Newspaper Page Text
J
VOL.
A H 4 1*1' T XKW 1K48.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1878.
NO. 12
Five faces has tin* year to me;
First, a snowy one we see.
White anil shining, full of fun
Till tin* winter days are done.
Then lie turns a smiling face.
Sweet with tenderness and grace,
Spring-time garlands on his orow —
Oh, the Year is lovely now !
Soon he looks through summer flowers,
Beaming on this world ot ours ;
Warm and glad and In his prime
Is this year in summer-time.
See! he flings the flowers aside;
Glows tie now in harvest pride.
Keil and brown and gold, the fail
Shows the grandest face of all.
< me bright flash— the glow is gone !
Now the year a frown put son.
He is growing very old,
i ’ross and weary, stern and cold.
He has been so good and kind,
Poor old year! we must not mind;
Thinking of Ills early grace,
We ll forget his cruel face.
Love him as he goes away !
just a week from Christmas day
We shall have another year.
White and bright and full of cheer.
ULOKUIA.
HV MRS. HATTIE ItT SSEI.I. ECHOES.
Whv chant the praise of classic isles,
Where Sappho's burning harp was strung ;
And twine your wreaths for beauty’s smiles,
And leave your own blest land unsung?
Your own brown hills, your verdant vales :
Your granite summits In the skies ;
Atlienia kissed by scented gales.
Worships her goddess in her sighs.
Kegal pride and regal, splendor.
Might envv nature's love for thee ;
Tin floral treasures sweet and tender,
Would gem the K.dens o’er the sea.
“My native land, goodnight, was sung—
Allah alone hath wept o'er him :
I felt how sore that heart was wrung
When Georgia's hills to me grew dim.
Hast thou e'er seen the prairies wide?
The grand Sierras clad in snow ?
The crested waves neath Neptune ride?
And the red morn when tempests blow ?
The mountain's, or the ocean’s child.
Will love their memory more and more—
t ’onics it within the storm cloud wild,
Or in the smile a mother wore.
The erubescent rose must smile,
Ere Autumn's russet leaflets ijuiver
The pilgrim tired rests awhile,
In t tie cool shade beside the river.
Then rising on his bending stall.
His fevered lips the waters press.
Ah ! sweeter far than wine we ipiafl.
Or sweet delusion's soft caress.
From wine and marble let me turn—
And ruined Home, ill dust asleep—
Let Albion's fame like planets burn—-
On this I'll smile, o'er that I’ll weep.
Hut here; mid nature's grandest gifts.
Where India's wealth swells all the hills;
My fancy rests, my glad heart lifts.
Its praise to Georgia's tields and rills.
From the Galaxy,]
APPLIED SCIENCE.
A Lovt* Story in Two Chapters.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.
4IIAHTF.R 11.
conclusion.
Tlu* dreary day crept to it* end.
Alina recovered, and retired to her
room. Mr. Denny, overcome by the
excitement of the interview, Mas
quite ill, ami the visitor, oppressed
with a sense of partial defeat, took a
lotto walk through the country. The
enemy had made such an extraordi
nary movement that for the time he
was disconcerted, and lie wished to
be alone, that he could think over the
situation. About six o’clock in the
afternoon he returned looking bright
and calm, as if he had thought out
his problem and had nerved himself
up to do and dare all in behalf of the
woman he loved. He went quietly
to his room and began his preparation
for vigorous assault upon the enemy.
He rolled out his micro-lantern
into the middle of the room, drew up
the curtains at the window that faced
Mr. Bel ford’s chamber, and prepared
to adjust the apparatus to a new and
most singular style of lantern projec
tions. He had hardly finished the
work to Ids satisfaction before he
heard Alma’s knock at the door, lie
hastily drew down the curtains, and
then invited her to come in.
She opened the door and appeared
upon the threshold, the picture of re
signed ami heavy sorrow. She had
evidently been weeping, and the dark
dress in which she had arrayed her
self seemed lo intensify the look of
anguish on her face. The son of sci
ence was disconcerted. He did not
know what to say, and, with great
wisdom, lie said nothing.
She entered the room without a
word, and sat wearily down on a
trunk. Elmer quickly rolled out the
great easy chair so that it would face
the open western window.
“Sit here, Miss Denny. This is far
more comfortable.”
“Oh, Elmer ! Have you too turn
ed against me ?”
"Not knowingly. Sit here where
there is more air, and before this
view and this beautiful sunset.”
She rose, and with a forlorn smile
took the great chair and then gazed
absently out of the window ujhui the
charming landscape, brilliant with
the glow of the setting sun. Elmer
meanwhile went on with his work,
and for a little space neither spoke.
Then she said, with a faint trace of
impatience in her voice—
“What are you doing, Elmer ?”
“Preparing for war.”
“It is useless. It is too late.”
“Think so?”
“Yes. Everything has been set
tled, and in a very satisfactory man
ner—at least father is satistieii, and I
suppose 1 ought to lie.”
8he smiled and held out her hand
to him.
“How can 1 ever thank you, cousin
Elmer? You will not forget me
when I am gone.”
“Forget you, Alma ! Tnat was un
kind.”
He took her hand, glanced at the
diamond ring upon her linger, and
looking down upon her as she lay
half reclining in the great chair, he
said, with an eftbrt, as if the words
pained him :
“Alina, you have surrendered to
him.”
She looked up with a startled ex
pression, and said :
“What do you mean ?”
