The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-12-11
THAT WOMAN'S SECRET.
CONTINUED.

Il n
pudent familiarity, which inspired her
with a repugnance for him which she
never afterwards conquered.
AS soon as possible after the occur
renee, Edward Bentley managed to OBJ
tain speech aside with the major.
"That action must never be repeated,
sir" he said, fiercely.
" My dear boy,'' deprecatingly, "what
action ?"
Man, you know what l mean. Do
not trihe with me. l have acquiesced in
all your demands hitherto, but if you
ever again attempt such odious familiar
ity with my daughter, SHALL forgetting
ALL bid you defiance, and eject you like n
dog from the house."
"Well, my dear boy, your wish is my
law, of course" said the major.
g Promise me you will never repeat
that insult
There was a light in the bankers eyes
that warned Major Heith that it would
be dangerous to triHe with him on this
subject, and so he said
6 Mr.. Bentley, If you wish it, of
course promise"
No more was said on this subject
Heith was surprised and Disconnected
He saw that he might go too far, that
his power was not absolutely unlimited,
and by his future conduct he showed
that he had profited by the lesson.
After few minutes had elapsed, the
major again addressed Mr.. Bentley,
saying:
g My dear boy, there is one subject of
which l must speak. You know
young man, an author, or something of
the kind, 1 think, named Walter FL
more ?n
. do"
have discovered that he loves your
daughter. Have you any reason for
believing that she cares for him.
"No," replied the banker, 6 though
have suspected that he entertained an
affection for her, and have encouraged
their acquaintance"
The major frowned.
Bentley" he said, "this must be
stopped at once. If Gilmore proposes for
your daughters hand, you will at once
give him a perepptory refusal"
" Sir" exclaimed the banker, will
nothing content you but this marriage
of your son and my daughter? Will
you not relinquish the plan? Name
any sum within my control, and it is
yours, if you will but leave me and mine
forever. Will you do as l ask ?"
"My dear Bentley" replied the
major, " l will not. Nothing on earth
shall make me relinquish this project
Your daughter must marry Rodney, and
no other. And why not ? He will
make her good husband, and you a
dutiful son-in-law, have no doubt. Let
US hear no more of this Gilmore. If it
should, unfortunately, appear that your
daughter imagines herself in love with
him means must be found to disenchant
her, and if this young author is per-
sstent, l will find way to silence
him."
X
Late in the afternoon the major left
his new home, and proceeded down town
until he arrived at East Broadway, into
which thoroughfare he turned.
Walking slowly along, he scanned the
houses on either side, muttering:
No wonder, after all these years and
all have endured, that memory fails to
serve me. I am sure the house was in this
immediate vicinity. All! here it is,
now"
And he rapidly ascended the steps of a
dingy, two story brick building, on the
door of which was plate, bearing the
name Van Dyke"
Everything is as it was, y soliloquized
the major. I recollect it all, now
The name on the door is the same, so 1
suppose the woman still lives"
His ring was answered by slatternly-
looking girl, of whom he asked
sis Mrs. Van Dyke in 2"
She replied by flinging open the par
lor door, and motioning him to enter,
which he did, seating himself upon the
sofa.
The girl Immediately disappeared. A
few minutes later, an elderly woman en-
tered the room. She was most unpre-
possessing in appearance, tall and very
thin, with face which plainly indi-
Gated hard and cruel nature.
You asked to see me, sir" she