Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-09

dent Of success after the death Of Mr.
Raymond. He felt that one powerful
influence against him had been. re-
moved. His elation. however, LASTED
only brief time. Bn. q few months
passed before Edith went with her in.
valid mother 10 visit some relatives in
u distant city. There she met Cap
tain Belknap; and it is to be supposed
fell in love with him. At all events,
shs became very happy at the prospect
OF being his wife-or would have been
fhaa it not been for the terrible threats
fof Richard oakley, whose rage knew
suu=b0unds xhsa she. at len 9Th returned
honse aseeapasis y. her lover. -
He made no secret of his resentment,
and openly declared his determination
to be revenged. He repeatedly vowed
that Edith should be his bride, or the
bride of Death. This was considered,
however, as mere meaningless raying
by every one except Edith. 1t filled
her with alarm. Still, she felt that
there wac no help for. it. She wosld
| rather die thousand times than be
the wife Of Richard Oakley. Yet, she
feared more for the safety of Harry
than for herself; though they were
both in danger of harm at Richard g
hands. she was very sure.- For this
reason she insisted on deferring their
marriage till Harry should return
from the voyage he was about to
undertake TO India. 1t would give
Richards anger space to cool; and,
mayhap,. before two years should
elapse-the time Harry expected to
be absent-he would become recon-
ciled to his fate. At all events, she
wonld be safer during their enforced
separation unmarried and her lover
would be for time beyond the reach
of his foe.
She would gladly have acoompa-
MED Harry upon his voyage as his
wife, had it not been for her mother,
who clung to her with all the help.
lessness of child. She could not
leave her; and so there seemed moth.
ing left her to do but wait, and hope
that time would bring about changes
favorable 10 nei happIu-ss.
Not an easy thing for ore SO young,
this waiting for the possible coming of
events that she most anxiously desired,
but which seemed at best too uncer-
tain 10 merit the least reliance. Yet,
when Edith felt convinced what course
was best for her, she seldom hesitated
to pursue it, no matter how hard it
might be. She was both brave and
strong.
Painful as it was TO part from Harry,
she experienced sense of relief when
she saw the ship that was TO bear him
from her, perhaps forever. slowly re-
cede from the wharf. He was safe
now from Richard Oakley vengeance,
at least.
So imminent had she deemed his
peril from this source, that the danger
to be encountered from the elements
seemed trifling IN comparison.
Before bis departure Harry had
given her a ring. a curious, antique
gem, which had been presented to his
father by an eastern monarch, whose
life he had been instrumental in saw
ing. 1t was large onyx, with a
heavy gold setting. upon which were
engraved various odd characters and
symbols. The stone itself contained
an exquisite intaglio of crouching
lion, in the head Of which was skill
fully concealed tiny spring. A very
slight pressure upon this particular
point caused 4 needle-like blade OF
steel 10 shoot forth from beneath the
onyx; and this was said to be imbued
with a poison so actively and subtly
powerful as to cause almost instant
death when introduced into the human
system through slight puncture OF
the skin.
Harry Belknap, however, had not
the slightest faith in the traditionary
virtue OF this seemingly Insignificant
weapon. He valued the jewel chiefly
on account of its antiquity. and its
being associated with the memory oi
his deceased father. The hidden
properties OF the steel had never been
tested that he knew of; so he laugh.
ingly told Edith that when she found
a fit sublect she had better try its
power.
Soon after Captain Belknap sailed
for India, Richard Oakley also iisap.
pesred. Where he had gone nobody
knew. Ia fact, he had no friend who
cared to keep trace of him except hi:
uncle; and even he, had he told the
truth, would have said that he wa:
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