“ You have renewed your engage
ment with Mr. Belford'?”
“Yes—of course 1 have. He—he
is to he my husband ”
“On Wednesday.”
“Yes. How did you know it ?”
Instead of replying he turned to a
drawer and drew forth a long ribbon
of white paper. Holding it to the
light, near the window, lie began to
read the words primed in dots and
lines upon it.
“Here is your own confession.
Here are all the messages you sent
me from the parlor, when you broke
your engagement with him ”
“Oh, Elmer ! Did you save that ?
Destroy it—destroy it at once. If he
should find it, he would never forgive
me.”
“You need not fear. I shall not
destroy it, and it shall never cause
you any trouble.”
She had risen in her excitement,
and stood ujxm her feet. Suddenly
she flushed a rosy ml, and a strange
light shone in her eyes. The sun
had sunk behind the hills, and it
had grown dark. As the shadows
gathered in the room a strange, mys
tic light fell on the wall before her.
A picture—dim, ghostly, gigantic,
and surpassingly beautiful—met her
astonished eyes. She gazed at it
with a heating heart, awed into si
lence by its mystery and its unearthly
aspect. What was it ? . What did it
mean ? By what magic art had he
conjured up this vision ? She stood
with parted lips gazing at it, while
her bosom rose and fell with her
rapid, excited breathing. Suddenly
she threw her arms above her head,
and with a cry fell hack upon the
chair.
“Oh, Elmer ! My heart ”
He had been gazing absently out
of the window at the fading twilight,
mil hearing her cry of pain, lie turn
ed hastily and said :
“Alma, what is it ? Are you ”
He caught sight of the picture on
the wall. He understood it at once,
and went to the stereopticon that
stood at the other end of the room
and opened it. The lamp was burn
ing brightly, and he put it out and
closed the door. Then lie drew out
the glass slide, hold it a moment to
the light to make sure that it was
Alma’s portrait, and then he kissed it
passionately, and shivered it into
fragments upon the hearthstone.
She heard the breaking glass, and
rose hastily and turned toward him.
“Elmer,* that was cruel. Why did
you destroy it ?”
“Because it told too much.”
“It was my picture?”
“Yes. I confess with shame that I
stole it when you were asleep under
t he influence of the gas 1 gave you.
It happened to be in the lantern
when you came in.”
“And so I saw it pictured on the
wall ?”
“Yes. In that way did it betray
me. Forget it, Alma. Forget me.
Forget everything. Forget that 1
ever came here——”
“No—never. I cannot.”
“You will be married soon and go
away. I presume we may never
meet again.”
“Oh, Elmer, forgive me. I am the
one to be forgiven. 1 am alone to
blame for all this sorrow. I thought
I alone should sutler. But—but, El
mer, you will not forget me, and you
see—you must see that what I do is
for the best. It is the only M ay. 1
cannot see my father beggared.”
The clear-headed son of science
seemed to be losing his self-control.
This M as all so iicm", so exciting, so
different from the calm and steady
flow of his student life, that he kncM'
not M’bat to say or do. He begun to
turn over his hooks and papers in a
nervous manner, as if trying to M in
hack control of his own tumultuous
thoughts. Fortunately Alma came
to his rescue.
“Elmer, hear me.”
“Yes,” he said M'itli an effort.
“Tell me about it; then perhaps we
can understand each other better.”
“I M ill. Come and sit by me. It
grows dark, and 1—M’ell, it is no mat
ter. It will do me good to speak of
it.”
“Yes, do. SorroM - shared is divid
ed by half.”
“And joy shared is doubled,” she
added. “But we M ill not talk of ‘the
might have been.’ ”
Then she paused and looked out on
the gathering night for some minutes
in silence. Elmer sat at her feet
upon a low stool, and waited till she
should speak.
“Elmer, say that you Mill forgive
me m hatever happens. No matter
hmv dark it looks forme, forgive me
—and—do not forget me. 1 couldn’t
bear that. On Wednesday I am to
be married to Mr. Belford. It is the
only May by M'hich I can save my
father. There seems no help for it,
and I consented this afternoon. Mr.
Belford took up the mortgage, and I
am to he his reMard.”
Elmer heard her through in silence
and then he stood up before her, and
his passion broke out in fury upon
her.
“Alma Denny, you are a fool.”
She cowered before him, and cover
ed her face M'itli her hands.”
“Have you no sense? Can you
not see the M'ide pit of deceit that is
spread before you? Do you believe
m hat lie says ?' Will you M'alk into
perdition to save your father?
“Oh, Elmer! Elmer! Spare me,
spare me, for my father’s sake !”
Her sobs and tears choked her ut
terance, and she shrank away into
the depths of the chair, in shame and
terror, thankful that the darkness
hid her from his vieM'. Still his
righteous indignation blazed upon
her hotly.
“Where have you lived? What
have you done, that you should be so
deceived by this man ? Hom- can you
save your father? If you cannot
find that missing m ill, of what avail
is this M-ithdruM'al of the mortgage ?”
“1 ilo not km»M'. Oh, Elmer! I
am M'eak, and l have no mother, and
father is L must save him if I
can—at any price.”
“You cannot save him. The de
visee M'ho held the M ill has heirs.
