The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-08-06

"But, he'd have done the same to me,
aunt-oply, you KNOW never could
have taken him. Isn't it better as it is,
auntf Tell me-" =.
" aI suppose young women always
think it best when they can get their
own ways. An old woman like me has
only got TO do what she is bid.n 8
%"Bat this was best, aunt-was it
mott -
"My dear, you've had your way, and
let that be enough. Poor Camilla
French is not allowed to have hers at
all. Dear, dear, dear!E / didn't think
the man would eves have been such q
feol to begin with--or that he would
ever have had the heart to get out of it
afterward." 1t astonished Dorothy to
tnd that her aunt was not loud in re-
probation of Mr. eGibson's very dreadful
conduct. 1879 CO. --.
In the mean time Mrs. French had
written to he brother at Gloucester. Inc
maid servant, in making Miss Camllla's
bed, and in "puttiDg the room TO rights,
as she called it-which description pro
baby was intended to cover the cireuh'
stances of an accurate search-had us
covered, hidden among some linen-a
carving-knife! such knife as IS nseo
for the cutting up of fowls; and, AFTER
two days' interval, had impaired the
discovery to Mrs. French. Instant visit
was made to the pantry, and it was
found that a very aged but unbroken
and sharply pointed weapon was mis-.
sing. Mrs. French at once accused
Camilla, and Camilla, after some hesita-
ton, admitted that it might be there
Molly, she said, was a nasty, ST., wick
ed thing, to go looking in her drawers,
and she would never leave anything un-
locked again. The knife, she declared,
had been taken upstairs, because she
had wanted something very sharp to
cut-the bones of her stays. The knife
was given up, but Mrs. French thought
it best to write to her brother, Mr..
Crump. She was in great doubt about
sundry matters. Had the carving knife
pointed to domestic tragedy; and if so,
what steps ought poor widow to take
with such daughter And what ought
to be done about Mr.. Gibsoni It ran
through Mrs. French's mind that unless
something was done at once, Mr.. Gibson
would escape scotfree. 1t was her wish
that he should yet become her son-in-
law. Poor Bella was entitled to her
chance. But if Bella was to be disap-
pointed-from fear of carving knives, or
for other reasons-then there came the
question whether Mr.. Gibson should not
be made to pay in purse for the mischief
he had done. With all these thoughts
and doubts running though her head,
Mrs. French wrote to her brother at
Gloucester.
There came back an answer from Mr..
Crump, in which that gentleman ex-
pressed very strong idea that Mr.. Glib
son should be prosecuted for damages
with the utmost virulence, and with the
least possible delay. No compromise
should be accepted. Mr.. Crump would
lawyer as soon as he should be told that
there was lawyer to be seen. AS to the
carving knife, Mr.. Crump was of opin-
ion that it did not mean anything. Mr..
Crump was a gentleman who did not
believe in strong romance, but who had
great trust in all pecuniary claims. The
Trenches had always been genteel. The
late Captain French had been an officer
in the army, and at ordinary times and
seasons the Trenches were rather
ashamed of the Crump connection. But
now the timber merchant might prove
himself to be a useful friend.
Mrs. French showed her brothers LETT
ter to Bella-and poor Bella was again
SORE hearted, seeing nothing was said
in it of her claims. sit wall be dreadful
scandal to have it all in the paper" said
Bella.
"But what can we do"
Anything would be better than
that" said Bella. "And yeu don't want
to punish Mr.. Gibson, mamma"
"But, my dear, lyon see what your uncle
says. What can do except go to him
for advice ?"
"Why don't you 60 to Mr.. Gibson your
self, mammai'
But nothing was said to Camilla
about Mr.. Crump-nothing as yet.
Camilla did not love Mr.. Crump, but
there was 70 other house except that of
Mr.. CrumP's at Gloucester to which she
might be sent, if it could be arranged
that Mr.. Gibson and Bella should be
made one. Mrs. French took her eldest
iuNlSSJ duu NShO w bAA VIZ
Mr.. Crump's letter in her
pocket. For herself she wanted nothing
but was it not the duty of her whel e
life to fight for her daughters Poor
If somebody would only have
laugh her how that duty might best be
done, she would have endeavored to
obey the teaching. "You know / do not
threaten you," she said to Mr.. Gibson;
but you see what my brother says. OF
course l wrote to my brother. What
could poor woman do in such circum-
stances except write to her brother y
"If you choose to set the bloodhounds
of the law at me, of course you can" said
Mr.. Gibson.
81 do not want to go to law at all
God knows I do not % said Mrs. French.
Then there was a pause. Poor dear
Bella w calculated Mrs. French.
"Dear Bella ~ echoed Mr.. Gibson.
"What do you moan to do about
Bella !" asked Mrs. French.
~ sometimes think that had better
take poison and have done with it" said
Mr.. Gibson, feeling himself to be very
hard pressed.