The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-09-07

spoke with unalterable composure.
IL told You more than a year ago that
should pay no more debts of yours, contracted
at faro, or in any other way" she said, "a
mean it; you know mean it. have giver
you fair warning. shall not change"
He did not speak his head was droopet
upon his breast; he was deathly pale.
Il have done my duty by you, Guy, yor
know that have,' she added.
| "Yes, you have been just, tut you have new
er been merciful" he replied. ooh, God "
He flung up his arms with a bitter cry thai
wrung my heart.
looked at her. She did not relent or &C
to him. He had flung himself into chair
and with his head dropped and his arms fold
ed upon the back, was the most hopeless
figure had ever seen. She rose, for l had
finished her hair, and took a seat nearer the
fire. Her lips were gray, rs if she were cold,
but her face was as still and as int1eXible as
flint.
He gave groan and started up suddenly
~ am going" he said. CT" He met her
eye and asked: = "Why did you not tell me
l was altogether in your hands once. You
killed her, you will remember"
A slight flush stained her cheek.
"You would have made her happy, sup.
pose, if she had lived ?" she said sarcastically,
| But the sting did not seem to reach him.
"If she had lived! Oh, heaven, if she had
lived Winfred Sedley, may God deal by you
as you have dealt by me-"
~ am willing" she answered.
He remained not moment longer. Wrap
ping his cloak about him, he gave her one
look of reproach, and left the room looked
wistfully at her; she did not speak to me, and
l, too, went away.
She was i'll the next day, but on the day fol.
lowing she appeared much as usual.
Of all that thought and felt, l, of course
said nothing. The matter was no affair of
mine. l had not understood it, Mrs. Maltby
would make me feel it. understood that the
two were brother and sister that the young
man was named Guy Sedley that he was dis.
solute and in disgrace; that Mrs. Maltby had
taken care Of HIN in boyhood, but now ignored
| the relationship. l was in no way allowed to
learn any more.
But on the second night l was awakened by
a light shining into my chamber.
1t was something unusual, for the little
clock on the mantle was Ginning twelve.
Alter a moment slipped out OF bed and
gllded toward the open door. The long, EN-.
broidered folds Of my night.dress tripped me,
but | made no noise with my bare feet upon
the deep velvet OF the carpet. don't know
whom l expected to see,-certalnly not Guy
Sedley, kneeling before sandal wood chest,
with papers strewn around him on the floor.
A taper, burning in the silver sconce upon the
wall, showed his face perfectly cool, as he went
on searching tor something.
He must have come through my room to
reach this apartment, for it had no opening
but into my chamber. l was aware that the
papers in the chest were valuable-that there
was money placed there. saw that he was
robbing his sister.
1 saw, too, q dirk knife on the floor, close at
Ills side.
looked at him an instant, -even then re.
membered to pity him, -then glided forward,
snatched the knife, and leaped back to the
door.
l was mistress of the situation, for l had
come from behind him,--done all as in flash
| OF light, and as he rose to his feet, | stood
with my back to the closed door, with calm
ness that showed it was not my intention to
Immediately arouse the house.
With presence of mind equal to my own,
he put the roll of bills he had been searching
tor into the fob of his waiscoat, and with gilt.
tering eye regarded me speculatvely. was
petite, and had not screamed know now
that he was not much afraid of me.
"You have been robbing your sister, said,
but if you will put the money back, l will
let you CO."
HIS intense attention of me changed to a
look of wonder.
"You, child, are not afraid of mes" he
asked.
"But watched you in your sleep moment
ago, debating whether 1t were necessary to kill
you or not"
'You must have been glad to find that it
was not necessary" answered..
He looked more astonshed than before but
did not stop to think of that.
"Put the money back" said.
NO." he said firmly. ~ will murder you
first"
"Do not do that" said II am your friend.
l was sorry for you that day"
lie did not speak, but a troubled look dis.
turbed the pale fixedness of his face.
"How much money have you got there %
asked.
zone hundred dollars"
"And you need it very muchs"
every much" he replied with bitter smile
on his face
please put it back" SAID. "Shc has been
just to you, would like to be merclful will
give you the money"
"You!'
II have it-yes-hcre In my SOON; let me
| show you.'
l flung open the door, next to my writing.
desk, and came back
These | will give You freely" said, open.
ing the roll. You said to her that it should
be the last time, and hope"
He had taken the bills into his hand, look.
ing at them in kind, unbeeving way.