They can still claim the property. Be
sides, how could Mr. Belford pay off
that mortgage? Depend upon it a gi
gantic fraud ”
“Elmer! Tank God,you have saved
She fainted quietly aMay, and slid
doM'n upon the floor at his feet. He
called two of the maids, and M'itli
their help he took her to her room
and placed her upon her omti bed.
Then, bidding them care for her prop
erly, he returned to his omti room,
anil the heavy night fell doM'n on the
sorroM'ful house.
Far aMay in the nortlnvest climb
ed up a ragged mass of sombre clouds.
Alar off the deep voice of the thun
der muttered fitfully. The son of
science dreM' up his curtains and
looked out on the coming storm.
There M as a solemn hush and calm
in the air. Nature seemed resting,
and nerving herself for the M'arfare
of the elements.
He too had need of calm. He dreM'
a chair to the M'indoM', and sitting
astride of it, lie rested his arms upon
the back, and his chin upon his fold
ed hands, and for an hour watched
the lightning flash from ragged cloud
to ragged cloud, and gave himself to
deep and anxious thought. The thun
der greM' nearer and nearer. The
dark veil of clouds blotted out the
starsmie by one. The roar ot the
water tailing over the dam at the mill
seemed to fill the air M'ith its mur
mur. Every leaf and flower hung
motionless.
He heard the village clock strike
nine, M'itli loud,deep notes that seem
ed almost at hand. Every nerve of
his body seemed strung to electric
tension, and all nature tuned to a
higher pitch as if dark and terrible
things M ere abroad in the night.
He heard a sound of closing blinds
and windows. The servants were
shutting up the house, and preparing
it for the storm.
One of them knocked at his door
anil asked if she should come in and
close the M'indows.
He opened the door, thanked her,
and said lie Mould attend to it him
self. As he closed the door and step
ped back into the room, he stood up
on something and there Mas a little
crash. Thinking it might be glass
lie lit a candle and looked for the bro
ken object, whatever it might he.
It M-as Alina’s engagement ring,
broken in twain. It had slipped
from her nerveless finger when they
took her to her room. With a ges
ture of impatience, he picked up the
fragments, and threw them, diamond
and all out of the window into the
garden below.
Then for another hour he sat alone
in the darkness of his room, watchful
and patient. He dreM' up the
curtain toward Alma’s room. There
was a light there, and he sat gazing
at her M'hite curtain till the light Mas
extinguished. The other lights M-ere
all put out one after the other, and
then it became very still.
The clock struck ten. The gather
ing storm climbed higher up the M'est-
ern sky. The lightning flashed
brighter and''brigliter. There M as a
sigh in the tree tops as if the air
stirred uneasily.
Suddenly there was another light,
Mr. Belford’s curtain Mas brightly
illuminated by his candle. Elmer
moved his chair so that he could
Match the window, and M'aited pa
tiently till the light Mas put out.
Then'he saw the curtain raised and
the window drawn down.
“All right, my boy! That’s just
M’hat I wanted. Nemesis has
a clear road, and her shadoM-y sword
shall reach you. Nom' for the closed
circuit alarm.”
He silently pulled off his shoes, and
then, M'itli the tread of a cat, he felt
about Iris room till he found on the
table two delicate coils of fine insula
ted wire and a couple of tacks. Care
fully opening the door, he crept
down stairs and through the hall to
door of the library. The door M'as
closed, and kneeling down on the
mat he pushed a tack into the door
near the jamb and stuck the other in
the door post, From one to another
he stretched a bit of insulated M ire.
Then, aided by the glare of the flash
es of lightning, that had now grown
bright and frequent, he laid the wires
under the mat and along the floor to
the front of the stairs. Then in His
stockinged feet he crept upward,
dropping the M ires over into the M'ell
of the stairM’ay as he M - ent. In a
moment or two the M'ires M’ere traced
along the floor of the upper entry
and under the door into his room.
Here they M ere secured to a small
battery, and connected M'ith a tiny
electric hell that stood on the mantle
shelf. To stifle its sound in case it
rang, he threw his straM' hat over the
hell, and then he felt sure that at
least one part of his M'ork was done.
Louder and louder rolled the thun
der. The lightning flashed brightly
and lit up the hare, mean little room
M’here the wretch cowered and shiv
ered in the bed, sleepless and fearful
he kncM - not M'hy. He feared the
storm and the night. He feared ev
erything. His guilty heart made
terrors out of the night and nature’s
healthful Morkings. The very storm,
blessed harbinger of clearer days and
sM eeter airs, terrified him.
There M as a sound of rushing M’ind
in the air. A more vivid flash blind
ed him. He sat up in bed and stoji-
ped his coM'ard ears to drown the
splendid roll of the thunder. An
other flash seemed to till the room.
Ah! What M’as that? His eyes
seemed to start from their sockets in
terror.
There, M'ritten in gigantic letters of
fire upon the M'all.gloM'ed and burned
a single M in'd :
FRAUD!
He stared at it and rubbed his
eyes. It would not be winked out.
There Mas a loud crash of thunder
and a furious dash of rain against
the M'indoM'; then another blinding
stroke of lighting. He drew the
clothing over his head in abject ter
ror. Again the thunder rolled as if
in savage comment on the writing
on the Mall.
It was a mistake, a delusion. He
Mould face the horrid accusation.
It M as gone, and in its place M'as a
picture. It seemed the the top of—
Ah! It M'as that chimney. Al
ready the false stucco had fallen off,
and there, pictured upon his Mall in
lines of fire, M ere the evidences of
his fraud and crime.
