The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-03-04
JACKSON c. H., OHIO THURSDAY, MARCH l. 1869.
should escape me. D.NeIly! Nelly! !0

slOuiu escape ules .Neiy NFly
In an instant the surly stranger loos.
ed his hold Of me, and stood as still as
a stone, staring towards the door, which
bad been opened by Nelly as soon as
she heard my cry. 1t was all dark and
gloomy without, but there she stood in
blaze Of light, with the ruddy CLEAN
of the fire playing upon her white cheeks
and bef fair hair, and her eyes lit up
with the sudden excitement Of my call
Of hurry and terror The other gen.
llemau had got down out Of the gig,
and bad come up behind u.s. but not
a word was spoken by any one of u.s.
and you might have heard the rustling
Of the falling leaves, as the light breath
of the evening swept them from the
trees @ a
"Nellyl Nelly" said the stranger,
but in voice so.changed that it startled
me; and it seemed as if had heard it,
or one like it, hundreds Of times before
"Don't come any nearer to me" she
cried, with a gesture Of her pretty
hands as if she would drive him away;
you have been false aud cruel to me,
and | wish never 10 see you again.
Only release me from my vow. Let
tell what / have sworn to God to keep
secret" [E .I
Alfred" said a voice behind me, and
| started as if a thunderbolt had fallen at
my feet, for 1t was Dr. Romainc's voice;
and | turned round and saw DR.. Ro-
maines face. but white and haggard as
with long suffering. lie put his hand
through his sons arm, and led him in
10 the house, and then sank down into
fathers armchair, and his gray head
dropped upon his breast and | saw his
lips move, but whether with whispered
words or with trembling ] could not
tell Ny heart ached sorely for him as
well as tor Nelly, but | grew impatient
at the silence.
Come here, Hannah" said the doc.
tor, without looking up, but stretching
out his hands towards me; and / went
TO his side, and laid my rough hand in
his, which he grasped tightly, as ifit
was support and comfort to him |
could see Alfred Romaine now, a tall,
handsome, svil-looking man, to my
thinking; but had never set eyes up
on him before, for most of the time
father and / had been at this toll-gate
he had been out of the country. Nelly
had put the table between herself and
him, and her lace was as white as death
ADO you know" she said, speaking
with look of terror, gthat | have
been confined in a mad-housel and all
because Of You and your cruelty aud
YOU could let me stay there, and never
speak a word to set me free, or to clear
my name" "-" ~ '' .'-
"Why, it was useless them" he an
sworedj 1.-THE mischief was done"
"And now" she said, II stand in
daily fear lest should be called to give
an account of my child. What have
you done with him7 Where did you
carry him off tol Tell me quickly 4, II
you have any mercy, tell me what you
did with my baby" .
III took it down to Hopwood- gate,
as l supposed, to your sister," he an
Swered. II thought that would satisfy
even you"
understood it all in moment lie
did not know that we had left Hop
wood six months before; and it was to
me he was bringing the child, thinking
that no wonld know OF its birth, and
that Nelly would see it often and know
that it was well tended But NelIy's eyes
were fastened on him, an eager beseech-
ing in their gaze, and he glanced away
from her to his fathers bowed-dOwn
head. r # T-i H1 .-
well, WE'LL" he said, lit is no great
honor to belong TO me, Nelly I'm
fleeing almost Tor my life, and this un-
pleasant little Interruption may pre-
vent my getting away in safety, though
DR.. Romaine himself is aiding me to
escape. 1t is little honor to be the
wife OF felon; but it is something to
be DR.. Romaine's daughter.
Dr.. Romaihe's daughter! The house
swan round before my eyes; the home
ly house, with its sleeves of pewter, and
the fire irons gliSteningin the chimney
corner, and the old cradle. where the
baby lay fast asleep. | could scarcely
believe my own ears, for Nelly was on
ly the daughter Ofa poor toll gate keep.
els though we thought her so clever,
aud like lafy born. But to be DR..
ROmaine's daughter!
"Yes," he continued, with a half
laugh, 'Dr Romaine has often urged
me to give him a daughter, and now
he will have one just as he loses hisson.
But, Nelly, / did not know you wei e
come out OF the asylumi and what was
the good of claiming you as my wife
while you were there! Poor Nelly!
SO yon never told, and never wonld
have told,yI believe you, untlI freed
you from yonr promise. You will find
your child, DR.. Romaine's grandson, ut
Hopwood-gate. Good.by, my poor
Nelly; there's no time for tarewells.
Ny father loses son, but he fnds a
daughter" gHa
There might have a glimmer Of re-
morse and tenderness in his heart, but
he tried to hide it under sneer against
DIR. Romaine. Our doctor looked up
then, with a furrowed forehead and
bloodshot eyes: and, without glancihg