Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-12-15

dress, by which l knew t1at Mary nat
arisen from her char, doubtless 10 rlnI
the bell.
Mary, you shall not escape me
thus. continued the young man, i
repeat it. you shall be mine. Drares'
glrl. come 10 my heart, let me iold you
to my breast
A hal suppressed scream now reach'
co m, ears, aud heard tie infatuated
,ouns man rush toward her. l though'
il was hish time 10 interfere. l ran 10
u,e folding doors, threw them wld'
open, aad just saw the lnebriate selze
the shrinking girl IN bls grasp. "hen
he saw me he lossened bis hold de-
moniacal expression lighted up his lea
,nres and he hurried from the room
shaking his fist IN my face as he made
h,s exit. caught the iaiuting girl III
my arms and conveyed her to sofa.
A few simple rcstoTaiives restored her
10 con. ciousness. but it was some Time
before I could make her believe that the
danger was past.
thought it my duty 10 acquaint Mr'
Norval with the whole transactlon' that
proper means might be adopted 10 pre-
vent a recurrence Of this persecution
Charles Norval was forbidden the house
About n month after this occurrence
business took me TO Il southern CITY,
. here | was detained week. The
yer, night returned to New York !
received visit from Mr.. Al, the
famous Attorney
,Bramptou.' said he, as he entered
lie room. i have been here to see
,ou \ d, zeu times to-day. Thank God,
YOU hive come home at last'
sWhy. What is the matter Mi
1 am IN great trouble. and 1 want
you to help me out. You knc" "'
Nolval. believe?'
Certainly. know him well-he is
particular friend of mine; but why do
YOU use the past lenseF'
Are YOU aware that he is dead"
Dead! Is it possible! /!
Yes, he died yesterday
l. there any suspicious connected
with hIs death: ::
None a, all. he has been aiIing Tor
some ,i,Ye. He died Of disease OF the
heart. A post mortem examination
has settled that question satisfactorily.
You are aware, perhaps that was hl'
law, er. and YOU al-o know the terms
on which he lived With his son. About
three months ago Mr.. Norval sent tor
me 10 make his viii. As | haYe before
s,td he had been failing in health for
some time past. and did not know ho"
soon he might be called away from this
earthly scene.
L drew up his vi'l as ho requested ;
by lis provisions Mary 'ad made an
heiress. snail por.ion payable at Ger
tain intervals bciuS only left 10 his son.
This will was properly sign'd ind al
lcsted.'
Excuse ne for interrRpting YOU,
said l. but was Mr. CHARLES Noryal
coanizant of the provision ofbls fathers
will"
Not that am aware Of, but now
YOU come to mention il, l distinctly re-
member at the time Of Witnessing It. h
sudden ruslling was heard at one end oil
The apartment. and door that opened
into on adjoining room was heard 10
close. but no notice was taken OF the
circum, ,tance at the time.
Exactly, that must have been TIC
youur man who was listening, tor !
have reason to know that lie was aware
of the contents of his fathers WILL
And ! th related the conyersati"r
| had overh, ard between Mary and
Charles Norva!.
This may be very Important said
NJ as soon as | had concluded
shut let Inc conclude what | have to
say. The will had drawn up was
confded to my care. placed 1t in al
envelope aud locked ii up in my private
desk. The moment l heard OF hiT
death. opened my desk and took out
the envelope in which had placed the
will. Judge of my surprise and horror
when | found 1t only con tanned blank
sheet OF paper!
"A blank sheet Of paper! Tho will
had beer distracted, thenH
Exactly. When | made the dis
covery was completely thunderslruck.
[ could neither speak nor act. l sank
down into a seat utterly prostrated both
in body and mind. After little time
I somewhat recovered my faculties,
and tten began TO turn over in my
mind the best course for me 10 pursue
under the circumstances. Fortunately
I was alone
DO you suspect anyone
Il don't know whom 10 suspect. Bu'
from the conversation You have related
TO me, it is very probable that Charles
Norval has something TO do withit. Bu
sill Is utterly impossible that he coult
have obtained access to my private
Office AMI desk
Il have there clerks, and they all en-
10Y my most implicit confidence. Ii
the first place none of them knew th'
will was there. They have been Will
me many years, aud | cannot entertain
the slightest suspicion against them
Long intercourse with the world