Year: 1868



 cle kept much larger sum than I re- quired in his sleeping chamber, and they convinced me that the possession of this would be more convenient for me, as well as easier to obtain, than any other. It is certain that they found an excuse or reason for every thing; their satanic foresight was nev- CT at fault!

 If man meditates crime Lucifer at once offers the opportunity, and this fatally convenient occasion presented itself to me at the very crisis when it alone was wanting to decide my course. Jason Winner was suddenly called away on business, and went out ot town at a moments notice, leaving word that he would not be able to re- turn for several days. When com municated this intelligence to De Chargny'and Helena, they vehemently urged me to hesitate no longer. In my uncle's absence there was not the slightest danger in the enterprise. need not be at the trouble of breaking into his room from the outside of the house. Having entered it in the usual way, going from my own chamber to his after all the mansion had retired to rest, could break a pane of glass, un- fasten the bolts of the window, and ar range everything with the appearance it would naturally wear if burglary had taken place. This could be done with more ease and less noise than was possible from the outside of the house, and, having quietly taken the money, l could return to my room prepared to exhibit as much surprise as any one when the robbery was discovered in the morning.

 But why continue to repeat their in | iquitous exhortation2 l yielded, and the next night after my benefactor's departure was selected as the occasion for the commission of one of the black est acts of ingratitude that ever dis graced tho annals of Christendom My uncle's apartments consisted of suite of three rooms on the ground floor of the mansion in which he lived. The first of these was q large chamber. used as q rcccption-room, opening dl- rcctly from the hall. The next, entered through that just mentioned, he occu- pied as study or office, and from this, the third, his bed-chamber, had access. This last apartment was at the back of tho house and overlooked the rear lawn and garden. The study had windows opening at the side ofthe house through which, if they were un- fastened, an active man could easily climb. My own rooms were on the next floor, directly over his, and the servants slept on the third story at the other side of the building. It was therefore possible for mo to gain en- trance to the study without danger of any one overhearing me as long as my uncle was absent.

 On the night selected for the nefa- rious attempt retired at an early hour to my own rooms, informing the ser wants that l was not well, and desiring them to go to rest as early as possible in order that the house might be quiet They complied, of course, and though during the evening there had been considerable hustle below Qhe cause of which little suspected, as sat in agi- tated anticipation listening to it), an hour after midnight not sound dis turbed the stiffness, and as silently prepared to execute my dark design. Taking lighted candle in my hand, and arming myself with large and sharp carpenters chisel, with which intended to force the secretary in which the money was kept, I opened my door, and, having listened in the corri- | dor until I was sure no one was stir ring, rapidly descended the staircase in my stocking feet to the door of the reception-room.

 This was unfastened as usual, and passing in, traversed that apartment and entered the study. In pursuance of my design to render to the robbery all the appearance of burglar., I went immediately to one of the win dows, and setting down my light, struck out one of the centre panes of glass with the handle of my chiscl. l had no fear that the noise would be heard, as all the servants slept in so distant locality, and having unfastcn- ed the bolts of the sash, threw it up, intending to break open the blinds outside. This done, took up the light again and crossed the room to the sec retary.

 This piece of furniture stood at the right-hand side of the entrance door and directly opposite that leading into my uncle's bed-chamber, consequently. when engaged in the endeavor to break the panel of the desk open, my back was toward the latter. Once more dis posing of the candle, l applied the chisel to the crack above the lock, and had just succeeded in prying off the band that held the bolt when heard a noise behind mo, followed by star tied exclamation in mans voice Turning in sudden dread, imagine how suddenly and terribly this was i'm creased when beheld my uncle stand ing in the open doorway of his bed room!.

 In moments of great excitement ex- plantations of singular circumstances seem to flash upon the mind by intui- ton. This was the case with me in