The Irish standard., 1888-07-21

| NSk!s25, 4 - )
aDo YOU BLAME MEG"
ber taking to Mile Camille in Frenchtown.
Three years ago my father was alive, and
we were a happy, prosperous family. Colo
mel Collins, who had been living alternately
in France and America, a sort OF an adj
venturous life, came to our house in Day.
| ton, o., where father was at the time known
/ as one Of the wealthiest merchants in the
city. I felt peculiar distrust of the man
from the first moment saw him, but father
| and mother, on the contrary, seemed fasci-
mated with him.
s'My mother, like myself, felt All instinct
i've repugnance toward her countryman.
He SO ingratiated himself into the good
graces of my father that somehow never
knew-in a few weeks he had complete con-
troll over his business affairs. My poor
brother, falling into the snares set for him,
WAS led to the gaming table, which brought
| about, among other sins, forgeries that in a,
! few months ruined our family I can not
enter into the full details and horror cf the
few months that followed.
| "To add to them, no sooner had Colonel
Collins gained complete control over the
| destinies of every member Of our family,
| than my father and only protector, died.
Before his death Colonel Collins proposed
| matrimony to me, and, knowing that we
could not live happily together, I refused
/ his offer.
ssWith mother and NV little afflicted
brother l left our home iii Dayton, and
come West to my a,1nt Nile, Camille, in
Frenchtown. We were very proud, and re-
! solved to keep our degrading nisfortunes
&c ourselves. My cider brother remained
behind, hoping to save, something for as out
OF the wreck of our once handsome fortune,
though mother ard I had III our owl, names
property. the income Of which would be
! ample Tor our wants. We little dreamed
/ that iii coming to Frencltow,i we were near
| ing the rendezvou of tire 1nan whom we
dreaded above all others. Aunt Lucille was
| glad 10 receive us, and offered us q home
with herself as long as we would accent it,
intended teaching music, or SEE "a
position as d governa:,;5, ant, We, IL , 4rG we
could once more be happy. MY little deaf
| brother never seemed so happy as he was
/ with my aunt, who dotted on him.
"One night there came knock at the
door, and my brother, Wild-eyed and bag
gard, was admitted. He had only time to
explain that he was charged with forging a.
l
| ing from the vengeance of the law, when
the door opened and Colonel Collins HIM
self entered. Tortured by fears and har-
| raised by man who was scarce less thap
! demon. my poor brother was, seized with
commissions, and for days his life was
| despaired Of. Colonel Collins informed me
| that unless became his wife my brother,
regardless of condition, should be dragged
| to prison. This would kill both him and my
| mother, and frightened, Mortified and I'M
conscious of the awful step I was taking
without consulting any one, I consented.
! Idared not appeal to an officer to protect
| me from this man; for, believing my brother
| to be a criminal, officers Of the law were
men most to be dreaded.
II have but faint recollection of my
marriage-iust as if it was a frightful
| dream When came to realize that I was
| his-almost soul and body-I resolved that
| would make MIN as good wife as could
without loving him, and determined to pro-
| tect my family. He had US secretly
conveyed to the stone house on the hill.
There we have lived, he holding as a con-
slant menace over me the destruction Of my
mother and insane brother, who are inmates
of that house. While do not love my hus-
1 band, and was forced into marriage with
I
| him as good wife as he would let me, and
/ shall live and die loyal to my marriage
| vows He wanted mother ard to assign
over to him the property we hold in our own
names, but this we refused to d. deter
| mined to save it for my afflicted brothers.
He few into such rage at our diobedience
that we feared he would do my little dumb
brother some harm, or send him away where
we should never see him again. 1t was then
that I, for that child's sake, dared make the
visit to you and enlist your sympathies in
him, as you remember. You may think it
anwomanly, immodest, but if you could re-
alize what was at stake you would overlook
the imprudence Of the act At my aunt's the
little boy was among loving friends, while
at tine old stone house on the hill he was not
only miserable but in constant danger OF
being taken away from us,where we should
never see him again."
ssMrs. Collins, your conduct on that occa-
sion is quite praiseWorthy, instead Of merit
ing censure, assured Allen, shut why do
YOU live with such a monsters The law will
give you divorce"
ssI am q Catholic she answered, s'and
neither does my religion OF my conscience
approve Of divorces. No, sir, my little
4 brother is safe from his prosecutions. my
insane brother can not live long and mother
/ and ] will endure rough usage and lmprlson-
ment until death shall release us from bon
dage. She will not leave me, for she thinks
4 nv burden would be doubled if she was not
here to share it.. promised, although under
duress, to live with him until death do us
EEpart, and / willkeep that promise"
B Aliens head. was bowed upon his hand.
III AT last, with q troubled sigh, he askeds
i hat is his motive for this strange con-
Il drlct u Is. he an outlaw, as has been
lscharg $S5.
o, sir tis q stran go man billing
sacceptat of but
Sin the