Connecticut western news., 1878-01-17
VOL. VII.
the bitter tears of outraged love drop

the bitter tears of outraged love drop ping from her eyes.
 "Silly child!" said John. "How her face lighted up when she thought I vas going to fondle her It is not to my credit to have moping, melancholy daughter; and vt would be to my credit to have daughter brilliant and gay as she would be if made fuss over her"
 Even his child-and she was a good and most lovable child-could not draw this mans mind away from himself.
 "Yes, yes," he said, cit will add to my comfort and my credit to treat them differently. This is New Years Eve, and will turn over new leaf"
 "Any of these old ones will answer the purpose"
 John Hathaway started as he heard the words, and looked quickly around. This voice was not the voice of any of the ghosts that had been haunting him. Remorse might have spoken those words, and in that tone, but remorse had never troubled him. Yet, although he could not recognize it, the voice had familiar sound.
 The light shed by the little silver lamp tempered the gloom of the place, and John Hathaway leaned forward and peered into the alcoves and corners. He could see nothing that was not familiar He chilled for second as the wavering flame of the lamp threw the heightened shadow of the statuette toward him, but in an instant he had recognized the gro- tesque thing and laughed nervously.
 His laugh was repeated by the same voice that had spoken and now the voice was so like his own that for mo- ment John thought it was only an echo. The library was so unused to voices that its acoustic properties had never been tested. It was not an echo, however, for the voice went on:
 "There is no use turning over any new leaves, John Hathaway; as I said before, any of these old ones will answer the purpose"
 John looked for the speaker close be- side himself, where he ought to have looked in the first place, and saw stand ing there a quiet, conservative-loo looking gentleman, who might be the President of savings bank, the Trustee of large estate, or the director of a Life Insurance Company, for all his appearance showed to the contrary. The gentleman stood by the table, with one hand resting there on, and the other holding somewhat large roll of paper, and his whole de- meanor was courteously business like.
 John Hathaway arose from the chair and stood before his guest.
 "Do you wish to see me, sir Pardon me if I do not recognize you," said John with some deference. His tone and man ner toward this stranger were very diff ferent to those he had used toward his wife and daughter.
 "It is very strange you do not know me, said the visitor. "We have had dealings together every day since your business life commenced.
 John looked at him steadily for mo- ment. "Ah, I recognize you now," he said. Pray, be seated. Does business bring you here ?" He spoke with some enthusiasm, for the prospect of business, even with this Presence, was the pros- pect of pleasant change.
 The stranger seated himself by tie table, pushed away the articles thereon, so as to leave clear space in front of himself, laid his roll of papers in the space thus made, turned in hls chair, so as to face his host, and put one leg over the other in a comfortable way, as if settled for prolonged conference.
 "Yes," he said, in answer to the ques- ton asked him, "I have called on busi- ness. This is the end of the quarter, and I have come for settlement of my account"
 "I-I don't understand you. I have no outstanding accounts" said John.
 "Pardon me, You have this one. Il was opened twenty-five years ago to- night. As I said, this is the end of the quarter. like system and promptnest in my settlements.
 "Twenty-fve years ago? This is all { mystery to me-" said John.
 "Perhaps the mention of your wife will refresh your memory. By the way I was here and heard the conversation you had with her aHd your daughter thi, evening. was much pleased with you words and your manner, as showing tha you were still faithful to the agreemen made with me twenty-five years ago..
 "You will excuse me from discussins my wife end daughter wath you,'' Jeh1 answered, somewhat tartly. "They hay, nothing to do with this matter"
 Everything, responded the visitor "On the night I speak of, you formed fixed and relentless resolve to win an, marry the woman who is now your wife.
 Well?"
 "The resolve was not prompted b, love, for in the fulfllment of it you de serted and thereby murdered the gir whom you loved and who loved you." John Hathaway made an impatien gesture, as if to check the recital, but tn other imperiously motioned him to si lence, and proceeded.
 "The girl you deserted was poor. Tn girl you chose was rich, and you wante her money, not herself, for you had de cided to get wealthy, at whatever sacr5 ? fee, and to make the getting of it you 2 one aim and ambition. Before that yo
 had worked for it conscientiously an unsucoessfu1ly, but on that night, jus twenty-five years ago, you turned over
 new leaf, and bade conscience and 1t