Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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'iv.-: Mouse on tie -on— THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS BT TLOKMXtm WAXIOn. CHAPTER XXXL In his astonishment at Mrs. Rayner’i f host-like entrance and appearance, Ir. Camithcrs had not paid much at tention to the end of my question, and I determined to try to get another op portunity of putting it to him. He ex pressed Lis sorrow to Mrs. Rayner al having caused her the trouble of re ceiving him when she was evidently suffering, and said that be had ventured to call to tell M ss Christie about the great robbery which taken place in the house she had so recently visited, Den ham Court. She made no comment until it was over; then she turned tc him and asked, with a faint expression of relief: ‘•Then nobody was hurt?” “Oh, no, there was no collision at all! They vanished like spirits, leaving no trace." "I am very sorry they were not caught. My husband has been in town since Tuesday morning, and I am nerv ous while he is away,” said she, like one repeating a lesson. All this time Sarah stood by her, smelling-bottle in hand, as if prepared for her mistress to faint. Yet to my eves Mrs. Rayner did not look worse than usual. When Mr. Camithcrs arose to go ] accompanied him to the door, but had no chance to communicate my suspi cions as to the burglary, for Sarah fol lowed closely behind. To give vent to my cscitement 1 wrote to Laurence. With Sarah around I could not be toe cautious so I contented myself with an account of Mr. Carruther’s visit and the robbery at Denham Court, saying in conclusion that it might have some connection with what I had seen. And then I said a great deal concerning less important things but much pleasanter to write about. When the postman called I waited until the other mail had been given him and then ran out and deposited my letter in the bag myself. I was congratulating myself upon hav ing outwitted Sarah, who had not seen the direction on my letter, when I saw her llil. nfterhim and take a letter from the bag. 1 ran up just in time to hear her mutter something about a misdirec tion. I saw her place a letter in her pocket which I knew was mine and walked up boldly to her. “ What did you take my letter out of the hag for, Sarah?" said I, half chok ing with anger. “It’s not your letter, miss. What should I want with any letter of yours?” she said, looking down at me insolent ly. “It’s a letter to my sister that I've forgotten to put the numberof the street on. I knew qnlto well that this was a falsehood, but I could not prove it, for 1 had indeed been too far off to recog nize my letter when she put it into her pocket, and my moral certainly count ed for nothing. She knew this and stalked oft' defiantly to the house with my loiter, while 1 crept back to the school-room and sobbed hitti r'v at the tyranny I was suffering from this hate ful woman. There was one comfort. It could not last long. Mr. Huvncr would soon lie homo and I would toll him about my discoveries. I congratulated myself on haying . boon so cautious in my letter to Lau rence that Sarah would not learn much by read ing it, and wondenid when I could make an excuse to go toBeaeons- burgh, to post one to him with my own hands. It%eenied very hard to be cut off in this way from the relief of open ing my heart to him; but it would be nil right on the morrow, when Mr. Rayner cart s back—she would not dare to annoy me then. But the next morning, to my great dissapoiiitmcnt, I got another letter, saying lie should not lie back until Monday afternoon. I had written to him on Wednesday and he had got my note, lie said as I mentioned that the Weather was bad and the fogs had be gun to he thick, it would be better for Mrs. Rayner to leave the ground flow and sleep up-stairs. “1 expect you will have no difficulty In persuading her to leave her own room,” the lett r went on, “but I am so anxious about her, for it seems to mo she has looked paler than ever late ly, and I feel so sure she would be bet ter on a higher floor, that 1 beg you, dear Miss Christie, to use all your pow ers of persuasion to induce her to move. Tell her that it is only for a time, that she shall go back to her own room as soon as the weather is warmer again; tell her I wish it, tell her any thing you like to affect her. I have great trust in your diplomatic powers, little madam, and I anticipate the hap- f icst results from them in this instance. have given Sarah orders by letter to prepare the big front spare-room.” I was delighted with this letter; it made mo for the moment angry with Mrs. Rayner for her persistent ignoring of his lund feeling toward her. She was always supposed