Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-02-25

man VINO mad attempted my lie, and re-
Trained from questioning her At best there
would be but conjecture--the room was
dark, the man disguised and your aunt
| frightened But the knife which lay upon
my bed appealed with dumb but terrible
force TO us both. ID was nv pruning-knife,
and that very afternoon Edith had seen me
lend IL TO jeff Lawson. Whether the knife
had been in any way poisoned, or whether
your aunt's wound had been badly dressed
in the first instance, do not know, but in
flammation set 10, and for weeks she was dan
gerousy in. For days her life was despared
of and it was only saved at last at the
expense of the brave right hand that had
saved me so well from terrible and sudden
death.
"The matter made sensation, which was
something more than nine days wonder
in our village but as kept my suspicious
| to myself no one else ventnred TO express
any, and Jeffreys name was never mixed up
| in the matter. Indeed, IL somehow got cir
cuated that he left Gerrick the evening Of
the attempted murder, and no one contra
dicted IL. The object of the attack which
was evidently robbery as well as murder, for
every drawer and desk in my room was ran
sacked. caused much wonder and discussion.
Altogether it was most mysterious, sad
affair, and if in my secret heart / connected
it with the new-found will of my father,
and if I wronged any one by unjust sus-
picions, hope heaven will pardon me. APP
pearance were strongly against one -
| "And appearances very frequently de-
ceive, Robert" aunt interrupted, gently.
"Let MS Judge not, that we be not judged"
Heaven help the villain who cost Aunt
Edith so dear, If ever | encounter him ~
| orio1 EJOar avo,taIlt1 Ifu ahouf him M
quarteri'
"What became of JEFF Lawson, father p
Jess asked, with a stolen glance at aunt's
face.
"From the night he said goodnight 10 us
in this very room, thirty.one years ago,
have never heard of him or from him. He
disappeared in the most extraordinary man
ner Doubtless he is dead and as far as he
is concerned have no hope of the mystery
Of that awful night ever being cleared up
"Aud his mother, papa ?" queried Fred.
"Ah, his poor mother; she broke her
heart over his disappearance my hoy. Moth
ers will do such things over the most worth
less sons. Well, Upton, what's the matter p
If you please, sir, there's gentleman
wants to see you" said our old butler clos.
ing the door behind him, and looking mys
teriously round. lie says his business is
urgent but he won't give his name."
"a strange gentleman, at this hour, and
on such night" exclaimed papa, rising
" lie must be some belated traveller. Show
him up, Upton"
We all looked at each other, and glanced
towards the door in eager nervous curiosity
as an elderly gentleman, with very white
hair and beard entered the room, made a
courteous bow, which embraced everybody
and proceeded to unbutton an enormou:
travelling cloak, in which he was enveloped
For a moment or so his eyes wandered
round the room as il in search of something
and then he smiled sadly.
"You do not know me, Mr.. Neville,
quoth the gentleman, after what seemed at
ominous silence, drawing more directly into
the light of the fire, which blazed cheerily
al have not that pleasure, sir" paps
replied, looking at our visitor more atten
lively.
"Ah Yet my picture hung there once,
pointing to a vacant space amongst the por
traits on the wall. "My name is Jeffre,
Lawson"
"Jeff - cried papa and Aunt Edith with
one voice.
"Jeff I" we all echoed in amazement
Here was the sequel to our story, with {
vengeance.
You do not seem overjoyed to see me
Robert" Mr.. Lawson said, after another
pause. well, perhaps you are not to blame
But you, Edth-atter all these long years
might give me your hand"
At this moment his eye rested on aunt
helpless right arm, and the most terrible
awkward silence | ever witnessed ensued
Edgar was white with passion Jess clenchet
Der little hand defiantly, and even gentl,
Fred looked as if he could raise his voic'
and arm to avenge Aunt Edith.
Mr.. Lawson was the first TO recover hi
self possession. "Forgive me-" he said, anc
there was a tremor in his voice. 81 did no
know am sorry" Papa remained sterr
and silent. really pitied Mr. Lawson, thu
odds were SO fearfully against him. Not
single kind or encouraging glance met hi
eye as he looked round. However, he drew
himself up haughtily, and continued address
ing us all: 81 did a great wrong once, Mr.
Neville. | have travelled many Thousand
miles to offer what reparation | can. Tha
will by which / obtained five Thousand
pounds was forgery. But have come Il
pay it back, with interest"
Papa bowed his head and remained silent
"Money was absolutely necessary then
for had many pressing engagements t,
| ihttb-lnN was az bldhr
| was desperate; but though my base tricl
succeeded it was too late. Absolute ruiz
and disgrace stared me in the face, and
was compelled to fly like thief in the nigh
to escape the consequences of my folly. Tha
night secretly left the house escaping frou
my bedroom window. Concealing all tn
money had took passage for Australia
, where by careful speculation and hard worl
. soon realized considerable fortune.
. formed new friends, new habits; squatter
life suited me; and so remained year afte
year. ! was heartily sorry for and ASHAMED
of the part played about the will, and re
solved one day to try and make it squar
with you. Then the gold fever broke out
. and the spirit of adventure being strong il
me, resolved to go to the diggings. | wa
: singularly successful. But Others were no
so fortunate. One poor fellow who wen
by the name of Down Ted,' heard fire
quenty spoken of as singularly unlucky
One day was surprised to receive mes
sage from this fellow, requesting me t
= come and see him, as he was very ill, an,
had an important confession to make.
went at once, and saw at a glance that tn
man was dying; but. imagine my surpris
/ when, on a closer survey OF his features,
recognized him TO be Ted Judson, the So
of your old --good-fornothing, grace
I less, vagrant Ted, who got me into almos
: as many scrapes as got him out Of Wit
the utmost difficulty, for he was dying, b
told me singular story. On the very nigh
i | left Garrick House he tried to rob an
murder me. Hearing from his father that
4 had large sum of money by me, he r'
solved to have some of it; aud entering tn
house in the dusk of the evening, he col
i cealed himself behind the curtains of Tn
corridor.window and waited till the hous
4 was all quiet; then he entered my room an
r after searching in vain for the money, b
2 seized knife which lay on the table, an
h in fit of drunken rage and disappoin
ment, resolved to cut my throat if did nc
4 give up my purse. Advancing to the be
!. where / was sound asleep, he lifted tn
I knife and made a slash at my throat wher
q to his horror, lac saw the White Lady VIII
A walks bending over me. Throwing dow
!. the knife he fed in terror, and mad
v his escape through window he foun
+ open. Ia moment it flashed upon me tha
|. your room was mistaken for mine, and IN
window, which left open, proved the mean
4 of escape for the villain, as it had alreai
% proved the means of escape for me. HOP
= the timely appearance of the White Lad
8 prevented any serious mischief"
n. a. - aas1 4. B..