JJmJ aujj13. .y-,-'-T-JW - . m
WWiiiimi -.. - "
THE ADVERTISER,
THE ADVERTISER
O V. JA-KBKOTKKK. T.C.HACKSR.
2urbrothi:r. & hacker.
publUbcri axitl Proprietor.
o.vr.rAinBROTHx. t.c. hackxr.
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ESTABLISHED 1850. 1
Oldest Paper in the State. J
BBOWiTTILLE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1876.
VOL. 20. JlSTO. 44. OFFICIAL PAPER OF THECOIhWY,
K U)I VG 3I.ITTEK OXEYEKYPAGE
crroBTC3Ta
II
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
ATTORNEYS.
S. A. Okliorn,
r V A.T LAW.-Offic with W.
' ' wtle.Neb.
a'-
T.Rog-
T. I... Schick,
AT LAW. MAY RE CONSULT
i;rnn lancwaxe. Otoee wort
s a 1 1 I J..
- mvrv
1A ") the
ivitr t lark's OfiSce.Ootirt Hoese Build
3r
er ville.Nelrafca. ts-ey
.T. S. St nil,
4Ti COUNSELOR AT LAW.
;A
ir.NTY
-e ner 11 H "tore
Brown ville, Neb.
.T. II. IJrondy,
NKY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW.
e .Y?r Mato Bank. Browaville.Xee.
AT
E. "W. Thoiiins,
VE". T LAW. Office,frt room over
i n A Crw a Hardware Store.Brown-
A"
r
W. T. Itofrors,
VJV ".Nil COUNSELOR AT I..VW.
c . e dl'lcnt atttitlii t My lital
-.i,el tohirare. Office In CortHe
'. nille.Neb.
PHYSICIANS.
a
Mr
t l! I UAY. Jt.I).. Physician. Srj?eon
, i -trtrtclan. nMSBtel in 181. Loca-
. v. vi lie l-w. omce. Lett A Cretan's
- I I'henwn Block. Special attention
. ..Htrics and Hfta of Women and
10-6m
pr:
-t vTHKWs re. ., shkI Santeo. Office
ty Ln-s More No. Xmla atrettt, Brown-
15LACKS3IITIIS.
.1
"VV. Glli.on,
NI IIOKSK SIIOKIt. First
Bi
r ;.M
;tii
nMiln and Atlantic. Browuville,
t order and satisfaction guaran-
7,E"'I Via 4. CETY ADS.
fTrriT
111U
DEALERS IX
GENERAL
MERCHANDISE
SUCH A3
)ry Goods
!LOTHIN
j
yl
Groceries, Boots, Shoes,
Jlats, Ojp.-iand Motions.
NEMAHA CITY, NEB.
IMgcfct Market Price allowed for
COUNTRY
PRODUCE
TlJTlSS,irT33S, S2tc
NURSERY STOCKf1
NURSERY STOC
DIBT CHEAPS"
VI.V
M ij uuti lp'j'" vm-
- - - -
"V T m hat n p ains of t F 'mas Nurseries
AT PEICES NONE WILL GALL
IN QUESTION.
1 r :fi areh-e and foar ypars old. and of
rtlv tr.. es. prircinaHy fall and winter. The
l"-t ootion or mat i 111,11 uui! tnrietics
rali Aii!rf, not before offered for bale, will be
K el 'it tliissirus. E iTcrcrn-i tw lo fear
1 ' .ti rabed in' oar soil and climate, wilt be re-
l 1 1 litatier tban ever before by w noleale.
- me and two year lforct Trees Ash,
ill r Honoj Locust.and ConVe Tree Gray Wil
is in i --i bv the million. crv line ties four
Ot fret.
FUBNAS NUESEBIES,
IXrowiivlSlc. Xcb.
STALLION SEASON.
Will make the season of
lCt, commcnclirjr Mnrch
in and endlnp July 1st. nt
l fc fr T3 tlie MaWo of A- s-i-ilV
' day, Urownville, N
re vsis?cia.t ,,unty Nebraska.
lioili-
Nemnba
I" DI'.IirE llarabletonlaii Chief was
'' i tj HambUtonlan l'rlncc. liebyAd-J-'.i
tmtor, he by Rywlyk's Harablelon-l-'
t' i sire of Dexter. Jav Goultl.
Jitcer. and the grandslre of Gold-
iWU MiM. and many otliers noted for
j e'vit IHH1 and endurance, nambletonlan
I ''r'ne. j, dam was sired by Black Rock, lie
'7 1. e Ilurk , i;ramldatn a very fn-t mare
J oUSoii Oull, he by Duroc, son of 1m
I rtt-I Dlomede. Admlnttrator's dam
wasiri-l by Mnmbrlno Chief. 2nd dam,
Ai '..in Tartar, Srd dam by Duroc Mes-
t K. r. sn of Dnroc, out of a maro by
!t'oriRAr. son of Imported Mcenger.
ir..Mttf.nJan Chief's daxn was lred by
'TtH-Ts. ltitOlllU' t.j l- Vornnl'e tUnnlr
rHawk.be by lxne Island Illaek Hawk.
fi""f Andrew Jackson by Youns l?n-
' anr. rah nf lmnnrtAl Arsttlnn fSmnrt
w .linx" "".iv IIacIioU'.: il.fn -ec v.
