VOL. XtV.
THE TIMES.
In Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PDBLISHBD EVBHT TURBDAT BT
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Who pay In Advance a Discount of 2"5 Cents will
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eatlon. The Battle for the Cedars.
J1Y FHESSLY W. MOUM3.
CONTINUED.
THK MAN at the door wore a elpak,
a fold of which was turned up about
his neck, white his hat was turned down
over his eyes. As It was, his face was
almost entirely concealed.
Entering the library, he walked delib
erately to the fire, and stood quietly
before it. Evidently the cold mist fall
ing out-of-doors had dampened and chill
ed him, and the bright blaze of the
Are caused the steam to rise from his
clothing.
" Dismiss your servant," he said, In a
deep, hoarse tone ; " I have business of
importance with you."
The master of The Cedars hesitated
for a moment, and then signed for Bunt
to depart. In his heart he was trem
bling. In epite of the resolution he had
made to give way to his fears no more,
the first sight of this man caused a
sensation of terror in his bosom.
" Curse It 1 can I not behold a tall,
athletic figure any more without this
absurd fright?"
He rose to his feet, and stood before
the man by the fire, who had his back
to the blaze.
' What is your business with meV"
he asked.
The stranger straightened himself to
' his fullest stature ; he let the cloak
slowly fall from his shoulders, and
taking the hat which still half conceal
ed his features from his head, he threw
it upon a table.
The effect upon the master of The
Cedars was startling. This was the
figure that he had beheld In the west
wing; but then he had some reason
to doubt; now it was close at hand,
within his reach, and there could be no
mistake. For one moment a supersti
tious awe overcame him ; then he saw
that the man before him was no pres
ence from the splrlt-world, but a solid,
tangible reality.
The master of The Cedars forgot the
fcold course upon which he had resolved.
All the fears that he had ever felt before
Bank iuto Insignificance besides his pres
ent awful,absolute terror. He sank back
'In his seat, and his eyes seemed bursting
from their sockets ; his under jaw fell ;
he shook like a man In an ague fit.
" Who are you ?" he gasped.
" You should know me well, Henri
Valesquez," said the man before him,
in tones not deep and hoarse, but rich,
clear aud musical. " I am Lionel Cash
el ; and I come to claim my inherit
ance." Hejiaused for a moment, and stood
looking upon the terror stricken villain.
During that moment the silence in the
library was bo complete that the ticking
of the great clock In an adjoining apart
ment became audible.
" And you, Henri Valasquez," pur
sued the true Lionel Cashel, " are an
impostor and a scoundrel."
"Can the sea give up her dead)"'
.groaned the false master of The Cedars.
"The sea has given up one whom you
supposed the victim of your bloody
hands," said Lionel Cashel. " Yea ; I
was not swallowed up by the waters of
the ocean, as you basely designed I
hould be. Henri Valasquez, your crime
has found you out ; and the day of your
triumph Is ended."
All this Lionel Cashel had uttered in
calm, even tones.
The calmness of the false master of
The Cedars began to return. Memory
came to bis aid, and he recollected the
bold course be had resolved upon In
anticipation of the possibility of this
i. ' " .,fir
NEW BLOOMFIELID, TUESDA-Y,
hour. Lionel Cashel, the true master of
The Cedars, lived; but courage might
win the game Jet.
" Aud what do you Intend to do ?" he
asked of Lionel Cashel, in something
like his old scornful manner.
"What do I Intend to do?" cried
Lionel, the anger that must have been
hidden before showing. " Can you not
solve that riddle, Henri Valasquez ?
One the thing that I Bhall do will be to
turn you away from these possessions;
as to whut chances you stand for the
State's prison, I leave you to consider."
The false master of The Cedars was
Indeed a matchless villain. His courage
rose. The sudden appearance of one
whom he supposed to be sleeping be
neath the waves of the sea was enough
to frighten him surely : but the fright
was departing so fur that he was grow
ing angry.
" You threaten me with prison I" he
hissed. "Man, you boast before your
time. Listen."
Lionel Cashel folded his arma across
his bosom, shut his lips close, and stood
listening. He felt that he must curb
himself, or his anger would cause him
to strike the villain to the floor.
"Listen," repeated the iiu poster. "I
fear you not. I am In possession here.
