The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-02-10

|
years of age. He was stout In build, and
his face was wicked one. He looked as
though he might have inherited the evil
traits of both the races from which he
was evidently descended. But Varcor
had never had any opportunity to dis
tingulsh himself in the line for which
his face showed forth tokens of such
eminent qualifications, that of cunning
villainy,-for he had been slave all
his life.
SAINT tells me that you are mason,"
said Valasquez to him.
" Yes, sab, is" Varcof returned.
~ want you to prepare some brick
and mortar to close up a hole upstairs.
Afterwards, you can plaster it over"
+" Yes, massa Cashel.'
"That is oil, for the present. You
can go now and prepare. When you
are ready, let me know"
"Yes, sah.'
While the slave was gone ON his
errand, Valasquez crept up to the room
where he had placed Lionel Cashel. He
bent his ear to the door, but no sound
came to him. He pounded 1t with his
fists, but only hollow echoes rang out.
Then he stood in silence for many
minutes.
Not sound, but his own breathing,
broke the stiffness.
Valasquez had sworn that the door
! should never open upon Lionel Cashel.
He, assassin, villain of the deepest dye,
meant to keep his word in this respect
| Yet he would not have hesitated at
a thousand false oaths to further his
| ends
1t was simply deep, diabolical sense
of triumph in keeping his vow, that
restrained him from opening the door
and looking in.
When he returned to the library he
had no great time to wait till Varcor
came back.
" De brick and de mortar am ready"
said the slave. " De mortar finds al
ready mixed"
" Load yourself with brick, and 1
will show you where to take them,"
said Valasquez
Strong physically as Varcor was, he
was painting under his burden when
he and Valasquez reached the fatal door
way.
" l have taken notion to have this
| place closed" said the false master of
The Cedars, pointing to the door set in
stone. Bring your mortar and the
rest of your brick"
1t was but the slave's place to obey
unquestioningly. His cruel face dis
| played no signs of suspicion. Probably
he had none. If the false master of The
| Cedars had felt that he was suspicious
of some iniquitous transaction, he would
have given himself no uneasines, for in
the first place he knew that the quality
of mercy was lacking in the mulatto's
breast, and he would not trouble himself
to inquire into any wrong; and, further,
his slaves knew better than to talk
about him.
Valasquez stood by until the last
brick was laid and the wall plastered
over.
Not a single sound to betray that the
prison had human occupant had been
heard.
Its mystery would never he reveal
ed" was the exulting thought of the
demon, whose base soul had conceived
the plan.
Ay, it was a dark secret that the
prison.room held. Who would ever
dream of it?
What suspicion could fall upon the
rich master of The CedarsY
\
1t was only the next day that Henri
Valasquez was riding toward the De
We're residence with the intention of
calling upon Barbara Lindsey. AS has
been stated, he had no conscience, so
that no guilty pangs could serve to
restrain him from any plan that he
wished to complete.
Galloping along, he met colored
boy, riding horseback also. Valasquez
was about to pass, when the boy called
to him.
Massa Cashel, here am sumpfin fer
you," he said.
The man reined in his horse, and the
boy gave him white envelope. 1t bore
these words -
Mr.. LIONEL CAsHEL,
THE CEDARs,
VIRGINIA.
The false MASTER ofThe Ctdsrs opened