The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-16

inc Sir Thomas forgiveness Of his unauthorized
espousals but that the probable heir of Redwood
might be born in the walls of the ancient manor
house. After the first burst of passion and sur
prise Sir Thomas, of the best-hearted men in
the universe, cordially forgave his sons disobe-
dience-partly, and quite rightly, imputing it to his
own foolish urgency in pressing union with one
Of the Lacy family, with which the baronet was
very intimate, and whose estate adjoined his own.
Well, this lady, now widow, had been left by
her husband at Chester, whilst he came on to seek
explanation with his father. Mr.. Archibald Red
wood was to have set out the next morning in one
OF Sir Thomas carriages, to bring home his wife
and the baronet, with his dying BREATH bade me
assure her of his forgiveness, and his earnest hope
and trust that through her offspring the of the
Redwoods might be continued in direct line.
"The family estates, | should tell you being
strictly entailed on hersmale, devoved if no son
Of Mr.. Archibald Redwood should bar his claim,
upon Charles Malvern, the son of the cousin of the
late Sir Thomas Redwood. The baronet had al
ways felt partiality towards Malvern, and had
assisted him pecunarily hundred times. Sir
Thomas also directed me to draw, as quickly as |
could, short will, bequeathing Mr.. Charles Nal.
vern 100000 out of the personals. | wrote
peditiously | could, but by the time the paper
ready for his signature, Sir Thomas was
longer conscious | placed the pen in his hand,
and | fancied he understood the purpose, for his
fingers closed family upon it; but the power to
guide was utterly gone, and only slight, scram-
bling stroke marked the paper, as the pen slid
across it in the direction of his falling
" Mr.. Malvern arrived at the manor house about
an hour after Sir Thomas breathed his last. 1t
was very clearly apparent through all his sorrow
partly real, | have no doubt as well as partly as
sumsd-that JOY, the joy of riches, was dancing at
his heart and in spite Of all his efforts to subdue
conceal it, sparkling in his eyes. | briefly, but
gently as | could, acquainted him with the true
position of affairs. The revusion Of feeling which
ensued entirely unnamed him and it was not till
hour afterwards that he recovered his self-pos-
session sufficiently to converse reasonably and
coolly upon his position. At last he became appa-
rently reconciled to the sudden overcouding of his
imaginary brilliant prospects, and 1t was agreed
that as he was relative Of the widow he should
at once set off to break the sad news to her.
Well, a few days after his departure, received
letter from him, stating that Lady Redwood Il
don't think, by the way, that as her husband died
before succeeding to the ba-onecy, she is entitled
to that appeation Of honor; we, however, call her
so out of courtesy-that Lady Redwood, though
prematurely confined, in consequence of the inte-
gence of her husbands untimely death, had given
birth to a female child, and that both mother and
daughter were as well as could be expected This,
you will agree, appeared perfectly satisfactory"
Entirely So"
$50 thought. Mr. Malvern was now unques-
tionably, whether Sir Charles Malvern or not, the
proprietor of the Redwood estates, burthened as
with charge in accordance with the conditions of
the entails, OF thousand pounds life annunity to
the late Mr.. Redwood's infant daughter.
"Sir Charles returned to Redwood manor house,
where his wife and family afterwards arrived
Lady Redwood had been Joined, ! understood, by
| her mother Mrs Ashton, and would when able to
undertake the journey, return to her maternal home
Il was about two months since Sir Thomas Red
wood death that | determined to pay Lady Red
wood visit in order to the winding up of the per-
sonal estate, which it desirable to accomplish
as speedily possible, and then new and terrible
| light flashed upon me-"
=" What, in heavens name - | exclaimed for
the first time breaking silence" what could there
| be to reveal?"
"Only," rejoned Mr.. Repton, &c that i'll, deliri.
