Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-20
THE TEMPTRESS.
[CoNCLUDED.I

you will then have no misgivings as to the exact
truth Of what am about to relate, which
do as briefly as possible. Charles Harpur, one
of my old lovers, as you know-though after
what has passed he can never be, under any
circumstances, more to mo than he is at this
moment-lately returned from America mush
richer than he left England, and renewed his
addresses, which were accepted. This came to
the knowledge of Masters, who was once en-
gagged to me, and he, as you know, met and
quarrelled with Harpur. The injurious hints
thrown out against me on that occasion were
dismissed from Harpsr's mind after an expla-
nation with me; and Masters. foiled in his
selfish and malignant purpose, had the au-
dacious insolence to write me word that unless
i broke with Hsrpur he would send him some
foolish letters Of mine, long since written, of
no harm whatever If read and interpreted by
calm reason, but which would, knew, drive
Harpur mad With jealous fury. I 50 far sup
piled my mind as 10 write a note to Masters,
demanding, in the name of manliness and
honor, the return of those letters to me. Judg-
ing by his reply he was in some degree affected
by the justice and earnestness of my appeal,
and the promise If / would meet him at nine
o'clock that evening at an old trysting place
he mentioned, he would return my letters,
should he not succeed in persuading me not to
marry Harpur, / determined on meeting him.
The evenings were light, and have ever felt
an almost man-like want Of fear. Yet, as the
meeting, 1 was disturbed by vague sense of
misgiving, as of the near approach of calamity
and misfortune; and / called at Harpur's
lodgings, with the purpose of informing him of
what had occurred, and guiding myself by his
counsel. Unhappily he was not at home, and
after waitikg some time again determined to
keep the appointment with Masters at all
hazards. As turned to leave the room, an
open case containing two small pistols caught
my eye, and Immediately seized one, pre-
cisely why hardly know myself, except from
an underlined thought Of shielding myself from
possible insult should Masters rage at finding
Inc iRyincible to his entreaties prompt him to
offer me any. 1 concealed the weapon be-
meath my shawl, and did not, well remember,
beStow a thought even as to whether it was
loaded or not. / met Robert Masters-he
urged me by every argument he could think
Of to discard Hsrpur and renew my long since
broken engagement with him. / refused firmly,
perhaps scornfully, to do so, and passionately
insisted upon the fulfilment Of his promise
respecting the letters. In his evaporation,
Masters swore he would do no such thing; and
taking one from his pocket, he opened and
pretended to read from it a love-psssage
which, Mad not been almost out Of my senses
with rage and indignation, must have been
sure / never could have written. I sprang
forward to clutch the letter, a struggle for its
possession ensued, and, how ii happened /
know not, certainly by no voluntary act of
mine, the pistol in my hand went off; there
was fash and report, sounding to me like
thunder, and Robert Masters lay dead at my
feet What followed / can only confusedly
describe. For n time was trsnsfxe xed-roeted
with terror to the spot, but presently the
stunning sense Of horror was succeeded by
spprehensiOns for myself; and, by what
prompted cunning / know not, though doubt
less with q wild hope of thereby inducing
belief that the deed had been committed by
robbers, threw myself on my knees beside
the corpse, snd not only possessed myself of
the letters, but of the slain mans watch and
purse. had scarcely done 80, when heard
footsteps approaching, and / started up and
fed with the speed Of guilt and fear, leaving
the fatal pistol on the ground. The footsteps
were Harpur's. He had reached home soon
after left, and followed me only TO arrive too
late 7 disclosed everything to him. He had
faith in my truth, as am sure you have, and
swore never to betrsy me. He has, you know,
faithfully kept his word, though himself ap-
pretended for the crime"
Judith Morton ceased speaking, and Penson,
aghast, stupefed, could not utter Q word.
- Well, Richard Penson," said she, after a
painful silence of some minutes, 4" have you no
counsel to offer me in this strait?"
Counsel, Judith" replied Penson, with
white lips; "whst counsel can offer? The
= only effect Of this confession, If made public,
you'd be to consign you to the scaffold, instead
Of Harpur; for those who would sit in judgment
upon your life would not believe that the pis-
tol was aceidently discharged.
THAT is also my opinion, and can you do
nothing to save my life-my innocent life,
Richard2 Fer be assured that rather than a
guiltless man shall perish through my deed, L
will denounce myself as the slayer Of Robert
Masters. You have reputation for lawyer
craft" she added, land msney shall not be
wanting"
There is no possibility of obtaining an ae-
quittal," said Penson, except by having re-
course to perilous devices that -. In short,
see no chance Of successful defense"
Yos once loved me, Richard Penson," said
Judith Morton, in a low, agitated voice, 4" or
at least said you did :" --.----
ORce loved you-said I did =" echoed
Penson.
.. know not what to say" continued Ju-
dith, as if unheeding his words, and with eyes
bent on the ground. Harpur can never be,
rs told you, more to me than he is now-I
have reason, indeed, to believe that he has no
wish to be faithful, as get, as be has proved
TO his promise not to betray me; and it may
be, Richsrd-msy be, l say-though that
begin to think will have slight weight with
you-that-that gratitude might lead me to re-
ward, to return the devotion TO which should
be indebted for the preservation Of my young
life" +" .-.- +ys - -
4 . Judith-Judith Morton ~ gasped Penson
Ess do not drive me mad go
g Make no rash promise, Richard, to incur
peril forsmy sake. said Judith Morton, rising
from her chair; "by tomorrow morning you
will have thought the matter over. will call
about ten o'clock, and you oan then tell me if
! can count or not upon efectual help from
you. Good night y a. .-aT .s s 81 <.'..eg-s
She was gone; but not tit her purpose had
been thoroughly accomplished. Richard Pen
sons resolution was taken, and before he threw
himself upon his bed that night, his practiced
brain had elaborated a plan-aud acious and