The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-02-27


mel Collins, who had been living alternately
in France and America sort Of an ad-
vonturous life, came to our house in Day.
ton, o., where fatherwa ut the time known
as ono Of tho wcalthest merchants in the
city felta peculiar distrust of the man
from tho first moment / saw him but father
a3d mother, m tho contrary seemed fasci-
mated with him.
my mother, like myself, felt an instinct
i've rcpugnaace toward her countryman.
He so ingratiated himself into the good
graccs Of my father th@t somchow-I never
knew in few weeks he had complete con-
trol over his business affairs My poor
brother, falling into the anares set for him,
was led 10 the gaming table, which brought
about, among other sins, forgeries that in a
few months ruined our family | can not
enter into the full details and horror Of tho
few months that followed.
"To add TO them, no sooner had Colonel
Collins gained complete control over the
dcstinies 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 refused
ais offer
with mother and my little afflicted
brother ] left our homc in Dayton, and
come West to my aunt Nile. Camille, in
Frcnchtown. We were very proud, and re-
solved 10 keep our degrading misfortunes
TO ourselves Ny older brother remained
behind. hoping TO save someting for us out
Of the wreck Of our once handsome fortune,
though mother and had in our own names
property the income OF which would be
ample Tor our wants We little dreamed
that IN corlingto brenchown we were near
llg tho re1Iavol OF the man whom we
dreaded above al others. Aunt Lucille was
glad TO receive ua' and offend US homo
With her1ci a. long rs we would accept 1t.
intended teaching music, or securing
position as governe9s' and we thought we
cou.d once moro be happy My little deaf
Drotncr never seemed so happy as he was
wltn Ay aunt VINO dotcd on hlrl'
ohc hight tAere came Knock NJ the
door, ana my Drolhcr, wld-eyed and hag-
garu' was admitted Ile mad only time TO
oHpialn that ne was charged with forging a
cnecK on CoIohel Coliina and was now hy-
ing lrom inc vengeance OF the law, wren
tno uoOr opened ana colonel collins hlm-
SCH entered Iortared by fears and har-
itlaSc1 ~ riGA VINO Yves scarce less than
D aueinon' my poor Ofother was seized with
COMMISSIONS, ana Tor days ms lie was
despalrcd Oi. Colonel Collins informed me
that unlcaS lbccaEle MS wile nY brother,
regaiuleS3 OF condition. should be dragged
10 prison. ms would kill both him and my
mo'her, ana frightened, horrihed aud un-
conscious ol Tue awful step was taking
W"hoat consulting any one, l consented.
dared not appeal to an oificer to protect
me from tAis man; Tor, believing my brother
TO be crIllnal' officers OF tho law were
mc rlost 10 DC dreaded
II nave but a 'alnt recollection OF my
nlarriaSc-Just rs II 1t was frlghttul
dreaul' hhch came 10 realize that was
his-almoSt soul and body-l resolved that
l would maze hlm us good wlie as could
without loving MN, 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-
stant menace over rlo the destruction OF my
mother and insane brother, who are inmates
OF that house. While do not love my hus-
band, and was forced into marriage with
him, yet as God Is my witness have made
him as good wife as he would let me, and
shall live and die loyal TO my marriage
vows. He wanted mother and TO assign
over TO him the property we hold in our own
names, but this wo refused TO do, deter
mined TO save II for my afflicted brothers.
BE flew into such rage ut 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 /, for that chlld's sake, dared make the
visit to you and enlist your sympathies In
him, as you remember. You may think IL
inmodcst but II you could re-
nlize what was ut stake you would overlook
tho imprudence Of tho act. At my aunt's the
little boy was among loving friends, while
ut the old stone house on the hill he was not
only miserable but in constant danger u
being taken away from us,where we should
never see him again"
mrs Collins your conduct on tn I occa-
SION lS quito pralseworthy, instead OF merit
ing censure," assured Allen, but why do
you i've win such monsteri Inc lawWhl
give you divorce"
am Catholic" she answered, land
neither docs my rchgion or my conscl nee
approve oil divorces NO. Sir, my little
brother Is safe from his prosecutions, my
insane brother can not live lrng and mother
ana wlli endure rough usage and lmprlson-
mont until death shal release us from bon
nage' she VIII not leave rne, tor shc thinks
my burden would be doubled II she was not
mere 10 share II. lpromlscd' although under
duress, TO live with hin until death do US
part, ana Hlll Keep mat promise"
Aliens head was bowed upon his hand.
AL last with troubled sigh, he askedi
what IL ms motive Tor ihis strange con-
duct is he an outlaw, as has been
chargcdf"
mo sir; he 70 astrange man, law-aoiding
In tho common ncceptation OF the term, but
seli-willed, cunning and interruptions In tho