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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1886)
102 THE WEST SHORE. could not repress a scream. Turning my Lead quickly I saw my father. By the rays of the candle which he bold in his hand, I plainly saw the expression of mingled surprise, Hhame and sorrow with which he regarded me. I mm hi in now I nee his bewilderment as ho glanced from me to my lover and back again to me. With a curse Louis dashed away tlie sputtering candle, and sprang toward the door. I shrinked loudly I shrieked with all the onorgy of despair, and staggering foil. "Of what succeeded, I have but a dim and imperfect recollection. There was a struggle followed by the sounds of voices and retreating footsteps. I felt myself borne rapidly along the hallway, out in the howling storm. I know no more. " Whon I recovered consciousness I was in a strnnge room, with a strange, ugly looking French woman bend ing over me. I started up hastily, my mind full of the terrors inspired by tho recent dreadful events; but from sheer weakness fell back on my pillow. I inquired the whereabout of Louis, and whore I was. Louis was away, but would return that night .Respecting my father, and why I had boon removed from home, my questions were met by evasive replies. "That night Louis appeared at my bedside but how changed I His clothing was soiled and torn, his eyes were wild looking, his face was haggard and pale. "'Louis, dear Louis, where are we, and what of my father? Why are we hear?' I anxiously whispered. "His voice was firm when ho said, "'You are with friends. Your father is very angry.' "' Oh, Louis, ho will surely forgive me-ho cannot be angry with his only child. Go to him, Louis, or write and lsg him to oomo and bike mo home,' I ex claimed with tears. Yes, child, I'll go to-morrow; now lio down and bo quiet.' " I did not again see him until the evening of the third day. Ho said he had lioen to my father, who re fused to listen to him; in a passion ho had ordered him from his presence, and to inform me to never darken his door agaiu. On receiving this message, I wept bitterly and was inconsolable. WJien able to sit up, I enned a long letter to my father, in which I confessed all my er rors, and begged forgiveness. This Louis said he would cud by messenger. Days and weeks passed without a reply. In desair I penned another letter, which Louis forwarded; but after weeks of weary waiting no answer came, " Louis, meanwhile, had broached the subject of our marriage, but I put him olT from day to day, in hoe8of hearing from my father. At last I Ix'gged Iahub to take mo home; in 'nton I would entreat my father's forgive ness. This he refused to do unlive I would first l mar ried. 80 anxious was I to see my dear father that I oonsontod. Accordingly a clergyman was called to jier form the marriage somen, which ho did in the presence of two witnowM. "Louis now remaiucj constantly with me, aud from day to day deferred the fulfillment of his promise to take me home. Thus a month passed. Louis never went out during the day, but left me when evening came on, and remained away sometimes most of the night Where he went or what he did I dared not ask, as, since our marriage he hod grown irritable and strangely in difforeni " One night during his absence I accidentally dis covered a mask, a wig, and false whiskers. What uses they were put to I had no very clear idea. Yet I felt they were not needed to the accomplishment of any good purpose. Suspecting that I had discovered them, Louia next day explained that he was employed as detective, which employment rendered such disguises necessary. Another month had hardly passed when, he began to ab sent himself for days and weeks together. " At length with an aching heart I remonstrated with him. 1 " ' Dear Louis, why do you remain from me why do you neglect your wife?' I said. " He turned on me furiously. With flushed faoe and glittering eyes he replied, "' Curse you 1 How dare you ask me? You're no wife of mine I hate you 1' " ' Oh, Louis, Louis I' was all I could say. "He went on: " ' I'm tired of your whining. - I never loved you. I thought to use you as an instrument of revenge I thought to get the treasure which I believed the haunted room contained; but instead there was that heap of grin ning bouos. Curse them ourse you, and curse your father !' " Advancing, he raised his hand to strike me I knew no more. "When I recoveied, the Frenoh woman was chafing my hands. Louis had fled, leaving me to starve or die. " A fow hours later appeared a gruff-looking police oflicer. '"Where is he, mum?' he inquired '"Who?' "'The chap wot stays here.' " ' Oh, why, sir? Why do you wish to know?' "The Frenoh woman had complained of him, I thought, for his cruelty to me; but I could not have him punished. '"I want him for murder,' replied the officer. "' Murder I' I said, starting up. " ' Yes, mum for murder.' " My Louis would not do such a thing ! No, no 1' I exclaimed " He has done it already, mum. He has murdered Lord Wilmer on the night of tho twenty-second of June; stabbed him, mum.' '"Lord Wilmer I My father, 0 my father I' I shrieked. "My friends, there is no need, and I know you will not expect me to relate how for days I lay raving and tearing my hair in the delirium of fever, or how my father's and my lover's names were continually on my lips, True, I survived the shook, but my peace of mind