The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-09-03

home"
Not at home land with the light
a-burnlng in the houseY"
"No, he's not there. / saw him = i
mean guess he's gone to town."
"She is daft" murmured one and
another.
"Come, I'll take you home," said one.
"You're shivering in every part of you,
and you must be put to bed.'
"Oh, no-nol" she cried. can't
go there can't go home ~
"Then what'll the father think ?"
$50 h, he won't come back He'll go
away, / know he will. Oh, father
father !" she moaned to herself, cover
ing her face with her hands, how
could he do such an evil"
"Ehp WhatS" exclaimed several.
" Nothing-nothing 1 didn't say
anything Yes, I'll go home," she
added, with desperate effort at calm
ness. "I'll go home. No, 1 will go
alone," she cried, in alarm, as sever
al offered to accompany her. "I must
go alone"
The villagers drew back in astonish-
ment, and Annie quickly left them.
What a night that was to her - sit
ting alone in that little house by the
sea, waiting for her father who did not
come.
The next day the greatest excitement
prevailed in the place.
The body of murdered man had
been found at the foot of the cliff. The
waves, instead of taking it out to sea,
had dashed it up against the rocks.
1t was the body of stranger who had
lately come to the village, a travelling
agent, who had been known to have
money in his possession.
The money was now gone!
Who was the murderer?
Annie's father" was the cry.
Her strange behavior on the previous
night proved that and her still stranger
behavior as they came to seek her father
was further confirmation.
Later in the day her father returned,
and instantly he was accused and ar
rested.
All he could say was that he had been
out on the water all night, as he had
often been before; but, of course he was
not believed.
A week - two weeks passed. Day
after day Annie sat alone in that house,
enduring her misery. She had only one
hope to cheer her, and that Allan would
write to her, as he had promised; but no
word came from him.
Every day she hoped. Every night
she walled
tim murderer's daughter he will
not write to me We will never meet
again ~
Three weeks had passed still no let
ter, and the day of the trial at hand.
There was no hope for the prisoner
The verdict of guilty" and the SEN
tence of death, were things already de-
cided upon.
AS the trial came nearer and nearer,
Annie secluded herself more and more,
as the full horror of her position - chief
witness against her father-became more
apparent to her.
Many came to offer consolation to her.
but she repulsed them ALL
One day, as she looked up after a
spasm of grief and tears, she saw Ed
ward Lane standing right before her.
He had entered unbidden.
eco away!" she cried, starting up,
and turning aside from his dark, un-
! pleasant face.
81 have come to help you, Annie, -"
he said, softly.
"There is no help forme," she return
ed fiercely. "You have come to mock
me! Go say!'
Be calm, Annie, and listen = 1 can
help you"
HowY" she interrupted, turning to
him with wild glimmering of hope in
her eyes.
"By saving your father"
ooh, Edward Lane, do that-do that
and 1 will bless you foreverl Oh, can
you save him ? and will you?"
Yes, on one condition"
"And what is that ?" she cried,
eagerly.
"That you become my WIFE"
"Oh, mono, never !"
"Then your father must die = die a
shameful death. You have it in your
power to save him, and you refuse"