The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-04-13


distant port. with an agreement that he
should there be very securely left.
+ Burford had found captain little scru-
nuIous, and bl,sphemed and stamped with
r,lye when returning to the hovcl he dis
covered that his proposed victim had cs-
capped him
Listen, dear Arthur" Bosalio said al
bxye decided that within the next four-and-
twenty hours | must quit this place, never
to return 10 it-und with you, Arthur, for
my sole companion"
Rostlie's son very easily made his mother
comprehend th,lt his very life was at her
disJos.l, and she exclaimed, with much
emotion
your life, dear boy you now are all that
in this world is left to me; for your sake
alone do | now consent to live.
And Arthur threw his arms around his
mothers neck, and fondly and pityingly
caressed her.
I'VE will fly. Arthur, to some obscure
corner of the earth where no one may
hope to trace us out, and in our love for
each other. viii forget the world we must
abandon
Yes Arthur sgniicd, .:.he WAS devoted
to his mother there was nothing she could
command IN NUlCn NOuLl MY
ard with all his heart, obey her
Bu, H. Iich OF wonder and perpioxity was
in the look ne fixed on RoSllie's face. And
Eosalie replying to that look, said;
Yes, Arthur, mystery has surrounded
YOU from your very birth, a mystery which
one day / Will make fully known to you
this | may tell you. now: your mother has
not to reproach herself that she has given
~ 60 a
particle of shame mingled with the mystery
with which you are enshrouded."
And now, as Rosalie concluded speaking,
a servant came to say to her that Mistress
Camelford was no longer delirious, was per-
fectly lucid, but sinking fast and was most
anxious to behold her cousin to whom she
had something OF vest Importance TO conf
municate.
glad smile fitted across Augusta's face,
as she saw her cousin enter the room in
which she lay, and holding the hand Of Ar
thur, whom Rosalie had indeed brought
with her in the hope that to behold hun
would be a comfort to the Last moments Of
Mistress Camclford.
And Rosaiie had judged rightly.
"Cor..e nearer to me, Rosalie, Augusta
in faint whisper said; and let all with
draw save yourself and-and HIM !"
And her tilmy gaze WIS fixed on Arthur,
who, pale and trembling, was shrinking
closely to his mothers side.
Reason for few moments, ere I die, has
returned to me- said Augusta, her voice
with every word growing weaker and more
faint, that l may make to you the only
atonemcnt which, alas. is lett within my
power
what can she meanP'' was Rosalie's
thought.
After considerable pause, Mistress CAM
elford resumed:
"a messenger has been despatched to my
house to bring thence 2 small ebony casket,
which is in my private cabinet
Again Augusta paused, and Rosalie said:
and what of that caskct, cousin?'
"It contains that letter which, years
since you wrote to Clarence Hartley, and
which l 50 wicbedly suppressed; viii be
your entire justification when Hartley snail
come to know, will be your protection
against his anger
As Resale hstQnod, she resolved that that
letter once aElin in her possession, she
would fly, leaving that important document
to be read by Hartley after her departure;
then would he cease TO wonder wherefore
she had fed, and would make no effort for
After having lain for several minutes IN
seeming uncorsci5usn2sS, Augusta again
arouGo,l, to say:
"It that caskct lie not very speedily
brought, it win not ind me living to re-
ceive it-and you, Rosale must yourself
claim and obtain possession Of 1t !"
Il should not dare said ROsalie, "un-
less YOU had been heard to issue such di-
Nct.ons."
You shsll call back into the room those
who have been attending me, and Will
speak to them concernln5--
Rosalie was turning away, about to sum-
mon back her cousins attendants, when
she was stayed by a feeble sign from Au-
gusta, vino whispered
sWait yet a anloment-frst let me ask that
YOU will be 1nerciful to me in my last
moments, that | may not die without some
hope that heaven, too, Will pardon me!
Il Go forgive you, cousin, and pray that
heaven, too, may pardon you! Rosalle
family, but very earnestly saIt.
Thanks, Rosalic, thanks; and you should
forgive me the sorrow | have caused you,
since | die to atone the sin that have
wrought !"
And after again resting awhile, the
wretched woman resumed
But Gresham, will he, too, pardon me !?
No; 1 may not hope it; and yet, he was
the only being that-on earth, ever really
loved, ard l."
She could utter no more; for few
moments lay motionless and unconscious,
and then, with feeble gasp, her spirit fed
away to give account Of those terrible acts
which in the flesh had been committed.
The cry to which Rosahe gave utteance
brought instantly back into the room those,
who before had been sent from 1t, as well
as others of the household, by whom Rosa
/ lies shrek had been heard, and amongst
| those who now hurriedly and in great alarm
| entered. was Clarence Hartley himself.
One glance towards Mistress Cametord' s
couch, and all saw that still and quiet now,
and forever, was she whose LIE had been SO
turbulent and SO restless.
As all stood around looking on that, at
| last, calm face, servant very quickly
entered the room, bnt stopped suddenly,
on seeing the many persons there.
He had understood what 1t was their
presence in that room betokened.
"What would you? Why come you to
this chamber ?'' Hartley asked, rather
stel7lly. of the man, but yet in that sub
dued tone, which arises from the mysteri-
Gus awe we feel in presence OF the dead.
Il bring replied the servant. ':the ebony
casket whIch had been desired by Mis-
tress Camelford 70 procure from her pri'
vate cabinet.
And he held forth the small Golfer, and
instinctively ltosale's trembling hands
were extended to clutch it, but
Give it to me!' said Hartley, taking
II into his own possession.
This casket'' he continued, contains
doubtless, Mistress Camotord's last wishes
and it is fer nue. to accomplish them.
will open this Golfer tomorrow, and before
witnesses!
CHAPTER XVI.