Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-08

mOCnere story. as told in the simplest manner. and then she found no blame could be attached to her. That hel father had been blinded by jealousy there could not be the least doubt in the world. and while in this state he could be nc more held accountable for his actions than the man who was drunk.
 Of late Carol had begun to see her father in a new light that was not as agreeable as 1t might have been. For merly she had loved him, and been pet ted by him as ono who would expect an only child to be, but all had changed on that day when he found her seated by the side of Roger Darfel in the forest.
 Ho had then showed what an ungov- emable temper he possessed, and this had not improved since. Then had come his strange conduct in relation to her marriage with Capt. Grant, who also had hold upon him for some act done in the past.
 Last of all. she now heard of his con- temptible conduct in the past, and her sympathy was wholly with her mother, whom she exonerated from all blame.
 True. some might have said she was in- discreet, not knowing the circumstances of the case; but when her story was told, Carol saw that there was not the slightest possibility of her having done wrong, and, had Lawrence Richmond given hef chance for explanation, in- stead of standing there and cursing her, he could not but have been convinced of her entire innocence.
 She possessed a singular, though strong nature, and, when subject to such a tirade of abuse, pride sealed her | lips after that wild entreaty for him to examine into the matter before he cursed her.
 Suffering in silence. she would not let him know after that how cruelty he wounded her, and, and as Q consequence they had parted to meet no more. This was in the South. and immediately after had come that terrible shock to Lawrence Richmond by which he lost three of his four children. He gave out among his Virginia friends, or at least it l was naturally understood, that he had lost his wife with the children. As time passed on and tempered the blow he began to sec it in another light, as a judgment from heaven for his actions toward his wife.
 His stubborn spirit would not yield enough to permit him to make an inves- ttgation, even when little things came involuntarily to light that gave him to understand that she was innocent. Guilt hardens man, and there cannot be found any ono more stubborn and un- forgiving than the ono who knows he has ] made a great mistake and Is in the wrong.
 The meeting indeed was such singular rvsv These two had each looked on the other as dead for many years back. and to think of their meeting here and recog- nizing one another by means of the pie ture of him who should have been the connecting-link between thom, but who, instead, was the source of misery and discord!
 It was wonderful almost beyond belief
 The world would never again look so dreary to the lonely woman, and Carol had found one whom she could confide in, now that even her father had turned against her.
 The time passed quickly, and midnight had come almost before they were aware of it.
 They were still talking about the past and present, and even the future, when they were astonished by knock at the door.
 Instantly all was alarm, for they could conjecture nothing else than that pursuit had been made by the enraged bridegroom and some of the wedding guests, and that they had finally como to the very place where the missing bride had been hidden away.
 The elder lady proved herself fully equal to the emergency.
 She sprang up and hastily placed large crock over the candle. Then Carol felt herself hurried into closet
 A minute later she heard the widow boldly open the front door. Before do- ing so, the lady had armed herself with pistol, tor she knew not what desperate need there might be.
 The moon had arisen since the time of their arrival at the mill, being in her last quarter. and 1t was easy to see the figure of 6 young man standing outside.
 ''Weh, sir, what Is it you wish?" de- manded the widow, with some severity, and at the same time managing to show the weapon with which she was armed. without appearing to do so intention
 The other seemed in nowise abashed end but for the fact that the moon was 9b his back she might have seen the Smile upon his face, as though he read fly recognized the little device so ex- tremely feminine.
 "I seek Carol Richmond; but do not think come from her father. have no love for him in the first place, for he bit teRiy wronged my father; though my mother paid him back in full and made him curse her name. am not what I seem. Will you tell Carol that Nora WArner Is here, and would speak with herf''
 "Nora Warner! Surely, should know that name; and are you her childl Will strange things never ceaso2 Never mind what am Or what 1 know, but your mother was once bosom friend of mine. How did you know Carol was here?"
 'That matters not at present. knew 1t, and I must see her upon matters of vital importance concerning her hap piness. Since last met her I have found out many things that will alter the whole of her life. and probably bring peace and happiness where wretched