The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-11-24


above Us you shall be mine
] could hear the rustling OF a sill
dress by which | knew that Mar,
had arisen from her chair. doubtlesl
to ring the bell.
Mary, you shall not escape M,
thus, continued the young man
= repeat it, you shall be mine
Dearest girl, come to my heart-iet
me iold you to my breast.
\ half suppressed scream now
reached my ears, and | heard tn,
infatuated young man rush towarc
her. | thought 1t was high time tC
interfere. ! ran 10 the folding doors
threw them wide open, and Just saw
the inebriate seize the shrinking cir
IN his grasp. When ne SAW me
he loosened his hold, demonical
expression lighted up his features
and he hurried from the room, shak.
ing his fist in my face as he made
his exit. / caught the fainting girl
n my arms and conveyed her to 6
sofa. y few simple restorltivcs re
stored her to consciousness. but it
J was some time before | could make
her believe that the danger was
past.
/ though it my duty to acquaint
Mr.. Norval with the whole trans
action, That proper means might be
adopted to prevent q recurrence Of
this persecution. Charles NUyal
! was forbidden the house About q
month after this occurrence business
took me to q southern city, where l
was detained a week. The very
night | returned 10 New York, ] re-
ceived a visit from Mr.. Nj, the
famous attorney.
'Brampton, said he, as be enter
ed the room. II have been here 10
/. see YOU a dozen times to-day.
Thank God, YOU have come home at
last -
Why, what IS the matter AIr
NJ" )
Il am in great trouble, and want
you 10 help me out You knew Mr.
Norval. | believe?'
Certainly, ! know him wcll-hc
is a particular friend OF mine: but
why do YOU use the past tense?"
You are aware that he Is dead p
Dead. Is it possible ?"
Yes, he died Yesterday.
is there any suspicion connected
with his death ?"
None at oil he has been aiIing
for some time. lie died of disease
of the heart. A post-mortem ex-
animation has settled that question
satisfactorily. You are aware that
| was his lawyer, perhaps, and YOU
also know the terms on which he
lived with his son. About three
months ago Mr.. Noryal sent for me
TO make his viii. rs l before said,
he had been falling in health for
some time past, and did not know
how soon he might be called away
from this earthly scene"
Il drew up his viii az he request
cd by its provisions Mary was
made his heiress, 4 small pension
payable at certain intervals being
only left his son. This will was
signed and attestcd."
Excuse me for interrupting YOU, .
said |, but was Mr.. Charles Norval
cognizant of the provisions Of his
fathers will?'
Not than | am aware of, but now
you come to mention it, ! distinctly
at the time Of witnessing
il 4 sudden rustling was heared at
one end of the apartment, and a
door that opened into an adjoining
room was heard TO close, but no |
notice was taken of the circumstance
at the time"
Exactly, that must have been the |
young man who was listening. for !
have reason to know that he was /
aware of the contents Of his fathers |
will"
And l then related the conversa-
ion ! had overheard between Char !
es and Mary Norval.
This may be very important, |
aid NJ, as soon as | had con |
:luded: but let me conclude what !
have to say. The viii | drew up I
vas confded to my care. | placed |
I in IN envelop and locked it up in !
ny private desk The moment
heard of his death, | opened my
lesk and took out the envelope in
which I had placed the Will. |
Judge of my surprise and horror
when | found it only contained
blank sheet Of paperl"
~ blank sheet of paper! The !
Yill had been abstrarted them
Exactly. When | made the dis
.overy ] was thunderstruck. /
.ould neither speak nor act. Isank |
lown into seat utterly prosratcd /
10Th in body and mind. After a
little time | somewhat recovered my /
and then began 10 turn
,ver in my mind the best course /
or me TO pursue under the circum- /
tances. Fortunately | WAS alone. I
DO Won suspect anyone?"
Il don't know whom 10 suspect
But from the conversation you have /
elated to me, It is very probable
hat Charles Norval had somethingl
o do with it. But still it IS utterly
impossible that he could have oh
aimed access TO my private Office
md desk
Il have three clerks, and they al
.nioy my most implicit confidence.
In the first place none of them knew
he viii was there. They have been
With me many years, and I cannot
entertain the slightest suspicion
against them. Long intercourse
With the world has taught me, how
sver, to be cautious, and ! determin-
ID TO keep my own counsel, so l /
have not mentioned the fact to them I
It all. closed and locked my desk I
again, and went about my business |
IS usual"
"You did quite right. Did the /
desk show any evidence of having
been looked into2"
Not the least in the world. Who /
ever entered it, must have possessed !
, d,rI;cata key y