The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-16
MADGE BARRELS SECRET.


hanging round the better part OF the afternoon. He
came in after n while aud asked what time Mr.. Aren't
| bald would be in and when told him mr. Archibald
didn't come his brothers. ONCE oftener than once
In months, and hadn't been heard Of st home for
three he said was wel-traiued liar, but 10 wouldn't
20 down with him The mans . little crazy should
| think"
II should think he must be; and what time was
this %
sHe was about the place within an hour ago."
Ivory we'll " and with gesture Maurice dismissed
him.
crowds OF workmen, with their dinner pals and
baskets, were streaming n.y. The strains Of Colts
band came IN the window, playing the "hcart
Bowed Down. and certainly Maurice looked very
mu,h bowed down. Tho man was perplexcd More
than that, he was alarmed at catastrophe which
seemed inevitable.
Even as he pondcred there slight noise at the
further end OF the pile OF boxes, to be ship
ped The ensuing day, above the top OF the railing
encircng enclosure, behind which sut the several
clerks employed by Maurice billiard in his spcca! de-
partmcnt. OF Colts pistol manuiactory.
lnstinctivcly the the window felt thrill Of
certainty that he was tho only occupant Of the
room, and perhaps surprise mingled with tho dis
comfort and annoyance the appearance from behind
those boxes OF elderly inoonsivc looking man oc.
casioned the proprietor OF tho place.
AS the man came forward from behind tho boxes
whore he had been concealed for several hours Maui
rice the nrst to speak
swell, what do sou propose TO accomplish by this
new mode Of procedures Had You waited for mo /.
should havo come TO you"
s'How would you have Gomez" hissed the old man
and now Maurice noticed that the face set
with sort OF despair that his lips trcmblcd and an
unusual light burned In the sunken eyes
SHOW would you have como. Honorable, do you
dare 10 say? prepared to right tho wrong you have
wrought mo and mincs"
"Mr. Langdon. be patient, will your" intcrposed
Maurice IN o conciiiatory tone .You have always
knowD-"
"N.vcr what do to-day" hoarssiy broke in the old
man. "Ncver Till to-day have known that the man
the scoundrcl who stole into my home and bighted
tho hfe OF my poor girl-was the rich, respected,
reputable Mr.. Maurice HIlliard-not his younger
egade brother"
1t was useless 10 stem the tide OF tho old mans
cited vohcmoncc Maurice made feeble effort. The
desperate father would not hear.
..As the poor, exiled OF rich man." he went
on s'you entered my humble homo and was madc
welcome. You hypocritel you impostor! you black
hearted villainl"
"Aush for Gods sake, hush, say!" pleaded Maui
rice. ~ am Wiling"
.'wins TO marry my poor girl, my poor Nell-to
father your unborn child, that lies to-day under the
heaviest heart that ever beat?"
s'well, no-no-," stammered the cornered man.
$40! knew thatl knew that!' repeated the old
farmer. ~ knew That NO hopc lay that way tor my
child when sought her wrongcr in Hartford this day
and learned that the rich and powerful Maurice-not
the vagabond Archibald--was the Hilard whose acts
had brought mo TO shame and disgrace. Why, man,
camo In from my place to-day TO ind in you the poor
fellow you have represented yourself being-to tell
you had sold the Red Wing Farm, and to offer you
that money you and Nell to far away and settle
and DO happy"
Maurice had nothing to say. Some way the broken
hearted crushed old father seemed to his mpu-
dence, unanswefabo
.sRut don't think" ana the farmers voice rose In
his wrathful excitement "donr think shall quietly
sit down and see my girls lite blighted-"
The natural aggressveness OF Maurice billiards.
character could longer brook the meckness he had
thus lar assumed he turned haughtily upon the man
he had wroDged.
$500 here, Langdonv-te flung the words at him In.
solenty-..l am gentleman ,Ircady to do what's right
II you have sold the farm, much tho better Take
Ncll-takc your daughter, and IN some strange place
this i,tlo affair won't amount TO anything"
Perhaps nothing Huard could have said would have
so exasperaed Myron Langdon
..You villain" he shouted, "you insult the man
you have so iouly injured-you-you-"
.'hcre, my man, you forget TO whom you speak
ing; you must not address such language to mo-"
Langdon fairly frothcd at the mouth.
II will publish you far and wdc-my girls shame
has branded mo, and don't what becomes Of
me-"
s.l'm glad you DON'T" sneored Hilliard," for will
find way dispose OF you"
1t vas dle Gaming threat but 1t added to tho
fury Of the nccnsed farmer. No match he for the
younger man, but, blind with rage and shame, old
| man sprang upon Maurice billiard Totally unpis
pared Tor personal violence. that worthy for an in
| slant was staggered. Then, finding he bad TO deal
| with maniac, each instant growing stronger ex
| element nervcd his arm, Maurice struggled with the
| Infatuated farmer. IL all be could do 10
| detach tho hardbent fingers from hts throat
| aud Hilliard was purple In the face when he
| freed himself During this melse the bazo
door was flung noiseessy open, and fair blonde girl
with amaz took tho This Catherine
| Kicron the Russian woman who had left homo and
friends for her American lover. She the head
OF cartridge shop, and overlooked well the work
OF of tho girls who made fancy caskcis to
pairs Of presentation pistols Catherine had been
ploycd in Russia the same capacity by Colonel Cot
who Tor many years mad extensive armory st.
Petersburg.
II was not an unusual thing for Catherine, after
hours to seek tho society OF Maurice on some slight
pretext and tonight she took unmportant mattor
| OF business excuse, and thus nolsecssly en-
tered 10 become witness OF the exciting encounter
between her lover and old Lnngdon
Breathlcssly she stood upon tho Threshold; she
saw Maurice struggle to irce bimsef him succeed
aud draw himself up defensive attitude. Saw tho
| old dash at him with the fury Of mad man
with dating eyes her lover seize casting steel OF
some Bit OF machinery offered for approval Quick us
lightning the heavy fragment described q semcirclc
ana struck tho a crushing blow his temple.
| Tho cncct OF that blow brought Hillisrd to ms
scuscs A shrek rang through tho room, and, 10 his
| horror, Maurice turned and saw Catherine.
IL was but a breath OF time Gro another shrek
could leave parted lips, he had her by the and