Uta..li1l.l.l..- .iii,i.i.ll.ll..luuMiMi,BBiMl,,liuMllllm .lIM.,..MMMmmMM.IM,.,.....l,l " - v-.. T.rTT1.T.nl1Trnrrnlr11 T ,-n ti ---if SRfcs Jnii - ySt' VOL. Xlll. NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA., TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 187U. NO. 14. THE TIMES. An Independent Family Newspaper, II PUBLISHED BVBRT TUBSDAT BT F. MORTIMER & CO. SUBSClUPTtON P1IICE, (WITHIH THB COUHTT.) One Year 1 2 Six Month 75 (OUT Of THB COUNTT.) One Year, ( Postage Included) II PO Six Months, (Postage Included) 85 Invariably iu Advance I 4V Advertising rates furnished upon appli cation. For Thr Bloompiki.i Timks. A STRANGE FRAUD; OR, 1 Mystery of New York City. BY F. DELACY. J TMDN'T he feel annoyed at this r" XJ the Bailor asked. " If he felt any annoyance he never showed It. Mr. Waldron is one of those self-poised men that preserve their equa nimity under all circumstances. Be sides he had the free spending of the es tate ; what more could he desire t And then he prospered in business having plenty of capital at his back. If any ever doubted John Waldron's love for his wife they must have had all their doubts dispelled when Mrs. Waldron, two years after her father's death, wil ful as ever, attended a ball too thinly clad for the weather, caught a violent cold, which brought on galloping con sumption, and the physicians pronounc ed her case hopeless. " Her husband's grief was most heart rending. He watched her night and day, heedless of rest or food, until he was nearly worn to a skeleton, and when she died, as she did in a week, they car ried him out of the room in a dead faint. He struggled out for the funeral, and then took to his bed, and it was six months before he was himself again. Then, as if a fatality shadowed the house, the little girl fell sick, and it was soon reported that she was dangerous. You ought to have seen the distant re latives flock around for if she died, they would take all, leaving Mr. Waldron nothing. " Yes, I see," said the sailor, smiling with a serenity rather out of keeping with the solemnity of the narrative he was listening to. The shopman, however, intent upon his story did not perceive this. " Fortunately," he continued, " the child did not die; though the doctor gave her up at night, in the morning he was surprised to And a sudden and great change in her, and in a week she was running about the house as brisk as a bee. The sickness affected her brain for a while, and she was quite light-headed. Indeed, one of the servants told me she appeared to be another altogether, and did not recognize those who used to pet her, and she kept continually crying for her mother, but that all wore off after a while, and she grew stronger and bright er every day, until she became what you see her now." Thanking the shopman for his story, the sailor threw away the stump of his cigar, and bent his steps once more to wards the Farrell estate. 44 Let me see," he muttered, 41 it is now about the time that your fashion able swells are taking their dinners. Guess I'll give one of them a call." He reached the house, entered through the ornamental Iron gate strode heavi ly along the tressalated walk, up the white marble steps, and gave the door bell a vigorous pull. "Is Mr. Waldron at homey asked he, when the door was opened. 44 He is," answered the servant, with a look which seemed to say 44 you need not have pulled the bell quite so hard, lr." 44 Tell him a gentleman wishes to see him on business." The easy assurance of the sailor awed tbe servant into respect, eo she showed him into the parlor, and went to call Mr. Waldron. The sailor surveyed tbe luxuriant furnishings with a grim smile as he settled himself comfortable into an easy-chair. 44 He'll come down bandbomely, to etlck to all this," he said, apostrophi zing his own reflection in the splend E plate mirror that filled the space be tween the two windows opening upon the balcony. The door opened, and Mr. John Wal dron entered the room. Perhaps the reader may feel a little curious to know what kind of a man this Mr. John Wal dron was of whom he had heard so very much. He was tall in stature, full six feet, sinewy and well-proportioned, a frame combining grace and strength with the polish of well-bred society. Delicate white hands, with long taper ing fingers, a seal ring upon his little ringer of the left hand a topaz. Reg lar features, a long, straight nose, square chin, and small mouth. Deep blue eyes, with just a glint of steel in their expression a broad white forehead, and a profusion of light curly brown hair, with full beard and whiskers two shades darker in color. A firm, self-poised man, carrying dignity in every motion compelling respect. A man to lead the masses and one not easily turned aside from the settled purpose of his soul. A man of wealth It was apparent in every movement. Looking at him, you could readily understand how he had won the heart of Lilian Farrell you would wager that no woman could re fuse him. There was but one defect in hiB whole appearance the eye ; it look ed as if the man might be treacherous, yet no man had ever found him so. The sailor who knew the world, gauged him rightly, in one comprensive glance, as he entered the room. 41 A tough customer this," he mutter ed pithily. 