The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-08
ON WHEELS or FIRE.
BY FITZGERALD MOLLOy,
Author OF slow Came lie Dead2"
Fan Excellent lEnavo,n "swOet is
Revenge" "a Modern Magician"
"Thas Villain Romeo" Sc,
IoopyrIght. 1873, BY tho Author:
cHAPrE4 XIII,
A MEETING.


he had TO deal and TO discover his in
teRtions. HissuTyey counselled him to
adopt the policy OF Cancellation, which
he knew was generally the safest card
to play when In doubt Therefore
bowling he remarked, II don't think
we have had the pleasure of nesting
before"
1--WE have not met. "'brieay answered
Ferrars.
His tone chilled Crawford, who said,
.To Whatsm l Indebted for your call%
AThat you will soon learn" rejolned
the artist, looking at,Newbury.
twill leave Vol" said the solicitor
10 Crawford.
"By no means; stay where You are"
replied the earl, feeling certain pro-
lection in this representative Of the
law.
Here 10 fresh complication, re.
flected Newbury, as he seated himself
in comfortable chair, fully prepared
% take an active Interest in the inter-
view.
Crawford briefly reflected that in cast.
ing Stella aside he had not Feckoned on
being brought to book by Ferrars. He
had little doubt that abe would blindly
accept his statements, and that her
father. an elderly man and quiet atu.
dent, who had long lived outside the
world OF action, would submit calmly,
II soErowfully, tohls daughters wrongs,
anxious to hide them in oblivion
rather than expose them by seeking
reparation. But in Ferrars, who had
loved the girl and sought her as his
vile, Crawford now beheld an indivld-
ual he had never reckoned on encount-
tering; one whom he would have elm
cerely wished to avoid. Here, however,
he stood at moment when least ex-
pected, and the consequences Of his
visit, whatever they were, must be
faced and boTne.I
nYou are probably aware that Stella
selwyn was engaged TO marry me, said
Ferrars, in voice that indicated the
restraint he exercised over his feelings.
''You cannot expect me to share your
regret az her choice" answered Craw-
ford, lightly.
Ferrars looked with eyes Of wrath
upon the man no believed to have
wronged Stella With q sinking heart
he remembered HE weary search
through the registrars offices and the
feeling OF horror he had experienced
when day passed latter day and no REQ
ord was found OF the union between the
girl he loved and the man be detested.
Yet faint hope existed that some cer-
emony might have taken place at home
or abroad, and to ascertain If it had
was now his duty and desire.
''Almost since the day Stella left her
homo l have been seeking you," he
said, in a calm, clear voice.
''May / inquire why you gave your
self such troubled" asked Crawford. in
tones OF cutting. civility.
"You will have every reason to know,
SIR
.Indeed2"
~ was anxious to meet you and to
have from your lips an assurance that
you had done this trusting and innocent
girl the common justice OF making her
your wife,"
sneeringly.
II was" answered Ferrras, putting
his hands behind his back, lest in spite
Of himself they might grasp this
scoundrel by the throat and there and
then mete out TO him the fate he de-
served. "hnd in case you have wronged
her" he continued, slowly and menac.
ingty, ITO demand"
aWhat7"
"such atonement as you can give and
can take. !"
"Will you think me curious if / ask
what that is2"
''Your lifep
ellis lifel" echoed Myles Newbury,
starting up.
AT that moment the door Of the ad-
joining room slowly and quietly opened
and Stella stood upon the threshold
unseen, whilst hearing and witnessing
oil that passed.
Crawford, who had been stirred by
the last words, which fell upon his ears
and awakened him TO a sense OF his
danger, suddenly dropped the mocking
tone he had used and assumed an air Of
defiant independence
II refuse sir" he said, ito acknowl-
edge strangers right to intrude in my
private affairs"
Myles Newbury nodded his head in
approval at this diplomatic speech and
resumed his scat.
"And will tolerate no interference
from you" added Crawford.
Arthur Ferrars looked graver than
before; the last hope was dying out Of
his heart. What was once q fear now
became conviction. Yet exercising
his strong self.restraint he answered, II
have the claim she gave me before she
met you.
oBut which you had NO longer when
she left you"
ut will only DO withdrawn whom she
becomes the vito OF another man; till
then will protect and, II necessary,
ayenge her. But we waste words. Say
you have married her--it will DO wei.
come news, for though / have Loaf her
forever, her happiness and her honor are
moro to me than oil the world beSides."
II refuse TO answer you"
still FcrrarS curbed tho rising storm
OF hla Indignation. "Your refusal can
have but one Interpretation, he said
calmly.
aIt can have as many as please"
.Iiyou decline to say you have mat.
Rod her, / will take II Tor granted you
have wronged hor and | have sworn to
treat you 90 you deserve. We are oil
French soil-none will Interfere; this
man. pointing TO Newbury, twill eco
fair play. Come with me-now II you
wiil.p
Crawford did not expect this sim.
mons and was not prepared to accent
~ howas by no means brave, and he