Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-08-02

not know Of the foul attempt ON TINS
poor girls life ON the sea road the very
day you disappeared from town."
Mr.. Dye made no reply at once, but q
harsh, grating sound issued from be-
tween his lips. Maxey even thought he
heard him murmur through his clinched
teeth:
1.-THE black heartl The black hearth
But his faded glance was scarcely lift
ed from the forlorn hat ere he became
passive again.
81 can only say to you, sir, that !
never heard of this thing before"
Don't you read the newspapers"
"Not except by accident have no
interest in the world whatever. p"
"Do you never hear people talk?"
"I have heard nobody talk about this,
but have been away where would be
little likely to-"
"Why did you go away?"
Because 1t was necessary for me to
have money have been engaged in an
attempt to raise money by dishonest
means-an attempt which failed as dis
astrously as it deserved. It was my be-
lief until l came here that Annette had
indeed voluntarily absented herself from
my abode, as she had threatened to do
II you will ask the landlord at 40 Flood
street, he will tell you that left money
in his charge to be given to her if she
returned during my absence. / had, /
could have, no possible i'll will for that
unfortunate girl Neither was her life
such that she could have acquired ene-
miles, You speak in riddles, sir. Would
it be asking too much that you should
tell me the circumstances? But, no; you
will not do that, for am the man sus-
pected"
II think circumstances warrant a sus-
picion thai you know more than you
will admit. Nevertheless, lest l do an
injustice, Twill tell you what you ask "
He told it. Mr.. Dye listened motion
less till the end. When it was over, he
remained sileiit.
Have you nothing to say to this?"
asked Maxey. "Doyou suspect nobody?"
81 have nothing to say, sir. "
''Nothing?"
"Not word" "
"Well, then, 4" cried Maxey excitedly,
"there is only one course open to me. "
He was interrupted by a knock at the
door. Annette, whose eyes were not yet
free from tears, implored his attention
for moment He went into the parlor
with her.
Miss Maxey, dressed for the street,
sat in one corner of the room, apparent
ly preoccupied, though the unusual color
in her cheeks was evidence enough that
she was disturbed by more than ordinary
emotions The artist barely nsticed her.
He was too much under the power of the
new and contending feelings that filled
his soul when Annette spoke to him tc
heed anything else, for Annette opened
her heart to him and laid bare her sweet
and forgiving nature as she never had
done before. And she pleaded for the
token of his regard for her which he was
the least in the world desirous of grant
ing. But what could he do under the spell
of her presence? How could he say mo
even when the granting of her prayer
would allow to slip through his fingers
the first real key to the mystery of the
sea road which he felt he had ever held,
The beautiful face turned toward him sc
beseechingly, the dark eyes emphasized
her words so eloquently that he had nc
power to resist.
She could not forget that Mr.. Dye had
brought her up had given her home;
that he stood to her in place of a father.
She could not bear to think of his being
prosecuted Or molested ON her account.
If he would not speak, let him remain
silent. The past was passed. Would not
Mr.. Maxey give her his promise not to
follow up that dark matter further? Mr..
Maxey did not want to- but for her sake
Mr.. Maxey would, and he did.
81 promise you," he said at length.
IT will detain him no longer. will
tell him that he is at liberty to go where
he pleases, and that / do it for his
daughters sake. -
ooh, no; please don't tell him that.
It is not necessary that he should know
that l interceded for him. would rath.
er not. )"
"Very well then, " said Maxey. "So
be it.
He left the room and dismissed Mr..
Belfry from his post in the hall.
AS he was holding the door open fol
the sly landlord to pass out, Miss Maxey
swept by him on her way to the street,
and as she went she flashed into her
brothers. face look of mingled pity and
contempt which made him feel decided
ly uncomfortable.
"She thinks I have yielded to Annette
too readily" he reflected, "and nc
doubt she is right No doubt I have" /"
Still he could not retract his promise
now He went into the room where the
somber man still sat.
"Mr. Dye, have only one more ques.
tion to ask you. Have you told me ev'
erythlng which you Delleve IL Is neces'
sary for me as the guardian of Annette
to know?"
'Sir, have nothing more to say.
|, II have done, sir. :"
Mr.. Dye arose, calm and unmoved
now as he had been at first smoothed
off his hat with his glistening sleeve,
put it upon his head and made the fol
lowing speech:
II desire first, sir, to warn you, If you
wish to retain me, TO have me arrested.
Necessity is stern law. I must eat Il
there is nothing for me here, l shall moi
remain here I do not much think, in
view of the manifold vicissitudes Of life
and the uncertainties of the appellations
which control human events, that il