Daily Republican., 1885-04-10


almost out, and through the long window.
left heedlessly open, the rain was fallip ?
In slanting line. At his desk, with
both hands clasped upon book and his
head bowed upon them, sat Edward
Vidal. At first fancied he was sleeo.
ing, and cautiously stepping across the
room l closed the window, bnt as /
turned 10 leave the room something In
his attitude, the inert form, the rigid
HANDS, made me spring quickly TO his
side.
The touch of my hand to his made my
blood run cold. drew up hiS head
and found his eyes vide open am. Guiii,
the jaw dropped. Even before search.
Tor his heart and found 1t still anipulse
i"cca, l knew that he was dead
| What q strange, uuenviable, depress.
ing position In this gloomy, dreadful
old house, with no one nigh but few
servants. with dead man beside me,
and an imprisoned woman, perhaps q
maniac for aught knew.
When the funeral Was over-a quiet
one 1t was too, for the lawyer and my.
self were the only mourners-I was
sitting alone in the library. mentally
clrving out my future, when the door
opened and the lawyer entered.
"Mr. Nicoll," he said, in his solemn
way, have surprising news for you.
Your late master leaves only one rela.
tive in all the world. He was q rich
man, and by the terms of this will,
which shall pressed to read to You, he
bequeaths his entire fortune TO you on
two conditions"
"To me !" gasped, staring with all
my might. Had the weird influence OF
Maxton Hall affected tho lawyers
brain or was dreaming?
Zone is that you will finish the book
upon which you have 80 efficiently help
ed him the other that you undertake a
charge which he leaves you and which
this letter explains"
He left the room, and sat alone with
the letter IN my hand. AT last open.
cd 1t, knowing that the mystery of Ed.
ward lVidal's life would be laid bare to
me'by its story.
When you road this" it began,
/" shall be dead and you will have
heard my will. Ify you shrink from the
task impose on you, renoupce IT You
must kesp your charge well or not at
all. Remember that II you do not /
shall know 1. in my grave, and II
spirits can return shall come and re-
mind you of it.
"Let Mary, my old, faithful, con.
idential servant, conduc: you to the
east wing Of the house, and up the tur-
ret stairs to an unsupported chamber
there. The living reminder Of my crime
yOu will find in that roon-my grand
daughter, as fair as an angel, but with
'leyes closed and sightless forever.
was a man of violent passions
once, so violent that at times It seemed
as II devils held my soul in tlrall, hui
loved my only son with love b.
yOnd description-it was the one
softening feeling of my intense nature
"When this son, on whom 1 had
4 wasted my love and caro-, who was the
central figure in all my bright dreams
cheated me, returned my years of long
affection with the ingratitnds that Ii
sharper than serpent's TOOTH was II
any wonder that cursed him? Year,
after his fall and disgrace, when lie ap
peared 20 me only as he did to the res,
Of the world-a felon, an outcast-ht
left me the heritage of his marriage
with some unknown woman, child, 8
little girl. In the light of these calmer
later years think l was almost insan.
at that time. One look at my grand
daughter always reused me to a pitcl
Of frenzy which / t-emb!e even to re
call she bad her father dreamy, darl
eyes. the eyes had oncs loved, and sh,
used to watch in such a curious, won
dering way, that in my diseased braii
| grew to fancy her some imp of dark
ness which he had sent to torture ne.
Unjust spare you description and So.
that in one never.to be- forgotten mo
ment of madness blinded her! Thinl
Of it--think of ii! Is i.any wonder tina
long for death? Can any future stat
be worse than tho hourly unavailini
remorse apd anguish of my life sine
that time? No my curse ia create
than can bear. Nothing that repen
tance could do to expiate my sin hav
| overlooked. Narah-fur SO, in IN
bitter mood, 1 called her-h9s ha
every care and luxury, no wish ha
. been left unRratitied; she is fnel
educated and lives in an atmospher
made fragrant by flowers and dream
!, with M usic. But she had to be out c
my sight; could not bear to see he
in my daily life, and it is some mioI
, to know that in her turrst chamber
where the breezts Tlay through ii
: many windows, she is nearer heave
than l.
"This is the legacy, Durant Nicol
WnlCnl leave you , LnlS Ialr young cfca
i ture the victim OF my frenzy, In lie
pitiful affliction. Keep well the charge
or keep 1t not at all. In case of you
, refusal, other provision has been made
( but you are my first choice. Will 20
do 1t In all faitLfulness p"
: laid down the letter. The sad, +,
morseful spirit of Edward Vidal seem
ed to hover above me waiting for IN
!, promise and my heat was heavy wit
Q sorrow for the young life which his 81
y had robbed OF light.
ii 81 will be true" I said aloud. :"
viii be worthy Of your trust"
J., My frst act as Marah's guardia
IS was to take her from the turret cham
Der and give her the unrestained use {
the gardens used gentle persuasio
" in making her drive out with the Of
Z servant who had cared fer Ier fc
lmany years. At last ! grew TO Low
II the fair, sweet girl-perhaps I love
her more In her sad state than If III
N eyes could have met mino in love
le own rapture, and I married her yes
u after came into my heritage.
r She il the dearest part of it, and 81
as has learned to love me with all b.
Is heart. am her guido, and the sacre'
al ness of Edward Vidals charge Is ev'
ne in my mind.
Wary UuuDnrsanf NOfica