The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-12-02

| flung open, the door next to my
writing desk, and came back to him.
"These 1 give you freely" 1 said.
opening the roll of notes. You said
! to her that it would be the last time,
and 1 hope
He had taken the notes into his
hand, looking at them in a kind of
unbelieving way.
| You may hope that you have saved
me-" he said in low voice.
We were silent for moment.
"You know now that I was very
sorry for you," said, with tears in
my eyes.
YES" he said, gravely, "and I love
you. for it."
| He put Mrs. Saltby's money back
| and rearranged the chest. l began to
| listen nervously for voices about the
house; but all was STILL He locked the
chest and gave me the key.
you know where it is kept?"
""Yes, in a drawer in her dressing
room.'' wondered low he had OBJ
tanned it. "Hasten and get away"
"There is no danger. made my
way hither carefully. Pure, brave lit
| tie girl, how fearless you are for your.
selfr'
He looked at me earnestly as if he
| wished to carry away clear memory
of my features: then wrapping his
cloak about him. flung W the sash and
leaped soundless out into the darkness
extinguished the taper and crept
back to bed. l Cid not hear a sound
about the house Until daybreak.
When 1 arose saw the dir, knife
glittering in the sunshine near ny writ
ing desk, where I had lain it. Then ]
shuddered.
I A year later was the mistress CT
Redburn-the beautiful house, the spa.
cious grounds, were all mine. Mrs.
Saltby had Gied and bequeathed them
to me.
On her dying bed she said:
"Violet, you are my heiress. There IL,
only one living being who has my
blood in his veins. Hin disown." She
paused and went on: You have seen
my brother; I loved Kim, was ambi.
tious for hirl. but his natural beat was
evil. We had cousin Flora, child
who was brought up with him. They
were enga ged to be married, but for.
babe it. l revealed to her his dissipa-
ton. told her of his debts and deeds
of daring. She loved him, she trusted
hirl-but she was delicate and died.
He says killed her" She grew pale,
even past her dying pallor; she went
on: "When / saw him last the officers
of justice were after him; he was
defaulter. He had stolen money to
pay his gambling debts. He is prob
ably in Jail now; but will have none
of him, and will never forgive him."
So she died, hard as flint to the last
And was the heiress Of Redburn.
was young. I was fond of gaiety;
had now the means at my disposal.
Every summer my house was filled
with guests In the winter was in
London or abroad, and yet l lived only
on the interest of the money bestowed
upon me.
Three years passed. I had never
heard word of Guy Sedley, when one
day the Bromleys, of London, who
were coming to visit me, asked leave to
bring a friend. I extended the invita-
ton, and Guy Sedley came. 1t was
shock, but he gave no token of the.
past. Reclaimed from his errors, he
was so refined and manly that he was
the most distinguished of my guests.
I loved him, but thought:
ale must hate me, the usurper of his
rights. He is poor because have his
patrimony; have no right to Redburn,
and will not keep it. will give it
back to him."
An opportunity came. He was sit.
ting on the terrace one bright even.
ing. I went and took seat near him.
How lovely this view is!' he ex-
claimed, pointing toward the distant
hills.
"Yes, and you shall wish for your
right no longer, Mr.. Sedley. Redburn
is yours. I have no claim to it," He
did not speak. and went on. "Your
sister was just, and she would have
made you the heir if she had lived 10
see what you are to-day"
'But it was your mercy not her JUS
tice, Miss Blanchard. that saved me.
Violet, love you, and will take Red
burn with your hand, not else"
1 put my hand in his, trusting him,
loving him utterly, and very proud to
make him the master of Redburn.
Nor have 1 ever regretted it.-Waver.
ley Magazine.