Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-16
A SAGEI'TARITS WOMAN
By oLARToE IREgE oLINaHAE.
Icopyrisslt. isas. By the Author:

OEACo NbASh " ia 9BGA lAAC ~ Ee VA tAao
one intend it for. have made it pref
ty strong, know, but so much the bet
ter. Miss Van Deering rises at 8 in the
morning, as I overheard her tell my
niece. walks on the piazza and reads
little in the library before breakfast
Now if leave this on the library table
carelessly spread out she will think Og
den left it there for her to read, and she
will read it. Good Next she will come
TO me to know if there's anything real
ly in it. shall say gently that fear
there is This will give me a chance to
get a little acquainted with her and
make favorable impression She will
Ioon see the difference between a crude
boy and scholarly man of the world. \
So far SO good. Now / must see about /
getting this delineation down on the Ii
brary table. .
The professor tiptoed out into the cor
rider, which was dimly lighted, and |
looked up and down to see whether he
might be observed by any other noe
turnal wanderers. All was silent He
moved cautiously down the wide, creak-
ing stairs and presently found himself
before the library door. 1t was closed.
Quietly opening it, he stepped in, and
by the moonlight that streamed through
the windows made his way to the
round, claw footed table, where he de-
posted the solar evidence against Outh-
bert Ogden and returned to his room,
where he was soon sleeping the sleep Of
the just.
He would have rested less peacefully
had he known that his little maneuver
had an eyewitness 1t so happened that
his apartment adjoined that of General
Stanhope, who, being wakeful, and on
the alert for burglars, opened his door
noiselessly and peered out, just in time
to observe the professor stealthy de-
scent.
F'Acts queer, was the generals men
tai comment "Guess I'll see what's
going on, ;" and suiting the action to the
word he threw on his dressing gown,
thrust his feet into pair of knitted
slippers and silently moved down
stairs in the wake Of the professor The
latter had just reached the library The
general, through the half open door,
saw his friend place roll of paper on
the table and was about to advance for
a better view when the professor unex-
pectedly returned so that the two old
gentlemen very nearly fell into each
others arms. The general drew back
and identified himself with a coat on
the hatrack. just in time to avoid dis
covery, while the advocate of solar
biology passed up the stairs, his face
wreathed in its customary smile of
kindly benevolence.
General Stanhope was more than ever
mystified He in turn passed into the
library and taking up the manuscript
looked at it curiously. Natural Char
acteristics of Cuthbert Ogden as Re-
vealed by Solar Biology" he read by
aid of the bright moonlight. Really,
that's clever of Swithin. Must be
meant for me, since there's no one in
the house so nearly related to my nephew
as am. But why all this secrecy I'll
take it up to my room and read it. 1t
may throw light on the professor s mys-
terious actions at the same time.
He slipped the manuscript into the
pocket of his dressing gown and ascend
ed the stairs to his room.
The next day was warmer and very
hazy. The professor at breakfast looked
for some sign of agitation on the part Of
Miss Van Deering, but that young lady
was thoroughly serene and self uncon-
scious. Late in the afternoon, as he sat
in his room, knock sounded at the
door, and on opening it he confronted
General Stanhope. To the surprise of
the professor he held in his hand the
we'll known delineation of Cuthbert
Ogden.
''Sir," said the general as he stepped
in and closed the door, with an air of
secrecy, 81 desire to thank you for-for
this''-and he held out the manuscript
(which I found ON the library table.
| surmised at once that it was intended |!
for me. My nephew, sir, {" he continued,
declining the professors embarrassed
offer of chair, "has been on my mind |
for some time. He is my natural heir,
but has unfortunately inherited bad |
tendencies from his fathers side of the |
family-my sister made misalliance.
Cuthbert greatly resembles his maternal |
greatuncle, who-but will not weary
you with the story. Suffice to say, he
was a most Objectionable person and a
great spendthrift Wishing to see
whether my nephew had inherited any |
of the characteristics of that branch !
of the family, made him pres
ent of large sum of money-$40 900 |
or $50, 000--when he came to be Of age.
If my memory serves me rightly, he
spent every penny of it in 10 weeks.
then washed my hands of him, and have |
never seen him since until came here.
Well, to make long story short, be-
gan to repent me Of the evil. / took a
fresh liking to him-he's handsome !
fellow, you know-and guided by inn
pulse was on the eve of making my
will in his favor when / came across
this timely warning, which has brought |
me to my senses, especially as it is given |
by one who is total stranger to my
nephew, and so, of course, wholly with