J "- Is I"irt Consul, crand dam by "Mes
""lier. Belle, the dam of Green's Ba
f w was slrel by Webber's Tom
:rul 2nd dmn. the Cha. Kent mare.
J1! f ny-dkejHambletonlanbyimport-fl
Be'. If under. 3nl dam bv One Eye, (the
frerf Flora TemnleY. bv ITainbletonlBii.
K 'K Jitn. Slivertall. by Imported ilesscnger.
li u i's American Stud Book.)
Kainbletonian! CMef
3s aJark mahopnny bay. 15:2'i hnrds hlch,
Jw" w nitc feet, star in foreheml, with power-
sat which only needs time to develop lts
i rif, lK!nR Inherited by him from hlslllus-
- -.--- itnu IllumlVi jwvxJ. ttwtin
a Kiicv'-iors.
le will be allowed to Ferve only n limited
2 -"!! r of mari. at the low price of ?. f
t I able &t time of -er!pe- and those v9lU
?! wish to secure lilserlcei are resneet-
y rerjueste! tomakeanearlynpplicatlou,
"irts not proving to be with foal can be re-'-rnM
free of charge. All accidents at tho
Jrr'&rlEk. Arrlvto
2
GIORGE IIATCIIETT.Supt.
PRAIJZ EELMER,
I agoh &BlacksmithShof
ONE DOOR WEST OF COURT HOUSE.
1XTAG0N
J Plow
MAKING, Repairing,
t-
Plotts' Star Organs.
x iM?Pn,i sunPHed at figures that defy c-ompc-T.l'n
r lne bame class of Instruments.
vL?ne- Address, EDWARD PLOTTS,
UnKton.X.j
SF,w5-to G r.ROWEI.L A Co..New Vork.for
--.i : r ,0 rRes.coiitiiinK hst or 3mo
V JP, and estimates snowing cofet of adver-
7yi
Plotts' Star Organs.
ev-rSd "fal designs. AGENTS
"U i,, D' Address. ED WARD PLOTTS
" hln&tont X. .1.
o Dili; jj
mwmm
CHIEF!
Luft,
H-.nxa a VEiinu
ta.J'A 'pvi
RACHEL :
THE
MISER'S DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER I.
THE MISER AND HIS DAUGHTER.
Years ago, Yarmouth was a very
busy, thriving eeaport town, and fur
nished his Majesty's navy with many
a stalwart sailor. Amongst the in
habitants no one had gained so much
notoriety as old Felix Wedderburn,
tho miser Jew. Many a tale was told
of his greed and avarice. And though
it was commonly reported that he had
Eaved at least 1,000,000, tho common
est fisherman who toiled hard for his
daily bread did not live more frugally
than he.
His homo was In one of the dark,
dingy alleys that led up from the
town, and considering tho extent of
his reputed wealth, it was almost a
wonder that no attempt had been
made to rob him. But old Felix was
as cunning as he was avaricious. He
took care to propagate a report that
his gold was concealed in some distant
place ; he also barred his windows
and door, bo that It was impossible
any one could enter the house with
out his having due notice.
Moreover it was well known that
he elept with weapons within reaoh
of bib hand, so that those who might
have been tempted by his wealth
were deterred by his caution.
It was a wonder to the whole world
that Felix had ever married. That
he should be attracted by a pair of
handsome ej'es, like weaker mortals,
seemed too strange to bo true, until ic
was whispered that there was a great
deal of calculation in Felix's lovo.
Au unpaid wife was surely better
than a paid housekeeper, and might be
supposed to have his interest at heart.
His wife's motives for the marriage
wero not moro disinterested. She
knew that Felix was rich, and she
fancied that it must be easy for a
young aud handsome woman to coax
an old man out of his money.
But she found her mistake. She
had been a gay, bright creature, but
she had not been married a month
before she changed wofully. Some
said that Felix ill-treated her; but
this was not true. Ho loved herin his
own fabhion, second to Lis gold ; but
lustead of the inlluenco. jjiehad S9Leidom govout, except ou,Sundays
"" Teauc!ly1'oount6dponfhefounl..ipr,!
eelf no better than a menial, and cer
tainly neither so well fed nor so well
paid as such. No wonjder that she
'grewmoody, disconsolate, and hope
less, and that her child's birth termi
nated her miserable life.
Felix begau then to perceive that
hls'venture had not been peculiarly
fortunate. For the future, he would
not only have the servant to keep but
also tho child, which he cursed to
himself with many a deadly curse,
both night and day.
Rachel was very beautiful ; but all
her beauty, added to her winning
ways, could not persuade Felix lo look
upon her as anything but a burden.
But when she grow older, and could
tuko the enthe charge of his house,
ho regarded her with moro favor.
It was a hard experienco for the
poor child, who was gentle loving,
and tender, and would have been a
very happy little thing, if Felix would
have suflered it. But his avarice ov
ershadowed her whole life.
