Wichita eagle., 1888-12-16

yearly beloved daughter, Mabel Cecil, and
| left the lady of the veil where the law found
her.
"But such is the history Of the worldr"
concluded, solemnly, lever such; and what
gulf, deep, impossible. between what ought
| to be and what isl How should like to
bridge it overt" And buttoued up my coat,
| and walking to the window, imagined
could see through the darkness the coming Of
the carriage OF Madam Cecil.
The time dragged slowly, very slowly, and
never felt more genuine relief than in hear
ing heavy wheels grinding through the mud
and slush, and knocking at the door to no
ttfy me the carriage was ready.
sprang into the carriage, and away we
dashed through such darkness that | could
not for the life Of me discover to whatpor-
ton of the town we were being driven. But
in a very short time we came to a sudden
halt, and the carriage door opened. The
coachman conducted me up the brown stone
steps, where the open door was already
awaiting me- and | stepped into the dimly
lighted hall.
AS did so lady, whose figure and man.
ners told me she was Madam Cecil, glided
from a side room, and with little plaintive
smile babe me follow her at once But in
that instant read her face and perhaps her
character. She might have been 35, only she
didn't look it, with those brilliant black eyes,
pearly teeth and elegant manners. but be-
hind ali these read the positive force that
turned to good may save a country, but given
over to evil would sacrifice everything to
success.
Noiselessly she glided over the heavy car
pets, and as silently / followed her. She
passed into the library, and from thence-as
l instinctively felt-into the chamber of
death; even elegant furniture and costly
paintings and embroidered coverlets are not
to overawe our destiny.
''Mr Cecil, the lawyer has come" she
softly said, as she stopped over the emaciated
face of a silver haired man.
"Whati whol" as he started from seem
ing stupor, and looked wonderingly at me
from his sunken eyes,
''He will read it to you now, Mr. Cecil"
adding in low tone: He is sinking rapidly;
| fear you must hasten"
l felt that must seated myself at his
bedside, and as did so l saw his lips tremble,
and believed they were breathing a name;
l imagined it was Mabel"
Our boldest moves are born upon the spur
of the moment.
Mrs. Cecil, may l trouble you for glass
of water?' ! asked, as / took out the viii she
had drawn.
Quick, sir, quick" said l, as noticed his
sunken eyes watching her fastening foot
steps. "Do you want your daughter to have
all your property, save what the law gives
your wifef
He started back from me as if he could not
trust his own senses, or was doubling
whether to put confidence in me; but he
seemed to feel the necessity OF doing SO, and
suddenly the dull eyes frightened with a mo-
mentary CLEAN of relief and joy as he clearly
answered:
Eyes, yes! And God bless you!"
And |, too, was thanking heaven for the
whim that had led me to write two wills SO
very like in strength and appearance and it
was only the work of q moment to make the
change, and just in time.
With Mrs. Cecil came the housekeeper and
a man servant, and in their presence the
dying man tremblingly signed his name to
the second will, and they witnessed it.
They had gone, and | started to go, when
the old man pressed my hand, and saw the
tears gathering in his eyes. As l turned to
go involuntarily felt that the black eyes Of
Madam Cecil had witnessed all and suspected
everything.
Il should like to see that willI" she said,
firmly, in a low voice.
''Some other time. He's dying, Mrs.
Cecil"
$50 much the greater reason, siri Show
it to me-"
looked her one instant calmly and sug-
geStively in the face, and then started for the
door.
''Stopw she cried, and tiny silver
mounted revolver cleaned in her hand
my Godl Mrs. Cecil, you have killed
himl He has died at your hands," | cried,
as | heard a strange sound behind me, and
would have turned if all the pistols in the
universe had been pointed at me.
The old mans arms had been lifted as in
prayer, but now sank withered upon the pill
low, while his eyes stared at US in the rightly
of death. He was dead
Instinctively Madam Cecil seemed to rec
ognize that it was all over, and, lowering
the weapon, Missed at me between her pearly
teeth:
you've played me false-go! go! or viii
shoot your
And l went, gladly enough, from the
brownStone front, with its treachery, its
wlckedneSs and avarice, into the dark night
and muddy streets But | had carried out
the wishes of the poor, dragooned husband,
and Mabel received her own. AS soon after
as her share Of the estate could be obtained
the wretched woman disappeared from the
neighborhood, and it was understood had
sailed for Australia.
Although young and almost briefless
lawyer, was appointed Mabers guardian,
and | SO faithfully fulfilled my trust that
after SIX years, when she was little more
than Is, she gave herself as well as her es-
tate INTO my keeping; and as | write this,
after my cozy tea, and as Mabel leans on
the back OF my chair watching the rapid |
strokes of the pen she declares that did not
praise myself at all in the grand act of jus !
uce did, and the courage showed at the |
revolver'S mouth to sustain her rights.-Bos- |
ton True Flag.