Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-08-05
CHAPTER XIV.


notice for some time the changes which
were going on about US; but | was soon
Brought from dreamland by the attitude
which the young master chose to take.
George Redrutb had made up his mind
10 woo Madeline Graham. and he honor
ed me 80 far as to fear that my presence
In st. Gurlott's might be the means Of
preventing him winning his cousins
hand. A marriage with Madeline would
be advantageous 70 him, principally be-
cause his own position was becoming
very insecure. he having gsmbled and
bet away most Of his fortune, and so be-
Eng in danger Of losing the position which
aer money would restore to him. Thus
II was that he watched the growing
friendship between myself and his cousin
with eyer-iscreOsing anger: and finding
he could not openly control her, he de-
termined. | afterward learned, to gain
his ends by ~treachery.
At home things were going very badly
with us. My uncle remained in the same
~desponding state. while every day fresh
wrinkles appeared in my aunt's face. IL
seemed a sin for me to be happy while
80 much grief remained at home. and |
sometimes felt inclined to go right away
and not return till l could bring our lost
one along with me.
| began to wonder, too, II my uncle
could be right when he said that the new
oTerseer had hand in poor Annie's
flight. This idea had resointely fixed IL
self in his mind. II was strange. but
since the night Of Annie's disappearance
Johnson's face had not been seen In st.
Gctlott's. was bordering over a solu-
tion of all these mysteries when one
day an event happened which threatened
70 bring matters 10 a climax indeed.
/ had come up from the mine efter n
prolonged inspection Of ii, when sudden
1y | heard q wild sound Of voices, and
looking round / saw two men facing
each other. and looking as If they we're
shout to close In a deadly grip. One Of
the men was my uncle. the other was
johnson, the oyerseer.
At sight Of the man whom he believed
70 be his bitterest foe. an my uncle's
feebleness seemed 10 fall m~iraeuiously
from him. He lowered above the other,
and raised his clenched fist as IL to strike.
You viilainn' he cried. "yo- coward
ID, t~reacherous villain. Tell me, whafis
my tass7 Tell me. or / strike ZEE dead
before met
In another moment the arm would
have descended, for johnson was par
alysed with fear; bat I sprang forward
and caught it with cry. My uncle tried
u wrench himself free.
"Let gaw, Hughf' he cried, fercely.
- told zee what I'd do IL | met the
villain, and I'll do Il. Look at 'un, the
white-faced cur: he brought trouble to
my lassi Aid nav, while she's wander
IN about the earth in misery maybe, he
eooms var to laugh Al uslv
/ still held him firmly; and Johnson.
cur that he was. seeing that the danger
was passed, recovered his presence OF
mind.
Perhaps, now you're a little calmer."
be said, you'll tell me what you're raw
ing aboutf"
II will answer for him." l replied.
Where is Annie P~endragonf"
He shrugged his shoulders, and raised
Ais brows.
~ seems to me you are all having lu-
Mates together, Why do you ask me these
thiagsf What do | know OF the grip
You were seen with her in Fal-
mouth"
My uncle lad earned that this was
Il don't know where she Is, met
her IN Falmouth, its true, and spoke to
her; but her being away from home was
concern O mine"
Its a liel' cried my uncle. ~Hercely;
aud again he tried to free himself from
my grasp, but l held him firmly.
Its no use" | said; Eve shan't mend
matters with him. We must find out by
onle other means whether or not he Is
speaking the truth"
The result Of all this was a seri0as ill.
ness. which laid my uncle low, and for
sbme weeks threatened his life. During
this time Madeline came frequently TO
she etftdge, accompanied by Anita, who
carried little tempting things for the poor
old mai 10 eat. Al last, the terrible
tire Dasscd, and be rose from his bed
he feeble, wornout wreck of his old self.
From that day forth his intellect sesta-
"a shaker, but he chung with strange per.
kistenee to the one idea that johnson was
Ia some way responsible for all that had
taken place. ! had my own reasons for
refusing to share this belief; neverthe.
less. I saw the oysrseer again. and after
the Interview with him, | became more
irmiy ecavineed than ever that my uncle
was wrong In his snrmises.
Meantime, having seen my uncls on
the hsgh road 20 recovery. | was COM
PEELED once more to n.ra my attention to
She mine. which grew every day mere
aa. serous. | had SPOKEN TO the master
# these dangers agata aud again, and he
mad taken no heed. Nevertheless, / knew
that something must be done; l resolved
4, make one last appeal 10 him. / had
fully made up my mind to seek him at
BONE. when / was spared the pains. lie
sirollea down 70 the counting house opS
narnlng In company with johnson.
Mr.. Rcdruth." | said. approaching
sim, II should like to speak a few words
ssita you. sir"
He looked at me from head to foot
with a cold. supercilious sheer which sent
my bleod up to boiling heat, as no re-
piled;
well. you can speak, ,hen--I am all
attention"
1T is about the minc," l began, when
he interrupted me.
"0h, the tnine." no said. Impatiently
II think | have heard q good deal on
this subject from you befareT'
You haze, sir, aud you have taken
10 heed: bat the time has passed for al
that-eacA day the danger grows. and
now az any me the sea may break
Ii and every soul be killed.
-Do the men know of the danger which
sou say is threatening themT'
Most assuredly they de-"
And do they refuse 10 work -
~No. where would be the nse? II they
If the mine. they would be thrown nnl