Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-04

not suit the young ladies of the present age.
On the day fixed the old curio dealer s
| step-daughter arrived, a tall, handsome girl,
with an expression of great determination
] about her mouth, dark sparkling eyes, and
hair growing low down over her forehead.
Katrina Van Henvel at first seemed de-
lighted with her emancipation from con-
vent rule, but after the first novelty
of the change had worn away, she began
to show symptoms of the same hot
and self-willed temper which had charac-
terized her mother, and frequent and vio-
lent were the quarrels between her and her
stepfather. She utterly refused to listen to
the arrangements for marriage with
Mynheer Van Doppel, declaring that she
had not come out of a convent to marry her
grandfather, and altogether the old man,
who had promised himself a life of supreme
happiness with Katrina, began to look pale
and haggard, and even his favorite business
failed to interest him.
Some three months after Katrina return,
as the old man was smoking pipe, and en-
deavoring to fix his attention upon some
Jade ornaments which had just arrived from
Lucknow, his step-daughter entered the
room little more quietly than usual, and
placing her hand upon Mr.. Hepper's shoul-
der, said: dad, have been a great worry
to you, l fear.'
t'You have not been all that could wish,
my child,'' answered the old man, aston
ished at the gentleness of her manner, ''but
you are young and there is plenty of time
for amendment Are you going to be
dutiful child for the future?"
"I hope you will think so" answered the
girl; sat any rate, you will have no more
trouble about my marriage with old Dop-
pei"
"What, you consent them" exclaimed
Mr. Hopper, an expression of delight
spreading over his face. 'This is indeed
joyful news"
''Do not be in such a hurry, Dad.'' re-
turned Katrina. 81 said you would have no
more trouble about my marriage with the
Dutchman, for 1 was married this morning
at the register office to Adolphe Renouf, the
brother of one OF my old schoolmates at the
convent"
A terrible scene followed. Mad with anger,
Mr. Hopper grasped his daughter by the
arm and shook her violently, and there is no
saying what might have happened, for the
girl was of fiery temper, and well able 30
defend herself, had not the door suddenly
opened, and a young man darted between
the combatants.
Adolphe henouf, for it was he who had
interposed, was heavily built young man,
with reddish hair and beard and pair of
shffty, lowering eyes, which appeared in
capable of looking anyone steadily in the
face. He was not without good looks, but
what he had were marred by an expression
of craft and cunning, which was the pre-
vailing characteristic of his features.
Pushing the old man roughly aside he
placed his arm round Katrina's waist and
drew her toward him. Keep your hands
off my wife, old man," growled he in threat
ening accents, with savage Hash of the
eye, which struck terror into Mr. Hepper's
heart
The discussion which followed was long
and acrimonious one, but in the end the old
curio dealer yielded and consented to re-
ceive his step-daughter's husband.
Adolphe Renouf knew a good deal about
the bric-a- brac business; indeed, it was his
knowledge of Mr.. Hepper's connection with
1T that had caused him to court his daugh-
ter.
All would have gone well had it not been
for the violent temper of Katrina and the
dishonest behavior of Adolphe, whose deal
ings with both money and stock were dis
tinguished by the most utter moral OBJ
liquitv.
After six months of constant jangling and
pickering Mr.. Hopper made up his mind to
leave England and go into partnership with
his old friend Doppel, who had returned to
his native city of Amsterdam. He did not
behave illiberally to his step-daughter and
her husband, making them present OF O
few thousand pounds to start in business
and the use CT the house in birthstone road,
the rent of which he would continue to pay.
In the event of Adolphe going on steadily he
promised further aid, but he declared that
he would not live in the same house with the
newly married couple any longer, as the
continued Quarreling was upsetting his
mind. All his valuables were packed and
secured in large cases, which were to be
sent on to him after his arrival in Amster-
dam.
Everyone in the neighborhood was ac-
quainted with the curio dealers intending
departure, and a good deal of sympathy was
felt Tor his undeserved troubles. He had,
however of late appeared to shun his old
fore expressed when Adolphe, who was in
the habit of visiting wide range of public
houses in the vicinity, stated that his father
in-law had slipped away to Amsterdam the
evening before.
About week after Mr.. Hepper's depart
ure, couple of four-wheeled cabs, and
Adolphe and his wife, with large quantity
of luggage, drove away in them.
This created a good deal of comment in
the neighborhood, as no one had been left
in charge OF the house, and Mr. Mattocks
the frequenters of the Monkey and Stewpan
of fresh discovery which he had made.
II was passing by Hepper's house." said he,
ION my way here, when, to my surprise,
waved my hand to him, but he took no
notice, only 1ancied that he looked very
glum. i expect that scamp Renouf has been
playing some fresh tricks, and Hopper has
turned his wife and him out, neck and
erop."
Mr Mattocks' auditors thought this very
likely; but when the curio dealer made no
sign of life, and when No. seemed as desc
began to move little freely, and it was
universally decided that the undertaker's
news had been the offspring of his too
lively imagination
MIR. Mattocks, however, declared that he
had not been laboring under delusion. Il
saw the old gentleman plain enough" said
he, "and think he must have been packing
up something, for he had u piece of rope in
his hand"
The news of Mr.. Hepper's return at length
camo to the ears of Mr.. Staple, and as a
tpr' rQr,t N hQ nrht rf,tr1d
be good excuse for calling. He accord
ingly did so at about O'Clock in the after
noon: but after knocking and ringing for
about ten minutes without ehciting any
he was about to leave, when, 4
glancing upward, he saw the figure of Mr.
Hopper at one of the upper windows. The
a terrible expression of gloom upon his face,
which sent a chill to the house agents
heart, so much so, indeed, that he did not
renew his summons, but hastily descended
the steps, and opening the iron gate stepped
out into the road.
As he did so, an uncomfortable impulse
caused him to glance again at the house.
The face OF the curio dealer was now visible
at the parlor window. "He must have
come down precious sharp" muttered Mr..
Staple, but as he cast his eye upwards, to
his horror he saw that the figure was still at
the upper window well as in the parlor,
and at tile same time he caught glimpse of
him peering through the frames in the
breakfast room.
MI. staple fuDDeQ MS eyes TO see II ne was
really awake. For u few seconds the three
figures were distinctly visible at three diff
erent windows and then they vanished as
suddenly as they had appeared.
The house agent felt exceedingly uncom-
and wondered whether this hallu-
for of course it could be nothing
else, was not the warning that he was going
to be attacked by some serious illness. For
a while he WAS half-inclined to consult his
medical adviser, but as the remem bTance
flashed across his mind that Mr.. Mattocks
also had seen the old curio dealer, he called