-She dared not give a orust to a starv
ing beggar ; sho had scarcely decent
wearing apparel; nnd certainly her
clothing in winter would not keep
out the cold. Rachel did not want to
complaiu, and she tried hard to bo
patient and contented ; but when she
saw other girls of her own age, with
gay-colored ribbons in their hats, and
smiling faces underneath, she was
fain to hide away in her miserable at
tic and weep.
Felix did not prevent her from go
ing to church on Sunday, but on most
other days of the week she was oon
fined rigidly Indoors. He had no
idea of her wearing out her boots for
nothing, he said; aud, what was
more, the eight of gay shops made
girls extravagant.
But Rachel, at seventeen, was so
especially lovely, that in spito.of .her
mean attire, and her fath er's' precau
tions, the young men admired her as
8ho walked to church, with her tat
tered prayer-book in her hand.
Bachel was a christian. Felix, al
though he professed to be a Jew, fre
quented no place of worship himself,
and cared nothing about his daugh
ter's faith, so that he was left in peace
to hoard up his treasured gold.
Many and many a time, as Rachel
lay awake on her hard pallet bed, she
would hear the faint olinkof thecolns
her father seemed to count each night
afresh, in order that he might gloat
over them with his dim, eager, long
ing eye3.
Once she rose softly, and oreeping
to his door, peered in through a tiny
chink. The tight she saw there fair
ly scared her. The old man had re
moved his coat, lest any of the pieces
should slip down his sleeve; and
there he stood, with, the box open be
fore him, fingering, or, rather, clutch
ing, each separate coin, with a smile
on his thin lips, and a terrible greed
in his glance absorbed, entranced,
joyouB. Sometimes he would raise a
handful of gold to his lips and kiss it
ecstatically, then stow it carefully
away in thocaso again, and look down
at it as tenderly as a young lover
looks into the face of his betrothed.
Raohel was cold and elok when she
.crejgt back to bed.
"Ho would sell me for money," she
thought to herself, with a shudder.
"I am his own child; I would love
him dearly if he would let .me; and
yet I am of far less value, in his sight,
than the treasure be has hoarded
there. Why was I ever born? 2To
blessing can rest on a house where
the poor are turned empty awaj', and
where the night hours, that should
be for sleep and prayer, are spent in
such miserable calculations an that.
Oh, mother, mother! whjT didn't you
take me with you when you died ?"
Often and often this cry went up in
the stillness of the night.
".No one loves mo: lam no use in
tho world !"
But she ceased to say this after
awhile. Her life became precious to
her when she found that it was preci
ous to some ono else ; and Rachel was
but seventeen when an event occured
which was to have an effect upon her
whole future.
She was walking to church one
cold winter's day, when in tr3Ting to
keep her hands warm, she dropped
tho prayer-book she usually carried
under her arm. Many might have
said that it was no great loss, for it
was considerably dilapidated : but it
was the only one Raohel had. More
over, she had no means to buy anoth
er. She went back to look for it; and
when her search proved unsuccessful
she burst into tears. A gentleman
whom she had often noticed before,
stopped as he passed, and asked her
gently, what was the matter. She told
him without hesitation, and candidly
acknowledged that she had no money
to replace it.
"Are you not Rachel Wedderburn,
the daughter of the rich Jew, Felix
Wedderburn?"
Raohel nodded, whilst a bright
blush of shame suffused her face. She
was not, certainly, proud of the dis
tinction : but oven if she had felt in
clined to evade the question, it was
evidently of no use, as the gentle
man's tone and manner showed him
tolerable well-informed on the point.
"Then I cm sure you must bo poor,"
added he, with a smile. "A miser's
daughter maj' suffer from hunger,
cold, and neglect, like any beggar,
though her father rolls in wealth.
That cloak Is not half warm enough
for sucii a bitter day as this."
"I know that," answered Rachel,
nlaintiveiv : "but it has to do, as I
4Wl)y not.?U:t g&aC
She moved uneasjly qui b'of'Tangs ofi
his piercing g 1 an ccjjasigjBaidJg
"It la father's vfjBhr.'SLatM
"I suppose he has some reason for
desiring it?"
Rachel was mute.
"Won't you tell me?"
Her eyes said no, emphatically ; but
still her lips did not move.
The gentleman who was young,
haudpome, and had the air of one ac
customed to authority smiled again,
aud bent farther forward to scan her
face.
"What a dutiful daughter you must
be!"
"No; lam not, sir."
"No? How is that?"
"A dutiful daughter obeys without
murmuring, and I often murmur."
"And yet you appear to have a very
patient face."
"But I am not patient. It was only
last night I was complaining bitterly
becauso heaven had not been pleased
to take me when mother died."
"Poor child !" he said, compassion
ately. "Yours must, indeed be a hard
life. Most girls of seventeen are
thankful enough to be alive. But let
me remind you of this for your com
fort. Some of these days you will
marrv. and have a happy homo of
your own.''
Bachel shook her head.
"The man who married me would
have to buy me as sheep ere bought at
market; and as the one who could
give my father tho most gold might
be the suitor I should like the least,
it would be wiser to dream of nothing
beyond my present life."
"I wish I had the time to make you
alter your opinion."
"Are you goiug away then, sir?"
asked Rachel, simply.
"I am going to fight the King's
battles, child ; and when I come baok
you will have wedded some 'braw
wooer,' and will not even find me a
smile."
