ll' i I -A y fvv- fiife 1 f IK IP mm litJU m TERXa?i"rcr"'t AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. "IfZ"'.'' "Vol. -viii. New Bloomficld, Xn,., Tuesday, Juno 2, 1874. IVo. 22. 18 PITBUSURO KCKKT TUB8DAI KOKNINO, BI FBANK MOETIMER & CO., At New Bloomfteld, IPerry Co., Ta. BelnR provldnrt with Steam Power, and large Cylinder and Job-Presses, we are prepared to do all kinds of Joh-1'rlntlnK In good style and at bow Prices. ADVERTISING BATES I TrantirM 8 Cents perllno for one lnsortlon 13 " ' twoinsertlons 15 three Insertions Business Notices in Loeal Column 10 Cents per lino. .For1inicer yearly adv'ts terms will be given upon application. THE UNFAITHFUL GUARDIAN. CHAPTER III. T I MIS early morning light stolo through the closed -curtains into the room where Mr. Lennox was lying. He was so changed that one might have thought whole years had elapsed since the terrible scene of the preceding day. His breath came with a labored effort, and he lay back agamst the pillows so weak and faint, that life seemed ebbing away ' upon each troub- ed respiration. Is a chair, bv ttie bedside, sat Mr. James, with writing materials before him, engaged in putting upon paper the direc tioHS which the sidk man dictated it was his will. "I leave everything in your charge," he said, with slow and difficult utterance, "I know that I can tract you." "lam glad to'have your confidence;" Mr. James replied, softly, "very glad." " The whole of my fortune will be placed ' in your trust for the child Nellie; you will love her, care for "her, as I would have done ; for were site my own daughter I could not regard her more tenderly." flir. James wroto-cn for some moments, in -silence, until the sick man's hand laid heavily upon his owa, made him pause. "I have been thinking," he said, speak ing with added pain, " that I ought to mention in some way " 'Kr. James waited for him to proceed, with his eyes calmly rfixed upon the con tracted features. "1 am very sick," continued he, " and it is -difficult for me even to think ; but it seems to me now -" He broke off for amomont, and turned bis face to the wall, while one or two hot tears rolled slowly down his cheek, the first evidence of softening that he had given. But lie wiped them away ts woll as his poor strength would permit, and strove to speak again-in a faint but trembling voice. "You know what I mean, James." " Pardon me, my friend, but I am really at a loss ; perhaps you allude to the age at which the little girl shall enter upon the managemeat of her own fortune ?" " No, no, that is all ar.-anged you will direct -everything, paying her an income until her marriage, then, of course, her affairs will be placed injior husband's hands. I spoke of another;" "Borne relative your ephow, per haps f" "Of my my " the words came forth with a .gasp, and he pressed his hand upon bis breast to stiH a violent paroxysm of pain, " my wife." lie put his handkerchief to Jiis lips to wipe away the specks of foam that bad gathered there, in his effort to apeak, and when he removed it single drop of blood stained the white folds. " What place can this lady possibly have in your will?" Mr. Janes asked, coldly. "This this; oh! If I had only more strength ; I am suffocating call the doctor again !" Tho medical attendant enterod ' in obe dience to the summons, awl bent over bis patient with a look of solicitude. " I feel as if I were choking, doctor, do give ine something to stop It." The physician took a phial from the man tel, poured a few drops of some clear liquid into a spoon, and gave it to him to swal low. , "lam better now," Mr. Lennox said, raising himself on his pillows with a sigh of relief, " Leave me for a little, doctor." The physician left the chamber, and the MiifjCui-cr luy for a few moments, absorbed in thought. " Write this," he said, at length, speak ing mora rapidly, and with energy, " There is no positive proof and should sue ever " "No proof and these lottcrs?" "True, true; what can Idol Write! write!" he said, flinging his hand down upon the table, "If she ever sucoeeds in proving those letters false, she enters into possession of this entire fortune i" Mr. James made no movement to obey, and the sick man reiterated his words more energetically. " I will have it so ; write ! write !" The man still hesitated, sitting there, upright and cold as a figure carved from stone ; but Mr. Lennox repeated the words again and again until they grew into a command. " It is dono," the lawyor said, writing a few hurried lines, " what else is there to be said?" " Let me see it," urged he, clutching at the paper with feverish impetuosity. Mr. James mode a slight movement, as if he would have drawn it from his reach, but tho sick man threw himself forward with suoh force that his face almost struck against the tablo, snatching the document, and falling back again exhausted with the effort. " Where is it ? I cannot find it there is a -dimness over my eyes show it to me quick !" Mr. James leaned over him with tho same deliberation which had characterixod