Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-20

nj greSSes and the result of these reflections
was calm request that the aged woman
would inform him why it was i'll advised in him
to marry one of the Hairston family. After
a plentiful addition of exclamations, groans,
and exhibitions of grief, the old woman pro-
ceeded to account for her emotion and those
mysterious eyclamations which had excited so
much astolishment in her auditor
1t is not necessary to dwell upon the family
legend which the old woman related with many
palaied shakes of the head and evidences of no
common agitation. The result will exhibit the
nature Of her communication. 1t is enough to
| say in this place, that an hour after his eIl-
trance into the cabin young Hetherington is
sued from the low doorway, pale and silent,
but with a sarcastic sneer upon his firm lip
Blood p he muttered, disdainfully smiling
a drop of blood Absurd and yet must
be about to grow crazy ike this old woman ;
for | know not what demon whispers to
me, there IS truth IN this tcarRing! Blood .
! The tate of all the Hetheriagfoas Why, it is
absolutely silly and sillieSt of all is it, that
man Of trained mind ncredulous, no child 10
be frighted by bugbears of the imagination,
should for an instant entertain this foolish
thought 4. \ drop of blood to fright me :
/ Bah I'll go cover my head with blanket
and cry myself asleep"
| As the young man finished his brief solloquy
he entered the doorway of the hail, and pass
/ ed into the great dining-room.
! 4 he placed his foot upon the threshold,
/ he saw old Calvert disappear hastily through a
! side door, and at the same instant his quick
eye discovered vibration in the frame of his
graud-father's portrait, hanging near the east
/ trn window
whats this !" he cried, Calvert Come
! back what is this ?"
Old Calvert appeared at the door, solemn
and grave His master demanded the reason
Of bis abrupt withdrawal from the apartment.
The old negro cody replied that he had just
finished putting the silver in the closet by the
chimney.
BY the chimney? The closet ?" repeated
the young man goomily You were the
length of the whole apartment from the chin
ney, and in the second place, here is the key of
the silver closet"
The old negro looked confused for moment
then this expression was replaced by one Of
doEged and Sullen silence. so to speak His
only reply, when young Hetherngton again
demanded no explanation of his extraordinary
haste was an intimatOn that if MasSa Ar
thur thought old Calvert was dishonest it
was :" moren MD maSsa ever had, and then
the white-haired steward calmly withdrew.
The young man followed him with his eyes,
bQt said nothing lie saw that he could ex-
tract no further communication from the negro
lie determined instead of attempting an exac-
ton Of authority, to investigate for himself
He accordingly went and turned the keys in
the locks OF both doors, then he proceeded
+ toward the east window. and, mounting upon
tall chair. stood beneath the protrait OF his
grandfather 1t represented the friend of
! Lord Baltimore in mature age clad in steel
armletS, over which fell pro:usion of lace,
/ vleyrt purpoint, and go!dGowered waistcoat
The hair vas long, curling, and powdered,
most probably a perQke and the counter ancc
wore an expression Of sterlness and gloon,
strikingly in accordance with the Distinguishing
trait OF the young man himself
Young Hetherington scarcely bestowed
second look upon the portrait, but raised the
I heavy frame from the wall and was reward
ed by discovering small panel in the carved
oak The steel spring, 10y which this hidden
closet opened, still vibrated family, with low
singing noise, showing that the door had been
recently closed.
The ardent and burning eyes of the young
gentleman sought long and yailly for the open
ing spring His eager fingers tTaverSed every
i.c. OF the woodwork without discovering the
clue. He mounted upon the projection in the
wajascotiu-, sustaining the backs of the great
chairs, and sought again, pushing the great
portrait aside until it hung in position nearly
horizontal II was all in vain. and with his
brow covered by a cold sweat, the Young man
leaned his shoulder heavily against the door.
As he did SO, he felt the pane! more beneath
his arH-he started back, and square piece
o. tiia carved waiUSc0t few open Il reveal
eI a small or.Ece ia tAe wall : and at the
month. 50 10 speak, of this oriice lay an an
riuUe ponard with an iy0rT handle
Young Hethcrington clErche1 it, and, lean
ing to the floor, held il up aud razel at it,
Tie fate ef the Hti4eriagfoHs' = he nut
tered, turning as pale as death. the very
weapon described the old nurse What devil
has been trifing with ma, for God there Is
none that | believe in"
Tie looked, then, more attentiyely at the
! weapon. 1t was richly set in gold encrusted
with gemS-and the damaScRHed blade was
clotted with blood HetheriBgtou stood for
I some moments looking with wide eyes at the
! poinard and then, quick turn OF his head
/ toward the western door indicated his th0ught
What had Calvert to do with this ;" h
mutJered gloom.ly could it have been-did
it"
Aud, pausing suddenly. he stopped and ex-
amiued the floor
Immediately beneath the portrait triangu-
lar iHciSioa il the oakeu timber Of The flooring
rewarded his search. lie inserted the point Oi
the weapon in the cut 1t fitted perfectly.
HetheriRgtOn rose, replaced the poaiaF,i in
the hidden closet, closed the door, and argaag-
cd the portrait as before. Then he removed
the chair by means of which lie had mounted,
brushed away some grains OF dust left hy his
boot upon the wainscot, and then began pacips,
the apartment, with feFeFish steps
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