The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-07-11

vancing across the room with his eyes fixed
upon the face of his false friend, who read
in them a purpose that made his heart
sink.
1T is never safe to swindle beyond a
certain line, John Floyd continued Fleet
wood, in low, but firm voice. you
should have been content with robbing me
of my patrimony but, when you left no
alternative but dishonor or remedy like
this, you went step too far. So have
come now for restitution or retribution.'
In the fend's name, what do you
want p demanded Floyd, with slight
show of courage.
'The first thing want is return of
the notes I placed in your hands to be used
only as collateral
Il have already told you they are be-
yond my reach, was answered.
1T is false, cried Fleetwood, in sudden
excitement, darting forward as he spoke,
and graphing eagerly at n small pile Of
papers that lay on the table. The well
known vignette OF the Insurance Company
had caught his eyes-the fatal notes were
before him To seize them was the work
OF moment in the next instant they
were torn in pieces
Il have already told you to your teeth,
John Floyd, that You were villain, said
Fleetwood, his strong indignation reprcss-
ing all exterior signs of agitation. Il
meant it in its general acceptation; for /
did not then dream that your heart was
corrupt enough for deed like this. To
turn away from friend whom you have
led into danger is bad enough but to betray
him to ruin is the act of fend. But,
thank Heavcnl am now safe, beyond
your power to do Inc harm
Recovering a little from his bcwilder-
ment, Floyd now advanced towards Fleet
wood in threatening manner but the
latter stood immovable, regarding him
with look of such indignant scorn that
his eye qualed, and he stood still.
"My business here is ended" said
Fleetwood, moving backward toward the
door, yet keeping his eyes still upon
Floyd" has ended more easily than
was anticipated; and without the con-
sequences had feared leave you to
your ILL., l-gotten gains, if that be possible,
and go forth to try the world again, but
with a clear concience and an untarnish-
ed name"
The key was in the loor-the bolt
sprung-and Fleetwood vanished like a
spectre from the presence of the confound-
ed man who had betrayed his confidence,
and well-nigh compassed the ruin of his
reputation.
The unusual expression which Mira.
Fleetwood noticed on the face of her
husband, at parting, troubled her. lie
had seemed to arouse up suddenly, as il
some new thought had glanced through
his mind, and some desperate purpose
been formed on the instant lie was no
sooner away, than imagination began &c
suggest danger. What might he be
tempted to do, should he meet the man
who had wronged him! The heart of
Mrs. Fleetwood began to tremblc.
Half an hour Of most painful suspense
followed the husbands departure. Then
he came in, with quiet, even step, and
assembled to the room where his wife sat
awaiting him. She was too weak to
rise; for her mind had created so many
terrible images, that fear had robbed her
of strength. But her eyes were. bert ca
ge'ly toward the door. The face that
appeared there was calm, though little
paler, she thought, than when she looked
upon it last. She tried to say Edward,
but could not.
All at once the strong fe.ter which Mr..
Fleetwood had placed upon his feelings
broke, and sprnging forward, he caught
his wife in his arms, cxclaiming,-
"Saved saved dear Anna | have
found the notes, and they are Cancelled.
i tore them into hundred pieces.
See J" And he threw a shower of snowy
fragments into the air. "And you arc
my saviour, dear wifc!" he added in
another tone, kissing her very tenderly.
l saw no hope of recovering those fatal
witnesses. So far as l could see they
were gone beyond recall. But your ur-
gent promptinss quickened new life
within me, and nerved me with new,
and / will own, desperate purpose.
went 10 the house of Floyd resolved to
force him into terms of some kind, when
10 upon his table lay the very notes.
He was wickedly holding them for his
own benefit. snatched them up and rent
them to pieces. And 80 the fatal wit
nesses of a weak, blind, almost criminal
violation of the faith so honorably repos-
ed in me have perished Let the property
of which that villain has so basely robbed
me 60! l will not fling after it single
sigh of regret for am too thankful
that good name-more precious than
rubies-is spared to me-"