Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-10
CHAPTER XXII.
THE BLOW FALLS,

CHAPTER XXII.
 THE BLOW FALLS.
 On tho following morning, about 1e o'clock, while Edward Cossey was still at
 breakfast, dog cart drew up at his door and out of it stepped Col Quaritch. "Now for the row." said he to himself "I hope that the governor was right in his tale, that's all Perhaps it would have been wiser to say nothing till I had made moro sure, :" and he poured out some more tea little ner- .vously, for ill the colonel he had, ho felt, an adversary not to be despised
 Presently the door opened and "Col Quar- itch" was announced. He rose and bowed 8 salutation, which the colonel, whose face bore particularly grim expression, did not return.
 "Will you take & chair?" he said, as soon as the servant had left, and, without speaking, Harold took one, and presently began the conversation.
 Hast night, MT. Cossey, he said, ''you thought proper to publicly bring a charge against me, which, if it were true, would % @ long way toward showing that was not . it was brought"
 "Yes." said Edward, coolly.
 Before making any remarks on your con- duct in bringing such charge, which eive you credit for believing to be true, I propose to show to you that 1t is false charge" went on the colonel, quietly. "The story is a very simple one, and so sad that nothing short of necessity would force me to tell it was, when quite young, engaged to your aunt, Miss Heston, to whom I was much at tached, and who was then 20 years of age. and though I had little besides my profes- sion, she had some money, and we were going to be married. The circumstances under which the marriage was broken on were as follows: Three days before the wedding was to take place 1 went unexpectedly to the house, and was told by the servant that Miss Heston was up stairs in her sitting room. went up stairs to the room, which I knew we'll, knocked and got no answer. Then walked into the room, and this Is what saw: Your aunt was lying on the sofa in her we'd ding dress that is, in half of it, for she had only the skirt on) as first thought, asleep went up to her and saw that by her side was a brandy bottle half empty. In her hand also was glass containing raw brandy. While was wondering what it could mean she woke up, got off the sofa and began to stagger round the room, and I saw that she was intoxicated"
 ''lt's lie, said Edward, excitedly
 "Be careful what you say, sir, ," answered the colonel, land wait to say 1t till have done. As soon as I realized what was the matter, l left the room again, and going down to your grandfather's study, where he was engaged in writing a sermon, asked him to come upstairs, as I was afraid that his daughter was not we'll He came and saw, and the sight threw him of his balance, for he broke out into . torrent of e1plana- tions and excuses from which in time ex- tracted the following facts: It appeared that ever since she was child, Miss Heston had been addicted to drinking fits, and that it was on account of this constitutional weak ness, which was of course concealed from me, that she had been allowed to engage her. self to penniless subaltern It appeared, too, that the habit was hereditary, for her mother had died of the effects of drink and one of her aunts had become mad from it. went away and thought the matter over, and came to the conclusion that, under these 1t would be impossible for me, much as was attached to your aunt, to marry her. because, even if was willing to do so, had no right to run the risk of bringing children into the world who might | Inherit the curse. Having como to this which it cost me much to do, wrote and communicated it to your grand father, and the marriage was broken off,"
 II do not believe 1t; do not believe O | word of it," said Edward, jumping up. You tilted her and drove her mad, and now you are trying to shelter yourself behind . tissue of falsehood."
 fathers handwritingF' asked the colonel, l quietly.
 "Yes"
 ls that lt:' he went on, producing D yell 1 low looking letter and showing it to him.
 '1 believe so-at least it looks like it."
 "Then read the letter."
 Edward obeyed It was one written in an- 'wer to that of Harold Quaritch to his father, and admitted in tho clear sst terms the justice of the step that he had aken. Further, 1t begged him, for the sake of Julia and the family at large, never to | mention the cause of his detection to any one outside the family.
 'Are you satisfied, Mir. Cosseyi have other letters If you wish to see them"
 Edward made no reply, and the colonel | went on:
 Fl gave the promise that your grandfather lsked for, and in spite of the remarks that were freely made upon my behavior, I kept {, as it was my duty to do. You, MT. Cossey, Ire the first person to whom the story has oeen told. And now that you have thought 1t to make accusations against me which are without foundation, must ask you to retract hem as fully as you made them. have pro- pared letter which you will be SO good as o sign," and he handed him 0 note to the Quire. It ran:
 "DEAR MIR DE LA MoLLE-I. beg in the ullest and most ample manner possible to 'etract the charges which made yesterday 'vening against Col Quaritch, in the pres nee of yourself and Miss de la. .Molle. I find hat those charges were unfounded, and I lereby apologize to Col Quaritch for having made them"
 "And supposing that refuse to sign" said Edward, sulkily.
 II do not think, 1" answered the colonel, that you will refuse"