He sprang from the bed M'ith an
oath and looked out of the M'indow.
Darkness everywhere. The beating-
rain on the window pany ran doM'n
in blinding rivulets. A vivid flash of
lightning illuminated the garden and
the house. Not a living thing Mas
stirring. He turned toM'ard the bed.
The terrible picture had gone. With
a muttered curse upon his M'eak, dis
ordered nerves, lie crept into bed and
tried to sleep.
Suddenly the terrible writing
gloM'ed upon the Mall again, and he
fairly screamed M'ith fright and hor
ror :
MURDER!
He M-rithed and turned upon the
lied in mortal agony. He stared at
the letters of the am fill Mord M'itli
ashen lips and chattering teeth.
What hideous dream M'as this? Had
his reason reeled? Could it play him
phantom tricks like this? Or M'as it
an avenging angel from heaven wri-
ting his crimes upon the black
night ?
“Great God ! What Mas that?”
The writing disappeared, and in
its place stood a picture of his
wretched victim and himself. Her
fair, innocent face looked down upon
upon him from the darkness, and he
saM' his own form beside her.
He raved with real madness now.
Great drops of perspiration gathered
on his face. He dared not face those
beautiful eyes so calmly gazing at
! him. Where had high Heaven gain-
i ed such knowledge of him ? Hom*
j could God punish him with such aw
ful cruelty ?
! “Hell and damnation have come,”
he screamed in frantic terror. The
thunder rolled in deep majesty, and
none heard him. The M'ind and rain
beat upon the house, and his ravings
disturbed no one.
“Take it aMay! Take it away!”
he cried in sheer madness and agony.
It would not move. The lightning
only made the picture more startling
and aM'ful. The sM eet and beau
tiful face of Alice Green lived before
him in frightful distinctness, and his
soul seemed to burn to cinder before
her serene, unearthly presence.
It M'as her ghost revisiting the
earth. Was it alM'ays thus to tor
ment him ?
“Thank God ! It has gone.”
The room became pitch dark, and
lie fell upon the pilhnv in M'liat seem
ed to him a bloody sM'eat. He could
not sleep, and for some time he lay
trembling on the bed and trying to
collect his senses and decide whether
he M'as in possession of his reason or
not.
Suddenly there Mas a flash of light
and a neM’ vision sprang into exisi-
ence before him.
An angel in long M'hite robes seem
ed to he flying through the airtoward
him, anil above her head she
held a sword. Beneath her feet M’as
the M r ord “Nemesis!” in letters of
glowing fire.
The poor wretch rose up in bed,
kneeled down upon the mattress, and
facing the gigantic ligure that seem
ed to float in the air above him, cried
aloud in broken gasps,
“Pardon ! For—Christ ”
He threw up his arms and scream
ed in delirious terror.
The angel advanced through the
air toward him and greM' larger and
taller. She seemed ready to strike
him to the ground—and she M’as
gone.
He fell forward flat on his face, ami
tears gushed from his eyes in tor
rents. For aM'hile he lay thus moan
ing and crying, ami then he arose,
staggered to the wash basin, bathed
his face with cold water, and crept
shivering and trembling into bed.
The storm moved sloM'ly away. The
lightning greM* less frequent, and the
thunder rolled in more subdued
tones. The wind subsided, but the
rain fell steadily and drearily. One
M’ho M'atched heard the clock strike
tM'elve and then one.
Slowly the laggard hours slipped
UM'ay in silence. The rain fell in mo
notonous showers. The darkness
hung like a pall over everything.
The M'retch in his bed tossed in
sleepless misery. He hardly dared
look at the blackness of the night, for
fearsome neM' vision might affright
him M'ith ghostly warnings. What
had he better do ? Another night in
ibis haunted room Mould drive him
insane. Had he not better fly—leave
all and escape out of sight in the hi
ding darkness? Better abandon the
greater prize, take everything in
reach, and fly from scenes so terrible.
He rose softly, dressed completely,
took a few essentials from his table,
did them up in a bundle, and then
like a cat he crept out of the room,
never to return. The house Mas
pitch dark and as silent as a tomb.
He had no need of light, and feeling
his way along with his hands on the
M-all, lie stole down stairs and through
the hall till he reached the library
door. With cautious fingers he turn
ed the handle in silence and pushed
the door open. It seemed to catch
on tlie threshold, hut it Mas only for
an instant, and then he boldly enter
ed the room.
Placing his bundle upon the table,
he took out a small bunch of keys,
and with his hands outstretched be
fore htm he felt for the safe. It Mas
easily found, and then he put in the
key, unlocked the door, and swung it
open. With familiar fingers he pull
ed out M'liat he knew M’ere mere hills
and documents, and then he found
the small tin box in M’hich—
A blinding glare, an aM'ful flash of
overpoM-ering light blazed before him.
His eyes seemed put out by its bewil
dering intensity, and a little scream
of terror escaped from his lips. A
hand seized him by the collar and
dragged him over backward upon the
floor. The blazing, burning light
filled all the room with a glare more
terrible than the lightning. He re
covered his sight, and saM' Nemesis
standing above him, revolver in
hand, and with a torch of magnesi
um Mire blazing in horrid flames
above his head.
“Stir hand or foot, and you—you
understand. There are six chambers
and I’m a good shot.”
“Let me up, you fool, or I” kill
you.”
