Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-26

|
to see old Caihtness again. What song
was that May used to sing about there
being no place like home? Neither Is
there. And how is May-oless her
heari! Older, Of course; and pretty,
[ will swear
well, all the change you viii find in
her, Jack, is for the better; and l have
one piece of news that will surprise
! you, perhaps, but / think will leave
1t for May herself TO tell, or your own
eyes to read
| WHY did John Westmacott start and
grow anxiously nervous Tor that news
aad no oihGr?'
/ NAY, DOCTOR he eremarked, 'remem-
ber how long have been away, and
| don't tautalize me. What Is II? Does
| ii concern-ceRcern May?
Yes, Jack. She Is engaged to De
married.
| Jonn Westmacott gripped the reins
80 sharply that the horse reared. IL
yave excuse for his temporary silence;
then rather huskily came the interro-
cation: @
K sTe whom, DOCTOR rs
| Your friend, Thomas Mildmsy.' =
| NV friendp muttersd the ex pupil
between his teeth; 'curse hin9 Then
aloud: 'Haw long has she been enga-
! ged, Doctor"
Only since you have been on your
| voyage home, dear boy, or she would
nave written to tell you. You Will
have to wish her joy
Il do, and'-but this under bis breath
-.hini, He has robbed me OF her..
| II WAS so. John Westmacott had
come back to the home of his chill
| mood, the love of his youth. In those
days he had termed her his little wlie;
iaug ghingly she had accepted the title.
In nothing had he been more serious.
During ali his al sence, while h2htlng
| ;Or the fortune he had realized, amid
care and trouble, one idea bad upheld
| him-the returning to England and
marrying May Westleigb. lie had
| never doubted but she knew OF recip-
rocated his affection. He had come
back to find bis happiness scattered TO
| the winds. go
How he went through the evening
that ensued, he never knew. HOW ne
calmly kissed the cneek OF May IN all
innocence presented 10 her 'Drotner;;
how quietly he listened to the story of
the holly bough; and how ne LOOK
Thomas Mildmay's hand, was mys.
terry he never unraveled. All seemed
the acts of another person, not hiInseii.
Once when he found himself unexpect-
edly alone with May, just before leav-
ing, did he lose his self control. Fling.
ing out his hands toward her, he cried
bitterly:
May, why have you thus deceived
| me? You knew / loved you. Why
did you not warn me of this? Why
let me return to be so cruelty disap-
pointed? Why of all men did you So
Iect Thomas Mildmay, who knew my
secret? He is crafty coward to have
won you from me; but, by Heavens, he
shall rue his treacbery.
Jack! exclaimed the girl, pale and
alarmed; what do you mean? .1
That 1 love you, May; have always
loved you-Elust love you to my dying
hour .-r ..
Before she had OWNED his intent, he
had taken her in his arms, pressing q
Kiss on her forehead; then he had gone,
and the girl full of grief, dropped
weeping on q chair. A voice aroused
her. Looking up, she beheld Thomas
Mildmay by her side. His face was
very white, his brows contracted, his
| lips compressed
May he said hoarsely, Il have
| heard every word. l was yonder,
pointing to The conservatory. What
! is all this? What does he mean by
your deceiving him.?
| Tom, know no more than you; un.
less he has taken a childish joke in Sc
| robustness. Papa shall set him right.
No: he has called me coward, ac-
| cused me of worse. The task must be
nine. and the explanation and the
apology must be made to night
| He moved away. She tried TO stay
I aim. bur for once he was deaf to her
voice. The outer doUr banged, and
striding overth snow, Thomas Mild
may followed John Westmacott, VINO
with persistency for which an old tu-
| ter could not account, refused beu al
the rect0ry, and had started to the VII
Ihge. 49,
4 The snow had ceased, but tempest
had arisen, the leafiless trees seemed
like wands before IL, and the waves
were heard breaking in bursts like
| thunder upon the shore not mile dis
tant. The sky was clear and drear, on
! ly the earth was white. A mountain
stream, which, when the rains or SHOWS
CD anne, swelled into the dimensions OF
a river, intercepted the road leadiug
from the rectory to the village, and on
this night it rushed and eddied In
| whirling foam between its banks and
the sea. Spanning its food was a rus.
tic bridge, about which grew few tirs
and larches:
1t was here that Thomas Mildmay
| overlook John WestmacOtt. Whal
passed between them we need not ni.
nutely recount. 1t was accusation and
refutation first, sspeedily followed by
angry words, blended with thrests
Then there was blow, q sharp, shori
struggle, and one man quilted the
spot, while the other laid on the riv'
er's bank, with his face on the snow
motionless and still-by his side .
spray Of the holly branch May West
leigh that morning had gathered.
/ CHAPTER III.
Not proven. That was the verdict.
John Westmacott, there was goo,
reason to believe that he was murder
ed, and by Thomas Mildmay. The
two young men had quilted the recto-
ry together, each bound for the village
Only one, however, Thomas Mildmay
rad arrived at the inn, his clothes il
disorder, his manner agitated, hi
shirt front blood-stained. The mex
; morning John Westmac0tt was miss
ing.
Seach was made, and net only indi
cations of a sevres struggle were dis
covered on the left bank of the river
but also the impress Of man bod,
in the snow, and sprig Of holly,
gold seal, and cane, all Of which wer
John Westmacott's property. But tn
!, body OF John Westmacott was absent
: On being arrested, Thomas Miidma
. confessed that he and John Westms
I colt had fought by the bridge-upo
n what matter he refused to state. Bt
y he declared the impress on the snow
,. was his own; that he bad been struc
Y down insensible by his opponent; tha