The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-14


the wall.
Impatient ~ Francis was TO exsmius
the papers contained in the tin box, he
thought it prudent to FIRST make good bis
retreat to his Office. He went out by
the back door, and as he turned the
corner Of the house he saw lying near the
steps Of the front entrance what appear
cd TO be . letter. He took il up, and
seeing that It was directed TO tho late
Mr.. Fairfax, concluded that it was some
old letter which had accideptly fallen
from an open window, or perhaps had
been hecdlsssly swept out at the door.
He therefore put it,into bis pocket, aud
proceed 70 bis Office. When arrived
there, he locked the door, to secure
himself from suddsa interruption. TAX
ing the papers from the box, ,,he pro-
cesdsd to examine them. Glaucinp
over the first page of the sheet he had
unfolded, he found the contents sub
stantlally the same as what Mr.. Fair
fsx bad told him, relative to himself,
the day before he died; but when be
turned to tho opposite page, something
20 unexpected met bis eye, that uttering
an exclamation of surprise, he involun-
tsrily rose to bis feet. The sentence
which caused this sudden emotion was
this:
My son still lives, and is known by
che name Of Francis Norman"
Many particulars respecting the Fair
fax family were related, interesting to
those concerned, though without any
particular bearing on this sketch. The
next paper he took from the box was 10
the form Of . letter. 1t said
p" BE careful my son, to guard the
secret Of your parsntage till you hear
from England. About three months
sinoe, l heard, indirectly, that my cousin
Rupert Fairfax, had died without hers.
/ Immediately wrsts to my friend and
correspondent, in order to learn tho
truth Of this report, but have not yet
received an answer. II, after my de-
cease, q letter should arrive from Eng
land, directed to me, l wish you to read
it and be guided by its contents If the
rumor with regard to my cousin Rupert
be correct, you can at once have re-
course to the necessary measures to take |
possession Of the valuable estate left BY
ny father, concerning which, as you
will see, have given you full and minute
directions. Bat even If the runor re-
ferred 10 prove false, ysu will not be
destitute Of this worlds goods. You
will find By my will that have given
yog properly smountipg to forty thou
sand dollars, which l have myself accu.
nulated."
Enclosed in this letter was the writer's
marriage certificate. The attention Of
Francis had been so absorbed in the
perusal Of these and the other papers
contained in the box, that be never once
thought Of the letter he found BY the
doorstep, till he saw it on the table,
whore he had thrown it at bis entrance
into the Office. On examining it, he
found that it must be the letter Mr.. |
Fairfax had been expecting, in answer
70 the one he wrote his friend IN Eng
land. 1t had been intercepted without
doubt, snd as Frincis believed, by Red
wick, - he was the only person whose
interests would prompt to the perpetra-
tisn of Q deed 50 mean and base. This
suspicion was 80 far confirmed as to
amouat almost to = certainty, when, in
the evening, he called on Mrs. Milburn
who told him that Kedwick had been in
great trouble about the loss of letter,
which he was certain WAS in his pocket
when he left home.
Tho same evening about eight o'clock,
Francis called at Mr.. Randolph's. One
of the curtains having been left updrawn,
he saw that Redwick was in the draw
ing room, and therefore requested the
servant to tell Mr.. Randolph that there
was some one at tho door who wished to
see him.
81 have something important to CON-
municate to you," said he, when Mr.
Randolph made his appearance.
"Step this way, th hen," said Mr.. Ran |
dolph opening the door ofa back parlor. |
Francis having placed the papers
upen table, and explained how be had
found them, requested Mr.. Randolph to
examine them.
"You will see, SIR" said Francis.
when he had finished the examination,
that shall End no difficulty in raising
the sum which will save you from bank
ruptcy. Permit me to place what you
need at your disposal, and then let your
daughter choose between Redwick and
me-"
"Ws both know that you will run
no risk Of being repulsed," said Mr..
Randolph. But who could have thought
that Redwick would have oondescended
10 intercept letter. :"
"The temptation was strong" re-