Year: 1874

a moment. feared the scene would eliminate
in murder; but it proved to be only the ex-val'
ct, who with the white powder off his face
and every muscle of his lean active body in
full play, as he threateningly brandished the
heavy 6re-poker aloft, gave no evidence OF
that troublesome cough which had sounded
so distressing when saw him in bed.


Isay nothing of my surprise at learning
that Jenny was the daughter Of Sir John. On
any other occasion it would have been over
whelming; but this affair had been so tre'
mendous as whole, that not till long AFTER
ward could I find words to characterize its
details.


The revelation seemed new to the old law
yer-not the fact of the girls parentage, of
course-but Sir Johns knowledge; for fol-
lowing the baronet's defiance, he declared his
intention to be to marry her to the ex-valet,
whom he proposed to install as the expected
heir from London, Immediately after the flu
neral-for which, by the way, waxen lay
figure had already been prepared and was ly-
ing on the floor.


I had just made this discovery-standing
in STOPPING posture, and gazing through the
panelled opening ng-when saw the ex-valet
suddenly start and assume listening attitude,
as if he heard footsteps.


had heard the same sound.


1t was the rising wind, which heralded the
coming storm, shaking an unfastened case
ment.


saw the ex-valet, the heavy iron poker
grasped like a weapon, and an anxious look IN
his face, hurry down the length of the cham
ber; heard him passing through the ante
room, unlocking doors as he went, and out
into the hall, in evident search of probable
intruder.


NY mind and muscle leaped at once into
activity.


I looked about me searchingly-wistfully.


A heavy, carved rail, some four or five feet
in length supported or braced the two foot
posts of my bedstead. A strange weapon;
but it would answer.


It was the work of an instant to slip this
out, and with it firmly grasped, to swiftly
follow in the direction taken by the ex-valet.
The suites Of apartments were evidently sim
liar and side by side opening with others,
perhaps in the main hall.


1 had left my doors unfastened-which was
nv usual habit-and they offered no barrier
to nv rapid and noiseless exit. In a moment
I was outside.


The ex.valet was already retiring; he had
been as far as the stairs, and, as if satisfied
that all was quiet, was running his hand, for
guidance in the darkness, along the wall,
against which shrunk.


He brushed me, and started back with an
oath, low and fierce, like the growl of wolf;
but the massive foot-rail dropped from my
shoulder like lead, and the sinking villain
went down, stunned aud senseless.


sprang back into my rooms, laid down
my strong weapon, and returned to my point
of observation-the panel-just in time to
see the old lawyer, in high alarm at the noise
in the hall, hurry out to the assistance of his
confederate.


To spring through the narrow opening clasp
knife in hand, and to cut the cords which
bound Sir John, was the work of moment.


The freed baronct recognized me with an
exultant cry, and springing toward the OLD
bookcase, tore open drawer, and turned
with lightning rapidity-a pistol in each
band-to confront the master villain; while
reinforced him with an immense Scottish
claymore-relic of Bannockburn--which de-
pended from the wall.


But the lawyers scheme was over-his plot
at an end.


He seemed to realize it, as be reached the
outer door, and saw Sir John at liberty, and
recognized me. He fled at once.


Sir John made no effort to follow-with-
held by considerations, creditable to his heart,
for those to whom the scoundrel was unfortu-
nately related-and he escaped from the
country. His confederate awoke in confne-
ment, and was duly tried and transported.


1t took sometime for all concerned to re-
cover from the excitement of these events
but that grand and wondrous healer, Time,
wrought out his usual work at last.


Jenny-now smiling matron, foremost in
every good work for advancement-looks over
my shoulder as write.


Sir John lived many years to trot his grand
children on his knee-until with their hap
piness mingled his own, and the story Of the
young Italian wife, so loved and lost, had be-
come only tender memory.


We live at the Grange, now; and should
you ever find it convenient to visit US, be sure
of hearty welcome, and sight Of ONE RED
RIDING HooD-laid away in lavender, so to
speak and possibly-ifa very dear friend
you may hear some further particulars of
The Plot 1t Defeated. Till then, Adieu


FORCE OF IMAerNAr1oN.-At large din