The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-09-18

| ed to q look Of wonder.
"Yeu, child, are not you afraid Of
me ?" he asked.
NC" I answered, truthfully.
"But I watched you in your sleep,
/ a moment ago, debating whether it
was necessary to kill you or not.'
sY ou must have been glad to find
thatit was not necessary l said.
He looked more astonished than
before, but I did not stop to think
Of that. 80
'sPut the money back" I said.
"No,''' he said, firmly. 81 will
murder you first i:
"Do notdo that said T. 81 am
your friend. I was sorry for you
that day.
He did not speak but troubled
look disturbed the pale fxedness Of
his face.
aHow much money have you
there?" / asked
"One hundred dollars ?
EsAnd, you needit very much :"
every much," hereplied, with .
bitter SMILE,
iEPlease put it back" I said. ashe
has been just to you, I would like
to be merciful. Twill give you the
money"
"You p
"I have it-yes-here IN ny
room, let me show you"
I flung open the door, next to my
writing desk, and came back.
"These will give you freely" l
said, opening the roll. "You ssid to
her that it should be the last time,
and I hope-"
He had taken the bills into his
hand, looking at them in a kind, un-
believing way. ,z
E"You may hope bhat yeu have
saved me-" he said, in a low voice.
| We were silent for . moment.
aYou know now that / was very,
sorry for yoa," Z aaad, 1sth tears IN
my eyes. .,l,ti:,
.Yes,' he said, gravely, sand Z lore
| He put Mua. Nalsbys money back,
and rearranged the chest. I began
to listen nervously for voices about
the house, but all was very still. He
locked the chest and gave me the
key.
eyes, in drawer in her dressing
room" wondered how he had OBJ
tanned it. Hurry, and got away"
"There is no danger; I payed my
way. carefully. Pure, brave little
| girl, how fearless you are for your
selfp'4E
He looked at me earnestly, as if he
wished to carry away clear memory
of my features, then wrapped his
cloak about him, flung up the sash
and leaped soundlessly out into the
darkness.
l extinguished the taper, and crePt
back to bed. did not hear o sound
about the house until daybreak.
When I arose, saw the dirk-knife
glittering in the sunshine near my
writing desk, where I had lain 1t
Then I shuddcred.
At 8 o'clock, the watchman, who
was kept on the grounds, was found
gagged and bound, just inside Red
burns entrance. Yes, Guy Sedley
paved his way ceolly and surely.
A year later, I was the mistress OF
Rcdburn the beautiful house, the
spacious grounds, were oil mine.
Mrs. Mastby had died and 'boquoathed
them to me. aq
On her dying bed, she had said:
"Violet, you are my heiress. There
is only one living being who has my
blood in his veins; him l disown.",
She paused, and then went on: "Iou
have seen my brother. I lowed him.
| / was ambitious for him. but his nat
ural bent was evil. We had cousin,
Flora, a lovely child, who was brought
up with him. They were engaged to
be married. But I forbade it. l
revealed to her his dissipation. l
told her of his debts and deeds OF
daring. She lowed him. she trusted
him, but she was delicate, and died.
He said I killed her."
She grew pale, even past her dying
pallor. She went on:
"W ban I saw him last, The .a&cers
of Justice were after him !; he was q
defaulter. He had stolen money TO
pay his gambling debts. Ke is prob
ably dying in Jail now but will have
none Of him. l was just to him, and
1 will never forgive him."
So she died, hard as flint TO: the
last. And I was mistress of Red
burn.
I was young; and q WAS fond Of
gayety; I had now the means at my
disposal. Every summer my home
was filled with guests. In the winter
| was i'm New York, or abroad. And
yet i lived only on the intanest of the
money bestowed upon me.
Three years passed. l had newer
heard word Of Guy Sedley, when
one day, the Bromleys of Now York
who were eeming to visit me, asked
leave to bring friend q extended
the solicited Invitation, and Guy Sed
ley came.
IT WAS a shook, hnt he gave nc
token of the past. Reclaimed frsa
his errors, he was so refined ane
manly that he was the most dsan
,gniahed of the guests.
I loved him, but I thoagk, 'rA'
must hate me, tho usurper Of hi
rights He ia Door because I have