"It would be well so, sir, if I were
really wedded."
"Well spoken," answered the
young man, gaily ; " see you are loy
al and true."
"That's slight merit, sir. Are not
all women loyal and true?"
"Not all." And his brow clouded
strancelv. "I know one a9 fair as
you, and well-nigh as young, though
she has been wedded a full year, who
gives all her smiles to others, and
does not save one for her husband."
"Then she is a bad wife."
"She thinks herself a model of con
jugal virtue."
"Perhaps she doesn't know any bet
ter, sir."
"Well," he said, "there is some
thing In that. At any rate, one
ought to give her the benefit of the
doubt."
There was a shop close to them ;
and suddenly, without warning, he
pushed Rachel in, and followed her.
She was inclined to be offended, until
he said, very gently, "Some one is
just going to pass whom I wished you
to see without her seeing you. Look
out now."
Raohel obeyed.
,. Sho saw,. first,, two tall ,. liveried ser-
vants olearing tho way on each side
as they went ; and, behind them,
tripping daintily, smiling Bweetly,
such a vision of loveliness as she had
never before beheld.
"Oh, how beautiful!" Raohel ex
claimed, involuntarily.
"That is what every one says, when
they see her as you see her now !" the
gentleman exclaimed, "But you
must remember that It 1b hardly pos
sible to judge of the real attractions of
a woman so bedecked and bedizened
as she is. Hairdressers, perfumers,
dress-makers, milliners, have all been
pressed into my lady's service, and
the result is as you see. A trifle of
rouge more or loss, an unbecoming
flower in her hair, might make an Ira
mence difference; butmy lady knows
perfectly just what suits her, and will
take care not to stand in her own
light. If you were to put her into a
common print frock, like yours, what
do you suppose sho would be?"
"Jusc a little less handsome than
she is now."
"Xay," he said laughing. "I see
you are determined to believe in her,
in spite of all I can say. And per
haps it is as well. Do you know who
that lady Is?"
"You
have hoard of Lady Mar-
bury?"
"Yes, sir."
"That is Lady Marbury, the greatest
coquette in England, without one ex
ception, that I know.'
His tone was so bitter, that itstruck
Rachel to inquire if the lady was in
any way related to him.
"Not by blood," was the evasive
reply; "but I am sufficiently ac
quainted with her to know her faults."
"I think I should forgive her some,
sir, for the sake of her beauty."
Rachel had never read Pope, and,
therefore, her speech was not a plagi
arism, but tho simple expression of
her inward feeling. Lady Marbury,
in her loveliuess, seemed, to Rachel,
who had no notion of the splendor of
her own dark beauty, more like an
angel than a woman, and tho strang
er's dispraise shocked her.
He could not help being amused at
her enthusiasm. He laughed a little
as he said, "A fair face loses some
thing of its charm, when you see it
mostly frown isg; and Ladj' Marbury
hasjsmiles for every one but me."
"Perhaps you have offended her,
sir?"
''Vn- hnr. "I'm tinfnrrnnntft P.nnnch
jr--i " o-
,toJbeJifir,.hU8ban4:latU - -
- '
BALL MASQUE.
Rachel was so startled by this
speech, that sho stared at him in
blank astonishment, at which Lord
Marbury seemed greatly amused.
'Well,' he said, presently, with an
odd little smile, 'is there any reason
why I should not be tho husband of
that lady?'
'No, my lord.'
'I won't have you call me by my
title,' he added ; 'it was so pleasant to
forget my rank for a while. Some of
these days, when you are a duchess,
you will bo glad to put on a simple
dress, and be mistaken for au ordina
ry mortal.'
'I shall never bo a duchess.'
'Why not?'
She turned on him her grave, can
did eyes, reproachfully.
'Is It likely? Would a duke care to
wed the miser's daughter, even sup
posing that I should care for him ?'
'Then you mean to marry for love?'
'Of course,' was the decided reply.
'What else should I marry for?'
'For money rank '
'Do women ever sell themselves for
such things?'
'They do, with us, daily. But I
have a notion that you aro not just
like the women ono meets every day.'
'Not In that respect, my lord,' an
swered Rachel, nobly ; the very tho't
of taking a husband I did not love
fills me with loathing.'
'B-avo! I wish you could give
some of our ladies a lesson ; it would
do them a world of good.'
'They wouldn't heed me, I fancy.'
'May be not,' ho answered, in a re
flective tone; and ho turned from her
to the counter, on which was ranged
a largo selection of books, mo3t of
them richly bound. He oho3e from
amongst them a prayer book, with a
gold clasp and gilt edge3, paid for it,
and then handed it to Rachel with a
courtly bow.
'Will you do me tho honor of ac
cepting this?' had said. I feel my
self responsible for your loss.'
'How, my lord ?'
Because I saw you drop it, and
might have drawn your attention to
the fact, had I felt solnclined. How
ever, I will make ample attonement,
If you will suffer me. Don'tyou lead
a very dreary life at home, Rachel ?'
Raohel'a face clouded over, but sho
was too loyal to give him the assu
rance in words. But the question
had been a mere form, for all Yar
mouth knew how cruelly the old mi
ser behaved to his lovely daughter.
