The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-05-14
JACKSON G. H., OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY "A, 1868.

seem to be plenty Of people about we
have not been in half an hour" "Have
you seen the evening paper ?" said Mr..
Raven, n,--'any news?" eyes," said
Mr.. Waters; "there is a piece OF news,
which, suppose, will electrify you lit
erary people not little. But perhaps
you have heard itY" "No, whatW
said Mr.. Raven, looking up. "Why,
the real author of adam Bede' has
been discovered. Morever, that the
George Elliott has turned out to be
lady" A very blank look came over
Mr.. Ravens face. He looked first at
Mrs. Green, and then at me; both OF
US were silent. "Indeed! !" he said, 81
fear / cannot credit that statement, with
no disrespect to the ladies'. Does the
newspaper astute give its authority :"
Here Mr.. Green could no longer COM
mand himself, but broke out in furi-
GUS tone. "Mr. Raven" be said, "we
have discovered your cheat. I'm not
man to be gulled with impunity. Pray,
sir, how dare you enter this house, or
presume to take advantage of the Gre
dulity Of its inmates, passing yourself
off to them, and still more to me, sir,
as a man Of the world, that you wrote
that and other books under the assumed
name of George Elliot, and draw your
resources from your brains. Pretty
brains they are, sir, not to have laid a
better train, if you must deceive! You
are rogue and sneak, sir, and l de-
mand an explanation" Mr. Green
stood up before Mr.. Raven in defiant
attitude, and waited for an answer. Mr..
Raven was white with agitation.
"Sir," be said, attempting to address
Mr.. Green, "You shall answer for
your words. Mrs. Green" and he
turned to the old lady, "you have con-
fided to me the character of your son;
l am, therefore, not so surprised at his
language and demeanor, as / should
otherwise have been. Tonight / can
but surmise he must be under the infu-
ence of drink" At this Mr.. Green
broke out more fariously than ever,
and then, before us all, informed him,
in no mild terms, but in the most vitu-
perative language, of the poor woman's
visit, and accused him of every kind
OF crime. Mr.. Raven, after an ejacula-
ton Of surprise, goaded on by Mr.
Green's terms of reproach, lost his own
temper also, and reproached Mr.. Green
with many things that had come to his
ears about him (bnt too true) 1t was a
most shameful and disgraceful scene,
during which | really put my fingers in
my ears to avoid hearing some of the
approbrious terms used by the parties,
but especially by Mr.. Green. Mr.
Waters at last succeeded in quieting
both the gentlemen, reminding them Of
our presence. l will say for Mr. Raven,
he was the first, on this reminder to
restrain his anger Whereupon Mr..
Green flew up stairs, boiling with rage,
to forbid Fanny ever again to speak to
Mr.. Raven. Mr.. Waters then took
the opportunity of telling Mr.. Raven
about the visit of the policemen, and
their object; which, in the former
attack he had made upon him, Mr..
Green had forgotten to mention. Poor
Mr.. Raven. This intelligence COM
pleted the crisis of his miserable posi-
tion. Bowed down with the events
which had apparently all crowded to-
gether to witness to his shame, he sat
crestfallen; nor did he attempt to de-
fend himself by advancing a word of
exculpatiOn. The change from the
strife of words to the silence which fol-
lowed was painful in the extreme, aud
it was not in woman's nature not to
feel deeply for the wretched man before
us. Poor old Mrs. Green sobbed like a
child; l was too excited to weep, only
wondering how it would all end.
"You best know, Mr.. Raven" said
Mr.. Waters, chow far you are implica-
ted IN the charge these men laid at your
door. Now, the position you have
placed yourselfin as sregards this family,
and your connection with the unfortu-
nate young woman who has appeared
against you, are in measure your own
private concerns; but if the officers of
Justice are really on your track, it would,
to my view of things, add to Mrs. Green's
distress that you should be taken into
custody at her house. 1t might then
make public what for the sake of all
parties would be undesirable, and had
best be kept as private as possible.
Would it not, therefore, be better that
you left her house at once; particularly
as Mr.. Green's just anger at your con-
duct to his daughter may lead to still
further unpleasantness." Mr.. Raven
evidently saw the policy of this sugges-
ton, as did we all; but how was Mr..
Raven to escape? Mr. Waters said
most probably the police were watching
the premises, and he only wondered
how they had let him enter just before.
Mr. Raven, in very subdued tone,
owned he was implicated in very dis
agreeable matter in connection with a
friend, which might, he feared, get him,
into trouble; and that he felt every
moment was of consequence, in order
to get out of England. In faltering
tone he assured Mrs Green that in
other respects he should, he hoped,
soon have the opportunity of exculpat-
ing himself in her eyes from some of
the heinnns charges Mr.. Green had