Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-01-22
played Romeo, and that a kind Juliet was
NOT wantiuU

l OANA~J ttNNAA~AAe3
hands that sought to stay him, strobe int
| the place, and stood liket rock in the cen
tire of the apartment, gaping from side to
side with a harsh disagreeable leer. The
ladies screamed, and several of them faint
ed Mary Dithmar shrank back and chung
ssWho is it?" asked, when had recov-
cred from my temporary establishment.
But Mary could not reply. SPECIFICS
and pale as a ghost, she gazed at the in
truder like one turned to stone. The
whole Dithmar family stood as if trans
fixed.
+ ssBah!'' cried the man sternly, $50 this is
what you do while you think me dead.
Eth, Joseph Dithmar? But you see Lam
alive yet, and come at last to denounce
your crimes and those of your fiendish
family. You thought YOU had murdered
me, ali? Well, it wasn't your fault that 1
am alive Your hired assassin betrayed
you. Why don't you welcomeme? Where's
your hospitality?" bH ~ lois
The guests stared at one another and at
their host, at this speech, in stupid amaze
ment. AT length Dithmar grew in a mea-
sure calm, and addressing his friends, said
in an unsteady voice:
ssGentlemen, ladies, and friends, this is
an unfortunate scene; try to forget it,. 1
will explain at another time. Now please
leave us..''' a5s..4s fsl.
Still the intruder stood undisturbed and
frowning in his position, and Arthur, who
had sprung forward toward him as if to
eject him or administer personal chastise-
ment, was caught and held midway by his
father. 1t was strange and incompre-
hensible affair, and the guests evidently
did not know what to make Of it, as by
ones and twos they slowly departed.
s'Mary,'' said to my companion, ''let
me take you into the all anywhere from
here. This is awful" III
ssNo," she replied firmly. Il must re-
main with my family and share the worst
with them.'
And with gentle force she led me to the
outer door. l went home astounded.
What could all this meant? Had there
been fraud and attempted murder by the
family | had SO long revered? l could not
believe it. I resolved to have my doubts
cleared by a personal explanation the fol-
lowing morning.
Duff had vacated nay apartments during
my absence, and !, thank Heaven! 1 was
alone with my thoughts and my sorrows.
I went to bed and dreamed. My dreams
were in the last degree awful. .re.f
awoke in cold sweat, and found that
it was daylight. I rose, dressed myself,
and hurried to Dithmar's. Judge of my
surprise, on approaching the house, to fin d
it open, and the lights Of the night before
all still burning; the house had evidently
been open ever since the sudden exodus Of
the guests. I shuddered, and nameless
of evil fastened on me as I
entered the mansion. It was deserted. 1
went into the ball room; it was silent and
empty [ searched chamber after cham
ber-aH vacant. 1 called aloud on Mary,
on all the late occupants; no response; and
I threw myself down in chair, and groan-
ed. E Iii. <ane l!
Just then heardsa heavy step near me,
and in marched the intruder of last night,
in Dithmar's dressing gown and slippers,
calmly smoking short, black, stupid look
ing clay pipe. He took the pipe from his
mouth and surveyed me coolly and delibera-
tely, bat said not a word. All the anger
in my nature was aroused at the sight of
this accursed wretch, and | went towards
him with a look of rage. He put his pipe
back in his mouth, and folding his arms
over his breast, continued his survey, still
without word.
s'Devil!'' I cried, "who are you, and
what is your fendish power over this house
and family?''
The smoker smiled, and only said,
':Do you like music?"
Was ever such question asked at such
a time? I was thunderstruck, and remain
ed with my hands clenched silently staring
'sDo you like music?o
The question was repeated; and without
waiting this time for an answer, the strange
beng 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 le Diable. "Then
having finished hts Instrumentation, he
sang, in soft and almost feminine voice,
ssRobert, Robert tot que 'aime," from the
same great work of Meyerbeer. The man
was evidently forgotten in the musician;
for when the performer opened his lips to
give vent to the words Of the song, his pipe
tu1nbled from his mouth and was dashed
in fragments on the floor. [ remained
wonder-smitten and still. At length, the
song concluded, and the man turned toward
me as if for appreciation.
Among my other qualities [ was an en-
thusiast in music; and full of horror for
the individual before me as was, [ could
not help inwardly admiring his mastery
over the science Of harmony, but this feel
ing was but momentary, and as soon as l
could sufficiently collect myself demand
where the Dithmars had gone to so sud-
denly, and reiterated my inquiry as to who
he was. He wheeled round on the piano
stool and looked. at me fixedly,
els it possible you don't know me?" he
said, in tone of quiet surprise.
i assured him that he was a perfect
stranger to me. He appeared puzzled, and
then replied:
81 am the real Joseph Dithmar."
ssWho then, pray, was he who until last
night was known here by that name?'
ssBogus, bogus" answered the man, turn
ing to the piano and drumming with his
hand. Hls .atisaal@
"Where is he, and where is his family"
elbow should I know? They treated me
ill; but now that I am restored to my
RIGHTS they may escape-Yes. they may es-