The Cecil Whig., 1878-03-30
THE DEFRAUDED HEIR.


which too was placed the tea service, anG
the toast racks fastened to the fender be
tokened that the evening meal was waiting
for me.
Home at last, dear James, said nv
wife. q have been waiting tea for you
some time"
Yes, | was engaged longer at the office
of the Chief of Police than | expected to-
day. By-the-by, whom do you think met
on Broadway today"
81 don't know. Whom 20
- No other than Amos Barton"
| should have said that my wife came
from the village where DR.. Lignon lived,
and was well acquainted with all the par
ties mentioned in this history.
" Indeed she replied; did he speak
to you %
so, yes; it appears he intends running
for Congress. lie solicited my influence:
but, OF course, did not promise it to him. -
1t is very strange, but father never
liked that man. There was something in
his countenance or his manner which was
very repulsive to him."
" 4 great many people share his preiu-
dices my DEAR returned "Amos Bar
ton is, by no means, a general favorite |
remember when l was pupil at DR.. Lig-
nous ! used to hate him."
And yet no one can tell why they dis
like him. They can bring no immoral act
against him. Did you ever hear anything
tangible proved against him 90
"Never'
DO you remember how strangely he
came in for his property? | was but lit
tie girl then, still l recollect distinctly the
sensation it made. His brother and nephew
died within ten days of each other. Itwas
very curious'
| Very
! l suppose | uttered this word in a very
peculiar manner, for my wife put down her
cup which she was in the act of raising to
her mouth, and glanced curiously at me-
What do you mean by that very ?''
said my wife. Now, James, know by
your manner that you have secret to tell
me-
My dear, what secret should know"
81 don't know; but you are SO different
from other men-you have such an extraor-
dinary faculty for tracing matters out-I
am certain you know more about that affair
than you pretend.'
AT that moment there was ring at the
bell, and the servant girl entered almost
directly afterward and handed me the fol-
lowing message:
"Come to me Immediately. am dying;
| have something of Importance to COM
municate to you. DR.. Lignon, -, New
York.
l handed the dispatch to my wife.
"Must you go?" said she, with a shade
of disappointment in her voice.
81 must, indeed" rejoined. 81 have
some idea as to the nature of the communi-
cation he has to make, and leaving out of
consideration my duty as his former pupil
| must go for other reasons"
Kissing my wife goodbye l hurried off.
1t was bitter cold in the streets, and the
snow was falling in large flakes. In spite
of the obstruction caused by the snow,
| reached the depot in good time, and taking
a seat in a car near the stove, in few min
utes | was proceeding on my way to my
destination. | was awakened about mid
night by man and woman in the seat
before me; the former had mentioned the
name of Mr.. Barton. ! still pretended to
be asleep, but examined my fellow travel
ers with a scrutinizing glance. found they
were common looking people, evidently
past the meridian of life.
81 tell you," said the woman, in tone
| of remonstrance, "you can't deceive him
much longer. He'll find out that the boy
ran away from US, then good bye to our
| allowance.
How can he find it out" returned the
man, in grutf voice, &c if you only keep
quiet tongue in youl head But you al
ways have such a confounded lot to say
"Suppose you tell him his nephew is
dead -
bah. that would be of no use. He's
such stingy beggar, he'd stop the supplies
at once.'
"Now, Ralph, suppose he should be de-
termined not to give you any more, what
would you do?'
What would | do9 | would say to
him, Look here, Mr.. Barton, if you don't
send me the money you owe me to 222 East
Broadway before three days have expired,
then if you don't see the State prison loom
ing in the distance, I'm a Dutchman."
Well, l hope we shall be successful,
that's all. have my doubts however,"
After this they relapsed into silence, and
did not speak any more until they reached
their destination. made few notes of
this conversation in my pocket-book.
About ? o'clock the next day reached
the end of my journey, and was at DR.. Lig-
mons house. l rang the bell and | was at
once shown up stairs. The moment | en-
tered the Doctors bed room, started back
in horror Familiar as had been with
scenes of suffering, had never met with
one equal to this. Eighteen years had
elapsed since l had seen DR.. Lignon, and
he was now scarcely recognizable. He was
dying from the effects of cancer.
81 know my days are numbered" said
the old doctor, after he had given me the
particulars of his case. "My disease is
utterly incurable. But, James, have
| fearful confession to make to you, one
which fear will drag me down to perdi-
ton, unless | atone for it by endeavoring
to make restitution. ., James, how can l
summon up resolution enough to tell you
what a guilty wretch l am?'
"Perhaps l already know something of
the matter of which you would speak," |
returned.
"Impossible. No living soul, save one,
knows it. O God, must | reveal my own
shame? Must | tell how guilty | have
been? | canuot-I cannot ," And the
old man buried his head in the pillow.