every movement, and pointed to the wards. -" That is not clear enough," said the iok man, "say more more tbat is too vagao." , Mr. James took the paper and wrote the lines slowly and carefully, watolrmg always the 'restless form upon the bed, as if he wore counting every pulsation of that tor tured heart, and marveling how long the unnatural strength would endure. "It is all right, now," bo send, there is 'nothing more to add ; we must have tho signature." But the listener was not to be quieted again he seized the paper and .perused the lines with more eagerness than bo fore " You are mad, James, that will not do write this !" He raised bis hand, point ing his -finger toward the paper, and pro- ceeded to dictate some words Whose Bense was incapable of mis-oonstructioo, and the writer okeyed his command, but with bis eyes fixed upon the page as if he would have burned the record out with their steady fire " It is eight now all right hould tho time ever -come ; ah t could but know the truth." " Have .you a doubt?" asked the law yer, sternly ; " will you read again one of the lot tors you found among hoi- papers ?' " No, bo !" he exclaimed, shrinking away, and closing his eyes as if to shut out the sight. " Don't remind -no ; I am a dying man. I cannot go into eternity with hatred in my heart ile lay back shuddering from another spasm of pain, but still struggling for strength to cr.rry out his purposo, "I cannot even trust myself," be gasped, pointing to the will, " my unele raust seo tbis and understand what I mean." Mr. James went again toward the door, but very slowly, his deliberation .irritated the sick man, and he said, peevishly, " Do make hasto, every second is an age !' Tlte lawyer went out, and in a moment returned with a venorable-looking man, whose majostio (bearing was full .of the honest truth and unwavering firmness, which stamped bis every thought and act. " I have made my will," said Mr. Len nox, fa a more assured tone, " before it is signed I want you to read it." The eld man took the paper from -tho table, wiped his glasses, as if the dimness which obscured his eight had been upeu them, and read it carefully through. "Do you understand?" asked Mr. Lea nox, pointing with hit quivering finger te the concluding words, "if my wife proves her innocence at any time, no matter how distant, my entire fortune reverts to her.' "Who shall decide?" asked the old man; "you would not wish this brought into a court." " No, no, screen her always always I Rhe hot enough to support her well from that portion of njy proporty which the law gives a widow spare hor name, I charge you remember that, both of you, remem her that 1" "Then who shall be the judge of the truth of tho proofs she may bring ?" con tiiiued ho, while Mr. James stood intently listening. " You," returned Mr. Lennox, oagerly, " You are a good and just man I can con fide in you." " Put that in the will," said the old man, turning toward Mr. James ; " write it so that it cannot be misunderstood as wo value our peace horeafter, let us deal fairly by that woman." "And kindly," whispered Mr. Lennox, lot no suspicions go abroad against hor omombcr I trust iu you both !" Mr. James addod the desired clause, and when he finished, the hesitation which he had betrayed was entirely gono. He re turned it to the vonorable man who was bending over his chair, and bo read it aloud. " That is all, I can die easy now 1" ox- claimed Mr. Lennox. " The time may come undo, never forgot this should you die before then, leave the charge also in your will to some just man we do not know years hence, perhaps, she will have it in her power to prove her truth." Tho proud old man turned his face away, even his sternness shaken by the depth of anguish in that voice. "As I hope for peace hereafter,"he said, in a tromulous tone, which only added to the solemnity of his words, "I will carry out your every desire, and as I deal by that unfortunate woman, may God in his justice deal by me." A dying man s Massing rest upon you 1" murmured Mr. Lennox, stretching out his band, which the old man took be tween both his own, while the great tears rolled down his furrowed cheeks, and some murmured words of prayer escaped bis lips. The witnesses the signature !" ex claimed Mr. Lennox. " Call the doctors in. The two men -entered softly and stood by the bedside. The old uncle assisted Mr. Lennox to rise, and supported him in his arms. " This, in yeur presence, I declare to be my last will and testament," continued the sick man, "and I call upon you both to witness it." Mr. Morris placed tho pen between his fingers, and -supported him while he wrote his signature in foeble characters, regard ing it for moment, then allowing the quill to fall from his nerveless fingers. " I can die easy now uncle, remember!" "I have promised," returned he, "and before myiOod !" The two witnesses signed tho document aud went eut. Mr. James; took up the. paper which con fidod that great fortune to his entire con trol folded and laid it aside. " The okild," pleaded