The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-27

tnrnino to me. "You used to know the
Primroses, think, did you notf
-1Yes.n / replied briefly, "littie."
"Can YOU tell me by chance VINO
the old fellows money goes to II MS
daughter happens to der
/ Dies! Mary dying! / could scarcely
end voice to ask, Els she illi
'Not particularly that know OF, put
she always looks like ghost no~-a-
days, and Charley Jones and had
dispute as to whether old Primrose naa
any nephews. Pass the bottle. old TEL
low
i Not till got into the street had l
! time to realize what had heard, ana
i then how miserable and heart-sick !
/ felt. Those few chance words had
/ shown me how little had really over
come my feelings for Mary. She was as
dear to me as ever. Oh, that she had
been true! But would not yield. i
tried to crush down the pain, and walk
ed resolutely home. My shortest way
led through by-street, in somewhat
low neighborhood, and here / turned
into a dark archway with the Intention
of lighting cigar. 1t was now twelve
at night. The fog was somewhat less
thick. but still dense enough to prevent
the rays of light from gas lamp just
opposite the entrance from penetrating
far into the archway. L tried two or
three times tn strike match, Dut IL
would not ignite. / had given II up,
and was about to emerge when L dis-
tinctly heard voice close to me say IN
low tone, "Old Primrose's CRIB"
What was it that made me fancy l had
heard the voice beforei Sheltered by
the darkness / turned my head, and
there, standing under the gas-lamp,
dressed this time in shabbier clothing,
but still with an air of fash gentility
about him, / saw my rival again, dark
and handsome as ever. l listened with
tbreathless interest for the next words.
He was q man who bore the stamp OF
blackguardism in every feature. Some
denisoll of the lowest slums of London.
They had stopped, and l heard this
man say, in low cautious whisper,
HYou are certain the sinners are
therein
"Confound you, yes. Pve told you
30 hundred times. got it all out OF
the little girl; but if you are afraid
leave it to me-"
The man replied with an oath; and
some whispering followed which l
could not catch, but the last words
were, "In an hour, them" and the men
separated, chgoiug different way.
/ remained motfonless till their foot
steps had died away, and for some sec,
onds after that. Those words had
come to me like revelation. l under
stood it all now. This man, who had
supplanted me in Mary's affections, was
a thief; doubtless in the higher walks
Of the profession, / knew how easily,
with his face Nd manners, no could
counterfeit the gentleman, and he had
won Mary's heart in order to discover
from her what she, in her confidence,
could easily reveal,-where her father
kept his money, and when he received
it. No doubt the villain knew the house
we'll. No doubt he had paid stealthy
visits there, as, alas! l had done. But
"in an hour" he had said: there was no
time for thought, only for action. l
might vet save Mary from the conse-
auences of her own folly. Recallingmy
energies. hurried to the nearest police
station, and reused the sleepy officials.
They were lively enough, however,
when told my Grand; nevertheless the
hour had expired when wei and four
stalwart policeman-reached Mr. Prim-
roses door.
"Ifthey arc already inside, we must hide
ourselves ut the foot of the staircase"
said one of these functionarics on the
way. -,
"Why not watch the house outside "
"The chances are they would escape
the back way, and there is no time to
find that, even if we could i'll this fog.
But they must come down the stairs;
you say the strong room is on the first
fioorf"
The front deor, as we expected, was
unfastened, and yielded to gentle
pressure. Leaving one policeman to
guard it outside, and one to watch the
area, / and the other two entered noise
lessl v. The policeman's lantern showed
the hall to be empty, and we concealed
ourselves under the staircase. Present
ly faint, very faint, noise was heard
as of a mutfled football, We held our
breath, and listened. 1t drew nearer,
it was coming down the stairs, and
could that be-yes, it was-the rustic
of petticoat. Just at the right mo-
ment as the foot of the second robber
touched the mat on the floor of the hall +,
the policemen emerged.
"My friend, I've been looking for you
a long time," said the one who secured
my old acquaintance. Awoman's shrek
replied-a woman rushed forward, and
threw her arms round the neck of the
captive. He threw her off with an inn
patient "Confound you, Mary, be quiet"
knew her in a moment. She was
good Heavens! what q fool had been!
not Mary Primrose, but her maid,
girl l had often seen during my visits of
the previous year. Hardly knowing
what felt, ! stood by doing nothing,
while tho policemen handcutfed their
prisoners, the girl sobbingby their side.
Neither of the men had resisted, yet
there had been o good deal of noise of
one kind and another in the hall. A light
appeared Oh the floor above. A voice
/ knew said, "Oh, what is the matters"
and looking up l saw my Mary, my own
little Notwithstanding in the daintiest
pink dressing gown at the top OF the
staircase, peering timidly into the hall.
Ladies, do not blush. She might have
gone to ball in that attire, for all l
could tell, and been the beauty of the
room: only she was without crinoline;
and be pretty brown hair was all hang
ing about her shoulders: could not
hel p it. ISpTang up the stairs, took
her in my arms and kissed her, ] felt
her breath warm upon my cheek; ]
poured out, / know not what follies and
incoherencies. believe We both cried
like babies, till, looking up again, we
beheld-in a magnificent dressing gown
and cotton nightcap-old Mr.. Primrose
glaring down upon US.
The next day he sent for Inc. In spite
of my Extraordinarily years, l felt,
when ushered into his presence, very
much as used to do when summoned
before Mr. Smith Mt Blackheath to I'M
dergO corporal ehastisement. But to
my great sHrprise, aud indefinite relief,
the old gentleman looked benignant,
"Sit down, Nr. Barlow" he said; "my
daughter has been makinga clean breast
to me of her misdeeds. Pretty goings on
there seem TO have been in my house ~