Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-11-06

acquaintance. Your face pleased me so
much"
They talked for some time together,
and before trey parted Edith had prom.
ised to pay Meta visit the very next
day.
OF course, when she reached home,
Edith was full of her new friend, and
could talk of nothing else.
Meta Fieldingl" repeated Mildred,
with @ troubled look. Meta Fieldingl
Surely I have heard that name before
when and where, dear2" asked Clara,
eagerly. Was it in the old times, before
your sickness?"
-Yes, yes, it was before that. when
Il" and then she stopped, with be-
wildered expression on her face.
little later Warren Leland called,
and Clara at once asked him if he knew
lady named Fielding.
Meta Fielding" supplemented Edith;
'and she lives on West Forty-seventh
street."
"a single lady. I supposeP" he said.
Eyes, and young"
"N-no," said Warren, slowly. Il don't
think have the pleasure of the young
lady's acquaintance"
She has a brother namod Ray, and
he's in bank down town" Edith ex-
planned.
@Ah! that puts different face on the
matter altogether" said Leland. Il
know Ray Fielding very we'll. He is now
assistant cashier in the Atlantic National
Bank, of which my father was President.
Are you sure he's her brother?"
@Oh, yes, said Edith; Meta told me
oil about him."
Then it's all right; the family is very
well connected, and they are perfectly
proper people to know"
Glad to hear itl" exclaimed Edith;
"for intend to call on my new friend
tomorrow"
do so, by all means"
you may be sure 1 shall"
But, Wsrren," broke in Clara, Mil
dred feels sure she knew this Meta Field
ing in the old days; at least, she is GER
tain she has heard the name before"
"She may have heard the name, but I
hardly think she has ever met Miss Field
ing. The brother and sister, believe,
have passed most of their lives in New
York"
@Then where can she have heard the
name?"
why, perhaps in this very room.
have had short business notes, drafts,
and other papers, signed by Fielding, al
most every day, and, no doubt, have
spoken his name in her presence.
"Ahl that may be-"
Il am pretty sure that's the explana-
tion."
Il shall know tomorrow, laughed
Edith.
How will you find out2" asked Leland.
Easy enough" was the reply. Il shall
ask Meta if she ever knew Mildred
Lester"
of course" exclaimed her mother (;
why didn't we think of that before2"
Because you're not young and quick
witted as I am, laughed the girl, as she
fed from the room.
When she was gone, Leland suddenly
| turned to her mother and asked:
when did you or your father hear
from Mildred's brother last?"
"We have not heard from him in some
time; indeed, for several MONTHS" was
the reply. HE is still in the South or
West, believe"
But remittances come regularly"
IYes-to my father"
From where?"
@From Mr.. Testers agent here in New
York"
| Have you MS auureSsF
mo. I have not; and question it my
father has.
THAT is unfortunate; for Mr.. Lester
should be notified of the impending event
in his sisters life"
Il have thought of that.
"Can you suggest anything?"
Perhaps if you saw and talked with my
father, he might think of some way
| 1,o,, oo111d ,,onpinofa with
MIR. Lester.
Il will go to Roxbury Tomorrow"
do SO; and meantime, will look over
what papers l have with me. I may find
some note from him that will give me q
clew."
The next day Leland went to Roxbury.
At the station when he changed cars,
he was surprised to see old Welch, the
quondam rag picker, boarding Western
bound train.
Somehow, but why he could not think,
the sight of him brought poor Amy Brow
nell and her wronged husband to his
mind.
But hastily dismissing these he thought
of the old man.
Now, what can he be going to New
York for?" he mused. Can it be that he
is tired of rural life? l hope not, fol
his daughters sake," and hurrying tc
catch his own train he thought no more o.
the matter at the time.
Meanwhile, Oscar Slyme, the brother
with whom he was SO anxious to COM
municate, was already thoroughly in
formed as to all that had transplred re
lating to Mildred Lester since his las
visit to her in Roxbury; and he knew per
fectly we'll that she was likely very sooI
to marry Warren Leland.
But instead of warning her or he
friends Of the terrible mistake they were
about to make, he hugged himself will
fendish delight to think of the misery i
would canse his hated enemy when h.
should hear of it; and he resolved that b
should hear of it very soon after the we'd
ding had taken place, when some othe
interesting things should be revealed.
But did Oscar Slyme no longer care 70
Cora Eliiston2
No, his eyes had been thorough
opened; he knew he had merely been he
tool, and he thoroughly hated it.
But he did love Flora Leland.
He knew Flora never could be his. II
knew what he was about to do woul
make her hate him, and might kill hel
but he was thoroughly resolved to wrea
vengeance on Cleveland and Cora at an
cost, and such vengeance as never be
: fore was heard of.
! Then came in cunning and calculation
i and he persuaded himself that, by man
aging properly, he could gain large SUI
a from Sherwood Elliston, for the unhol
secret he possessed.
! He resolved, therefore, since he had th
L. IL E.