'Would you like to eee something
of the world ? Lord Marbury inquired
after a brief pause, having withdrawn
the girl from the counter. 'It must
be sadly lonely for you shut up in
that wretched old place. You, too,
who are so fitted to shine in the world.
Do you know what I have proposed
to myself?'
'No my lord.'
'To give you a little gaity.'
Rachel shook her head very decid
edly. 'I am afraid that Is Impossible. My
father would not allow me to go.'
THE
'Yon shall not ask him.'
She pointed to her dress.
'That is easily remedied. Leave it
all to me,' he added, after a moment's
reflection ; I can manage it perfectly
well. Only hold yourself in readi
ness to-morrow evening, about eight,
when you will find the way smoothed
before you as pleasantly as Cinderalla
did when she was going to her first
Rachel had lived in such entire se
clusion, and was so innocent and con
fiding, that it never struck her to sus
pect the stranger's motives, or to
doubt his honesty of purpose. The
only feeling she had was that it could
not bo right to deceive her father;
and this objection he managed to
over rule so effectually, that before ho
left her, she had promised that she
would bo waiting for him at eight
o'clock the next evening, and he had
faithfully guaranteed her safe return
home before midnight.
Upon this they parted. It was too
late to think of church now ; and it Is
doubtful if Rachel had any inclina
tion loft for her religious duties. Sho
was so excited that she actually trem
bled. How this wonderful feat of
Lord Marburv's was to be accom
plished, and the pleasure to which it
might lead, filled her thoughts to tho
exclusion of everything else, and she
went homo as one In a dream.
How the hours lagged ! Her eyes
wero wido open, waiting for the dawn
when it broke; and she would gladly
have risen, only that the miser's creed
was tbat sleep saved food and firo,
and therefore people ought to sleep as
much as they could, or, at any rate,
lio in bed.
Consequently Rachel had to wait
until she heard him rise before
she dared to rise herself; aud then she
was forced to sitshivoriugin the cold,
whilst ho counted over his money,
lest by any chance a secret thief sho'd
have stolen any part of his treasure
in the night.
The day waned, ond the cold, gray
eve came early into the chill, dark
house. Suddenlj-, Raohel, who was
sittingdisconsoIate over tho few faint
embers on the hearth, heard a loud
knock at the door.
Her father was undoing tho bolts
and bars before sho could get there.
But he was always careful to leave the
chain up, in case of surprise, and usu
ally reconnoitred before he vetured to
admit his visitor.
On the present occasion a.letter.was
fbTtelTllfand'ttreniicsaciigcrdopnrts'
ed without waiting to knov if there
BllHbjply,. .
Isaac, true'ttrhis naTSririMtihcts,
brought the missive into the kitchen
and knelt down to read it by the flick
ering blaze that leapt up now aud
then from the expiring wood.
He growled out an oath, presently,
through his beard :
'Confound them, they want to ruin
me, but they shan't! They fancy be
cause I am old, I suppose, that I can't
protect my .own ! Rachel!'
'Yes, futher,' she answered, gently.
'I shall have to go out, I find ; but
I shall trust you to guard the house
in my absence; and, what's moro, I
shall take care that any robber who
may come will have his journey for
nothing.'
Rachel's flushed face dropped on her
bosom, and she kept anxiously out of
the range of her father's keen eyes.
'Do you hear?' he said sharply.
'Yes, father.'
'You will bar tho door behind me,
and If anything should happen, you
will sound the alarum in my bed
room.' Very well.'
'Nothing but necessity should take
me out this bitter night. However,
there's no danger, I hope; and the
house Is well guarded. Where Is my
hat?'
Rachel brought him the miserable
thing that did service in this capacity,
helped him to arrange a tattered com
forter about his neck, and then accom
panied him to the door, which she
bolted and barred behind him, as he
stood without, waiting to make sure
that she had followed his instructions.
Then, after this, Rachel sat down
over the wretched fire, full of eager
excitement and expectancy.
Would the stranger come for her as
he had promised, or had he only been
practising on her credulity ? It was
elose on the stroke of eight, 30 that
the question would soon be decided.
The great town clock had scarcely
ceased to toll the hour, when there
came a subdued knock at the door.
Rachel stooped her bright lips to the
keyhole and whispered through,
Who. is there?'
The answering whisper was even
softer still,
'Lord Marbury.'
'I am coming,' she said, trembling
all over with joyful excitement. Even
then it never struck her what a risk
she was running. The poor child had
so little pleasure, that the mere pros
pect of such an adventure sent the
blood dancing and tingling through
her veins.
If Isaac had been kinder to his
daughter, her filial duty would have
asserted itself more urgently. As it
was, the few scruples tbat intruded
were soon dismissed, and Rachel was
hastily donning her cloak and hood.
The alley was so dark and deserted
that Lord Marbury made no unneces
sary effort to hide himself.
Rachel found him standing quietly
outside until she should be ready, and
having locked the door, and placed
the key In her pocket, she took his
arm in silence.
Now, for the first time, a slight
missglving attacked her, Lord Mar
bury devined this, perhaps, for ho be
gan to converse so gaily and amusing
ly that Rachel's thoughts were soon
diverted from herself; and in the ex
citement of the moment sho devel
oped a new talent for repartee, which
could not have surprised her compan
ion more than it surprised herself.
