Year: 1864

the rope, and slight as was the force of
my pull, it came away from its hold,
slippd through the aperture in the ceiling
and came rattling down into the room,
luckily falling on clothes basket full Of
sheets and white bedcurtains, or the noise
would have disturbed the household. 1
never was so near screaming since l was
schoolgirl, for the thing was like
stroke of enchantment. A stout new
cord to snap like rotten thread less than
month after its being put up! | ex-
amined it through my hands troubled
good deal. The rope had been nearly
severed, neatly sawn in to with sharp
knife, AMI had hung only by fibre of
the hemp. No doubt that the person
who did it was one who knew the house
well, and had access to the upper part OF
it.. And the severed rope had but one
meaning and that was trcachery.


But who was the traitor | sat down
on a chest and gaspcd for breath. l
could not suspect any old servants, the
cook and housemaid. The page was a
good boy enough, of very respectable
parcntage, and well brought up, knew.
lie had been four years with me, and had
no low companions to lead him into evil
ways, felt sure. The kitchen maid was
q simple sort Of girl, rather greedy, and
slumsy with regard to brcakages, but
honest as the day. There was only one
new member of the establishment, and
he was such steady, conscientious per-
son, that it seemed monstrous to doubt
him. And yet, if he was innocent, who
was the guilty one -? The rope had not
divided itself.


| cannot tell how it was that l began
to connect the severed bcll-rope with the
paper that Mortimer had dropped in the
the drawing-room. To all appearance
there was no link between the two cir
cumstances And yet [ did connect them
for nay next act and deed was to 80 down
and see if the paper contained anything
to Justify my suspicious. | was half fear
full as | opened the door that Mortimer
might have discovered his loss in my ab
scnce. and repossesscd himself of the letter
No; there it lay untouched, Oh the table.
| picked it up and read it, though the
action cost me pang, somehow. l was
gentlewoman, you see, and had never be-
fore been guilty OF pryiug into any letter
that did not fairly belong to me. How
ever, self preservation was my excuse,
and the emergency was desperate one;
so | read as follows


DERE JEM IL We don't look sharp
we shall get to Queer Street afore long.
Old Nat. the fence, tipped me the offs to-
day. Beaks is fly, aud swell from
Scotland Yard cunning down spesha'.-
He nose you, so this shop of yours must
be tie lass crib we crack in these parts.
/ When old cats safe in bed, and all snug,
wave a glim times in your winder, and
we'll sport the door. Lanky Dick can
do the trick for the key. II the old gal
screeches, you must stop her mouth
Sbarklers arc all rite, and Nat buys the
plat, as it's heyyg. So no more till II
to mite, From your true pal till deth.
THE NoDDLEE."


Scarcely had finished the perusal of
this dreadful letter, than the clock struck
nine. At nine it Was always my practice
to read family prayers. There is such
force in habit, that on hearing the French
time piece on the marble slab besides me
chime out its nine strokes, | rang the
bell as usual for the servants. When |
had done SO | remembered that wicked
letter, and the cruel treachery Of the
viper | had warmed at my heart and
shool, all over from head to foot; less
with fear, after although lady is
privileged to be etimid--than with indig-
nation aud anger As for reading prayers
to that man-that robber, whose very
Christian name was lie, for he called
himself George Mortimer, and the letter
addressed him " Jcm"-I could not do
it. How could | read sacred words to
such wretch ? how address him as
" dearly beloved brother ?" how endure
to hear his false voice giving out the
responses with bypocritical unctlon? 1t
was impossible and yet dared not de-
only boy and three women to take my
part, while he was strong and desperate,
and perhaps had his rufhan friends with
in call.


had but thee or tour minutes to re-
volyc these things in my mind ; then the
door opened aud the servants came rust
ling in.


" You need not stay, Mortimer" said l
as steadily as could My head aches
badly, cannot read prayers to night
You can close the doors at once, and
bring me the keys. And, Ellen, wish
you to bring me the bottle of sal volatile
you will find in the corner of tho right
hand drawer Of the black chest Of drawers
in my bedroom, and wine-glass and
teaspoon. You need not sit up"


Ibegan my speech, without any thought
of sal volatile but saw Mortimer, red
and white by turns, cycling me with sus-
picious, scrutiny, and [ added injunction
as an after-thought. And suppose the
bait took for when Mortimer brought
me the keys, as sat mixing the draught
l was about to take tor my headache,
that model butler looked respectfully
sympathetic, and stole to and fro on alb
solutey noiseless feet, closing the door
after him in the gentlest fashion imagin-
ILL., ka- $40 49, ~, botrovoJ ;strac-