to bo attached to her room on the ground floor, and Mr. Rayner wrote as if it would bo difficult to persuade her to move. But I had two powerful weapons in her husband's loving letter and her affection for Hai- dee, and 1 resolved to use them well. J desired vi ry much to S“o Mrs. Ray ner alone, and after dinner 1 went out to r-v seat in my “nest” for a little whim to plan some method for meeting her. While I was there I saw Sarah come out and take the road for Bea- consburgh with a black b ig In her band. I asked Jane where she had gone,who replied to the station, to buy some groceries. This was my chance. I put on my galoches, for it was very wet in the grounds, and I went past Mrs. Raynor's window singing softly to atlract her attention. My ruse suc ceeded, and just as 1 pulled one of the branchesa> ; de Mrs. Rayner’s paleface, looking astonished and alarmed, ap peared at the window. I smiled and effered her some flowers, motioning for her to open the sash. This she reciucd reluctant to do. But I stood my ground until at List she put a hesi tating hand upon the fastening. When the window was just a few inches up I said, opening upon a point where 1 knew wo had sympathy: “Sarah has gone to Beaconsbnrgh. I saw her off. I hope she will be a very long time.” * 1 was right. She opened the win dow, which was a little above the level of my head. Wore confidently; and 1 saw that it was barred inside. “llaidce is so much better to-day, Mrs. Raynor, I think she might come downstairs fora little while to-mor row into the drawing-room, if we make a good fire there. She is very anxious about you.” “Give her my love,” said Mrs. Ray ner, with a faint smile. “I could not do her so much good as you have done.” There was a plaintive ex pression of helplessness in these words which touched me. “Thank too. mu “Wouldn’t you bo mm* e ffortabit In ono of the rooms up-staln while the fogs last?’' I Insinuated, slyly. “Did sny one tell you to say that to me?” she asked. In a whisper. “I told M r. Rayner, when I wrote, that We had e slight fog here on Tues day night, and this morning I had a letter saying that h« thought it was bad for you to Sleep on the ground floor when the mists nad begun to rise high, and that he had tola Sarah to prepare the large front spare-room for you.” x Instead of looking grateful for this proof of her husband’s thoughtfulness, she became agitated, and at last her agitation grew almost nncon troll able— it looked like fear. “At last—at last! I have been here too long,” ehe gasped. I thought that tne effect of her nerv ous temperament of making her leave the room against her will would out* weigh any physical good the change might do her. The wild look wee com ing into her eyes whicl^I had seen there twice before, so I said gently: “Of course Mr. Rayner would not wish you to go if you did not wish it.” But she snook her head, and, put ting her face between the bars to ba closer to me, she said, in a low broken voice: “Doyou know what his wishes mean when Sarah carries them out?” I stood looking np at her, appalled. Her terror was so real that It infected me, and for the moment I almost shared the poor lady's mad belief that there was a conspiracy against her. But her next words restored me to my senses. “Are you against me, too?” she asked, piteously. “I always thought you were; but then you were kind to my child—and I don’t know whom to trust!” “You may trust me, dear Mrs. Ray ner, indeed," said I, earnestly. “1 would not have suggested your leaving your room if I had thought it would cause you so much pain. Indeed, I did not know you were so much attached to it.” “Miss Christie,” she said at last, “you have influence in this house. III may trust you, give me this proof—get one day’s respite. Let me stay in my 5*. At the 1 spit own room till—to-morrow. Her voice sunk till 1 could hardly catch the last words. • “I will try,” said I, softly. “And, oh, Mrs. Rayner, shall I tell Sam to take the dead leaves away in a wheel barrow?” “No, no, leave them—never mind," said site hurriedly. “You must lie In the water. You will catch cold. Go- Heaven bless you!” She shut down the window in n frightened way, and disappeared into the room. 1 turned and splashed my way back, with my teeth chattering, to the house, and changed my wet snocs and stockings, half crying for pity for the poor, helpless, forlorn lady for whom I could do so little. At tea time she came into the dining room and I told Sarah I had received a letter from Mr. Rayner and he thought ais wife had better move to the spare room on Saturday. “Saturday!” interrupted Sarah, sharply. “Yes,” said I, rather frightened at telling such a story. “Do you think you would like to go to-morrow, or would you rather