The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-12
to lie to me again. Aud she knew he
would keen his word.

"In the dusk of the evening, often
think it must have been just such weird
one as this, the old man watching from
behind the curtain of his bedroom, to
which he had retired, as he said, tor the
night, on the pretense of not feeling
well, beheld two figures steal from the
house in the direction of the mill, and
descending the stairs he dogged them
from a distance, concealing himself be
hind the fences and the irregularities oi
the ground and the few stunted trees
that then, as now, sparsely dotted the
landscape. When near the mill one oi
the figures parted from the other and
disappeared on the further side of tn,
tower, while the maid remained, as il te
keep watch, sheltering herself behind /
bush.
"The angry father brushed past hel
without word, but with warning look
in hot pursuit of his child. The dool
Of the mill had been left purposely oper
by the lover, who was waiting inside
To see his daughter, as he did see her
clasped in the arms Of the man he ha
ted, set the blood of Mr.. Hayward or
fire, and darting up the steps he sprang
at the pair as if be had been wild beas'
springlng on it's prey. II
"The poor girl heard the approaching
feet, looked around and recognized hel
father with shrisk, just as his insane
grip was laid on her, and she was whirl.
ed to the otter side Of the narrow apart.
ment, where she staggered up agains,
the wall, for the moment stunned and
breathless. This was done so quickly
that Lieutenant Cavendish had not time
to interpose. Then Mr.. Hayward faced
the young officer, his face working and
white with passion.
"'How dare youp Traitor! Villain
Thief? The words came Kissing out,
red-hot with rage, and he shook his
clenched hand at the lover.
"The lover drew himself up haughtily
and all the blood left his face. But even
in that moment of insult he remember
that the speaker was Helen's father. Be-
fore be could reply, however, the girl
had recovered her feet, and rushed back
to her lovers side. With one arm rest.
ing on bis shoulder and the other held
out deprecatingly TO keep her parent
of, she cried:
"'1t is I. not he, that is to blame.
Father, oh I! father"
"The last words came quick and gasp
ing, for the old man, now more insane
than ever with hatred and rage, laid his
hands this time upon the young man
in fact, attempted to seize him
BY the throat. But Lieutenant Caven-
dish was twice as powerful az his assail-
mt, and easily flung him off with one
hand. while he encircled Helen's waist
With the other, stepping back at tho
same time as If to get out of the old
mans reach.
".'I am no traitor or villain said the
7oung officer proudIy. Nsiyr g. yoas
laughter to blame. She was just bid
ling me last farewell
eyes, yesr she cried eagerly 4 told
lim ! would never marry any one with.
,ut your consent ] will wait for him
or years, said-and God knows I will
but will never 60 against your COM
nands.'
"'Was it at my command that you
net him here2' sneered the old man.
Ha! ha! You thought to make fool
IT me, did your
"'Not so,' cried Helen. 'Oh! father,
,e just
"He took no notice of her piteous ap-
zeal, but advanced again on her lover.
"'Unhand me, SIR he said savagely.
or, as God lives
"The sentence was cut short by wild
'hriek from his daughter, for Mr.. Hay
ward as he spoke drew small pistol
rom the breast pocket of his coat
Then flinging her arms around her lover,
md looking over her shoulder with
'cared face, Helen cried:
"'Oh, father! don't, don't
"sLet me CO. cried the lover, in the
'ame breath, trying to extricate himself.
He is mad, he will kill you And he
ook the two, poor little hands that were
,lasped so tightly about his neck, and
would have parted them.
".Leave him. or your death he on
your own head,' cried the father, step
ping close up to the pair.
"His daughter gszed at him, with her
great eyes. imploringly, as deer some
lines looks, when the hunters knife is
1T it's throat; but she never let 20 her
hold of her lover, being, for that one
supreme instant, stronger than even he.
"For it was only for an instant that
this lasted. The three had really spo-
ken together. The whole scene came
and went like the rush of a whirlwind.
The maid, hearing the shrek, the angry
voices, the shutting of feet, had over
come her terrors, and had hurried to
the door Of the mill. just as she reach
ed 1t, however, the climax came. Her
foot was on the last step, when she saw
Lieutenant Cavendish retreating, and
quite close to her, while the infuriated
father was following, with pistol raised
and pointed. Helen was still clinging
to her lover, interposing her body be.
tween him and her parent; and the lover
was struggling to throw her off, SO as
to meet alone the vengeance of the fa-
ther, or, if possible, to disarm him. Al
that moment Mr. Hayward fred. The
maid saw the fash; 1t was almost di
rectly in her face, and she stopped with
scream. The lover staggered back
and had nearly fallen. for the poor cir
had suddenly sunk, dead weight around
his neck, the blood gushing over her
white dress from a bullet in her heart
Possibly, il the daughter had been
less devoted; II he had not, with hel
heroic resolve to die rather than let hel
lover die, unconsciously impeded his
efforts; possibly, say, in such an event
Lieutenant Cavendish might have dis.
armed the father. But God only knows
1t was one of those awful tragedies that
recall the old Greek idea of fate, trag.
edy that advances irresistably to it's cul
mination, compelling events into its vor.
tex and engulphing all its actors.
"For. as you may suppose, the life
even of the innocent survivor, was .
ruined one. AS for Mr.. Hay ward, hs
had always, as have said, been ecceu
trio, and from that fatal hour he wen
raving mad; had been mad, one should