The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-24
CHAPTER XVII.
THE RNING AFTER.

The house that WAS to have been the house
of feasting was turned into one of mourning.
Not until daylight was Mr.. Ovington'S in
animate body discovered lying in the library.
| One of the servants, passing through the
hall at sunrise, noticed the door partly
open and the gas still burning brightly and
she ventured to know the reason for such an
unusual occurrence.
Peering cautiously in, she saw her old
master stretched upon the carpet, his head
resting in pool of blood. Soon the house
was in state of intense excitement.
Mr.. Ovington had been murdered The
ugly cash in the skull told the tale.
No trace of the murderer could be found,
but the contents OF the safe, scattered about
the floor pointed to his motive. Surprised
in his work of robbery by the owner, he had
killed him to escape detection.
Bu., on closer inspection, it was found
that the Injured man was neither dead nor
dying. although severely-perhaps, fatally
wounded.
He was carried to his bed-chamber, where
he was attended by DR.. Storms, the family
physician, who excluded from the room
every one except the nurse.
Debarred from her fathers bedside, Miss
Ovington paced her apartment in frenzy of
fear and horror. What was the meaning of
this strange, unlocked for Interruption to
her contemplated marriage? What if it
should now be delayed long enough to give
her enemies chance to produce the missing
letters2 And, in the event OF tne death Of
her father, what would she do? Oh, how
maddening were the thoughts of ths heauti-
full woman! The bare thought of the miss.
ing letters coming to light was now sutf-
cient to drive away every attempt to rest.
She had passed weary, sleepless night, and,
with restless eagerness, had counted every
stroke of the buhl clock upon the mantel
opposite her bed. This addition to her per-
.urbation came like thunderbolt.
So soon rs the excitement was somewhat
allayed and quiet was restored, Maud Owing
tui. bade her waiting maid send William
Gorton to her,
The man entered her presence rather re-
luctantly.
"You told me last night that you had o
letter for me" said Miss Ovington in q low
tone.
''Yes, madam"
"Why, then, have you not brought it to
me?"
because have lost it, madam"
"Lost It'll" exclaimed Miss Ovington.
"Where and howp"
"In my own room, last night. tainted
away from n fall, and, when revived, dis
covered that the letter had been stolen from
me-"
"By whom?" ....
81 suspect one Of my fellow-servants, but
am not certain that it was he who stole it. !"
"Did the letter reveal anythingf"
"Very little"
civilian Gorton," said Maud Ovington,
fixing her large blue eyes upon the man, "if
you wish TO become rich, serve me and serve
me well, but beware how you betray me!
You should know me well enough TO remem-
Der that do not fail TO revenge myself upon
those who injure me"
81 remember everything, madam"
"And you are resolved to serve meP"
II am" .. -
"You will do wisely. will give you o
thousand dollars for each of those missing
letters, and see that your wages are more
than doubled as soon so l am married"
"You are very generous, madam"
The coachman bowed. -....
Short as this interview had been, it had
not escaped the ears of man who stood in
the hall, close TO the door. James Dalton
had overheard every word. -...s..
At nine o'clock General Cranky Dumont
arrived at the Ovington mansion.
After time. curbing her impatence, Miss
Ovington descended TO the drawing-room.
where the General soon joined her.
elbow is he, Granby2 Do tell mel" plead
ed Maud; "they will not allow me to see
him. sa...
r"He is asleep now" answered CRANKY
Dumont gently. "You can see him when
he wakes" -.... ..4.,..
"Do they know who the--the coward that
struck the blow is2' e..
mo; your father does not seem able to
give any definite idea as to who struck him. !"
"And he cannot identify his assailant?"
"He did not SOC him--ths blow was dsaii