go to-night, Mrs. Rayner?” I asked gently. “To-morrow,” said she, with a 1 steady look which I took ns au ac knowledgment; and I turned to barah. “I will answer for it to Mr. Rayner, if there has been any mistake,” 1 said. “Very well, miss,” said Sarah, quietly. Tor the second time Mr. Ray- uer’s name had acted like a charm. After tea Mrs. Rayner came and stood by my side as Sarah was clearing the table and once when the latter was out of the room for a moment ahe breathed softly into my ear: “Take care—she hates yon, and ahe is dangerous.” I glanced up quickly; but Sarah was already back iif the room, and Mrs. Rayner's face was ns impassive as ever. I was so much used to living in fear of Sarah that the warning did not make any particular impression upon me, and I went to bed neither more nor less afraid of her machinations than usual. I awoke in the night without cause (or doing on my being conscious of any cause fo so. Then as I raised mysolf elbow I thought I hoard a slight sound door. outside my listened intently, muffled noise as , , , i M AintiM MDsai^ laMhm.s LiySan.h, on* arm twisted under her and her head tn • pool oi blood. Her arm waa doubtless broken as ahe moaned when it wna touched. Jane and the cook were summonedaoil made their appearance. It waa^M midnight hot I was obliged to send Jane to the village for Sam to tell him to take one of the horses and ride to Beaoonsburgh for the doctor. And then we crouched down and watched her, the cook supporting the wounded woman against her knee untUthe front door bell sounded and we heard the doctor’s heavy tread upon the stain. It was Dr. Lowe. He said we were right about her arm being broken. He cut off her long black hair, bandaged her wounds, and then placing her upon a mattress she was carried to her own room. “Who is going to sit np with her?” asked he. “I will," said I, but added doubtful ly: “If—" “H what?” said the doctor, turning upon me sharply. I drew a little apart, and said: “Dr. Lowe, do you think the sight of one the disliked very much would be bad for her?” He looked at me keenly as he an swered: “No. She won’t be able to recog nize any body; but I warn you she will be restless. Hi pen?" I told him all about it, and he ad vised me to get out' of the house as soon as possible. Then after giving instructions as to the care of Sarah he left the house. I aat by her side for some time and had fallen into a alight doze when I was suddenly awakened by the low hoarae «*y of “Jim.” “Jim!” Then ahe added in a whisper: “They ara after you, Jim! It’s about the check. Yon must be off to-night Go to the old place. Fll put ’em ofL and Fll let you know.” Then more mutterings and exclama tions, and before long she began again low did the accident hap- V* the pi search of my morning.—I hope But the look on her wont relief from a hated burden belied words. She had not dared even to vieit her child while that harpy waa about Mrs. Rayner said she would have dinner with me on that day, and I went down-stairs first in order to leave her with the chud a few moments. At the foot of the stairs I found the elfish Mona playing with Sarah’s housekeep ing keys. I thought they would M safer in my cars than Mona’s and so I took them from her, but not without many tearless ccreams and howto on her part. I thought to myself bow Sarah would be annoyed If she knew her keys were in my possession, but was glad I had them when Jane came to me and aaid the new nuns—Mia. Saunders — must have some bottled •tout to drink. Jans said the stout was either in the cellar of the store cupboard, and as the nurse was making a great fuss about it, I undertook to find it I did not like tha task, but thought it better for me to venture Into Sarah’s domain than to Intrust the duty to Jane. Just as I wns flatting Jane asked me to get some candles and moist sugar which she knew Sarah had bought the day before. I was growing nervous as I pulled open the heavy door of tho loft wing, and entered that mysterious portion of the house sacred to Mrs. Rayner. Oh, bow cold it waa I I entered the store room, a big bare looking apartment, and opened the cupboard in search of tiie candles and moiat sugar. They wars not there and I opened another cup board but could not find them. i Sol kept still and Again there was a though something were being shored from one staircase to another. I got out of bed softly and lighted my candle. Then placing my ear to the key-hole I beard the same shuffling sound again. Whoever or whatever it was seemed to be making its way down by very slow degrees, until it seemed that it must be about six or seven stairs from the top. 1 screwed up my courage and resolved to give the intruder a fright I turned the key without the