The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1870-10-13

land until he received this letter, when
he changed his mind, concluding to 20
to America, where it appeared proLa.
bic that he could still further enlarge
his handsome fortune BY trading With
Bombay. At this time he was about
thirty years of age, and had been mar.
ried only n couple of years, TO a fair
English girl, young, lovely, and good,
who, to judge from his letters, had
made him the happiest of men. She
was somewhat homesick in India, and
quite willing to exchange Bombay for
New York.
"His brother (the present speakers
grandfather) wrote to Robert &but as
large sum of ready money as he could
command, into gems, which could be
procured to advantage in India, and
would be easily reconvertible into
funds on his arrival in this country,
where taste for luxury was growing
as the wealth of the cities increased,
which had created large demand for
fine Jewels.
"The voyages Of those days we're tedi.
Gus, and not without extraneous perils
added to those OF navigation. Pirates
were not unknown, especially in the
Indian seas; but this was only another
inducement for Robert to get his
wealth into the smallest possible COM
pass. Indeed. it was still told in the
family, that James, the elder brother,
advised him to conceal the gems about
his person, by stitching them into his
clothing, so that in the case Of acci>
dent, should they escape with their
lives, were it from a shipwrecked ves-
sci, or what not, that fortune would be
rescued also.
"lt Was never certain whether Rob.
ert thus converted his funds; but it
was taken for granted that he did. He
wrote o cheerful letter, announcing
that he had engaged passage on GER
tain merchant vessel, to sail at such
date, along with his wife and baby
girl.
"These were the last immediate ti>
dings they ever received from him
My grandfather have often heard
him tell" continued Mr.. Catherwood
-"waited and watched for the expect
ed ship, until he grew worn and sick
with waiting and watching.
Full two years after the loss of the
vessel, one wild and stormy winter
night, the old brass knocker on the
door OF my grandfather's city house
the cosy one still occupy, Mr. GRAY,
although we have bell to the door
now-thundered forth o succession of
imperious raps, which aroused all its
inmotes. 1t was midnight, and family
and servants had long retired, except
the master of the dwelling, who chanc
ed to be still sitting up ia his library,
looking over his private papers.
Startled by the sudden knocking
and with presentiment thrilling him
that some revelation of Importance
awaited him, he hurried to the door.
1t took two minutes to draw back the
iron bar placed before it Mt night, and
to draw the bolts; and, during that
time, he heard a light foot run down
the steps and away from the house.
On first looking out he saw nothing; q
great rush ofwind and rain swept past
him, and he made movement to close
the door before he perceived Ii tic
creature in the doorway, wrapped in
a warm cloak, from the hood of which,
the bright little anxious face peeped
out, as she held us letter in one Of
her chubby hands.
Is there 10 one with you?
/ Bobo has gone way, llsped the
child, lie toll Etha mus give 'oo
Surprised beyond words, he drew
the child in from the rain, and carried
her Ia his arms into the library, for
sac could not have been over three
years of age, where he held her on
his knee, while he tore open the mis-
sive she bore, and read:
The child who gives you this paper
is Ethelda, daughter of Robert and
EtlIelda CatherwOod, who were taken
captive by the pirates, something
over two years ago. Her father was
killed by us, after holding him cap
tive over month, for not acknowl-
edglng the truth about his money.
He did not have nearly so much as
we expected. Her mother died of a
broken hearth suppose-siX months
after 1 compelled her to marry me,
the captain Of the pirate vessel,
was very fond of her, and might have
become better man If she had lived.
However, that's neither here nor
there. | took pirates oath to her,
on her dying bed, that would bring
this child 20 its uncle, James Gather,
wood, in New York City, and leave
il with him, with the request of its
mother that he would adopt it and
care for its own. I've put myself out
good deal to keep my promise; but
Il pirates oath is sacred to him and
she said she'd ask God to forgive me If
| would. l hope you'll be as kind to
the. little tot as BObo-that's me-has
been. It's cruel hard for me to give
her up. She's great pet with al
the ship-but here goesi Goodbye,
little Etha-you will never see Bobo
againi
The little girl grew up great pet
in my grandfather's house. Quite q
fortune came to her from Bombay,
but the man whom she married con-
triyed to lose it tor her in unfortunate
speculatjons. Our Ethel is her daugh-
ter. Both her parents are now dead,
as you know.
Oliver pushed back his chair and
made his escape into the twilight out
OF doors. A mighty struggle was 60
! ing on in his mind.
When he returned to the drawing
room Ethel was alone at the piano,
while Camilla was the center of O
flattefing group. AS he encountered
the soft, sad eyes of the orphan he
felt like a thief. Abruptly he turned
from them, but he could not banish
conviction.
There was vision ever before his
eyes. floating in the air, resting on
1.-THE carpet, coming between him and
the face OF the woman he lored Ev,
erywhere he turned he saw brass