The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-13
E. A. WEBSTER. Editor and Proprietor.

he found himself pausing before fine
house in fashionable quarter of the
city, from which shambled somewhat
bent and awkward figure that presently
disappeared in brougham before the
door.
Gerald recognized the man rs Mr..
Badger the millionaire, and involun-
tarily contrasted his condition with that
OF the fortunate soap dealer. He was,
however, SO absorbed with the direful
news he. had to tell Emily that before
she came into the parlor he had forgot
ten Badgers existence.
It was singular that her remarkable
beauty aud brilliant toilet did not ap.
pail Gerald Mt that moment; that the
fact of his no longer being able to grace
that lovely hand with beftting gems
did not prevent him from seizing it in
both his own, and kissing it rapturous-
ly. But for an enchanting moment he
was allowed to forget the gloomy cham
Der where his aunt lay deaG, and the
woman who waited there for the money
he had been taught to consider his own.
1t seems to me that you are very
beautiful this morning." was all that
he could say.
Emily drew her hand gently away
from his caross.
Gerald" she said, "I have some
thing to tell you"
Her accent was cold. There was
something in her manner that caused
him to step back and look at her with n
dim premonition of what was to come.
You know" she, continued, chow
bitterly opposed is your aunt to your af-
fection for me. She has told mo herself
that she will never consent to our hap
piness. Gerald, am too fond of you
to wreck your whole life. There was
but one way to end it all"
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eye, now wan and haggard,
upon her face. Then she sank pale and
trembling into chair, and covered her
eyes with her hand. She was moved
With Pity, perhaps, or u vagile regret.
at last she spoke.
II have Just accepted uu offer of
marriage"
"From Badger" cried Gerald, and
walked to the door. "Your prudence, /"
he added, standing upon The threshold,
has served you we'll. You have Just
got rid OF mo in TIME. My aunt died
this morning, and,f1,qs left everything
to her nurse and companion"
Then he got into the street, and
walked along with q faltering, etagger-,
ing step. His eyes were wild his face
'iividly pale. People turned to look at
him ms he went by, and two or three
wondered what was sending that man to
the devil.
Ho went homo and stood by the body
of his aunt, There was u single fasci-
nation about this deuth-something
very wonderful and tempting in that
/ mysterious and absolute rest. Sudden
~ he became master of himself. of the
bitterness and despair of the moment.
He walked firmly to tho door, but step
followed him, and, turning, he saw the
pale, perturbed face of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence in
the room, but his madness and grief
had prevented him from realizing it.
Just one word, Mr.. Erism," she
said. "Of course you know that will
not touch ono penny of this money |"
It doesn't matter now," he replied,
1t might as we'll be yours as any,
body's r.
" But il ia yours, she said.
"Oh, as for me-" said Gerald, 81
shall not want it" He walked through
tie hall. Miss Williams followed him
stealthily. He entered the room, but
when the door shut him in Lnane re-
mained, haggard-and trembling, her ear
glued to the cold panel between them.
A grim silence reigned about her. She
could hear the clock tick in the dead
woman's room below. Suddenly she
put both her hands about the knob and
opened the door. Gerald turned quick
~; there was an -ominous click the
pistol fell little as it went off The
blood soaked through his coat and
trickled out upon the floor. Just rs
Lrane was about sinking at his feet,
Gerald put ont his hand 10 her.
!" An accident, Miss Williams" he
said. Please send Adams for the
doctor, and then help me off with nv
coat"
This brought Luane to herself. She
hastened to do his bidding, dispatched
Adams, and returning again to Gerald,
stanched the blood with strips of the
pillow-case from bed. When the
doctor came she held the light for him
while he probed the wound and ex-
tracted the bullet.
An inch or so higher" said the doc
tor, "and You would have been buried
On the same day with your aunt"
1t was lucky thing, then, that
Miss Williams had an errand to my
room when she did,. said Gerald.
AS she opened the doar my hand fell
and the pistol went off,
"She has unconsciousiy saved your
life, said the doctor. Then as Llane
left the room he added, "She's the
finest young woman know, and would
make capital nurse in my hospital.
DO you know what she thinks OF doing
now that your aunt is gone 2"
"No," said Gerald, with grim
smile: "but Z fancy she'll tbink of