least noise, then the handle, and flung open the door, stamping my foot and bran dishing the candle. I hoard Haidoe scream; I had forgotten her. My plan succeeded only too well. A figure which had been crouching on the stairs sprung up. It was Sar. li. Before I had time to do more than recognize the savage, frightened face, her foot slipped, and with a piercing cry, she fell backward down the stairs. The staircase had one Jnnh- I, trem bling at tho door, saw ner long, thin hands clutching and struggling to save herself at the corner; but she failel, and I heard a heavy thud, and then a f roan. She had fallen headlong to the ottom. For one second I leaned against the wall unable to move; then, trembling so that 1 could scarcely find the top stair, I stepped forward to gq down. But on the second stair my foot sudden ly slipped, and, if I had not belli going very slowly because of my agitation 1 must have fallen. On the next stair I slipped again; on the next to that, putting out my foot very cautiously, 1 found a string fastened. With a sudden suspicion, I aat down without advancing further, and slid my hand along the stair. It was slip pery; so were the others. Tho turret staircase was dark even by day; if I had been running down-stairs at my usual pace, nothing could have saved mo. It was a trap set by Sarah, if nor for get ting rid of me altogether, at least foi seriously injuring me. She was greas ing the stairs one by one when I had heard her, in her alarm at my audden appearance she had sprung up, her foot had slipped on the greasy plate below arhioh aha had been using, and she bad fallen herself a victim to the trap she bad laid for me. And, as the horrible truth broke upon me, I heard anothei groan and a murmur I could not dis tinguish. CHAPTER XXHL All the stairs below where Sarah bad aliunwi warn sals and in their usual to apeak incoherently: “It’a too risky, Jim. Fll do it If you want me to; but it’s putting yourself in danger as well as mo. All right. I’ll pass It" Then she broke ont passionately: “It’s an ill thing yon’re going to do, James Woodfall. What do you want of a lady for a wife? Herraoney'i none so much, and, as for her pretty face, It’s tho face of a fool. Fin twice the woman to look at that she is, and I’m only twenty-five; and I’ve stuck to you through thick and thin. Why don’t you marry me, Jim?” “Don’t go for that, James,” she once said, Imploringly. “It’ll be a lifer if they catch you; and they’ve had their aye on you lately. There’s many a safer way of getting money than that," Another pause, and then came f speech which chilled me with horror. “Dead men tell no talcs, Jim,” said she, in another fearful whis per. “It’s easy done, and it’s safer. What’s an old man’s life, that you’ra so shy of touching him? You’ve done many a riskier thing. Why do you al ways turn coward at that?” I could scarcely sit and watch this woman fiend after that. I seemed to see murder in her fierce fiery eyes; and I shuddered even aslmoistenca herdry lips and touched her bumingforeheau. Sno rambled on in the same style, men tioning other names I hud never heard, and not a word of me or Mr. and Mrs. Rayner, or even of Tom Farkcs, until she broke out angrily: “Jim’s mad about that little Christie girl, Tom, and he says he’ll marry her in spite of every thing, and I’ve got to bring it about,” she hissed between her teeth. What awful confusion in her mind was there to connect me with her criminal lover of years before. There suddenly woke up in my mind tho re membrance of the evening when, hid den in my “nest,” I haa overheard a conversation between her and Mr. Rayner's mysterious visitor, who had afterward turned out to be Mr. Car- ruthers’ man servant, and I remem bered that she had expressed jealonsv of some man called ‘Jim.” Was 11 the same man? How was it that he never appeared? I had thought at the time that she must mean Tom Parkes, and that the woman she was jealous of was Jane, but, on the whole, she- got on well with Jane, and the only person in the house against whom her animosity took any serious form was myself. And now she fancied this “Jim" wanted to marry me—and 1 bad never even seen him! She was rambling again into the present, though, for the next speech that caught my attention was: “It’s a good weight, Tom—Jim might have lent you a band. The water's deep in the cellar; hut it won’t hurt the jewels, and the p ato’ll clean. Come on.” Was it the Denham Conrt robbery that was on her mind now? ILtlJmy breath while she went on: “Tom, that sneaking Christie girl's got wind of it somehow. Jim's that pone on her ho won’t listen to me; and, U I don’t prevent it, she’ll he his ruin.” Again that strange confusion of my name with that of Yhe unknown