The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-05-29
VOL. )<LVgII--NO 22

acCid,Ht. v hic!I hHG resulted IN his weak
ness at sight, and ~ resolved to return to
his THtl"c city. Here lie nat OnlY with
disappointment. Ills friends and re-
latircs were almost all scattered or dead,
and nr was more oppressed by feelings
OF loneliness than he had been in his
foreign home. He had, it is true, some
cousins residing il b, from whose
soCicty he had hoped to derive much
lcaSurc, but having discovered that his
wealth Wa, his only attraction i'll their
ewes, there was now little suciability be-
tween them.
AS time passed on. Sybilla cndcarcd
herself still more to all the household and
became more necessary each day to MIR.
Casscibury : comfort. The servants also
treated her With additional respect, as it
was evident to them that she had be-
come almost rs q daughter Of the house.
On entcriu" the deception room one dav
for book W hjc!. she had left lying there,
S;ybiiia found it occupied by two
strangers; one o! whom she recognized
as the Young lady who had shown her
such scant civiItv on the day of her
! arrival iii Il. Greeting the ladies
corrtcousIr SybilIy informed them that
! Mr.. Casscil r!rv had ordered he carriage
| immcdiGtih after dinner, and was still
! absent
Mrs. .Marlowe has already explained
! thc matter to us, said Mrs. Harper
| haughtily; but we will await his return.
! | desire to speak to him on n subject of
importance, concerning pert mink
whom | hear he has taken into his
house Syhilla was so much embar-
raised by this address that Mrs. Harpers
| suspicious were confirmed. All" she
continued, 81 thought so. Ithouehtyou
wtrc the creature the instant l saw your
pert face
Madam" said Sybilla, 81 do not
| know what you mean, Mr.. Casselbury
employed ne some time since as an at
| tendant. but
oh, understand al that. said Mrs.
Harper, sneeringly. Gould not Mrs.
Marlowe have attended to him, or my
daughter here? She would willingly
nave come to him for an hour or so each
day; but he has taken anunfoundcd preju-
dice against her, and now preceiye the
cause. You are trying to iugratiate
yourself into his favor and invcigle him
INTO leaving you generous legacy"
Such an idea was never entertained by
me, began poor Sybila; but she was
again interrupted by the angry woman.
Don't dare to he impcrtnent to NE,
miss" she exclaimed. II was absent
from my nome when you first intrudcd
into this house. but so soon as returned
commenced to investigate, and have
discovered all about you. Youran away
from good home iii the country, and
doubtless the money which brought you
here was stolen. Then
What does this mean" cried a loud
voice at this moment, and turning to-
ward the door Mrs. Harper perceived
Mr.. Casselbury, who had entered I'M
observed.
''Oh, nv dear cousin" she said i'll a
h0neycd tone, and advancing toward
him with both hands extended. IL have
come to warn you about this viper.
whom YOU have so generously and un-
suspeclingly received into your house
have discovered her anteccdents, while
yo2, moor man have been kept in ignor-
ance."
You are much mistaken, Elizabeth
Harper" said The old gentleman, ve-
hcrnentIy Il know considerably more
than You do about Sybilla Vernon, if it is
she of whom you are speaking. Let me
tell you, madam, that it would not be
best for YOU to ailude to her i'll that
manner again. | underst and your
motives perfectly, however and take
pleasure in informing you that neither
yourself nor daughter will ever inherit a
penny of my fortune. Nor need YOU
blame Sybilla for such a state of affairs,
since had resolved upon this course be-
fore she came to my house; although it
must he admitted that her revelation of
vuur daughters selishness on the Occa-
sion of her arrival in this city confirmed
nv resolution" Then drawing a roll of
paper from his pocket he added, sarcasti-
callv: AS YOU seem to he so much in
terestcd iii my affairs, Elizabeth, | will
kindly inform YOU that this is the legal
instrument which my lawyer has just
prepared for the purpose of making Sv-
billa Vernon my adopted daughter and
hciress.'
Overwhelmed by this announcement,
Mrs. Harper and daughter prccipitatelv
left the house; while Sybilla wept away
all rememberances of their unkindncss in
her adopted fathers arms.
Nor did the young girl now that pros
pcrity smiled upon her, forget the humble
friend of adversely; for not long after this
Hiram received letter which he read
with many calculations ofsurprise. Then
seeking Miss .lcmi,na, whom ne found in
her spotless kitchen, vigorously scolding
the poor littlc drudge who had taken Sv-
bilIa's place us maid of all work, he OBJ
well, Miss Jcmima, I've come 20 give
warnin, I'm about to lave YOU"
ITO leave me-" repeated Miss Jemima
III dismay. why, what has canscd this
well now. miss was llram's re-
Spouse, "supposin' YOU was me and n
rale Young Teddy was TO write YOU q let
ter otferin' tiTstclass situation, with
biz wages and everything tip-top,
You go, now"
Il suppose So" admitted Miss Iemima,
with much reluctance. Bat don't uu-
dsrstand, Hiram. how this came about
ooh, ma'am, was able to render her
a triiiing service orce, and she's kind
cuough not to FORGET it, as many would
You know, miss, she was a poor girl
Once, and had to work for cross onld