Nebraska Newspapers

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THE ADVERTISER
."W rAIBBSOTSSK. tCHACKtS.
AIRBROTBES fc HAC&ER,
Ftahlliher as Proprietors.
Published Every Thursday lOrning
at Bxortrviii. stxbjlSSJl.
I8
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TyramT.Tgrrrm 1858. 1
OldMtaper Ik tkeYtata t
BROWIJYlLLE, NEBRASKA, 'THPESBAT, FEBRUARY 1877.
Y-Ok. SLS 0. 34
BEADING XJLTTEE 0XETERYP16E
OFFICIAL PAPEB OF TKECODXTI
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I ) V J
- - -
T , JJz
ZZIIZIZ .
" " ' J53Bs.- 1
ROrKSSIONAIi CARDS.
ATTORNEYS.
8. A. Oifeer,
X TTOBKEY AT XA-W.-OOce wtth"W.T.EOK-
A eri.BrownTUe.yeb. . .
T. I" Sefelcfe,
At-to-p VET JlT LAW.-MAY BE COXBtn.T
'Iflttl nerSan Uaguase. Office next
oer County Clerk's OOce. Court Home BnM
cg.BrownTllle.yebraata. y
J. S. Stll,
TTOHKET AND COUNSELOR AT t'
AToSSSiti & itore.BrownTllle.Neb.
J. H. Broadyf
4 TTOBNEY AND COUNSELOR AT XAW
A Office over State Banb. Brownvlllt .Neb.
E. "W. Thomai,
4 TTORNET AT I.A'W. Omee.front roomOTer
A Stevfnton ACroi'i Hardware Store.Brown-
Ttlle.Nob.
"tT. T. Roger,
l TTOP.NEV AND COUNSELOR AT LAV-
A Will jSre dlllsent attention to any I era 1
MSi3TSeBtteStoblScare.OffleelnCoartH.uie
Hnlldinr.BrownTlUf ,eb.
PSTSICIAKS.
. s TTOL.LADAY. 7. D.. Pbyilclan. Surgeon
A. Orwlnroraficateflln IB1 . Loca
ed In Brownvllle I8M. Offlce, Lett i Crelsh s
arnrStore.McPherson Bloct. SpecUl ttentlon
w
i.lrt tA llrlrP.T.riCS &QU UliOta w " -
Udren.
10-6si
XT L.3CATHI7WS,Pby8lclanandSorgeon.
. Office
11. Inl
i Clt v Drue storelNo. 32 Main streetrown-
Ts.yeb.
BLACB2IITHS.
J. "W. Glbeon,
wT.ArirsiriTii akd horse biio.h.
Tint
rS trmi -hPttTMi Main and Atlantic. BrowsTllle
Keb Wcrkdone to order andaatUCactlonsuaran-
teed.
J. W. & AVTTT,
8E1EUL HEnilffl.
Postofllce address,
HTJMBOL.OT, XEB.
All business entrusted to his care will re
cti Te prompt attention.
MERCHANT TAILOR,
and dealer In
rineEn5liih,Freseh, Scotch and Farcy Clothi,
Tentinri, Etc, Etc.
BroTvnville, Nebraska.
HA1TE YOU SEEN
m
in n
F !
IIU
Having purchased the
" EI X. JkZ X I3C A. IS T '
1IVERYARDFEEDSTIBLES
I wish to announce that I am prepared to
Co a nrxt class Hvery business.
,JosJi Itogers,
.T: 3ZC AESH,
TAILOR,
BUOWNVILIiE, NEBRASKA.
Catting, or Cutting and Making, done to
-order on short notice and at reasonable
prices. Ha- had long experience and can
warrant satisfaction. Call at his shop at
residence on Atlantic street.
OITYHOTEL
Tenth street, between F&raara and Harney.
Omaha, IVeb.
rs NEAR THE BUSINESS CENTRE oT THE
J- city: open day and night; bosses rnnnlngto and
from the Honse making connection with all trains
East, West. North and isoota. We solicit a share ot
the patronage from Southern Nebraska, and the
traveling public si-nerally. Give special rates to
U.S. Jurors, or any parties remaining with nsany
Jength of time. pA(; proprie.or
B. STEOBLE
AT CITT BAKERY,
lealer In
FAMILY GBOCERIES, TEAS,
CAXSED llRtJITS, CANDIES,
GLASSWARE.
