Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-08-29

J
head 7'' he exclaimed.
~ washed my hands clear of you
long ago." she answered, composedly.
"Long ago." he repeated, and wave
of emotion that was inexplicable to me
went over his face. Then he was silent.
l don't know why, but from that mo-
ment l pitied him.
He got up and commenced walking
the floor.
81 tell you, Winfred, 1 must have
this money" he said. Il must have it
tonight" he repeated.
Mrs. Maltby was silent. l caught a
glimpse of her face. Flint was not
harder.
"Let me have it, Winfred," he said,
pausing before her, "and promise you
it shall be the last time"
She made no reply.
"The last time" I mean it, Win
fred.''
His voice faltered. She did not
speak.
"Will you ?''
"Ne," she replied, with no emotion
whatever.
His face had been working with some
strong, deep feeling. But that mono
syllable seemed to strike him like
blow. He stood looking at her, his
face still and desperate.
81 did not think God would make
such woman as you are," he said, at
last.
felt her shrink beneath the actual
horror with which he seemed to regard
her. But she spoke with unalterable
composure.
ri told you more than year ago
that 1 should pay no more debts of
yours, contracted at faro, or in any
other way" she said. 81 mean it you
know 1 mean it. 1 have given you fair
warning. l shall lot change"
He did not speak; his head was
dropped upon his breast; he was death
ly pale.
81 have done my duty by you, Guy,
you know that have" she added.
Yes, you have been just, but you
have never been merciful," he replied.
"Oh, Godp He flung up his arms with
bitter cry that wrung my heart.
looked at her. She did not relent
or go to him. He had flung himself
into chair, and with his head dropped
and his arms folded upon the back, was
She rose, for | had finished her hair,
and took seat nearer the fire. Her
lips were gray, as if she were cold, but
her face was still as inhexible as flint.
He gave a groan and started up sud-
denly.
al am going" he said. "I-" He
met her eye and asked: "Why did you
not tell me? l was altogether in your
hands once. You killed her, you will
remember" --r----
A slight flush stained her cheek.
"You would have made her happy,
suppose, if she had lived" she said, .sar-
castically. But the sting did not seem
to reach him.
"If she had lived Oh, heaven, if she
had lived'l Winfred Sedley, may God
deal by you as you have dealt by me-"
az am willing" she answered.
He remained not a moment longer.
Wrapping his cloak about him, he gave
her one look of reproach, and left the
room. l looked wistfully at her; she did
not speak to me, and l, too, went away.
She was i'll the next day, but on the
day following she appeared much as
usual.
Of all that 1 thought and felt, 1, of
course, said nothing. The matter was
no affair of mine. I had not under
stood it, Mrs. Maltby would make me
feel it. / understood that the two were
brother and sister that the young man
was named Guy Sedley; that he was
dissolute and in disgrace; that Mrs.
Maltby had taken care of him in boy
hood, but now ignored the relationship.
l was, in no way allowed to. learn any
more.
But on the second night was awak-
ened by light shining into my cham
Der.
1t was something unusual, for the
little clock on the mantel was Ginning
twelve.
After moment slipped out of bed
and glided toward the open door. The
long, embroidered folds of my night
dress tripped me, but made no noise
with my bare fe ct upon the deep velvet
of the carpet. 1 don't know whom l
expected to see,-certainly not Guy
Sedley, kneeling before a sandal wood
chest, with papers strewn around him
| on the floor. A taper, burning in the
silver sconce upon the wall, showed his
face perfectly cool, as he went on
searching for something.
He must have come through my room
| to reach this apartment, for it had nc
opening but into my chamber. [ was
| aware that the papers in the chest were
valuable,-that there was money placed
there. [ saw that he was robbing his
| sister.
1 saw, too, dirk-knife on the floor
close at his side.
1 looked at him an instant, t,-ever
then l remembered to pity him,-ther
| glided forward, snatched the knife, and
leaped back to the door.
| 1 was mistress of the situation, for
had come from behind him,-done al
as in flash of Highland as he rose to
his feet 1 stood with my back to the
closed door, with a calmness thai
showed it was not my to intention inn
mediately arouse the house.
! With presence of mind equal to my
own, he put the roll of bills he hac
been searching for into the fob of hi
waistceat, and with glittering eye re
garded me speculatively. l was petite
and had not screamed. l know nov
that he was not much afraid of me.
6 Y0I1 ha11n hna1a rc.hhiIa1r 81 Ton.