The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-03
The Intercepted Telegram.

| L Ork 100 ldLc w tahO WV " eSAA oA~e
reaches us tonight" she said.
| "He could telegraph in such q oase,"
Irepiied Annie, shaking her head doubt
insly: Ky a.. Int Young gentlemen are not al
ways thoughtful in such matters. And
| then. too, he may wish to give you 1T
tie surprise by coming unexpectedly"
continued Mrs. Danforth.
"No: Ernest Is not 90 heartless as TO
keen me in suspense like this"
Still, Annie did comfort herself with
her mother's suggestion, and chung to
hone for the morrow; Du: it was hope
mingled with fears-not for her lovers
truth, but for his safety. =.
What was the explanation of Ernest
Woodford's absencey
lie had arrived in New York, and
while on his way to telegraph the joyful
! words. stExpect me tonight" he met an
lacuuaintance, neighbor OF Mr.. Dan
1orth,s. who welcomed him, with appa-
rent warmth and sincerity, to his native
land.
Ernest was profuse with questions re-
garding those he had left twelve months
before; but soon he asked the one ques-
ton that he had reserved few moments,
as children sometimes retain a choice
"Is Annie Danforth well, and as beau-
tiful as ever?"
sThe reply to this shook his manly frame,
as a small barque is shaken by giant
wave.
to marry Ed Winsor next month, ! am
informed" said the false friend, Hugh
Daniels.
liep, Ernest exclaimed, in an excited
q nil nnufnrth 1lDf bp
false to mew
He seized the man by the throat, and
would have hurled him to the ground /;
but Daniels was on his guard, and cried
out, piteously:
I have to say-then do as you WILL"
Ernest released him-then listened
eagerly as Daniels proceeded: -
II expected this, Ernest, and have
come from Glenville to prevent your 60
ing there, TO learn the deception of those
@ vnn nave trusted. I dreaded the effect,
and wished to warn you in time. No
woman in this world is worth your lie,
Ernest, and if you had heard this news
in GIenyile, instead Of in New York, 1t
might have resulted in bloodshed. |
nave proofs of what state, and II, after
you have examined them, you still doubt
me, and believe Annie true, have moth
ing more to say in opposition to any
course you may choose TO pursue"
Daniels manner indicated a friendly
spirit. He produced letters (cunningly
forged for the occasion), and other evil
dence calculated to force belief in the
falsehood ne uttered, until Ernest, over
come by the weight of unanswerable tes.
timony, was convinced that he had been
duped by Annie, and resolved to fly from
J the spot he had, few hours before, pic.
: tured in his mind as little Eden, where
one almost angelic awaited his coming
with happy thoughts.
The Intercepted telegram was torn
J into tiny bits, and that very day he took
Westward-bound train,, little caring
whittier it should bear him, SO that il
was very far from her he had so fondly
/ trusted. but who had proved tickle and
false, he now believed.
Hugh Daniels saw Ernest started on
his westward way, then turned with q
self-satistied smile, muttering:
I SNOW my way is clear. 1t was 9
bold maneuvre, butt one Of the party has
been disposed of, and.my diplomacy car
not fail In time to convert the other te
| believe in and love me. Love or not, An
ME Danforth must marry me, for / have
much at stake, and this is the only re-
Two days later report was circulated
lin Glenyllle that Ernest Woodford was
among the number who had perished by
a terrible railroad disaster, that filled the
country with horror.
Poor Annie! The announcement was
almost enough to unseat reason from its
throne, and plunge her to the depths Of
despair.
| She had watched and waited until
Il every nerve, tensely strung, thrilled al
the approach of footsteps, and with the
terrible news came reaction, and the
chills and fires of fever, with delirium
| and unconsciousness.
i For weeks she lay as one suspended
between time and eternity by the
strength of a hair. Then came the crisis
and she rallied, to wish-when the Truth
was recollected-that death had kindly
spared her this unwelcome recovery.
| AT this time, with professions of deep
isympathy, and with attentive kindness
which would WIN the confidence Of any
unsuspecting nature - came Hugh
+ Daniels.
| Now was his opportunity. Very deli
cately he approached the object of his
scheming-very tenderly be offered SER
vices that VI ould not be rejected.
4 More experienced persons than Annie
might have been deceived by such
studied, gilded craft.
MIS-. DhulOTLu uau uuDOuHuSu COnu-
denoe in Mr.. Daniels, and her influence
lover her. daughter was quite perceptible.
When Hugh thought his plans sufi-
Iciently mature for q proposal, he very
modestly asked Annie to become his
lWife.
"You have been very kind to me, but
1yhaye no heart TO give you. l can not
llbve again." she answered.
His heart must have been hard as
lstone, who could look unmoyed upon the
wreck made by his own talsehood, and
llislen to the trembling voice as it spoke
to him OF kindness.
| II do not ask that you give me love in
return for mine, but only that you share
|my home, and let me by word and act
leXpress my love for you."
i Annie cared but little for that portion
Iof life remaining, until she should meet
lher true lover i'll a brighter world, where
There wsaAd be no pain nor parting; but
she would not that day promise to
marry. ..'s.
Nevertheless, Hugh regarded her ac-
lceptance as only q matter of time; he
Unjust make y as little lime as possible.