The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-05-31

he could endure, Selling q chair he
sprang towards tho brutal man, and the
next moment Harold lay crushed upon
the floor
Thinking him dead, Richard hastily
entered the room where his mother was
then, barring the door, he embraced her,
bid her farewell, after promising to
write to her; then left the house and
town with all the speed he was master
of.
But Joshua Harold was not killed
he was only stunned, and, save bruis
ed head and broken arm, he escaped
serious injury. He swore dire ven
geancc on the boy should he ever re-
turn; but days, weeks and months
passed, and Richard returned not.
Through the medium of neighbor,
Mrs. Harold received occasional tidings
from her boy, who was apprehensive
that his letters would not reach her, but
fall into Harold's hands should he write
direct to her, Richard was we'll, and
was cabin-boy on board merchant ves.
sci plying between New York and
Charleston, South Carolina.
Finally, he wrote that he had euga-
ged himself as clerk ON board a steamer
to cross the Atlantic, aud he would
write to her when he reached England
"Unkuowingly he will tread the
shores OF his native land" murmured
Mrs. Harold Fate surely has put
the thought into his head, and he may
be only fulfilling his destiny, as am
mine, here-an exile from my native
soil. /"
Mrs. Harold was most unhappy her
husband never treated her with the re-
spect due to a woman or a wife. He
seemed to take special delight in
wounding her feelings. and never miss.
&c an opportunity to do so. But since
the day when Richard administered to
him the chastisemert he so richly meri-
ted, the brutal man began systematic
species Of tyranny towards his wife
which soon bore its results. Mrs. Har-
old, her spirit already broken by years
of cruelty, began to yield under the
harsh treatment; her health became
more fragile daily, until she finally took
to her bed. Harold rather rejoiced than
grieved at this, and, though he did not
refuse her medical aid, he was as harsh
to her as ever. 1t was evident that he
desired her death-a fact the poor wo.
man seemed sadly aware Of.
Among the neighbors who visited hcT
was Mrs. Wilbank, childless widow,
who resided but few doors below.
This lady was the person who received
Richards letters, which she afterwards
placed in his mothers hands for peru
sal.
Mrs. Wilbank sat by the invalid s
bedside one evening. Harold had gone
out, and the two women were alone.
Mrs. Wilbank," said the sufferer,
snow that we are alone, have secret
to entrust you with-a secret I dare not
divulge in my life; but after my death,
you will learn all. Here is small key
it fits desk you see in that corner; the
desk is my own, with all it contains.
Knowing the love you bare my son, |
can safely place in your care package,
to be kept until my boy returns. A let.
ter addressed to you is also within,
which you may read when l am under
the sod. In the back of the desk you
will see black spot like an ink blotch
press that hard, and secret pannel will
be revealed; within the opening you
will find the package. Follow its writ
ten instructions, and thus prove yourself
the sincere friend ] always took you to
be. Into whose hands it should acci
dentally fall, aud that person fails to dc
as directed, shall feel my curse
throughout life"
Mrs. Wilbank faithfully promised to
do all she requested, and the speaker
had no fear that she would prove faith
less.
The request was made none to soon
for Mrs. Harold expired two hours la
ter! She breathed her last in the pres
ence of him who had been the bane oI
her life. No one else was present.
Scarcely had her spirit fed when
Joshua Harold locked the door, and
with cat like tread crept to the desk
aforementioned. A key-the very coun
terpart to that in the possession of Mrs
Wilbank was quietly inserted into the
lock and he raised the lid. Taking ou
the various articles, Harold searched tol
and found the black spot pressing it
he discovered the opening and iron
thence took a sealed package afte
which he closed the secret slide, repla
ced the articles in the desk and locked
D it; then seating himself at the table, h
unhesitatingy broke the seal and roaC
the contents of the documents within.
lie had overheard all that passed be
? tween his wife and her friend, and thu
became master of the position. Beside
the papers, the package contained mon
. ey to the amount of one thousand dol
, lars; two hundred Mrs. Wilbank wa
, to retain for her own use, the remain
der she was directed to keep in trust 70