The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-17

After her mind fell from its throne OF
reason she conceived the idea that her
husband had deserted her, her mind was
filed with a fearful phantom of his faith
lessness, and seeming to forget the past, she
took her own pure virgin name, and shrank
from the society of those she had known in
her happiness"
"It's a lie tits all a lie ~ cried the ex-
cited villain, seeming ready to grasp at the
least straw that might float before him.
"My brothers. will gave to me all his prop
erty and nothing can gainsay it."
edo you not know that by the laws of
England the will of bachelor or widower
is made null and void by a subsequent mar
riage and birth of issue ?" asked Chiron,
with look of utter contempt.
"Prove it prove it v' cried Berlxley,
while flash of demoniac hope shot athwart
his livid features. "You cannot prove
this cursed marriage. The mother is
maniac, and there is no proof"
"The mother is not maniac" returned
Chiron, at the same time putting forth his
hand to keep Orlando in his seat. "Her
reason has returned to her, and even now
she is almost within sound of my voice."
"Her word will not pass against me-"
uttered Berkeley.
"But this will ~ returned Chiron, as he
took from his pocket small parchment
roll. "'Tis the secret of your mothers old
oIo IL b n,1n o,,l
then spreading it open to the gaze of Berk-
ley, he added
"Here, you heartless villain, is the mar
riage certificate of Wallace Berkeley, bar
onet, and Morgiana Chester, and it bears
the seals and signatures of the Earl of Bos-
ton, Sir Thomas Warren, together with
that of the rector who married them. Is
that evidence enoughP''
For some time Roosevelt Berkeley had
been sustained upon the expiring members
of his own hopes, and like the cornered rat,
he had turned at bay but now all, all
was crushed, and with groan he fell back
in his chair his CLASSY eyes still glaring
wildly upon his powerful antagonist.
"Now, villain" continued Chiron, as he
noticed Berkley's manner, "you will plot
no more. The same fate which you plan
ned for Orlando may yet be yours. There S
murder, deep and black, upon your soul,
and you cannot escape its just punishment.
Twas you who plotted for the death of the
young hunter, and then you plotted for
mine. You attempted to sell the youth
into Algerine slavery, and you tried to
gain the mother into your power; but
through all your wickedness the finger of
just God has been visible, and He seems to
have saved you till this moment only that
your crimes might be exposed, and yourself
given over to the laws you have outraged" +"
''But, by the torments of the fends |
you shall not live to witness your tri umph, I"
roared the villain, starting from his seat and
springing forward.
The movement of the wicked man was SO
quick that he seized the parchment from
Chiron's hand before the latter could pre-
vent it, and then darting back he drew a
pistol from his bosom.
"Now die, tattler ~ he gasped and as
he spoke, he pressed his finger upon the
trigger of the weapon he held.
If Berkley's movements had been quick,
Chiron's eyes had been quicker, for the last
movement of the villain he had anticipated,
and springing nimbly on one side he dashed
the pistol from its owners grasp.
"There, miserable scoundrel p uttered
Chiron, as the weapon bounded across the
room. "Thus are you foiled. Do you
think that the destruction of the marriage
certificate would benefit youp Roosevelt
Berkley, do you not know meP"
Know you ?" iterated the foiled man,
in fearful horror-laden whisper, while his
knees trembled beneath himP Rnoao youf'
cay, Roosevelt, do you know me 9' again
asked Lord Chiron, while he bent on the
man before him sharp, searching gaze.
Roosevelt Berkeley rose slowly from his
seat, stepped breathlessly forward, and laid
his hand ON the strange mans arm. He
gazed deeply searchingly into his oppo-
nent's face, lived, deathly hue overspread
his features, and, while his heart seemed
to shrink back from the very blackness ol
the soul that held it, he sank back into lis
seat and murmured
"The grave itself has turned against
me Wallace-my brother o, that The
earth had swallowed you ere you come tc
thwart me thus. Not dead, but living
living to curse me p
"Your own black heart shall alone curse
you," returned Chiron. " am indeed Sil