Year: 1870

The bright sunshine of pleasant June
morning played merrily among the branches
of the tall oaks that surrounded the fine old
country mansion of Mr.. Overing, drank up
the dew-drops from the soft grass and rest
ed lovingly upon the beautiful roses that grew
near the porches and beneath the windows.
But it did not penetrate into the dwelling
for every door was closed and every window
darkened, as if to shut out the gladness of
that lovely morning from the sorrowing in
mates.


And in one of the darkest of the many
darkened rooms, Nora Overing walked the
floor and wrung her hands in grief, for in the
large old dining hall below lay the corpse of
i. her murdered father; and Oscar Slower, to
whom she had given her heart and pledged
her hand was suspected of the cruel deed.


A young man of about twenty-five, whose
brown hair and eyes closely yresembled Nora s,
entered the room, and with only good
morning to the young lady, seated himself
beside Mrs. Overing, and after enquiring
after her health, requested to know her
wishes in regard to the many little matters
relating to the funeral


'ICu must do as you think best about
everything. Arthur, you know have no
one but you to look to for assistance now,
she replied mournfully


Forgive me for troubling YOU, aunt, but
Moreton wishes to leave, and did not like
to consent to bis doing so without consulting
you. Some friend or relative is dying, and
he wishes to 90 Immediately


DO as you think best in all things, was
Mrs. Overing's response.


Have You seen Osear?' said Nora, sd-
vancing and speaking for the first time since
her cousin entered.


q have not, nor do expect to, he replied.


Then you believe this cruel charge and
she turned coldly away and continued her
walk.


Il cannot say what l believe, my dear
cousin; he said, arresting her steps and tax
ing her hand gently in his own; but Oscar is
suspected, and though all the evidence be-
fore the coroner was not sufficient to warrant
an arrest, there are many who believe him
guilty of the act


Arthur Dalton was the nephew of Mrs.
Overing, and since his sixth year had been
an inmate of the family, and received from
her the tender care of mother. His way
ward moods when child and reckless ex-
pendture of property as he grew to man
hood sometimes drew stern rebuke from
Mr.. Overing, but from his aunt he had new
er received an unkind word or a rcproach of
any kind He and Oscar had been rivals
for the hand of Nora, and his aunt was great
ly disappointed when she found that he was
not the favored suitor.


With Mr.. Overing Oscar had been favor
ite, until a few days before the old gentle
mans untimely end, when his manner under
went so great a change that the young man,
believing that some unkind person was en-
deavoring to create misunderstanding be-
tween them, had sought an explanation, un
fortunately on the very afternoon of the muir
der.


Something having occurred in the morning
which ruffied the temper of Mr.. Overing he
did not listen with much patience to the
young mans desire for an explanation, and
some unpleasant words had passed, which,
being overheard by servant, were repeated
at the inquest, in such an exaggerated and
distorted manner that Oscar scarcely recog
nized his own expressions.


The funeral over, Mrs. Overing urged
upon her daughter the improperly of again
seeing Oscar.


But, mother, feel as certain of his inno
cence as do of my own, and now, when
all look cold and suspicoualy upon him,
would YOU have me desert him alsop
IF | understand the matter rightly, cir
cumstances are greatly against him, said
| Mrs Overing, 'he was the last person seen
with your father, and the only one with
whom he had any misunderstanding.


'Ihe last person seen with him; but seen
here in the house. 1t is true that some un-
pleasant words passed between them, but
Oscar came directly to me and acquainted
me with the circumstance. My father left
the house while we were talking, passed
down the road, and was oht of sight before
Oscar left He must have turned into the
wood, for his body was found there, and Os-
car went straight home by the road lie is
about to leave the neighborhood, and have
promised him an interview this evening"


Then you have heard from him 2


'Yes, more than once. Do you think
could have lived through this, and he not
himself assured me of his innocence


And you will hold our engagement sa-
cred for two years, said Oscar, when about
to part from the weeping Nora.


Yes, as long as life lasts, if you wish it. ,


No; ask only two years, and if in that
time do not discover the real pcrrctrator Of