Mr. Lennox, " let me see the child." The little girl had been brought from the city the night before, and an attendant bore her weoping and frightened into the chamber a fair, fragile-looking little crea ture or eignt years, and appearing even younger, with ber hair like pale floss silk falling over her neck, aud ber violet eyes dilating -mith griof and fear. rapa i,ennox," sue scobed, "papa Lennox 1" Mr. Morris seated her on the bed, and she twined her arms about the neck of the sick man and lay Bobbing upon his breast. while be bud his band softly on ber fore head murmuring a blossing. " I can't find sister," eio whispered "and they won't toll me where she is gone I want sister." He drew tier faoe toward his, struggling to repress the emotions that sent the great drops in a old rain over his forehead " nue naa oetter be taken away," sug gested the lawyer, "she only disturbs him." "Let hertay for a momoiit longer cannot lose you yot, my little girl "Are you going away too?" exclaimed the child ; "are you going to leave Nellie as sister has? Don't go papa Lennox, don loave mo all alone 1" The old man shook with the erief he could not repress. The nurse aed the physicians turned away, unable, tmurod as they were to scenes of suffering, to look upon that dying man and the helpless child without emotion but Mr. Jamei) stood there, erect and calm. never once stirring, or with a shade of softness visible iu bis features. " Papa is dying," murmured the Bick uui, " poor little Nellie !" " Dying ?" repeated the child, wonder- Uigly; "dyingr buan'C l see you any more? Oh, don't die, don't die, papa Len nox I" " Nellie will bave another friend " " No, no, I want you and sister, I can't have anybody else ! Do lot me have sisters why don't she come here oh, is she dead too?" 6he hid her little face in the bed-clothes, sobbing with a violence that terrified the bystanders. They lifted her up, but she struggled so that Mr. Lennox was aroused from tho partial insensibility into which agitation had thrown him, and motioned them to allow her to remain, so sbo lay quite still by his side, moaning faintly, " Sister I want sister !" There was a sound in the room below, but it did not reach the em's of tho dying man he hoard only the rushing of the dark waves which wore rapidly bearing him away, and the low moaning ot tue cuild. One of the attendants wont out silont1y,but the other watchers stood there as before A carriage bad driven up to the house, and a woman was striving to force hor way into the ball past the housekeeper who hod met hor at the door. Mr. Lennox is dying, madam," she said, "nobody must come in." " Don't you kuow me?" exclaimed the woman, throwing back her veil, and reveal ing her wan features " I am your mis tress." Yes, I know you now, madam ; but a day has brought great changes here, I daren't lot you go up they are making his will." "Lot me pass my husband is ill, dying, I must see him." You can't go up stairs, ma'am I have my orders." v Who gave them not Mr. Lennox?" They were positive, ma'am you can- not go up indeed you cannot 1" " Woman, lot mo nass 1" exclaimed Mrs. Lennox, wrenching her cloak from tho housekeeper's grasp, " I toll you that I will see my husband." The housekeeper still held ber firmly, while two or three servants stood watching them in silence. Then the door of the drawing-room opened, and a tall, gaunt- looking woman stood on tho threshold, holding a handkerchief and smelling-bottle in her hand. "What is the moaning of this noise?" she said. " I was forbidden to lot anybody else go up stairs," said tho housekeopor, " and she will do it" The lady gave a little scream starting back as if from some horrible object. " Take her away," she said, " take her away, bow dare she come here ?" "Because it is my right," exclaimed Mrs. Lennox, moving toward her; "be cause my husband is here, dying, and thoy will deprive me of my sister." "Take ber away somobody, do I" reiter ated the lady, " I am sure I shall faint my nerves are in suoh a state I can hardly stay in the bouse and to think of this woman desecrating it by her presence, and my poor, dear nephew dying." " Dying, and you here 1" " She insults my griof 1" exclaimed the woman, with a burst of hysteric sobs. " Send her away I oannot witness my nephew's agonies, much less be tortured by her presence." She motioned to the servants as if she would have had the intruder removed by force, but they did not stir. "Where is my sister?" Mrs. Lennox shrieked, "only tell me if she is here." "Yes, she is, ma'am," broke in one of the men, " they shan't treat you in this way she is here." " Bless you, heaven bless you 1" She turned and rushed up the stairs it was impossible to stop her now, and none of the domestics heeded tho remonstrances of the housekeeper, or the commands of the sobbing relative. The physician was still standing at the door of the sick room, but sbo pushed ab ruptly past him, saying only, " I must go in, my husband shall not die till I have seen him." The sound of her voice startled those