The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-05-25

On this August morning she was In
her pretty boudoir aione-alone, for Sir
Marc had gone in search OF something to
p,easc her. He lived only to make her
happy. She stood in the midst OF
srnJrcd beautiful things. Lady Brandon
had determined TO present her VIII: i,er
;rouS.cdU, and large chest had arrived
that morning from Paris. Veronica
looked Mt her magnificent gift. 1t did
not strike her as il would have done at
another time. She could think only of
her happiness and her love. She was
smiling to herself. wondering whether
girl WAS ever 40 blessed. 50 happy. when
someone raped gently at her DOOR She
looked up in surprise when her maid,
Clara Morton. entered the ROOM
~ want to speak to you. Miss di Gym
ha, ii you can syare time" she said.
Veronica :LaJe some courteous answer.
and felt even more surprised when the
cir. closed the door and iasi-neI the
lock. The .arge .ong window that ed 10
the terrace was Open-neither OF them
thought OF it.
why do you do that, Norton"
asked Veronica
because l have that to say to you
which must be said without inierrup-
ton"
Veronica looked up with naughty dis
pleasure.
"Iou behave very strangely" she
said; II do not like it." She looked
fixed!y at the girl. whose f.sse was not
pleasant 10 see-there VA. .:vId light
IN her eyes, and air of cr;n-ins, yet of
defiance, IN her wao!e manner.
"You nrust listen to me. Miss di Gym
tha," she said. Il hold a secret OF y ours,
aId 1 must be paid Tor II
"Iou can have no secret of mine"
returned Veronica.
But 1 have" said the girl. "Listen
to me. / am engaged TO marry John
Paulding. who once lived E-,= as IIea,:
groom We have been engaged 10 be
married for eight years, and fortune has
never once smiled on us lie saved
three hundred pounds and put II INTO
bank. The bank broke. ani tr Was
eft penni,ess- 1 saved s:xIy pounds.
and invested il in a bI..: ~ society,
which became bankrupt. Fortune has
never once smiled on us unit. now. Now
John PauidIng las an o:ler from 4 :a-:.er
IN a cstra.:a. II lie can 70 o1t there.
and take five hundred pounds with him.
We sha.. maze our fortune"
al do not see what this has to do with
me-" interposed Veronica.
II 90. Miss di Cynthia. hold secret
of yours, anu want Eve hunGied pounds
as the price OF my E.ence."
"lou are taking nonsense. Morton
i can only imagine that you have lost
your senses."
you will find. on the Contrary. Miss
di Cynt:.a. that was never more sens
ible in my life. Let me tea you what 1
have TO say"
Veronica looked at her In the ex-
element OF t,e interview she had risen
and confronted her.
"Come 10 the point at once. please"
said Veronica. What have YOU 10
say p"
The gir. looked uneasily at her mis-
tress; tie co.or came and went in her
face; her eyes dropped. Raising her
head, she said suddenly:
alt is for Johns sake-I would do any
thing for John"
Veronica gave a sigh of resignation.
What this strange scene meant she could
not tell. but 4 would end at some time
no doubt. Morton heard the sigh.
"lou are impatient, miss" said she.
81 am coming 10 the matter.
do not Ike 10 speak OF it TO you, YOU
have been a kind mistress to me. But it
is for Johns sake-I would do anything
Cor him."
"Wiil you be kind enough Just to come
to the point ?" said Veronica
II will" answered Clara Morton.
Yet Veronica saw that she had TO sum-
mon all her courage, TO make Il most
desperate effort. She looked up at her.
"You remember Sir Jaspers death,
Miss d; Cynthia? You remember the day
after it? Though It was a warm June
day, you would have fire in your
ROOM"
Veronica started her face grew white,
low cry came from her lips.
"Go on" she said to the girl, who had
paused abruptly when she saw the
change in her MISTRESS face.
'That very day, miss. thought there
was something wrong" she said. "Why
should you want fire when the June
sun was shining SO warmly? l said to
myself that you had something TO burn"
Another low cry came from Veronica
Morton continued:
'l-you viii be very angry with me.
Miss iii Cyntha-I watsh-c YOU; / knelr
down and looked through the key-ao.e.
The kew was IN the lock, so that could
not see much, but i saw distinctly Il rol!
OF parchment in your han Is, and / saw
you put It on the fire, 1 saw it begin TO
burn, and was wild TO krow w:.at il
was. AL ut once / had ar idea i..sr YOU
were c7sircv'us something that ts.ons ii
TO Sir Jasper, and was determined to
know"
She paused, while the beautiful face
gazing into hers U.w deadly white
IL invented az excuse to ge, you from
the room. Miss di Cynthia" she con-
tinued. Il told you thai Lady brandon
had not answered knock at her door
II was simply an excuse TO get you from
the ROOM Then / took from the fire the
charred remains of the parchment
say quite distinctly the words Last vii,
and testament of Sir Jasper Brand-n,
:ras=.rnt-l took it away with me; and
now. Miss iii Cynthia 1 accuse YOU OF
having burned Sir Jasper's will. You
cannot deny tt have the proofs"
Veronica stool Ike one turned 10 stone.