The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-01-12

operator told me to hurry with II, Tor ITS some
thing mighty important"
Placing some change in the boys hand tor
remuneration, he made his exit, while her
mind eagerly drank in the contents of the
message, which ran as follows
Come quick if you wish to see your father
alive G. EGGLEsroN, VI. H.
A deadly pallor came oyer her features,
while the shock ran through her whole being
with electric rapdity, Such terrible news
could but fall heavily upon her over-taXed sys-
tenn and had it not been for that cold iciness
that had slowly but surely isolated her from
her father, freezing forever the affection she
had borne him, she would have sunk under
her burden of grief. She bore it, however,
with perfect calmncss after the first shock, and
another hour found her alone with an uncon-
scious father save the physician, who cast
doubtful look at the almost lifeless form now
before him Every few minutes he would eX-
anime the pulse with the hope that his power,
full remedies might bring about reaction
but each succeeding beat told that the tide OF
life was fast ebbing away, for 1t was terrible
attack of heart disease
II fear the worst, Doctor" said Clara, as she
listened closely to catch some faint sound that
seemed escaping the sufferer.
Yes dear girl the chances are against HIM
He had frequently complained lately of vertigo
and | have feared the awful result now before
us; but we must not despair yet, for there is
| hope as long as there is life"
That dreadful night wore heavily on to Clara
as she sat keeping watch over deaths strug
Cling victim In vain did both the physician
and the old family servant plead with Clara
to retire and take some rest. There was mol
rest for her illfated life, for scarcely had the
death angel claimed the victim before her,
with her alone for witness, than she wander
ed to the private secretary of her father, the
door of which stood partially ajar, where sol
long had lain his private papers, On the desk
lay halfwritten sheet, just rs he had left 1t
when so suddenly stricken down Instantly
>, her eye ran over the unfinished sheet, readily
recognizing the familiar hand, and read as
follows
DEAR CLARA-My loved but alienated child,
your marriage has been sad mistake; but |
hope you will forgive me, for | thought it best
for you. In my secretary you will lind
"Oh, God above" she cried, what can this
mean"
Seeking further in the half open desk she
drew from drawer package marked Mis-
cellaneous Papers" Hastily examining its
contents, to her ineXpressible amazement she
recognized the autograph of Edward Aston.
In an instant all was PLAIN to her. These were
Edwards letters to her, which, having been in
tercepted by her father, had comprised the
blight of her whole life. There within that
little case was the key that locked in forever
her ltes happiness; for just as he had placed
them years ago lay the unhappy letters whose
cruel interception had blighted two loving
hearts While her searching eyes glanced
hurriedly over the contents revealing the com
plicity of her husband in the plot, a feeling Of
; resentment took possession of her, the flush
on her brow telling too plainly Of the vengtul
; impulse therein.
II will be revenged," she muttered to herself.
+ oh foul traitor! thus TO betray trusting wo-
; mans confidence, consign her to everlasting
misery, and wreck IA soul which might have
; been happy. How could your conscience live
with this dark blot hanging like pail upon
: it? How could you lisp my name as wife,
: while knowing you were the instrument in de
irauding me of IA boon too pure for earth to
: give? And now / Swear, hencGorth and t0reD-
or y0H snail Heger look ap0n my form d9dtnr'
Day dawned at last upon the unhappy scene,
and winter sun shone upon a solitary corpse
within the once happy home, No dear rela-
tives bent over the ifclcss form to,take an eter-
+ nal farewell on that lovely morning. Nonear
friend stood beside the new-made grave, point
ing dearcr ones, by hundred ties, to the beauti-
5 full light shining far beyond this dark vale
J. Alienated forever from all parental feeling,
c Clara was not numbered with the funeral train,
while many of her friends wondered at her
strange disappearance.
: Thus had lived and died a self.willed man.
4 Endowed with that iron will that knows no
c bending, he never hesitated to employ means
l. however dark, to compass his plans; and the
\ aristocratic blood that coursed in the veins of
l. the WaltOns gave power to his undertakings.
5 But too late the dark plot warned him of his
4 error, when a guilty conscious wrecked the
happiness of his declining years.
"Al stillcd in death there lay form
Whose mandates, cold and firm,
p Had turned the tide Of human life
: And wrecked loving child"
Il (To be coHtinued)