When they got into High Streot,
Lord Marbury stopped at a small shop
with a very unpretending exterior,
and drew Rachel in.
'I want a domino that will fit this
lady, and also a black velvet mask,'
he said, peremptorily, to tho shop
man; 'and make haste.'
The man almost flew tooxecuto this
order, and Rachel presently found
herself draped in a rose-colored man
tle, that concealed ner ngure From
neck to feet; whilst the mask so ef
fectually covered her face, that her
own father would not have known
her again.
She could not help smiling ot the
metamorphosis ; and Lord Marbury,
who was evidently accustomed to ja
ded women of tho world, to whom
nothing was now or pleasant, seemed
to enjoy her naive delight and inno
cent bewilderment.
'Will they all have these things on
their faces?' she asked.
'Almost all.'
'And will Lady Marbury bo there?'
'It will be the only gaiety sho has
missed since she has been here, if she
is not present,' he answered, with that
bitterness of tone which the mere
mention af his wife's name always
seemed to provoke.
'Will you point her out to me?'
'If I know her I will,' ho added;
'but she generally adopts eome dis
guise I cannot see through, on pur
pose to keep me at bay, only that her
voice betrays her sometimes; for there
is one thing my lady cannot do, mal
grc all her accomplishments, and
that Is, hold her peace.'
'What a pity you don't lovo each
other!' said Rachel, with unaffected
regret.
Why?'
'Because you are both young, and
will have so many years to live to
gether. 'We make the burden as light as we
can, for we are
never together when
we can find au excuse for being apart.
But here wo are. Let me advise you
to keep your face concealed all the
evening; for it would not bo atall ad
visable that you should b raaagnfetu',
andtimlght cause a good many oo'mr
plications later.'
Rachel settled tho mask a little
closer to her face, and, clinging to his
arm, overcome by the musio, the daz
zling light, and changing figures, felt
for one second as if she mubt faint.
She soon recovered herself, however,
and began to enjoy tho scene intense-
Thero was every conceivable varie
ty of costume. Here a flower girl was
conversing familiarly with Catherine
of Arragon ; a dainty debardcusc was
listening indulgently toagrim knight
in armor; whilst pages and princess
es, marchionesses and maid eervants,
mingled promiscuously, without any
show of pride on ono side, or bashful
ness on the other.
It was all so new to Rachel, thatshe
found it diflicult to realize, at first,
that it was n grand comedy, in which
every one assumed a character that
did not belong to him or her the
high abasing themselves for novelty's
sake; those in a lower position as
suming tho robes of state aud grand
bearing of kings and queens, for one
night only.
After a while her companion found
her a seat; and explaining that he
had recognized several people In tho
crowd whom it would be necessary
for him to accost, left Rachel to her
own devices for a while. Sho sat very
patiently at first; but presently she
caught sight of a group, splendidly
costumed, at the upper end of the
room, and stole toward them, forget
ting that her own dress was like so
many in the room, that when Lord
Marbury returned he would not be
able to find her.
She stood watching the contro lady
of the above group a tall brunette,
whose neok and arras literally glitter
ed with diamonds and then sho
strayed further down to where some
thing else attracted her attention, and
inadvertently sho caugh the remnant
of a dialogue carried on between Nep
ture and Sir Walter Raleigh.
The voice of one of tho speakers
was so like Lord Marbury's, that she
would have said it must be he, only
that Lord Marbury was dressed in a
plain black domino, and could scarce
ly have found time to change his cos
tume so rapidly. Feeling that they
were unknown to her, and their con
versation could not have any signifi
cance, made Rachel listen without
the smallest scruple.
What have you done with the
girl ?' inquired Nepture ; and his tone
was eager and anxious.
'She is here, of course'
Ah! alone?'
'She knows no one, you may be
sure.'
And the old father?'
Sir Walter laughed ; and the laugh,
with its scornful ring, reminded Rach
el more than ever of Lord Marbury.
'He must be safe enough by this time.'
Bravo ! The wholo affair was ex
cellently well managed, only it puz
zles me how anj girl, in this enlight
ened age, could be such a fool. She
is a nice little thing, too. I can't tell
you how her great dark eye3, in their
Innocent brightness, touch and re-!
proach!" J
Nepture brandished his trident
with a prolonged whistle.
'Egad! I never expected you to be
come soft hearted. I wonder what
will happen next?'
Nothing. Wlu.t should ?
'You might run away with the la
dy,' was tho reply.
You forget that I have a wife.'
'You set mo the example.'
'A truce to all this nonsense!" re
plied the other, sharply. Wo havo
all embarked in a common cause, tho
object of which is to mend our broken
fortunes; and I don't think I am
weak enough to be turned back by a
pair of bright eyes. My chivalry is at
a very low ebb, perhaps, but I prefer
the glitter of gold coin.'
Richard's himself again!' laughed
the other."" I was"getting frightened,
upon my word! I wonder how much
we shall get out of the old man.'
Hush !' exclaimed Sir Walter, ad
mouishingly: and he made a signifi
cant gesture In Rachel's direction,
when they both movod off.