44 You wish to speak with me V" asked Mr. Waldron, urbanely, with a cursory look at the stranger. 44 1 do," answered the sailor. 44 1 know who you are, and as I do not wish to take advantage of any man, let me tell you who I am. My name is Robert Nobbles, commonly called Bob Nob bles ; p'raps you have heard of me be fore." 44 1 never did," answered Mr. Wal dron with a smile. " What is the ob ject of your visit here V Scarcely to beg, I should judge from youi appearance." 44 Oh, no, I've only come to borrow," answered Nobbles, drily. 41 To borrow!" exclaimed Mr. Wal dron, in some surprise. 44 My good man I am neither a pawnbroker nor a usurer ; and moreover, this is my pri vate residence, and lam not in the habit of transacting business here." 44 Are you sure this is your, resi dence V" asked Nobbles, unconcernedly. Mr. Waldron colored slightly, and his smooth forehead wrinkled into the least perceptible frown. 44 It is mine to all intents and pur poses,' he answered, haughtily, 44 al though it nominally belongs to my daughter Lilian." 44 Are you sure she is your daughter 1"' asked the lmpertubable sailor. Mr. Waldron started as though he had been stung. 44 What do you mean V" he gasped. 44 Do you know the large elm tree that stands by the river's bank r" continued Nobbles in the same strain. 44 Do you know what ia buried at the foot of that treeV" ' Mr. Waldron grew ghastly pale ; his limbs seemed to fail him, aud he sank into a chair, grasping its back convul sively with his white fingers. Nobbles surveyed him with a grim smile of sat isfaction. 44 Who are you, and what do you know 1"' demanded Mr. Waldron.hoarse Iy, of bis strange visitor. 44 1 have told you my name is Nob bles: rated on the ship's books as an able-bodied sailor ; and now I'll tell you what I know. Strange things some times happen in this world, and one of them once happened to me. This is how it happened. Fourteen years ago" Mr. W3ron shuddered 44 ah 1 1 see you have a good memory I was mixed up with a party that used to visit vessels in the harbor at night, and help themselves to any trifles that might be lying around loose." 44 River thieves!" 41 Exactly. Well, one night the police chased me, but I escaped by swimming to shore, and hiding my. self among some trees that grew near the water's edge. When the pursuit was over, and I had time to look about me, I discovered that I was in tbe grounds belonging to some fine estate. While I was thinkinghow I could best make my way to the road, footsteps ap proached, and I crouched behind the trunk of a tree to escape observation. Just tben the moon, which had been obscured most ot the night, burst away from the clouds and shone out brightly. By its light I saw a man approaching, carrying a spade in his right hand, and a bundle under his left arm. I thought at first that it was the gardener, but the moon's light was quite strong,and I saw that he wore a gentleman's dress, and not that of a laboring man. My curi osity was excited at this discovery and I watched him closely. He proceeded to the foot of a large,elm tree, laid down the bundle, and commenced digging a hole in the ground with the spade. He did this very hurriedly, glancing arqund nervously every now and then every time the wind rustled among the branches of the trees. When he had dug the hole deep enough to satisfy him, he placed the bundle carefully in it, bent over it with a strange action which I could not understand then, but com prehended afterwards, and hastily shov eled back the dirt, replaced the sod care fully, and hurried away." 41 And you were there and saw this i"' demanded Mr. Waldron, restlessly. 41 How else could I tell It to you V" asked the sailor. "True." 44 1 never was so surprised at any thing In my life. My first thought was, that some valuable jewels had thus been hid away there for safety, and as I was in the appropriating line in those days, I determined to possess them. I dug up the turf with the long knife I carried a kind of safeguard against the police you know and scooped out the dirt with my hands, trembling all the while in my eagerness to discover what had been buried. I soon reached the bundle and drew it forth. It had a strange feel about it, which I didn't altogether like, and I shuddered as I unwrapped a soft kind of little blanket that was wound about it. It was neither gold nor jew els. I was younger then and unused to such sights, and my legs fairly shook under me and my hair stood on end as I looked at it. If wa the dead body of a little child t" John Waldron covered bis face with his hands and his strong frame quiv ered. 44 What did you do with It?" asked he, removing bis hands after a short pause, and showing his face as unmoved and placid as ever. 44 Returned it carefully to its grave, replaced the earth and turf as I had found them, and then made my way to the road, reached the ferry and returned to New York. But I treasured the cir cumstance in my memory." 