The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-05


her. The idea being impressed on her
mind that she was an orphan-fatherless
perhaps motherless-th came thoughts of
revenge! In her own hands would she take
the crime, and, link by link, close the chain
of evidence about the neck of the guilty
How she should begin she did not know,
but her brain kept busily working, working
at the problem when all around her thought
her in a state of lethargy.
OF Philip she often thought with feelings
of pain Why did he not call2 Why had
he not been to the house during her illness
to at least inquire about herp Surely he
must have seen that she reciprocated his
affection, hard as she had tried TO hide it!
Philips letter did not reach its destination
till she was too unwell TO read it, and now
lay beneath q portfolio, forgotten by Mrs.
Denton, who had received and placed it
there
The first week of convalescence past
Cecil shook off her seeming lethargy, and
ordered her trunks packed and sent to New
York.
The estate WAS left in the hands of the
family LAWYER, whose hunt for will had
been as truitless as the hunt for the missing
property-owner. Mrs. Denton was TO retain
command of the servants, and take charge
of the household affairs, pending further
instructions.
These arrangements were made with an
imperiousness which forbade interference.
The stricken girl, vindietive woman
nov, took sad, last look Of the home once
80 dear to her. and, accompanied by her
maid and her lawyer, set out on her jour
ney to New York.
Cecil Clayton's friend, Miss Clara Coles,
for whose house she was bound, was, like
Cecil, herself an orphan. At the death OF
her father, she had been left considerable
property, one of the most valuable pieces
being brown-stone front on Fifth Avenue.
| Clara Coles was q few years older than
Cecil. Her fine, intelligent face, and her
beneyolence to the poor, were but samples
of her beauty and her nobleness.
Between Cecil and Clara there existed
strong attachment, bonn at boarding school,
and nourished by continued visiting of each
| others homes.
In the qnietude of her friends room,
Cecil, not long ter her arrival, unburdened
her heart of its long pent-up agony.
Claras sympathies were deeply touched
| by the misery and loneliness of her friend,
and she endeavored to comfort her.
Dear Cecil" she said gently, 81 know
what it il to lose those dear to me. You
must not AXE your troubles to heart"
"Heaven alone knows how much suffer-"
moaned Cecil ''Sueh a good, kind father
he was-so indulgenl And spoke harshly
to him! That makes my loss so much
keener, Clara, the thought OF it; and he is
gone-gone, never to return!
All, in her agony she had nearly said more
than she would have liked Clara Coles to
know, bosom friend though she was.
perhaps he is not dead after allr' said
Clara, obviously. "He may return home
and then how happy you will be!'
THE search was too thorough to leave
any doubt, and am sure further search
will be useless. He is not in the land OF
the living, Clara
"They have not found his body, child.
| You should take only that evidence.
at is unnecessary. Every effort has been
made. But one thing remains to be done
her voice hardened and her face grew pale
land that is: to trace home to the coward
heart the crime that has made me father
lessw
Detectives are still at work, are they
not?' inquired Clara, astonished at her
friends manner.
"Yes: but there will be one upon his
track more untring than sleuth hound!
Let the hired minlons of the law labor; l
RELY on my own cunning. One small clue;
and never till the murderer stands behind
the PRISONS iron bars no, never TILL then
will find rest!'
She WAS now pacing the floor like O
Gagged tigress. ,
This is declared to be a land of justice,
she raved II will test that boastful decla'
ration. Let him who has caused me such
anguish beware for I am relentless! Every
, dollar that / have shall be expended, II
} necessary, to accomplish his ruin-aye, even
would | sell the roof that call home, ol
the clothes that wear!'
3 Clara Coles began to tremble for bel
, reason.
"They threatened my father-they de
y stroyed his pea Of mind-but they vii
4 have small chance to escape the conse
queuces of his murd-r. l am mad mao
, with rage. have it in my heart to kill thu
= fiend who has wrought the ruin of my dea
t ones!'
o "Kilh" cried Clara. ooh, Cecil, yor
don't know what you are saying|
y Cecil halted abruptly. Her wildnes
Q aboted. Setting her teeth firmly together
= she Missed from between them:
|, sis it wrong to exact life for lifeF No
" It's divine commando Then why not on
, executioner as well as anotherf"
= Clara was appalled,.
Cecil Clayton, this is blasphemy" sh
j. calculated. ''How dare you use such Ian
n guage"
J. Then the passion-rent girl calmed he
It voice and asked forgiveness.
is "l1y woes have driven me almost mad
1t Clara, DEAR" she said; my temper has nc
improved of late, and my brain seems o
n fire. But you see that am calm now.
'e have something to ask you. Do you kno
u of gentleman bearing the name OF Jare
Y. Clark He lives somewhere in this part
n the city,"
d "Claral familiar name But ever
n name at all common is quite familiar IN
Of large city. If the question is not too lmpe
k tinent, why do you askH"
m Il wish to see o gentleman answering
e. that name on special business but fail
# remember his address. He is well know
W in W, where he was born and reared,
believe. His home is in this CITY,.
is Gould you not see him at his place
I'd business?"
Cecil knew that he had none, but did n
n say SO for fear of embarrassing questions.
d. II cannot recollect its location any bett
re than the other, she returned.
at .You are in dilemma laughed Clar
ny Anything Important
an .Rather too much so to trust with Ia
yer. Purely personal matter"
he as he poor2"
"Not very"
'w 'If he is, may know him, because
have q large acquaintance among the po
Ike and destitute. What sort of looking amin
ess is he?"