Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-04-22

my dear boy, you must not allow this
thing to take place. Your fathers
bones will rise up in judgment against
you If you do! No-no-for my sake.
you must not allow it,
What have we to fear, mother ? said
CASTOR. his pale olive face looking
more haggard than ever, and his under
i,p twltching nervously as he spoke.
on have already stated. or rather Mr..
Greenhough has for you. that the evil
dencc we have heard this morning is a
tissue of falsehoods, rs far as YOU are
concerned DO you still adhere to
that assertions'
i do, | do, said the miserable
woman eagerly. All lies, CASTOR
dear, as far as l am concerned.
In that case, mother. We have moth
ing to be afraid of. said 'Gaston.-
10 open my poor brothers coffin, un-
der such circumstances, cannot be any
sacrilege. - Gentlemen. he added.
coming forward TO the table, 'whatev-
er permission you require from me in
this case. | grant freely and fully
Act as seems best to your own judg-
ment. For my~mother and myself, 1
state emphatically that instead of
stunning inquiry, we court it. Let
your perquisition be as searching as
possible we have no fear Of the re-
suit.
But Castor, Castor, ilnplored
Lady Spencelaugh in a tone Of agony,
Il tell You this must not be allowed
Oh It is horrible For my sake. Gas
ton. you must not allow this
Mother. in such a case as this il is
necessary, said Castor firmly. The
permission | have given cannot
rctract. Besides, such proof will 20
far TO show the utter worthlessness
OF this base scheme Of imposture.
Come take my arm. For the present,
our business here is at an end.
She gave one look into his face. and
then seeing that his resolve was not to
hc shaken, with a low, bitter sigh, she
took his arm, and allowed herself to be
>.
ing mcckly.
After a long consultation with Sir
Michael. the wear announced that Mr..
Jennings proposition would be acceed-
ct To anil appointed the hour OF six
that evening as the time for the gentle
men there present To meet at the
church
10 frederica the day had seemed
long and terrible one She thanked
Heaven ferventIy that it was over at
last, and that the weight of the dark
secret which she carried about with her
for ~ long time would rest on her
feeble shoulders no more
"uAprrp Sxxvu.-THF FAMILY
VAULT.
The yestry Of the little church at
Belair was chilly and desolate look
ins room. with its tagged floor and
whitcwa,hcd walls; with its strai ght-
backed oaken chairs. and its little iron
barred window ; and not all the efforts
ot the rheumatic old sexton. who had
lighted 1t up with a couple OF wax
candles and a suffering lire OF damp
wood, could make it seem even tolcr-
ably cheerful. Hardly had six
o'clock done striking. when lhe vicar
and Sir Michael arrived Five mn
utcs later came Mr.. Greenhou.h h and
Mr. Penning, thicklv powdered with
-nowtiakes, they having walked down
tp-srther. arm-in-arin, from the Hall.
" hen all were assembled. the vicar
opened a private cupboard. and silent
II poured out tour q asses Of the ex-
cellAnt port OF which small supply
was alwavs kept in stock and in IL
lencr i, was discussed.
named the hour ot ak Is that for
our meeting here. said the vicar, be
cau-e thought that what We are
about TO do nad better be done under
the friendly shade of darkness
Whatever NAV be the re.nlt OF our
visit here this evening, We need not /
take the public into our confidence. /
unless atter-circumstancc- should COM
Ipei IL u do 80. jenkins. TIL sexton .
i discretion itself and the position Of .
this church Is 80 solitary, that | hard |
Is think il likely chat we shall be ob. I
served BY any inquisitivc busvbodie>
from the outside And now. gentle
men. If you are ready. we will pro
,cel to business.
jenkins being summoned. produ-
ed huge horn lantern. which be
10 light up with one OF the
aax-candles and then takins large
ley from it, nail on the wall. he led
he way out Of the church and 50 bv
, narrow gravelle1 path round one
,orner of the cdiIice Ia Il spot where
IN IRON door let into the wall with
grating above il, and reached bv
lecent OF three or four steps. indica-
ed the enterance to the family vault
ii the Spencelaughs. The old man
armed the creaking KEY, and pushed
back the heavy door. Contrasted
gainst the whitenes- outside, for the
were still falling steadily.
he entrance To the vault looked like
he black cavernous vestibuie to some
'id-worid dungeon. some place Of
orturc and imprisonment in years
ong past. stopping for moment
o indulge in what might be appro-
,rlately termed churcl,yard cough,
lie old sexton picked up his lantern
lgain. and went slowly in, followed,
m. after one. by the other. II tb.