Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-04-16


the usuer, with an effort he left a paper
here with me.'
'Oh, if Valentine were but herer sign.
ed Mabel weary, and only seeing hell
where her heart was. though It made
the yellow face Of Caleb grow white
gathering wrath.
j fear that Master Valentine Howard
could be Of little SERVICE he replied
since il is IN part through his intemper.
ate behavior the king had become SC
incensed against your respected parent.
Impossible! where is hel' she exclaim-
ed. do you knows'
In the Tower answered Caleb, with
slow emphasis.
The Tower. Oh, heaven' and she
clsped her hands in fright.
'And he will soon be tried before the
Star Chamber for his offence continued
the usurer, as if he were iesIrous of con-
centrating all the helplessness of her
position before her gaze, in order that
he might gather from her manner some
rule of conduct 'Aht' he muttered, 4
doubt it may go hard with him.
oh, good, worthy Master Pomsford
can you no, stead him in this buisness?'
exclaimed Mabel suddenly, and catching
held of his arm.
she thinks of him. he muttered apart,
while a fierce fire burned within his
strong, beating heart, she thinks of him.
Well, one pang the more, and she will
know my power He spoke aloud, And
do you say nothing of yoursslf-yOu,
whom your dear father in formal man.
ner committed, as it were, to my charge
assigned me in a manner 10 be your
guardian?'
ALAS, know moi what to do, which
way to turnr said Mabel mournfuliy,
and deriving neither hopes nor encour-
agement from his words.
sFurp your eyes to the ancient hall of
the Osbornes, replied The usurer, turn
your eyes to brilliant future; 10 wealth
and station; to niger rank even, and-can
you not understand meg
She shook her head.
Do not Jest with me. / am an orphan.
and know, very poor and very helpless
without your aid.
Which / offer YOU and with outstretch-
ed hand he advanced toward her.
Something in bis face made her shrink,
and she hurriedly said;
Would the king but hear me on be-
half of Valentine! should thank you
for any help; my hope is in him now.
'It may hap even soil can help him,
save him; save his life; save him from
fine, imprisonment, muEilatlon.
is his crime so great2' cried Mabel,
drawing a deep breath.
1T is. and bis fate lies with you and you
alone
with me! / do not understand you,'
Mabel answered.
All lies with you. In word, read
that paper signed by your fathers hand
the last he ever signed, and Caleb Poms.
ford opened the parchment, and put it in
her hand.
There It was, coniracr of marriage
duly signed, sealed and witnessed. The
names, Mistress Mabel Osborne and
Master Caleb Pomsford, scrivener.
Its promises were all that could tempt,
compel or force woman to assent
She stood like statue; ran it through;
grew red, then pale, and became cold and
rigid.
1t is well, Master Pomsford,' and
she let the paper drop on the floor. i
think I understand you. My father
never never signed that
what mean you?' he exclaimed. DO
you accuse, doubt me, defy me! Beware!
if you would not come to beg for aims, or
see his head on the block!'
i say nothing, Master Pomsford. I
simply desire you 10 CO.
And, with commanding gesture and
mien resistless in its imperious air,
she pGnted to the door; and the baffled
usurer, catching up the parchment, with
wild FIRE in his heart, but dumb and
brow:beaten, ,crept sO. the door and vanish
ed.
Something worse than the darkening
shade Of sorrow fell upon the lovely
Mabel now. Trusting in human nature
as she had seen il around her from child
hood kind voices whispering, fond eyes
glancing, with honest, loving hearts TO
press her to them, these had been her
experiences, and the iIl-omened usurer
had, in the full display of his viIlainy,
disabused her Of all.
1t is bad enough to find sweet IL
lusion dispelled, but there followed this
the shape terror of what be might, could
or would do. This terrible coBiugation
was haunting her at the moment her
female attendont was praising the gen.
eFous heart of Cabel Pomsford in a man
ner tha: savored of bribery, and decid-
ing upon some plan Of action, when the
arrival of some person who would see
MISTRESS Mabel Osborne on, matter of
especially moment was announced
A young, swaFthy looking, yet COM
mading stranger entered the chamber,
hat in hand. If there was leVity in his
tone and gallantry in bis manner AZ first,
these speedily gave way beneath the in.
auence Of the sacred grief; the exiraordi-
nary beauty of Mabel. heightened BY
the circumstances Of her case, disarmed
him al once, and be became grave, com.
posed and respectful. He announced
himself as poor captain in the Kings
Muskeeter Guads, favorite regiment
which Charles had formed. He said
that he had known the brave Sir Mark
Osborne, and was inexpressibly shocked
to hear that he was dead, that be had died
believing the king ungraleful, when he
himself( the stranger cOntinued) had 2