Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-15

The sister never looked more beauti-
full or appeared to greater advantage
than on that night, and Mary especially
shone brilliant star.
At length supper was over. / had
accompanied Mary to the room and
from it, and was standing with her
again in the ball room apart from the
rest. We were conversing together in
whispers. What. we said 1 will not re-
peat; it is enough to say that /
played Romeo, and that a kind Juliet
was not wanting.
Suddenly at the upper end OF theroom
there was struggle and some confusion,
and in the midst of it all a stout, shag-
gy-headed, elderly man, pushing aside
the hands that sought to stay him, strobe
into the place, aud. stood like rock in
the center of the apartment, gaping
from side to side with harsh, disagree
able leer. The ladies screamed, and
several of them tainted. Mary Dithmar
shrank back, and clung to me in sheer
terror.
Who is it?" I asked, when i had
recovered from my temporary astonish-
ment. 8
But Mary could not reply. Speech
less and pale as a ghost, she gazed at
the Intruder like one turned to stone.
The whole Dithmar family stood as if
transfixed. -
s'Bahl" cried the man sternly s" SO
this is what you do while you think me
dead. Eh, Joseph Dithmar? But you
see am alive yet, and am come at last
to denounce your crimes and those of
your fendish family. You thought you.
had murdered me, Ell? Well, it wasn't
your fault that I am alive. Your
hired assassins betrayed you. Why
don't you welcome me? Where's your
hospitality ?"
The guests stared at one another and
ut their host at this speech in stupid
amazement. At length Dithmar grew
in a measure calm, and addressing his
friends, said in an unsteady voice:
Gentlemen, ladies, friends: this is
an unfortunate scene; try to forget it. I
will explain it another time. Now please
leave us" a
Still the intruder stood undisturbed
and frowning in his position, and Ar
thur, who had sprung forward toward
him as if to eject him or administer per-
sonal chastisement, was caught and held
midway by his father. 1t was strange
and incomprehensible affair, and the
guests evidently did not know what to
make of it, as by ones and twos they
slowly departed.
"Mary," said / to my companion,
'let me take you into the air-anyw ywhere
from here. This is awful.
"No," she replied firmly; 81 must
remain with my family and share the
worst with them" And with gentle
force she led me to the outer door.
went home astounded. What could all
this mean? Had there been fraud and
attempted murder by the family had
so long revered? 1 could not believe
it. resolved to have my doubts cleared
by personal explanation the following
morning.
Duff had vacated my apartments
during my absence, and, thank heaven,
was alone with my thoughts and sor-
rows. went to bed and dreamed. My
dreams were in the last degree awful.
I awoke in a cold sweat and found that
it was daybreak. rose, dressed my
self and then, early as it was, hurried
to Dithmar's. Judge of my surprise,
on approaching the house, to find it
open and the lights of the night before
all still brilliantly burning; the house
had evidently been open ever since the
sudden exodus of the guests. I shud-
dered, and, nameless presentiment of
evil fastened on me as I went up the
steps and entered the mansion. 1t was
deserted. went into the ballroom it
was silent and empty, and the flaming
gas-jets but increased Its horror and
gloom. T. ran up stairs and searched
chamber after chamberan vacant, all
void. called aloud on Mary, on all the
occupants of that splendid dwelling no
response, not even an echo to my own
voice, and j threw myself down on a
chair and groaned.
just then heard heavy step near
| me, and in marched the intruder of last
night in Dithmar's dressings gown and
| slippers, calmly smoking q short, black,
| stunted- looking clay pipe. He took the
pipe from his mouth and surveyed me
coolly and deliberately, but said not q
| word. Al of the anger of my nature
| was aroused at the sight of thie accursed
wretch, and went toward him with a
look of rage. He put his pipe back
into his mouth, and, folding his arms
over his breast, continued his survey
I still without a word.
Devil p I cried, "who are you, and
what is your fiendish power over this
/ house and this family ?"
The smoker smiled, and only said:
stDo you like music ?"
Was ever such a question asked at
such time? I was thunderstruck, and
remained with my hands clenched,
silently staring.
I" Do you like music ?" Z
The question was repeated; and with
out waiting for an answer this
time, the strange being glided to the
open piano, and sitting on the stool,
pipe still in mouth, played gracefully
and elegantly some of the wild, stormy
music of sc Robert lie DiabIe." Then,
having concluded his Instrumentation,
he sang in soft and almost feminine
voice, 'tRobert, Robert toi que Jaime, =
from the same great work of Meyerbeer.
The man was evidently forgotten in the
musician; for when the performer first
opened his lips to give vent to the first
words of the song, his pipe tumbled
from between his teeth, and was dashed
into fragments on the floor. I remained
wonder smitten and still. At length,
the song being concluded, the man
turned toward me as if for approba-
ton. s7,-
Among other qualities, I was an en-
thusiast in music and full of horror
for the individual before me as I was,
could not help inwardly admiring his
mastery over the science of harmony
but this feeling was but momentary
and as soon as / could sufficiently col
lect myself, demanded where the