Jim! My brajn seemed to bo getting as much confused as her own. I Isold lightly to tho arms of my chair as 1 listenoa tq her ravings, as if in a ftiiilc attempt to steady body and mind. It. mad to discover who this James Woodfall was, and I left my chair, and drew, rs if fascinated, nearer to the t»-<l as she said: “T.ko rare, Jim. You risk too much. There meat bo some thief- taker in Lie world clever enough to recognize tho forger James Woodfall in the jewel rot her—" At that momet, while I listened with pulses beating high and eager eyes for the name, tho door openod, and the siek woman, distracted by the noise, erbd: “What's that?” It was the cook come to t iko mv place. But the reaction from toe high pressure tension of my nerves Q./vig the last few hours was too much for me. 1 foil fainting to tho floor. Tho next morning I awoko with s headache. Tho grease had been re moved from the stairs, hut I never went down them at night without a shudder. I telegraphed Mr. Raynor.to ,tell.him of the accident, without in forming him of tho cause, and re ceived a reply before dinner timo. “Am much distressed about accident Give her every care. Have sent off an experienced nurse already." And by the afternoon train she ar rived—a silent mlddlo-agcd woman, the very sight of whom inspired re spect which in my case amounted to awe. 1 sat with Haidee in my room most of the day. Just before dinner time Mrs. Rayner came into the room. See ing her in the full light of my four windows. I was shocked at thp change In her appearance which had taken E l ace since my arrival at the Alders, % ttle over two montha before. Her At last I caogbt sight of a black baf lying on the floor which looked Ilka the one I had seen Sarah have when she started for town the day before. Perhaps she had not removed her pur chases. I took it and my attention was directed to u board on the floor directly under where it had been lying, In which there was a tiny ring. I put my linger through it and found that it raised a trap door. The rush of cold air that came through the door ss I openod it almost took my breath away. I held my candle over the opening and saw that some three feet below the lad der was green and slimp, and that a foot below that there was water. Was it a well? Suddenly there flashed through my mind Sarah’s words in her delirium of the night before: “The water's deep in the cellar.” I looked about me for something to try the depth of the water with, for go down I most 1 found a rod that looked like tboae used for the bottom of window-blinda, and cautiously, candle in hand, vent ured on the ladder. It was quite firm. As soon as I was on the bottom dry step, the fourth from the top, I saw that 1 was in a large cellar, on ne side pt which were empty wine-bins which looked rotten and green. Above the level of the water the walls were green too. There was a tiny grating hign up, from which down to the water there was a long green streak, as if water continually ran down there. I heard the drip, drip at intervals while 1 stayed. The cellar ran to the left— nuder Mrs. Rayner's room, I suddenly thought with horror. Did she know that she might be living over a well? I tried the depth of the water; it was be tween three and four feet Then I looked throngh the rungs of the ladder I was standing on, and thonght that I saw something behind it Putting out my rod, I felt something soft which shook at the touch. I peered round the ladder and saw, on a big deal table tho top of which had been raised abont eight or ten inches above the water’s level, the little brown portmanteau 1 had seen Tom Parke's carry across the lawn, the same that I, had afterward discovered inside the back-door. And I remembered now where I had seen if before—stowed away ut the bottom of a cupboard in the room I had occupied at Denham Court. I knew it by an old Italian luggage-label, “Torino,” which 1 had noticed there. It was within arm's reach through the rungs of the ladder. With trembling fingers I opened it—for it was not even fastened—and, to my hoiror, drew out from a confusion o’l glittering things with which it was hall tilled a serpent bracelet I had seen Lady Mills wear. I put it back,closed the portmanteau, with difficulty, and clung to the ladder, overwhelmed by my discovery. Again my brain seemed to whirl round, ns it had done on the prevtoas' night, when Sarah ’ ' * ’ “ point of revealing other name. My candle slipped from my lingers.fell with a hisSand a splash into the water darkness. * . It wss new life tom* tTwas Mt unutterable joy, to read tk put myohsok ugaiast tho _ to took R issids my gown sad I was is posoeosiou of tho moat precious treasure the whole world could produce, tho first real long letter from