“Oh! You surprise me, Mr. Bel
ford. I thought it M'as a common
robber.”
“No, it is not—so lower your pis
tol.”
“No, sir. You may rise, but make
the slightest resistance, and I’ll bloM'
your brains into muddy fragments.
Sit in that chair, and M'hen I have
secured you properly, I’ll hear any
explanation you may make. Your
conduct is very singular, Mr. Belford,
to say the least. That’s it. Sit
down in the arm chair. Nom- I’m
going to tie you into it, and on the
slightest sign of resistance I shall
lire.”
The poor, coM'ed creature sank into
the chair, and the son of science
placed his strange lamp upon the ta
ble. With the revolver still in hand
lie procured a match and lit a candle
on the table. Then he extiguish-
ed his torch, and the overpowering
light gave place to a more agreeable
gloom. Then he took from his pock
et a tiny electric bell and a little bat
tery made of a small ink bottle. Then
lie dreM' forth a small roll of wire,and
securing one end to the battery, M'ith
the revolver still in band, lie walked
round the chair three times, and
bound the thief into it M'ith the slen
der M’ire.
“Stop this fooling, Iwiy! Lower
your revolver, and let me explain
matters.”
“No, sir. When I have you fast
so that you can, do no harm, I talk
M'ith you—not before. Hold back
your head. That’s it. Rest against
the chair M'hile I draM- this wire over
your throat.”
“For God’s sake, stop! Do you in
tend to garrote me ?”
“No. Only I mean to make you se
cure.”
“This won’t hold me long. I’ll
break your M'ires in a flash, you little
fool.” *
“No, you will not. The moment
the wire is parted that bell will rin^,
and I shall begin firing, and keep it
up till you are disabled or dead,”
The man suore savagely, but the
cold thread of insulated wire over
his throat thrilled his every nerve. It
seemed some magic bond,mysterious,
wonderful and dreadful. This cool
man of science M-as an angel of awful
and incomprehensible poM’er. His
lamp of such mystic brilliance and
that battery quite unnerved his cow
ard heart. * Wliat aM'ful torture, what
burning flash of lightning might not
rend him to blackened fragments if
tlie M’ires M-ere broken! To such
depths of puerile ignorance and ter
ror did tlie wretch sink in his guilty
fancy. He dared not move a muscle
lest tlie M ire break. The very thought
of it filled him with unspeakable ag
ony. The son of science placed him
self before his prisoner. With the re
volver at easy rest, he said:
“Mr. Belford, I am going to call
help. Do not move M'hile I open the
door.”
In mortal terror the M’retch turned
his head round to see M'hat M’as go
ing on. He managed to get a glimpse
of the room M'itliout breaking the
M’ire round his throat, and he saM' the
young man stoop to the floor and
pick up something. Then he made
some strange and rapid motions M’ith
the fingers of his right hand, while
the left still steadied the revolver.
For several minutes nothing hap
pened. The two men glared at each
other in silence, and then there was a
sound of opening doors. One closed
M’ith an echoing slam that resounded
strangely through the old house, and
then there Mere light footsteps in the
hall.
“Oh ! Elmer! What is it ? What
has happened?”
“Nothing very serious—merely a
common burglar. I called you be
cause I M'ished help.”
“Yes, I heard the bell, and I read
your message in my room by the
sound. I dressed as quickly as possi
ble. Is there no danger?”
“No. Stand back. Do not come
into the room. Call the men and let
them Make the gardener and his son.
You yourself call your father,and bid
him dress and come doM'n at once.
And, Alma, keep cool and do not be
alarmed. I need, you, Alma, and
you must help me.”
Then the house M’as very still, and
the watcher paced up and down be
fore his prisoner in silence. There
came a hasty opening of doors, and
excited steps and flaring lamps in the
hall.
“ ’Tis the young doctor. Oh ! By
mighty! Here's troubles!”
“Quiet, men! Keep quiet. Come
in. He cannot hurt you.”
The three men, shivering and anx
ious, ]icereil into the room M'ith
blanched faces and chattering teeth.
“Have you a rope ?”
Tin* calm voice of the speaker re
assured them, and all three volunteer
ed to go for one.
“No. One is enough. And one
had better go to Mr. Denny’s room
and help him down stairs. You,
John, may stop M'itli me!”
“Gods!'.Sir, lie will spring at me!”
“Never you fear. He’s fastened
into the chair. Besides—”
“Ay, sir, you’ve the little pet.
That’s tlie kind o’ argiment.”
“It is a rather nice M'eapon—six-
shooter—Colt’s.”
Presently, Mitli much clatter, the
gardener’s" son brought, a rope, and
then, under Mr. Franklin’s directions
they bound the man in the chair
hand and foot.
A moment after they heard Mr.
Denny’s crutch stalking doM'n the
staira, and Alma’s voice assuring
him that there was indeed no danger
—no danger at all.
“What does this mean, Mr. Frank
lin?” said the old gentleman as he
came to the door.
“Burglary, sir. That is all. You
need fear nothing. We have seeured
the man.”
Mr. Denny entered the room lean
ing on Alma’s arm. He saw the
open safe and the papers streM’ed up
on the floor, and he lifted his hand
and shook his head in atarm and
trouble.
“A robbery ! Would they ruin me
utterly ? Where is the villian ?”
“There, sir.”
Alma turned toward the man in the
chair, and clung to her father in ter
ror. The old man lifted his crutch
as if to strike.
