New Orleans Republican., 1875-11-21

do much work. But / do deserve some
now, don't II And ff's true what / told YOU
about the master. He's all said he was: a
murderous wretch. If there ever was one.
You dop't believe ita"
Frankly, DON'T
"You don't believe he ever tried to mur-
der mel"
"He doesn't like you--he hates you-very
likely; but for wishing to take your life"
"Yah!" he cried, with an air of extreme
disgust, and an impatient stamping of his
foot upon the ground, ait makes me sick to
hear you talk. Defend him, too; pity him;
make him out kind of saint! Yet you'll
have to bark back to the truth after all.
And you'll know what he really is when
yOu wake up some fine morning and find
his hot murderous hands upon you. Yah
Why, look here. Doesn't that look like
murder!' As he spoke he barred his throat,
roughly pulling aside bis ragged beard, and
exposed long. angry looking scar, left by
what must have been very formidable
wound II was hard to believe that man
could have received such an injury, and
have lived after it.
you mean"
THAT he done that. Now, mayn't call
him murderous wretchP'
IF" l began.
"lfF he repeated, scornfully. "Have
your throat hacked at like that and you
won't talk about 'ifs'"
could say nothing in reply to this. NV
amazeiuent was too great.
Perhaps you'll allow now that l know
more about the master than you do. Per-
haps now you'll think haven't had such an
easy time OF it, living alone with him all
these long years, aud not knowing what
might be going to happen from one moment
to another Perhaps now you'll own may
as well as not let him go on working to keep
the two of us; though, drat HIM, he'll work
as little as ne can to starve me and spite
me if he could. What, would you have me
work Tor the likes of himY No. I've done
enough for him, and suffered enough for
him, if it comes to that. As for getting rid
of me, he couldn't do it; if he tried never so
much, he couldn't. And he dursn't. I'd
have the law of him. I'D have him pun
ished for trying to murder me. You see if /
wouldn'g.
But the mans mad"
"Who says SO! Madl A kind Of cum.
ming mad, thep; mad enough to commit
marder, and cunning enough to keep up-
hung for it. Mad, eh2 Don't you trust
him. Don't you get nearer to him than
you would to Il tiger in a wild beast show;
or, leastways, have your pistol ready and
keep your, powder dry, or have a Sharp
knlfe handy about you, tor there is no
Lord have mercy upon US all. And co good
night And, as ! told you before, keep
your door locked"
CHAPTERvI
l was in the neighborhood of Meryyn
Court On the following day.
The ruins had the reputation of being
learned, and even the park was
viewed as disagreeable sort of place to be
alone in after dark.
The property had belonged time out of
mind to the Helston family, of whom it was
believed there was now no survivor. These
were "a wild lot," "myinformant stated, and
had been 50 for generations. 1t was like
father like son, with them all. Something
of hereditary faint cf insanity there
might have been among them. AS much
had many time been SAID of them, at any
rate. The old courthouse had been the
scene OF many strange event. 1t had al
most stood siege in CrOmwell's time, when
it had been pretty we'll battered about BY
his troopers and cannoneers. 1t had been
restored, nearly rebuilt, about century
later, after which time little of the original
building. which was of Henry Wis date,
could be discerned. The fire took place
some ten years since. That was il the time
Of the last OF the Helstons. 1t was said, and
believed at the time, that he lost
his life in the fire. But there came to be
two opinions on the subject afterward. No
one was forthcoming, however, who could
plainly assert as q fact within his own
knowledge that the last Of the Helstons was
yet alive.
had some difficulty in eliciting even this
information. The old man with whom
conversed on the subject spoke with evident
reluctance. lie was the village sexton,
think; at any rate, he possessed the church
keys, and conducted me over the church.
being very particular to point out the many
monuments in its chancel, erected to the
memory of various members of tho Helston
|amily. 1t was clear to me that he knew
more than he cared to tell. He replied to
ny inquiries civilly enough, but his answers
were but brief. Possibly he detected, what
was indeed the truth, that the motive of nv
could not pretend to be much
more than iole curiosity.
But l grew more and more interested,
and pressed him with further questions.
he became, perhaps, accustomed to the
sound of his own voice; he lived but lone
y life, it was clear; and gradually he was
stirred to communicativeness. And then
'ne OF my inquiries acted as a sort of pass
word.
"Do you know the name of Mark Vossl"
"What!' he cried, with a start; "do YOU
know the namel Then why question me
about Mervyn Court and the Helston lam.
iyf You must know as much as do about
hem, if not more"
"No, indeed. know little more of Mark
Voss than his name, and the fact that he
'erved the family for many years, alth ough
n what capacity can scarcely tell you"
"He managed the boats and the fishing,
lad charge of the water meadows, and was
sort Of under game keeper as well. The
liver runs through the park, as you can see
or yourself any time. People call it the
AXE but it's really the river banked up
md its course altered a little. There used
dark Voss' business to see about it. But
10 was very bad character, was Mark |
'oss-a common, illiterate, evil-speaking
md evil-lo0king fellow. Yet he contriyei
omehow to acquire great influence over the |
'Oung squire. They were always to-
either, hand-and-glOve. The squire loved |
port; he was never lad that |
AIRED for his books, although, of
curse, he had been put in the way of |
aving the best education. But nothing
vould do; he must be always hunting, or
hooting, or fishing. And his favorite,
lark, was ever with him; although he was |
10 fit companion for young gentleman.
SUIT Mark was clever at finding sport for |
i'm, or what's called sport; vermin to. be |
illed, or, maybe, a badger to be baited, or |
Of cock fighting to be ventured |
n INC quiet' Anu tnero was smoking, ana
rinking, and rioting until the courthouse |
eemed turned into the worst sort of tavern,
nd all the neighborhood round about-I |
aean the respectable people, for some were |
Wiling enough to join in the reveling-
ried shame upon young Helston and his |
oings on. But he wasn't in his right mind, |
hat YVES the plain truth of it. There's been |
omething wrong in the head about a many |
f the Helstons. They do say that
insanity was brought into the fam |
~ by the, Spanish wife that old |