44 To make it profitable at some fu ture time," Bald John Waldron drily. 44 Exactly," responded Nobbles, in the same tone. 44 There was a girl in New York that I loved better than my own life, but she preferred another to me and married him. I met hex the next day, and she thinking that I bore her 111 will for the slight she had put upon me, ac cuse me of stealing away her little girl. I thought nothing of the circumstances at the time, but it has come back to my mind wltha significance lately. Thecity bad got too hot hold me on account of the river robberies, so I shipped on board a vessel bound for foreign parts, and sailed away. I'm back but twice in all that time, for the roving life pleased me and strangely enough made an honest man of me that Is to say, honest as the world goes, for we are all rogues in the grain, you know. I had almost forgot ten that strange burial, when yesterday, scarcely two hours landed from Calcut ta, up steps the living image of my old sweetheart, Nance. I couldn't help speaking to her, and when I did she in formed me that her name was Lilian Waldron, which quite flabergasted me. But I was never slow in following up a wake,. and putting my Ideas together. I Boon came to this conclusion : Lilian Waldron lies buried it tbe foot of the big elm tree in yonder grove, and to keep the Farrell estate In your hands, you stole tbe daughter of Nance Burke, and passed her off as your child." 44 You have made a very good story of it," said Mr. Waldron. 44 What do you seek to gain in this matter i"' 41 Five thousand dollars for silence," said the sailor resolutely, 44 Ah ! and if I should refuse to pay you this money if I should treat your demand with the. contempt it deserves, then what?" 14 1 would denounce you." 44 Possibly but do you think your words would be believed V What pioof can you advance V" 41 The child's skeleton beneath tbe elm." 41 It Is no longer there." 41 You have removed it V" Mr. Waldron smiled placidly. Mr. Nobbles' countenance fell. He knew how little chance his words would have against a man of John Waldron's wealth and position. He pondered a moment and a sudden thought brightened the gloom of his face. " The mother, Nance Burke, is still alive, keeping an apple stand on the cor ner of Fulton street and Broadway, she will recognize and swear to her daugh ter. I saw her yesterday." 41 She saw Lilian the same day you saw her, and did not recognize her as her daughter, though they conversed to getber for several moments," answered Mr. Waldron coldly. Bob Nobbles looked bewildered. " Bo you see, my good man, your case is not quite so strange as you fan cied," continued Mr. Waldron, placidly. 41 Have you anything further to say, slrV" , 41 Not a word," cried Nobbles, rising wrathfully ; 41 but you'll see what I'll do. I will bring Nance here to claim her daughter." Angrily he strode Into the hall, but he did not understand the catch of the front door, and Mr. Waldron came politely to his assistance and ushered him out, watching him as he hurried down the street. 44 He can do nothing," bemused: " absolutely nothing but create a scan dal, which will die away in a week.-1 My darling's little skeleton lies upon her mother's breast in Greenwood ; no one will think to look for It there. None knew what the box contained which I deposited there when I had the tomb opened. I would not have mind ed a thousand or two, to have kept the fellow's mouth bUU, but the possession of so much money would only have made him talk the more. You cannot buy the silence of fellows. But I must be beforehand with him." Calling his coachman, he ordered him to harness up as speedily as possible. Leaving his dinner un tasted, much to Lilian's surprise, who never knew such an occurrence to take place before,he got Into his carriage and was driven rapidly to the ferry. Bob Nobbles' wrath and the long sto ry he had told made him dry, so he paused at a saloon on the way to refresh himself. Men of his temperament re quire quite a deal of refreshing when once they oommence,so It was quite late in the evening when he got to Nance's apple stand on the corner of Fulton St., and Broadway, To his great surprise he found the stand empty aud Nance ab sent. He thought she must be sick, so' he determined to .call at her lodgings, which he had discovered the day before, as she had lived In the same old house for years. Her rooms were locked Nance was not there. Her . next door neighbor, however, afforded him some iniormation, which was conclusive, but not satisfactory. A fine gentleman had brought her there in a carriage.and after packing up her dresses and what few valuables she had, she had gone away with him. 44 Tricked, by jingo !" growled Nob. bles, as he stumped down into the street again. 