The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-03

her little form to him.
"You love me in return-you will marry
me2 he murmursd, striving to look into the
blushing face.
Then her heart acknowledged to itself the
truth. warning her that she did indeed re-
ciprocate his affection. But before her rose
the closeed skeleton. Philip Eversleigh
must not have wife upon whose name
rested either faint or shadow of taint. The
CLAYTON secret, black-black as Hades-
would not down!
Without lifting her face, she gently disen-
gagged her lovers hold.
II would not pain your good, kind heart,
sir, she said, in fnlterIng tones, "but am
obliged to decline the honor"
Philip drew back.
"Why, Cecil-whyP" he groaned.
"Do not ask me; cannot tell you"
"But am entitled TO reason! Do you
love another?'
"No, Philip, mol" she said, calmly, chok-
ing down the rising in her throat; ''nor is it
in my power to become wife of any man"
Oh, how she wished that she might tell
him of her love for him, and why she felt
that she must subdue it!
Ere Philip could speak, noise as of a
scutile, was heard in the bushes back of
them, and was followed by the sound of re-
treating footsteps.
Cecil and her suitor listened.
Suddenly pistol-shot rang out on the
still, clear air. and the echo bore back the
blood-curdling cry of human being in dis
tress.
The heavy tramp of men shook the
ground. Instinctively the listeners moved
aside.
Two men, one white-faced and Wild pur-
sued by the other, who brandished pistol
in his right hand, dashed swiftly by.
A horrible fear chilled Cecil Clayton.
With difficulty she suppressed the shrek
that rose TO her lips, and, needless of Philips
endeavors to calm her, started after them.
When the two pursued and pur-
suer-were almost In the midst of the dane
ers, the pursuer fred second shot. Utter
ing a fe rful cry, the hunted creature fell
backward to the ground directly before old
John Clayton.
The ladies' Shrieked and ran toward the
house, while the gentlemen guests stood
dumbfounded.
"All right, my friends" said the wiry
marksman. 'My duty is done. I'm good
for the reward put up this afternoon! The
fellow that takes him dead or alive gets it.
Guess he's dead!'
John Claytons face became white as
his snowy locks.
"Tis Ned JasperT he gasped, in accents
of horror.
Cecil, coming up, took in the situation at
O glance. She bent over the pros rate form
of the wounded convict, and placed her
hand on his left breast.
"Let the servants be summoned" she
commanded authoritatively. "This poor
man is severely injur d, but not dead, and
must be Immediately taken in"
The unfortunate groaned, opened his eyes,
and raised himself upon his elbow.
"Dead dead!' he muttered. mo, no
I'm not fool enough 10 die yet. But I'm
nearly gone-nearly gone. I'm starving
---stnrving"
He tottered to his feet and gazed wildly
about The blood from lacerated cheek,
and from a wound in the head oozed slowly
down his face and neck. His gray haiI
was soaked to his forehead by the crimson
flow, and his sunken eyes, fired with deli.
rum, gave him the appearance of mad.
man.
John Clayton, in an agony Of apprehen.
sion, would have ordered the criminals
captor to take him away. Cecil gave him 8
warning look. and whispered, in low tone
Careful, father CAREFUL"
"I'm trying to find john" moaned th,
convict. Nobody else will have anything
to do with me! He's good 10 me-yes, he'i
good to os!"
Cecil started HsI father stole away.
"See here, Mr.. WhRts-your -name," sale
Cecil, merrily, no trace of fear in her voice
'you must 60 with the servants, and b'
taken care of.
Jasper turned his hollow eyes upon her.
"Who are you?" he asked, then, as il
struck by something in her features, stop
ped.
1t was trying moment for the yount
heiress. She understood Ned Jasper
thought, and knew what he might, in hi
pitable plight, be unconsciously led TO So.
Aud Philip standing there, too!
II am girl who will see you taken car
Of" she said, quickly, and beckoned tw'
gaping servants. "Tom, Stephen, assls
this poor fellow to the kitchen, and Civ
him nourishment. Let the doctor be sen
for immediately, to attend his wounds"
Ned Jasper kept his eyes fixed on her
but did not resist the servants az they LEI
him away.
The instant the guests we're gone, Ceci
excused herself to Philip, who fingered be
hind, and sought her father in the library.
81 have work before mel she muttered
''Rest will never know till it be fnished!'
But the proud John Clayton was not il
lie library, nor indeed in the house Il
had Disappeared
TO BE CONTINuED.