The Morning herald., 1877-10-30

W1tne6SoSl
n CHAPTER XVI.
THE REJECTS OF SORROW.
Before witnesses
Y What terrible words were those for pooa
Rosaie.
That fatal letter would then be read be.
fore witnesses, who would be made to know
her az q bigamist, while she, the wife ol
two living husbands. must sink with shame
before those who would be without pity
for her.
Flight that night would be impossible "a
her-the whole household would be astir.
And Hartley 2-How could she remain to
brave his presence when he had learned the
humiliating truth How find courage to
behold bis agony-perhaps to listen to his
upbraidings. for it might be that he would
believe that letter mere trick.
Mistress Cameford could not now con-
firm its truth.
But fight for Rosalie before Hartley
should have seen that letter, was now i'm
possible, and 20 abe must endure the dread
full ordeal that was awaiting her.
Could Arthur help herp He was ready
for aught that might be demanded Of him
No; he could but pity her, Rosalie said;
and then she asked her son il he remem-
bered that ebony casket.
Certainly! The dying lady had said it
was for his mother; that it contained q
very important letter; and he had observ-
ed how anxious Rosalie had been to obtain
possession of that easket; how terror
stricken she had looked when Hartley had
secured it to himself.
"Yes!" exclaimed Rosalie; "for should
Clarence Hartley read that letter, while
am yet near him, I should die, Arthur
should dieY'
Night had again arrived.
A single light glimmered in the cham
her where Mistress Camelford had 80 lately
died, and where now her corpse lay cold
and stark.
A woman-watcher-wel accustomed to
such employment and which, for her, had
long since lost all terror-was seated conl-
fortably in an easy chair, and fast asleep.
A window, which looked on the gardens
Was slowly and noiselessly opened by some
one who stepped into the room.
The sudden gust Of wind which entered
as the window was thrown open, extin-
guished the light which had been on table
near it; and instantly there was fatal dark
ness within that chamber OF death.
Soon the sleeping woman was aroused
by some one jostling against her: and,
starting suddenly to her feet clutched, in
the darkness. this midnight intruder.
Scream after scream was pealed forth,
penetrating to the ears of every inmate of
the mansion, and causing every heart to
throb with terror.
Notone, of all the household, who did not
hurry towards the chamber whence those
shrieks had summoned them.
Almost the first to arrive was Hartley,
who came in time to arrest young Arthur
as, having at length succeeded in breaking
from the woman who had tennciously chung
to him, he was hurrying from the mortuary
chamber.
"A thief" exclaimed Hartley, snatch
ing from Arthur.s hand tho ebony casket
which he had been striving to conceal.
Arthur had seen where, in Mistress Cam
Chords chamber, Hartley had deposited
the casket, which was to be, he said, Open
ed on the morrow, and before witnesses.
He had beheld his mothers grief, had
heard her say Of what vast Importance to
her was the letter within that casket.
Carefully concealing his intention from
Rosalie, he resolved to obtain that letter
and save her from that something. ne knew
not what, which she 80 dreaded, and at
the mere thought of which he beheld her
so intensely wretched. >
He had succeeded in reaching. even In
the darkness, the object OF which ne had
resolved to obtain possession, so well had
he marked the spot where the casket had
been placed by Hartley; but his escape
with it had been rendered impossible by
the means which we have just described.
"Wicked, ungrateful boy" Hartley con-
tinued, surprised and hurt, "you believed,
did you not. that there were jewels within
this casketf"
Arthur stirred not, gave no sign, but
his features were tranquil. he was firm and
self-possesscd. =,
"Iwill have pity on your youth, added
Hartley, "but go instantly from this house"
"No, no, not YETI cried Rosalie. ''not
thus banished, for he is no thief, merits not
that infamy ehould rest upon his head"
And then. looking towards Arthur, whom
she could not reach-"Bless you darling"
she exclaimed, "for that which you have
striven to accomplish" >,
Hartley was dumb with amazement, and
g. strange wonder was in the eyes Of all who
now had listened to Rosalie.
"He sought that casket to obtain Tor mo
letter which he knew was there enclos-
ed" Rosalie added. and in moment Hart
lev had forced open the casket.
And then, Rosahe, clutching Hartleys
arm, said to him imploringly and very
humbly: "a A..
an the name Of Heaven, read not that