Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-20
creamy rehearsal of the interview intend

tnaI iaGe nOur. 2 " lSlOnS HOabeQ before m
of the already approaching future; tn
events of the last few days seemed to sprea,
back over half my life, so great was tn
importance attached TO their issue; AM
now the eliminating point was reached,
f1t already the foreshsdowing of my vic
tory; for had 1 not fulfilled every condi
tion ?-had not accomplished the task il
which every other competitor had failed
And the question of the young lady's pos
sible opposition was merely doubtful
enough to give excitement to the deiost
nlent. Did not all young ladies first oppos
and ultimately yield, with very little per
suasion, to all parents and guardians How
much more so then in the present case
where the circumstances were so eXcer
tionally strong i'll my favori ''-- t-''
| had not been long awake, and was de
batting in my own mind whether or not tt
start on an early walk, and by a dose o
fresh air to brace up my shattered nerves
and stimulate them for the coming scene
When was startled from my cogitation BY
tap at the door, and almost immediately
Mr.. Merrick's valet stood before me-. bThi
was most unprecedented occurrence
lhithertoo servant had never entered my
| room without. being, summoned, and thi
man seldom even then.
| J A vagGe presentiment of evil seiznd me
and Iturned uneasily to look at him. On
glance sufficed he was CHASTITY pale, anC
seemed halt insane with alarm. Utterly
unable to conjecture the cause, but certain
that something terrible must have hap
pened, gasped,s What is it ?''
80, sir! don't you know ?" said he-"art
you sure you don't know? They're gone
sir-bolted-Mr. Fred and Miss Bella-tht
two of them, and the new maid-off in 9
post chaise three good hours ago. And
who's to tell the governor don't know;
daren't." ss
The man might have gone on speaking
forever-in fact he did 90 on; but beyonC
those first few words, not syllable was in
telligible to me. My first impulse was t.
bound up and strangle him then and there
| bnt the effort was a miserable failure, an(
l fell back powerless, paralyzed.
| No suspicion OF possible mistake, nj
crumb of comfort in a momentary feeling
/ of incredulity sustained me; the man!
manner bore the stamp of truth his ter
ror was too real, his statement too concise
to leave room for doubt. 1t was by nc
process of reasoning, by no mental review
by no lecapitulation of events that the
| light broke in on me, but suddenly, in al
instant, with the violence of galvaniC
shock, / realized how completely | haC
been sold, utilized, taken inl
| At last, movement on the part of tht
servant attracted my attention; he wa!
handing me letter, and had probably beer
describing how it came into his possession
but of this had not heard word. Ny
sensations can neither be imagined or de-
scribed when, on looking at it, recognized
the writing of my traitorous friend. Had
the viper left his sting there? 1 hesitatet
TO touch the dishonored paper. At thai
moment violent ringing of the bells an
nOnnced Mr.. Merrick's leUee !; and, throw
ing the note on the table, the distracted
valet rushed from the room, muttering, 81
cannot tell It'll cannot: Thomas must &c
to him."
Alone with my enemy, screwed up my
courage and broke the SEAL. The note was
short and ran as follows: .-.s
DEAR JACK Pray accept my besl
| thanks. But for your efficient aid we could
never have successfully hoodwinked ole
Argus. You are an apt pupil, and l sin.
cerely wish you equal success in all your
future undertakings.
''Yours, by all the bonds of gratitude,
FIRED CLAYTON.
"P. S.-Bella insists on apologizing; SO
inclose."
There was then another epistlel Hooked
about; it had fallen on the floor. / opened
it mechanically, and read -.4
u DEAR MIR. HARRIs:-I hope you will
forgive Fred. What he did was for my
happiness. We have long been attached,
and secretly engaged: but my uncle was
so obdurate and so vigilant, that an elope-
your assistance, could not have been eff
fected. Trusting soon to receive from your
own lips pardon for a harmless stratagem
believe me yours, (by the time you receive
this) BELLA CLAYTON EFFING.
"Please, sir, Mr.. Merriek- wishes to
speak with you.o AE-t Il 81
The door of my room was wide open,
and on its threshold stood the old butler
grave and severe of aspect. followed him
silently. too full of bitterness for words.
but solacing myself with the rejection
that in my host I should find thorough
sympathizer in my overwhelming anger
and Indignation. .r. o..
/ was ushured into small sitting-room
where Mr. AMerrick. in flaming red
dressing gown, and absolutely purple with
fury, was pacing upAnd down like wild
beast in cage. Before [ could open my
lips, he turned sharply round on me,
roared out" SO, sir. do you know have
sent for the police Do you know you can
be taken up for this conspiracy? L see it
all now,-the infamous plot, and the part
you were brought here to play. Fool that
I was!" " But, Mr.. Me rrick," l began.
"Silence!" he exclaimed "Do you dare
to t4unt me? Have l not forbidden Fred
erick Clayton this house scores of times
and, in letting Bella ask him here for a few
days, could refuse her first request on
coming of age? Could 1 turn a guest
though unlimited, out of house that was
not my own? A guest, indeed swindler
a blackguard, probably paid to amuse the
uncle, and keep him off the SCENT" ar
"Mr. Merrick," said, hotly, such Ian
guage, even under the circumstances"
Cant you leave off acting even now ?''
he burst in. "Coufound your gaping look
of innocence! Do you see this ?' he cried,
exhibiting crushed letter which he kept
clenched in his hand. ''They are married
by this time, and your villainy has thus far
succeeded; but the triumph shall not last
long. / will hunt the scoundrel and his
contemplate accomplice yes, you
through every law court in Europe
1 will publish his infamy in every newspa-
per. and proclaim it throughout the civil
lied world You shall not escape me-
you shall not!"
The mailman shook his fist in my face,
and glared at me like tiger; but, stagger-
ed as was by such revelations and accu-
sations, nevertheless made one more at
tempt at a protest. 'Your nephew" /
began.
F'My nephew !'' he yelled "do you think
that reptile is my nephew? No, my fine
keeper, L am no longer your dupe; l can
see now your shallow shamming, and l or
der you to leave my house. Do you hear
leave it instantly or L will order my SER
want to kick you out" he cried, pointing
to the door as he spoke.
l hesitated; fate seemed too cruel.
felt that the smallest Justification or eXpla-
nation would lessen my misery; but be-
fore sound could pass my lips, he had
raised his hand with a savage Menace
Zone word more and L give the order"
There was nothing for me but to retreat;
and retreat accordingly did from the
room and from the house, leaving instruc-
tions with the servants to send n y belong
ings to the railway station,-that station
from which had driven only a few days
before with such pleasureable emotions
and ambitious hopes.
Mr.. Merrick's unexpected reading of the
case had indeed brought my wrongs to a
climax. 1t was not enough to have been
the tool, the dupe, the catspaw of one