Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-08-29
EATON OHIO, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1872

| "Do not do that" said l. "I am
your friend. l was sorry for you that
day"
He did not speak, but troubled
look disturbed the pale fixedness of his
| face.
"How much money have you there!"
l asked.
Gone hundred dollars"
"And you need it very much ?"
every much," he replied with a bit
ter smile.
"Please put it back" L said. "She
has been just to you, l would like to be
merciful. / will give you the money"
"You?"
az have it-y es-here in my room !;
| let me show YOU"
l flung open the door, next to my
writipg-desk and came back.
"These will give you freely" 1 said,
opening the roll. "You said to her
that it should be the last time, and
hope
He had taken the bills into his hand,
! looking at them in kind, unbelieving
way:
me-" he said, in low voice.
We were silent for moment.
You know now that | was very
eoiiJ III Jou' e1'iu' "Asih 'ee'io ia my
ewes,
Yes,'' he said gravely, "and l love
you for it.''
He put Mrs. Maltby's money back,
and rearranged the chest. l began to
listen nervously for voices about the
house, but all was very still. He locked
the chest, and gave me the key.
"You know where it is kept?''
q" Yes, in drawer in her dressing
room" l wondered how he had OBJ
tanned it. "Hurry and go away"
"There is no danger; 1 paved the
way carefully. Pure, brave little girl,
how fearless you are for yourselfW
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 dark
ness.
extinguished the taper, and crept
back to bed. 1 did not hear a sound
about the house until daybreak.
When l arose, l saw the d;rk-knife
glittering in the sunshine near my
| writing desk, where l had laid it. Then
/ shuddered.
At o'clock the watchman who was
kept on the grounds was found gagged
aand bound, Just inside Redburn's en-
coolly and surely.
A year later 1 was the mistress of
Redburn the beautiful house, the spa
cious grounds, were all mine. Mrs.
Maltby had died and bequeathed them
| to me.
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: You have
seen my brother; l loved him, l was
ambitious for him, but his natural bent
was evil. We had cousin Flora, a
lovely child, who was brought up with
him. They were engaged to be mar
his dissipation 1 told her of his debts
and deeds of daring. She loved him,
she trusted him; but she was delicate
and died. He said 1 killed her"
She grew pale, even past her dying
| pallor. She went on:
When last saw him the officers of
justice were after him; he was de-
faulter, he had stolen money to pay his
gambling debts. He is probably lying
in Jail now; but l 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 was mistress of Redburn.
was young; was fond of gayety I
had now the means at my disposal.
| Every summer my home was filed with
guests. In the winter l was in New
York, or abroad. And yet l lived only
on the interest of the meney bestowed
upon me.
Three years passed. 1 had never
heard word of Guy Sedley, when, one
day, the Bromleys, of New York, who
were coming to visit me. asked leave to
bring a friend; 1 extended the solicited
invitation, and Guy Sedley came.
1t was a shock, but he gave no token
of the past. Reclaimed from his errors,
he was so refined and manly that he
was the most distinguished of my
guests.
L loved him, but thought: "He
must hate me, the usurper of his rights.
He is poor because l have his patri-
mony. L have no right to Redburn,
and l will not keep it. I will give it
back to him."
An opportunity came. He was sitting
on the terrace one bright evening.
went and took a seat near him.
| "How lovely this view is |" he ex-
claimed, pointing toward the distant
hills.
"Yes, and you shall wish for your
right no longer, Mr.. Sedley. Redburn
is yours. l have no claim 10 it.'
He did not speak, and went on.
"Your sister was just, and she would
have made you the heir had she lived
to see you what you are today
"But it was your mercy, and not hel
justice, Miss Violet, that saved me
Violet, love you, and will take Red
burn with your hand, not else"
put my hand in his, trusting him
loving him utterly, and proud, very
proud, to make him the master of Red
burn.
Sad Fate of a Bridal COuDIe,