The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-04-18

| six months.
Five years later, in private room in one
of the New York hotels, two gentlemen, one
a middle-aged lawyer, one a man, still young
and exceptionally handsome, were talking to-
gether
"The whole matter rests with you" the
older man was saying 81 will give you the
facts, but you understand accepted them as
Il confidence, and will never repeat them after
tonight.
81 understand" said his companion grave
"Your father left my Office three weeks ago,
in perfect health one hour later | was sum-
moned to his death bed, and found him suffer-
ing from fatal injuries from building that
had fallen as he was passing"
81 know"
Gle had made his will years ago, leaving
you his heir, with the exception of a few lega-
cles."
81 have seen the will"
"Ah, yes. Well, in his dying moments he
desired to have new will drawn, but find
ing death approaching too fast he made his
confession to me, and swore to repeat it to
you" a
Confession p burst from the young mans
lips, while his face grew white.
81 repeat his own words Years ago, when
he was in a manufacturing business in Har-
lem, your father employed foreman named
Schofn, a German, with but an imperfect
knowledge of English, but with genius for
mechanins. This man had been for years
studying out and perfecting valuable discov-
cry in the branch of manufacture your father
carried on, and it was to test the value of his
machine that he entered your fathers house.
Ignorant of the language, the laws of this
country, he confided his schemes to your faith
er, who undertook to have his invention pat
ented and introduced. This he did, only in so
doing he substituted the name of Sidney Ry-
near for that of Herman Schorn, and obtained
full possession and control of the patent, upon
which he built an enormous fortune which
you inherit.
"The German, Schorn, in vain tried to gain
his rights he was poor, an alien, scholar,
and he was crushed down and driven away
by the superior wealth and influence of his
employer Your father saw his death in a
paper some years ago, but his charge to you
is to seek out his heirs and divide with them
the fortune out of which their father was
defrauded Now / have told you all. If
you wish to treat this story as n death bed
chimera, you may do So | will not betray
you. If you desire to obey your fathers last
request l will aid you materially, for can tell
you where to find Doretta Schorn."
"My fathers last will is a sacred legacy"
Sidney Rynear said in a low, hoarse voice
81 will obey it strictly, but the secret-the
cOnfession?"
"Remains secret"
One more revolution of times ever-revolv
ing wheel, and six months after this CONVEX
sation, ask my reader to look with me into
a very pretty sitting room in house on the
outskirts of Paris. 1t is luxurious home
but the dress of a fair-haired girl sitting near
one of the open windows, is only white
cambria tastefully made, while her abundant
fair hair is without ornament to its own glossy
beauty.
She is lifting slly-blue eyes to the hand
some face of gentleman in deep mourning,
who is talking to her earnestly. And this is
what he says:
"You know all now! You know why
your father cursed mine upon his death bed,
and why | must make such restitution as lies
in my power to his child. | came to Paris
only to do this, but since | have been here,
Retta, | have learned new lesson of1ife-
the lesson of love, little Retta. | love you,
my darling, l love you! Can you let the cruel
past sleep, and be my wife,"
Very shyly she whispered
81 have always loved you, Sidney. think
| gave you my heart on the first day when
you came into my class at L-Scminary
For have never forgotten you, though / long
ago gave up all hope OF ever seeing you
again"
So the world was none the wiser when Sid
ncy Rynear settled half his large estate upon
his fair young wife, and only the lawyer who
drew the deeds knew they were payment of n
long standing debt, and that for the second
time pretty Doretta was Professor Schorn's
substitute.