The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-09-19

"Let me have it, Winifred," he said,
"and / promise you it shall be the last
time.
She made no reply.
"The last time. L mean it, Wini-
fred" fH
His voice faltered. She did not
speak.
Will you?" s.s
"No," she replied, with 10 emotion
whatever.
His face had been working with some
strong. deep feeling. But that mono
syllable seemed to strike him like a
blow. He stood looking at her, his face
still and desperate.
81 did not think that God could make
such woman as you are, said he mt
last.
l felt her shrink beneath the actual
terror with which he seemed to regard
her. But she spoke with her unalter-
able composure.
CT told you more than year ago
that should pay no more debts of yours
contracted at faro, or in any other way, !"
she said meant it you know | meant
it. L have given you fair warning; L
shall not change"
He did not speak his head was
dropped upon his breast; he was deathly
pale.
CT have done my duty by you, Guy /;
You know that | have" she added.
eyes, you have been just, but you
have never been merciful," he replied.
ooh, God !" He flung up his arms
with bitter cry that wrung my heart
L looked at her. She did not relent
or go to him. He had flung himself
into a chair, and with his head dropped
the most hopeless figure l had ever seen.
She rose, for | had finished her hair,
and took q seat nearer the fire. Her
lips were gray as if she were cold, but
her face was still as invincible as flint.
He gave groan, and started up sud-
denly.
81 am going" he said, CT" He
met her eye, and said: Why did you
not kill me? was altogether in your
hands once. You killed her, you well
remember"
A flush stained her cheek.
you would have made her happy, i
suppose, if she had lived" she said,
sarcastically. But the sting did not
seem to reach him.
IF she had lived Oh, heavens, if
she had lived Winifred Sedley, may
God deal by you as you have dealt by
me !"
am willing" she answered
He remained not a moment longer.
Wrapping 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 following she appeared much as
usual.
OF all I thought and felt, 1, of course,
said nothing. The matter was no affair
of mine. L had not understood it !;
Mrs. Maltby would make me feel it.
l understood that the two were brother
and sister; that the young man was
named Guy Sedley that he was disso-
lutte and in disgrace that Mrs. Maltby
now ignored the relationship. L was in
no way allowed to learn any more.
But on the second night / was awak-
ened by a light shining into my
chamber.
1t was something unusual, for the
little clock on the mantel was CHM
ing II.
After moment ] slipped out of bed
and glided toward the open door. The
long embroidered folds of my night
gown tripped me, but L made no noise
with my bare feet upon the deep velvet
carpet. don't know whom [ expected
TO see certainly not Guy Sedley, kneel-
ing before sandalwood chest, with
papers strewn around him on the floor.
A taper, burning in 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. L was
aware that the papers in the chest were
valuable-that there was money placed
there. L saw that he was robbing his
sister.
l saw, too, q dirk knife on the floor
close Mt his side.
looked at him an instant-even then
remembered to pity him-then glded
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 rs
in flash of hghtning-and as he rose
to his feet stood with my back to the
closed door, with calmness that showed
that it was not my intention to imme-
diately arouse the house.
With 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 re-
garded me speculatively. L was petite,
and | had not screamed. L knew now
that he was not much afraid of me, al
though he appeared to be.
" You have been robbing your sister"
| said, but if you will put the money
back, L will let you go.
His intense attention of me changed
to look of wonder.
"You, child, are not afraid of me ?"
he asked.
"No," I answered truthfully.
"But L watched you in your sleep
moment ago, debating whether it were
necessary to kill you or not"
You must have been glad to find
that it was not necessary" 1 answered.
10 II