44 He has bought her up instead of me. am sold to a certainty. I cannot prove anything without her evidence, and he's fixed that by this time. He's a deep one too deep for me. Well, I have found my match for once no chance for that five thousand guess I'll let it slide might get to Sing King on some old offence." So Bob Nobbles floated around New York, sailor like, until bis money was all spent, and then shipped for a long voyage again. He was probably lost at sea, or died abroad, for he never again returned. John Waldron's carriage stood before his oflloe in Wall street, and in his pri vate room poor Nance sat beside him, bewildered at the strangeness of her po sition. " You said you would return my daughter to me," pleaded Nance, gazlug wistfully around the room. " So I will," answered John Waldron pleasantly, 14 all in good time. Have patience : there is much to be, told you. She is not here but at my house in Green Point. I wish to explain some matters to you before you see her be cause you must meet as strangers. You appear to be a woman of good sense, and one wno would not willfully destroy your daughter's prospects in life. Listen ' to me; let me acquaint you how you be came deprived of your child, and beg of you to be guided by my advice." " I will do' whatever you say, sir," she answered meekly, 41 for so good and great a gentleman like yourself would not advise me to do anything wrong." 44 Great I am, no doubt," he respond ed with a proud smile, but good ah ! that's another matter. I must tell you my history, my good woman, so that you will understand my position, and I shall tell you thingB I never once dreamed would pass my lips to mortal ears. I came from a proud family and as poor as they were proud. Reverse of fortune had reduced our once proud estate to nothing, until at twenty-six I found myself alone in the world, with only a tolerable education and my quick wits to help me to the wealth I was de termined to acquire. The road to for tune is a rough one, and few reach it without the aid of accident or influence. I had no influence, I trusted to the chap ter of accidents. Nature who had been so lavishly kind to me, pointed out the way. I was determined to marry an heiress ; I had tha good fortune to at tract the attention of Miss Farrell. True, her reported wealth first drew me towards her and I spared no points to gain her love. In this I was successful beyond my hopes. It was a great tri umph for the poor broker's clerk to have gained the prize from his wealthy and aristocratic competitors. .Nor was my love altogether mercenary, for though her fortune was tbe first incentive to seek her heart and hand, when that ' heart was mine, my love had become so intensified I would have married her without a penny." It was strange tbat this strong and wise man of the world should thus pour out the very secrets of bis soul to a sim ple and ignorant woman. It appeared to be a relief to Jno. Waldron to let down tbe mask of placid reserve he bad worn bo long, and make a full confession. There had been a dreamy monotony all these years in his mind, and It was like opening a long closed room and letting in the daylight it purified his soul. She sat and listened without comment, too much astonished, indeed, to speak, and he continued: 44 We were married much against her father's inclination. From the first he guessed ray motives and distrusted me ' to the last. He made his will in such a ' manner that I could never obtain pos- session of his daughter's property, if such bad been my desire though it never was. I was satisfied to have con trol of tbe Income, which amply sup plied our wants ; besides, the business in which he settled me, began to pros, per aud pay me well. Indeed by pru dent speculation, I no w'possess enough to buy the Farrell estate twice over. But I was still a poor man when he died. Lilian and I lived in perfect uni son. She was not without her faults, the trivial ones of a spoilt child, but I was patient, never exacting, for her heart was kind and good and she loved me tenderly. The birth of our child ce mented our union with endearing bonds. Then came the clouds of sor row after all this sunshine of happi ness. My wife was stricken down by the destroyer's hand and taken from me. I cannot describe to you the crushing weight with which this blow fell upon me. Had it not been for my darling little one I should have gone mad, and given up all. I rallied my senses for her sake. She too sickened, ami then indeed the world looked blank. Lured by the news of her illness, as vultures scent carrion from afar, relatives I had never heard of, harpies who knew tbe tenor of the Judge's will, began to gather, ottering their condolence In public, but secretly gloating in anticipation of their divis ion of the property. My fortune hung upou my child's life, for my business had not then assumed a lucrative form her death would be rulu to me. I should be hurled from my position and see strangers iu the home which the memory of my lost wife made a hallow-
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