Daily Republican., 1885-04-10
MY HERITAGE.
ny EVELYN NALCC1M.

IL bhi Az -
did not like Maxton Hall nor its
master-there was something in Ed
ward VidaFs grim, still face and shift
ing eyes which spoke Of an uneasy con.
science, q secret guarded. Yet l deter
mined to remain for why should ],
secretary to this wealthy recluse, allow
considerations Of this Kind to stand in
my way of making a living, and in an
enjoyable, easy way, too /; for it was
pleasant to search through the time.
yellowed volumes in the wide library
for the notes and references necessary
for the great book he was writing, and
1t was easy because had my afternoons
and evenings at my entire disposal-the
use of a good horse, a gun, and unre-
strained admittance TO tho library, with
It's inexhaustibie treasures.
1t was three o'clock In the afternoon.
and the sunshine of q. beautiful April
day atreamed in through the open win.
dow. ! sat alone before my desk doing
nothing. Mr.. Vidal had just left me,
and was free for the rest Of the day.
I could not take my thoughts from the
man an air of mystery enshrouded
him the blight of sin, the wear of
remorse, together with the mark which
his sixty odd ears had left, were visi-
BILE on his cmanciated, rugged face.
What was his secret l would have
given much to know. But l confessed
there WAS not the slightest probability
Of ever learning 1t, for my master
was my master, and nothing more
= communicative, SphiDA'like
Th:re vas no danger he would ever be-
tray himself by an impulsive conf
denCe.
AS sat thus in an idle mood, musiug
in this way, heard strange sound,
the long drawn, tremulous cord of a
violin. Ii seemed to como from a long
distance, ard trenblc1 on the silence
| like D happy sigh What did 1t mean
No visitor ever came to Maxton Hail.,
sat spell-bound until 1t died away, and
| then opened the door leading iuto the
passage hey ond, where face TO face
met Mr.. Vidal. He passed on without
| addressing me, but In the one glance he
gave, read an anxious, troubled in
| quiry, almost tragic.
Was no fearful that had heard ?
Was this connected in some way with
| the secret which he carried in his
heart Through the weeks that fol.
| lowed 1 waited to hear that strange,
sweet sound again, but in vain.
Edward Vidal was becoming distract
and looked fearfully i'll. Sometimes ne
| would press his hand covulsively to
his heart as il to still its pain, and once
| OF twice IL seemed that he was going To
speak of something that troubled him,
but Immediately his face would resume
It's impassive mask, and the usual
| routine between us was resumed
Only few Of the many rooms al
| Maxton Hall were in daily use, and
| these were all on the western side of the
| house and belonged to later date thar
the eastern wing.
Perhaps 1t was fancy for themyster.oui
| which drew me to this deser ted portion
| Of the old house during fierce thun
der. storm one sultry July night. Some
| thing impelled me to visit it, and thu
crashing thunder, as i made my wa,
through tho unlit passages. passing III.
hands over walls Of cold, heavy stone
was fitting accompaniment for tn
gloomy place.
reached spiral tnrret stair at last
and here paused for breath; through ;
dusty oriel window l saw the Lightning
flash upon the black, troubled water
If the Chesapeake Bay, and at the Sam
moment l heard again that long
tremulous violin note for which l ha'
list, ned in vain for months ruflle tn
stiffness.
This time 1t was so faint, so sweet
80 far off, that faucied it was a tricl
of my imagination. l waited, ant
after on interval there followed high
er note of stronger tension.
was not dreaming, then ? Some
where In this storied old homestead
built almost century ngo. was ther
hidden some living soul Or was thi
a upernatura, echo OF o crime commit
ted In the past
did not believe in the spiritual, and
nothing daunted, though my heart wa
! beating fast and evenly, l cor
menced to ascend the turret stair
The higher 1 went the palmer the fair
music became, until at last l recoI
nized tho air as one Of Schumann's.
s Reaching the top, looked around {
q circular, solid stone wall.
r found on close examination an ire
b door almost at the extremity of IL
! further side, and came to the concll
sion that the center Of the spacious tn
ret was circular room, and this Wi
the only means of ingress to it. TIL
IS belief was confirmed by the fact tn
from behind this dense wall came Il
i. faint, sweet music which bad guild,
v me to the spot.
It While stood there wondering, Il
door opened, and Ind only time
p draw back iutO a shadowy corner befo
v Edward Vidal buried past me al
h down the stairs. could not see b
face. but guessed by his slow, unsteat
steaps and the cropping Of his ham
!, how agitated he wac.
~ Whatever his secret was, this roo
/. contained it, and l was on the brink
- discovering 1t. Yet at that moment
ID turned to retrace my steps. Why shou
= / seek to know this sorrow throui
'' which Ed ard Vidal suffered keent
= remoree every day he lived ? 1t was
s secret, well guarded, indeed, and
C. would leave 1t buried.
r. But my newly arrived ut determiI
= ton was shattered as the music col
A menced again, this time with
st accompaniment of woman's 10
u. sweet voice, stealing like soothi
= whisper through the noise of the stor
D. drew near and looked into the roo
10 the door of which Mr.. Vidal in
haste had left open.
,Tl In the dim light could see q '
ct, mans form. Even at the first glanc
; cav that she was young, and the b
m falling unbound down her back v
M. brightly golden.
/ She stood at the window, the flas'
- of lightning playing we!rdly arou
p her black.robsd figure, and her b
glancing over the violin like a tn
bswitched 1 stood fascinated, reea
= Ing her for long time ; but afraid I
n she might espy me or Mr.. Vidal retu
a az length withdrew, and, full Of "
~ dering doubts and fears, made
WI | NAV again tn the Weatern side OF