The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-03

it with the words: Signature differs
"The draft had been returned in this
condition to Raven, who without hest
tation had pronounced it to be for
gerry. According to his story, which
was only too plausible, | alone could be
the criminal. The check was payable
to me; / had access to the drawer in
which he kept the book from which the
form had been torn; and the clumsy
signature had been written much as
might have written it.
"You can guess the sequel, doctor.
] was tried, and although / was very
ably defended by leading counsel, who
was personal friend of mine, was
convicted and sentenced to transporta-
ton. How shall describe to you the
agony of those days! In due course l
was sent out here with ship-load of
cut-throats and felons. In few years,
doubtless, / was nearly forgotten at
home, for my conviction killed my
father, and who else was there to re-
member me save Raven and Mary Bag
ster, whom he, to add to my wretched-
ness, soon afterward married?"
AT this point Sir James was seized
with spasmodic pains, brought on by
excitement, and / was obliged to tenn
porarily forbid his continuing the pain
full narrative. An hour or two later,
however, finding him calmer, / per-
mitted him to 90 on.
&C. served my time" he continued,
and then, having no friends in England,
/ decided to remain here. Like many
others, went to the diggings, and, un-
like most, | was fortunate. | invested
everything in land and stock; tried to
make myself publicly useful; gradually
obtained the confidence and respect of
my fellow-citizens, and two or three
years ago, as you know, received the
honor of knighthood. / can now say,
with truth, doctor, that there is no man
in Australia who would refuse 70 grasp
me by the hand because | was once a
convict"
elias your innocence never been
proved ?'' / asked.
"Never!n he returned. | might,
perhaps, have made a second endeavor
to prove it long ago: but / could not
bring myself to make her unhappy-un-
happier, that is, than he has made her.
AS have told you, she became Lady
Raven. You cannot expect me to be
able to tell you that the man who so
cruelty swore away my liberty made her
good husband. He Systematically i'll
treated her, and although she bore him
several children, and was, | have heard,
an exemplary wife until she was crushed
by his brutality, he behaved to her as
he would not have behaved to his dogs.
Do you know, doctor, that l preserve
my love for her still ? l have never
ceased to love her, although she believed
evil of me, and never sent me a single
word of sympathy; and l have left
everything have to her eldest son, who
by this time has sons of his own. But /
do not know whether or not she is dead.
l have, however, provided that, should
she be living, she is to have life inter-
serves it.; for sadly did she suffer, and
not unfrequently, l expect, did she
WANT
" And hep" l asked. What be-
came of Raven?'
"In time he deserted her, and
plunged into the lowest depths of
drunkenness and dissipation. He had
wasted his fortune; and not very long
ago / read that he had been picked up
in fit in the streets of Paris and had
died before his removal to the hospital"
" am shortly going to England, Sir
James," said, " and if / can be of any
use in discovering this poor lady's
whereabouts l shall be glad to do my
best.'
" You are going to England? l am
happy to hear it. You, then, can do
what feared would have to be done
for me by third party. / want you to
find Lady Raven and tell her what
have told you. Tell her that, although
we have been separated for more than
forty years, l still think of her; and /
die thinking of her, and that / forgive
her; and-yes, doctor, tell her, too, that
/ forgive him. Unjust forgive him. Yes,
do fully"
need not 90 on to describe the pain
full hours l spent at Sir James side
ere death released him from his suffer-
ings. Suffice it to say that he bore HIM
self, even in his moments of greatest
agony, with becoming resignation.
Until the last he was thoughtful for all
about him rather than for himself; and
when the long sleep at last closed his
weary eyes, l turned away, feeling
that Australia had lost man the mem
DRY of whom she might Justly cherish.
Two or three months afterward l re-
turned to England. Lady Raven, who
for some time had been in impover-
ished circumstances, had meanwhile
been discovered by my late patient
solicitors, and before l saw her she had
been appraised of the provisions of Sir
James Reilly's will.
l introduced myself to her as his
friend, and found her occupyinga pleas
ant but not very well furnished house in
one of the best squares in Bayswater
1t is all mystery" she said to me,
when she had first apologized for the
disorder of her temporary abode. g Poor
James! He was once very fond of me.
1t was many years ago. We should
have married, you know, but for an
unfortunate circumstance. Perhaps you
have heard of it?''
l was slightly annoyed at the tone in
which she spoke of her dead benefactor.
have heard of it, Lady Raven" L
returned, seriously.
But it did not spoil his success in
life," she continued, with slight laugh
and now at last he has made restitu-
ton. Well, it is only what we deserve!
He robbed my late husband, you know;
and it is fitting that we should be his
heirs-is it not?"