The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-11-23

reach him.
III she had lived. O, heaven, if she
had lived! Winifred, may God deal by
YOU as you have dealt by me-"
~ am willing" she answered.
He remained but moment longer
Wrapping his cloak around him, he gave
her one look Of reproach, and left the
room. looked wistfully at her; she did
not speak to me, and too went away.
She was i'll the next day, but on the
following day she appeared as much as
usual.
Ofall that I thought and felt [, of
course, said nothing. The matter was no
affair of mine I understood that the
two were brother and sister-that the
young man was named Guy Sedley-that
he was desolate and in disgrace-that
Mrs. Maltby I'D taken care of him in
boyhood, but now ignored the relation
ship. was in no way allowed to learn
any more.
But on the second night was awak-
ened by light shining into my cham
Der. It was something unusual, for a lit
tie clock on the mantle was Ginning
twelve. After momeut, / slipped out
of bed and glided towards the open door.
The long, embroiderei folds of my night
dress nearly tr5pped me mp; but [ made
no noise with my bare feet upon the deep
velvet of the carpet.
I don't knc'v whom I expected to see
certainly no Guy Sedley, kneeling be-
fore sandlc-wood chest, with papers
strewn around him on the floor. A taper
burning on the mantle showed his face
perfectly cool as he went on searching
for something. He must have come
through my room to reach the apartment,
for it had no opening but into my cham
Der. I was a,iare that the papers in the
chest were valuable; that there was
money placed there. SAW that he was
robbing his sister.
I saw, too, dirk-knife on the floor,
close at his side.
I looked nj him IN instant-evcn then
l remembered. to pity him--then glided
forward, snatched the knife. and leaped
back to the door. I was mistress of the
situation, for I had come from behind
and done all as in a fash. and as he rose
to his feet, / stood with q GOODNESS that
showed that it was not my intention to
Immediately arouse the house.
With presence OF mind equal to my
own, he put the roll of bank-notes he
had been searching for into the pocket of
his waistcoat, and, with glittering eye,
regarded me speculatively. l was petite,
and I had not screamed; I know now
that he was not much afraid of me.
"You have been robbing your sister"
I said; "bus if you will put the money
back, I will let you so"
His intense attention of me changed to
look of wonder.
"You child, are You not afraid of me ?"
he asked.
''No," answered, faithfully.
"But watched you in your sleep, n
moment ago, debating whether it were
necessary to kill you or not"
"You must have been glad to find that
it was not necessary" said.
He looked more astonished than be-
fore; but did not stop to think of that.
"Put the money back" said.
"No," he said, firmly. II will murder
you first"
ado not do that" I said. 81 am your
friend. ! was sorry for you that day"
He did not speak, but troubled look
disturbed the pale tixedness of his face.
"How much money have you there 2"
/ asked.
"Onc hundred pounds"
"And YOU need it very much 2"
every mrch," he replied with q bitter
smile.
"Please put it back" said. "She has
been Just to you would like to be mer-
full. / will give you the money"
"You?"
81 have it-yes-here in my room.-
Let me show you"
flung open the door, next to my wri-
ting-desk, end came back to him.
"These / will give you freely" said,
opening the roll of notes. "You said to
her that it should be the last time, and I
hope"
He had taken the notes into his hand,
looking at them in kind of unbelieving
way. i,
'You may hope that you have saved
me-" he said, in 81 low voice.
We were silent for moment.
"You know now that / was very sorry
for you," said with tears in my eyes.
eyes," he said gravely; "and I love
you for it."
He put Mrs. Maltby's money back, and
rearranged the chest. I began to listen,
nervously, Tor voices about the house |;
but all was very still. He locked the
chest and gave me the key.
"You know where it is kept?"
"Yes; in a drawer in her dressing
ROOM" l wondered how he had obtained
it. "Hasten and get away"
"There is no danger; I made my way
hither carefully. Pure, brave little girl,
how fearless you are for yourself"
He looked at me earnestly, as if he
wished to carry away clear memory of
my features then he wrapped his cloak
about him, flung up the sash, and leaped
soundlessly out into the darkness. ex-
tinguished the taper, and crept back to
bed.
did not hear sound about the house
until daybreak.
When / arose I saw the dirk-knife
glittering in the sunshine near my wri-
ting-desk where I had lain it. Then l
shuddered.
A year later was the mistress of Red
burn; the ,eautiful house, the spacious
grounds we're all mine. Mrs. Maltby
had died and bequeathed them all to me.
On her dying bed she said, "Violet,
you are my heiress. There is only one
living being who has my blood in his
veins him 1 disown." She paused, and
then went on: "You have seen my broth
er. I loved him; I was ambitious for
him, but his natural bent was evil. He
had cousin Flora, a child, who was
brought up with him. They were en-
gagged to be married. But I forbade it.
/ revealed to her his dissipation. 1 told
her of his debts and deeds of daring
She loved him, she trusted him-but she
was delicate, and died. He says l killed
her"