Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-30

loIes oA taAS SuuucH opening OF 1t:
doors, and many a young belle prepared
to enter it's grey, time -honored walls
with curiosity awakened by the tale,
OF mother or aunt. Virginia Kedar
simply dressed in delicate robe o
white muslin, with wreath of scarle
berries on her silken hair, was til,
beauty of the whole assemblage. ani
many were the whispers as to her birtl
and parentage. George Roberts ha6
become more and more fascinated with
her, and this evening completed his
enthrallment. For the first time in his
life he was in love. Yet he could moi
but notice how his uncle scowled al
him when he danced with her, and his
mind was filled with a dozen perplexi'
ties concerning her.
He lay wide-awake until he heard the
great clock strike three, his heart toe
full of the blissful dreams which come
but once in lifetime, to wish fo,
slumber. Happy visions fitted before
his eyes, in which he and Miss Keda1
played prominent part. Suddenly he
heard faint grating noise in the
silence Of the night, although lie could
not tell from what direction it came.
and, listening attentively as it continu.
ed, he softly opened his door. It
sounded louder, and as he perceived it
came from the library. The chest and
its valuable contents flashed before his
mind, ,and, without pausing an instant.
he stole down stairs. The noise had
ceased by the time he had reached the
foot of the staircase, but he hastenen.
ed into the library as silently as posi-
BILE. The door into the office was aiar,
and a faint light perceptible. As
George looked through the crack, he
saw dark figure bending over the
chest, examining papers. A slight ex.
clamation escaped the robber as he
took up q packet of letters, tied with q
broad blue ribbon, and thrust it into
! his breast. Then he arose from his
kneeling posture, put bag of gold
in each pocket, and as the light from
the dark lantern in his hand flashed for
moment in his face, George Roberts
saw q deep, red scar on his cheek,
where the black mask had slipped one
side. The young man sprang toward
the robber, calculating on the sudden
ness of the attack to be able to knock
him down, but tripping on the unseen
tootstep he fell headlong into the room,
while the robber vaulted through the
open window as lightly as cat.-
When George picked himself mp there
was no sign of the thief, and while he
hesitated a moment whether to give
chase nor OF his uncle, aroused with the
noise of his fall, entered the room He
snivered when George described the
robber, an still more when the young
man picked up a glove on the tioor-a
small grey g.ove-delicately yet singu-
larly Perfumed. Grasping it in his
hand the old man groaned bitterly, and
paced the floor irresolutely for time,
| while his nephew watched him in
amazement. Presently he turned to
the window and re-fastened it, shaking
his head as he examined the bolts and
saw them all unbroken. The thief had
evidently had assistance from the inside
of the mansion.
Don't cay anything about it,
George" he said, in anxious tones. ii
know the man; no common thief, and
another groan escaped his lips. "Now
go to bed. I will tell you more to-
morrow.
With his mind full of this new mys
terry the young man fell asleep. When
he had breakfasted message came
from his uncle in the library, and
George hasteqed to obey. A feverisl,
flush burnt on the old mans cheek, and
his manner was hurried and impatient.
very unlike his usual naughty serenity.
Motloning his nephew to q seat, he
plunged into the subject on his mind
without further reflection.
"Those papers taken last night,
George, from the iron chest, were oi
incalcnlable value to me-" the old
| man said, vehemently. "Restore them
to me, and you command anything
own. Rcnounce your profession for a
time, devote your life to the search, il
need be, and Locksley Grange shall be
your reward. I will make my will this
very day." and he rose from his chair,
regarding the young man with eager
gaze. George hesitated, overwhelme cd
With the idea. Ambition was strong
within him, but life was before him,
and the reward great.
"But Miss Kedar ~ he murmured.
"Yuu love that girl3" said the old
man, with sneer. "Oh, fate, tate -
Yes, Uncle Paul, I do love her, -
said George boldly. "Add her hand
to your offer, and I give myself up to
your will
A great struggle seemed raging with
in 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 Vir-
ginia Kcder until you find those papers
and restore them t. me, if am alive,
or, if not, burn them unread"
:" promise, the young mai, answer
ed, solemnly.
Listen, then," his uncle said, with
an air of relief the robber was q
woman. All your legal skill and sharp.
ness will be needed to..trace her, but the
perfume of that glove is the strongest
Glue. Twill give you written descrip.
ton to aid you, and you must start at
once"
When George Roberts left Locksley,
it was as his nncle's acknowledged heir,
and, what was of infinity more moment
! W AIAHI, Onc ACCcptcu lover Ol virginia
Kedar. With tbe little grey glove
treasured carefully, he proceeded tt
London, secured an accomplished de
tective, and pursued his search. His
mother was to remain ut the Grange.
First they endeavored to find namt
for the singular scent, but no pc erfumel
in London or Paris could explain it.
Both cities were searched, and ever,
possible or impossible clue was tal5ei
up, as the days heightened into weeks
and the weeks into months. Wher
summer emptied the cities, they sought
the watering. places - Baden-Badcn,
Hamburg, and SO on, but all seemed t,
be in vain.
One evening, as George sat in hi
bedroom, in one of the strange ittl'
German towns. pondering over lettc
from his mother, which described hi
uncle's failing health and growing ir
ritability, and almost cursing his owl
folly in thus giving up everything t.
crafty an old mans insane wl,im, h
was reused from his dcspondent gloen
by the entrance of Il fresh little m:.i,lc1
with his clean linen. As she sorte.
out her snowy burden on the bed
subtle, strange odor s:.lutcd his sens cs