.to one SO i'm
mensely above himeas your daugh-l
ter, and I propose, myself as her
his presence in our estabs