“My curse be upon you and yours.”
“Oh, father, come away. Leave
the poor M'retch. Perhaps he has ta
ken nothing.”
The men gathered round in a circle
and Elmer dreM' near to Alma. She
felt his presence near her, and
involuntarily put out her hand to
touch him.
“My curse fall on you ! Who are
you? What have I done to you—you
—viper ?”
The man secured in the chair, and
with the wire draM n tightly over his
throat, replied not a M'ord.
Elmer advanced toM'ard him, and
Alma, M'ith a little cry, tried to hin
der him.
“Do not fear. He cannot move. I
M ill release his head, and perhaps you
M ill recognize him.”
The M’ire about his throat was loos
ened, and the M'retch lifted his head
into a more eomfortable position.
“Ah!”
“Great Heavens! It is Mr. Bel
ford!”
“Yes, sir,” said he. “I forgot to
put aMay some pajiers, and I came
down to secure them, and M'hile I
M’as here that M’retch surprised me,
threatened to murder me, and finally
overpoM'ered me and bound me here
as you see. If you will ask him to
release me, I M ill get up and explain
everything.”
“It’s a lie,” screamed Mr. Denny,
lifting his crutch. “I don’t believe
you—vou thief-—you robber! It’s a
lie!”’
“Oh, father!” cried Alma. “Re
lease him—let him go. He M’ill go
UM'ay then, and leave us. He lias
done M’rong; hut let him go. It
must be some aM'ful mistake, some—”
“No! Never! never! lie—v ”
The Word died away on his lips,
for on the instant there M as a loud
ring at the hull door. They all lis
tened in silence. Again tlje impor
tunate bell pealed through*the echo
ing house.
“It is some one in distress,” said
Elmer. “John, do you take a light
and go to the door. Ask M’hat is
M-anted before you loose the chain,
and tell them to go away unless it is
a case of life or death.”
They listened in breathless interest
to the* confused sounds in the hall.
There M as a moving of locks, and
then rough voices talking in suppress
ed M'hispers. The candles flared in
the cold draught of M'ind that swept
iuto the room, and the sound of the
rain in the trees filled the air. Then
the door closed, .and John returned,
and in an excited whisper said :
“It’s Mr. Jones, the sheriff.”
At this word Mr. Belford struggled
with his bonds, and in a broken voice
he cried:
“Oh, Mr. Denny, spare me! Let
me not be arrested. I M ill restore
every-
“iSilence, sir!” said Elmer. “Not
a word till you are spoken to. What
does he want, John ?”
“He says he must see Mr. Denny.
It’s very important—and oh, sir, he’s
a’niost beside himself, and 1 M'ould
not let him in.”
“Call him in at once,” said Mr.
Denny. “It is a most fortunate arri
val. The very man we M’ant.”
John returned to the hall, and in a
moment an old man, gray-haired and
wrinkled, but still vigorous and
strong, stood before them. He seemed
a giant in his huge great coat, and
M’hen he removed his hat his massive
head and thick neck seemed almost
leonine.
“Ah ! Mr. Sheriff', you have arrived
at a most opportune moment. We
M’ere just aM'akened from our beds
by this robber. We captured him,
and Me have him here.”
“Beg pardon, sir. Sorry to hear it,
but’t M’ere another errant that brought
me here. The M idoM' Green’s daugh
ter, Alice, she that was missing, has
been found in the mill-race—dead.”
They all gave expression to undis
guised* astonishment, and the prison
er in the chair groaned heavily.
“And I have come for the key of
the boat house, sir, that mc may go
for the—body, sir.”
“How horrible! When did all
this happen ?”
“We dunno, sir. I’d like the key
ter once.”
“Certainly—certainly, Mr. Sheriff'.
But this man—cannot you secure
him for the night?”
“Oh, ay. But the child, sir. The
hoys want your boat to go for her.”
“Poor, poor Alice!” cried Alma,
wringing her hands.
“John,” said Elmer, “get the key
for Mr. Jones. Jake, you and your
father can go M'ith the men, and Mr.
Jones, perhaps you had better M'ait
M'ith us, for M e have a little matter of
importance to settle and M'e need
you.”
“Nom ,” said Mr. Franklin, “1 have
one or tM O questions I M'ish to ask
the man, and then, Air. Jones, you
Mill do us a favor if you M ill take
him aMay.
“Lawrence Belford, as you value
your soul, M’here did you obtain that
will?”
If a bolt from the storm overhead
had entered the room, it could not
have produced a more startling im
pression than did this simple ques
tion. Mr. Denny dropped his crutch,
and raised both hands in astonisment.
Alma gave a half suppressed scream,
and even the sheriff' and John M’ere
amazed beyond expression.
The man in the chair made no re
ply, and presently the breathless si
lence M - as broken by the calm voice
of the young mail repeating his
question.
“I found it in the leaves of a hook
in an old book ease in the mill office.”
“What?” cried Mr. Denny, leaning
forward and steadying himself by the
table. “My father’s will! Did you
find it? Release him, John. Hom-
can M’e ever thank you, Mr. Belford ?
It is the missing will—”
“Oh, LaM-renee!” said Alma.
“Why did you not tell us? M'hy did
you not shoM' it? Hom' much trouble
it Mould have saved.”
“Have patience, Alma. Let Mr.
Belford rise and bring the M ill.”
