New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-16

/ in a lifetime TO wish for slumber. HaDpy
/ visions fitted before his eyes, in which he
| and Miss Kedar played q prominent part.
| Suddenly he heard a faint grating noise in
the silence of the night, although he could
not tell from what direction it came. and,
listening attentively as it continued. he
softly opened his door. 1t sounded louder.
and he perceived that it came from the
library. The chest and its valuable con
tents flashed before his mind and, without
pausiDg an instant, he stole down the stairs.
The noise had ceased by the time he reached
the foot Of the. staircase, but he FASTENED
into the library as silently as possible The
door into the office was sjar, and a faint
light perceptible. As George looked
through the crack, he saw a dark figure
! bending over the chest examining papers.
A slight exclamation escaped the robber
as he took up packet of letters tied with
broad blue ribbon, and thrust it into his
breast Then he arose from his kneeling
posture, put bag Of gold in each pocket,
land as the light from the dark lantern in
his hand flashed for a moment in his face
George saw deep, red scar on his cheek,
where the black mask had slipped one side
The young man sprang toward the rObber
calculating on the snddenness of the attack
to be able 10 knock him down, but tripping
on the unseen fOotstep he fell headlong into
the room, while the rObber vaulted through
the open window as lightly as a cat. When
George picked himself up there was no sign
Of the thief. and while he hesitated a mo
ment whether to give chase or not, his
uncle, aroused with the noise of his fall, en-
tered the room.
He shivered when George described the
FObber, and still more when the young man
picked up glove on the fiOOr-a small grey
glOve-delicately yet singularly perfumed.
Grasping it in his hand the old man grOaned
Il. q IL n.
time, while his nephew watched him in
amazement. Presently he turned to the
window and refastened it, shaking his head
as be examined the bolts and saw them all
unbrOken. The thief had evidently had as
sistance from the inside of the mansion.
Don't say anything about it, George, he
said, in anxious tones. | know the man
no common thief" and another groan es-
capped his lips. Now 60 to bed. I'll tell
you more tomorrow"
With his mind full of this new mystery
the young man fell asleep. When he had
breakfasted, message came from his uncle
in the library, and George hastened to
obey. A fevcrish flush burnt on the old
mans cheek and his manner was hurried
and impatient, very unlike his usual
naughty serenity. MOtiOning his nephew
to seat. he plunged into the subject on
his mind without further reflection.
''Those papers last night, George, from
the iron chest, were of incalculable value to
me-" the old man said, vehemently. RE
store them to me, and you command any
thing / own. Renounce your profession for
a time, devote your life TO the search, if
need be, and LOcksley Grange shall be your
reward. ! will make my will this very
day. and he rose from his chair, regarding
the young man with eager gaze. George
hesitated, overwhelmed with the idea. Am
bitiOn was strong within him, but life was
before him, and the reward great.
But Miss Kedar 2" he murmured.
% "You love that girl p said the old man,
with a sheer. ooh, fate, fate ~
Eyes. Uncle Paul, / do love her." said
George boldly. add her hand to your
offer, and / will give myself up to do your
will"
great struggle seemed raging within
the old mans breast, and he paced the floor
rapidly.
Young man, you are honorable" he |
said, with piercing glance at his nephew. |
Promise me, on your honor, that You will |
not seek to marry Virginia Kedar until you |
fud'those papers and restore them to me, |
if ! am alive, or, if not, burn them IN
read"
II promise" the young man answered,
solemnly.
Listen, then his uncle said, with an
air Of relief, 1.-THE rObber was a woman.
All your legal skill and sharpness will be
needed to trace her, but the perfume of |
this glove is the strongest clue. | will give |
you a written description to aid you, and |
yOu must start at once"
When George Roberts left Locksley it |
was as his uncle's acknowledged heir, and
what vas Of infinitely more moment to Inn,
the accepted lover of Virginia Kedar
With the little gray glove treasured care
fully, he proceeded to London, secured an
efeel,n IaNa 1
search. His mother was to remain at the
Grange,
First, they endeavOred to find a name for
The singular scent, but no performer in Lon
ion or Paris could explain it. Both cities
we're searched, and every possible or impOs-
3ible clue was taken up, as the days length
aned into weeks and the weeks into months.
When summer emptied the cities they
sought the watering places-Baden- Baden, |
Hamburg, and so on, but all seemed in vain.
One evening, as George sat in his bed
'oOm, in one of the strange little German
lOwus bordering over letter from his 1
mother, which described his uRcle's failing
health and growing irritability, and almost
,msing his own folly in thus giving up
everything to crafty an old mans insane
Whim, he was reused from his respondent
gloom by the entrance of fresh little
maiden with his clean linen. As she sorted
mt her snowy burden on the bed a subtle,
strange OdOr saluted his senses.
Good heavens the perfume-the glOve!"
Striving to conceal his excitement, he an
the girl, as to examine her work,
ind perceived a small parcel lying on one
ide from which the OdOr came. He did
rot speak Genuan-hOw to obtain any clue
rom it With a sudden movement he
to overturn a table covered with
books and papers, and while the girl, with
.reat good nature, assisted in replacing
benz, he had deXtrOusly rolled the parcel
lnder the dTaperies of the bed. She went
way without missing it, and George in
family summoned his ally to consult over
his unlOOked-fOr good fortune. When she
anne back, in a few hours, in search Of it,
he detective soon ascertained that the
aces belonged to a sick lady named Mad
me BeTnastine.
The clue was rapidly followed up. Pratt
lrmed an acquaintance with the invalid's
laid, who was English il seemed; found
rom her sufficient proof of her mistress
lentity with the woman they sought, and,
a few weeks time, during which Nine.
ernastine failed rapidly, gained access to
er private desk, and secured the package |
f letters, still tied with the blue ribbon.
.ext day the maid found herself heiress TO
Il her mistress effects, for the adventures
iy dead, and there was no one to claim her
Gods.
George few back to Locksley Grange, to
nd his uncle dying. The old man reused
'Om his apathy when he saw the letters,
ade his nephew burn them before his eyes,
nd with his last remaining strength drew
sealed paper from under his pillow, placed ]
in his nephew's hand and fell asleep never
waken
George opened the paper. That woman ]
as my wiie-an artful fiend. Virginia
edar HollOwes is my lawful daughter. l |
lted her mother and hate her ]