Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-08-22

4
found out some time Crime always Is.
And you will not be very harsh in judg-
ing me, Raffy"
mo, Robert. You know better than
TO expect harsh Judgment from me-"
replied, quietly enough, but / felt that
my heart was performing its duties clum-
silly, and was hardly to be trusted with
the work it had in hand.
at was all on the impulse of the mo-
ment. l was very much pressed for
money, and the time when Madeline
hoped to hear from you had gone over
by two weeks or moro. | thought you
were tired Of helping me out of my
straits, and meant to leave me TO 60 to
the dogs as fast as l pleased Then Aunt
Margaret fell suddenly ill, and when l
went to see her they told me she was
making her will and could not go in.
But Just then Julius Stone was called
out suddenly, and | went on toher ROOM
The doctor and the nurse went out at one
door Just as | went in at another. Aunt
Margaret spoke to me, but soon fell off
into a doze, from which | foresaw that
she would never waken to conscious
ness; and there lay the will on a table by
her bedside. l looked it over and found
that there were legaCies of five thousand
dollars to each of us, Raphael, and the
rest was given without conditions to
Allan Stephenson. Five thousand dol
lars would not half free me from my
difficulties. So, seeing how easily it
could be done, l changed the five before
my own thousands into fifty, and then
placed the paper on the bed and the pen
as if it had fallen from Aunt Margarets
hand, intending to make it appear as If
the correction was her own work, and
| then leave the room without being seen.
But Julius Stone came back before |
could get away, and-and-that is how |
came to be in his power. There has never
been day since that | would not have
undone the deed by making myself
! beggar, so help me God! But l could
not proclaim myself a felon, and
Manneling, too!'
Perhaps 1 ought to have shrunk in
| horror from this man, whose weakness
! had led him into the commission of a
grave crime. But he was my brother.
and / loved him. BESIDES, l reproached
myself for having ever left him alone.
| His tlighty nature, all winsome as it was,
| had always needed the support of one
| stronger than itself This support his
wife might have given, perhaps, if she
had been less proud and cold. But a
thousand things might have been that
never are.
81 suppose Madeline knows" l said
when had grasped his hand in silent
assurance Of unchanged affection
"She knows that Stone holds my honor
in his power, but she does not know how
Allan Stephenson has been wrOnged. If
she did, think her heart would break"
Robert replied, gloomily.
"Allan Stephenson must have his
rights" l declared, unhestatingly. 81
can easily spare the sum you owe him;
but if it required my last dollar, he
should have it still"
"Must he know, them"
! 81 think he must; l am sure he may
! be trusted. Besides, he will be Made
lines husband; 80 that the secret which
I would not hesitate to contide to his
honor viii be douby guarded by his be-
coming one of the family"
but Julius Stone'-cried Robert, pale
with terror.
81 know, sir. Yes, sir" 1 returned,
mimicking that worthy lawyers intona-
ton and phraseology, and bringing a
smile to Roberts face in spite of his ter
rors, But Julius Stone has probably
heard that the law recognizes such an
otfense as compromising a felony. l do
not anticipate any trouble from him.
Il never thought of that. Rally, you
are a trump said my brother, his glad
relief finding vent in rain of tears.
1t was already late in the evening, and
proposed waiting till the next day be-
fore taking any steps regarding the mat
ter in hand But Robert entreated that
there might be no delay.
ALLAN Stephenson might die in the
night" he said with shiver, and then
restitution would be beyond our power. "
This consideration, SO urged, was all
powerful with me. ] sent Robert home,
bidding him drop some crumbs of com
fort for Madeline, and went myself to
find Allan Stephenson. To him | made
full disclosure of the circumstances,
treating my brothers fault as tenderly
as | could.
81 have suspected something of this
sort" said Allen, land have been ponder
ing how might best turn my suspicion
to account 10 save Madeline from Julius
Stone. I hoped, however, that he was
the cardinal offender. l know he has
long held grudge against mo-"
THAT probably explains why Madeline
was his choice, rather than either of her
sisters"
perhaps SO, though it never occurred
to mo that THAI needed explanation. AS
for your brother, be would have been
safe from me in any event After the
confidence Of tonight he will be doubly
so"
"And trebly so, perhaps" answered,
1estingly, "when you are one of the
family"
MY poor Madeline! My dear, brave
girl. How much she must have suf.
feredr'
And often during tho interview he
kept repeating, MY dear, brave girll'
lingering with lovigg tenderness upon