Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-05-14


| ed to the marriage relation In its hoiest
| aspeck.''
"Damnation! Why didn't" burst out
John Ashe, erect and furious.
AT the end of two years." continued
Mr.. sMcClosky, still intent on the valise,
Il allowed I'd get divorce. Et about
thet time, however, Providence sends a
| circus into thet town and teller ez rode
three horses to onct. Hevin' allez taste
for athletic sports, she left town with this
.siler. leavin' me and Jenny behind. l
sent word 10 her thct IL she would give
Jenny to me we'd call It quits. Aud she
eid."
Tell me- gasped Ashe, did you ask
your daughter to keep this from me, or did
| she do 1t of her own accord?'
''She doesn't know it," said Mr.. McClos-
ky; ''she thinks I'm her father, and that
her mothers dead"
Then, Sir, this is your
Il don't know" said Mr.. McClosky,
my Jenny. Idou't know ez I've persood
that ez biziness, or even taken it up as
healthful recreation"
John Ashe paced the room furously.
Mr.. McClosky's eyes LEFT the valise and
followed him curiously. Where Is this
woman?" demanded Ashe, suddenly. Nc
Closky's eyes sought the valise again.
''She went to Kansas; from Kansas she
went into Texas. From Texas she even
locally came 10 Caiforny. Being here,
I've purvided her with moncy-when her
business was slack-throu.h friend"
John Ashe groaned "She's gettin'
rather old and shaky for horses, and now
dses the tight-rope business and flying
trapeze. Never heviu' secli her perform"
continued Mr.. McClosky, with conscien-
tious caution ~ can't say how she gets
OIL. On the bills she looks well. Thar is
sposter-' said Mr.. McClosky glancing
atAshe, and opening his valise thar Is
poster givn' her performance to Marysvile
next month" Mr.. McClosky slowly un-
folded . large yellow and blue printed
poster. profuse'y illustrated. "She calls
herself 'Mamsclle J. Miglawski-the great
Russian Trapeziste.'
John Ashe tore it from his hand. "Of
course" he said, suddcLly facing Mr. Nc
C!osky, you don't expect me TO 90 on
with thisi'
Mr.. McClosky picked up the poster, care
fully refolded 1t and returned 1t 10 his VA
llse. When you break OF with Jenny"
ba said quietly, don't want anything SAID
'bou, this. She doesn't know 1t. She's
woman and reckon you're u white man"
''But wha, am to say: Hov am to 20
back of my word?'
f~s'-i.- 100 a note Saw es,...~.i.t-.~- -
come 10 your knowledge-tlon't say what
that makes you break II of. You
needn't be afeard Jenny'll ever ask you
what"
John Ashe hesitated. lie felt he had
been cruelty wrongcd. No gentleman-no
Ashe-could 20 on further in this affair
1t was preposterous TO think of It. But
somehow he felt at the moment very unlike
a gentleman or AN Ashe, and was quite
sure he should break down under Jenny's |
her.
80 ores is about as light here As on
the Ridge Well, / reckon they'll come
up before the aims. Good night" Mr. |
McClosky took the hand that his host me
chancally extended, shook it gravely, and |
was gone.
When Mr.. McClosky, a week later. step |
ped again upon his own veranda. he saw |
through the French window the figure of |
man IN his parlor. Under his hospitlble |
roof the sight was not unusual, but for all |
instant a subtle sense OF disappointment |
thrilled him. When he saw il was not the |
face Of Ashe turned toward him he was re-
leved. but when he saw the tawny beard |
and quick. passionate eyes Of Henry Rance
he felt n new sense of apprehension, so |
that he fell 10 rubbing his beard almost up |
on his very threshold.
Jenny ran into the hall, and seized her
father with little cry of joy. Father"
said Jenny, in a hurried whisper, .'dont |
mind him" Indicating Rance with toss
OF her yellow braids-''he's going soon,
and think, father. I've done him wrong
But it's all over with John and me now
read that note, and see how he's insulted
me-" Her lip quivered, but she went on:
"Its Ridseway that he means, father, and
believe it was his hand struck Ridgeway
down, or that he knows who did. But
hush now not q word"
She gave him feverish kiss. and glided
back into the parlor. leaving Mr.. McClosky
perplexed and irresoldte with the note in
his hand He glanced at it hurriedly and
saw that 1t was couched in almost the very
words he had suggested. But sudden
apprehensive rehcoectiOn came over him;
he listened, and with an exclamation of
dismay he seized his hat and ran out Of the
house. But too late at the same moment
the yeranda, the French window flew open,
and with light laugh Of greeting Ridge
way stepped into the room.
Jenny's finer ear first caught the step
Jenny's swifter feelings had sounded the
depths Of hope, of joy, Of despair, bef ore
he entered the room. Jenny's pale face
was the only one that met his, self-possess-
ed and selfrellant, when he stood before
them. An angry flush suffused even the
pink roots Of RANGES beard as he rose to
his feet; an ominous fire sprang into
Ridgeway's eyes. and spasm of hate and
scorn passed over the lower part Of his
face and LEFT the mouth and jaw immObile
and rigid.
Yet he was the first to speak. II owe
you an apology" he said to Jenny, with
suave scorn that brought the indignant |
blood back to her cheek, ''for this intru- |
sion. but ask no pardon for Withdrawing |
from the only spot where that man dare
confront me with safety
With an exclamation of rage, Rance |
sprang toward him. But as quickly Jenny
stood hetween them. erect And menacinQ.