Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-21

| soon. The idea Because the poor ma
v is ugly, I'll make him tell how he came b
= his fortune Sleep on it, and you'll Sc
your insanity
n She danced away, and crept to bed wit
:. a heavy heart
The next day she came to me gleefully
| My Caliban made his fortune in trade,
she said ; " took his fathers business, anC
: gave it up when his million was made. HI
= showed me papers and letters and things
| didn't understand though pretended to
: tie didn't find his millions in peoples cup
boards. And he has popped the question
and | have accepted-so there's an end
, Come, know you've had too much troub.
le but don't brood over it and go out OF
your head"
She tried to kiss me, but held her off.
Listen, Grace" | said. If you marry
this man and discover afterward that he
knows any thing of that awful night |
shall still denounce him"
" And welcome" said she. Then with a
sudden childish burst of tears she clasped
me and cried: Oh, Ella, don't go crazy
don't go crazy Try to take comfort try
to be yourself !"
1t was useless to argue farther, and
left her
So, being betrothed to Grace, the Cuban,
Mr.. ZenZee was his name, brought his hid
eous face to our house every night
loathed it, but had determined to
watch him. With this end | endured the
sight and heard him talk At last made
him contradict himself as to the places
where he spent certain years. | confused
him by blunt inquiries concerning Cuba.
became convinced that he was no more a
Cuban than myself Then watching him
still closer | saw terror as we'll as brutality
IN his eye. knew the man feared some
thing. Closer and closer my fancied proofs
were gathering about him, until began
to see III him the actual murderer The
man who had stolen barefoot about our
room, and the clay impress Of whose mutt
lated foot had locked i'll closet in my
room. Could | see his foot | could be sure
not else And that had now become
the object of my life and, all this while,
despite all my prayers and protestations,
Tor my sisters marriage with Mr. Zenzee
were going forward
/ The day was set The time narrowed.
Before that wedding-day had sworn to
make my discovery | worked now with
two ends. My old one, and that of saw
ing Grace from becoming the wife of
monster
! | watched the foot as a cat watches a
mouse, but discovered nothing. Nv agony
grew greater and greater Time moved
too fast for me could have prayed for
| days and hours to lengthen those months
out At last there was but one dav be-
tween the present in which lived and
that in which my sister would become Mrs.
Zenzee. On that morning | awoke with
my plan fully matured
| said to Grace at breakfast; "Since the
wedding is so near invite Mr. Zenzee to
pass the evening with us"
She looked up with a smile
8 You are coming to your senses" she
said
| made no answer. After while |
asked again, DO you love him, Grace p
and she answered: 81 told you once why
| accepted him. That is my reason still.
After all, what is love worth :" but she
sighed.
My heart had been at ease u that score
before. 1t was even lighter now. But
how it throbbed with anxiety The day
wore on tediously, and evening came with
a murky rain but with it came Mr.. Zenzee.
He took tea with us, and did his best to
be agreeable ); but somehow, in spite of
the remarkably handsome dress he wore,
he looked more the ruffan than ever. After
tea we had out the card-table, and he show
ed us some strange tricks at cards, and
played against US, and cheated us both
for fun, and laughed at Grace's wonder.
Then Grace sang while and then, the
fIlC l. on l. fa1, hol
" 1t is a cold night" said |.
Bitter" said he, shuddering. But
then | come from a warm climate"
Something warm to drink would be a
comfort" said J.
He frightened up.
at would suit me- said he
A bowl Of punch now ?" said l.
Grace started
Punch | thought you"
| stopped her.
"This is a special OCCASION said
"and, to tell the truth, have some pre-
pared"
Fond of drop yourself of cold night,
and none the worse for it, ma'am," said he,
with laugh.
| laughed too as left the room In the
kitchen found my punch-bowl full
" Is it hot 2" said J.
Boiling" said the girl and | seized it
on its tray with the ladle. Then | called
John, our coachman, burly fellow over
six feet height
john" said l, "stay near the door
If call you, come and do what | tell you"
The man started but obeyed.
| waited until heard him plant himself
upon the sill Of the door, then entered the
paror
Taste it, Mr. Zenzee is it not fine ?" |
said, and then as stood near him, the
bowl dropped from my hands. and the CON
tents poured over the floor and the Cuban's
knees. ! screamed. He howled, for the
boiling fluid had filled the loose shoes he
wore and down | went on my knees be-
fore the spot to which he had sprung
oh, what an unlucky thing Are you
scalded! Let me see" And as he sat
writhing with pain on the sofa tore off