The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-10-24

both surprised and dellghted to receive
his consent to their union.
SIN a years time, if you still like
each other well enough" said the grim
old man, you shall, marry, and I'll set
| you up in business"
1t was a Joy to live months after the
promise, but misfortune was in store for
all, and Ralph Peaton had to go through
much suffering before he received the
prize.
One Sunday evening, as old Marble
head, in company with his niece and
Ralph, was going to his particular place
of worship, an Unlocking stranger, shab-
billy attired, tlavel-weary and travel.
stained, met him face to face, and
claimed his acquaintance with q mock
demonstration of respect and pleasure
Ike Marblehead, pale as death and
| shaking if in an ague-ft, bade his niece
and Ralph proceed to the chapel, and
turned into his house, followed by the
stranger.
"Yeu don't look as well as you were,
Tom Brady" said the stranger seating
himself before the stove. "By che way,
what name do you go under now Turned
honest in your old age, eh 2"
The old man glared at him like wild
beast at bay.
"Don't play with me, Mike" he said,
hoarsely. You know me of old. am
dangerous, man."
"Cool down" returned Mike, crossing
Straight str sfs in the theeyes. afm not hereto here to
play with you. You've given me the
Slip for six years, and, to judge from
pered. 1 haven't. Pm pretty nearly
played out, and must ask you to put me
on my legs again. First of all, give me
something to eat"
Marblehead placed some meat and
bread on the table, and waited silently
until his unwelcome visitors appetite
was satisfied.
"That young lady was very like an old
acquaintance of mine," said Mike at
last throwing himself back in his chair.
Old Marblehead shuddered, and hid
his face with his hands.
"Just like Jack Geary," continued
Mike, musingly. "As fine a fellow as
ever breathed was Jack, but a little too
fond of knocking about the world. I
| first met him in Mexico, sixteen years
ago, where he went gold hunting with a
| friend of mine, called Tom Brady. Three
weeks after, riding from San Antonio de
Bexar, found Jack Geary, dead and
doubled up, lying alongside the track,
| and Tom Brady's knife was up to the
hilt in his heart"
| Old Morhlahaad oroaned
"Pye got that knife now," resumed
Mike, drawing it from his pocket, and
passing his thumb over the edge. ''This
is the second time / have shown it to
Tom Brady"
Marblehead jumped up with an oath,
but Mike was on his legs as soon as he,
and held the marderous weapon men-
acingly.
i" Be reasonable, said the visitor, as
soon as his host sat down, and don't
try to run away from me again. l don't
think any the worse of you for giving
Jack Geary his quietus, and since you've
| taken such. care of his daughter can't
see why his ghost should haunt you as it
seems to do. I'll settle down here, be-
come a partner in your concern, and
marry your charming protege. Hand
down the brandy, old one, and let's
make night of it."
When Alice and Ralph returned from
service, Mike was introduced to them as
Mr.. Theophilus Broughton, an Irish
gentleman, not long in the country.
Mr.. Theophilus Broughton soon cut
la figure in Pittsburg. He exchanged
his shabby clothes for others of fashion,
able cut and excellent quality, placed a
gold watch in his fob, put on clean
linen, and appeared to be a gentleman
of forty or something under, well-man-
nered and well-educated. Henceforth
Marblehead's business was advertised as
conducted by Marblehead & Broughton,
and people wondered why the old man
! took partner at all.
Very soon Ralph Peaton found that
everything, save Alice, was changed.
Ike Marblehead commenced to drink
deeply, neglect his business, and avoid
| the society of his clerk, who instinctiyely
discovered in Mr.. Theophilus Broughton
a bad, bold man and an enemy. That
gentleman proved to be an excellent
| man of business, and under his manage
ment the store become so profitable that
Marblehead, recovering his confidence,
and feeling convinced that Broughton
for his own sake would not betray him,
became reconciled to, the possessor OF
his terrible secret, left off drinking
aud thought alone of money-making.
The year expired, and Ralph de
manded the fulfllment of Marblehead':
promise, but he was put off for another
six months, and the embarrassed man
ner of the old man made him fear thai
there was some underhand work goine
on.
Broughton wished to discharge the
clerk at once, but Marblehead would no
permit him to carry out his wishes fo
some time.
i The lads done no harm," he said
/ "let him stay"
But Broughton was not to be thwarted
One fine morning Ralph found a not,
on his desk, telling him that the firm O
Marblehead & Br0ughton had no fur
ther need of his services, and that an,
engagement existing between him ant
Alice was thereby rendered null ant
void. Angry and wild with despair, a
you may judge he was, Ralph taxec
Broughton with malice and treachery
and asked tos ssee old Marblehead, AM
, was finally tumbled headlong out of tn
! store after spelling Mr.. Broughton's face
and breaking things generally.
, Alice, ignorant of all this, was KEEP
carefully out of the way until nightfal
! when, receiving letter from Marble
c head, who stated that he was awaitin
t her in -, a town not far from Pitt
t burg, she got into sleigh, and wa
r driven off by Theophilus, who showe
t considerable familiarity with the ril
Y bons. 1t was bright, cold night in th
o commencement of winter, and Alic
n warm within and warm without, enjoye
n the ride greatly at first. Just as tt
J sleigh reached the outskirts of Pitt
e burg, then an insignificant town, an
t the foot of the old bridge, which, raise
It on wooden piers, once upon tin
g spanned the Allegheny River, ma
n sprang to the sidewalk, and called ou
in tones of agony, "Alicel Alicew