Rachel worked her way slowly
back to thoscat she had quitted,
wbero she was presently joined by
Lord Marbury.
'I am sorry to havo kept' you so
long waiting, he said, in a courteous
tone; 'but my disguiso does not ap
pear to bo very successful, for so
many people reoognized me among
my friends, I had to exchange greet
ings with them all. I hope you are
amused ?'
'Perfectly well, thank j'ou. I have
been round tho room looking at tho
rlHTVrnf Tonrl. '
Indeed!'
His accent was careless enough, but
sho could 'not help fancying that ho
started a little. This made her add:
'A gentlemen who wns standing
near me just now talked so much liko
you, that, but for the difference of
costume, I should havo declared you
wero ono and the same person.'
'How very singular!' ho replied,
with a nonchalant air; 'but I have
occasionally been deceived in this
way myself. Won't you dance?'
'I havo never beeu taught,' an
swered Rachel, who felt tho tears of
mortification rising to her eyes as bho
meekly made this admission.
'Never mind; that kind of thing Is
easily learnt. Wo'll see if we can't
manage for you to have a lesson or
two before you come to another ball.'
'I shall never go mo to another,'
said Rtt0hi,deQid4lly.
'But jhy ? GJve ma yui 5issn,'
'I shbuld not care to run so muoh
.n&k-agaln. If ray father, were)tO!findt
out what I havo done, he would nev
er allow me to leave tho house again.'
Her companion laughed.
'I don't fancy he will ever know.'
'I am sure he will!' Rachel hasten
ed to interpose. 'Nothing escapes
him! Be&ides, he mlghtarrivo homo
before me!'
'If you feel anxious, porhaps wo
had better go at once. I should be
sorry for you to get into trouble, al
though I do not certain Iy anticipate
such o termination to our evening's
amusement.'
Ho hold out his arm, and Rachel
thankfully prepared for departure.
As she reached the door, tho strings
of her mask loosened, and it fell at her
feet. A gentlemau who was passing
picked it up, and looked full into
Rachel's beaming, blushing face, as
ho handed it back. At this moment
a group of peoplo brushed past her,
on their way out, and one, a lady,
loaned a little forward, and whispered
faoftly, but significantly, 'Beware !
Rachel turned to see who it might
be that had given her such a warn
ing, but tho group had swept on,
leaving a faint breath of perfume in
tho air, aud their laughter mingled
musically with tho rich accompani
ment of tho brass baud.
Rachel glanced anxiously at her
companion then, and sho fancied that
as he went down tho step3 leading
into the street, sho caught tho glitter
of some weapon ho was trying to
conceal against his chest.
CHAPTER III.
ALONE.
This last discovery filled Rachel
with bo much appreheusion and mis
trust, that sho never once opened her
lips until they came to the entrance
ot the alley which led toherown door,
rihe trembled with fear as the black
night closed In around her, and sho
began to realize fully, for the firot
time, her folly and utter helplessness.
Sho was thankful beyond measure
when she came to her house, and her
companion said, with an undefinable
accent of triumph and derision, "We
bhall meet so soon again, that It is
hardly worth while to say good-bye.
But I do thank you for the pleasure
of your company, and I'll show my
sense of the favor you conferred upon
mo later."
"Nay," replied Rachel, firmly. "I
shall never see you again, sir, in all
human probability; therefore, I must
not defer my thanks."
The man who called himself Lord
Marbury laughed softly under his
breath.
"I venture to hope that I shall be
more fortunate than you think. I'm
greatly looking forward to meeting
yon again, and that soon."
Rachel wa3 too anxious to find her
self In-door3 to argue the point an3
longer. So phe held out her hand,
saying, timidly, "Good-bye, sir!"
"Aurevoir."' he answered, airilv;
and she could just see that he doffed
courteously, ere he turned, and walk
ed away with a brisk step.
She lost no time then in unlocking
the door, which she fastened after her
and gropinc her way to the kitchen,
where she struck a light. After thi?,
she crept softly up to her father's
door, and listened for him. She
could hear no sign of him. and when
Bhe knocked, she receved no answer.
Consequently,. she pushed the door,
and looked iu.
It would seom that ho or some ono
had been there, for tho room wus in
extraordinary confusion, tho chairs
upset, tho conteuts of a hox turned on
the carpet, tho bed ahuflled on to tho"
floor.
A littlo reflection explained tho"
mystery. During her absence, a thief
had been in, and it was probable that
her father's hoarded treasure was
gone. How should sho account to
him for tho disappearance? How
should sho bo able to exonerate her
self, or in any way excuse tho blind
credulity which had made her such
an easy victim and dupe?
Looking baok upon it all, now, It
was easy to understand tho
whole plot, and we may bo sure that
Rachel regretted her bwn stupidity
bitterly, and resolved to confess every
thing to her father directly he appear
ed, as tho only way of atoning for her
fault. But the night waned, and
there was no sicn of him. Then sho
became intolerably anxious.
If sho had caused his death by her
fully, it would boa terrible retributiou
indeed. The dawn broko as she pat
shivering and weeping, longing ond
yet dreading to hear his atop on tho
pavement below.
