Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-06-13


On that very evening DR.. Macon was
engaged to take tea with Mrs. Blake and
her daughter, but their old house.keeper
returned from the village with the intel
ligence that a shocking railroad acci-
dent had occurred in the vicinity, and
the Doctor had hastened off 20 the as
sistance of the wounded.
On the return of DIR. Macon he called
upon Mrs. Blake and surprised her with
the information that among the hurt was
Armand Landry, mortally injured He
was accompanied by his daughter, the
half-sister of Hester, and she mad been
stunned by blow on the head. They
we're both lying at farmhouse near by,
and Mr. Landry, knowing that he must
die, had requested that Hester should
visit him the next morning, that he
might inform her of the pecuniary pro-
vision which he had made for her sup
port.
And now was concocted one of the
most fendish plots ever devised by the
human mind. 1t was suggested by Mrs.
Blake, and acquiesced in by DIR. Macon
and Hester, that the half-sister who was
still unconscious, should be kept in a
state of imbecility by drugs which the
Doctor should skillfully administer to
her for that purpose, and HeSter-whose
resemblance to her was so close as to
defy detection-should usurp her place
as heiress of the immense estates en-
tailed upon the halfsister through her
mother.
The inducements to Dr. Macon was
Hesters promise, on the accomplish
ment of the scheme, to become his wife.
But when Hester came TO read over
the letters which lay concealed in the
bottom Of Der hali-sister's trunk, she
found among them several from Ray
mond De Lorme, a handsome young
man whom she remembered as her own
first lover at the South, when she was
a little more than mere child. These
letters were written in a most impas-
stoned strain, and showed that between
him and his fair eorrespondent-Estelle
Landry, Hester's now stricken half
sister-a marriage engagement existed.
No sooner had Hester discovered this
fact than her old love for De Lorme was
rekindled, and she resolved at once to
have him also, as well as Estelle's for
tune, let whatever obstacles might be in
the way. He was now absent in Eu-
rope, to remain a year or two, and her
purpose must be most carefully con-
cealed from DR.. Macon; but, come what
would, the young man should yet be
hers 44l'f
Mrs. Blake's house-keeper, Mrs. Null
ler, German woman with an American
was a great gossip, and a
cunning, selfish, evil-minded woman.
Hester, at her mother s suggestion, had
turned the key on the outside of Mrs.
Muller's sleeping room, while their
internal plot had been planned; but the
suspicious woman happened to be awake,
and she had risen, and emerging through
q window, crept around where she could
listen to all they said She too, now,
meant to have her profit out of the
the secret of which she had
unknown to them.
On the following day Mr.. Landry felt
his end rapidly approaching. He had
forbidden peremptorily that Mrs. Blake
should be admitted to his presence; but !
Mrs. Blake had determined to, see him
before he died. he was very anxious
for confessor; and was, finally told |
that although there was no priest acees-
sible, Sister of Charity might be OBJ
tained. This assurance afforded him
great relief, and he desired that no time
might be lost in sending for her.
Mrs. Blake determined to improve
his opportunity to see him, without his
recognizing her, and to visit him in the
lisguise of a Sister. ...t
1t was arranged that after night, when
he room was dimly lighted by a single
candle, she would 60 in and listen to
iuch confessions as he wished to make
IN them, if be spoke Of her tonderiy,
she would .forego the
lire vengeance she had planned to in
iict on him when he lay helpless before
Ter, breathing his soul away in doubt
md dread of what the future life might
ring to him. If he judged her hardly
md cruelty at the last, she would have
10 mercy on him. ala s
When Eunice, a deaf and dumb ser
ant girl at the farmhouse, was safely
sleep Mrs. Blake made such alteration
n her dress as was necessary. A white
was drawn low down on
er forehead, and folded over her face in
uch a mapner as to conceal the greater
ortion of it, and Macon's black silk
ravat was smoothed out and tied over
hat, in the form Of the hoods worn by
,atholic nuns when walking abroad.
he then entered the feebiy lighted
oom, and sat down in the chair which
lester resigned at her approach. AT
ne movement, the dying man unclosed
is eyes, and in faint voice, SAID:
" How good you were to come to me
l this extremity. This young girl has
Explained to me that you consented to 9
o so as soon as you heard that a son
Mother Church needed your help; :
ut some subtle power must have con-
eyed to him the knowledge that some 9
hing inimical had approached him, for
G suddenly seemed TO struggle with
,me deadly oppression, and sinking
ack, he murmured:
g Too late | fear that l shall die be- !
re | can say what wished. | must con- :
have absolution, for | have I
nned. But have suffered-how Bit =
II cup have drained in atonement of !,
Ie one act of my life which brought up- i
appiness to one who thought she had >
Ie right to avenge herself upon me. :
In voice scarcely above whisper, /
RS. Blake said: .-....... :
" My son, forgive as you hope to be
rgivep, and all will be well with you.
II