The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-02-19

this money, ne said. must haVl
il Tonight he repeated.
I Mrs. Maltby Was Silent / caugY
glimpse of her face; flint was no
harder
"T4et me have ii, Winifred, he said
'tand I promise you it shall be the las
time
She made no reply.
sFhe last time, mean II, Winifred
His voice faltered. She did mo-
| speak. =
"Wfll you?''
4tNo, she replied, with no emotion
whatever.
His face had been working with
some strong, deep feeling But that
monosylable 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 a woman as you are, said
he, at last.
1 felt her shrink beneath the actual
terror with which be seemed TO re-
gard her But she spoke with her
anaitefabIe composllre.
9 / told you more than year ago
that should pay no more debts OF
yours, contracted at faro, or in any
other way, she 1aid II meant it you
know / meant II. Il have given you
fair warning, shall not change
LIE did not. speak his head was
dropped upon his breast he was
deathIy pale.
Il have done my duty By you Guy,
you know that have she added,
ess you have been just. but you
have never been merciful.' r he replied.
F"Oh, God !" lie lung up bis arms
with a bitter cry that wrung my heart.
/ looked at her. She did not relent
or go TO him. lie flung himself into
chair and with his head dropped
and his hands folied upon his breast
was themost hopeless figure i had ever
seen. She rose, for I had finished her
hair, and took a seat nearer the fire.
Her lips were gray, as III she were
cold, but her face was still as inviuci-
bic as flint. sa4fasf Sd 8a SIS 81
he gave a groahs and started up
suddenly. R &
II am going he said, 'tI-2 lie met
her eve, and said : :. w by did y0nanot
kill me? | was altogether in yonr
hands once, You killed her, you well
kremember.p el s IS sgsfes
IS. A flush stained her caeek. sza
8 ou would have made her happy,
Il suppose, III she had lived, she said
sarcasticaliy. But the sting did not
seem to reach him. ezfs =
IF she had lived Oh heavens, if
she had liVedi Winifred Sedley, may
God deal by you IS you have dealt by
me P' svs.s.
81 am wiling, she answered.
He remained not moment longer.
w rapping his cloak around him, he
gave her one look of reproach, and
left the room. i looked Wistfully at
her she did not speak to me, and I,
too, went away
She was i'll the next day. but on the
day following she appeared much as
usual. 81 - - ss,<s
OF al I Thought and felt, ! of course
said nothing The matter was no af-
fair of mine. / had not understood
it; Mrs. Maltby would make me feel
il. | understood that the two were
brother snd sister !; that the young
man was named Gay Sedley; that he
was dissplute and in disgFaee; that
Mrs. Maltby had taken care of him in
boyhood, but now ignored the rela-
tionship. was in no way allowed
TO learn any more.
But on the second night 1 was
awakened by a light shining into my
chamber.
Il was something unusual. for the
little clock on thelnantie was Ginning
twelve.
After a moment I slipped out OF
bed and glided toward the open door.
The long embroidered folds of my
night gown tripped me, but made
no noise with my bare feet upon the
deep velvet carpet | don't know
whom ] expected to see certainly not
Guy Sedley, kneeling before sandal
wood chest, with papers strewn on
the floor around him. "A taper, burn
ing in q silver sconce upon the wall,
showed his fsce, perfectly cool, as he
went on searching g for something.
He must have come through my
room to reach this apartment, for the
room had no opening but into my
chamber. was aware that the pa
pers in the chest were valuable that
there was money placed there. ], saw
that he was robbing his sister.
l saw, too, q dirk-knife on the floor
close at his side.
| looked at him an instant-eYen
then | remembered to pity him-then
glded forward, snatched the knife,
anu pOO OdStN 10 tllC
was mistress of The situation. for
L had come from behind him-done
all as in a flash of Iighining-and as
he rose TO his feet stood with my back
to the closed door, with a caiinness
that it was not my Immediate inten.
tion to 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 a glittering
eye reg arded HE speculatively. | was
petite, and | had not screamed.
know now that he was not much
afraid of me, although he appeered TO
be. 4 aa
n GU have been robbing your sis
ter" L said, sfbut If you will put the
money back, will let you go.'
His Intense attention OF me changed
to a look Of intense wonder.
"Yea, child, are not afraid of me ?"
he asked -asnl -
NO." / answered, truthfuliy,
But watched you in yonr sleep
moment ago, debating whether it was
necessary to kill you or not
81 ou-must have been glad to find
that it was not necessary" / answered.
He looked more astonished than be-
fore, but l did not stop to think of
that. ~
Put the money back 1 said.
mo" be said firmly. 81 will mnr-
der yoa first 5l
''Do not do that / said. 81 am
your friend. l was sorry for you that
day." sss 5o5 rs
He Sid not speak, but troubled
look disturbed the pale fxedness of
his face.
'.How much money have You there?
I asked.
sEOne hundred dollars -
"And you need II very much ~
Very much he replied, with q
bitter smile.
"Please put it back" l said. 'sShe
has been just to you. would like TO
be merciful. i will give you the
money sista ssssa .fs