New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-27

ways Of being useful to me. It will bs like
the loss OF my right hand to be without
him. Yet / had rather lose him than Sc
bastisn."
He had left tho dog looked in his rooms
He would hardly trust tho brat out of hif
sight after tho adventure yesterday.
The morning hung heavy on the fine gen
tlensn's hsnde. little country lite goes
. long way with man accustomed to cities
Entertaining the ideas he did about Ben
Oni's sore throat, Sir Jasper was too c0nsci
entious to approach Mr.. DOrillon's cottage
He roamed about the park with Sebastian
explored . neighboring wood, and went
home hot and dusty. wishing that be had q
berse to ride, or friend to take hand q,
cards with him.
| Before sunset Sir Jasper was quite worn
! out. He had yswned until his jaws sched
( he had even begun q sonnet after the
| italian, but his rhymes did not flow freely.
He cast himself PROSTATE on sofa, and he.
gun to be aweary of the sun.
| In this state he was discovered by Mr.
Dorillon, who came to the manor house full
OF alarm. having heard from the lad who
| worked in his garden, that Sir Jasper's
valet had fallen ill Of q purrid fever, that
bis master had taken the infection from
him, and that neither was likely to live
through the night. Sir Jasper was delighted
to see his friend, yet wac anxious to keep
him at arms length.
II know not if you are justified in sittin G
in the same room with me-" he said; and
| then he told Mr.. D0rillOn about BeDOni's
| sore throat, and his own suspicious, that
| it was q case OF fever.
"The poor creatures eyes had CLASSY
look, his pulse was quick and feeble" he
| added. II fear he Is much worse than he
will confess himself.
~ have some slight knowledge Of medi-
| cine" said the scholar. Il should DO glad
| to see your servant. might, perhaps, sug-
gest something"
II would not have you see him for
worlds" said Sir Jasper, "you might carry
the contagion home to Miss DOrillon."
"POor child" said the scholar innocently,
''she was nigh swoOning when che heard
you were dying She has q tender heart.
must hasten back to relieve her fears"
GAY. do" cried Sir Jasper; II can not
bear you to stay in this tever-tainted house.
But before you 60 mnst tell you of some
thing which happened last night, and which
has puzzled me sOrely."
Sir Jasper proceeded to relate the dissp-
pearance Of Sebastian, and his reappear-
ance under such strange circumstances; the
noise family heard in the night and his
discovery of the dogs blOOd-stained jowl in
the morning.
my money safe in the cabinet"
''Do you sleep with your door unlockedW
inquired Mr.. Dorillon. II should have
thought in this big lonely house You would
have turned the key before retiring to rest"
II dare say l might have done so had
there been any key to turn. But in this
patrimOnial mansion of mine everything is
more or less out of repair, and the key OF
my sitting room lie missing"
I'd $1o nc %hn
nue. with his elderly friend, and parted
from him within Q stones throw of the cot
tsge. He went slowly home in the moon
light with Sebastian; and that tender ell
very light melted him "a it had seldom done
before, even amid Italia's poetic scenery.
lin sooth, fear am in love-" he said to
himself, smiling gently at his own sweet
folly. Yesterday it was Rosalind; to-day
it is Juliet-and Juliet means q real and
fatal passion. But, thank God. we have no
Cspulets and Montagues to make q brawl
out of our loves 1t rests but with ourselves
to marry and be happy all the days of our
lives"
He had 60 good an opinion of his own
merits as to feel very sure of Miss DOrillon's
favor. She had we'll nigh swooned when
she thought he was in danger! Did not that
imply that she loved him!
The household drudge met him on the
threshold OF the manor house with scared
countenance.
"Oh, sir, MIR. Bennonny is dying" she
gasped; land he wants to see you sorely."
The news smote Sir Jasper to the heart.
He had almost forgotten his faithful sell
want in his own happy love dream. And
Benoni had nursed him and watched beside
him in his hour of peril!
He hurried to his Wallets room and found
Florio Benoni sitting up in bed, ghastly
figure, his face livid, the linen bandage
around his throat crimson with blood. The
old housekeeper was holding him up. His
eyes we're turned to the door, as if watch
ing for his masters coming.
my poor BenOni!' said Sir Jasper, gently
approaching the bed. But, great heaven
Rash man. hast thou attempted self-de
struction %
NO." anewered Benoni, horsely; "but
my own crime has destroyed me. / cent
for you, Sir Jasper, first to acQuit my soul
by confession of my guilt-if there be q
priest of my church within call entreat
you to have him summoned-and next, that
my awful fate should prove . warning to
yourself"
Go" cried Sir Jas per, taking the house.
keepers place beside Benoni; "go-send a
n essenger to Taunton. There may, per-
chance, be q Catholic priest in the town
Let inquiry be made without delay"
The old woman went, shaking her head
"And now, my poor Benoni, we are alone"
said Sir Jasper. Tell me, what means this
sad business 2"
1T means that tried to rob the most
generous OF masters answered the |
Italian. at means that l have been 30
base slave of my own passions, that,
having ruined myself at the gaming-table-
aye, having played many a time with |
money piltered from your lordship-I was |
possessed with the belief that l could re-
ieem all had lost, and make my fortune, |
could l but furnish myself with round |
'um of money, and play till the dice ia
7ored me, and my run of luck came. Every
nan has his fortunate hour, l thought;
empty pockets have backed me Just at the
urn OF my luck. We came here, and l |
vas angry at leaving London. l was pres
mt when you received that bag of money,
md the devil at my elbow whispered,
such q sum as that would bring you GER
ain fortune l wrestled with the tempter.
indeed, my lord, did not yield easily; but
he whisper was always in my ear-'You
nay get the money 80 easily. You need not
larm him. He will never suspect you.
lie can afford to lose as much and be no
worse of at the end of the year. 1t will but
tint him of few foolish pleasures
lstened to the fiend's suggestions, and
made my plans l might have taken the
nOney-bag out Of the cabinet in the day
ime while you were out walking; but had
done go, suspicion would have fallen on
10. must make the robbery appear the
.ork Of burglar. It must be done in the
ight."
"Tell me no more, Benoni," cried his
raster. Il can guess the rest. You shut
~ faithful dog in some wretched hole"
I'm . cellar under the kitchen. There was
grating; but thought it too small for HIM
} pass through, even had he got loose, and |
. was muzzled and tied up with strong