The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-08-22
NUMBER %.

dhC 'nC WCi tuCti, HtI.
No! Franks own innocence will save
him. / have told you before that
loathe and despise you as serpent,
who erawls around happy home to de.
stroy it"
And turning, she hurried away to.
wards the cottage.
Caleb Alder did not fume and FRET
and put himself into a desperate pas.
sion.
He simply rubbed his hands together,
contentedly, chucklingly.
"Never mind, Nelly" he murmured,
"never mind. I can wait. The time
will come when you will be my wife,
whether you love me or not +"
And then be passed into the house
and told the colonel everything, except
the offer he had made Nelly.
The old soldier listened with great
sorrow TO the story; and, ike most
strongly biased men, be believed in the
guilt OF Frank.
In the army he had been we'll known
as giving an adverse vote on courts
martial against men who seemed proved
guilty by circumstantial evidence; and,
seeing the circumstances which appear
ed to press upon Frank, he at once gave
it as his opinion that he bad yielded to
sudden temptation and done the terri
BILE deed, perhaps in a struggle, to rid
himself Of an incubus. gs ~
"Poor Nellyl r. he said, sit will be
terrible blow to her, enough to ruia her
liie tor ever; but he must not come here.
| should not like to give him into the
hands of the police; but if he does
come, shall warn him away" I
For some time the colonel and Caleb
remained in conversation, and then the
latter, saying that he was about to return
to his hotel, quilted the house.
The colonel then sent for Nelly.
Never in all her life had she ever seen
his face so kind; never had she heard
his voice so soft and gentle.
"Come here, little Nelly he said,
and drawing her down to seat st his
knee, he stroked her golden curls ca.
ressingly. II know all You must try
and bear it like heroine. You know I
am soldier, and don't understand the
idea of running away from danger. So
/ want my girl to be brave, and accept
the inevitable, and live happily for my
sake!'
Papa she said. shave you ever
found me a coward ?"
'Never, my child. l know lots OF lit
tie acts of heroism on your part. But
this sorrow is. of course, one of the
greatest that can come in girls life."
II know it," said Nelly, sand / will
bear up under it, as soldiers daughter
should. have an enemy, and ! will
stand With my face to him, of that you
may be certain. You will never find me
running away. And in the end / will
defeat him."
"And who is your enemy2'
Caleb Alder
( A shadow of displeasure crossed the
face of the colonel at this.
81 am sorry to hear you say this" he
said. "lhe mans only fault is loving you
too muchl'
Nelly smiled bitterly.
"His only fault!' she cried; she is
mean, contemplate, snake in the
grass, false friend, and a cowardly
enemy"
"Nelly-"
"Stay. let me tell you all, papa!, cried
the young girl, who was now thoroughly
excited; and word for word almost she
repeated the conversation she had had
with Caleb 10 the garden; neither his
words nor his actions losing anything
of their significance in her recital.
The colonel was man easily excited.
Putting Nelly gently on one side, he
rose, saving in an angry voice:
"By Jove! can't sleep over this
The vagahond! / will go at once to
his hotel"
The thanks he received for this from
Nelly consisted in her putting her arms
round his neck and kissing him again
and again.
"Desr, kind father" she said, "you
will make me happy indeed if you force
him to tell ALL"
But the sweet hope which flied her
bosom was not justified by the result.
Late at night her father returned, pale
and lsboring evidently under deep emo
ton, eI6 ell g
Nelly was waiting for him in the par
lor, as be had left her,
"My little GIRL" he said, "you must
have dreamed what you told me. Your
excitement misled you. Caleb Alder
denies ever using q word such as you
suggest He has proved everything to
me So we will not argue, to make
matters worse. Frank must never cross
these doors again, though l hope he
will escape. He may have years to re-
pent, and to thank Heaven that bis crime
was discovered before he brought ruin
upon young girl and her family"
Every word went like sharp stab in
to Nelly's heart.
But she knew it was useless to argue,
she said in low voice:
Goodnight, papa You will live to
believe 10 me aud in Frank, and to res
gfet every word you nave uttered to-
night"
"Poor Nelly u mutered the colonel,
as he lit cigar and brewed himself
strong glass of whisky and water.-
"Poor Nelly! 1t is great trial; l hope,
for her sake, they won't hang the young
ruffian. But l should like to horse-vhip
him before he escapes"
He felt hard-hearted enough just then.
But fancy even his stern and iron
heart would have been penetrated by
pity if he had beheld the scene upstairs.
A young girl, in the full throes. OF her
souls agony, praying. entreating, weep.
ing, firing herself out with vain sorrow,
kneelirg in prayer to Heaven, until she
fell into heavy slumber as she kneit
and the first pure rays of the mornings
sun crowned her weary head as with
halo.
TO BE CONTINUED.