I am known as the master of The Ce
dars. I defy you I Qo on in any course
that you may choose: you will Hud
that you are throwing yourself against
a wall of Iron. Do you think the world
will believe your Improbable story ? Ha,
hal Attempt to wrest The Cedars from
me, and 1 will deuouuee you as an im
porter. Who will be most likely to be
believed, you or I ? I tell you man, I
have the advantage of you ; and liutend
to keep It. You propose to east me out
from here ; I repeat, I defy you I Appeal
to the law, and I will defeat you utterly.
You may continue to threaten, but I
know, aud you know, that you will
have to prove your identity. I say I
am Lionel Cashel, aud you ore not
who holds the best proofs ?"
The imposter's eyes shone in triumph.
How entirely changed he was from the
shrinking wretch of a few minutes pre
vious! His own words gave him confi
dence. He would fight this battle for
The Cedars to the death I
Lionel Cashel advanced toward the
man, and he shrank back. Lionel was
goaded almost beyond endurance. He
half-lifted his arm, and then, with a
muttered exclamation, stepped back to
the fire.
" I will not strike you, Henri Valas
quez," he said. "You deserve imme
diate punishment; but I will not soil
my bands by letting them fall upon you
if I can avoid It. Ood Is just ; and, as
sure as he rules, a day of retribution will
come to you."
lie ceased for a moment, and then con
tinued, more calmly,
" I realize what you have said, Henri
Valasquez; but I shall labor against
you, believing that Heaven will cause
the right to triumph. I have a know
lege that there is another claimant for
the estate; and if her cause is Just, as I
believe It is, I would not desire to rob
her of her rights. I would not wish to
turn beraway to install myself. Sue
has gained her case once, and, as I am
aware, you have appealed it. Scoundrel,
if I can do no more, I can heap difficul
ties in your way, in case you batch
up some diabolical villainy to defeat
her I
" No ; I would not desire possession
here so that I might cheat an orphan
girl out of her inheritance; yet I would
like my right to the name of Cashel
acknowledged. Omanl when you stole
my spotless name, you robbed me of a
better Inheritance than all the acres of
this vast estate!"
Lionel Cashel ceased speaking.. A
silence fell, and continued unbroken for
many moments.
Lionel Catihel epode first.
" I Bhall remain here to-night," he
said simply. " I know your treacherous
spirit, Henri Valasquez ; but, my eyes
being opened, I fear you uot. Mark
you, however, I want an apartment
that I can secure with bolt and bar.
Let your servant show me to it as soon
as possible; for I have no desire to
remain longer in your company. I
warn you not to attempt to molest me ;
for if you do your blood will be upon
your own head."
The false master of The Cedars gnash.
Eiv't- ' - J -.V: - -r
V'Jn. r .- r
ed his teeth In rage. How those cool
words stung him 1 bow he would have
liked to strike the man before him dead I
yet he dared make no move, for he
knew that Lionel Cashel.tall and athlet
ic, was by far his physical superior. But,
as he rang for a servant, a strange
gleam came Into his eyes, a gleam that
was cold and' cruel. Lionel did not
perceive that expression, for, though he
was alert, he was not looklug the villain
in the face.
" Bant," said the false master of The
Cedars, when his ring was answered,
show this gentleman to the crimson
room ; and build a fire for him as soon
as possible."
The man's tones were perfect ly smooth.
Lionel Cashel took up his hat and
cloak, and followed the servant from the
library. Reaching the sleeping-room,
he lighted the two lamps he found there.
Bant went away, but returned very
shortly with a scuttle of coal, and some
kindlings. Boon a cheerful fire was
leaping aud curling In the grate.
" You can go now," Lionel said to
Bant.
AfterBautwas gone, ho closed the
door, and examined its fastenings ; he
found that It could be bolted and barred
securely.
Liouel looked about the apartment.
It wub hung with crimson velvet. He
examined the walls, but beheld no other
means of entrance thau the door.
" I am perfectly Becure," he said to
himself.
He sat down by the fire and mused.
" Verily, crime Is Its own punish
ment," thought he. " The agony of Va
lasquez In those first moments of be
holdiug me was terrible I An age of
torment must have seemed to be concen
trated In a moment. But he braved it
out well at last."
Lionel's musing continued.
" My life is a tangled web," he said
aloud; " but, come what may, I Bhall
proceed with all my powers aguinst
Valasquez. 1 have delayed too long
now. As I told him, I do not wish an
orphan girl's inheritance ; but it Is best
to attack him from all sides. A suit
against him may not benefit me ; but I
hope It may aid to overwhelm him with
defeat the sooner."
