The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-10-26

her it was not wronging her father to
know something OF the outside world,
which evidently he had once enjoyed,
but it would be foolish to tell him, and
allow him to worry over imaginary evils.
Poor child, she was blinded by his
sophistry, but it was very hard to keep
the secret to herself, she who never had
a thought apart from her parents be-
fore
That was the beginning of the stolen
visits. Every time that the hermit left
home Guy Haughton was there, and ev-
cry visit but more securely threw spell
over the maiden of the wood She grew
more silent, her beautiful voice was heard
less frequently, and her voice did not
awake an echo as of yore, her secret was
burning in her breast, robbing her of
her peace and happiness.
With each visit Guy became more
impetuous lover.
''I love you," he whispered, 'sI am
miserable for fear your father intends
to bestow you on some one else in fu-
ture. Come with me, just one hour, and
we will be married. I will bring you
back here. YoIr father will never know
it, and we will both be happier in the
knowledge that ve are bound by a tie
which no human being can break.
But his pleadings were in vain. Aida
would not be coa1ed away to so far for
get her parent as that. She stood and
trembled on the verge Of tho pxecipice,
to whieh she had been led by false
tongue.
That night she hermit retired earlier
than usual, and Aida retired to her OWL
couch. In the morning she nrose early
and prepared their breakfast, but he
came not forth. She stepped to his
door.
"Father," she cried, 'sfather," but no
answer was returned. A terrible fear
stole into her heart, and underlined hor-
ror, and she neared his bed. He was
lying stiff and cold-dead She had
never seen death, save that Of some pet
bird, but now she realized what that
story meant.
"Dead" shc shrieked wildly, ssdead!"
For moment she stood in alright, and
turning, she fed like wild creature
from the hut, out into the path which
led out Of the labyrinth.
81 will go to Guy" she murmured
che will know what to do"
On like the wind she fled, although
her limbs were trembling beneath her.
The way was long, the path prickly, and
her clothes were torn, her fingers and
arms scratched and bleeding. AS she
made her appearance in the village,
some boys, taking her for mad woman
shouted after her T; others caught up the
refrain strange dogs began to bark, and
midst it all carriage came rolling by.
She looked, and In it saw Guy Haugh-
ton, her Guy, seated beside woman
robed in white, with orange flowers on
her head
She stretched out her hands with
wild cry, but he needed her not. Her
last hope was whirled by, darkness
came around her, the horrible noise of
the frightful boys overcame her, and she
fell to the ground.
When she awoke to consciousness, she
found herself lying in strange place,
and strange face bending over her, a
kind face, fatherly one.
care you better p he asked.
'I am,' she replied, sitting up erect.
''Who are you-you are not Guy Haugh-
ton 2"
sNo," he responded; "Mr. Haughton
has just been married, and gone away
with his wife"
Married !' the word fell from her
lips, and the scene of the day before,
when he pleaded SO eloquently for her
to become his bride, arose uncalled for
before her eyes. Then she remembered
her father.
''My father is dead" she cried, sharp
"; ''dead and alone while am here.
Let me go to him.
''Where is he s'' the stranger asked.
cat the Tangle," was the response.
''The Tangle-I do not know whore it
is, he replied. ''But I will inquire of
Lawyer Chillicothe-he will know"
"And you will come %
''I will"
He poured some wine down her
throat, and then left her while he went
into the lawyers Office. Chillicothe was
the Haughtonville lawyer, and knew all
about the Tangle. He was greatly sur
p1ised.
''And his daughter?" he asked.
cts in my room"
"We viii take her with us. I know
the hermit. I have papers for her left
in my care. Poor fellow poor fellow"
Back to the Tangle they took Aida in
a close carriage, and saw to all the de-
tails of the coming funeral. The hermit
was laid away in little corner of the
Haughtonville graveyard, and then the
stranger insisted on Aida returning with
him.
''I am Herr Meyer" he said, ga mu-
sician. do not live here. composed
wedding march for Guy Haughton's
marriage, and shall leave mere to-mor-
row. Come with me. have one son
my only child; he will be glad of a
sister"
Aida listened.