The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-02-26

the criminal is there, however deep in
his heart he mag bury It,"
Strange as it may appear, I made no
attempt to dissuade her from her pur.
pose. / could not. feltas if the beau
.tiful creature exercised over me a mag
netic control. And with this under
standing, We took our leaye, to prepare
for the night yisi, to the old house and
its dangerous inhabitants.
Those acquainted, with the city at
that period, can form some idea of the
danger Of the plot We had formed. To
us it was a matter of daily occurrence.
But for the young girl, inexperienced
and teuderly nurturcd, to thrust herself
into the very house of the unscrupulous
and desperate wretches vino were sus.
pected of this crime, was simply ap' all
ing. It would not do, however, to go to
the place before the hour appointed for
our coming, for that would defeat the
object in view. 1t was, therefore, with
many u misgiving, aud an uneasiuess but
poorly concealed, we bided our time.
But we determined to be there at the
very moment, and the clock was on the
stroke of midnight, when we knocked at
the door. The outside of the house gave
no signs of life within. The shutters
were securely fastened, aud 40 ray of
light penetrated the darkness but the
muffled sound Of voices reached our ears.
until our knocking hushed them to n
whisper. There WIS uiomentary hest
tation, us il counseling together, and
hen tho -.0or Was thrownsopen wide.
1t wasa long, low room, dusty and
brown from age, About dczea persons
were seated around, but every eye was
turned tn the door Tw6men had risen
other icct, and stSod in an attitude,
which might mean defeuce;, before the
irc-place; but the object that attracted
our attention most was young girl sit
ting in the centre of the apartment. Her
face was dark as gipsey'A. and the loug
hair hung loose OF. her s,,oulders. Her
dress was of poor tiiutefssai,. ragged aud
unclcan. Patches and rents had almost
changed its hue and disguised its texture.
She seemed too thinly clad for that cold
night, aud her slender frame shivercd n.
if from cod, as the chill air from the
open door swept in.
What do you want?' was the stern
question addressed to US by one of the
men at the fire.
Ref'rc | had time to reply, the girl
sprang to her feet and spoke instead.
Arrest these mem !" Her voice was
low, but the face flashed in the light of
the FIRE, was that OF the Nemesis had
seen that day.
There was short, fierce struggle, and
the men were in our pnwer. The girl
then walked to a place in the floor, and
touching a concealed spring, raised a
trap-door. She babe Mr. l. lift the box
that lay in the hiding-p!acc The lid
was wrenchej off, and in it were the old
merchants money, papers and pocket
book. With the money was found the
bill, and the word "Caual" written across
it.
1t was not long before the men con-
iessed their crime. The old man had
been murdered and his body thrown in
the river.
The daughter accomplished her mis-.
sion. She had carried, out her design.
tr'ced to their hiding.place the proofs of
the murderers crime 1t is useless to
realize what followed Long years ha, e
fed since then, and the young Nemesis
is yet among the living. Beautiful still
there are many hearts to grow glad at
!:cs SMILE, and share with her the Joys of
the home she charms. But this strange
incident in her life will never be effaced
from her mind, or fade from the memory
Of those who saw her then.