The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-19

hair and beard, entered the room, made a
Courteous bow, which embraced everybody.
and proceeded to unbutton an enormous
travelling cloak, In which he was enveloped.
For moment or 80 his eyes wandered
round the room, as if in search of some
thing, and then he smiled sadly.
''You don't know me, Mr.. Neville, "
quoth the gentleman, after what seemed an
omlnous silence, drawing more directly
into the light of the fire, which blazcd
checrlly.
81 have not that pleasure, SIR" papa re-
piled, looking at our visitor more atten-
lively.
"Ah Yet my picture hung there oncc,' -
pointing to vacant space among the por-
traits on the wall. "AIy name Is jeffrey
Lawson"
'Jeff!" We all cried III amazemcnt.
Here was the sequel to the story with a
vengence.
You don't seem ovcrjoyed to see mc,
Robert" MIR. Lawson said, after another
pause. Well, perhaps you are not to blame
But you. Edith, after all these long years
hight give me your hand"
AT that moment his eyes rested on aunt's
helpless right arm, AMI the most terrible
awkward, awful silence I ever witnessed
cnsued.
Dir. Lawson was the first to recover his
self-possession. "Forgivc me-" he said,
and there was tremor in his voice. 81
did not know-I am SORROW" Papa re-
manned stern and silent. l really piticd
MIR. Lawson, the odds were so fearfully
against him. Not single kind or encour-
aging glance met his eye as he looked up
little haughtily, and continued addressing
us all 81 did you great wrong once,
Mr. Neville. l have travelled many thou
sand miles to offer what rcparation l can.
That will by which obtained e5, 900 was
a forgery. But have come to pay it back
with interest"
Papa bowed his head but remained 81
lent.
"Money was absolutely necessary, then,
for l had many pressing engagements to
mcet-my safety, my liberty was at stake
Il was desperate; but though my base
trick succeeded, it was too late. Absolute
ruin and disgrace stared me in the face, and
was compelled to fly, like thief in the
night, to escape the consequences of my
folly. That night secretly left the house,
escaping by my bedroom window. Con-
cealing all tho money had, took passage
for Australia, where, by careful speculation
and hard work, l soon realized u consider
l formed new friends; now habits, a squat
ter life suited me and so / remained year
after year. But / was heartily sorry for,
and ashamed Of the part played about the
will, and resolved one day to try and make
it square with you. The gold fever broke
out, ana tho spirit of adventure being strong
in me, l resolved to go the diggings. l was
successful; but others were not
80 fortunate. One poor fellow went by the
name of Down Ted heard frequently
spoken of as singularly unlucky. One day
was surprised to receive message from
this fellow requesting me to come and see
him as he was very Ill, and had very i'm
once, and saw at glance tia the man
was dying; but imagine my surprise, when,
on closer survey Of his features, rccog-
nzed him to be Tom Judson, the son OF
your old steward-good- grace
less, vagrant Ted, who got me into many
scrapes rs | got him ont of. With the
utmost difficulty, for he was dying, lie told
me singular story. On the very night 1
left Garrlt;t, he tried to rob and murder
me.
Clearing from his father that l had a
largo sum of money by me, he resolved to
have some of it; and entering the house in
the dusk of the evening, he concealed him
self behind the corridor window and waited d
till the house was all quiet; then he en-
tered my room, and after searching III vain
for the money, he seized the knife which
lay on the table, and in a fit of drunken
my throat if l did not give up my purse.
Advancing to the bed where lay sound
asleep, he lifted the knife and made slash
at my throat when to his horror he saw
the While Lady, who walks, bending over
me. Throwing down hc knife he fled in
terror, and made his escape through win
dow bc found open. In a moment ii
flashed upon me that your room was mis-.
taken for mine, and my window, which
had left open, proved the means of escape
for the william as it had already proved the
means of escape for me. l hope the timely
appearance OF the White Lady prevented
any serious mischief"
sit did to me-" papa SAID sadly; "bu,
tho slash that missed my throat cost my
sister her right hand. She was the lady
who saved me, jeffrey. I am better pleased
to have the mystery cleared up than