The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-24

now regret, chat thA matter, of the
robbery had not been more closely
investigated at the time that it oc-
Cured! Vain regrets at the end of
five weary years!
Humphrey. Ny lady was at the
opera, the servant told me. Going up
stairs found my uncle, rs usual,
alone, but chuckling in ecstacies of
.fsrociousaelight.. Hedangleda o bunch
Of keys before my eyes.
*~Hist, nepliewf' he said, ssI have
got her keys! If she is cunning, I
am cunning. If she has robbed me,
will rob her. Ha, ha, ha! Lend me
your arm till I hobble to yonder
closet of hers and see what my lady
keeps in her casket."
I tried to prevent him, but might
as well have tried to hold fire in my
hands. He would have scrawled
across the room on oil fours If i had
not assisted him. He found the
casket, fitted with key, and opened
it. The first thing that met my eyes
was bracelet that [ knew too we'll.
'"This," said I, taking it up, ''is
the memorable bracelet that was
found on the door-step?"
He took it from me, looking stupid
ly puzzled.
"No," said he, "she had on that
bracelet tonight. How is this?"
s'Stop" cried I; "did you not tell
me that fellow of that bracelet had
been stolen; also q chain of pearls?"
L went on, diving further into the
recesses Of the casket, and drawing
out each trinket as named it. "Also
4 diamond necklace! Giles Hum
phrey, how did these come into your
wife's possession?"
His jaw dropped, and he stared
blankly before him.
"By heavens, you are rightv' he
mumbled. ''Little O'Shaughnessy
was wronged. My lady has been the
traitor all through!"
cannot tell you what l thought,
nor describe the mixture of ecstacy
and agony that racked me for the
next few moments. l was reused
from my revery by shrick from
Giles Humphrey. He had found
some letters for which it seems he
had been looking, and he was foam
ing at tho mouth.
At the same moment that | heard
his shrek, there was sound in
the adjoining chamber; Immediately
the door flew open, and Lady Hum
phrey herself appeared.
1t was the first time I had seen her
face to face since the olden times.
She was regally dressed, and hand
somer than ever, but with a coarser,
bolder beauty. She had just return
ed from the opera. SO intensely in
terested had we been i'm our occupa-
ton, that we had not heard the stop
ping of the carriage. nor the knock at
the hall door. What she might have
said, or what she might have done,
know not, but the frown had not
time to darken on her face, before
her miserable husband staggered to-
wards her, flung the crumpled letter,
which he held, in her face, and fell
down at her feet in a fit.
l lifted him upon his bed, and,
ringing loudly, despatched messen-
ger for a doctor. Then the wicked
wife and stood lookingat one another
across the dying man, whilst we
chafed his hands, and did what we
could to help him. Even at that
moment could not refrain from ac-
cusing her. She saw the Jewels lying
scattered on the floor, and was pro-
pared for an attack.
Lady Humphrey" I said, sin
the name of Heaven, and in the
presence of death, I conjurc you to
tell me truly if it were you who com
mitted the robbery at Ballyhucka-
more Hall five years ago."
"Ay," said she, hardly, looking
straight at me across the bed. ''It
was who did it, certainly. If you
had had the sense to ask me the
question fonr years ago, after my
marriage with him." Indicating her
PROSTATE husband, 81 should have
told you the truth as freely as I tell
it to you now Il wanted money at
that time, and / took it,"
"And threw the blame upon
another?" I said.
She shrugged her shoulders. cone
must do something" she said. ''It
would have been inconvenient to mo
just then to have had it known"
'But in the name of Heaven"
said, explain. VAST you who con-
ferred with Jacko in the passage?
Then the black gown-the pocket