The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-06-09

directions az to tho funeral, which took place
next day: nuh once more VIZ were plOwing Otif
way through tho blue water as II nothing had
happened.
Twas Rn altered man. Tie strange commits,
sion with which Ind been intrIiSted weighed
on my mind. Over and over again In the still.
ness OF the night opened the box and gazotI
on the CONS. What proof was there that tIley
were not mine the hoK with Its brass plate
bearing the owners IIainG could Oc destroyed iu
moment, and then -! Over. and over again
the owl 0n" whispered to me, but, thank God,
| resisted tue temptation. would fulfill the
trust cOnided to me. and prayed fervcntly
for strength to resist the evil promptings Of my
bABer self.
Ono day sat alone, the bog unlocked on my
table, gazing with III irrepressible curiosity,
which was unable 10 control, on tho Jewels
which scintllatcd before my dazed VISION. The
door suddenly opened, aud Captain SIcFarlane
entered.
~ beg your pardon, doctor, didn't Know you
were engaged" :" but, before could close tho
box or reply, bis eye had caught the simmer
Of the brilliautS.
"HOllO what's hcro?"
With firm hand ho closed the lid and read
the name upon tho plate. Innocent as l was,
Involuntary Stung by the remembrance OF
what my thoughts had been but moment be-
fore. quailed before his eye.
II know all now-that man was poisoned
consider yourself my prisoner"
endeav0red tn explain. l told everything
as 1t had occurred, and appealed to tho cap
tain to believe the story, or at least to await Its
reasonable confirmation, before netting OIL his
rash conclusion. Ilo was incrcdnlous. Ono
concession I obtained. and that was, that all
should be kept secret til our arrival in port,
and that should not bc publicly branded as 4
suspected murderer before tho crew.
A fortnight passed, weary fortnight, dur
ing which repeatedly Cndcavored to shake the
conclusion at which Captain McFarlane had
50 hastily arrived. Suddenly, without \ mo-
monts warning, tho captain fell sick. lie was
suffering from low fever. begged him 10
accept my services.
"Sevcr! You shall not poison nc, too."
Days passed, and tho captain grew worse !;
he babblcd In his dolirium Of poison, Of stolen
jewels; and night and day watched at bis
bedside, jealOTsly excluding everybody who
might pcrchance Oyerhear his rawlings and raise
up in Judgment against me.
Ono day the crisis came. A few hours would
determine all. II lie died l was once more
FREQ man, FREQ from tie imputation Of foul
crime, free 10 carry out my honest intention
Of fulfilling tho dead mans wishes, but also
FREQ from tho dread Of exposure which TO me
would be worse, ~ bare suspicion, than death
Itself.
II The captain could buE sleep, his life would
be saved. How easy to make that sleep liiS
iRSt-thO.evil one was ut my elbow, tho lau-
danum bOttlc In my hand. but my SoreSt
need tho strength to reriSt was given TO me.
poured out the proper loIr, and advanced to-
ward the cot III which tho captain lay. A
strange light was In lis eyes. Rising suddenly,
and throwing the bcdelothGS OF his tall, lean.
Sinewy form. lie half leapcd from tho bed, aud
scizing The box Of diamonds, which hc had
throughout his illness kept beneath Ills pillow,
he SllriGked:
"Ncvcr, never! viii yon allow mc to be
poisoned like a dog? Help! some Of you."
Tic effort was too much; claspinS tho box
TO his bosom hC fell back on his pillLw-a cOn-
vulSiyo shutldur passed over his franc-hc was
dead.
Suatching tho box from tho relaxing grasp
Of the corpse, rushed from the cabin and fell
over rtte Tie negro, who was Just outside.
"See tothc captain. Ifeisd dead and ] sped
onward but the powerful negro had his hand
upon my arm.
"lIassN doctor not 20 40 quick-STussa Grier-
Hon dcad-cap'n die, too doctor got hiS box Of
jCwCls--givc up dat box "--anltl the negro seized
INC in his grasp and struggled with me for tue
possession Of the treasure.
Al that moment the strength OF lion was
In me. wreStled with my aStaiNnt and free
ing myself from his srasr, rushed to the COM
palOn stairs. had Reached tho deck, with
what intention I knew not, but Pete WAS again
with me. wrestling with tho strength OF
demon for the possession Of the prize.
The ship was rolling heavily. uud, as We fell
together, We slid acruss the deck toward the loe
scuppcrS. With supCrhunlRn effort freed
my right arm, and with all my force throw tho
box over the quarter deck railings. II flew
open, aud in tho moonlight the diamonds fell
like shower OF stars Into the black water. The
negro, seeing MY movement, left his hold
Of ne, and SpEang forward 10 catch the box.
4 heavy lurcl, and was alone oil the deck
Can bo blamed? held my tongue. Tho
captain was buried at dawn. and the chief ofi.
Ger took command Of the ship. II was clear
thRt Pete must have fallen overheard, aud no
one suspected Tie Flare had In the catlstrO-
php. Lii due timo We arrived at Bristol, and
for my own satisfaction instituted tho neces-
Bary inquiries NJ to tho individuals named By
the man GricrsUn. The bank had long since
ceased to exist. traced some vuguc rlimOr Of
u niau having died suddenly in stage coach
whilU passing through an obscure village In
but could never obtain any clcw
to Ills representatives. II was perhaps az well
that l failed. | am still a poor man, but
would rather die SO than accept the possibility
Of becoming rich at the terrible risk which at
tended the unlucky bCqucss OF the box Of
diamonds.