the man 1 loved. I went into the dining mom, took 11 out again, and began kissing each Hne in turn, I waa so silly with happiness. ( had got to the middle of the second pege in this fashion when the iron bar which fastened the shutters fell down ilmoet without noise. I thrust my 'otter hastily into my gown, when one it the shuttere slid bsek and Mr. Sayner was in the room before I could naeh the door. With n cry of relief. I ■prang.toward Mas. "Oh, Mr. Rayner, how you as! I thought you were a b ’My poor dear little girt, m in this way to save kicking my keels at the door, but I wouldn't nsvs done it, frightening you out of your wits, if I had known yon were in here. I thought everr body would be occupied with the two invalids. -And how are yon, little woman?" 1 was delighted to see him and to feel there wee some one in the house I could trust I told him at once I had been compelled to aasnme some re sponsibility and expressed the hope that he would not be angry when he heard all I had done. No, my child, I am sure I shall not,” said he, helping himself to some cold beef on the sideboard—there was no regnlar. supper at the Alders, but there were always meat and biscuits on the sideboard after tea for those who eared for them. “How is Mrs. Ray ner?” I told him that she was no better and no worse, and that she had moved to day into the front spare room. “To-day?” “Yea She waa so reluctant to leave her own room that I took the liberty of Idling Sarah I would answer to you for delaying the change this one day. Was it too forward of me?" I asked timidly. “No," said he, very kindly, drawing me into a chair beside him at the table; below, and I was CHATTER XXIV. I give one cry as I found myself hi the darkness and then felt my way nj tho ladder out cf that dreadful cellai into tho store-room above. I closed tho trap door, groped my way to the passage, looked the store-room and then crept slowly along until I reached the great baize covered door which swung open ta my push. Never did 1 feel more devoutly thankful than wher I found myself iu tho lighted ball On tho table beside me lay an envel ope addressed in Mrs. Manners’ hand- writing, to “Miss Christie, The Ald er),’’ which lay on the table best !^ me. 1 t.ire it open, and scarcely glancing al her hr. I little note saying*that she had received fie inclosed when she called at the Bcaconsburgh post-office that afternoon, pressed Laurence’s letter tc my lies rgnin and again before I opened it It said: “Nicb. Friday. “Mr own sw-Eirr Vionar.—1 had hoped tc And a li tter from j on waiting for mo on my nr:vat here; hut I know very well It Isnol four fault that I am d sappolnted, even If] do not In ar fram you for a whole week—for 1 "Oh.! I don’t know what yon will say, but I made Sarah take Haidee’• cot up to my room! The dressing-room in toe left wing is so very ooldT And then I sent for Dr. Lowe. Was that right? I had heard he was the best doctor in Bea consbnrgh.” I asked this rather nervously, for I knew Mr. Rayner disliked Dr. Lowe. But he was in too good humor to find fault with any thing. “AU that yon have done b perfectly right, and always will be, in my eyes; so you need never fear what I may say to you, child. Have you any mors news? I want to hear all about Sarah’s accident, and whether yon were very much alarmed when you heard about the robbery at Denham Court." “I have a lot to tell you,” I said “bnt I won’t tell yon any of it to-night It b all bad news and I won’t spoil yonr first evening. Every thing will come all right now yon are back/’ Mr. Rayner laughed and seemed much pleased. We sat chatting until eleven o’clock and I grew very sleepy listening to his adventures in London. At breakfast next morning toe talk was all abont the robbery at Denham Court Mrs. Rayner said little, and 1 only told Mr. Csnuther'e story, reserv ing the suspicions things I nad seen on til I could talk to him alone. 1 was in the school room the next day when Mr. Rayner came fat and said he was ready to hear the bad news I had mentioned the night before. He asked me if Sarah had been annoying me and I told him of her taking the letter I had written from the maB bag and of her setting the trap forme by greasing the stairs. Mr. Rayner turned quite pale when I came to my slippieg on the stairs and catching my foot in the string, and he looked up and ont oi the window from under hb frowning brows with an ex pression of hard fury that made me in stinctively move Away from him on mj chair, it was so terrible, so merciless. It waa with averted head that I whis pered all the suspicious things I had seen and heard connecting Sarah and Tom Parkes with the Denham Court burglaiy—my views of Turn carrying something across the lawn; hb return