The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-26


"You will disavow doubtless that this is
yours, or that it contains darker proofs of
your guilt. That key upon your chate-
laine, madam-it was not tortured into a
charm for nothing-you were wise to keep
it chained to your person Take off your
watch, madam, want that key ~
The lady started to her feet lost in won
der-gazing upon him with her wild, ques-
tioning eyes.
"The desk-my key" she said, striving
to unlock her chatelaine with both hands,
but they trembled so violently that she
could only drop them helplessly down
again. "It is-it is a master-key-a little
golden trinket that -~u gave me on my
birthday"
The naughty man stamped with rage
"But this lock, give me something that
will open this lock, or will wrench it to
atoms" he cried, seizing the little ebony
desk and dashing it down upon the table
once or twice, and then actually tearing it
open with his hands.
A quantity of papers fell out, pretty
tinted notes, seals and rings, that rolled
flashing over the carpet. Amid this bright
litter was a package of letters, at which
the lady looked in mute surprise. These
the enraged husband seized, tore away the
band of blue ribbon which bound them to-
gether and began to read. She looked on
in silence, terrified by the pallor of rage
which settled about his mouth.
"There, madam" he hissed out, dashing
some of the letters to her feet, " read them
again, then look in my face if you dare and
repeat that infamous denial How came
these in your desk? This is your name on
the envelope-the handwriting is that of a
man, a crafty man, who gives name false
as your own soul How came these letters
there, and that one lying upon the floor of
your own room?"
81 do not l1now-my brain is so dizzy
cannet think. They were placed there
some enemy-great heavens l do not
know, but am innocent"
"Some enemy! We are not acting a
play-people in real life don't have enemies
who find means to put letters into their
writing-desks in order to ruin them.'
She stood for moment in despairing
silence, striving in vain to collect her
thoughts.
"Do you refuse to believe me" she
said, almost in whisper, edo you think
me guilty ?"
"Think P' he repeated, with sudden
fury, then springing to her side he whis-
pered single word in her ear. She pushed
him away and rose to her feet-all her
strength came back, and with it her
scorn.
"Where is my sster?" she said "we
will leave your house"
$50 when you please, but the child
stays with me-you have seen her for the
last time"
"You cannot do this--oh, no, thank
heaven, that is beyond your power--you
cannot separate me from my sister,"
"WheR I married you," he answered.
became that child's guardian--I promised
your father to adopt her-I have done So
you cannot touch her. Are you fit pro-
tector for an innocent creature like her?
Go forth to the sin and misery you have
wrought for yourself, but do not think to
drag her with you"
"No, no. not that That child-my
sister could never believe me guilty--I will
see her--she shall 60 with me-"
"She is beyond your reach, woman, re-
linquish that hope at once"
"My accuser--bring him to me-" she
replied lI
"These letters are damning accusation,
have sought no other had suspected
you for some time--your sudden visit to
the city last week, all, all told against you.
The servant found this letter, without ad-
dress in the hall where you had dropped
tit was given to me last night-do you
see how you have betrayed yourself?"
She rushed wildly from the chamber,
shrielting the child's name with insane
energy.
There was no response, but when her
voice aroused the servants with it's frenzied
tone, the housekeeper met her in the lower
hall and told her that the little girl had not
returned. The woman spoke quickly, for
already confused suspicion Of something
wrong had gone through the house.
"Not here" she moaned, "not here
Nellie, little Nellie
"she was left in the city" interposed
one Of the women.
"Where, where?" she questioned, fran