It was approaching midnight when
Lionel retired. Considering the apart
ment secure, he had no fear of danger,
and was soon fast asleep.
Meantime, the false . master of The
Cedars had continued in the library.
For some hours he sat In silence before
the fire In a crouching attitude that was
like a tiger's. That glare that was
as cruel as the grave was ever in bis
eyes.
At length he sprang to his feet, his
white face set resolutely.
" This plan ia better than any other,"
be muttered : " why have I hesitated to
adopt it V Even bad I known that be
lived, I could have prayed for no better
opportunity than this night gives me."
He went out and was absent nearly an
hour.
He returned finally with a stout cord
in his band, and locked the doors of the
library. Then he proceeded to a desk,
and, inserting the key of it in the lock,
stood muttering.
"Ay I I will do it," was bis thought:
" he shall die. He said that If I attempt
ed to barm blm my blood would be
upon my own bead ; but I will run the
riak. He will give me trouble in the
future if I do not put blm out of the
way. Now Is my chauce, for I shall
never again have such an opportunity."
The man turned the key, aud drew
out a drawer. Beaching in the aperture
it had left, be felt about for a moment,
and then from within took out another.
This last one contained bottles filled
with various colored liquids. He im
mediately selected one from among the
rest. It was labeled chloroform.
He lifted it out, and set it down by
itself, while the cruel expression on bis
face deepened.
Then he lifted out a tiny vial that
contained a drop of colorless fluid. He
held it up, and an indefinable expression
came into his eyes.
" The last resort." he muttered, "to
be used if ever I am forced to the
walll"
With a slight Bhudder, be replaced the
vial in the drawer, and In a moment
the desk was locked, the bottle of chlo
roform being retained.
It was some time past midnight.
rv3 ? r ITTlVirTir
m tmsimmmc
FEBEUARY!) , 18BO.
The false master of The Cedars opened
the door of the library, and glided out,
the vial of chloroform and the cord held
tightly In his grasp. He slipped along
quietly and carefully. He entered an
apartment that adjoined the one in
which Lionel Cashel was sleeping.
He felt carefully along a wall. For
some moments he ran his hand about
without any effect; then there was a
sound as of a spring unfastening, and a
panel in the wall slid back.
For a moment the man stood quiet,
then he cautiously looked in. A dim
light was burning in the apartment.
No sound save the breathing of the
sleeping man broke the silence.
Quietly the villain made an entrance.
Crouching like a beast of prey, he crept
to the bedside. Saturating a handker
chief with the chloroform, he held it to
the nostrils of Lionel Cashel.
Lionel threw his arms wildly about
once or twice, gasped, moaned, aud then
became unconscious.
He was in the power of his foe.
After that the villain's task was easy.
He bound his victim with the cord he
hud brought; he gagged him, with a
sheet taken from the bed, so that it
would be Impossible for blm to utter a
cry.
.. We now give some extracts from the
diary of the true Lionel Cashel,
which helps explain some parts of the
story.
May C, 185-. I am twenty-three to
day. Perhaps on this my birthday, I
should look forward to the future with
joyful anticipation; yet I cannot say
that I do. I do not like this life of ease
in this dreamy Italian city.
If father would only consent that I
should go forth into the world to strive,
I believe I could make a man of myself.
But he will not consent that I should
leave him ; and I cannot go without his
blessing. All that binds me to Italy is
his love, and a grave in the cemetery of
an old cathedral : my mother's grave !
I barely remember her. Bhe was
beautiful ; she loved me passionately.
Bhe died very young, her years only
twenty-one. I was a mere child then.
I have one consolation, lean study.
I love chemistry and medicine. I have
read much; I am not ignorant upon
those subjects. Mayhap my knowledge
will some day be useful to me. I love
books far better than I could ever love
painting.
June 1. Valasquez has been my
father's secretary for three months. I
still think father need not have em
ployed him ; for I could do all the work
be performs, and it would fall lightly
upon me. I have no wish to be as much
of a gentleman as father wishes to make
me ; in truth, my idea of a gentleman Is
not that of a man continually idle.
Gladly would I have taken upon me
the performance of all the duties of
Valasquez.
He speaks English wondefully well
for a foreigner. In fact, from his speech,
he might be taken for English or Amer
ican. He says he learned the language
in America. Perhaps be did.
Why should I write so much about
Valasquez? If he were a villain, he
could not harm us ; be is my father's
secretary, nothing more.