“No,” said Mr. Franklin. “Hear
the rest of the story. Mr. Belford,
you destroyed or suppressed that will,
did you not ?”
“Yes, I did—damn you !”
“Good Lord!” cried the sheriff.
“Did ye hear that?—destroyed it?
That’s State’s prison.”
“Oh, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Denny!
have mercy on me! I)o not let them
arrest me.”
The poor creature seemed to be utter
ly coM’ed and crushed in an instant.
“Marcy !” said the sheriff, taking
out a pair of handcuffs. “It’s little
marcy ye’ll git.”
“You ask for mercy!” cried Mr.
Denny, his face livid M'ith passion.
“You—you M'retch! Have you not
ruined me? Have you not made my
child a beggar, and carried my gray
hairs in sorroM' to the grave? You
kncM' the value of this M ill—and you
destroyed it! Your other crimes are
as nothing to this. I could forgive
your monstrous frauds in my mills—”
Mr. Belford winced and looked sur
prised.
“Ay! M'ince you may. I have
found out everything, thanks to—but
I’ll not couple his name M'ith yours.
And the release of the mortgage—
have you that?”
“No, sir. It is in that bag on the
table.”
The old gentleman eagerly took up
the bundle that lay on the table, and
began with trembling fingers to open
it.
“Wait a moment, Mr. Denny,”
said Mr. Franklin. “I should like to
ask this man a question or tM'o.”
Mr. Denny paused, and there was
a profound silence in the room.
'‘Lawrence Belford, if you are wise
you will speak the truth. That re
lease is a forgery—or at least it has no
legal value.”
“It is not worth a straM*,” replied
the prisoner M’ith cool impudence ;
“and on the M'hole I’m glad of it.
The mortgage will be foreclosed to-
morroM'.”
“Your share will be small, Mr.
Belford. I am afraid your partner
Mill find some difficulty in making
settlement M'itli you, unless he joins
you in prison.”
Mr. Denny sat heavily down in an
arm-chair and groaned aloud. In
vain Alma, M’ith choking voice, tried
to comfort him. The blow M'as too
terrible for words, and for a moment
or tM’o there M as a painful silence in
the room.
Mr. Franklin seemed nervous and
excited. He fumbled in his pocket
as if in search of something. Pres
ently lie advanced Award the old gen
tleman and said quietly:
“Mr. Denny, can you bear one
more piece of news—one more link
in this terrible chain of crime?”
“Yes,” he replied sloM'ly. “There
can V»e nothing Morse than this.
Speak my son—let us hear every
thing.”
“I think, sir,” said the young man
reverently, “that I ought to thank
God that he has enabled me to bring
such knoM'Iedge as he has given me
to your service.”
Then after a brief pause he added.
“There is the will, sir.”
With these M-orda he held out a
small bit of sheet glass about two
inches square.
“Where?” cried Mr. Denny in
amazement. “I see nothing.”
“There i tis—on that piece of glass.
That dusky sj»ot in the centre is a
micro-photographic copy of your
father’s will.”
“My son, my son, do not trifle M'ith
us in this our hour of trial.”
“Far be it from me to do such a
thing. Alma,M ill you please go to
my room and bring iIom ii my lan
tern? And John, you may go and
help Miss Denny. Bring a sheet
from the spare bed also.”
“I do not know what you mean,
my son. You tell me the will is de
stroyed, ami you say you have a
copy ? Is it a legal copy ?
and* how do you really knoM’ it is my
father’s will? Have you read it?”
“Yes, sir. You shall read it too
presently. I have already sihown it
to a'lawyer, and he pronounced it
correct and perfectly legal.”
“But M'hy did you not tell us of it
before?”
“I have only had it a 1cm days, sir,
and I M'ished first to crush or cap
ture this robber.”
“Hadn’t ye better let me take him
off, sir?” said the sheriff. “He’s
done enough to take him before the
grand jury. Besides we have another
bitter hill* gainst him down in tiu-
vlllage.”
“No,” said Mr. Franklin. “Let
him stay and see the Mill. It may
interest* him to know that all his
villainous plans are utterly over
thrown.”
“Shut up, you M'help,” said the
man in the chair.
“Shut up—ye,” replied the sheriff,
administering a stout cuff to the pris
oner’s ear. “Ye best hold your
tongue, man.”
Just here Alma and John returned
M'ith the lantern. Under Elmer’s di
rections they hung the sheet over
one of the windows, and then the
young man prepared his apparatus
for a small trial of lantern projec
tions. Mr. Denny sat in his chair si
lent and wondering. He kncM' not
M’hat to say or do, and M atched these
prejiarations M'ith the utmost atten
tion.
“Mr. Sheriff, if you please you M’ill
stand near Mr. Belford to prevent
him from attempting mischief M'hen
I darken the room. John, you may
put out all the candles save one.”
Alma took her father’s hand and
kneeled upon the floor beside him as
if to aid and comfort him.”
“Nom", John, set that candle just
outside the door in the entry.”
A sense of awe and fear fell on
them all as the room became dark,
and none save the young son of sci
ence dared breathe. Suddenly a round
spot of light fell on the sheet, and its
glare illuminated the room dimly.
“Before I shoM- the Mill, Mr. Sher
iff, I M'ish you to see a photo that
may be of use to you in the little mat
ter in the village of which you M ere
speaking.”
Two .dusky figures slid over the
disk of light*. They greM' more and
more distinct.
