Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-15

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family affairs gossiped about from gar.
ret to cellar, in house like this, my
dcar-an escaped convict.
"Mr. Ashburton is my father" gasp.
ed Evelyn, almost beginning to believe
that she was the victim of some hid.
eous nightmare.
"By adoption-yes, but not other.
wise. Sit down, my girl; really you're
very pretty, and / can trace quite o
resemblance to myself as used to be
in my more palmy days. Sit down, ]
say, and let's have n quiet little ex.
PLANTATION. Mr.. and Mrs. Ashburton
know am here; they have, rather un.
willingly, must confess, granted their
permission to this interview; and they
are ready to bear testimony to the
truth of what am about to tell YOU"
go on" gasped Evelyn, sinking in,
to the nearest chair, while her face
had grown as pale as alabaster.
"Don't be apprehensive of being
bored, my child" went on the scedy
looking individual. "I'll cut it as
short as 1 can. You are Evelyn Durk
man, my daughter, and only child.
You were just two years old when l
was obliged to give up my nice little
beer-house on the corner of j
street, in London, in consequence of
q slight misunderstanding with the
law; in fact, was detected in a for
gerry, and imprisoned for a long term
of years. Your mother, an industrious
soul, who did up fine linen, was dying
of consumption at the time. Mrs.
Ashburton, one of her patronesses, saw
you, and took fancy to your blue
eyes-likc mine, as have before re-
marked-and adopted you. In the
meanwhile you have Jared well, but !
have had but sorry time of it. One
thing, however, is in my favor, have
managed to escape, and here am to
see what my dutiful daughter will do
for me-"
sis this true?" groaned Evelyn, let
ting her head drop into her white jew
elled hands.
''As true as gospel, my dear, and
here comes your adopted mother to
vouch for it.
''Mamma!" broke in Il sort of ago.
nized cry from Evelyn's lips, as she
looked up into Mrs. Ashburton's pale
troubled face.
"My poor darling!' was all that Mrs.
Ashburton could reply, and in the
tremulously whispered accents of her
voice Evelyn read u too certain con-
firmation of the unwelcome visitant's
words. "But you need not fear; papa
will never spare you, though your ran
som were to be told in diamonds!'
Evelyn clung mutely to her adopted
mothers bosom.
"Well," mentally quoted the stran-
ger, chow is it to be, Madame Ash
burtonp A thousand pounds down, OF
my daughter? She's pretty enough to
make any mans fortune, and con-
slider the terms have proposed as re-
markably reasonable"
Evelyn looked imploringly into the
face of her adopted father, who had
just entered.
''Don't let him take me away from
you, dear-dear papa!'
"Humph!" growled the returned con-
vict under his breath, ''they talk of
natural affection, but this is rather a
curious manifestation of it. She could
not look at me any more scornfully if
was dog"
81 accede to your terms," Mr. Ash
burton said quietly, "and it only re-
mains for you to rid us of your pres
ence as speedily as possible. And re-
member that it is always in our power
to punish any transgression of the
compact by reporting you to the police
authorities"
Geotfrey Durkman shrugged his
shoulders, thinking to himself:
'As if didn't know that, sooner
than hurt my pretty lady's pride, they
would submit to anything. However,
he said aloud, as he was about to dc.
part, ''it's only necessary to draw the
check payable to bearer, and Pm off
without so much as asking a kiss from
my daughters cherry lips"
He grinned fiendishly as Evelyr
clung closer to her adopted mother
with shudder which she could moi
repress. -.
There was moment or two's sill
ence, and then Mrs. Ashburton spok'
!, softly:
Look up, Evelyn-we are alone"
Profound secrecy was observed upol