Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-07

love | care for ?"
And she writhed upon the sofa in
her malice, till she seemed to me like
some creature of olden time possessed
by a demon within, which raved and
tore. | lay hidden away in my corner,
thinking deeply, with volume pressed
to my cheek.
What was Emily plotting against
my sister? began to believe her ca
pable Of any Borgia scheme, and re-
solved to spy upon her unremittingly,
and foil her where | could. How low
| breathed, lest she, so near me, should
catch sound. Twilight shadows
crept into the room at length, and in
them she hoated away, and present
ly emerged from my lurking-place.
How | wished [ were an invisible
gnome to chase her, and haunt her,
and find out all her dark deeds But
| had to content myself with smearing
PHOSPHORUS all over my face, and
meeting her with horrible grin in
the unlighted upper hall when she
came out at the ringing of the tea-bell.
1t did my very heart good to see the
white terror in her face as she crouch
ed back IN corner to escape me. |
had appointed myself a Nemesis to
punish her, but she did not know that.
| had noticed that when Emily went
out alone to walk, without naming her
destination, she was always absent
three or four hours. And the next
day bringing an occasion of this kind,
as soon as she was safely down the
steps | went straight to her room and
looked all about it. The white bed,
dainty and pure,the dropping curtains,
the flowers, the books, were all cor
rect and maidenly enough, but | was
detective for the nonce, and passed
them carelessly by. A small desk
table fastened my attention; | at
tempted to lift the lid, but in vain
it was locked. Still, the key, with a
blue ribbon attached, rested in the
kcy-hole, and | tried to turn it to I'M
lock the desk, but it would not move.
the wards did not fit. The key
evidently was not put there to help
prying fingers. The next thing to do
was to find the right key. and to that
end | glanced cuiously about. The
recent reading Of some Of Edgar Poc's
strange analytical stories sharpened
my perceptions to painful keenuess,
threw myself down in Emily's easy
chair, and leaned my head back in a
position | had often seen her adopt.
Then | narrowed my eyes and COM
pressed my lips as she did when
thoughtful, thinking that so, perhaps,
my mind might momentarily take the
turn of hers, and give ME some in
sight into the mode of concealment
she would be likely to practice. With
my head thus thrown back, my eyes
naturally fell upon the cornice above
the long lace window curtains, and
distinctly saw, half hid by a project
ing gilded grape leaf, bit of blue
ribbon. Still keeping my features af
ter Emily's fashion, the thought sug-
gestcd itself to me how natural ii
would be to put blue ribbon on each
of the two keys, that a spectator might
never know that more than one was
used. Full Of excitement, | sprang
from the chair, and taking the long
gas lighting rod which stood in the
corner, reached up and dislodged the
bit of blue ribbon. As I expected, a
key tell with it to the floor. With
trembling fingers tried it in the lock
it turned easily, and | lifted the lid
That way at last | discovered Emily:
treachery. There on sheets of paper
we're words and sentences carefully
written and rewritten dozens of time:
in evident imitation Of nv sister;
hand. Cleyerly done too. l looked
them over hastily, and found beneatl
copies of two letters purporting to bt
from Louise to Philip Rayburn.
read them in sort of delirious glee
for now held the clew to the Who'll,
labyrinth in my hand. But what bast
letters In them Louise was made tt
ayow her falseness to Philip,-to con
fess that she really never loved him.
that all had been a pretty farce t,
conceal her passion for another; tina
remOrSe had seized her, and a deter
mination to be honest at length; s,
now these letters begged him to Sc
her free and keep her secret.
A shallow plot indeed, which fey
straightforward words between tn
two would have set right at once; bu
Louise was proud and Philip pitiIess
, Emily hazarded much, and had so ia
won, depending on the pride and tn
pitilessneSs. Then the handwriting
1t would have deceived my own pal
ents; but II, the cunning dwarf
had fathomed the whole, and held th
|, proofs in my hand. Then came tn
question, what to do with them? If
took them away with me, she woul
, discover the loss at once, and tax
measures accordingly. Was the hou
arrived for exposure | thought no
; | determined to leave the paper!
-, trusting to that fatuous blindnes
which so often leads criminals to re
!. tain the damning proof of their gull
The justice of romances suggested i
2 self to my mind; you know the tru
} will is always hidden somewhere III
} destroyed, the fatal letter alway
found, the deed or certificate lost fo
). years, but not forever; and felt sur
r these letters would wait for me. Wa
, | not the servant of Nemesis So | r,
locked the desk, lifted the true Ike
with its bit of blue ribbon to its hit
u ing place behind the gilt grape lie;
1 again, and placed the false key wit
its bit of blue ribbon also in the loci
if Then | crept away to think it ali owe
n In the hall | met my sweet, sa
t Louise, with that new look of dest
r latedness in her face. | kissed N
I hand to her. She stopped instantl
: and winding her dear arms about IN
f neck, said, softly, You will alway
love me, won't you, Charlie ?"
"Yes, l will, and every one ell;
e shall too" [ answered, stoutly, /;