Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-05-15

again in the ball room apart from the
rest. We were conversing together in
whispers. What we said I 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 or uheroom
there was a struggle andsome confusion,
and in the midst Of it all a stout, shay
gy-headed, elderly man, pushing aside
the hands that sought to stay him, strobe
into the place, aud stood like a rock in
the center Of the apartment, gaping
from side to side with a harsh, disagree
able leer. The ladies screamed, and
several of them tainted. Mary Dithmar
shrank back, and chung to me in sheer
terror.
"Who is it?" I asked, when I had
recovered from my temporary astonish-
ment.
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.
"Bahi' cried the man sternly $50
this is what you do while you think me
dead. Eth, Joseph Dithmar? But you
see I 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 [ am alive. Your
hired assassins betrayed you. Why
don't you welcome me? Where's your
hospitality?"
The guests stared at one another and
at 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. [
| will explain it another time. Now please
leave u.s."
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 a strange
and incomprehensible affair, and the
guests evidently did not know what to
make of it, as by mes and twos they
slowly departed.
"Mary," said L to my companion,
"let me take you into the air-anywhere
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. 1
went home astounded. What could all
this mean? Had there been fraud and
attempted murder by the family ] had
so long revered? I could not believe
it. Iresolved to have my doubts cleared
by personal explanation the following
morning.
Duff had vacated my apartments
I was alone with my thoughts and sor-
rows. went to bed and dreamed. My
dreams were in the last degree awful.
/ awoke in a cold sweat and foundthat
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. [ shud-
dered, and a nameless presentiment of
evil fastened on me as l went up the
steps and entered the mansion. It was
deserted. I went into the ballroom it
was silent and empty, and the flaming
gas-iets but increased its horror and
gloom. 1 ran up stairs and searched
chamber after chamber-al vacant, all
void. Icalled aloud on Mary, on allthe
occupants of that splendid dwelling no
response, not even an echo to my own
voice, and I threw myself down on a
chair and groaned.
Just then 1 heard a heavy step neal
me, and in marched the intruder of last
night in Dithmar's dressing-gown and
slippers, calmly smoking a short, black,
stunted-looking clay pipe. He tookth e
pipe from his mouth and surveyed me
coolly and deliberately, but said not a
word. All of the anger of my nature
was aroused at the sight of this 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
still without a word.
"Devil ~ I cried, "who are you, and
what is your fendish power over this
house and this family?"
The smoker smiled, and only said
"Do you like music?"
Was ever such a question asked at
such a time? I was thunderstruck, and
remained with my hands clenched,
silently staring.
"Do you like music?"
The question vas 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 Robert lie Diable." Then,
having concluded his Instrumentation,
he sang IN a soft and almost feminine
voice, "Robert, Robert tot que jaime
from the same great work of Meyerbeer.
The man was evidently forgotten in tbs
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. / remained
wonder smitten and still. At length
"