Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-04-29
aNiscellan Gus.
BROUGHT TO LIGHT.


The clock had just struck nine Oh the
evening Of the day which had Witnessed
such strange events ai Bclair, and Cur.
ney Breckenridge was sitting at home
in slippcred ease, connecting for him.
self tuinbler Of his favourite bever-
age He was alone in the house. for
Hannah had got few days holiday 10
visit some friends. and the chemists
domestic comforts were looked after by
Mrs. Jakeway in the interim.
The world had prospercd somewhat
with Gurney Brackenbridge aimee We
SAW him last. Although he had never
received the three hundrei pounds
which had been promised him in case
he should succeed in a certain service.
which, As events turned out, il had been
found impossible 10 perform, he had
yet been handsomely paid for his troub-
lie in other ways, and especially for the
neat detective-like style in which he
had tracked John English from Pcvsey
Bay to berth on board the Onean
Chiid. fas, clipper-ship. bound for New
York. Then, again, il was satisfactory
to know that the widows long-stand-
ing promise TO marry him WAS likely
at last TO have speedy fuliilment.
Mrs. Winch had been in strangely
good spirits ever since the receipt OF
his telegram containing the news OF the
loss of the Ocean Child. which had
founiered few days after leaving the
Mersey. and while Breckenridge was
still in Liverpool. The first Of May
had been fixed for the forthcoming
nup,ials and, all things considered.
the chemist ought to have been, If no,
in a happy, At least in 4 contented
frame of mind. But such Was BY NO
means the case. The old sore was
still fostering secretly, and he refused
to lie, it heal. He felt himself to he an
ill-used and terribly aggrieved individ-
ual, because his future wife still per-
sisted in her resolution not TO enlighten
him as TO the nature Of the secret bond
which held her and Lady Spencelaugh
so firmly together, and mixed up the
interests Of both so inexplicably with
those Of John English. Not only
did the widow refuse TO enlighten him
now. but she gave him, besides. dis
tinctly TO understand that even after
marriage, the secret would remain as
heretofore her own property, and be in
nowise shared By him and he was too
well acquainted with the resolute char
acter Of Martha Win.h not 70 feel
certain that she would keep her word
in this respect in spite Of all that he
might say or do. Therefore did Cur
ney Breckenridge brood darkly over
the slight which, as he conceived. was
put upon him. Besides, how utterly
and inconceivably foolish on the part
Of any one in possession Of a secret
affecting the happiness and welfare OF
another. and that other person high
up in the social scale, one who could
well afford to pay for the keeping Of it,
to allow such golden chance to slip,
when it might be had for the mere
grasping. 1t was not the chemists Z
stvle of doing business. To him il
would have been as little gold-mine
as a perennial source of income bring
ing with it possibilities Of unlimited
cessation from work, with Frenct
brandy in unstinted quantity, and al
exciting life in London or Paris,
His dark reverie was suddenly put u
flight by the familiar click Of the gardel
gate. followed next minute by . lout
double-knock, III wager anything
What can the fool want with me to
night"
He got up, and opened the door viii
cordial greeting, for be always mad
point Of keeping in Jerrys goo'
graces. "What has brought you here
nv man, at this time Of the night !
said Breckenridge, - Jerry sat dow
bashfllly on the proflered chair, Will
his bright eyes roved purposelessl
about the little room.
.'Jerry has just come nom Belair,
said the lad. .'He has got to post
letter for my Lady ; and he WAS to leav
another here on the way.-There weF
five black crows sitting al Of row .
Jerry went through the park this aftel
noon: that means that something ba
is going to happen to somebody"
} The chemist held out his hand in
patiently for the letter, and Jerry, afts