Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-11

ASIDE. SAID, Win WeIl-aSSulleu cdTcleSSntSS.
Every well, since you will have 1t so; come
| out on the terrace and speak there"
| He made movement forward and l was
about to follow him, when there was another
interruption OF a most unexpected kind. Old
Mrs. Redruth rose. and, making a stately
motion with her hand, said:
George, you will stay here"
She was very white and her hands were
twitching nervOusIy. Seeing this, Redruth
| stepped forward with a look Of deep anxiety
on his face.
Mother" he said, don't agitate yourself,
for Gods sake Let me go with him for
| moment"
You shall not leave me. George" she an
swered. If he means to insult you, let him
do so before .our mothers facer'
The strange turn things were taking
amazed me, and [ cried:
Il insult him? You don't know what you
are saying when you talk to me like that.
have returned to my home 10 obtain Justice;
to force bitter wrong TO be righted. I am
here for that now"
1t was now George Redruth's turn to be
agitated. Turning on me a face livid with
terror he said:
MY mother is not well. Leave the house,
l implore you. Or God knows how this inter
view will end!'
This | refused to do.
"Whatever happens" l said, no blame
can be attached to me- am willing to speak
to you alone; but speak mean to before |
leave this house tonight. Tell me--is it true
that in two days you propose TO wed Miss
Graham"
lie was about to answer me, but lis moth
er Interrupted him.
YES" she replied; "it is true Now, sir,
what have you to say?"
This; that your son had better think well
before he goes to lead that lady TO the altar;
because he knows as well as | that that mar
rage can never be-
George, what does he mean"' asked the
old lady, gazing from one to another in trem-
bling agitation.
For Gods sake, mother, keep calmp' said
George Redruth, who was himself terribly
agltated; then he turned again to me. IRE
laWncy, leave the house." he said. If you
have anything to say to me seek me again;
my mother is ill, and scene such as this
promises to be, will kill hern
Il told you 1 was willing to speak to you
| alone" l said; but since that can't be, other
folk must hear. [ am here to-day to ask for
justice; you best know why and for whom.
Do you mean to do it?'
lie hesitated for moments then he said
CHANGING nervously about him:
you speak in riddles, which fail to I'M
derStand."
You had best try" l returned, irritated
beyond measure by the strange GOODNESS of
his manner. you know that you have done
WrOng-dO you mean to right it?'
BY this time he had apparently made up
his mind as to his course of conduct for he
replied, with that same cold sheer upon his
lips:
again, [ tell you, l fail to understand
you"
Then | will make my meaning clear. |
| am speaking Of the woman whose heart you
| have broken and whose life you have de-
| strOyed; in the name of my cousin, Annie
| PendragOn, | refuse to allow this marriage
| to 90 On!'
! Iexpected to see him cover before this
blow, but l was mistaken; he was evidently
prepared for anything | might say.
''ALy good man." he said, coolIy, you are
| raVing, or worse You take | know, a very
tender interest in Miss Graham's welfare:
and think, presume, that anything you may
be pleased to state will be believed by her,
and you will thus be able to degrade me in
her eyes. But you are mistaken. Both Miss
| Graham and my mother know me too we'll to
believe one word OF what you sayr'
| must confess that the perfect frankness
| of his manner succeeded for a moment in
putting me at a disadvantage. [ could hard
Iy bring myself to believe that he was lying,
yet it must be so.
DO you deny" I said, "the story which
L have heard from my cousins lipS"'
"What your cousin may OF may not have
told you is no concern of mine. What is she
to me?'
''She is your wife," returned.
Still he retained his cold, impaSsive man.
ner; but the old lady looked at him with
| troubled eyes. 1t was nothing to her that he
had broken heart or wrecked a home. Ac-
cording to her, the labOrer was like the beast
| Of burden; born to bear his load uncompIain-
ingly, and to be trampled in the dust, if
| necessary, at his masters feet. But the fear
that her darling had been made to link him.
self to one beneath him was terrible to her,
George" she cried, implOringly, what
does he meanw
He shook his head: but / replied:
81 mean, madam, that it was your son, and
none other, who brought all the trouble to
our home. Through him, and him alone,
murder has been done; and simple trusting
| hearts have been broken. He came with his
| SpeciOuS smiling face and lying tongue and
wrought the ruin of as good a lass as ever
| breathed Finding her to be good and pure,
| he heaped falsehOod upon falsehOOd until he
| got her in his power; then, coward that he
| was he told her of the trap into which she
| had fallen-and left her to the mercy of a
| mercieSs world. Cowardly treacherous cur
as he is, he has betrayed one woman, but he
| does not betray another. Let him 60 to the
| altar with Miss Graham, and, so sure as he
| stands living before me now, l will denoUnce
| him before them ALL"
You villain! do you mean to threaten
me?' exclaimed Redruth, losing for the first
| time some or his self-cOmmand.
"And if | do | returned, Il don't threat
en- what l can't perform. My cousin has
| been silent hitherto because she wished to
| spare you; she has returned good for evil,
| cruelty with kindness; but now that she has
! spoken-nOw that | know the truth am
| determined that she shall receive justice. Do
| you think that she alone is to suffer-that
| she must stand alone in her shame, to be
| pointed at by every honest woman? [ say
| again she IS your wife; if not by the laws of
| man. at least in the sight of God; and so
| long as she lives you shall not wed another
WomanI
! paused and looked at him; his face was
| quite livid. He pointed to the door.
Leave this hOuser' he cried, ''or by Heav-
en- I'll have you handed over to the police"
! Il refuse to stir" replied, until l have
| your answer. 1t is in your power to partial
! y retrieve the past by doing one act of JUS
DIV hay-a hn.aT, a -