The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-16

me from speaking, uuCii .teJ
,intolerable that 1 could hide them no
longer" ,,-e ,
cunt" Mary reproachtuly oDserVeo'
let DOOR Richard suffer imprlsonment' wnen
half a dozen words from your lips mign'
have saved him" lou
Mrs. Vyner began weeping to excuse her.
self but Millicent interposed
"Peacc, dear mother; and you Mary De
merciful. Remember that my mother !s
weak-ncrved, and easily alarmed. NOR IS
Richard as blameless as you would have
hin, anncnr. He knew very well that he was
DOING wrong in p,cdc .ng 80 ring, instead or
advising that it shoul Lc given up to Mr..
Walters heirs
"And this is all the thanks yon give him
when he had been sacrificing himself sooner
than donounce your mother! Mary Vyner
cr;cd. vehemently "Milliccnt. you arc
downright selfish and hard-hcarted y
Her angry speech was heard with calm
ness. -.,
"Never mind what am, Mary. Let it
he your pleasant task to see Richard rs
early rs YOU can obtain admission to him,
and tell him that mothers evidence shall be
forthcoming at the next examination
"And the lady who proposed assisting
him to escape?" qucried Mary; may [ ven-
ture to tell her that Richards innocence
will be manifested, and that his liberation
is certain, or do you think they will bring
another charge against him -
"Richari knows best whether that can be
done. Learn his wishes, and | will be your
companion when You meet the lady >
With this agreen ent. the cousins parted,
Mary waiting most patiently for the hour
when she was able to visit the young man.
He scarcely knew whether to be vexcd or
pleased ut the tidin:s she brought him.
His liberty was precious; but in laying
Millcent under so great IN obligation as he
had intended to do, by shielding her mother,
he thought he was paving his way to her
favor: whereas it appeared, from Aary's
account, that she had blamed instead OF
praised him. -,
cts all nonsense" he said. reovishly,
"ahout lady wanting to help me to escape.
Tell me no more for / can't and won't Le-
licve it. If it were the truth you are tell
ing me- which ain sure it can't be, still it
would be ridiculous for me to attempt to get
away. I should be pretty sure to he
detected, even if were willing to make q
cat's-paw of you, Mary, and that l would
never do. You are true-hearted littl" girl,
and worth dozen of your proud, unfeeling
cousin Millicent!"
Mary blushed with delight.
"And you think you are safe, dear
Richard? You think they will not try to
implicate you in the murder?"
lie pondered for minute.
eyes, Mary dear, believe I am quite
safe; so 90 home, and make yourself con-
tented. There's no evidence tl;;tt can bring
Mr.. Walters death home to me-
He spoke correctly. Mr., Dcrwent's but
Ter, to whose good Offices he had owed per-
mission to assist in waiting on the guests,
had not been called at the young mans
first examination. He now came forward,
and swore that he never lost sight of Rob-
son during the whole of the entertainment
"What makes you so verv certain OF
this!" one of the magistrates demanded.
"In tell you gentlemen the man res
pectfully replied. "Robson came very late,
and in such an excited state, that guessed
something had happened to put him out of
temper. When I asked what it was, ne told
me long story, and finished with declaring
that he meant to upbraid Mr.. Walters for his
conduct before our young ladies, Miss Der
went and Miss Lindsly. AS knew that
such disturbance might cost me my place,
I took care to give him no chance OF making
it, and kept him constantly employed in my
pantry. When the ball was over, made
him the offer of half my bed but as he
would not accept it, I saw him off the
premises, looking and boiling the door as
soon as he had departed"
This testimony, coupled with Mrs. W.
ncr's-which WAS given with so many tears
and such genuine regret that no one doubt
ed her veracity-exonerated Robson. A
slight punishment was inflicted upon him
for his attempt to pledge the ring, which
was then handed over to the solicitor Mr..
Cayson.
A day or two after this, as Charles Mall
colin was writing in his chambers, card
was brought to him with the name of Mil
licent Vyner traced upon it.
He gave orders for her to be admitted.
She was trembling with some violent emo
ton, but his gravely courteous manner, as
he bowed and handed her chair, relieved
her in great measure from the embar-
rassment under which she was laboring.
She glanced at the papers on his desk
Gam I .hindering you?"
"Not at all. am busy, certainly, but l
can find time to listen to anything you
wish to say to me-"
ri thank you, sir. If T detain you too
long, pray do not hesitate to tell me so."
And then Millicent paused, and seemed
to be nerving herself to a great effort.
Her color came and went, her lips trembled,
and twice her fingers sought to unfold a
small packet she held, but faltered over
their task, until she was compelled to re-
inquish it.
Miss Vyner," said Malcolm kindly. "Pray
rest little while, and let me give you a
glass of wine"
But this she declined, and tearing off the
wrappers that enveloped it, placed in the
hand of Malcolm locket containing the
portrait of Robert Walters.
"This is the only present I ever accept
ed from your cousin" she said, IN tremu-
lous tones. ri thought to have kept it as
long as lived, but have pressing need
for little money, and have no means OF
raising the sum + require except by parting
with this"
Charles Malcolm gazed sadly at the
bright handsome image on the ivory
and sighed as he thought how short Wal
te1's promising career had been.
"You wish me to purchase this, Miss w
nerp shall be glad to do SO. 1t will
crafty me very much to possess SO excel
lent likeness of my poor cousin
'Not to purchase. I hope to be able to
reclaim it some day." she replied. "But
should not have the temerity to come to
YOU for loan, if the purpose for which I
need it were not closely connected With
him whose fate we both deeply regret"
~ am at loss for your meaning NAL
colin exclaimed. "Will you treat me rs
the friend 1 wish to be, and tell me un.
reservedly what it is you ore about to do p
s'To trace the actual murderer OF your
cousin" she firmly replied. II believe
that have gained the clue. Patience and
perseverance may give ME the rest.
Malcolm drew his chair close to her.
"Again must say do not understand
you," he exclaimed. 1--WE agreed in think
ing Richard Robson innocent. ;.
"And so he is we will not wrong him by