Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-22
CHAPTER XVIII.
IRECEIVE Ny Congo,


land by the attitude which the young mas
ter chose To take.
1t soon became clear to me that his resent
ment, from whatever source it sprung, was
leyeed against me: and in a short time | dis
covered that the innocent cause of all these
eruptiOnS was Madeline herself.
George Redruth had made up his mind to
WOO Madeline Graham, and he honored me
so far as to fear that my presence in St. Cur.
lofts might be the means of preventing him
winning his cousins hand. A marriage with
Madeline would be advantageous to him.
principally because his own position was be
coming very insecure, he having gambled
and bet away most of his fortune. and so be-
ing in danger of losing the position which
her money would restore to him. Thus it
was that he watched the growing friendship
between myself and his cousin with ever in
creasing anger; and finding he could not
openly control her, he determined, l after
ward learned, to gain his ends by treachery.
1t was not to these things, however, which
| was able at this time to give my entire
thoughts; other and more painful matters
occurred which for time drove the young
master from my mind.
At home things were going very badly
with us. My uncle remained in the same
Responding state, while every day fresh
wrinkles appeared in my aunts face-the
tears were often wet upon her cheek. 1t
seemed sin for me to be happy While so
much grief remained at home; and l some
times felt inclined to go right away and not
return till L could bring our lost one along
with me.
began to wonder, too, if my uncle could
be right when he said that the new overseeI
had a hand in poor Armies downfall. 1t was
strange, but since the night Of Armies dis
appearance JOhnSOn's face had not been
seen i'll st. GurlOtt's. | was bordering over
solution OF all these mysteries when one
day an event happened which threatened to
bring matters to climax indeed.
L had come up from the mine after pro,
longed inspection OF it, and stood at the en-
trance, blinded with tallOw and droppings,
when suddenly l heard a wild sound OF
voices and looking round | saw two mer
face each other, and looking as if they were
about to close in deadly grip. One OF the
men was my uncle, the other was johnson
the OYerScer.
AT sight Of the man whom he believed tC
be his bitterest foe, all my uncle's feebIeness
seemed to fall miraculously from him. He
lowered above the other, and raised his
clinched fist as if to strike.
You villain!' he cried, You cOwardly,
treacherouS villain! Tell me, whar is my
lass? Tell me, or, by the Lawd, L strike ZEE
dead before mer'
In another moment the arm would have
descended, for johnson was paralyzed with
fear; but sprung forward and caught it
with cry. My uncle tried to wrench him
self free
Let gaw, Hugh!' he cried, tiercely. q
told zee what I'd do if [ met the villain, and
I'll do t. Look at 'un the white-faced cur;
he brought trouble to my lass! And nav,
while she's wandern' about the earth in
misery maybe, he cooms var to laugh at what
he's dawnI"
still held him firmly; and Johnson, cur
that he was, seeing that the danger was pass
ed, recovered his presence Of mind.
Perhaps now you're a little calmer," he
said you'll tell me what you're raving
abOut?''
Il will answer for him." l replied. "Where
is Annie PendragOn?'
He shrugged his shoulders, and raised his
browS.
1T seems to me you are all raving lunatics
together. Why do you ask me these things?
What do | know Of the girl?
You are supposed to have enticed her
from her home. You were seen with her in
Falmouth and you must know where she
is
L don't know where she is. | met her in
Falmouth, it's true, and spoke to her; but
her being away from home was no concern
o. mine"
ITS liev' cried my uncle tierceIv; and
i L.
but | held him firmly.
Its no USE" l said; eve sha'p't mend
matters with him. We must find out By
some other means whether or not he is
speaking the truth"
The result OF all this was a serious Illness
which laid my uncle low, and for some weeks
threatened his life. During this time Made
line came frequently to the cottage accom-
panied by Anita, who carried little tenn ting
things for the poor old man to eat At last
the terrible time passed, and he rose from
his bed-the feeble WORKOUT wreck of his
old self.
From that day forth his intellect seemed
shaken, but he chung with strange persist
ence to the one idea, that Johnson was in
some way responsible for all that had taken
place. l had my own reasons Tor refusing
to share this belief; nevertheless 1 saw the
OverSeer again, and after the interview with
him, | became more firmly convinced than
ever that my uncle was wrong in his sur
misses. If johnson had hand in Annie's
flight, he was not the real WTONg-dOer
still suspected George Redruth, though as
yet | had been unable to obtain absolute
proof Of his guilt.
Meantime, having seen my uncle on the
nigh road to recovery. ! was compelled once
more 10 turn my attention to the mine, which
grew every day more dangerous. | had
spoken to the master of these dangers again
and again, ami he had taken no heed. So
long as he was safe above ground it was
nothing to him that the lives of the men who
worked below were in daily jeopardy. New
erthe!eSS, / knew that something must be
done; L resolved to make one last appeal to
him, and il that failed in its effect to COM
munlcate with the members of the company,
who, conformity with himself, owned the
property. l had fully made up my mind to
seek him at home, when | was spared the
pains. He StrOlled down to the counting
house one morning in company with John
son.
Mr.. Redruth, L said, approaching him,
Il should like TO speak a few words to you,
sir
He looked at me from head to foot with
cold sup rciIiOuS sheer which sent my blood
up 10 boiling heat. as he replied:
well, you can speak then-I am all atten-
ton
glanced at Johnson, but as that worthy
made no attempt to go proceeded:
at is about the mine" L began, when he
Interrupted me.
''Oh, the miner he said, impatiently; Il
think | have heard good deal on this sub
iect from YOU before?'
..Inn Lave, sir; and You have taken no