Litchfield enquirer., 1878-01-03

a vile adveuturer She lived with him two years. She told me nothing of that time; but her shudder when she mentioned him was more eloquent than description. Then came a catastrophe He was leagued with noto- torious gang of forgers-ther head in fact. One day the law bounced upon them. He was condemned to fourteen yeBrs' penal servitude. Hwp 6ayx beforemy arrival at Blaekmere, Mir. CtiHofd had received from the prison author ities at Portsmouth the intelligence of his desth. -,-~-~,-... ,..-.-v
 4YHlsln nov understsnd why shunned you AN Buxton, ? slle said "I was then a felon's wife; am now felon's widow"
 She never once took her eyes of my face as she told this story. Mine were fixed upon the
 And did .y5u t6ink my love sso worthless that it could be chilled by knowing that you had suffered gthat you had been the victim of wicked people?" I asked, kissing her tender
 AWfIen he was arrested, '' she went on again laying her cheek against mine, ''my father pre- vailed upon me to take a VOW that 1 would never tell any person of my fatal marriage. It was on account of that he removed from Lon- don and came to live ln this out-of-the-way dreary nook"
 Strange that the news of the convict's death should come just two days before my arrival. Was this merely coincidence, or had the ra- ther-I dared not complete the sentence even in thought.
 Eh was chilly. There was heavy dew fal- ling, and I feared she would take cold. We rose, and slowly ascended the winding wood cd path that led toward the house. Just as we had got clear of the trees and turned into the bare road, fancied heard footsteps a sound So unusual at that hour that I looked sharply around. Across the pale moonlight saw the shadow of man glide into the copse we had just quilted. Bella saw it also and clutched
 .What was tl,ata', she whispered tinaidly. 2 The person, whoever he might be, had dis appeared So rapidly that could not form the slightest idea of his appearance. felt inclin- ed to follow him. but perceived she was ter rified, and desisted from doing so. There was something in the incident-I knew not what, probably it lay in the morbid excited state of my imagination gave me feeling of uneasiness. When retired to my bedroom it became stronger than ever. h. stead of going to bed sat at my open wind Ow.
 It was quite dark now. The moon had sunk; |; there was no light save the dim refec- ton of the clear starlit heavens, upon which sat gazing, until fell into a dreamy reverie. l was aroused by the sound of creeping foot steps in the road beneath. had put out my candle, as the wind had made it flicker and> gutter. l was sitting back half behind the
 
 below.
 The next moment there was knock at the dOOr-a peremptory, insolent knock. had left Mir. Clifford in the dining room drinking brandy and water, and now heard his voice in the passage demanding, 'Who is there ?"
 ''An right; let me in," was the answer from without
 There was a dead silence of some seconds Then heard the bolts windrawn. l looked out of the window, but could discern only dark form close against the door, which open cd at the same moment to admit it.
 What mystery was this? The story Bella had told me, the shadow across the moonlight, this strange visitor, formed a combination in my mind filling me with insupportable dread. To remain quiescent was impossible. open ed my door. I could hear the murmur of voices beneath. No longer master of myself l crept down the stairs and listened.
 Mrs. CiffOrdis chamber was at the back of the dining room. It was thence the sounds proceeded. I could hear the conversation quite plainly now ; and this is what heard: You'll give me up to the Police if 1 do not instantly quit the hOuse?" the stranger said ''YOu don't dare to do it. If l had peached on the trial, you'd be at Portsmouth yourself now. It wasn't for your sake didn't, but for poor Felrs" Are you not ashamed to mention that poor girls name 7" said the father. Not half as much as you ought to be-" re- toTted the stranger Perhaps if I had been | left to myself should have found enough con- science to have spared her but you, thinking | l was a rich man, forced her upon me. It was | the biter bit. Unfortunately you were not the 1 only victim. But come, Hs no use wasting time in talk. must have money. The pur- suit is hot and if Pm caught shall swing for killing the sentinel and if l am caught shall take gOod care that you don't get off this time s irafp pf a q Ols question to put to you. While I was turk ing about the roAd waiting for it to get little latter, saw Hsy scife coming up from the lake side in company with a man. He had his arm round her waist" There was a pause. Then Mrs. Clifforls sharp querulOus voice said. Why don't you tell him at once it is gen ileInen whom Isabel is going to be married to: It can't make any difference to him; he can never claim her" 50. So. my worthy pair, you are going to add to your other peccadillOes by little biga- my" cried the stranger But not with Bela's knowledge" interpos- ed Mr- Clifford quickly. ''I imposed upon her a b4ief of your death. Come, come, Walter, as Mrs Clifford says, you can never claim her; II cannot make any difference to you, and it will render her happy" What an internal rogue you are Clifford If deserve fourteen years, you deserve hang ing. We'll. be it so; you sold her to me, I'll sell her back to you but shall want a good seiff price" At the moment my attention was distracted from the dialogue by sound behind me. turned my head there was no light in the passage, but l could perceive a white object sanding at the foot of the stairs. stretched OSt my hand and grasped another, cold as ice. No need of light to show me to whom it be- Ionged threw my arm around her just in Aa~f Call | -.oI kI. eos. ing form up to my room and laid it upon a couch. struck light, and used such restora- tives as were at hand. In few moments she opened her eyes and looked wildly about her. Take me to my own room," she whisper ed could see the reflection of my face in the giass Opposite-it was as white and ghastly as her own. You have heard all?" I asked '.An!" she answered. Dress yourself quickly" I said rapidly, ''let us fly at once: we can leave the house while they are engaged in conversation. She shook her head and murmured. '.It is all over nOw!" .84 | 'sThis must not, shall not, make any dffer- ence to our plans ?" cried impetuously Had l the wretched man arrived two days later. nay, even had you slept soundly tonight you would have been unconscious of his existence VIII you suffer such petty chances as these to destroy the happiness of two lives ?" While spoke she sat staring into vacancy, with face as rigid and colorless as statute's A hard sob and another head-shake was her answer.
 l east myself at her feet ;s I ,clasped her hand | .1 win not losesyou," I cried .:You are mine no power on earth shall separate us | God has united our hearts; He only shall | discover them in death" '.Ay, death sewers all ties does it not ?" she said vacantly. Her looks and tones frightened me more than would have the wildest despair xIet me go to my room, she went on: sI | feel faint and dr0wsy. must have sleep sleep;" and she attempted to rise to her feet, 1 hut feel back again. What was to be done? She must not be discovered in my chamber, in so equivocal |