TOBiCC0.nagSSilF.A5D
FRESH OYSTERS
E0MEV70M) MILLS
Havlngl n my employ Mr.
OHCElNTEtY SHIFFER,
.k-nowledeed to bo the best miller in the
tate I am prepared to furnish GOOD
FLOUR, in any quantity. Every sack war
ranted. My Flour is for sale at all the principal
.tores in Brownvllle. HOMEWOOD
Sheridan Mills.Aprll 1st, lS7o.
DENTISTRY.
IS. A. HAWLEY,
An experienced practitioner, -will fill and
extract teeth for all who wish, at reasonable
rates, at his residence on Main street, next
door to Bratton's store.
X2T BUOTVJrVTLZE THE
JjAST WEEK OEEACM
MOWTH.
MAT HE W S
BENTIST,
BUOWNVILLE, NEB HA SKA,
JOHK CRADDOCK.
W. F. CKADDOCK.
CRAODOCE fc SOS,
Gttf SJTIITM8 !
BREECH-LOADIXG SHOT GU5S, RIFLES,
Ca-blnes, Ammunition and Sporting Goods. Onns
made to order, and BepalriH? neatly done.
11 Main St., Brownvllle, Jfeb.
PRJLNZ HTSTiTffFtR,
fAGON &gLACKSFvflTHHQP
ONE BOOH "WEST OF COURT EOtlSE.
WAGOK MAKING, Kepairlng,
YV Plows, and all work done In the best
mannerand en short notice. Satisfaction gnaraa
ed. OlTehhnacall. TU-lT
ABBOTT
'WagonmaMng,
JBlacksmitlimg
Clocks, Watches, Jewelry
JOSEPH SHUTZ,
" TTITT 1 TiTFIl
i -!P4flyT
. jiiiil 1111111 1
Km. 59 Mala Street Browville.
(-9 XeetMconstanflyon haadalaendw"
k assorted to-fc of gennlne srtlclesln hlsIlBe
ifJfcBepairbiE of Ciwtc Watches and Jewelry
doneon short noUce.atreasoBaBlerates.
ALL ITOSiT WARRANTED
OLD RELIABLE MEAT MARKET
BODY & BRO.s
JBUTCHEBS,
BROWSTILIE, NEBRASKA.
Good, Sweet, refill Meat
Always on hand, and satisfaction guar
antied to all customers.
J. EL BA.TJEH,
Mannfnctnrer and Dealer in
Blaaksts, Brmsies, Ily Wots, &o.
SB" Ttepalrinjr done on hort notice. The cele
brated Vactram OU Blacking, for preserrlng Har
ness, Boots, Shoes, tc. always on hand.
64 Main St., BrownvlHe, 'Sett.
:pt. OLI1STE,
xASHIOTtABXJS
-2
BOOT AND SHOE
MAKER.
CUSTOM WOEK
SIDE TO OIlDEn, AXD FITS GUARANTEED.
29 Main Street,
BROWXVILLE, NEBRASKA.
mmm mm
31ain Street,
No. 4?
Up stairs over Witcherly fc '
SmilU'suarDeranop. i
BROWXVILLE, NEBRASKA.
J make every size or style of picture de
sired. .Life-size photographs a specialty
Every pains taken to give pleasing and be
coming positions. None but
FIRST CI.ASS WORK
allowed to leave my gallery. A full assort
ment of PICTURE FRAMES, or all styles
and grades on hand. ALBUMS, LOCKETS
COLORED PICTURES, ana many other
PLZASnia OSH A2E2I7S r OS 7SS PA2L0E
tSSSSSSSS1 !
fall to call and see for themselves.
P. M. ZOOS. I
A. D. Marsh.
DYEING
OLD
CLOTHES.
He- irlll Celor or Dye year
COAT, VEST or PASTS,
in the best style. "Will Dye
Ladles' Shawls will tfcVe
all the Spots out or Gents'
Garments, and press them
np In good, ibape ; Trill re
pair Garments, and war
rant te give entire satis
faction; and Trill cat and
make gentlemen's clothes.
EqualedbyFew.ExcellBdbyNDne
Shop In Ales. Rehlnson's old stand,
next deer te Roy's Far&ittire Store.
.A- ZROZBISOUST
E
DEALER Iff
OPTS AND SHOE
CtTSTOir "WORE
TO SATH TO
3
Repalrlacneatlydone. Ko. 53 Halnstreel, Brown
vllle.ICeb.
