St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-01

fair daughter, in obedience to his sum-
mons, entered the library, 81 have
something serious to say to you. l have
received an offer for your hand"
IAN offer for my hand! And how
much are you offered? and who is the
bidder. papa?" said Alice, blushing,
but not with annoyance, for she had
seen Harry leave the house not ten min
uteS before and SurmiSed his errand. os
"The offeg, my daughter, which Ihave
accepted for you, comes from worthy
| young man whom | respect and esteem
and whom you cannot choose but love,
| John Clifford"
Alice Hapgood spoke no word, but
| turned deathly pale, bowed her head in
her hands and sank into chair.
| 1.-The young gentleman" pursued the
father, not seeming to notice the daugh
ter's agitation, ''lOved you at first sight,
and has urged his suit upon several oc
| casions. have given my consent and
morrow"
But, father, 1 can never love Mr..
Clifford. feel grateful to him as the
| preserver of my dear fathers life. He
| is handsome, educated, brilliant, bui1
| dlStruSt him, and as for loving him''--
Alice HapgOod shuddered in manner
that finished the sentence more forcibly
than could have been done in words.
MY daughter, you do John an injus-
tice; you do, indeed. He is an honest,
industrious and in all respects an eX-
emplary young man, and as Son-in-law
| he will be entirely satisfactory to me-"
"But as husband he will not be so
entirely satisfactory to me-" And fair
| Alice smiled amid her tears.
but, Alice, Eve promised you to Mr..
| Clifford; you would not have me break
my word?''
No, father. but you have wealth,
great wealth; offer him money!
Would you have me insult the man
to whom | owe my life, daughter?"
And Mr.: HapgOOd fr0wned severely.
Il did offer to loan him $4,000 with
| which to engage in some business, but
| could not accept reward for simply
doing his duty: that was before he asked
| for your hand"
AND now he claims reward in
| different form. He doubtless does not
know that am to be your heiress."
Laughter, your sarcasm fails to
please me. But tell me-" said the old
gentlemen suddenly, shave you any
other attachment that makes Mr.. Cliff
ford so distasteful to you?'
Alice turned red, then white and fl
nally burst into tears.
Don't ask me. father" she ex-
claimed. Il certainly am not attached
to MIR. Clifford. Grant me this one
favor: Let nothing be said to me on
this subject by this person for one
month, until the 18th of January, and
on that day, if you still desire it, l will
plight my troth to Mr.. Clifford"
all anxiety"
Yes, father, if you choose; but in the
meantime you must do your best to
change your mind"
That night Alice wrote Harry Winters
letter, in which she told him that she
desired particularly to know something
of John Clifford, his character and his
record.
Find out all about him, Harry" said
she in conclusion, land report to me on
the 18th of January, when L will explain
all to you. In the meantime don't call
on me-"
1t was the morning of the 18th of
January.
Within the spacious library of the
HapgOod mansion its master and his
fair daughter were seated, awaiting the
arrival of her sutton, John Clifford.
They had been silent for some time,
when Alice spoke: ~
About this disagreeable business,
father, do you still wish me to marry
Mr.. Clifford?"
81 certainly do. The more I see of
him the better l like him, and the more
worthy | consider him of my daughter.
l will admit that somehow would pre-
fer Harry Winters, but then, you know,
John saved my life from cOWardly as
sassin. [ can't forget that" -
At that moment servant entered and
announced Harry Winters.
"Show him in," said Mr.. Hapgood;
''the son of my old friend will never be
denied admission here" a.
A moment later Harry himself en-.
tered and was kindly received by the
father and daughter, the latter giving
him look which plainly said, Chow
have you succeeded?''
'Mr. Hapgood," began Harry, 81
have news for your; man has been az
rested charged with firing at you some
two months ago, and the officers have
brought him here to see it you can
| identify him.
Very well, let them come in,'' said
Mr.. Hapgood.
Harry left the room as the old gentle
| man spoke, and returned Immediately,
| followed by two detectives with a
| SmOoth-faced, Misunderstanding young
man between them.
THAT is the man. I could swear to
| him any place." cried the old gentle
man. ''How did you succeed in finding
| him?''
"Mr. Winters is entitled to the
| credit" replied one of the officers. ''He
found him with a photograph, from
which we identified the prisoner
but he had never seen him. How
could he know him from photographs
This man, George Holiness" said
Harry, indicating the prisoner, ''had
been photographed at Sing Sing with
his chum and partner in crime, James
Costello. | found their picture in the
rogues' gallery, No. 1921. Here it is"
And he produced and handed Mr.. Hap
good a card photograph.
"Great heaveps!' cried the old GEN
tlemen, ''what have we here?"
His daughter sprang to his side and
seized the card from his trembling
hand. 1t was a picture of two men in
the striped garb of the penitentiary:
one, the prisoner before her: the other,
the man she had known as John Cliff
ford.
81 always suspected it," she MUIR
INJURED, giving Harry grateful look.
"And what have you to Say?'' said Mr..
Hapgood sternly to the ex-cOnvict.
IL don't KNOW" he growled. 81 sup
pose I'd better tell, for Jim will if |
don't. He always saves himself. fred
the shot, sir, but the pistol wasn't loaded
with ball. 1t was scheme to give Jim
a chance to rescue you. l urged him to
take the $4,000 you offered, but he
struck for a high stake. but we've lost
everything"
AS he finished speaking step was
heard in the hall and the next Instant
the door was thrown open and John
Clifford entered the library.
''Good morning, Mr.. Costello" said
Harry Winters; there's your old friend,
Mr.. Holmes" ~
| "Confusionr' cried Clifford: Mwhatll