The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-03-03

That remark about payment had en-.
tered a very threadbare coat, and had
struck right home.
"But it's too mean, all the same, pay
or no pay" | growled, 'to cut that girl
off that way without cent. But it's
the old story, and cant help it, and |
sank back with philosophical smile on
my face.
Then-just in sport, in fit of malig.
nant satisfactiou-I took ~ second
sheet of legal cap, and scribbled there
upon. with formal opening and close
that this said Robert +. Cecil gave all
his property to his dearly beloved daugh-
ter, Mabel Cecil,and left the lady of the
veil where the law found her
'But such is the history of the world" "
concluded, solemnly, sever such aud
what "a gulf, deep, impossible, between
what ought to be and what is. How |
should like to bridge it over" And
buttoned up my coat, and walking to the
window imagined | could see through
the darkness the coming of the carriage
of Madame Cecil
The time dragged slowly,very slowly,
and never felt more genuine relief than
in hearing heavy wheels grinding
through the mud and slush, and a knock
ing at the door to notify me the carriage
was ready.
sprang into the carriage and away
we dashed through such darkness that |
could not for the life of me discover TO
what portion of the town we were being
driven. But in very short time we
came to a sudden halt, and the carriage
door opened. The coachman conducted
me up the brown stone steps, where the
open door was already awaiting me, and
l stepped into the dimly lighted hall.
As / did so, a lady whose figure and
manners told me was Madame Cecil,
glided from side room, and with a lit
tie plaintive smile bade me follow her
at once. But in that instant / had read
her face and perhaps her character.
She might have been thirty-fvc, only
she didn't look it, with those brilliant
black eyes, pcarly teeth and elegant
manners but behind all these | read
the positive force that turned to good
may save a country, but given over to
evil would sacrifice everything to sue
cess.
Noiselessly she glided over the heavy
carpets, and as silently | followed her.
She passed into the library, and from
;hence-as l instinctively felt-into the
chamber of death; even elegant furni-
ture and costly paintings and embroider-
ed coverlets are not to overawe our
destiny
"Mr. Cecil, the lawyer has come,
she softly said as she stopped over the
cmaciated face of the silver haired man.
"What! who? as he started from a
seeming stupor, and looked wonderingly at
me from his sunken eyes.
"He will read it to you now, Mr.. G.,
Gil, adding in low tone, she is sinking
rapidly; | fear you must hasten"
felt that | must. | seated myself
at his bedside, and as | did so | saw his
lips trembe, and believe they were
breathing a name | imagined it was
'Mabel."
Our boldest moves are born upon the
spur of the moment.
"Mrs. Cecil may l trouble you for a
glass of xater?" asked, as l took out
the will she had drawn.
"Quick, sir, quick !" said /, as | noticed
his sunkcn eyes watching her Fastening
footsteps, "Do you want your daughter
to have all your property save what the
law gives your wife,"
He started back from me as if he
could not trust his own senses, or was
doubling whether to put confidence in
me but he seemed to feel the necessity
of doing so, and suddenly the dull eyes
frightened with a momentary CLEAN of
relief and Joy, as he clearly answered:
"Ies, yes and God bless you"
And |, too, was thanking heaven for
the whim :hat had led me to write two
wills so very like in strength and ap-
pearance, and it was only the work of Il
moment to make the exchange and just
in time
With Mrs. Cecil came the house keep
cr and man servant, and in their pres
ence the dying man tremblingly signed
his name to the second will and they
witnessed it.
They had gone and started to 90,
when the old man pressed my hand and
! saw the tears gathering in his eyes
As | turned to 90 l nvoluntarily felt
that the black eyes of Madame Cecil
had witnessed all and suspected every
thing
Il should like to see that will" she
said firmly, in low voice
"Some other time. He's dying Mrs
Cecil"
$50 much the greater reason, sir |!
Show il TO me-"
looked at her one instant calmly and
suggestively in the face and then started
for the door.
stop she cried, and a tiny mounted
revolver cleaned in her hand.
"My God Mrs. Cecil, you have killed
him I! He has died at your hands {" |
cried as | heard a strange sound behind
me, and ] would have turned if all the
pistols in the universe had been pointed
at me.
The old mans arm had been lifted as
in prayer, but now sank withered upon
the pillow, whilst his eyes stared at us in
the rigidity of death. He had died
lnstinctively Madame Cecil seemed to
recognize that it was all over, and lower,
ing the weapon, ,hissed at me between her
pearly teeth;
you've played me false-go go! or
! will shoot YOU
And Went, gladly enough from the
brown stone front, with its treachcry, its
wickedness and avarice, into the dark
night and muddy streets. But had
carried out the wishes of the poor dra-
gooned husband and Mabel received her
own. AS soon as her share of the estate
could be obtained the wretched woman
disappeared from the neighborhood, and
it was understood had sailed for Aus