The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-08-08

came knock at tho door. I answer
ed it thinking Robert had called 10 on
bis way home to say goodnight, and
found myself face to face With strange
gentleman, who Immediately asked fo'
Anna Roadway. On hearing that ]
Was the person inquired for, he request
cd five minutes conversation with me
I showed him into the little emit
room at the back of the house, and
waited, rather surprised and Auttered
to lear what he had to say.
He was dark man, with serious
manner; and a short stern way o.
speaking. I was certain that he was 9
stranger and yet there seemed some.
thing in his face mot. familiar to me
He began by taking newspaper from
his pocket, and asking me if I was the
person who had gwen evidence at The
trial Of Noah Truscott on a charge o.
man slaughter. l answered immedi'
ately that was.
II have been for nearly two years
in London seeking Mary Malliuson
and always seeking her IN valn," he
said. "The first and only news I have
had OF her I found in the newspape,
report Of the trial yesterday"
He still spoke calmly, but there
was something in tho look of his eyel
which showed me that he was suffering
in spirit. A sudden nervousness
overcame me, and I was obliged te
sit down.
"You knew Mary Mallinson, sir p
I asked, as quietly as Iscould.
ri am her brother"
I clasped my hands and hid my face
ia despair. o tho bitterness OF hear,
With which heard him say those sim
pie words !!
"You were very kind to her,
said the calm, fearless man. "Iu
her name and for her sake, I thank
you
60! sir" I said; "why did you nev.
er write to her whom you were in for.
eign parts 2"
II wrote oten," he answered, "but
each Of my letters contained remit.
tance of money. Did Mary tell you
she had a step-mother1 1t she did
you may guess why none of my letters
were allowed to reach her I know that
this woman robbed my sister. Has
she lied in telling me that she was nev.
or informed Of Mary's place of abode ?''
1 remembered that Mary had ney.
er communicated with her step.mother
after the separation, and could there
fore assure him that the woman had
spoken the truth.
He paused for moment, after that
and sighed. Then he took out pock-
et-book aud said:
81 have already arranged for the
payment Of any legal expenses that
may have been incurred by the trial :
but have still to reimburse you for
the funeral charges which you 80 gen.
erously betrayed. Excuse my speak
ing bluntly on this subject, I am &C.
customed to look on all matters where
money is concerned purely as matters
of business"
l saw that he was taking several
bank-notes out of the pocket-book, and
stopped him.
II will gratefully receive back the
little money [ actually paid, sir, be.
cause am not we'll of, and it would
bo an ungracious act Of pride in mo to
refuse it from you," I said. "But ]
see you handling bank notes, any one
Of which is far beyond the amount you
have to pay me-. Pray put them back
sir. What I did for your poor lost
sister, l did from my love and fond.
ness for her. You have thanked me
for that and your thanks are oil
can receive"
He had hitherto concealed his feel
ings, but I saw thom now begin to get
the better Of him. His eyes sottened
and he took my. hand and squeezed il
hard. -,
II beg your PARDON" ho said, 81
beg your pardon, with all my heart
There was silence between US, for
was crying; and I believe, at heart
he was crying too. At last, h,
dropped my hand, and seemed t
change back, by effort, to his for
mer calmness.
"1s there no one belonging to you Il
whom I can be Of service p he asked
81 see among the witnesses on. .th'
trial the name of young man who ap
pears to have assisted you in the en-
quires which led to the prisoners con
vietion. Is he relation p
"No, sir-at least, not now-but
hope -"
"What?" ?"
81 hope that he may, one day, b.
the nearest and dearest relation to m,
that woman can have" I said thos.
words boldly because was afraid o
his connection between Robert ani
me.
"One day ?" he repeated. "Or'
day may be long time hence"
"We are neither of Us we'll off, SIR
I aaid. Gone day, means the d.,
when we are little richer than We ar
| nouuV