within it reached even the ear of the dy ing man, and he opened his eyes with a wild gesture. "I .was dreaming," be murmured, "I thought I heard ber voice !" "Sister ! sister !" shrieked the child, but Mr. James caught ber from the bed and placed her in the arms of the nurse, who carried ber away by anothor door bofore she could repeat her cry, whilo he shrunk out of sight as the accused wifo entered the chamber. Sue looked at no one, but moving to the bed, fell on her knees by the dying man. He recognized her uttered a sort of cry,, but whether of, joy or dismay, none could tell. " Speak to nie !" sho exclaimed, " do not die without a word take back the terriblo things you said that day ! , They were false oh, how Talso ! I am uot guilty !" , His lips moved bis eyes, brillunt with departing life, grew leeden. " Not guilty I" be murmured, "oh, not guilty bring bring " " She is gone," standing the appealing look, " they havo taken hor out of tho house." "My child! my own sister!" shrioked the woman. "Speak, tell me where she is 1" Ho heard and seemed striving to com prehend her words. 'Listen," she continued, "I tell you I am innocent, try and understand it for I must have my sister '." Her voice might havo won boliof from a heart of stone he opened his eyes again a smile flitted like a sunboam over bis mouth. "She is innocent 1" he murmured, " she is innocent !" Her quick ear caught the tone which was like a thanksgiving. "He believes me," she exclaimed, turn in toward the old uncle, " he believes mo ! My child only speak you have given hor to another's control I cannot see her a single word or let me die too 1" His eyes had closed but the smile still lingered upon bis lips, though her frantic entreaties were unheard. "Innocent!" he murmured still, "inno cent!" " Hobert, my husband answer me it is your wifo you will not die and take my sister from me revoke that terrible sen tence give me the child again !'' She was leaning ovor him chafing bis hand already cold in her own but all iu vain there was no sign 1 " Robert," she cried again, " the child !" He looked toward her anxiously, pit eously strove to utter some words, but they died in his throat. Sbo laid ber faco down to his. "Again again ! Oh, my God, give him a moment's strength 1" It was too late the thought bad gone her prayerB and moans were idle the sun light came back to his face the lips moved once more then all was still ! He bad gone into eternity without a doubt upon his soul ! The woman could not believe that ho was dead she still called his name still bent over the motionless form with plead ing words. Oue of the attendants strove to lead her away. " All is ovor, madam, he is gone." "Dead? No, no, he could not die with out a word I Ho believed me, and would have given me Nellie." They led her out of the room very gently, and she sank upon a seat in tho hall. No one noticed her there was no tumult in in tho house one relative dried ber eyes in tho stately drawing-room below, and the other inmates moved carelessly about in the necessary employments of the sad time. Tho wife sat there stupefied by ber great despair they passed and repassed hor, but took no heed ! At length the ser vant, who had spoken to her below in pity of ber anguish, approached and whispered, " I beg yom pardon, ma'am, but tho lady insists upon your going out of the house I wouldn't stay if I was you tho little girl is gono." "Where? whore?" Tho woman sprang up ! " I couldn't find out, but she is gone 1" Mrs. Lennox tJrnod from him and Mod along the gallery the door of the room which she hod occupied on that day was open, and sho mechanically entered. No thing had been changed or removed tho chair in which she had kept her solitary vigil was by tbo fire on Jhe floor were tho broken fragments of the desk ber husband hod shattered in his wrath. A whole life seemed to have passed since she could not realize that she was the woman who had sat there pale with prophetic fears. Upon the table lay those fatal letters she stood there for a moment looking at them with unutterable horror, then impel led by some inexplicable feeling which sho could not resist, gathered them up, bound them together with the ribbon which lay upou the carpet, where the husband bad crushed it beneath bis booh aud concealed them in ber robe, all tho while shuddering, but powerless to overcome the impulse which directed ber movements. She looked around the chamber, calm from the very intensity of her despair, then moved slowly out and returned to the apart ment where the dead man was lying. She bent down and kitmed the cold forehead ; as she did bo, the uncle, who was kneeling at the other sido of tho bed, rose and looked silently upon hor. " He knows that I am innocent" she whispered, "the angels themselves bave told him now that the first kiss I gave him was not more pure than this." , " Havo patience, madam," said the old man, with the solemn composure of sor row ; " leave this to time and God !" To bo continued.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers