Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-11-03

so, but rset my teeth and staid.
"f were man." heard her say
presently, 81 would force you to yield
me my property"
"Your propertyl These are mine
made mine by yourself, free agent"
"What will you do with them?'
present them to my wife on my we'd
ding day, or, that failing, to your hus.
band on yours"
could have sprung into the room
and throttled this cowardly threatene1
Of woman, but instead I slipped a
sash OF the veranda, and, leaping down
among the flower beds. hurried out of
sight and hearing. Half an hour after
/ saw handsome, rather distinguished
looking man stalking through the gar
den path toward the road. l made a
turn and met him. The distinguished
look CHANGED to be sort of daredevil
recklessness of air and manner as ap-
preached him, and he seemed decidedly
out of humor.
l lifted my hat courteously as we
passed; he did the same, with a half i'm
pudent stare, turning to look after me
as sauntered up the walk.
! found Richard Dunkirk, ESQ.,. an
Cling in the trout stream below the house
the next morning. / angled, too-not
for trout, but for his acquaintance. He
scowled at sight of me, but baited my
hook cleverly and presently he became
civil. | saw that he was trying to dis
cover who was and my relations with
Miss Bonange.
We separated with apparent mutual
pleasure in each other. We encountered
again the following day, quite like old
acquaintances, and invited him to dine
at my aunt's. He gave sort Of startled
stare, but assented. 1t was too good an
opportunity to be lost.
IAN acquaintance Of yours, believe,
Miss Ruth" said simply as care
lessly announced to her and my aunt
that Mr., Dunkirk had come to dinner.
Miss Bonange had seemed out Of sorts
for day or two. She gave me a half
desperate lock at the announcement.
"You see lam not jealous, Miss Ruth, I"
l said in an undertone.
"You are certainly generous" she re-
piled coldly.
! was half Of the opinion that she
would not come to dinner; but she did.
We were on the whole quite a pleasant
party. Dunkirk spent the evening,
rather at my solicitation. Once or twice
I saw Miss Bonange change color at
something he said, but she staid in the
parlor and maintained her ease and
cheerfulness exceedingly well. He Of
fered hand at parting, but she shook
her head. He bent toward her then,
saying something in whisper that made
her face whiten.
Glancing into the parlor as I passed,
after seeing Dunkirk out, saw Miss
Bonange standing as he had left her,
hands clasped behind her, and her beau
tiful face expressive of hopelessness
and despair that smote me to the soul.
The look gave impetus to o half
formed, altogether wild scheme had in
my brain. In my chamber I hastened
to lock the door and change my light
clothes for dark ones. / adjusted
plain mask to my face, selected from
several old hats the most battered, took
q tolerably stout walking stick in my
hand, and, swinging myself down from
my window outside that the household
might not discover my absence, set forth.
By taking short cut, which I was
sure could not be knewn to Richard
DuHkirk, Esq. / reached certain lonely
spot, as ! hoped, before him. He came
in sight presently, sauntering along in
the moonlight; ! waited and wondered
il Richard Dunkirk, Esq, was the COW.
ard ! took him to be.
\ Just as he came opposite me ] leveled
my walking stick, resting 1t as I would
q lhusket across o convenient stump,
while ! called in as deep voice ae ]