The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-02-23
Her Punishment.

hours since l sent for him.
"It is only just thirty minutes by the
clock, dear uncle, since John started
to fetch him.
The sick man groaned, and moved
uneasily upon his pillow. Perfect 81
lence reigned as the ormolu clock tick
ed away fifteen minutes more within
that darkened, richly furnished apart
ment where old Martin Dillon lay, strick-
en- down with his last sickness. The
furniture was of the costliest, the carpet
a thick pile of velvet moss. The win
dows were darkened by the heavy Grim
son brocade curtains, drawn closely to-
gether. The old mans niece sat by
one window, her white face bedded in
the rich curtains, which she had pushed
aside just enough to enable her to see
out, her brain busy with the projected
visit ofheruncle's lawyer. She wonder
ed if it portended evil to her-if her un-
Gle thought to revoke former will
which she knew was all in her favor
Had his heart softened toward her
cousin Jessie, who had married two years
before and gone south with her husband,
heartlessly deserving him in his old age,
as the old man peevishly declared1
And although sweet Jessie Carleton had
been brought up as his daughter, and
with expectations of becoming his
heiress, the old man had, in his unjust
anger, made a will leaving all to her
cousin, Lola Desmond, who had only
been with him few months. Lola felt
slightly consoled for losing the man
she loved, who had preferred Jessie,
when she learned that her uncle's vast
wealth was to be hers. What if this
too were going to be lost to her now?
Her face grew dark at the thought
Her meditations were interrupted by
tap at the door, and rising she admitted
a little, wien faced man, sharp and
shrewd, who had been her uncle's law
yer for years.
The sick mans face frightened a,
Biggs came to the bedside with soft,
cat-like tread, and bent over him.
His eyes roved toward his niece.
stLola, you may go, now, and leave
us alone I have important business
with Biggs. He will call you as he
goes down." said the old man, feebly.
Lola arose and left the room. She
went down stairs, but Immediately tip
toed back again, and stopped, in a
attitude, at the door of the
She could hear very little distinctly,
but that was enough to cause her to
clench her hands in anger and despair,
and she crept away, fearing she should
be discovered, and feeling that she had
heard all she cared to hear, when her
uncle told the lawyer he wanted to
change his will.
Like Gagged tigress, Lola swept up
and down her room. Why, oh, why
were some to have everything, and
others nothing? Jessie had robbed her
of her lover, and now she would have
her uncle's wealth, while she must 60
forth again to earn her own bread. Bit
terly at that moment she hated her
absent cousin; she almost felt there
was murder in her heart toward her,
All, if she might but have that courage,
everything would yet be hers, perhaps
even the love of Clarence; and then
the girl grew cold, and shuddered, at
her own dark thoughts.
go Heaven!" she murmured. els
my brain turning, that I can think of
such terrible things?"
Then again grew strong upon her
desire to hear of what those two were
talking, and stealing back she listened
at the key-hole.
''Biggs," she heard the old man say,
''put the will under my head between
the mattress and bed. 1t will be as
safe there as anywhere"
Lola heard this, and knew that Biggs
was about to depart, SO tip-toed back
again.
A moment later she heard him call.
''Miss Desmond! Miss Desmond !" and
she fastened to her uncle's side.
"This business has tired me, Lola"
ne said feebly. 81 feel as if I could
drop asleep very easily. Sit yonder,
child, and remain with me. Don't
cave me as she did. You have been
good girl to me the past two years"
And he had rewarded her by turning
Ter penniless upon the world again,
hought Lola, bitterly, as she glided to
| chair by one of the windows and
,azed out upon the chill March weather,
With gusts of wind and fitful dashes of
ain against the window pane. How
:old and dreary and desolate everything
vas, thought Lola, quite in keeping
With her own sad thoughts.
A fire had been burning upon the
broad hearth, and it was getting low.
Lola arose to replenish it, when she
aw that her uncle was asleep-with the
,aper that robbed her of his wealth un-
Ter his pillow.
"What am I thinking about?" she
nuttered, turning to the fire; but she
lesitated and turned back again then
topped forward, then, closing her lips
ogether with rest, determined look,
moved steathily toward the bed, thrust
Ter hand beneath the mattress, clutch
ID the paper and drew it forth. She
must not stop moment, no, not long
nough to examine it, for fear she
night lack courage or opportunity to
AIRY out her purpose. Steadily she
walked to the fire, threw the paper up
IN the Goals and saw it shrivel into
shes.
The deed was done, and she had
'nly to await the issue, she thought,
Ter conscience already at work, as she
ook her seat again by the window
The could only trust to the old man
linking the will was safe 11ntil-until