The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-08

there came an impatient rap at the door
and 1T was pushed open quickly, before
she could even rise from her chair.
The lady with the pretty face and blue
Ieyes crossed the thresheIds
"Come with me- cried the stranger
in an agitated voice, utterly regardlest
of Helen's flashing eyes and shrinking
gesture Of contempt. s'For Gods sake
don't lose amomentp -
s"What has happened?. she asked.
SIT was a quarrel over cards, Il think
| CoieneiaD Delniar must have insuited Ross
with a purpose. He is jealous of the
| poor boy, and wished to get him eut'o
the way. L suppose. AT any rate, they
fought, and Colonel DeimGr's ann was
broken.H .t 4 - L4eH ais
"And Rossw ~ - =
AAIe was not hurt.v The woman {
voice tell. "But the colonel mas been in
citing the mob on, and now they-thes
mean to lynch him W- = ~ y, snsa,
'"Great heayens"
Helen waited to hear no more. She
snatched up her scarf from the table
tied it over her head, and had led the wo
man out OF the house before the latter
could utter a word. " "'r-
"Why did you come to me p' she asked
as they rushed breathlessly down the
street. 'A' oitt' hi.8% (
"Because you. have unbounded danAu
ence here. Colonel Delmar will listen te
you, il heiwillto anybody" stiR
.'"I hate him lo - -. -4H 40
apo syou?1 cried the woman, in 9
maze. at would make Ross SO happy 1
he knew thatp sf a. yr& 40
Helen's burn had come to stare; anG
she did, with all her eyes. sx
II thought Mr. Clifton loved yoap she
breathed. .'tra rr t
.'He does; but'-a. swift look of intel
ligence fitting over ner face-''I hops
you wsre not jealous of mep Absurd
Pm the lads mother" 4s q
His +motherlh Helen gave q hys,
terical little cry. Yes, sure enough
they had the same beautiful blue eyes
the same handsome msuth. Why had
she not thought of 1t be.orerN What a
fool she had made of herselfl 1s U
es.Forgives meW Sshe said, after mo.
ment's silence, putting out her hand
"You seemed so young, 80 pretty
There was no time for further words
At this juncture an angle in the street
brought them in sight of a motley crowd
OF villainOus, i'm mpudent-l loo king men gath
cred under some tail trees,sa short dis.
tance beyond. Already a stout rope
could beseen dangling from one Of the
limbs. a N54s
Such was the picture that met Helen's
startled gaze. 1t was one,she never for.
got. Darbing between the two men. she
flung .both arms about Ross shrieking
wildly: tg
"Mercy! sLethim so, Colonel Delmarl
You shaulaot take his life--it would be
murderp f4s7a ,a4s4.
"A ,hreath-long silence in the crowd.
q int xxyl,i Ia
Presently Colonel Delmar ansWered,
with % faint, forced laugh: 49,, ~
"Stand aside, Miss Hardingl You are
interfering with the course Of Justice (, 1t
is quite useless to appeal t0'm mew
ssDo not despair, Miss Harding. He
would not listen TO you, but he shall
listen to me-"
Colonel Delmar turned. At the frst
sound OF. that vibrating voice, u flash of
horror went over his face, and he began
to treniblein every limb. ~
"Who speaks" he demanded.
And the woman who had proclaimed
herself to be RQss' mother, confronted
the valiant colonel.
Wild-eyed and notionless, he ,glared
at her as II she had been spectre, one
word, and only one, breaking from his
-blooQle6& l1pS: sss5sss-
"Yes, it is Esther, 4" said the lady, nerv-
ing herself TO tho task Of speaking with
some degree Of conhposnre. II did not
intend to reveal myself to you; but fate,
and your own insane ;bbstinacy, have
.willed it otherwise. II there is any hu.
miliation M'this .denouement,s you have
brought II upon yourseIisS
Hs .reeied, and clasped both hands
over bis temples. as ifhis mind was In .
a thought, you we're dead, Esthar,D he
ALTERED, ( after Z, 2 pause; q did, as GOO
I ii Ssss y, ,,.s,s ~ tlouAs but spr hoped j
Ne, nop'Ehe glanced. round at Helen
with neryMons'shuddaE, M "Cap yaueyer
her, over twenty years ago.s'
"It is true{ {tsaid the lady.
,rssButiI believed was a free man when
/ offered You my hand; or, bad as lam,
] D. shoilid u never have become your
! Helen answered nothing. She ,clufig
TO Ross, with ablank look of wonder ,op
II have not said ALL I intended,o the
lady resumed, presently. "CoioneI Del.
mar, haze you -n0esuspicion -ofthe iden.
tity Of the poor fellow you would have
q atchiay his breath sharply, the mis-.
cradle man put our both hands, cry ing,
with q dreadful shlyer in his voice:
&"Spare meW - 20 n
HToo late. sHeis your,own.ands sminel'
Judge Lynch had no victim that day
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