Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-10-09

little information, but she always answered me
with the same unwearying kindness.
With all her drmness, and, ~ her father termed
II, obstinacy, there was always 10 her that gen.
tleness which charactsrizes the true lady. 1
only sighed that she had not bestowed her love
on some worthy object-myself, for instance.
Luckily met no one who knew me as David
Moss, attorney and solicitor, but nearly always
passed. somewhere in our rides, her lover, whom
her father had told me WAS called Walter Re-
veaux.
At such times Kate would bow and smile, while
he returned = naughty nod, which brought
frightened, grieved looks into Kate's fair face.
Then an insane desire would seize me to jump
out Of the carriage and give him the thrashing
he deserved but discretion being the better
part of valor, would, on reflection, remain
seated, and by playful badinage endeavor to
COAX back Kates smiles.
had been At Marston's house nearly q month
and had been treated AZ an honored guest by
both master and mistress. The change in my
life seemed almost as wonderful as the miracle
wrought by the genii Of Aadins lamp. / came
slowly down stairs on this morning, little ear
lier than usual and entered the dining room.
had expected to find no one there, and was as
tonished to see Kate kneeling before her pet ca
nary, weeping bitterly, and between her sobs
saying: Goodbye, Sweetheart" for 80 she
called the bird. l entered unobserved 80 I
slipped out again, closing the door softly after
me, determined to closely watch affairs.
came down late to breakfast, and found
Kate and her father already seated. There were
no traces Of agitation about Kate there only
seemed to be added sweetness and geDtlenees in
her manner to her father. complained of hav-
ing passed bad night, and Of feeling badly.
kept my room most Of the day, but within its
precincts ragged furiously. To let her escape
with that scoundrel seemed to me would be to
let the last of my life depart No l was deter
mined to prevent it even at the cost OF my life
The dav wore away in slow, interminable
length. did not tell her father what suspect
ed. but prepared to keep my vigil alone. By ten
o'clock the house was still and silent. l knew
that Kate had gone to her room, for had heard
light steps on the stairs some time before. I
lowered the gas, opened my door slightly and
prepared to listen to every sound.
The town clock struck eleven, twelve, and
one, before my patience was rewarded then
Looking out saw in the dim light dark. robed
figure stealing down, then clicking OF the
locks in moment l followed out through the
gate, down to the end Of the square, where q
close covered carriage was awaiting. l ar
rived just in time to hear Walter Reveaux's
Kate. darling, knew you would come"
when took her by the arm and said:
Kste-Miss Msrston, you should not do this
mad thing. Return with me to your father"
Then Reveaux's voice in passion, cried:
How dare you interfere ? l teach you bet
ter manners |"
Before could avoid it, he raised pistol and
fred.
/ felt dull pain in my side then came
= blank.
-.
When I returned to consciousness, heard
voices family whispering
"He cannot last much longer, poor fellow !"
had dim idea that the room was full OF
people, but recognized no one then came an
other blank.
/ had been badly wounded in the side, almost
fatally but careful nursing and good oonstitu-
tion triumphed. After returning to conscious
ness the second time, mended rapidly. think
what helped me most was Kates sweet face
bending over me with such . world Of tender.
ness in 1t. / convalesoed rapidly, and Kate and
soon resumed our rides. One morning Mr..
Marston summoned me into the library, and told
me that must appear ~ witness against he
veAuX. This did not wish to do, for fear it
might complcate Kate, but Mr.. Marston insist
ed, and the trial resulted in Mr.. Reveaux being
sent to the Albany penitentiary for three years.
Kate manifested no feeling. Her love seemed
to have yielded to the force Of circumstances.
With Mr.. Reveauxs sentence my work was
done. / had gained the end for which had
been employed. I told Mr.. Marston this, and
thanked him for his kindness.
''Do you really wish to leave us, my boy2"
"No," replied "but have completed my
mission, and now there is nothing left Tor me- to
do. In leaving you leave everything, and g.
forth into the world more desolAte than Icame. "
"But why not stsy2 I have property which
needs care. can find plenty for you to do"
"Can you not see that it is madness for me to
stay? have only relieved you of ono trouble
to drag you into another. l came heart whole !
l shall go away leaving my heart behind me. 1
would not have been presumptuous enough to
have told you Of this had you not forced me to
explain. As it is you see the only course open
to me is to 60. You have only escaped one dan
ger to encounter another.
What kind, benignant expression came into
the old gentleman's eyes as he replied
"If Kate loves you, you can marry her. only
ask in my son-in-l law sterling worth, and l be-
ieve that you possess that. l care not for
money, landed estates, or whether blue blood or
plebeiAn flows in your veins"
"Its worth makes the man,
The want OF 1t the fellow.
lost no time in finding Kate and telling her
tho old, old story, and when had finished she
looked up and said
"Can you trust me now? 1 have been 80
very, very wicked !"
Trust her No angel from heaven would have
seemed purer-and 30 told her. Anybody look
ing Into my home to day and soeing my bonnie
happy children, would know that she had not
be1ied that trust.
My sign, "David Moss, Attorney and Solicitor
at Law" hangs out once more in view Of the
capitol. 1t is not now merely an empty sign,
but = reality, and my practice ia not only large,
but lucrative. have special penchant for un-
hedged attorneys, and do all that can to throw
practice lin their way, that they may show OF
what stuff thev are made.