Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-22
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.


GUILTY OH NOT GUILTY.
| Some thirty years ago a strange scene
| happened in the old-fashioned dining-ro
| of one of those isolated country houses,
half mansion, half farm, so common in the
North of England.
The room was substantially, If not ele-
gantly furnished; large, high backed chairs
| of dark oak, stood against the walls, large
oak sideboard almost filed one side of the
room; and on this were ranged large silver
salvers and racing cups, with many other ar
ticles of plate that were evidently heir-looms.
The table was spread with an excellent des-
ert; fruits of every description, both native
and foreign, were heaped up on strange, old
fashioned plates, and here and there stood
huge decanter, rejecting ON the fair white
| table-cloth the colcrs of the wines, which
varied from the light straw and golden of
the Rhenish to the deep ruby of Spain. A
large fire blazed cheerfully on the hearth,
and mingled its ruddy CLEANS with the
quiet, mellow light which two lamps threw
over the room. Everything in the quaint
apartment showed ease and comfort, min
gled with the stately repose that seems to
cling about old families; but the occupants
and their attitudes bespoke anger, misery,
and despair.
Opposite the fire stood George Melville,
the master of the house, stern, dark-lOOk-
ing man of about fifty-iive or sixty: yet his
hair was but slightly tinged with gray, his
! frame as firm as ever, and ifhe shook at all
! it was not from age, but from the sup
pressed passion that burned within him.
His eyes were usually sharp and piercing,
but at this moment they sparkled with an
ger; one arm was stretched forward in a
menacing attitude, whilst the other clasped
a beautiful girl of about twenty, who hung
sobbing on his breast.
At the other end of the table, in the di-
rection in which Mr.. Melville was making
this threatening gesture, stood a tall,
handsome young man of about siX-and-
twenty, dressed in the loose, easy style
of sailor. He, too, seemed greatly sgi-
! tated, but more with sorrow than anger.
He met Mr.. Melville's flashing glances with
steady eye, that told of resolution and
courage more than defiance; and if his voice
faltered, it was only when he addressed the
| lady.
"Dare you question my daughter in this
manner, sir?" demanded Mr.. Melville.
81 dare do anything" returned the young
man, firmly. 81 heard from my brother
that Maud had discarded me, but / would
not believe it; wrote to her, and received
| this letter confirming the statement: still l
| do not believe it; never will believe that
one so fair can be so false until have heard
it from her own lips. 1t is now two years
since she plighted her troth to me; l was
ordered to 60 abroad with my vessel, and
trusted to her faith with frmness nothing
| could shake. Night and day have l worked
hard, looking anxiously forward till the
time came when l should see her again; it
was my constant dream at night, my sole
happy thought by day. As the ship neared
my native shore, home, country, friends,
were all forgotten in the blissful thought that
| l should see Maud once more. Do you
| think love like mine can be crushed out
by few words? that it can be laid at your
command? No; it was Maud who gave me
her troth, and from her lips alone will / re-
ceive my dismissal"
You have received her letter."
ayes; and believe that that was forced
from her,"
"Have care, sirr' exclaimed Mr.. Mel
vile, passionately. "Remember, a word
LIE, dUu YOU VIII NC lIOIu
door like a distempered cur"
For a moment Arthur Seaforth's face
flushed red with passion, but quickly reeoy-
ering himself, he replied in his usual calm
manner
"You forgot, sir, that l am gentleman"
"a gentleman" sneared Mr.. Melville, "a
pretty gentleman, indeed, to take advantage
! of a young girl, and get her promise of
! 1xithor1f ha ~ ha,.
| father"
"Maud and l were playmates," urged
Arthur.
eyes, thanks to the folly of my deceased
| wife, who took an interest in you. Begone,
sir, and never let me see your face again"
81 tell you sir, that no power on earth
shall remove me alive from this room until
| / have Maud's own word that she wishes to
retract her promise"
'Speak, Maud; tell this mailman that you
never wish to see him again; that you have
seen your folly, and thank heaven have re-
pented in time"
! Maud, thus appealed TO, raised her head
| from her fathers breast, and turned to-
wards Arthur Seaforth; but no sooner did
their eyes meet than she uttered a low
moan and again hid her face.
'sMaud," exclaimed the young man, ''if
you love me-if you eyer loved me, tell me;
are we to part ?"
"Oh, Arthur she sobbed, It must be-
"This is not your free will, Maud; you
love me still, and by heavens, you shall be
mine"
Uttering savage cry, Mr.. Melville thrust
his daughter from him, in one bound reach
ed Arthur SeafOrth, and seized him by the
throat In minute the two men We're
locked in terrible embrace; they struggled
| backwards and forwards, upsetting chairs
and tables in their violence, whilst Maud,
overcome with terror, sunk SwOoning on the
floor.
The noise soon brought up the servants
and the combatants were separated, though
not without great difficulty.
''Seize the rascal" cried Mr.. Melville;
"whip him through the village-duck him
in the horse pond.n
GLANDS OFF, cried Arthur sternly, for his
blood was up now, and he felt strong
enough to have met hundred men; "hal;ds
of, or it may be the worse for all of you. |
have but few words to say, Mr.. Melville,
and then | shall go-I see that Maud has
been forced to write this letter; you have
controlled her will, but you cannot her
. heart-that is still mine. She has not bro
ken her oath; it is you who have tried to
make her do so; and mark me, your pun
ishment viii come. Farewell, Maud, to-
morrow start for America; but l shall re-
turn to claim you in spite of ALL
s.Begone ~ shrieked Mr.. Melville; 'be-
gone, instantly, lest in my passion should
take your vile life; and mark me, if ever
you put foot In my ground again, or try
TO intrude your presence upon my daughter,
so help me heaven, I'll have your life."
Arthur cast a contemptuous look at Mr.
Melville, then turning towards Maud, said
Farewell, Maud; forgive you, darling;
but remember, we shall meet again."
The next moment he dashed out of the
room, hurried down the passage, and passed
into the grounds of the mansion.
No sooner did Arthur find himself free of