The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-29
HorribleI" cried Charles, starting, and

shudderipg as he stood.
!" And / could do nothing till Mr.. Walter
came back, late that evening. Then he like
went mad in that room, and be said nothing I
could understand, but cries and groans like
speechless animal; and at last down the little
stair he ran, and following, just saw him dis
afpesr in the darkness, and not q word nor
sign to say where he was going. was all of
trefnble, and just turned back through the
room, and dashed the clothes back over the
bed, aid ran out and locked the door, and never
went Gear it again, and Master Walter was not
heard of, as know of, for years bat the old
squire was a strange man, and might have news
Of hin without ever telling the like Of US
word-s
"Dnever heard anything of this" said Ora.
burn,
Not likely you should, sir 1t was when she
was An infant and though I still call her
girl, she's ty-six, if she's day."
when did he come back, then?" said
Charles.
mot long before the old squire died, and
that's five-and-forty years now since. He said
nothing to me, nor to him. 1t was Just as if
neither of US knew what the other was thinking
of; and so it always has been-not word be-
tween US But saw he sought to see the
child, and brought her in my hand one day
from the woman's where boarded her, for my
husband was dead; and he looked at her, and
said, How old is that hideous creature p
'Tef years. said, looking fall at him. So be
understood, and gave me great sum of
raon y-twenty pounds-and turned away"
low strangel" said Graburn.
81 don't know, said the old woman; I" she
,eas i hiaeous discreditable creature, and grew
wors and worse. But he always behaved very
WE'LL and when the old equire died, he gave
IL - Il
and now l can understand perfectly well the
legacy is for her for am but few days more
for this. world, and I've made her safe of it."
"Qf course he was not married to the lady,"
faid Graburn.
He was," said the cid woman.
"p, no, no." cried Charles, quickly; "no, he
eouIe not have been. Why do you think so ?
hfse not for in that case she is the heiress."
go Lord, no." said the old woman. What
coul she do with the castle and the estate; he
kne's better than that few hundred pounds
suit ger better than your thousands"
II don't know how that may be-" said
Cha les but do know, if she is his legitimate
dan. liter, the thousands are not mine."
Nonsense" said the old woman az would
not have told you if had thought. To think
of ,r old Phillis being the lady of Castle Hark-
stoi :. indeed!"
"What reasons have you for believing them
maisied ?" said Charles.
=" He said he was" said the old woman, in
his etter, and never doubted it; but don't go
to ''ouble yourself about it. Give the girl a
it'll money year by year, and let her live on in
| the cottage here, with some one to live with
her. Folks have notion she's something of a
dau Inter to me, though wrong enough; but
that 8 no matter"
"Wheres the letter?r said Graburn.
1t was used to be in my box; but dare
say the mice have eaten it," said the old wo-
mar"
j "Let me see it, however," said Charles.
/ will, sir, will, said the old woman, I" il
| cfn lay my hand on it; but am desperate
tirel"
Charles perceived she was but he also per
cei,led hec. reluctance to let him bee what he
ask ID for. However, he would not lose the op
por unity; and, succeeding in obtaining the
key which she acknowledged was in her pocket
by be bed, he unlocked the only box in the
roo N, and saw in one corner q heap of boarded
mot ey, and in another some yellow papers
perishing with age, tied up with string.
That's them," aaid the old woman. "Takt
'ene, and just put them in the fire; there's no
body but me knows of 'em, and you also now
add when I'm gone, you'll have the secret al
to yourself"
Grsburn did take them, and, giving back he
key, babe her good morning, and said he would
call again tomorrow, and have little NOR
talk with her, for he was sorry to see how b,
had tired her.
! "Aye, aye" said the old woman. "And a
you 60 out, be SO good, Sir, as to call the girl
and send her to me-"
Graburn did as she requested, and looket
with altered eyes upon the halfw itted ancien
girl, who, he believed, had already thrust hin
from his place in the fine old castle. 81
eagerly took out the withered letters as b
walked along, and tenderly stretching the crum
bling paper, read, with the utmost difficulty
the one in which Walter asked the aid of Maj
tina for the lady who he swore to her was bi
, wife, while the other papers proved to be Gel
ti6cate of the marriage and baptism.
I That's enough" said Charles putting bacl
the documents. $50 it's all over with me an
! Harkstone."
J He walked very soberly home, and ate hi
, morning, early, he went again to Martha's col
tage, to get further information if possible, bu
t early as he came, it was too late. The old VIC
man, overexcited yesterday, had died in th
night; and Phllis, on her knees, was scrubbin
! ftbe floor, while one of the neighbors superir
tended the arrangements which followed tn
bastle of sudden death.
3 ."The secret is all to myself now," though
) Coarles.
CHAPTER H.
) AS soon as the young Captain got back to tn
castle from the old woman's house, he ordere
horse, and rode off to the town where M,
S3oker, the attorney, lived. To him he con
n4unicated the discoveries, and the unwelcom
fact that the nearest of kin was Phillis, the oil
: mans legitimate daughter.
|. Mr. Spoken was excessively vexed. He req
and re-read the documents, to convince himsel
, if ne could, that they were insufficient proofs G
hes claims.
> "After all, Captain Graburn," said he, " it
e plain Mr.. Chinaway did not mean her to hav
it. BE knew all about her, as we'll as he coul
!. know anything and it's my opinion, from the
t first paper he drew up, in which he evidentl
, had forgotten the spelling of your name, this
he meant the estate for you, but preferre
writing another, in which he called you next &
kin, to making inquiries about you"
~ think 80 too" said Charles; !" but tn
/ words are clear against me, and perhaps tn
. meaning also"
( "Why did the old fool show them to you
! said Mr.. Spoken.
Z "Not from any good will to Phillis," sal
1 Charles, "merely because I scould see them.
/ "Why could not you let them alone ? " sal
the attorney.
! "That don't matter now" said Charles
/. "The hideous old girl has her rights saved b
I "But perhaps" said Mr.. Spoken, the do'
& ufnents are forged. Who can tell?"
d aim sure can'tn said Charles.
ell Besides, this Phillis may not be the sam