July 15. I consider this an eventful
day. This morning my father came
Into my room with a letter bordered rn
black in bis hand. He was somewhat
pale and discomposed.
" My uncle, Herbert Cashel, is dead,"
be Bald.
" Who?" I cried.
" My uncle, Herbert Cashel, of Amer
ica," he answered.
" I never knew that you had an uncle
in America, or anywhere else," I re
plied. " I had the impression, father,
that we had no living relatives."
" We have not nou(," be Bald, sadly
enough. " Lionel, my son, I was a wild
youth, and quarrelled with my father;
I chose to forget all of the blood. I
was not absolutely wicked, however,
and when I married your sainted moth
er she made a better man of me. But
my father died shortly after I was
married, and I never Bought out this
Herbert Cashel, who I suppose has kept
track of me. You know I bare some
peculiarities."
My father half turned to leave my
room ; but he paused, and looked at
me.
" I bad nearly forgotten," be said. " I
NO. G.
have not told you all. I iuherit from
my uncle, Herbert Cashel, a property
which I suppose is very large."
Sept. 1. I do not consider it strange
that my father did not have any Inten
tion of leaving Italy at first. He loves
his art; he loves Florence. He would
prefer to goon in bis old life, working
half the time, dreaming half.
And Just here I write In sorrow that
if my father had dreamed less he would
have achieved more than be has. He
has great talent; but he Is content in
climbing only to a certain height.
But at last my persuasions have pre
vailed, and he has consented to go to
America. It is best so, I feel. He is
getting well up in years. He paints aa
well now as ever, It Is true ; but it can
not always be so, and in America be
will have a home that can . never be
taken from him.
We are almost ready to depart.
Sept. 12. Alas! I have no words to
express my fear and suspense. On the
eve of our departure for America, my
father was stricken with illness; it la
fever. He now lies at the point of
death. Another day will tell the tale;
either bis disease will change for the
better, or I cannot bear to think of
that other alternative !
Sept. 13. My father is dead. Heaven
pity me I
Oct. 1. I am far out on the broad
Atlantic. My father sleeps beneath the
soft Italian skies. Alas!
Bwift, saila the vessel for America.
America ! I am an American by blood,
yet I never beheld my native land. Is
it strange that my heart swells when I
think bow soon it will be that I shall
tread the shores of my country ?
Henri Valasquez Is ou board the ship.
I did not ask him to come ; but after my
father's death he pleaded that I should
allow him to go with me to America.
I could only tell him that doubtless
there was room enough for us both in
that country.
I treut him as a gentleman ; still, aa I
have said before, we shall never be
intimate.
Oct. 7. I am on the ship " London,"
for Liverpool. How thankful I am that
I live to pen this. My hand trembles
as I attempt to write of the work of the
traitor, Valasquez.
On the night of Oct. 6 I was on the
deck of the good ship " Victoria." There
waa no moon, but myriads of stars
shone in the heavens.
I had much to think about, the
father I had left behind me in sunny
Italy; the future before me In America I
Henri Valasquez appeared at my side.
He made some remarks about the beauty
of the night. I rose to my feet. He
waa standing by the side of the ship,
holding by the tatTiall. I think I am
very certain that we were unobserved.
Beyond doubt he knew this.
" Look I" he cried. " I believe that is
a shark."
I saw something white gleaming be
low. Naturally, I bent over the side of
the ship. In one moment I felt myself
falling. Then the cold waves of the
sea swept about me and over me. I
realized in a moment what bad occur
red. Valasquez, the villain, bad thrown
me overboard.
How I struggled, screamed, and
swam !
But the ship plunged on. My violent
cries were unheard.
I was left far, far behind.
I became exhausted. I gave up to
die.
But my hand touched a bard sub
stance. I grasped it. It was of sufficient body
to sustain me. I knew not positively,
but it may have been the white object
which Valasquez and I beheld from the
ship, part of a wreck, mayhap.
At any rate it was my salvation.
With the hold of despair, I clung to It.
Hours passed. Morning dawned. With
the light of day, I strained my eyes
over the illimitable ocean. Heaven was
merciful I A ship was bearing toward
me.
I was seen and saved !
Since then, till now, I have been quite
ill.
But I am getting better.
Oh I the traitor Valasquez I
Have I guessed hla dark plan Y Yea I
He will be Henri Valasquez no longer,
but Lionel Cashel Instead. I am being
carried away from America I he Is speed
ing swiftly toward it I To be continued.