The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-09-21

fOndly hoped, disinherit and utterly
confound his SO long successful rival.
One of these venomous missives
found Maude Chesterton in her pretty
boudoir, trifiing with some embroidery
and dreaming sweet dreams of her
love and Fred HOlman's sweet devO-
ton.
She was handsome, dignified girl
of nineteen. full of all womanly sweet
ness, unspoiled by her great wealth.
She loved Fred Holman with the
whole strength of her young heart,
and she was sure that her love was re-
turned. With the divine intuition of
true love she knew that if she were
beggared or deformed Fred would love
her still the same.
Not for her money had he sought her
for his wife, not even to please his
uncle. He loved her. e.at z
The dainty work, under the slender
fingers, progressed but slowly, as
Maude laid back in her deep armchair,
looking into the glowing CRATE fire,
and building castles of future happi-
ness.
From this tender revery she was
aroused by a servant, who handed her
squarely folded letter, awkwardly
addressed, and fastened with wafer.
Wondering who her unknown cores
pondent could be, she opened the paper.
The same struggling hand inside met
her eyes. Only few lines were writ
ten: 4..-.-. .-al
"If you would have proof of the
falsehood of one you believe true, go at
eight o'clock this evening to number
2S, Ralph street, and you will find Mr..
Frederick Holman and his wife,"
anonymous IN the proud girl said,
her lips curling and her eyes flashing.
"The liar :" at
She threw the note upon the Goals as
she spoke, and watched the flames
curl and blacken the paper till it
flashed out of sight up the chimney.
Then, with all the color stricken from
her face, she took up her embroidery.
Had Harvey watched her then he
would have thought that poisoned ar
row had missed it's aim.
But it was not 80. The work was
thrown aside, the piano rang out under
the restless fingers, a novel was opened
a room was put in order, but while the
calm face betrayed no secret suffering
the girl was tortured all day by the
words of the anonymous note:
Frederick Holman and his wife.''
Could it be? Had the frank, brown
eyes that had looked so lovingly into
hers, mirrored only a false heart? Was
she, indeed, SO far deceived? i'i
Long before eight O'clock Maude
Chesterton had resolved to prove or
falsify the words that seemed burned
upon her brain.
Surely of all the world she had the
best right to test the truth of such a
monstrous charge against her betrothed
lover.
And while she was striving to hide
from any eyes the tortures she endured
James Rutherford was stOrming up
and down his library, holding the Sec
ond of Harvey Frothingham's letters
in his hand.
In the same awkward handwriting
the same facts We're stated, the same
hour and place to verify the writers
words. 1H3 5af
But the peppery old bachelor made
no secret of his wrath. To have lis
tened to him one would have-suppOsed
that making mince meat of his diso-
bedient nephew was the least he in
tended. He called him all the pet
names suggested by furious rage; he
used up all the abusive adjectives in
the dictionary to describe Mr.. Fred
Holman. M
He exhausted every threat he could
devise; long before eight O'Clock he
had wrought himself up to rage that
was frightful to witness.
1t was with a chuckle of satisfaction
that Harvey rockingham, secretly
hidden in narrow courtway, watched
a tall, stately figure leave carriage at
the head of Ralph street, and walk to
the door OF No. 2S.
In the quiet of the street he heard
clear voice ask the servant who
opened the door,
''Does Mrs. Holman live here?"
Eyes, ma'am, second floor"
"Is her husband at home?"
ooh, yes, ma'am you'll find them
both there"
Then Maude Chesterton entered the
house Just as short, painting man
dashed up the steps, and not pausing
to make inquiry, entered also. sa
In the hallway Maude Chestertoi
turning, as rapid steps followed her
faced James Rutherford.
"You here" he said. ''You have
heard then of the trick this ungratefu
hound has played upon us",,
II have heard" she answered in s
cold voice, that your nephew's wifi
lives in this house. 1 wish to ascer
tain if it is true" ,..f.
1--WE will soon see, We will soor
see! Second floor. Here we are. Now
then" l#4,sa llis Z
And the old gentleman's raps PROVED
the excitement under which he wa
laboring.
A very pale, sweet woman opened
the door, her eyes showing that sh'
had been weeping very recently. s5il
"Does Mrs. Holman live here ?' th'
old gentleman asked. SO .,fsai ,buE
''rhat is my name, sir" has ~
"Can / see your husband ?'' .sts
The soft eyes, filled with deep trouble
were lifted. .....t,l
Us it OH business, sir::"
Every important business" was th'
rather dry response. ..- -u.sl
"Reca,ise the doctor said to-day IN
must not have any mental excitement
He is very much worse to-day, IL an
afraid he is dying" e.a'' '.- .t"--