Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-23

-' "Niake counterfeit" advised the blach
spirit.
Confess everything" recommended the
white.
~ am SURE can't" replied Walter 10 the
latter suggestion, and ~ don't think cam"
was his response to the first. He was never
theless revolving n scheme for the acquisi-
ton of Adelbert 5 seal, when knock came
to his chamber door.
Enter he cried. and one Of Idas do
mestcs presented the packet, with the seals
SO crnningly restored as to leave no trace
of opening, along with n billet from his
mistress Walter read:
Forgive my inpetuosity. In my aCita-
ton did not stay to gauge the intensity Of
thy affection by the enormity of thy turpi-
tude. Whatsoever the contents of the pack
ct are publicly evinccd mere paper ac-
count me thine"
Walter hcavcd n sigh of speechlcss JOY
and FASTENED to replace the packet in his
fathers Golfer At the same moment Adel-
bert, alone in his chamber, was holding n
phial of poison to the lamp whose rays lent
a baefttl glitter to the adder hued fluid
An empty goblet capped for the deadly POI
ton. Adelbert's fingers dallicd with the
without, and he hastily thrust tho phial
into drawer.
Pardon the intrusion" said Alexis, en-
tering, but thou may vest probably wish to
hear my sonnet, which is now completed to
my satisfaction, excepting II lines. More
over, the Lady Ida has intrustcd me with
letter for thee"
Adelbert eagerly broke the seal. The
missive contained nothing save delinca-
ton of an anchor, the emblem of hope.
docs she, can she, know" he specialized
as she a witch, or is Walter n traitor?
UoWbeit, the phial may rest where it is
The great day had arrived. The court
was thronged with merchants and lawyers.
The parties concerned We're present, with
their notarics-Adebort, pale as death;
Walters father, flushed and ndgety; Wal
ter, sardoncally calm. \ magistrate read
the formal notice that, the pledge not hav-
ing been redeemed, the packet was now to
he opened and its contents made over to
Walters father, subject to hree days grace
of redemption. Adelbcrt's heart must have
been heard to beat all over the court but for
the buzz of excited Whispering.
Trembling with eagcrncss, the old Jew
elcr broke the seals and cut the silken
strings and held up a mass of paper scored
with blottod and erased characters.
"AleXis's sonnet, 10y all that's blucv' cried
Walter
rs this all, wrctch.' shouted his father
to Adelbcrt. "Wrctch, say, is this all?"
Adelbert made no reply.
Ida has Knocked me-" he thought, with
incXpressible bitterness.
"Nillan, you shall swing for ths' thun-
dered the old man as he dashed the papers
tn I no al \ rirl ~ nf to1 IA
upon every ear, and one of 30 outstretched
hands Grasped and held up Il brilliant OBJ
ject, flashing and sparkling in the sunshine
that streamed through the court windows.
"Heavens.' exclaimed the aged lapidary,
these are the family jewels of the house Of
Irottcnhcm"
NV hich" said clear voice in the remote
part of the court, IL lent to Herr Adelbelt
that he might impledge them for the sum
he needed, and which my lawyer will now
redeem for the same, with added interest. "
"Lady!' shrieked Walter, chow long
have these gems but his father checked
him angrily. Ida hurried blushing from
the court, and Walter sank back murmur
ing, lawfully fond Of him."
The word was taken up on all sides, and
as the stunned and slowly reviving Adel-
bert found himself surrounded with old
and new friends congratulating him upon
his triumph and the near prospect Of n
wealthy and devoted bride, he could not but
repeat to himself, "How she must love me-
He escaped as soon as be could and has
tened to Ida. He fell at her feet and
thanked her for his life and honor Then
he urged her to wed him.
| Not for the universe, Adelbert," an.
! swered Ida very sweCtly.
I q. 4