T.ETTER HEADS,
"" m BILL HEADS
Keartlr FTicedBt Isoo
THE
WEHTWORTH MYSTERY;
OB
"WTxo Will Sare Her?
CHAPTER XII.
FRIENDS IN COUNCIL.
I have aald it and I'll repeat It,
Gertrude is my eister; and
though,
for the matter of that,
she hasn't be-
haved much like one. I won't see
barm done to her!1
The speaker, Philip Wentworth, is
seated on the edge of a table of black
oak, whose surface Is so polished bj
lime and friction, that it reflects, like
a mirror, the objects placed uponlt
those objects, at the present moment,
being bottles and glasses.
He Ib smoking, as usual, but Is very
pale, and his manner betrays an agi
tation altogether unlike Mb custom
ary half-natural, balf-asssumed indif
ference. The room, which Is the sitting
room of the lodge, has three other oo
cupants. Dark noil, the lodge proprietor.
Malyon, the physician of eminence
from London.
Hockwood, the thieves' attorney
and prosperous gentleman.
Dark noil is seated nearestto Philip,
his body bent forward, his hands up
on his knees, his sharp, bead-like
eyes lixed upon the young man's
face.
Malyon has placed himself modest
ly at the extreme end of the table,
and having secured ontvof the decan
ters to himself, 18 busily investigating
and diminishing its contents.
Rockwood alone is notseated, walk
ing to and fro with his usual restless
ness of movement, like a panther in
a oage.
Philip,' It is the old lodge-keeper
who Is now speaking, in a voice so
gentle and caressing that it might
pass for a woman's, 'Philip, you
have no reason to doubt the devotion
of any one here. You cannot doubt
my love.'
'Oh, bother your love !' was the un
gracious reply. I suppose you" like
me well enough. We've known each
other for such a precious long time.
'Can old acquaintance be forgot?' and
all that kind of thing. As for Mat
Rockwood's devotion, I'm pretty well
up to that. He ib devoted to his own
Interests, that's what he is!
j 'Just so,' assented the Inwyer, with
' a nnntamntnnna nnrt SQ llf fnnllHllpd
'
10 vaih ine iuuui.
'For the doctor,' and Philip jerked
his thumb over bis shoulder In Mal
yon 's direction 'he's devoted to the
bottle.'
'You're right there, ray young
friend,' was the doctor's tranquil re
ply; 'and never was devotion more
generously responded to. 'They are
things of no spirit, their blood is
anleen. that when it is ofler'd them,
do DOt drink deeP-' Goodadvice.and
Ben Jonson's. Thl6 is capital port,
Mr
Darknoll!'
It is a rare wine,' said the old man,
turning half round, but his eyes ever
wandering towards Philip. 'My fa
ther laid down many dozen of it in one
of the vacant crypts of the church
vaults' to ripen, like the bodies
around, Into a more generous life
among the dust and the cobwebs.
Besurgam wbb the motto he placed
above tnem.'
And, said the doctor, tossing
down a bumper, 'a very good motto,
too, as long as I have the felicity to be
one of the resurrection angels. If
fate,' he went on, refilling his glass,
and admiring its rich red hue and
strawberry light against the globe of
the lamp that was standing on the
table, 'if fate had inconvenienced
me with the burthen of riches, the
first thing I should do would be to lay
down a good cellar of wines.'
What for,' asksd the lodge-keeper,
'except to repeat the old folly of heap
ing up riches for others to enjoy?
Near the Wentworth cellars the
Wentworths themselves are buried,
and it has often struck me how it
must torment the souls of some of
those bard-drinking, pleasure-loving
men, for their bodies to lie stiff and
I stark In their coffins, unable to turn
either to the right or the left, while
the glorious juice they loved so much
Is ripening in the darkness by their
side.'
From which I draw this sage con
clusion, Mr. Darknoll: that the" tru
est wisdom in life is to enjoy the pres
ent,' here he emptied hlsglass 'and
let the future look after itself.'
'Ah!1 said the old man, with a
half-Bigh. 'You'll pardon me if I say
that you never belonged to or, rath
er, you never were the head of a
great family, Dr. Malyon.- It is a
wonder to what heights these owners
of great names will soar, and to what
j depths they will sink, to pile np their
pyramid of pride, and live again in
the grandeur of their children.'
