The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-01-15


asked.
:" / once knew her." the man said
"it was when she was the reputed wife
of RALPH Marsden."
''Was she really his wlfepr
But the fellow suddenly became reti-
cent.
81 guess I've said enough" he re-
marked, and refused to give any further
information.
" Poor girl |" exclaimed the old man,
bending over her. Her life has been
heavily burdened with care and misery;
but death, more merciful than man, has
at last given her rest"
Twenty minutes before the appointed
time, Walter Gilmore reached Pier.
East River. But, early as he was, u
man had, for half an hour previous to
his arrival, been impatiently pacing the
wharf. This individuals face was muf-
fled in such n way as to almost entirely
conceal his features. But the night air
was cold and biting, which might have
accounted for this. AS Walter approach
ed, this man advanced towards him, and
nsked care you Mr.. Elmofey"
81 am" Walter replied. "And you
are the person who sent me the note,
requesting me TO meet you here to-
night 7"
" Yes"
Your note gave me to understand
that you possess secret of importance
regarding my parentage."
at is true that possess such Sc
cret."
"And you will impart 1t to me-" Wal
ter said, his voice trembling with emo
tion.
will. | have II boat here; enter IL
with me. We will row to the Long
Island shore. When there, you shall
know it,"
A sudden suspicion of treachery en-
tered Walters mind.
Why can you not tell me here 2" he
asked.
g. For reasons satisfactory to myself"
the stranger replied coldly. at is i'm
material to me whether you go or stay.
You are the one to be benefited, not l. :"
But" Walter persisted, ''of what
advantage will it be to me to go to Long
Island with youp'
"By doing so you will meet your
parents"
"Can this be true ?" Walter exclaim-
ed
g If you doubt my word you need not
accompany me; but it is true that on
the opposite shore your parents await
you"
Enough ~ cried the young man, 1" /
will accompany you"
g Here is the boat"
Walter entered the boat. The stranger
unfastened the painter, seized the oars,
and pulled out into the stream. The
night was unusually dark, the sky be-
ing overcast and Walter could scarcely
see his companion, the mans dark form
being so closely identified with the
gloom surrounding it. Walter sat ST.
lently and impatiently waiting her arri-
val at their destination, when suddenly
the regular FLASHING of the oars ceased,
and crushing blow descended upon his
head, not however, depriving him of his
senses. He sprang to his feet, his COM
panion doing the same, and in an in
stant the two men were engaged in a
terrible struggle.
Ha J" Walter exclaimed, tearing the
mufiler from the mans face " Major
Heith ~
At that instant the man having sue
ceeded in disengaging one hand, dealt
Elmore blow on the head with the
butt of pistol. With low moan the
young man sank to the bottom of the
boat. Major Heith lifted him in his
arms and threw him as far as possible
from the boat into the dark waters
Then, seizing the oars, he rowed with
fierce energy in the direction of the
New York shore.
On this same evening, shortly aftel
eight o'clock, Mrs. Clayton appeared a
DIR. Oakley's office, as she had agreed to
Good evening, madam" the doctor
said, politely. 81 expect carriage a
the door every moment; it should hav'
been here before"
g If we should be too late - the wo
man exclaimed.
Compose yourself, madam, there il
no occasion for such agitation"
- Doctor Oakley ~ cried Mrs CLAW