It was a lonely aud frightful posi
tion for a mere girl like Rachel. Sho
was, of courso the only person in the
house, ond her father's reputation for
wealth was a by-woid in tho town.
Besides, the robber, who hod mado
an unsuccessful search, might be anx
ious to try his luck a second time.
Then, probably, his first act would bo'
to rid himself of her by swift and sure
means, on tbo principle that dead
peoplo tell no titles.
AH thoso mysterious sounds which
tho darkness scorns" to creoto and In
tensify were peculiarly frequent to
night, poor Raohel thought. Fortun
ately It was a clear, bright morning,
so she had not so long to wait us usu
al for tho tordy dawn.
Tho relief wus so great when thtf
pale golden beams fell athwart hes
spare little chamber, that her over-,
strained nervvs relaxed, and sho fell
into a deep, sudden sleep.
Sho was rousod by a loud knock at
tho door, and, thinking it must bo
her father come at last, she hastily re
moved her domino, ond ran down to"
oppn the door to him.
To her surprise and dismay, it was"
not Felix Wedderburn, but a tall,
dark, repulsive-looking man, who"
pushed his woy post her Into the
house, seated himself coolly in tho
kitchen, and then handed hero note.
Ills manner and bearing botroyod
Ptich o coarsp sense of power, that"'
Rachel trembled os phe unfolded tho
dlrtv paper, and tried to decipher the
writing, which fihe recognized at onoo
as her father'p. althouch it was evi
dently penned under difficulties.
'Dear Rachel: I must see you
at once, to make arrangements for
my release; will you, tberfore, corns,
back with the messenger, who. ha,s;
beet i sent on purpose to bring yon to
I me? Your affectionate fftthar,
,FHLnrWmDjiMBiMiRN.1';
We may be suro that Raohelraitll
ilnothsItato for a moment.. Sua
gono out for her own pleasure undei?
circumstances quit as dubious, and a9
she attributed all the misfortuues that
had endued to Iter own rash act, pho
was naturally determined that no per
poual risk should deter her from mak
ing overy atonement in her power.
She did not much fancy trusting her
self to her grim guardian, hut sho was'
careful not to show any sign of fear,
ni she wrapped hersolf in a shabby
clonk, and followed him out.
When they got Into the street, her
cotnpnnlon nindeasitrnnl, ond a hackney-coach
drew up closo to tho pave
ment. He motioned Rachel In, shut
tin door, and took a Beat by tho sido,
of the driver. It seemed to Radio
that they mnst havo heon driven at'
least fix miles, when tho vehicle sud
denly stopped, and her guardian
showed his dark, siustor fucu at tho
window.
'Get out,' lie said, peremptorily;
nnd Rachel oboyed.
T4io carrlngo then drove off, the
man Branding motionless, watohing
it until it had disappeared from sight.
When thero was no longer a gIImp3o
of it visible, ho turned to Raohel.
'I havo orders to bandage your
eyes,' he said roughly, 'and so you'd'
hotter not give any trouble."
'I have no intention of resisting.'
answered Rachel, with mild dignity.
Why should I? You aro tukiug mo'
just where I want to go."
"Where do vou want to go?"
"To my father.
The fellow eyed her with incredu
lous disdain. He had, no doubt, been
chosen for this mission becauso he
was of a savage, uncompromising
temper, and therefore, not likely to bo
influenced iu any way by Raohel 's
beauty. If so, they hod ehown greac
discrimination ; for if Rachel had"
known that eho was going to certain
death, she would not have taken tho
trouble to plead to this man, whoso
fuce demonstrated plainly his coarse,'
cruel nature.
She puffered him to bind her eyes'
without a murmur. He then led her
along a path, evidently circuitous, al
thou Bite could not help fancying that
he made it appear more intricate than
it was. in order lo mislead her.
Presently she felt the air thioken"'
and close in around her, as if she had
entered a subteranean paftage ; end
then her guide gave her a little push,
told her gruffly that bhe mijiht undo
the bandage over her eyes, and walk-
ed briskly away, before sho had re-,
covered sufficiently to avail herself of
his permission. Ilia 8tep reverberat
ed loudly for n moment, gradually dy
ing away In tho distance; aud then.
Rachel ventured to make u survey of
the place where sho found" heraelf.
It was a long, low room, panelled)
with oak and quaint devices, and
looked peaceable enough at first. But
on further investigation, Rachel was.'
inclined to alter her opinion. In a
dark corner thre was a pile of lire-
arms, and the flash of a bright blade
caught her eye, as it traveled round'
again.
The odd part of it was that the ap
partment was not lighted with win-'
dows, but the sunshine penetrated
dimly through a kind of skylight
overhead, and in the cool half-gloom
it was not easy to detect an3thing at
iir?t.
But her pense of hearing had cer
tainly quickened, for she could hear,
though evidently at a distance, tho'
suave, grcioua accents of a voice which'
seemed to her wonderfully familiar,
though how or where she had heard
it he could not for the moment recall!
However, the mystery wa3 soon
solved ; for, when she turned present--Iy,
she found herself face to foce with
the hero of her last night's adventure"
tho man who had introduced him-
self to her as Lord Marbury.
(TO BE CONTINUED
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