The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-13

The door opens sharply, and there
was an old fat fellow with candle In
his hand, glaring at me.
"Who are your" says he. for my ap-
pearance took him by surprise.
We'll" says in a friendly way.
I'm not Old Rowley, nor am the
topsman. but something between. and
what that is matters nothing. But I
found poor maid astray on the
heath. and have taken the liberty to
fetch her home safe and secure"
He pushed his head further out,
holding the candle SO as to throw the
light into the road. IT'S you. Nelly!"
said he. sharply. Have | not said
have done with you? Go to your low
er, you baggage!" and he made a mo.
ton to pull to the door, but my foot
was inside.
softly" said ], softly. gaffer.
This is your niece, believe" nodding.
over my arm to miss.
We'll" he snarled, "as she is mine
and not yours | can do what l like
with her"
"Oh Is that how the wind blows?"
said I. "Thcn. sink mel but I shall
have to go to school again to learn
morals But there Ia one thing I
have no need to learn again. and
that's how to knock sense and discre-
tion into thick head" said I, mean.
ingly. and at the same time ! threw
the bride over Calypso's ears and
stood free before the old villain.
lie looked at me moment, the
flame of the candle wagging before
down the candlestick. You do not
understand, sir" he said in quieter
voice. 81 have TO give my niece les.
sons; have to teach her by severity:
but since II is probable that she has
been sufficiently frightened by this
nights adventure, and come to rea.
son, let her enter" And so saying,
he stepped back and held the door
aside.
That he was OF savage, uncon.
trollable temper was evident. but
had not reckoned with the old bears
cunning, and | vow | was to blame
for It. So old a hand as Dick Ryder
should not have been caught by so
simple a trick. Yet he was miss 3
uncle. and how was to suspect him
so deeply? At any rate. the facts are
that, on seeing him alter so reasona.
bly,. and step back with the invitation
| on his lips and In his bearing. ] too
| stepped back from the doorway to
leave way for miss to enter. Then OF
a sudden bang goes the door TO, shak'
| ing the very walls of the house. and
great key is turned In the inside
groaning rustily.
will confess I felt blank. but re
window above the old rascal stuck his
head
Let her go back to her lover!" he
| says with sneer. "Or maybe you
can take her yourself. want nc
soiled pieces in Christian house,
| and the head was withdrawn, the win
dow shut tight, and the house was
plunged in darkness.
| You may suppose how this usage
| annoyed me, who am not wont TO be
| treated in so scurvy fashion, or to
come out OF the contest so shabbily.
| was, on the instant. for flying at the
| door and employing my barkers and
point forthwith, but 1t is not wise tc
| leap too soon with your eyes shut and
| so ! held my temper and my tongue
| only showing my teeth In an ugly
| grin as turned to Miss Nelly.
| Why" says |, "the old buck has
said the truth. And there is some
thing in his whimsles after all. II
seems that George and must fight o,
toss for you, my dear" You must
remember that had not seen her face
all this time. for all tho streaming can
| die the old gentleman carried, but
| gathered that she was in distress from
the note of her voice, which trem
| bled.
You cannot mean II, sir" she cried
| and shrank away into the darkness
whence caught the sound of sob
! bing.
| why, bless you, child" said I
touched at the exhibition OF her weak
ness and innocence, such chitterkin'
as you are not for me, pretty as you
may be, I'll swear No. you're fol
George. or ! may perish!"
| Sir" says she, staying her tears
and speaking with an air OF dignity
vastly entertaining, Il am past IS.
| Well says !. ''if you are so old as
that | would had mother like yoil
| granny, But as for old Suet yonder
rip and stab me If | do not pay hin
back in gold coin before two hours 4.
out! And in the meantime you com,
| along with me, gransam,"
| | think she was confused and fiut
tered to be 80 addressed, not under
standing my sarcasm; hut she fol
lowed me obediently, not having ans
ideas ~ her own, poor soul. LEI
| tho way to Roohamton, where | har
made mp my mind she should liz
meanwhile in the care of the wench
knew at the inn, was fashloning II
my mind plan for the confoundinf
of the old tub-of-lard as | went, for
never lose time, but am speedy at my
aim yet all the same ! talked with
miss pretty joylal, for she was {
shrinking slip of girl who was be