The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-03-24

&c Second National Bunk, Neec York
pay to the bearer or order .foetr han.
d'ed and .fsffy dollars. = Ralph
Dorle.n
"What's this, Belgrave, eh, eh %
/ was willing to have him think so
SO only laughed and shook my head
nlysteriously.
"Good for start, upon my word,
Belgrave," said the merchant. "By.
the by," he added, pleasantly "who ie
that pretty girl you ars escorting p
ssThat's q secret, )" answered, with q
knowing wink. "Tell you some other
time"
IIa ha, ha," laughed Grlndwell
6 You are an uncommon dry fellow
shrewd, devilisll skrewd ?''
could not help Thinking 80 myself,
as departed with the greenbaeks in
my hand"
Miss Eleanor Buffins was kicking her
pretty shaped gaiter boots against the
stoop, with some inpat:ence, as l pres
emily rejoined her.
"Really Mr. Belgrave, ] am sorry to
put you to all this trouble" she SAID ,
with one of her winning smiles, as she
received the money and deposited it
safely in her wallet. s'It is certainly
kind, but we have no time TO lose. If
we do not hurry, we may miss seeing
Dorle. wish him to understand that
| cannot and will not submit to his
tyrannical usurpation OF authority"
secretly applauded the spirit of my
lovely client, and, talking pleasantly to
beguiIe the time, we hasteEed up Bread
way, threaded the intricacies of Bleeker
street, and in less than half an hour
halted in front of plain-looking man.
sion, ornamented with an old-fashioned,
brass knocker.
"We have reached Mr.. Dorle's, !"
whispered my fair companion, drawing
nearer to me, and trembling like leaf
''I feel my courage deserting rue, now
am here. lie is cruel man. fear
that he may use violence, when he I'M
derstands that-that-you have con-
sented to be my friend.
''Be calm, Miss Eleanor. Nay, l
perceive you are greatly agitated. You
can remain outside until l return. ]
really see no necessity of your entering
the house at all"
81 will do just as you say,' murmur-
ed Miss Eleanor, family.
OF course, under the circumstances,
it could only add to her excitement to
confront her guardian just then; so
requested her to step m drugstore
near by and wait for me. She obeyed
without hesitation, while ], somewhat
Hurried with the prospect of stormy
interview with her guardian, fastened
to announce my presence.
A dirty-taced servant-girl presented
herself, iii answer to my summons. Mr..
Ralph Dorle was in. Handing the
maid my card, crept into dark parlor,
where | sat in solitude and gloom, anus
ing myself by drawing fancy picture
of the arttul Mr.. Dorle, whom imagin-
ed to be an ugly old gentleman OH the
shady side of fifty, with cunning, evil
expression on his wrinkled features, but
was somewhat confused, when the door
opeEed, to confront . pleasant, benevo-
leEt-taced old gentleman, who bowed
in the most genial manner possible.
"Mr. Ralph Dorle," | stammered,
hesitatingly.
''.rhat's my name, Mr.. Belgrave,"
said Eleanor's guardian, SIN ling, as he
threw open the blinds, and waved me
to seat. tYou must excuse this her
apartment my house looks
like tomb since Eleanor left us. Poor
girl-she is yet to learn the sad news
of her mothers DEATH"
''AIrs. Buffins is dead then ?'' / said,
with a start.
Yes, sir, she died yesterday morIl-
ing, at four o'clock, quite peacefully, so
| learned from the attendant physicians.
The distressing malady which had
afflicted her for several years took fatal
turn, as we all feared. Poor Eleanor is
now an orphan"
/ was quite chop-fallcn by this unex-
pected and startling news. It had upset
all my calculations at one fell blow. /
was unable to realize it.
To ease myself of an unpleasant sus-
picion, inquired.
"When did Eleanor leave homo ?"
"About six months ago. replied MIR.
Dorle, staring at me with an odd ex-
preston of surprise.
His reply mystifcd me more than
ever.
"Why,s rejoined (, she assured me
hat she escaped from your house this
very morning"
- Y You speak in enigmas, Mr.. BeIgrave.
Are yon aware that my ward, Miss
Eleanor, is now in Paris, where she is
completing her rudimentary education. |
was aghast.
ssGood Heavens ~ exclaimed, at
ast there is some mystery that needs |
clearing up," and without besitatiou |
'apidiy recapituiated how and where |
lad become acquainted with Miss But
ins.
81 regret to say that you have been |
iuped and deceived by a willy and art
ul imposter," said Mr.. Dorle, gravely. |
The genuine Miss Hnffins IS a little I
lirI but mine gears DID,
If tllnnderbolt had fallen at my |
cot could not haze been more amazed. /
gazed like one il dream at Mr..
Dorle, and slowly reason began to dawn
IN my mind. Mechanically l placed
ny hand to my fob, and tonnd ray
cdtch gone Then / dived desperately /
nto my breeches pocket, aud discovered