Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-04-16
ear assurance I am waiting ior. Bertha.

tender. His eyes looked down in hers
with eager, impassioned light. Bertha's
heart throbbed pityingly as she realized
the pain her words must infict upon
him.
"Oh, Ralph, had hoped you might
not subject me to this testl Itwould be
cruel to give you false hope, for l can
never be more than your earnest friend.
Forget that you have ever cared for me.
and bestow your love on some one who
will make you happier than l ever
could"
Bertha! Berthal You can't mean
to leave me in utter despair? Twill wait
and work, and prove myself better
man than l have yet been. Only tell me
that there is chance of winning you at
lastp'
SIT never can be, Ralphl Because
because love anotherT'
The still, white rage which settled
down upon his face frightened her more
than if he had broken out in angry
words.
81 shall not give you up, neverthe-
less" he said, with quiet intensity.
"Give me q little hope and an equal
chance, and l will try for your love by
fair means; but by measures foul or fair,
no other man shall ever ever take you
from mep
With that he returned, leaving her alb
ruptly as he had come, and his quick
steps gave back sharp ring from the
paved walk without. At little dis
tance he encountered the elder Carlyon,
who accosted him, timing his leisurely
pace to the others hasty strides.
easy, my son! Ihave some informa-
ton which it may be best to impart at
once. happened to overhear your con-
versation of moment ago-by the way,
you should never make love near open
windows-and am gratifed to know that
Bertha holds such an important place in
your estimation"
"Ah!' Ralph waited, knowing that
something more lay behind that suave
address.
Eyes, but Imust warn you against your
own impetuous nature, which may lead
you to extremes. AS she said, it is quite
impossible for her to regard your suit
with favor"
"May l ask why?"
"Simply because intend to marry her
myselfl'
SPY heaven, you shall notr'
The elder Carlyon dropped his eyelids,
a trick of his when angered.
"Did you ever know me to relinquish
purpose?
COR me to fail in making good my
words? l would kill any man ere he
should thwart me or brave me by faunt-
ing her preference.
Each read indomitable resolution in
the others face. The gauntlet was cast
between them, and hereafter only bitter
enmity could mark their mutual rela-
ton.
A week wore heavily away. Then
Ralph disappeared, went no one knew
whittier, and Bertha awoke to a con-
seriousness that she was no better than
prisoner in the old hall. The maid had
been bribed to cooperate with the elder
Carlyon, and he himself announced his
purpose with quiet steadiness of man
ner which would admit of no gainsaying.
With his ruthless will crushing down
all obstacles in his way, and no COM
munication with her friends permitted,
save such as he dictated, Bertha felt that
her opposition must give way before the
cruel forces he brought to bear upon her.
At last he gained his purpose. How
he accomplished it himself and the maid
best knew, But the clergyman was
waiting at the church, and Bertha,
worn to shadow of her former CHEEKY
self, with her face scarce less white than
the bridal robes she wore, went trem-
blingly down the worm eaten stairs to
go and be welded to the man she both
hated and feared. Carlyon met her
with triumphant smile upon his face.
but the words of graduation he was
about to offer never left his lips.
A man, with haggard face, bloodless
lips drawn away from his glittering
teeth, and dishevelled hair streaming
about his neck, rushed up the length of
the passage and grappled with him. It
was Ralph, who had been confined all
this time in one of the vault like cellars
beneath the old hall, and had escaped
now to wreak insane fury upon his jeal-
GUS jailer. There was an inherent mad
ness in the Carlyon blood, and these
weeks of solitude and mental torture had
brought the curse upon the younger
man,
A struggle ensued that was fearful to
witness. Bertha crouched upon the
stairs, with rigid, blanched face, and
eyes never wavering from the horrible
spectacle. Servants ran screaming, all
was chaos for moment, and then awful
quietude fell upon the hall.
There was q crushed, bleeding, sense
less mass upon the floor; and the mad
man, his rage appeased, INCREASINGLY
submitted to the bonds which were
placed upon him. The elder Carlyon
went to answer for his sins before an
eternal tribunal; his son drags out liv-
ing death in lunatic asylum.
But Bertha, sorely tried, found peace
at last. Shocked beyond measure by the
frightful tragedy which had been en-
acted, and appalled, by the peril her
daughter had passed, Mrs. Mondeville
recalled Henry Bernard from the fruit
less quest he was pursuing. 1t is need
less to say that Bertha's letter never
reached him, and that Mrs. Mondeville
had sent him as far as possible from the
actual track. But the young people
could freely forgive all past injuries in
tho hn mi occ ,nrhioh 11,ac thniru a 4 Loot -