The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-13

creature of olden time possessed by;e de
mon within, which raved and tore. lay
hidden away in my corner, thinking deep.
", with volume pressed to my cheek.
What was Emily plotting against my
sister, began to believe her capable OF
any Borgia scheme and resolved to spy
upon her unremittingly, and foil her
where could. How low breathed, lest
she, so near me, should catch q sound.
Twilight shadows crept into the room at
length, and in them she fioated away, and
/ presently emerged from my lurking
place. How l wished were an invisible
enome 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 q
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 a. she
back in q corner to escape me. /
had appointed myself Nemesis to punish
her, but she did not know that.
/ had noticed that when Emily went out
alone to walk without naming her destina-
ton, she was always absent three or four
hours. And the next day bringing an oc-
casion Of this kind, as soon as she was
safely down the steps I 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 correct and maidenly
enough, but was detective for the
nonce, and passed them carelessly by. A
small desk-table fastened my attention;
attempted to lift the lid, but in vain; it
was locked. Still, the key, with blue
ribbon attached, rested in the key hole,
and tried to turn it to unlock 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 curiously about The re-
cent reading of some Edgar Poe's strange
analytical stories sharpened my percep-
tons to painful keenness. threw my
self down in Emily's easy chair, and leaned
my head back in position had often
seen her adopt Then l narrowed my
eyes and compressed my lips as she did
when thoughtful, thinking that so, per-
haps, my mind might momentarily take
the turn of hers, and give me some insight
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
projecting gilded grape-leaf, bit of blue
ribbon. Still keeping my features after
Emily's fashion, the thought suggested it.
self to me how natural it would be to put
blue ribbon on each of the two keys, that
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 l expected, a key fell with it to
the floor. With trembling fingers l tried it
in the lock; it turned easily, and lifted the
lid. That way at last l discovered Emily 8
treachery! There on sheets Of paper
were words and sentences carefully writ.
ten and rewritten dozens of times, In evi.
dent imitation of my sisters hand. Clev-
erly done too. Hooked them over hastily,
and found beneath copies of two letters
purporting to be from Louise to Philip
Rayburn. l read them in a sort of deliri-
Gus glee, for now held the clew to the
whole labyrinth in my hand.
But what base letters! In them Louise
was made to avow her falseness to Philip,
to confess that she never really loved
him,-that all had been a pretty farce to
conceal her passion for another; that re-
morse had seized her, and determination
to be honest at length; SO now these let.
tiers begged him to set her free and to keep
her secret.
A shallow plot, indeed, which q few
straightforward words between the two
would have set right at once; but Louise
was proud and Philip pitiless. Emily
hazarded much, and had so far won,
depeding on the pride and the pitilessness.
Then the handwriting! 1t would have
deceived my own parents; but IL, the
cunning dwarf-had fathomed the whole,
and held the proofs in my hand. Then
came the question, what to do with them!
If took them away with me, she would
discover the loss at once, and take meas.
ures accordingly. Was the hour arrived
for exposure! I thought not 1 deter
mined to leave the papers, trusting to that
fatuous blindness which so often leads
criminals to retain the damning proof OF
their guilt The justice of roriarres sug-
gested itself to my mind you know the
true will is always hidden somewhere I'M
destroyed, the fatal letter always found,
the deed or certificate lost for years, but
not forever; and felt sure these letters
Woulu dib iOl w DC L HOt VIC bCl
want of Nemesis? So l relocked the desk,
to its hiding.place behind the gilt grape.
leaf again, and placed the false key with
its bit of blue ribbon also in the lock.
Then crept away to think il all over.
In the hall l met my sweet, sad Louise,
with that new look of desolateness in her
face. l kissed my hand to her. She
ctnnna1 xx-.pIsvr hos
arms about my neck, said, softly, "You
will always love me, won't you, Charlie -
"Yes, will, and every one else shall
tool" 1 answered, stoutly, at which her
smile was sadder than tears could have
been, and she passed on.
You may be very sure kept close watch
ofthe yellow haired Emily during the days
which followed. Many q lone revery OF
hers had me for spectator, peering through
key-hole or the crack of door, or with
one eye bent on her from behind d cur.
tain. knew her fevefies meant mischief
One afternoon my vigilance had its re-
ward. My mother asked Emily If she
would get her some violet silk when she
went out, and Emily answered, sweetly,
al thought should not 60 out this after
noon. have headache; but rather than
disappoint you"
OF course my mother interrupted her
with an assurance that she would not
think Of letting her go. A little after, !
asked, just to see what she would say,
"Will you buy me little ivory skull this
afternoon, Emily, if give you the money
There's man down an alley two streets
off who carves such things"
I'm not going out, Charlie" she an
swered, shortly.
Under these circumstances thought it
best to be on guard in the drawing-room
so went quietly down, climbed over the
back of the antique sofa, and so down into
my lurking place. There, with that hor.
rible, fascinating book, "Frankenstein,' "
under my head, lay dreaming and wait
ing. Presently the door-bell rang, and
Philip came, inquiring for Emily: only
Emily. l heard her quick step on the
staircase, and she glided into his arms
could it be that it was into his arms
A subtle instinct told me it was 80.
Philips voice was changed from the old
light tones, and there was no tenderness
in it, though he called her darling"
"Here Is this package" he said, (which
wish you to return to Louise with my
forgiveness. She will soon see her heart
lessness has not destroyed my happiness! p
and he laughed bitterly.
Dear Philip" murmured Emily's
false, sweet voice.
Emily, you are the only true woman l
know, after all. My life shall be devoted
to you"
"And you love me, Philip" she asked,
longingly.