“Great God! It’s Alice Green! ”
A passion of weeping filled the
room, and Elmer opened the lantern,
and the room became light. Alma,
M’ith her head bent upon her lather’s
knee, Mas bathed in tears.
“Poor, poor lost Alice!”
“And the felloM' Mitli her? Who
is he?” cried the sheriff.
“That is Mr. Belford—Mr. Lum--
rence Belford,” said Elmer M'itli cool
confidence. “That picture M as taken
through a telescope from my room
on the morning of the Kith.”
“The Kith ! Why, man, that Mas
the day she m-us missed.”
“Yes. Mr. Belford Mas M'ith her
that day, and perhaps he can explain
her disapjiearanee.”
The prisoner groaned in abject ter
ror and misery. He sum - it all now.
His dream pictures M ere explained
His defeat and detection M’ere accom
plished through the young man’s sci
ence. That lie should have been
overtliroM'ii by such simple means
filled him with mortification and an
ger.
“You shall have the picture, Mr.
Sheriff. You may need it at the trial.
And now for the will.”
The room became again dark, and
the figures on the wall stood out sharp
and distinct on tlie sheet. Then the
picture failed aM'ay, and in its place
apjieared Meriting—letters in black up
on M'hite ground.
Salmon Falls, June 1, I860.
“I, Edward Denny,"do hereby leave
and bequeath to my son,John Denny,
all of my property, both real and per
sonal. All other M ills I have made
are hereby annulled. My near death
prevents a more formal will.
“Edward Denny.
“Witness:
“John Maxwell, M. I).’’
“My father’s will. Thank—”
There was a heavy fall, and Elmer
opened his lantern quickly. It Mas
too much for the old man. He had
fallen upon the floor insensible.
“A light, John, quick.”
They lifted him tenderly, a»d with
Alma’s help the old sheriff and the
serving man took him aMay to his
room.
The moment the two men M’ere
alone, the prisoner in the chair broke
out in a torrent of curses and thseats.
The young man quietly took up his
revolver, and said sternly:
“LaM-rence Belford hold your peace.
Your threats are idle. You insulted
me outrageously the day I came here.
I hear you 110 malice, but M'hen you
attempted your infamous plan to cap
ture my cousin and to ruin her fath
er, I sprang to the rescue with such
skill as I could command. We shall
not pursue you M’ith undue rigor, hut
with perfect justice—”
“Oh, Mr. Franklin, have mercy
lijioii me! Let me go! Let me «*s-
eape before they return. 1 M ill go
away—far away ! Save me, save me,
sir! I never harmed you. Have mer
cy upon me!”
“Had you shown mercy perhaps I
might now. No, sir; justice before,
mercy. Hark! the officer comes.”
They fastened the ropes about Bel
ford,ami released the wires, audio
silence he M’ent away into the night,
a broken-doM’n, crushed and ruined
man in the hands of his grisly Ne
mesis.
The young man flung hiuiself upon
the lounge in the library and in a
moment was fast asleep.
The red gold of the coming day
crept up the eastern sky. The storm
became beautiful in its fleecy rains
in the far south. As the stars paled,
the sweet breath of the cool west
wind sprang up, shaking the rain
drops in showers from the trees. The
birds sang and the day came on
apace,
To one M’ho M’atclied it seemed the
coming of a fairer day than had ever
shown upon her life. The vanished
storm, the fresh aspect of nature
moved her to tears of happiness.Long
had she watched the stars. They
M'ere the first signs of light and com
fort she had discovered, and now they
paled before tlie sun. Thus she sat
by the open window in the library
aiid M’atched M'ith a prayer in her
heart.
8he looked at the mantel clock.
Half past four. In half an hour the
house M'ould be stirring. All M-as now
sale. She could return to her room.
She rose and approached the sleeper
on the lounge. He slept peacefully as
if the events of the night disturbed
him not.
He smiled in his dreams, and mur
mured a name indistinctly. She
drew buck hastily and put her hand
over her mouth, while a bright blush
mounted to her face. Just here,
through the sweet, still air of the
morning, came the sound of the vil
lage bell. Tears gathered in her eyes
and fell unheeded upon her hands,
cl .sjied before her.
* ‘ Poor—i< 1st—A lice—n i neteen—j ust
my ”
“Alma.”
She turned towardthe sleeper with
a startled cry. He is aM’akea and sit
ting up.
“What bell is that?”
“It is tolling. They have found
her.”
“Yes, it is a sad story. Alma?”
She advanced toM’ard him. He no
ticed the teara and the morning robe
in whrehhe M'as dressed.
“Wha is it, Elmer? Do you feel
better?”
“Yes. It Mas a very sorry night for
us.”
“Yes, the storm has cleared away.”
He did not seem to heed M'liat she
said.
“How long have you been up?”
“Since it happened. After I sau-
father up stairs, l came doM’n anil
found you here asleep. And Elmer—
forgive me—it Mas wrong, but I did
not mean to stay here so long ”
“Alma!”
“You M’ill pardon me ?”
“Oh! Pardon you—pardon you—
why should I? I dreamed the angels
Matched me.”
“I Mas anxious, and M - e owe you
so much. We can never reward you,
never!”
“Reward, Alma! I M’ant none—
save ”
“Save what?”
He opened his arms wide. A iicm*
and beautiful light came into her
eyes.
“Can there be greater reward than
love ?”
“No. Love is the best reM’ard—and
it is yours.”
[the end.]
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