Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-07
CHAPTER MI.
= TIT T u sNIIa
A TERRIBLE ACCUSATION.


| his society with smiles. and quite bewil-
dered the poor man with Kindness. If
Joad who was naturally very crafty. had
not been in love, he would have mstrust-
ed this sudden transformation and been
on his guard. As it was in the then state
of his feelings, he ascribed Doras changed
behavior to desire to be on better
terms with one who was bound. owing to
the terms of the viii. TO come into con-
| tact daily with her. In this belief he re-
ciprocatod her advances and WED with her
In amiabiity
on her part. Mrs. Tice viewed the COM
ody with displeasure Nevertheless, she
/ made no attempt to Interfere. Although
she was unwilling TO be an active party
i'm revealing the truth to Dora, yet she
: was by no means displeased that the girl
should learn il from q third party. Dora
was deeply in love with Allen and the
sooner she realized there could be no
union between them the better it would
! be. To come to such an understanding
/ IL was necessary that she should learn
! the secret. When she was possessed of
such knowledge, the housekeepor was sat
| isfed that. even if DR.. Scott did desire
| the match. Dora would refuse her con-
| sent thereto. Therefore. Mrs. Tice pre-
! ferred being spectator to actor. For some
days Dora pursued her amable tactics.
and Joad fell deeper and deeper i'm love.
| He was well aware, in his own heart.
| that this girl young enough TO be his
granddaughter. would never consent to be
his wife: but for all that he put no re-
straint upon his feelings. Moreover, he
had weapon in his hand which he hoped
20 use with effect. In spite of his belief
that Dora would not accept him voluntar-
/ ily. he fancied that he could force her
into the match by making use of the
weapon aforesaid. But it was not to be
brought into active service save as last
resource.
Meanwhile the comedy of May and Dc
cember; Of MethUselah i'm Already; of An
old mans darling went gaily on. Joad
paid more attention to his dress, he drank
less brandy. and talked more affably.
Instead of burying himself in the library.
he was TO be found haunting the steps of
Dora. He loved her very shadow, and
was never tired of gazing AT her face.
She seemed 20 him TO be the most beauti-
full. the most wonderful. the mos gracious
woman in the world and he gloated over
her charms like an old satyr. Crafty. as
tute and worldly as he was he fell pros
trate at her feet, debased Merlin en-
tangled in the wiles of an artificial
Vivien.
Dora played her part bravely; but at
times IL was too much for her. and she
would leave the house 10 scour the coun-
try on her bicycle. Joad was too old and
Shaky to accompany her. and she was
thus relieved i'm some measure from his
senile alteration. But. however. near the
approach of Canterbury, she never enter
ed the town or sought out Allen.
NO" she said to herself. when unusu-
ally impelled TO make the visit, FIRST 1
shall learn the truth. once in possession
of Aliens secret. OF the name Of Mr.. Ed
ermouts assassin. and I shall know how
TO act; till then ] shall remain absent"
But, with all this diplomacy. it was not
so easy to gain the confidence of Joad.
The least hint az Mr.. Edermonts past.
and he withdrew into himself. lie evaded
her most dexterous inquiries. and when
she pressed him hard assumed the charac-
ter of a duh. stupid old man who knew
nothing about the matter. Yet he was
not unwilling TO discuss the details of the
murder and subsequent robbery. although
he professed himself unable TO account
for either. BY acting thus. he ignored the
question of Edermonts secret enemy.
Fut one day Dora succeeded I'm forcing
him into plain speaking: but the revela-
ton made was one she was far from eN-
pecting. The beginning of the whole mat
ter lay in the fact that she discovered
Joad I'm the library the worse for drink
II was not that he was confused or maud
lin. for the mans brain and speech were
both clear But he was filled with Dutch
courage which made him more audacious
than usual. Dora reproved him for his
vice.
You should be ashamed of yourself
drinking so much brandy. Mr.. Joad.' she
said severely.
Il have not touched brandy for weeks"
said Joad. lying gibly. after the fashion
of habitual drunkards.
Dora looked at him In contempt and
pointed out a tall mirror before which
they were both standing. 1t reflected her
own tall. straight form. and also the fig
uro Of the disreputable old sinner. Can
YOU see your face and deny it, she said
I'm a tone OF rebuke. Your eyes are red.
your clothes are awry. your
Leave me 10 bear the burden Of my
sins" said Joad. suuenly; IF I take
brandy. ] don't ask YOU to pay for ii"
But YOU are a gentleman, scholar"
persisted Dora. sorry for the wretched old
creature; you should be above such low
vices"
I'VE cannot be above the depths to
which we have fallen. Miss Carew. Ny
life has been one long failure. so IL is
scarcely to be wondered at that 7 fly to
drink for consolation. Few men have oeen
so hardly treated as 1 have been
Yet Mr. Edermont helped YOU
NO doubt" retortod Joad viciously;
"but he would not have stretched out a
finger TO save me If 1 had not forced him
TO-"
You forced Mr.. Edermont To-
Il forced him 70 nothing" interrupted
Joad. seeing that he had gone TOO far. 1t
is only my way of speaking. Don't mind
the ramblings Of a foolish old failure"
Dora looked at him silently His eyes
We're filled with tears and, ashamed OF
betraying his emotion. ne turned away 10
busy himself with busting a book. In the
few words which he had let slip, Dora saw
that ne had possessed some power over the
dead man. which had won him house and
home That power she believed. was con-
nected with the lifelong misery of Eder-
mont. and with the fact Of his murder.
The idea made her take an unexpected
step. Selling the astonished Joad by the
arm, she whirled him round, SO as to look
straight into his eyes.