The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-06


merclful; l will give you the money"
"Your'
81 have it, yes, here in my room. Let
me show you."
| flung open the door next to- my
writing desk, and came back to him.
"These l give you freely" l said
opening the roll of notes. You said
to her that it would be the last time,
and 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 a low voice.
We We're silent for a moment
"You know now that l was very
sorry for you," 1 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. I 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?'
eyes, in a drawer in her dressing
room" I wondered LOW he had OBJ
tanned it. "Hasten and get away"
"There is no danger. 1 made my
way hither carefully. Pure, brave lit
tie girl, how fearless you are for your
selfv'
n vOd ut mn cT.I1n CT xy hn
wished to carry away clear memory
of my features; then wrapping his
cloak about him, flung up the sash and
leaped soundess out into the darkness.
/ eXtinguished the taper and crept
back to bed. I did not hear a sound
about the house until daybreak.
When arose 1 saw the dirk knife
glittering in the sunshine near my writ
ing desk, where had lain it. Then 1
shuddered.
A year later I was the mistress of
Redburn-the beautiful house, the spa
cious grounds, We're all mine. Mrs.
Saltby had died and bequeathed them
to me.
On her dying bed she said:
"Violet, you are my heiress. There is
only one living being who has my
blood in his veins. Him disown." She
paused and went on: "You have seen
my brother; loved him, l was ambi-
tious for him, but his natural bent was
evil. We had a cousin Flora, a child |
who was brought up with him. They
were engaged to be married, but | for
babe it, / revealed to her his dissipa-
ton. 1 told her of his debts and deeds !
of daring. She loved him, she trusted |
him-but she was delicate and died. |
He says l killed her" She grew pale, |
even past her dying pallor; she went .
on: "When l saw him last the officers |
of justice We're after him; he was a |
defaulter. He had stolen money to I
pay his gambling debts. He is prob
ably in Jail now; but 1 will have none
of him, and will never forgive him."
SO she died, hard as flint to the last.
And I was the heiress Of Redburn. 1
was young, 1 was fond of gaiety; l
had now the means at my disposal.
Every summer my house was filled
with guests. In the winter 1 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. l 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 I thought:
Gle must hate me, the usurper of his
rights. He is poor because I have his
Datrimony; have no right to Redburn,
md l will not keep it. 1 will give it
back to him"
An opportunity came. He was sit
ting on the terrace one bright even
ing. went and took seat near him.
"How lovely this view isp' he ex-
pointing toward the distant
hills.
eyes, and you shall wish for your
right no longer, Mr.. Sedley. Redburn
IS yours. l have no claim to it," He
lid not speak, and / went on. "Your
sister was just, and she would have
made you the heir if she had lived to
see what you are to-day"
But it was your mercy, not her JUS
ice, Miss Blanchard, that saved re.
Violet, love you, and will take Red
)urn with your hand not else"
1 put my hand in his, trusting him,
owing him utterly, and very proud to
make him the master of Redburn.
Nor have I ever regretted it.-Waver'
ey Magazine.