Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-05-30


Lydia sat leaning both elbows on the
table before her, her face supported on
her hands, listening and looking as II
at her doomster.
81 could have prosecuted your father,
but IL would have sent him to die in
prison." continued Mrs. Dorchester,
land would have publicly disgraced all
his family. You / knew, by name, as
the wife of my cousin, with whom had
been brought up in the country MS a
child and whom I loved as a brother
as n brother, nothing more" she added,
emphatically. "Besides, was wom-
an, and hope not cruel one. So
refused TO prosecute, suffered the loss
of the money and hushed the matter
up"
A groan burst from Lydia.
Mrs. Dorchester went on: "Then met
your husband unexpectedly. He had
received some hints about your father
and he insisted on knowing the truth
He then said you ought to be told. But
| replied that it would only pain you
heedlessly; If you continued estranged
you might never hear the story. He
answered that it would come to your
ears, sooner or later. This is why you
saw us talking so much together, and
| why, on several occasions, he sought
! private interviews with me. One even
ing he nearly won my consent. But
hardly had he gone before l repented-
| shrank from it, you see, as a woman
and lwrote to him, telling him he
must still keep our secret. That letter,
| it seems, or portion of il, you found
He was tearing it up, when you came
into the room, and he put what was
left of it hastily into book that lay
nigh, as he afterwards remembered.
AS soon as he could, he hurried to con-
suit me. You were, he said getting
jealous; you evidently misunderstood us;
and he must tell the whole story now,
in justice to himself. / was engaged
with party to Dover, and the room
was full; SO he joined us, in order to
have an opportunity to say'all this. OF
course, in this crisis, my scruples gave
way. My reward is that you have be-
lieved me vile woman. There, that's
the whole. l have told the story, per-
haps, in hard way; I'm sorry for you,
all the same. Thank God, I've found
you!"
She had risen while speaking, and
caught Lydia's dress in the excitement
of telling her hurried tale. Lydia's
gaze, which at first had been fixed on
her so angrily, had fallen before her;
she had buried her face in her hands;
and now, as Mrs. Dorchester ceased, the
wretched listener sank senseless to the
floor.
When Lydia revived, Mrs. Dorches-
10. So; l.. 4
three years In searching for his wife,
and the last time Mrs. Dorchester had
heard from him he was living in Morri-
SANTA, N. Y.
The next morning saw Lydia and
Dorcas'on their way to New York.
1t had been showing when they
reached the metropolis and by the time
they left the railway-train which they
had taken in Morrisania it had settled
into a heavy storm. Lydia wanted to
walk; so Dorcas wrapped waterproof
cloak about her, drew the hood over her
head and did her best to shelter her.
"Ask how we gor' was all her mis-
tress said. "Be quick-I want to start;
but l must walk-I should go mad"
Dorcas stepped into hotel near the
station and made her inquiries. The
road was straight enough. Mr.. Leon
ard Drake, she was told, lived out be-
yond the town a little; she would know
the place by such and such directions.
They were less than half an hour on
the way. They reached the mansion,
a handsome dwelling, half town-house,
half villa, with a long garden attached.
They mounted the steps and Dorcas
rang the bell.
You ask" she heard her mistress
whisper.
She caught q sight of her face. 1t
was lined and scanned with pain; the
dark eyes fairly strained and dilated
with suspense.
"Is Mr.. Leonard Drake IMP" Dorcas
asked.
"No; he is in New York. Mrs. Drake
is at home"
Instinctively Dorcas reached out her
arm to support Lydia as she asked,
"Who is that-his mother?n
mo; his wife. Do you want to see |
herP' asked the servant rather curtly, |
beginning to think them people in
search of charity and not liking to en-
counter the cold air.
"No,n Dorcas said. How long has
he been married."
"About six months"
A low, choked whisper from her COM
panion reached Dorcas. 1t said, Come |
away! Quick! Comer'
Dorcas turned without word and |
supported her mistress down the steps. |
Lydia did rot speak. Dorcas could
not. She put her arm about her mis-
tress and drew her on as fast as she
could. The house stood in a plot of
ground by itself. They turned the cor
ner, where the garden led down side |
street.
"Waitr' said Lydia, suddenly. 81
can't go any further; let me rest lit
tie. Only don't speak to me-don't
say word"
They sat down on the jutting line of
stone that supported the iron fence,
Dorcas half sustaining her mistress,
who crOdched forward, hiding her face
with one hand. Dorcas bent over to
see the FACET was distorted by an
guish.
"Mistress, dearr' she sobbed, "Only
speak-only"-
Hushr' muttered Lydia. Come
away; | can walk now. Let me alone;
don't talk yet. Help me up; L can
walk"
Dorcas was assisting her to rise, when
4 gentleman turned into the street a
little way down and walked rapidly
.owards them.
Muflled though he was in his great
coat, Dorcas knew him and uttered a
,ry of terror.
Its his step" whispered Lydia.
. Sit down-he'll II not know us! Iprom-
sed never to trouble him! must keep
ny word. Don't look up, Dorcas. Sit
iown, l say!'
The very act attracted the attention
If the gentleman. He halted in front
If them, saying, "Why do you sit here
n this stormP'