The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-12-08
EBENSBURG PA. FRIDAY, DECEMBER g. 1882

knew when be engaged Major that price
| was set upon his head. He let the yo nth
know nothing Of this, however. until be had
been some time employed ut Cor Hail. and
then by inuendo rather than by direct accu-
sation he let him know that his former career
| was no secret. At the same time however
be was careful to let the young man see that
he was friendly to him nd DESTROYS Of doing
all he could to befriend him
Major he said to him one day, '.I am
comparatively poor man. In few months
all this estate, this house and all The horses
and carriages, and everything, 10 fact will
pass into the hands Of my nephew. II it
were otherwise, II were to retain control
here. would put you a. chief gardener, and
you would have that bea utIful cottage by the
river as q residence. and Se able TO marry
some pretty. amiable country lass and settle
down in comfort for life. But, alas It ie
out of my power to do this"
Shortly after this Hugh brosohed the sub
ject again, and spoke in great bitterness.
"Nut only" he said. twill my nephew
take all this splendid property which I have
so long controlled IS my own, but he will
marry the girl whom 1 have long secretly
loved, and turn me out Of DOORS
! The same day he met the groom in the
shrubbery and renewed the conversation.
major" he said, "You are an outlaw
1 II you are caught by the officers Of Justice
you will be hanged. When my nephew
comes into possession here. no doubt you
will be discharged and again thrown on the
world, perhaps to wander back 20 your old
! haunts, to be captured and hanged. II you
stay here you might reform aud become a
good man, . kind husband and q loving
father"
When Hugh saw that his utterances had
produced the effect desired, he spoke out.
and proposed to Major an infamous scheme.
On the evening Of October I'd, ten days be-
fore the time fixed for Arthur's wedding,
the nncle said to his nephew:
ARTHUR, you have never explored the Sc
cret passage from the hall to the chapel. and
the other secret way from the bridge 70 the
chapel. Your ancestors remained true to
the Catholic faith after It was prescribed.
| but they had TO worship in secret and by the
underground passage visItad the chapel
/ which, though In reality q mausoleuTn was
/ fitted up goTgeously within with an altar
and all that was necessary for the Offering
| OF Mass. Their retainers also remained true
| to the old church, and were accustomed to
attend Mass in the chapel by night, by enter
| ing the bridge tower by q concealed door
and making their way by the secret way to
the chapel These subterranean passages
are still in existence, and if you like to ex-
/ plore them we will do SO to- night"
! Arthur expressed his wish to do so, and as
the passage was damp and dirty, his uncle
/ suggested that he put on a suit OF the
| groom's. remarking that they were inst OF .
size. The suit was brought and donned,
| and the groom was directed to attend Hugh
and his nephew on the exploration. Pro-
curing lamps, they passed through the door
/ concealed behind . vino bin In the cellar,
and entered the passage. In due time they
reached the chapel, and after viewing they
went on their way 70 s stone trapdoor in the
rear Of what was once the altar, along the un-
der9round way to the bridge. Reaching a
strong osken door bound with iron, Hugh
said
"This door was put up by your namesak-.
who was the first to forsake the old faith. 1
have the key and will open It IL you wish"
Arthur said that he was anxious to know
all that he could about the place. The door
was accordingly opened, the key turning
with wonderful ease, as Arthur remarked,
being ignorant, OF course, that his uncle bad
previously visited the spot and prepared for
all that was to follow. As they entered the
gloomy place Hugh directed Major to put
down the light which be was carrying, aud
offered a flask Of wine to Arthur, saying
that drop would prevent a chill. No
sooner had Arthur drank than Hugh seized
the nephew from behind and drew back his
arms At the same moment Major slipped
a pair OF handouts over the youths wrists
There was a struggle and an outcry, but
Hugh and Major grasped him tightly and
smothered his Outcries with kerchief. In
q moment the drueged wine which he had
drank had It's effect, and Arthur was help
less. Then they chained him to the wall,
removed his handouts, and left him. As
Hugh and Major retired the door was closed
and locked. On reaching the hall they quit
ted the cellar as they reached it, namely, by
an outside door opening in the basement OF
the edince, little to the rear Of the library.
Then they entered the library by the win
dows, which opened in French style on the
terrace. Thus their visit to the under
ground passage was made secretly, and
none of the dOmestics knew Of it. Once iu-
side the library, Hugh said
Now, Major. it will be my duty to feed
| the young man for some time, and with that
view l shall heDceforth have my meals
served here, and will always take care to lay
by sufficient to supply the youths wants
But there is something else for you to do, as
you may remember"
II am now" said the groom. ITO personate
Arthur for q timer"
That's it" was the reply land the first
thing is to array yourself in this suit, which
he removed when he donned yours"
Thereupon the groom dressed himself In
Arthur's clothes and arranged his hair in the
fashion in which Arthur usually wore his
| Then putting on one Of Arthur's hats and
taking a cane, he initiated Arthur's walk
and tone of voice, saying;
my dear uncle, l hope see you we'll"
! The dear uncle laughed, and exclaimed,
Excellent - Now" said Hugh, ''I am
| going to summon the butler. Sit there, side
ways to the light, reading. aud answer me
when address you as though absorbed in
your book"
The butler was summoned. and on enter
| ing the library saw, as he supposed, the
| young Master of Cor seated 1T table read.
ing. Having ordered supper and wine,
Hugh said, a. the butler was about to quit
the room
"By the way, Jackson, my nephew is GO
J ing to walk over by Scour (the residence Of