The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-06-10

abridge her liberty of going ont when
ever and wherever she chose, and an |
noy her still more than being watched:
One morning Stella had been obliged |
to go the city to make some purchases. |
She was gone some hours, and when |
size came back was preparing to go to
her friends, when her mother said:
"Stella, the Keenans have all gone |
out to drive"
81 guess not" said Stella, carelessly,
last night when Mr.. Anderson bade her
goodnight at her gate after seeing her
home, he had whispered.
Tomorrow when you come over, i
wish you'd come to the grape-arbor be-
fore you. go into the house. l have
something special to say to YOU"
"Of course he wouldn't go out" she
thought confidently, wondering. yet
half guessingfrom what had gone before,
what the something special" was to be,
and what she should say to it.
"But they have" persisted Mrs. Wal
tiers, "for saw them, and another gen.
tleman was with them"
"Well," said Stella, with affected
indifference. looking at her watch,
"rll go Overland get a book left there,
and if they have not yet returned OF
course I'll come home to lunch," and
off she went.
The grape -arbor was on the other side
of the house, and slowly Stella turned
her steps toward it.
When she reached it the pretty little
summer-house was vacant, though
book lay on the seat as though it had
been occupied. She sat down and
o Of
Anderson's favorite authors. She read
awhile. but finding that it grew late,
and being somewhat angry-it muss
be confessed-that he had not kept
his appointment, she finally went up to
the house.
She rang. No one came to the door.
She knoc6ed-a peculiar knock that
Mr.. Anderson had taught her, and
which always brought some one in
moment. Still no response. After
walking around the house, and finding
everything shut and locked even to the
kitchen, she came to the unwelcome
conclusion that her mother was right,
that they were all gone.
With a burning face she turned her
steps toward home, and not once
again that day did she look toward the
house, pleasing herself with imagin-
ing their wonder at her absence, and
Mr. Anderson's dismsy when she
should refuse his nert request for an in
terview.
The morning brought thunderbelt.
"Why, Stellar cried Mrs. Walters.
on opening the morning paper. and
seeing on the first page sensational look
ing article, with large type headings,
they've found a nest of burglars in our
| lo.fx cbn ont ha
eagerly scanned the headings.
"Where?" asked Stella, languidly,
helping herself to roll. rs her mother
became absorbed in reading.
"Why-why"-st Mrs. Wal
ters, too amazed to be able to command
language, ssit's 's-it's-the Stuart House!
it's the Keenansi Tom Keenan,, the
paper says, and Bill Anderson! Long
known to the police! Have been
watching them for weeks! Have Sc
cured evidence that will he sure to
convict them! Were arrested yester-
day with two women, and servant
who turns out to be the mother Of An
dersonr' 90
.It's an Infamous liew shouted Stella
pale as death, rising from the table
But though she thus branded it on he
first impulse, there Immediately rushed
into her mind scores of proofs of it.
truth. Their singularities their shut
up life-their bolted doors and win
duws-their entire leisure during tn,
dav, and their haste to close up at night
their hatred of tattling servants. ant
their curious questions.
In spite of her protest, and long befor'
! her mother had finished the column
Stella knew in her heart that it was true
Mrs. Walters went on, reading b,
snatches n faithful description of tn,
house, its elegant furnishing, an nc
4 count of the previous life of the tw'
/, men, description of the women; of tn
l arrest, of the robberies they had beel
i. engaged in:-including their own,Ia
v which a rush of frecollections overwhelm
ed Stella. But the worse for Stella wa
+, yet to come.
r In the midst of the excitement tn
: bell rang, and two officers came in fo
4 the purpose of summoning Miss Stell
!; Walters, as an intimate and one OF tn
witnesses necessary to convict the pris
g oners of their crimes.
6 This was the climax! Tears an
$ agonies and prayers at this disgrac
d had no effect on the iron men of tn
J, law.
-.
men looking around the room chance
g to see on the table photograph.
!, "By George! that's luckyr' he e,
e claimed in surprise, pocketing the b
I. of cardboard.
u The family were in too much cor
sternation at the time to think or car
what it meant, but they learned aftel
< wards that the prisoner Anderson, whe
!! requested to sit for his photograph,
v adOrn the walls of the station house
}. in what is called the Rogue Gallery,
q utterly refused.
When compelled to sit, he distorte
:; his features so that he could not b
I recognized.
IS The interposition of Influential gentl,
/ men of Mrs. Walters acqunintanc
q procured for the broken-spirited girl
Y private examination.
u With close questioning she told HI
't foolish and weak story from the beginl
y ing, including the appointed meetin
in the grape-arbor. Poor Mrs. Walter
II was inexpressibly shocked.
. 1t was not yet evening, but the who
y life of Stella Walters was change,
ii Mortified to agony, disgraced for ev,
le -as she felt that she was, by the ARE
II and the exaggerated account other col
s. fession. which appeared in big type
all the papers-the headstrong, plea
X ure-seeking girl was entirely crushe
s, and a reserved, silent, almost tim
at woman took her place. She fell into
D. sort of apathy; would never go out
Is the house, nor see friend; she SCENE
IN always on the watch for some terro
and suspicious of everybody that lookt
In at her.
er Mrs. Walters feared she would b
y come insane, and by advice of her phi
e. sician. shut up her house and took h
s. abroad. Years of travel and consta
he change of scene removed that DANCE
er but nothing could ever make Stel
"a Walters young or gay again. ~