The anti-monopolist., 1874-10-08

her eyes when she was aroused by hur-
rying feet and loud cries. She sprang
from the room, supposing the boat was
on fire or sinking, but had gone only a
few steps when she met others return
ing to their berths and was informed
sit was nothing, only a man shot,
In the morning she waited for Fox,
but he did not come near her. A
promenade up and down the boat failed
to discover him, and when at last, she
| inquired of one Of the officers about
him, she learned it was he who had
been shot. He was still conscious and
the surgeon thought he might recover,
but there was already a pallor Il, his
face that spoke Of the tomb. She
heard nothing as to the quarrel; mere
ly that Fox had some words with gen
tleman and was shot. He was still
alive when they reached St. Louis and
she conveyed him to Post Place in ac-
cordance with his wishes.
In few days it was evident to them
all that his life was ebbing away. Vir
ginia had renewed her attempts to per-
suade him to reveal her fathers ad-
dress, but he remained sullenly silent.
When the physicians told him his hours
were numbered, Virginia determined to
make one more effort. He heard her
through and then, after moment S 81
ience, said:
Il will put the information in writing
on one condition: that you will not
read it until after your marriage.
She promised accordingly.
s'Pull out green box from under the
bed,' he said.
She drew the box out.
SIN that box you will find the infor
nation you want. You have promised
me not to open it until after your mar.
riage.''
s'But what has my marriage to dc
with it,
Nothing, only it is my fancy to have
it so.''
A few hours later and his spirit had
fed. his last words being, Il cave your
promise"
When he was buried she started
back to Brightwood with her treasure
: the green box. Her lover laughed al
her for promising not to open the box
saying, lightly, ''Who knows but there
is some reason there why we should not
be married and think how you would
, feel when it was too late y
She knew that he put no meaning
! whatever IN his words, and yet they re
mained with her long after he had gone
Who could say what might not be hid
den in the green box? If there wa
: not some horrible mystery connected
2 with her name, why had she been KEEP
in such ignorance of her father! Ant
only that day she had found that thu
, servant S name was not Fox but Lamar
The New Orleans banker wrote her h,
e had information of the death Of Georg
Lamar in st. Louis on the 23d inst, ant
$ he held fifty thousand dollars which b.
, Mr.. Lamar's orders were to be paid t,
her upon proper proof, ETC., etc.
T Why was his name ''Fox" to her ant
t Lamar to the publice 1t did not re
!. quire long course of reasoning to con
r vince her that it was her duty to opel
t the box then and there, and not wal
e until there we're others compromised
A promise to the dead was very hol,
thing, but duty to the living was still
more sacred.
: Another moment and the box wa
$ open. Within it were two packages o
J papers one marked, ITO be sent t.
Miss Malabone, Brightwood, n. Y, 70
7 Virginia Mason, when she is married,
0 the other, 'sTo be burned unread.
r She took the package addressed to Mis-
J. Malabone, and, among records of de
n posit and certificates of stocks, sh
d found the following letter to herself
t 1t was written. like the writing on tn
d other papers, in a clear round hand
a Do not blame her if her lips grew whit
t and her heart cold as she read it. D
not condemn her if she fell on he
!, knees and cursed her life, and praye
God to end it there. Judge her as ter
e derly as if she were your own sister
!. and thank God that you and yours ar
8 spared from such a revelation.
q 81 am writing this" the paper reat
g Intending to send it to you after 20
are well settled in life. If should di
e before that time, my brother at l3 Pos
r Place. St. Louis, will hold it until th
0 proper time. am your father; 20
) are my child. The story have alway
s told was simply to help you into
place in society, where hope you ar
IS when you read this. Your mother Wa
o an angel; for her sake l have tried
!. do all this for you. She was Of a goo
is family; | nobody, though not the i
t. norant man l have pretended to b
{. You were born the day your mothe
r, died. Do not try to learn more abol
I me; if you are happy, burn this an
l. think of me no more"
it 1t was signed "George Lamar.
This was all he had ever intende
e she should know about him. but Il
N papers marked s'to be burned" gave
d clew to his history; and such histor.
h One Of the papers was pardon fro
ie the Governor of Missouri, and the Q
&c fense mentioned as counterfeiting. A
1t other, the record Of a term in the per
A Tertiary for arson another-but VII
i'd detail them9 They showed her tn
1t her father was an outlaw, a despera
le criminal