Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11

Inc iats: i cfleu. Iheh you
know"
Surely / know that Sir Deakin is
dead, else should l be but an unworthy
| steward"
And his son also?"
Also his son, Anthony, a heads,rong
boy, l fear me-
And his daughter, Mistress Delia?"
Alas" aud he fetched deep sigh
DO you mean, sir, that she. too, is
deadT'
Why, to be sure-but let us talk on
| less painful matters"
In one moment sir; but first tell me
where she did die. and when?"
For my heart stood still, and | was
fain to clutch the table between us to
/ keep me from falling. | think this did
hot escape him. for he gave me a sharp
look and then spoke very quiet and
/ huSh'd.
She was cruelty killed by highway
! men, ut the Three Cups inn, some miles
ont of Hungerford The date given -ne
/ is the 81 OF December last"
With this great rush of joy came
+ over me, and l blurted out, delighted:
There, sir, YOU are wrong, Her faith
I or was kill'd on the night of which You
/ speak-cruelly enough, MS you say; but
/ Mistress Della Killigrew escaped, and
after the most incredible adyentures"
/ was expecting him to start up with
: joy at my announcement; but instead Of
this he saz'd at me very sorrowfully and
! shook his head; which brought me 20 a
stand
Sir l said changing my tone, II
speak but what ] know; for twas | had
/ the happy fortune TO help her 10 escape,
and, under Gods hand, to bring her safe
10 Cornwall"
"TNen where is she now"
( Now, this was just what | could not
/ tell So. standing before him. | gave
him nay name and history of all my adj
/ ventures in my dear comrades company,
! from the hour when | saw her first in the
/ inn at Hungerford. He heard ms. TO the
( end attentively bur VIII a curing OF
/ the lips toward the close such as | did
not like. And when | had done. 10 my
amaze he spoke out sharply. and as il to
Il whipp'd schoolboy:
tbs a eock-an'-bul story. sir. of
which | could hope to make you asham-
ed You were at that inn, and on that
night. with her murderers. Boy, | have
evidence that. taken with your confess
sion. would weave You halter; and am
/ Justice of the peace. BE thankful. then.
/ that ! ann a merciful man; yet be
/ abash'd"
/ Abaslid, indeed. was; or at least
taken aback, 10 see this holy indigna-
/ tion and the flush on his waxeu cheek,
/ Like n fool | stood staggered, and won
! dered dimly where | had heard that thin
( voice before, In the confusion of my
/ senses l heard ii say solemnly:
The sins of her fathers have over
/ taken her, as the Book Of Exodus pro-
claimd therefore is her Inheritance
wasted, and given to the satyr and the
Wild ass"
And which of the twain he you. sir?'
l cannot tell what forced this violent
rudehess from me, for be seemed an hon
est, good man; but my heart was boiling
+ As for him. he had risen, and was NOV
ing with dignity to the door--to show me
/ out. as i guess When suddenly /, that
/ bad been staring stupidity, leaped upon
/ him and hurled him back into his chair
For had marked his left foot trailing
and, by the token knew him for the
white-haired man Of the bowling green.
Master Hannibal Tingcomb,' spoke
I II HIS ear ~-NDE alil iuiNtIFis W mt
did you in Oxford last November? And
how Of Captain Lucius Higgs other
wise Captain Luke Settle otherwise Mr.
y? Speak. before l serve you as the
dog was served that night
| dream yet, in my sick nights, of the
change chat came over the vile hypo-
critical knave At these words OF mine.
10 see his pale venerable face turn green
and liYid. his eyehalls start. his hands
clutch al ART frightened me
Aud the next moment he had slipped
from my grasp, and was wallowing in
a fit on the floor, gnaShing al me al the
time and foaming at the mouth. Pres
emily he ceased TO writhe and bite; and
lifting | set him in his chair, where he
lay, a mere limp bundle staring and
blinking. SO | sat down facing him, and
waited his recovery.
Dear young sir. he began at length
fecbly. his fingers searching the Billie
before him. from force of habit kind
young sie--I am an old. dying man, and
my sins have found me out. Only ycs,tcf-
day. the physician at Bodmin told me
that my days are numbered. This Is the
second attack, and the third will XIII
+ me"
"WeH:' said /,
Tiff Mistress Della be alive will
make restiution-I viii confess--only
tell me what TO do, that | may die in
peace"
Indeed he looked pitiable. sitting there
and stammering but / hardened my
heart TO say:
II must have confession. then, writ
zen before leave the room.
Bat dear young friend, you will not
use il il / git up allI You will not
seek my life; that already is worthless.
! as you see
WAY lis what you deserve But
Della shall say when | find her--as
shall GO straight TO seek her. II she be
lost shall use it-~-never fear if she be-
found. 1t shall Ice hers 10 say what mercy
she can discover in her heart but
promise You / shall advise nome
The tears by this time were cnuESing
down his shrunken cheeks, but | Obsery-
ed him watch me narrowly, as though 10
find out how much knew. So ! pulled
out my pistol and. setting pen and paper
before him, obtaned ut the end Of an
/ hour a very pretty confessions of his sins
{ whch lies among my papers to this day
! When il was written and signed. ia "A
weak rambling hand. l read II through
/ folded if, placed it inside my coat and
prepared 70 take my leave.
/ But he called only an order To- the old
servant 10 saddle my mare and stood
softly praying and besecclling me in the
courtyard till the last morqent Nor
when | was mounted wouJ anything