The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-11-06
NEW SERIES---VOLUME 8, NO. IA


ed it mechanically, and reac:
DEAR Mr.. HARRIs:-I hope you will
forgive Fred. What he did was for my
happiness. We have long been attched,
and secretly engaged; but my uncle was so
obdurate and so vigilant, that an elopement
was our only refuge, and but for your as
sistanca, could not have been effected.
Trusting soon to receive from your own lips
pardon for harmless stratagem, beive me
yours, (by the time you receive this
BELLA CLAYTON EFFING.
''Please, sir, Mr.. Merrick wishes to speak
with you"
The door of my room was wide open, and
and severe Of aspect. | followed him silen-
selacing myself with the reflection that in
my host | should find thorough sympathi>
zer in my overwhelming anger and iudigna-
ton.
| was ushured into small sitting-room
where Mr., Merrick in a flaming red Dress
ing gown, and absolutely purple with fury,
was pacing mp and down like a 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
tor this conspiracy? | see it all now,-the
infamous plot, ard the part you were
brought here to play. Fool that | was!'
But, Mr.. Merrick,' | began.
'Silence?" he exclaimed "Do you dare
to taunt me? Have | not forbidden Fred
erick Clayton this house scores ef times?
and, in letting Bella ask him here for few
days. could 7 refuse her first request on
coming OF age? Could | turn a guest,
though uninvited, out of house that was
not my own? A guest, indeed! swindler,
blackguard, probably paid to amuse the
uncle, and keep him off the scent"
"Mr, Merrick," " | said, hotly, "such lan>
guage, even under the circumstances"
Cant you leave off acting even now?'
he burst in. "Contound your gaping look
of innocence! Do you see this?' be cried,
exhibiting crushed letter. ''They are
married by this time, and your vilany has
thus far succeeded; but the triumph
shall not last long, will hunt the scoun-
drel and his contemplate accomplice-yes
you-through every law court in Europe;
will publish his infamy in very newspaper,
and proclaim it throughout the civilized
world! You shall not escape me, you SHALL
| not''
The madman shook his fist in my face,
and gared at me like tigar; but staggered
as | was ty such revelations and accusations,
| nevertheless made one mere attempt at a
protest. your nephew" | began.
''My nephew!" he yelled, edo you think
that reptile is my nephew? No, my fine
keeper, | am no longer your dupe; | can see
now your shollow shamming, and | order
you to leave my house. Do you hear?
leave it instantly or will order my servant
to kick you out, he cried, pointing to the
door as he spoke.
hesitated fate seemd too cruel. l ielt
that the smallest justification or explanation
would lessen my misery; but before sound
could pass my lips, he had raised his had
with a savage menace, e,-"One word more
and give the order"
There was rothng for me but to retreat;
and retreat [ accordingly did from the room
and from the house, leaving instructions
with the servants to send my belongings to
to the railway station,-t that station from
which had driven only few days before
with such pIeaaureable emotions and ambi-
tious hopes.
Mr. Merrick's 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 cotspaw Of one |
believed my best friend; ! was also to be
stigmatized at the confederate, the paid
agent ofa plot of which I was the principal
victim. Truly | had reached the summit
Of human wretchdness.
The whole of the scheme which Miss or
Mrs Bella so obligingly called 'harm-
less stratagem," untolded itself by degrees
to my mind eye; and, struggled as | would,
| could not banish the thought of how the
designing pair must have chuckled over my
credvity, and watched with malicious
amusement my unremitting devotion to the
avuncuar conquest. The last drop of bit
terness had been poured into my cup; life
time of experience had been crowded into
the space of few days, aud swallowing my
humiliation as best [ could, [ returned to
London--a wiser, if not better man.
1t is scarcel7 necessary TO add that long
before the return of the bride and brides
groom, Mr.. Merrick had resigned himself
to submit peaceably to the inevitable; and
nothing more was heard of the terrible
vengeance destined to evertake Fred Clay
ton and his guilty accomplice.