! Gus, as Lady Redwood admitted herself to have
been, it her intimate, unconquerable conviction
| that she had given birth to twins "
| "Good God And you suspect -
"We don't know what to suspect. Should tht
Iady's confident belief be correct, the missing chile
| might have been a boy. You understand"
do But is there any tangible evidence tC
| Justify this horrible suspicion %
| q Yes ; the surgeon apotheCary and his wife, q
| Mr.. and Mrs. Williams, who attended Lady Red.
wood, have suddenly disappeared from Chester
| and, from no eNplanable motive, having left OI
abandoned fair business there"
"Tnat has certainly an ugly look"
| True: and a few days ago l received infOrma
| ton that Williams had been seen in Birmingham
He was well dressed, and not apparently in any
| business
There certainly appears some ground for sus
picion What plan of operations do you prop rss >
| "That," replied Mr.. Repton, must leave tC
your more praclis d sagacty, | can only undertake
that no means shall be lacking that may be re
| quired."
1t will be better, perhaps" suggested, aftel
an interval of reflection, that should proceed tC
| Birmingham at once. You have of course ac
curate description Of the persons of Williams anC
his wife ready?"
al have; and very accurate pen.and-ink sketch
| es am told they are. Besides these, | have alsC
here" continued Mr.. Repton, taking from his
pocke-book a sheet of carefully folded satin paper
"a full description of the female baby, drawn W
| by its mother, under the impression that twins al
ways-I believe they generally do-Closely rpsem
bic each other, "Light hair, blue eyes, dimpeC
chin and so on. The lady-a very charming
person, assure, and meek and gentle a fawn-
is chiefly anxious to recover her child. You and
should our suspicious be confirmed, have other du
ties to T9ttOrm"
This was pretty near all that passed, and tn
next day | was in Birmingham.
| The search, as was compelled to be cautious il
my inquiries, tedious, but finally successful
Mr.. and Mrs. Williams | discovered living in
| pretty house, with neat grounds attached, abou
two miles out of Birmingham, the coach roa
| to Wolverhampton. Their assumed name wa
Burridge, and | ascertained from the servant cir
who fetched their dinner and supper beer, and oc
casionally wine and spirits, from eighborin
tavern, that they had one child, boy, a few month
old, of whom neither father nor mother SCENE
very fond. By dint of much perseverance, | E;
length got upon pretty familiar terms with M
, Burridge alias Williams. He spent his eve
nings regularly in the tavern; but with a
the pains taking, indefatigable ingenuity | en-
ployed, the chief knowledge l acquired, du
2 ing three weeks of assiduous endeavor, WI
that my friend burridge, intended, immediate
after visit which he expected shortly to recei1
i, from rich and influential relative in London,
] emigrate to America, at all events to 90 abrca
n This was however, very significant and precio
information; and very rarely, indeed, was he aft
II | had obtained it, out ofmy sight or observation.
:. At length perseverance obtained its reward. Or
o morning discovered my friend much more spruc
a ly attred than ordinary, make his way 10 the ra
y road station, and there question with eager lOo
g every passenger that alghted from the first ella
N carriages At last a gentleman, whom ! instant
recognized spite of the shawl and other wrapping
le arrived by the express train from London. w
Of liams instantly accOsted him, cab was Gale
ir and away they drove. | followed in another al
HI saw them both slght at hotel in New street.
ID also alighted, and was mentally debating how
N proceed, when Williams came out of the taver
" and proceeded in the direction of his hOme l f
I'd lowed, overlook him, and soon COntrived to asCt
tain that he and his wife had important busint
or to transact in Birmingham the next mOrnir
e, which would render it impossible he should mt
E. me, as proposed till two or three O'Clock in
afternoon at the earliest; and the next morning
- esteemed friend informed me, he would leave
O. place, probably for ever. An hour after this CO
III versation l. accompanied by the chief of the b
y mlngham police, was clOseted with the landlord
en the Motel in New street, highly respectable p
1p SON VINO promised us every assistance in his pow