New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-29

A taper, burning in the silver sconce upon
the wall, showed his face perfectly cool as he
went on searching for something.
He must have come through my room to
reach this apartment, for it had no opening
but into my chamber. was aware that the
papers in the chest were valuable-that there
was money placed there. saw that he was
robbing his sister.
I saw too dirk-knife on the floor close at
his side.
I looked at him an instant-even then I
remembered to pity him-then glided forward,
snatched the knife, and leaped back to the
door.
was mistress of the situation, for had
come from behind him, done all as in flash
with my back to the closed door, with a calm
ness that showed it was not my intention to
Immediately arouse the house.
With a presence of mind equal to my own,
he put the roll Of bills he had been searching
for into the fob of his waistcoat, and, with
glittering eye, regarded me speculatively. l
was petite, and had not screamed. 1 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,
1 will let you CO."
look of wonder.
"You, child, are not you afraid of me ?"
he asked:
NO." answered, truthfully.
But watched you in your sleep, a mo-
ment ago, debating whether it was necessary
to kill you or not"
"You must have been glad to find that it
was not necessary" said.
He looked more astonished than before,
but did not stop to think of that.
g. Put the money back" / said.
NO." he said, firmly. 81 will murder
you first"
"Do not do that" said I. 81 am your
friend. was sorry for you that day."
He did not speak but troubled look dis
turbed the pale fxedness of his face.
How much money have you there ~
asked.
Zone hundred dollars"
"And you need it very much? 2"
"Very much" he replied, with bitter
smile.
"Please put it back" said. "she has
been just to you, would like to be mercitul.
1 will give you the money"
81 have it-yes-here in my room, let me
show YOU"
1 flung open the door, next to my writing
desk, and came back.
"These 1 will give you freely" l said,
opening the roll. s. 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, unbeleving way.
"You may hope that you have saved me"
he said, in a low voice.
We were silent for moment.
"You know now that was very sorry for
you," said, with tears in my eyes.
YES" he said, gravely, and love you
for it."
He put Mrs. Maltby's money back and
rearranged the chest. 1 began to listen
nervously for voices about the house, but all
was very still. He locked the chest and gave
me the key.
"You knew where it was kept?"
Eyes, in a drawer in her dressing-room."
1 wondered how he had obtained it. "Hur-
~, and get away"
"There is no danger; paved my way
carefully. Pure, brave little girl, how fear
less you are for YOURSELF"
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
darkness.
extinguished the taper, and crept back to
bed. 1 did not hear sound about the house
until daybreak.
When 1 arose, saw the dirk-knife glitter
ing in the sunshine near my writing desh,
where had lam it. Then shuddered.SI h,
At s O'Clock the Waterman, who was IL
on the grounds, was found gagged and bound
just inside Redburn's entrance. Yes, Guy
Sedley paved his way coolly and surely.
A year later was the mistress of Redburn
the beautiful house, the spacious grounds
were all mine. Mrs. Maltby had died ant
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 disown.'' She paused, and Their
went on : You have seen my brother.
loved him. was ambitious for him, but his
natural bent was evil. We had a cousin
Flora, a lovely child, who was brought w
with him. They were engaged to be married
| But forbade it. l revealed to her his dissi
patton. told her of his debts and deeds O
daring. She loved him, she trusted him, but
she was delicate, and died. He said killed
her."
| She grew pale, even past her dying pallor
| She went on:
"When 1 saw him last, the officers Of jus
tice were after him he was defaulter. He
had stolen money to pay his gambling debts
He is probably lying in Jail now {; but vii
have none of him. 1 was just to him, and
will never forgive him."
So she died, hard as flint to the last. AND
I was mistress of Redburn.
was young and 1 was fond of gayety:
had now the means at my disposal. Every
summer my home was filled with guests. Ii
the winter 1 was in New York, or abroad
And yet lived only on the interest of the
money bestowed upon me.
Three years passed. 1 had never heard &
word Of Guy Sedley, when, one day, thu
Bromleys of New York, who were coming tt
visit me, asked leave to bring a friend ex
tended the solicited invitation, and Guy
Sedley came.
1t was shock, but he gave no token of thu
past. Reclaimed from his errors, he was Sc
refined and manly that he was the most dis
tinguished of the guests.
| loved him, but thought, s. He must hate
me, the usurper of his rights. He is poor be
cause have his patrimOny. have no righ
to Redbun, and 1 will not keep it. vii
give it back to him."
An opportunity came. He was sitting OF
the terrace one bright evening. / went an(
took seat near him.
How lovely this view is !" he exclaimed
pointing toward the distant hills.
4 u i