Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-22
COLUMBUS, OHIO. SATURDAY MORNING.
DECEMBER p, 1866.


future, which her faith in Hugh's fidelity
whispered was not impossible, when the
tramp of heavy feet aroused her from her
reverie. ''' .| Ht .'I y
Katie was no coward, and it was from, nc
foolish timidity that she instantly stepped
aside and crouched behind a convenient
thicket. The same dlsinclination to brtray
her tears to the curious eyes of Mistress
Betty Jones, now actuated her desire to
avoid the rude stare OF Others, and she saw
no harm in thus avoiding threatened rem
contre. 7'
The next moment three men, in the
rough garbof the working-class, came hnr-
rying by, hudlling together, breathing
loudly and quickly, and glancing fearfully
to the right and to the left, as ifsome terri
BILE shadow, which they yaibly sought te
avoid, was lodging their uncertain steps
Scarcely had they passed the hidden lis
Itener, when she started up with the word
"Father! upon her lips, for, on the one
nearest to her, she certainly recognized In
the dim twilight the old but neatly-patch-
Ell jacket he commonly wore. l.-fs.fT.
But without perceiving her they had
gone on; and wondering a little az theiT
haste, and the direction they were pursu-
ing-for they we're already far down by
path leading to blank common beyond
she went on her way to the mill.
A couple of hundred yards more, and the
stile was reached but here Katie stopped
with an exclamation of surprise, for, Hut
tering on a bramble beside 1t, was treas
ured the India silk handkerchief which
Mrs. Weston was in the habit OF folding
over her head as she dozed in her armchair
in the evening. Aaa i.-" !.
Carrying it in her hand, and speculating
as to how it came there, she ran across the
gate of the miller's garden, where she
expected to find him awaiting her COM
ing. H na "a.
But Abel Weston was not there, and the
houseLdoOr was closed and fastened. This
was unusual, Tor the miller, accustomed to
be much in the open air, seldom sought the
f1re-side in hours so mild as the fair spring
glO0ming. r..a arprr.. .... ...- a..
Katie raped for admttance. and the
summons remaining unanswered, she step
ped back to reconnOitre the chamber win
dows. Was it later than she hal imag-
ined, and had they-now so Indifferent
about her-retired to rest?
If so the key was hung in the porch, as
it had sometimes been Tor ii Igh; aud stand
ing on tip-toe, gropcd for the nail 1t was
empty; and now disp sed to. resent their
seeming unkindness, she ratified tbe latch
loudly and repeatedly, and then put her
ear to the key-hOle, and listened for the
coming of the miller. y. .i-...
I The ceaseless rushing Of the water over
the weir, and the steady ticking ofthe Dutch
clock hanging in the nook by the dresser,
alone broke the solemn Stiffness of the
hour; for SO calm was the night that even the
leaves on the beach trees opposite seemed
to be at rest. But suddenly low, length
. onaI fnllnWaI hu a nhnkinn CiUh
echoed through the quiet house; and Ka-
tie, with shrek of terror, fled from the
door, and down the lane to Hazeley.
CHAPTER II. .,.a.. .....
Pale as n corpse, breathless with run
ming, and uncomscOusly retaining in her
hand the silken handkerchief, she reached
the cluster of cottages already alluded to,
On a bench outside one of these, where q
widow eked out of the parish allowance by
selling variety of odds and ends. includ-
ing table ale two or three laborers were
lounging to have gossip and neighhorly
pipe, when Katie appeared lI.
ITO the mill to the mill y she frantic
ally cried. THE door Is fastened-I can
not open it-and some one is dying with
imp t.."a = l,n'a ..I
A few words put the astonished men in
possession of what little she knew, and
they began to don their hats and rouse up
a sleeping blacksmith, whose services
might be required to gain them admit
tance. $500" .'l..ar.i.. ......
The widow had now heard the unusual
stir, and she Joined the group gathered
around the terror stricken Katie.
"Lordsakes, childl" she cried; shut
you've hurt YOURSELF amt ye? No? Why
what's this on your pretty handkerchief"
Aye ,chdt iadeedi The prudent and pitiful
woman forcibly detained the frenzied girl
while the men-their faces blanched by
this dark evidence of some fearful occur
rence-hurrled OFF TO ascertain what had
really happened. 'rn
IG was well for Katie that, despite her
struggles and angry remonstrances, those
kind hands detained her; for fearful indeed
was the sight that met the beholders, when
they had burst open the door and entered
the miller's living-room. H. if N.n
2 There had been spoilers in the home OF
the aged couple-spoilers and mur1erers.
On his own floor. killed in defense of his
hard earnings, lay Abel Weston; and his
wife, in feebly endeavoring to protect him,
had perished too. 'fa w ntf gd
Like one stunned by the vastness of the
misfortune stood Katie, insensible to the
condoling and plying speeches of those
who crowded around her, chatting her cold
hands and bathing her temples, until a
simple, kindly -natured lad who worked at
the mill, in burst of sorrow for the good
old master and missus, mentioned the name
of their absent nephew. 1'si"H
Then Katie awoke from her lethargy.
"Hugh, Oh, Hugh !" she moaned, and burst
ing through the throng, ran wildly down
the road towards Hazeley.
shes gone to her mothers" said one to
another. '-'" S.'.'.i sou T
Its best so, for she'll feel it sorely. Poor
thingp .i'.. Ni.. 10 1929.
Mrs. Morris divined something amiss
from her first glimpse of Katie's haggard
looks, and throwing aside her work, she
folded herarns about the trembling young
creature. '-l-@
9. My child, my dear child, what is iu?''
,," "Father!" gasped Katie, where is he ?,'
Ere the mother could reply, he entered,
as CHASTITY as the girl whose eyes were fully
surveying him. ~. -'I no 9ai3 ydt :
With a shudder he raised his hands to the
light, and without speaking plunged them
into bowl of water. i' 7Tid 'gH
"Katie Harvey J." cried Mrs. Morris, her
voice unsteady with apprehension, "where
,isyour jacket?" q, slHliW 3
y II have lost It" he said sulIenly. aa b
"Iost It'll But how?" i'N pff-1udl 1,
mo matter how. 1t is lost. Was it
worth so much that you make so many
words aboutit?" lioH srl =
"But there is something wrong. Oh, l
am sure that there is! What is it?n %
Ere a reply could be given, the tilings OF
the double murderw loudly told outside
the window by one passer-by to another;
. and Katie and her mother clung together
in a close embrace, while, Morris, sinking
on a bench, hid his face In his hands.
When he loOded up it was to exclaim In