ing with Sarah; the fact of two men in a cart having been seen outside; my seeing the Frown portmanteau inside the back-door; and lastly my discovery of the portmanteau in the cellar under to _ ‘Now, I have look afi to look to look “My mother!” I "Yea. 1 want to qaa . ~ tha plan to _ „ to pot hi a wead and asked We have meet ns at .. - rival in town next , _ “Next,Friday!” aaU I, wttdered. “Thera, child,” aaid Mr. inr a letter from kis ' it into my hands. ' be able to take ft all ha It waa a letter in my ■otbsc's hand writing. I opened it, atm Utterly be wildered. It said: “Hr Dabubo Viouk,—Taw Mr. RarDarMwaltlact aotsaa tBssefawUaaa: aadl S< presanr faatwus at Ms sari I am to <nfta toss: but Ido persuasion, an outAt for ir:Ui me to r.m to vaast __ siurtiny oa ajoaraay pra swi for as ad las u hV'e do time tor toon Ids. With boat tova fsoas coutlaa, la the food bopa of • ai Amt My dear mother! It w her to see nothing so very uxt) nary in thb oiler, to take it« ai of course, and thank Heaven for It hi the most simple-minded way, white K troubled me somewhat still. I the letter twice through, and tried depreestingly to thank him fss the outfit he had got her to provide. Oh, does die mention that? I told her not to do so," said he, ‘ _ “You don't know my mother. •he has any thing to tell, ate eua’tm sist telling it. Thb letter b her. Bat she has done two never In all her life did her letter and put no postscript. lVO BK OOBTTXPKH J mu. B. lc6tiU,B.I.S. Offers hb professkms the people of Dariingtoa and vieiBiky. Office over the store of Edwards A Co Jan If. #4— cheeks were waa Bad hollow, hsr urss > r. j.'uinoynt Tsrtx »lopp:ug tbnrs tail nlrht. Ac oon as we sot t.ioro, 1 opoued my wrltinr- cas> aiut wrote a t uy note to mydariins. I left the room for a m oute to order soma thin, to eat, w.lh my tettur closed up and <U- rente 1 to you ou the table, reudy to ba In- cloeed to Mrs Manners. When I came book, I found my mother thers; she had torn oiwa my letter and whs readmit It- Ihenwahada scene. I nsecd for my letter, and she tore It up and t ins It Into Urn Are place, wlib soa.e words ab. ut you that sent my forbearanoa to the winds, and I told her that sUsWas speak- Inn about my future w.fa. “ ’Your f iture wife.' aniw-rcl she, draw- . Ins herself up to her f ill ho.ubt and minus ' atft the matter tn the verr bottom, out her voice in • wav i .at always rednees silt uie.nianeT VO tne^very^ooticisL my fathertoiiothlnsui-vd,‘is Uiss Laustoax of U a,towers.’ “• iou have t -on m'slnform-d, mother, la such a mailer it is always best to get your information at first band. Your future daughter-in lew Is Ml-s V.olet Chrlrtie, the most beautiful sill In KorfolK or out of It.’ “1 expected a lot more nonseaae: bat sbe vaa so much token bysurprise that tketspeeek broke the beck of the dif&ouKy: end bow. though she receive# all my atteet os and we era setting along Vary urn My, the knows kerooutroi over her < la at an end. 1 only w.ak. my < my prom toe to lay father had noti the ttore-room. mad mv recognition of it and of the bracelet I took out of it at bap-hazard as having both come from Denham Court. Mr. Rayner listened with the deepest interest, but with some incredulity. “My- dear child, it b impossible—at bast I hope from my soul it may tarn out to bo so. Poor old Sarah b, I ac knowledge, the worst tempered and most vindictive woman alive. But tho accomplice of thiovesi I can not be lieve it.” He got np and walked about the room, questioned mo again jlosely, and then remained for si Sew ninutes in deep thought. “Sbe would sever dare! Sarah b afraid of me, and x> bring stolen goods into my house mould be a greater liberty than even an >ld servant would take, I think.” I wondered Mr. Rayner did not ask Be for the store-room keys andgohim- •elf to prove atjeast one part of my itory; but I did not like to suggest i( half fearing, coward as I was, that he would ask me to go with him to that dreadful cellaY. “Don’t say a word about thb to any one, child,” said he, at last “I must ' ._** is possible that they to my both have been cheated by come ciever knave Into assisting Mm innocently. Bnt didn’t you say yon saw Tom ~ r what yon took for the Tuesday night?” “Yei Mr. “ “But the I ! iii Fort —MMMM—MMMMti The Equitable Sodety in the Department of the Carolina*, wishes to cure a few Special Resident | Agents. Those who are fitted for this work will find this It is mart, however,and those who succeed best in it possess character, mature judgment, tact, perseverance, and the respect of their comnranity. Think this matter over care fully. There’s an tmnam! opening for somebody, ff k fits yon, it will pay you. Far ther information on request. W. J. Roddey, t u \ rW";-' ■ ■ f /r, X