The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-07

the irony of woman | am proof against.
High society furnishes any amount of fe-
male cynics."
"Mr Clark, we have been visited by bur-
glars"-her eyes were turned full upon him
-"detectives are expected here to take di-
agnosis. 1t is criminal offence to use fcti-
tious names to cover evil purposes. l may
inquire further of the law"
He saw that he must dissemble.
"lhe house broken open by burglars!" he
exclaimed
Cecil smiled sarcastically.
II did not say 30; I said visited, Mr.
Clark-visited, not broken open But per
haps you know something about it."
'More inuendo, Miss CT ytonr
~ am convinced that you are not only a
ihief, but also a-murderer murderer
Of Ned Jasper!"
The expression of this suspicion bore
| richer fruit than she had anticipated
Clark sprang = his feet.
"Who-who is the accuserf' he gasped.
"That need not concern you. Your
guilty conscience is sufficient to betray you.
Understand, Mr.. Clark, that am not the
country girl you evidently have taken me to
he-my education was received in the city.
Now. let us to business
4lcl iiuultf WAS C'bl hB db lie DeE1nD Y,
but had now far different effect on him.
HAS the jailer gone back on me?' he
thought. eff he has, she can show full
strengthen it."
With the usual bland smile, however, he
declared her suspicious un Just and an
pounced himself perfectly willing to answer
ali questions.
II wish to know, first, how the trouble
between my parents originated" said Cecil,
nervously.
81 am panied to tell you that you have no
legally married mother" answered the vii
lain. I'm other words, that you are an lle-
gitimate child"
Cecil paled.
Her heart almost ceased pulsating.
Could it be that that was the sin which
had kept her father from revealing to her
the truth? Was it because he had sinned
against her mother, and not her mother
against him? She would not believe it.
The villainous Clark should not find her as
credulous as himself.
Apparently unmoved, she bade him pro-
ceed.
"Your mother was never legally married
to Mr.. Clayton. She is bigamist"
ga bigamistw
''That is the word. The ceremony which
was supposed to have made her John Clay
tons vile was useless; she was already ent-
tied to the name of Mrs Jared Clark
'Oh, Heaven" thought the poor girl, ''if
this be sol"
II knew nothing of Mrs Clark's trickery
till three months after your birth, being ab-
sent from New Haven, where John Clayton
at that time lived and transacted business.
So soon as l became aware of it, l made
your unhappy father aware of the delusion
under which he was laboriug. The next
day she was driven from his roof Natural
ly ne cast her off, or, rather, returned her to
me. But would have nothing to do with
her thereafter. By mutual agreement the
trouble was hushed up John Clayton re-
moved to W, taking with him nurse
for his motherless child, and housekeeper,
to whom he represented himself widower.
Yet the affair came near being ventilated by
the hot-headed conduct of the false woman's
BROTHER who, Immediately she told him of
Mr.. Clayton's course, laid plan to thrash
him. Two evenings after the denouement,
John Clayton, while returning from his law
yer's, was set upon by William Armstrong,
the brother Ned Clayton, home from
cruise, coming up, and being half drunk,
took hand in the fight Armstrong was
struck over the head such forcible blow as
scattered some of his brains. On the trial it
gas proven that the dead mans assalant
was the tipsy Ned, who, when arrested, gave
another name than his own. John got
away before the police came up. From
what the quarrel arose Ned would not state,
and, having confounde3 worthless lawyer,
was sentenced for life"
terrible fear that this revelation might
be true stunned Cecil. She had asked him
to tell her what she could have known but
from one person on earth save him, and she
must know where to find that person-her
mother-before she could prove its truth or
its talsity. 1t seemed too incredible for be-
lief
Recovering, she asked, composedly, de-
termined that the gloating rufIian should
not see the effect his words produced:
''How is it, Mr.. Clark, that you are ac-
quainted with the innermost facts of the
case-the street brawl, for insance-which
one wonld suppose known only to the par
tlcipants?"
II witnessed the skirmish-Ned and my
self We're together when we came up with
John Clayton. / kept that to myself, and
consequently did not go on the witness
stand. 1t has been worth money to me-"
"Why did you neglect to use it to extort
money from me?"
Il have been waiting your fathers return
He is not such fool as to commit suicide,
and I'm unprepared to swallow the oot-pad
theory"
"Can you exhibit unmistakable proof Of
a former marriage"
Enough to satisfy even your skspticism."
SIN what form?"
"Ths contract"
"Where is it?"
"Under lock and key"
"Ah" thought Cecil, ''if he has not falsi-
fed, and can get that, am safe!"
The thought nerved her to desperation
hitherto foreign-she would now hesitate at
nothing short of actual crime. The stakes
were high-the game waiting
She pushed to the door suddenly, and
asked, in thick voice:
"Will you get It'll"
"When2"
"At oncew
Clark reflected moment.
"No; l cannot have important business