Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-25

luutIIupbbu uIm
81 am not; l have wealth enough, and
covet only happiness. I shall marry Rob
ert Dene, the man love-"
His face was white as death.
"You shall not marry himH' he said with
a ueep bitter oath. s'Never, while livel
swear it!'
a madman, leaving me shocked, frightened,
perplexed, and with strange sad cloud
upon my happiness.
I said.nothing about it to Robert, how
ever. His relations with his employer con-
tinued pleasant, as usual; and did not feel
justified in disturbing them. I felt sur
prised when he told me that Mr.. Redfern
had himself congratulated him, and made
some slight but graceful alluslon to the
disappointment to himself; bnt concluded
to keep silence still. What was the use of
creating ill-will between them?
Probably" I thought, ''Mr. Redfern
regrets his Incorporate warmth and foolish
words, and takes this tnethod to let me
know of it,
And thought it very good method too
infinitely pleasanter than personal apol-
ogy.
So the time flew swiftly by, and had
begun the preparations for our marriage,
and our enga cement was understood every
where, when the storm which instinct had
warned me of, from the moment in which
had heard that bitter threatening oath,
burst suddenly,
1t was evening, and Robert and were
sitting together, talking such sweet nom
sense as lovers will. We we're alone, save
for an aunt who res ided with me, and who
had fallen asleep in her easy-chair, when
suddenly and unceremon ;ously the door was
flung open " de, and hree men entered.
Two of them were officers. The indig-
nation which their rude entrance caused,
gave place to sickening fear when l saw
the tbird--George Redfernl
He fixed his hollow, burning eyes upon
me. Even in that moment of excitement
! was sensible of shocked surprise at the
strange change in him since last we met.
sMeD, do your duty" he said briefly.
Next minute Robert was under arrest.
"I don't know what I said or did in the
first horror of it. remember clinging
around Roberts neck, and being pulled
away--by aunty, I think-and some one
asking, What's the charge against him?''
Then came the stern answer from George
Redfern's lips: ''Robberyp'
With that word my senses came back to
me. tore myself from antics arms and
flew to my lovers side.
sIt's a lier' I cried, looking straight in
to Redfern's face. "He is inuocentp
Robert turned grateful troubled eyes upon
me.
eGod bless you, my true loveP' he mur-
INJURED sadly.
And then Redferr S stern low voice broke
in again:
ssMen, search himP'
I saw it done. / saw them draw forth a
roll of notes-ten-of twenty-five pounds
each, and forming larger sum than Rob-
ert could have come by rightly. / heard
Redfern identify them as his own, and de-
clare that none but Robert had access to
the safe or vault. And then / heard Rob-
ert say, with moan of agony:
ssOh, God! My mother!''
l understood it all. I stepped up to
George Redfern, and looked into his face.
sCome with me into another room,"
said. IL will make a bargain with you.
Let your men remain with their prisoner
here And he obeyed me.
When we were alone, said passion
ately:
"NIr. Redfern, you are villainl You
have plotted to separate me from the man
I love, and blast his reputation. You shall
fail in both. You know that he is inno-
cent
He answered quietly:
Il am not his judge, Miss Craven. He
himself will tell you that placed those
notes in the safe in his presence, and that
no one has since had access to it but him.
self. An hour ago I missed them. You
saw where they were found. Let the Law
decide the rest
l wrung my hands in agony.
''The lawp' cried. "Man, 40 you not
know he has mother whom such charge
will kill? Will you be murderer
He caught my hand.
"No," he said hoarsely. 'sIt is you
not l. You murder two of US, his mother
when she learns the story Of his guil..
from which you could save her-and me-
you murder me!-for the hour that sees
you marry him sees me corpse"
l snatched my hand away.
81 will marry him." I cried, "if the
whole world calls him guiltyp'
He answered quietly:
"Apd kill his mother?"
What could do? Turn as 1 would. he
brought me back to that at last,
The sons Imprisonment on shameful
charge, and probable condemnation-fo,