Daily globe., 1880-03-28

nisht?" asked CRANKY Dumont.
81 believe madams health is considerably
improved this morning." answered the SER
| 7ant
..She had good night, then7"
"An excellent night, General. She is now
with Mr. Ovington, who is suffering from
his old attack of the gout Twill so and in
form her of your visit"
"Stop!' exclaimed the General, as William
Gorton was about to leave the room. Il
think You said that Miss Maud was in Mr.
| Ovington's room. l will 60 there at once. "
William Gorton bowed.
s'Suffer NE to so and announce your visit,
sit" he said. walking toward the door,
wkich opened upon the corridor and private
staircase leading to Mr.. Ovington's ROOM.
| CRANKY Dnmont placed his strong hand
upon the coachmans shoulder and put him
aside.
| 81 will go unannounced."
Maud Ovington was seated by the side of
her father, a gray haired. tine-looking man
of sixty years, when the General entered the
room.
The General felt thrill of relief rs he
gazed at the lovely face of his betrothed.
| A devoted daughter seated by her fathers
side, watchful of his every glance, eager to
administer to his slightest want, ready to
anticipate his most idle wish.
'To doubt her would be to doub. Heaven
itselfr' thought Granny Dumont as lie ex-
changed the commonplace greetings OF cere-
monious life. Then with graver manner,
he addressed himself to his future father-in-
law. My Gear Ovington," he said, .hav-
ing ascertained the state Of your health,
perhaps you will permit me to have q few
minutes conversation with Maud?'
Certainly" replied Mr.. Ovington, laugh
ing; ''a few hours if you like. Pray chatter
away to your hearts content, young people,
while amuse myself with my newspaper"
'.Pardon me, sir, but mean private con-
versation."
Private conversation exclaimed the i'm
petuous old man, looking rather tiercely at
his intended son-in-law. sPray what can
you have to say to Maud that her father cam
not hear. ell, Granby?'
Miss Ovington neither started nor changed
color, but her breath went and came rather
more rapidly than before.
She rose from her seat before the General
had time to reply to her fathers question.
whatever CRANKY may have to say to
me, dearest father" she said, ''you will not,
1 am sure, deny me the privilege of hearing
| it,"
Again the General felt relieved by her in
Eocent candor.
"Were she other than she appears" he
thought, s'would she thus seek an interview
in Which I might attempt to unmask herr"
| "You will not refuse to let me hear what
CRANKY has to say, dearest father?" repeated
Maud.
mo, will not, my DEAR" replied Mr.
Ovington. ''Take him to the library, and
hear this tremendous secret, whatever it
may be. But pray come back to your lonely
old father as soon as you can, and bring
CRANKY with you; want to ask his opinion
of leader in this mornings Herald. There,
60 along my darling; but don't forget the
equity old man to whom your presence is
sunshine"
If Mr.. Ovington had been the most deter
mined maker, he could not have said
anything more calculated to charm the affi-
anced of his daughter.
Miss Ovington led the way into the library.
Now, GraE.y," she said, as she closed
| the door of this apartment behind her. ''tell
me, dearest, bravest and best what is it
that troubles you, for 1 can see the shadows
of trouble in those truthful brown eyes. and
the darkness of sorrow upon that open brow.
Tell me, my beloved, what has happened"
The General claspcd the rounded arm OF
his betrothed within his strong hand and
drew her toward the window. Then, with
his disenGaged hand, he drew aside the volrl-
minous lace curtains which shaded the win.
dow and admitted the full glory of autumn
sunshine.
The broad stream of light fell upon the
face of Miss Ovington.
Il want to see your eyes, Maud" said the
General. gravely. 81 want to look into your
eyes while 1 speak to you, and see whether
truth or falsehood turks in their azura
depths"
| The glance which met his own seemed
truthful as the gaze of an angel as Maud
Ovington replied to these strange words.
"You surely cannot fear the result of such
test, CRANKY" she murmured. ''What-
ever foolish fancy may possess you, you can
have no thought so foolish as doubt Of
mel"
You speak fearlessly, Maud"
"Why should speak otherwise? You see
1 am not afraid Of the broad sunlight, and
look you boldly in the face. What have
you to say to me, dearest?"
"Maud Ovington, there is a conspiracy
against your honor" CRANKY Dumont ut.
tered these words with terrible solemnity.
but there was no shadow of change in the
fair face into which he looked. There are
those in this city vile enough to accuse you
of infamy-nay, more, of crime!'
Miss Ovington started, and her bright
eyes flashed Indignantly, but it was with the
indignation of innocence. No change OF
color betrayed either terror or dismay.
The blush roses on her cheeks never faded
from their delicate hue.
''Of crime, Maud Ovington," repeated
General Dumont-''of that deadly and una.
tonable wickedness which is the worst and
blackest in the hideous catalogue of crime"
s'What crime?" she exclaimed.
''The taking of human life!'
The General paused before uttering the
last two words-they seemed to jar with the
bright sunshine and the fair face looking
into his own.
There are madmen enough i'll this city,
said Maud Ovington, with a haTteUr which
was no stranger to her: ''but did not sup
pose you would be SO foolish as to listen to
| them!'
The General released the arm which lie
had retained in his powerful grasp through
out this brief dialogue, and walked toward
the door.
Enough, Maud" he exclaimed; Il never
was base enough to doubt you, but 1 wished
from your own lips to hear how mad had
been in being disquieted by this vile plot
| T oo from tbiS houSe tO that Of my loUyer"