The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-10-08

| HaTlHS III IL, anu 81 pICCSulliB lNO ollcI
persons. One is Rodney Gauntlet himself;
the other Il stranger-a fine, tall, square
shouldered man, with an olive face, black
eyes, and shining white teeth. As / give
scared look, and toss back my cumbrous hair
it is Mr.. Gauntlet who says, pointing to the
stranger, "NIr. Hugh Dimsdale, my dear, an
esteemed friend of mine"
The nights introduction was, as | have
said, followed by many n visit on the part
of Mr.. Hugh Dimsdale. 1t was not long
mircr, and begged me to regard him as a
suitor for my hand My patron, too, limited
as delcately as he could that such an ar
rangement would be gratifying to him. As
for Bridget, she declared him to be the finest
gentleman in The whole world and was per-
petually regarding me with her head on one
side and her hands raised in sort of &C.
stacy of admiration at my good fortune.
But received him coldly; | could not
like him; his coming chilled my heart.
The touch of his hand distressed me so that
| dreamed of it in the night, and woke up
with shudder.
Still he came and came. had suspi-
cion that he knew how ! loathed him, and
goried in his power to inflict the torture of
his presence on me; gloried still more in
suggesting further horror
| "Am | never to prove my love by show
ing how happy can make you?' he would
ask.
81 am very happy" would be my cold
reply.
"But as my wife? All, if we could only
realize the future have plannedw
"The present amply contents me-"
SO it went on.
At last he lost all patience, and grew
fairly angry with me. Whenever we met,
his words were harsh and his looks threat
ening. | could not endure this, and in one
passionate outburst bade him begone and
trouble me no further,
81 will never be your wife" | said. |
will die first. l hate you. Leave me !"
He 'obeyed; but there was malignant
glitter in his eyes as he strobe from the
room, and I saw that he Bit his thin lips to
bleeding to keep in the words with which
he would have cursed me.
For more than month | saw him no
more. This might have surprised me, but
during the latter part of that time | had no
leisure to give thought TO him. My bene-
factor was taken i'll. 1t was the winter
time, and he was seized with Il slight cold,
of which he took no heed until nhamma-
| ton followed, and he was soon really i'll.
Even then he would not deem himself an
invalid, would not see a doctor, or give up
bis daily pursuits. Within week he was
worn to shadow his eyes sank, his
shoulders rounded, and a cough tore iiercely
at his lungs | was terrified, but he only
laughed at my fears, and declared that he
would soon be better.
On the eighth night Of his illness | sat
late in my room. Wheu | at length started,
as out of Il vision, | was conscious of Il chill
illness, and of its being very late | put my
hand to my waist for my watch. 1t wanted
three minutes to two o'clock Was that
right by the clock; ON the mantlepiece? |
asked myself. Instinctively | looked up.
The leaning oval glass reflected me as |
sat, | saw my own face and figure and |
saw more. There was another face looking
over my shoulder-another figure standing
at my back
Yes, clearly and Enthusiastically saw my
benetactor, Rodney Gauntlet, standing
there, and bending over me with strange
plying look in his face.
You here, sir!' | cried, turning ro und,
lrighteneJ--I know not why.
There was no answer.
half rose.
As | did so, the form receded from me.
1t went slowly, with the shuillmg gait Of an
enfeebed man. The face was toward HE
even when there was the width Of the rOOm
between Us. Then it turned away. 1t
turned toward the japanese cabinet, and |
saw an upliited foretinger beckoning me to
observe what followed The movement was
so natural, so real, that it scared away
the fears which were beginning to paralyze
me.
"Speak to me, sir!" cried out, stepping
forward as | spoke. "Or if you are too
ill"
The finger was raised again; this time a,
if to silence me. Then the face half turned
| could catch the expression of the eyes,
and followed them. They seemed to single
out a spot--a rosebud in the flower pattern
of the cabinct-and thea the pointing fin
ger went straight to the spot.
Unless dreamed, the bud yielded under
the pressure Of the iingcr-tip,
, ! saw it sink ami spring back to its place
Then almost instantly Il long narrow pane
fell out and dropped ON the ground.
"You wish to show me the secret Of this p
. gaspcd, looking up from the spot where tn
panel lay.
a small aperture had been laid bare; cyi
\ IDENTIFY Il secret recess; and what it containe
% W Is clearly revealed to my gaze.
r 1t was n folded paper.
q Casting my eyes hurrcdly over it SAY
f that it was wiIl--RoIney Ganntlet's will
Through mass of blurred letters | gathcre
that by means of it he revoked all torme
wills; and then | lighted on these word
!, glowing, rs they seemed, letters Of fire
"-all my real aud personal estate
- amounting at the present writing to tire
millions sterling, to Julia Gauntlet, othe
= wise known and designated by me a' JUL
Wyyern, my own true and lawful daugl
ter"
d could read no more The words swa
g before my eyes.
g. What! Was | Rodney Gauntlett's onl
n child? Was il fiction that he had rear,
me out of the love he bore his old friend
It What mystery was here? What could ha,
ID prompted so strange, so cruel cours