The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-17
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The following day, Heyworth re-
turned, calm and collected. He
brought with him an auctioneer,
who proceeded at once to take an
inventory of the stock and farm
implements. 80
"We shall still have the. land, l
hope, my sweet Kitty" said Hey
worth, as he kissed his wife's pale
cheek; and I'll get livelihood out of
that, if I have to tch it up with
my ten fingers"
A few days after the sale took
place, and just as the last lot had
fallen beneath the fatal hammer,
Heyworth was summoned to his
wife's bedroom, where he found his
newborn son, utterly regardless of
riches or poverty, squalling ut his
first contact with the chilling air of
the outer world.
All this while Maurice lay con-
cealed in the loft, fed by the careful
hand of his lovely sister. On the
afternoon ofsythe sale, however, he
began to feel hungry. as-owing to
her illness-Kate had been unable
to visit him since breakfast time; and
he resolved to venture down in quest
of food. He had got halfway down
the ladder into the stable, when he
perceived, in one of the stalls, the
figure of man STOPPING down, in the
act of girthing up horse. 9.
Maurice was about to retire softly,
when the man raised his head, and
disclosed the features of Captain
Cough. -. gs %
"HalIo, Kieman!" said he, quite
coolly; Thought you were in Diokey-
samopolis. I just came to the sale to
pick up q likely hack"
"Whist, man," replied Maurice,
with his finger to his lips; "come up
here"
Captain Cough calmly finished the
arrangement of his stirrup-leathers,
then mounted the ladder. ~
"I'm in the devils own quandary, 4"
said Maurice.
of his troubles, and entreated the
captain to supply his present wants.
Captain Cough descended, and
re.appeared before long with plate
full OF beef-steak pie and a bottle of
ale
"Now," said the captain, "your
case requires deliberation. I'll take
my horse away to --, as his pre-
sence here might excite suspicion;
and then I'll return on foot, and
spend the night with you. No fear
OF your sister coming. / suppose
you know she's confined 3t3
Maurice would have expressed his
astonishment at this piece of news,
but his companion was gone.
AS Captain Cough logged leisurely
across the courtyard of the farm
house, he noticed light in one of
the ground-hoor windows. He dis
mounted from his horse, and under
pretense of Tightening his saddle
girth, glanced into the apartment.
He saw Kate Heyworth's pale face,
as she lay in weary slumber on the
pillow, while the little, bald, red
head of the newborn infant peeped
from beneath the counterpane; and,
near the foot of the bed, Samuel
Heyworth was engaged, aided by his
old nurse, in depositing in his cash
box the proceeds of the days sale.
Coughs eyes cleaned with savage
satisfaction as he rode away, and the
firm compression OF his lips showed
that some scheme of fresh villainy
had been developed in his brain.
At ten o'clock that night he tapped
gently at the stable door, and was
admitted by Maurice. They mount
ed to the loft, and lighted candle,
having taken the precaution of cover
ing. the little window with 8 coat.
Then the two men sat facing each
other.
CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT.