Columbus index. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1869-1893, 1875-07-16
CHAPTER XVII.
THE ACCUSATION DENIED.


When the accusing words Of Vernon
i,ubrey fell on Mr.. Derwent's ears. he be-
tune ghastly pale; but only for a moment.
fUttIng the young man aside, with a force
EAlch he" yalny' cndeavored to resist,
Ge seized the hands Of Violet and, drew her
10 his side,
Are you suddenly baref5 Of your senses
Mr.. Aubrey he sternly demanded, that
you come into my house, and utter such
ridiculous nonsense before my friends
Were 1t not that | feel some compassion
Tor you, as disappointed man, should be
disposed 10 cal II my servants, and bid
them expel you !"
This bold speech treasured the panic
stricken guests, and they began to gather
around Mr. Derwent and his pale bride,
and cast resentful glances at the audacious
intruder.
But now Charles Malcolm stepped fer
ward, and before his steady gaze the eyes
IF Violet's guardian fell. But his grasp
IN the trembling girl tightened; and he
covfia1ly iaatorposed himself between her
and those who would have Wrested her from
bis hold.
''AIr. Derwent,' said Malcolm, in the
6rn, equable tones which always command
respect and attention,-"Nr. Derwent, Won
will do well to dismiss your visitors, and
20 unhand that young lady. The mar
mage you have contemplated cannot take
! place"
! 4"Cdnnot, sir? l have Miss Lindsly's
/ positive pledge to become mine within this
2our; and neither your uncalled-for in
reference nor the rawlings Of your mad COM
panlon shall prevent it being fulfilled F"
Chen you compel me to speak openly.
Miss Lindsly, your qua dian has been false
to his trust he has abused the confidence
reposed in him, and tempered with your
property 1t is to conceal his guilt that tie
strives to we'd you."
Mr.. Derwent smiled contemptuously.
Miss Lindsly already knows the circum-
stances on which you put so harsh con-
struction. She is aware that my affec-
tionate endeavors to make her happy, and
to surround her with everything she could
crave, led me into expenses beyond my
means; to meet which in an evil hour, L
made use OF my powers as co-trustee, to sell
out some of her property, which, l regret
TO say, l have not been able to replace. L
have confessed this to Violet, and she has
nobly, generously forgiven me. Have you
not, my dearest?"
She bowed assent, for she could not COM
mand her voice sufficiently to make any
I other reply.
/ Vernon Aubrey understood now all that
I pcrplexed him so in her conduct Mr..
Derwent, well aware that when she took 1p
her abode with Sir John Lefroys, all his
speculations would be detected, had throw,
himself upon her mercy. He had wrought
upon her by his assurances that it was for
her he had sinned-that his overweening
love had made him half ruin himself. t.
surround her with luxuries, and indulge
. hn TQh n lo
had not heared him unmoyed. Sadly con-
WINGED of Aubrey's gilt, and regarding it
as her duty to save her guardian from the
consequences Of the guilty acts into which
his love for her had betrayed him, she had
made hSrsef the sacrifice, and vowed to
,-eep his secTat
Charles Malcolm's next words ruthlessly
destroyed the illusion under which she had
been laboring; and, in spite Of herself, a
suspicion began to creep into her heart that
she had been duped.
'This tale did very well for an unsuspect.
ing girl, who had no means Of testing its
truth, and was generously ready to think
the best Of her guardian. But l happen
to have learned, in some inquiries l have
instituted in the City, that Mr.. Derwent
has dabbled in sundry speculations not
very creditable to him; and that the sums
procured by the sale Of stock standing in
his wards name were paid into the firm OF
Gulson and Rougem, whose frauds have
just been exposed in the daily papers,
Violet began to shiver in Mr.. Derwent's
fierce clasp, and to look anxiously end fear
fully in his lowering face. He saw this,
and spoke to her in hurried whispers.
You hear what he says? Well, it is
false-all false! 1t is a part of a cruel plot
to ruin me in your estimation. 60 to your
own room, my beloved, for a few minutes.
viii get rid Of these base slanderers, and
ioin W there "
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