Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-01-05

AAC AOOnCO 4uOIc dStOulSucO Iudu Oes
fore, but did not stop to think of that.
''Put the money back" I said.
NO." he said, firmly. Il will mur-
der you first.
DO not do that" said I. ssI am your
friend. was sorry for you that day.''
He did not speak, but troubled look
disturbed the pale fxedness Of his
face.
"How much money have you there?"
I asked.
Zone hundred pounds
"And you need it very much?''
VERY much,'' he replied, with BIT
ter smile.
Please put it back said; she has
been just to you; / would like to be
merciful: I will give you the money"
''YOu!'
II have it, yes, here in my room. Let
me show you.''
l flung open the door next to my
writing desk, and came back to him.
These give you freely" said,
opening the roll of notes. ''You said
to her that 1t 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 low voice. ~~~
We were silent for moment.
"You know now that was very
sorry for you," I said, with tears in
my eyes.
''Yes," he said, graveiy, land I love
you for it."
He put Mrs. Saltby's money back
and. rearranged the chest. / 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. l made my
way hither carefully. Pure, brave lit
tie girl, how fearless you are for your
selfr
He looked at me earnestly asaif he
wished to carry away clear memory
Of my features; then wrapping his
cloak about him. flung up the sash and
leaped soundless out into the darkness.
Il extinguished the taper and crept
back to bed. l did not hear a sound
about the house until daybreak.
When I arose saw the dirk knife
glittering in the sunshine near my writ
ing desk, where had lain it. Then /
shuddered.
A year later l was the mistress of
Redburn-the beautiful house, the spa
cious grounds, were 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, I was ambi-
tious for him, but his natural bent was
evil We had cousin Flora, child
who was brought up with him. They
were engaged to be married, but for
bade it. I revealed to her his dissipa-
tion. told her of his debts and deeds
of daring. She loved him, she trusted
him-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 h:m; he was Il
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; I
had now the means at my disposal.
Every summer my. house was filed
with guests. In the winter was in
London or abroad, and yet lived only
on the interest Of the money bestowed
upon me.
Three years passed. had never
heard word Of Guy se1ley, 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. It was a
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.
loved him, but + thongft:
"He must hate me, the usurper Of his
rights. He is poor because I have his
patrimonv; have no right to Redburn.
and I will not keep it. I will give it
back to him.
An opportunity came. He was sit
ting on the terrace one bright even-
ing. went and took sent near him.
'How lovely this view is!' he ex-.
claimed, pointing toward the distant
hills.
Eyes, and you shall wish for your
fright no longer, Mr.. Sedley. Redburn
lis yours. I have no claim to it,s' He
did not speak, and I went on. "Your
sister was just, and she would have
made you the heir if she had lived to
see what you are today
"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
I put my hand il his, trusting hin.
II