The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-03-06

the road, on magnificent knoll
crowned with century.old chestnut.
and beeches, and | reached the broac
steps in about halt an hour, by dnt OF
rapid strides
AS | entered the vestibule, Coone
IIadden, who had been pacing up anG
down the Hall in perfect agony Of pa
tlence, came to meet me.
'ls that you, DR., Meller' / thought
you never would come. We're in @
pretty state Of confusion here. Burg.
lars in the house--my wlte's set o
diamonds gone-nobody knows what
else-but old Hopkins left his sign man.
ual upon one of the fellows. They
must be caught. They osa't escape.
For you SEQ
'Yes, but Colonel Hadden. -
'Oh, aye-I understand you-you
want to see your patient? It's Hop.
kins, the Butler he got an ugly blow
on the lett ARMAND afterward my
wife went herself tor DR.. Maynard-no
offence, Meller, but he lives nearer than
you but he was out. She has only lust
returned. and couldn't very well leave
Hopkins and Mrs. Hadden ls such q
kind good soul, she insisted on going
herself to fetch Dr. Maynard--'
But, my dear sir-----'
'Ah, true! Come along to Hopkins
room
Hopkins the butler, was as voluble as
his master. and ten tim as circumslan-
tial and by the time | had set his brok
en- forearm, l was pretty well In possess
sion of all the particulars OF the attempts
ed burglary at Haddenleigh. And
thinking OF my midnight patient, whose
life had ebbed out upon the pile of
straw, felt strange gnitiness as / lis
tened to Colonel Hadden's eager con-
lectures az to the whereabouts of the
desperadoes who had fled.
'And now, doctor, you'l take glass
Of wine, said the hospitable ole gentle
man, usherlng me into his library
1t was brilliantly lighted, and warm
with the crimson glow OF genial fire,
before which, wrapped in the gorgeous
folds of Indian shawl.
My wife doctor Isabel, my love,
this is DIR. MeIler'
We stood before one another silent.
| could not speak, tor | knew that |
was looking into the startled, agonized
eyes ofthe woman who had knet scarce,
ly an hour ago by the dying couch in
the desolaie cottage--Col0uel Haddcns
new wife, of whose beauty had heard
so much.
The Colonel talked on, but I heard
not word that he said. | could not
but marvel at the wonderful self possess
sion of the woman, smiled and looked
grave and sad Yes and No in the
right places.
TO be sure,' the Colonel was saying,
as | woke into sort of consciousness of
voice, the loss of Isabers diamonds is
something serious, but of course We
shall recover them again. Only, my
love, it was rather careless OF you to
leave them on the drawing room table,
'lt was Careless replied Mrs. Hadden,
calmly. doctor, you are not going ?
Colonel you have not forgotten that
curious old book you were wanting to
show DR.. Meler'
AS the door closed behind the honest
old gentleman, Mrs Hadden gllded up
to me and placed her cold hand on mine;
it was like the touch of an lcice
doctor, you have my secret--you
surely will not betray itY'
4 am pledged to silence, madam
returned. coldly; but this deceit
ut is not my fault, DOCTOR walled the
woman, 1T is my fate. How | endure
it | can scal cely tell; were;{ to pause and
think, | should go mad. The man who
died tonight was my son! Colonel Had.
den knows nothing of my first marriage,
nor of this dreadful secret of my sons
criminal lite, that has weighed me down
tor years. Over and over again | have
thought to escape it, but it has followed
my footsteps like a doom. Tonight !
closes that chapter of my life-oh,
heaven! how dreadtullyl But my
secret is safe-the diamonds provided |
for that!'
But your husband, Mrs. Haddenp
She covered her pallid, beautiful face
with her hands.
i know what you would say, DR..
Meller. l love and honor him beyond
all menj but what can dol Believe
me, have never willingly wronged or
deceived him never dreamed Of
She paused abruptly Colonel Had
den was entering the room, and the
smiling. casual remark she addressed to
him filled my heart with amazement-
almost admiration.
l rode home to my blue eyed little
Eleanor, feeling as I entered the snug
sitting-room as ifI were returning t6
the homely, happy atmosphere OF every
day life. But l never forgot the terri
bic excitement, the fearful suspense of
that November night.
The desperadoes who had attempted
to rifle Haddenleigh Hall were never
detected or takep-all trace of them
seemed to have utterly vanished out of
the earth. And were il not for the bank
note which most literally recompensed
my services, and the everlasting witness
borne by Mrs. Haddens lovely face, I
should almost have been tempted to