The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-11-10

victi0ns. | turned the matter over in NY
thoughts, and wondered whether it were
possible that the memory of this woman
dwelling always on my mind could have
led me to identify her appearance with
that of another. | remembered how two
or three times within the past year [ had
caught sight of faces in the street which
had startled Tie for moment by a rcsem
blance to that of the woman whom | had
seeu bu. for two minutes bat whose tca-
lures remained too deeply engraven al my
memory 10 allow of any mistake or uncer-
which had recalled them
The next day | went about my work as
composedly as | could, and waited for
evening As Barrett left the Office he
said, coldly, "Remem ber-eight clock -
| nodded, and at the hour mentioned
found myself slowly traversing the path
| had trOdden the night before. The
moon was obScured this evening, but it
was not really dark, and my heart beat
wildly as | saw the two figures approach
mistaking John Barrett, his figure aud
walk were too marked As they drew near
| gathered in the other more distinctly. |
saw the form, the dress, the arrangement
of hair, the blue eyes, the cold look, the
light complexion, but not the resemblance
of the night before. 1t was enough; i'm
probable as it had seemed, | had deceived
myself, and as Barrett introduced me and
mentioned the name Of Miss Brinsmade
| felt so abashed and penitent that could
have gone down on my knees on the spot
and begged pardon for my biunder. Not
L hot oh no 4
SAID 4 word to her on the subject,
| feared to broach il, and notwith-
standing the efforts of both to remove my
restraint, | very soon sneaScd off and
found my way home. On Johns arrival
he was cold to receive them. He
repeated the assertion that he had OILY
taken the trouble of setting me right for
the young lady's sake, not his own.
There was a subsequent GOODNESS between
Us for some weeks, but it wore off in
time.
The fourth incident have to tell is one
Of more Importance 1t occurred about
six months after Lydia's disappearance.
One morning, coming out from break fast
and passing through the ball, | picked up
a pocket book. | did not recognize it,and
as | was going to my room, took it with
me, suppOSing that | should be able to
identify it by its contents. The first thing
that met my eye was a small sum of
money This afforded 10 indication, and
| drew ont the first paper my fingers
touched. Judge my surprise when saw
the forged chcque, which [ had thought
safely stored in Mr.. Ephraim's safe OF
course took the book to be his, and ina
rIy. iot nn L.,n
terrcd the document to it. | was about
to close it with the purpose of returning it
to him, when some feeling which cannot
define impcllcd me to draw out the next
paper. This, 10 my dumt' surprise, To7 n
certificate Of marriage, dated almost year
back. testitying that John Barrett and
Lydia Pcnuypacker had, un0na day stated,
been joined together in the bonds Of holy
matrimony. A tumult OF thought rushed
over me at this discovery. Now | could
understand the apparent uneGsiness on his
part at my searches for the lost girl. Now
| understood his frequent absences from
the house, and his remark in reference TO
Miss Brinsmade, that had he met her
few months sooner there was no knowing
what might have happened" p" | revoved
all this, and many smaller things bearing
upon the matter. in my mind. The dis
cuvery relieved me Of a heavy anxiety in
regard to the welfare of Lydia. while 1t
made me think better Of john to ind that
he had taken the homeless girl and made
her his wife. | felt that he must have
done SO un>clfi>hly as far rs any hope OF
any pecuniary benefit from the marriage
was concerned, since it was certain that III
Mr.. Ephra,m' 5 will she would not stand
for dollar, not only from the old mans
positive hatred toward her, bu. from the
fact that he had over and over again ex
pressed his intention Of devo,ing every
cent of his money to the founding of a GER
tain charity, the plan Of which had long
since been drawn up In all It's details.
But the cheque! What was the cheQue
doing in John possession? This troubled
me, but [ determined not to act so hastily
as | had done once before. | closed the
book, aud as by returning it personally to
Barrett should only be letting him know
that | was in possession OF bis secret,
concluded to lay it upon his dressing table
and await events. | did so, and went
quickly to my desk. John was already at
hi,, ana IN less than an hour-for | was
Eatching E.n as cat does mouse-Ee
started, turned pale, searched all his pock-
ctS TdDlIIy, tAdIlIHcu the HDO- anu iHpH
started out. In two or three minutes he
was back, and by the flush of his face and
the brightness Of his eye | perceived that
he had found the missing object.
The fifth incident in my story occurred
exactly one week from the date Of the last,
aud was announced by a fearful shrek,
which rang through the house one morn
ing just as we had finished dressing. J
say lce, though Johh had been up and
dressed a good hour or two before day
light, and was apparently writing at his
table by candle light. We all ran, and in
an instant found the scream TO proceed
from the servant-or house-kcerer as she
was caIled-vho stood in the hail and
cried, Come here - in a sharp, piercing
voice We few to where she pointed, Mr.
Ephraim' room, and there saw the old
nlan lying stark and stiff in bed. No one
touched him; the fact Of his death was TOO
apparent for question and though doc
tor was immediately sent for, no one
doubted but that the event had occurred
some hours before. There was 20 coroner,
the doctor gave a certificate. disease of
the heart" and the third day after the
earth received all there was Of Ephraim
PennyrackeT. During this time | watch
el and expected every hour to see Lydia