For mv oart .' and. for the first
time, tit. Rockwood stopped his rest
less walking to and fro, and approach
ed the table 'I go in for large profits
and quick returns. I am a self-made
man, and care as little for those who
have gone before. Enough of this,'
for the doctor was about to speak.
'We are here to talk business, and bus
iness It must be. Why all this bea'-
lng about the bosh? We each know
what is passing In the other's mind,
yet draw back like children from a
darkened Toom. You ay, Malyffn,
there is no hope for Sir Hugh'?'
'Jsot in medical skill,' wst ibe'oyn-
leal doctor's calm reply. I would
not answer for his life over to-morrow.'
Dreadful news, surely, for a son to
hear. It produced, however, no visi
ble effect upon Philip, who, swing
ing his legs about, continued smok
ing. 'And if the news you bring should
prove true,' Rockwood turned to
Darknoll, 'and Sir Hugh has made
a will what then?'
'I mentioned the nurse's suspicions,
not mine.'
'When Mrs. Prudence zuspecis, you
may write in your memorandum
book the word 'certainty,' said the
doctor, eotto voce.
'You are a lawyer, Matthew,' and
the lodge-keeper addressed his son-in-law.
'You must know best.'
Rockwood laughed.
'He must be a far abler lawyer than
I am to discuss the contents of a doc
ument he has not seen.'
"A clever man can always speculate
none better than yourself, Mathew.
A will made '
'Would be in favor of Gertrude,'
answered Rockwood.-without waiting
for the conclusion of the question ;
'and ray young friend here left out in
the cold.'
'I'm not the only one who would
freeze then. Mat?' put in Mr. Philip,
with a malicious grin. 'There's a cer
tain somebody who holds a paper of
mine which, if not liquidated when
due '
'Will put you In prison In less than
twenty-four hours,' was the stern re
ply. 'I am a man of business, and
mean business. You are a butterfly;
but your modern butterfly, to exist,
must have wings of bank-paper, or
down he comes to the earth, without'
and Mr. Rockwood playfully rat
tled the cash in his pockets 'even a
lodging in Grub Street.'
"You don't mean ' and Philip
rose angrily from his seat at the table.
'I mean,' and the lawyer confront
ed him with a visage hard as granite,
'I mean you to do my bidding
obey my orders. Do you hear, Mr.
Philip? Do you think I've any
thought of you in this matter? Pull
my chestnuts from the fire, and it
shall be ray care your pawa are not
burnt in the process; but' and with
drawing his right hand from his pock
et, he struck it fiercely down on the
table making the bottles and glasses
dance and ring again 'fail to do thist
and' glancing at Darknoll, who was
nervously wringing his hands 'un
less others take you up, I win put alit
the power I possess in force, aud pass
you as a shambling, shuffling vaga
bond, In the streetB of Ijondon, yet
never tosa you a sixpence with which
to buy oblivion.'
Mathew! Mathew!"
'I know what you would say, Mr.
Darknoll ; but you forget there are no
ties of blood between this young gen
tleman and m3'self. Not that. If there
were, it would make much difference.
As a man of business, I mean every
thing as bu?ines3. The only bond I
choose to recognize is a legal one, duly
witnessed ; and the only tie, red tapp.
This girl this one obstacle between
ourselves and fortune, must disap
pear ."
This declaration took no one by sur
prise but Philip. He stared from one
to the other, aghast; then said:
'I don't know what he means ; but
I'll stiok to what I've said I will, by
Jove ! And, mind you, Daddy Dark
noll, I'll hold you rssponsible If any
barm comes to Gertie!'
'No harm shall come to her, repli
ed the old man, soothing the fright and
anger of Philip with his musical
voice. 'We have arranged all that.
You are your father's heir.'
Well, yes; at least, I ought to be.'
You shall be! but you must be
guided by us.'
Driven!' Bnarled the lawyer be
tween his teeth ; but the word was
unheard, and, therefore, unheeded,
by Philip.
'Gertrude has ever stood between
your father and yourself,' theoldman
went on. 'A pretty girl pleasant to
listen to charming to look at; but
olever and cunning. You were ab
sent; she had your father's ear. Your
faults your many faults lost noth
ing in passing to him through such a
medium.'
'Of course ; I know that now you've
told me,' said Philip, gloomily ; 'but
I should never have euessed It of
Gertrude.'
Nor I, till proof brought convic
tion. 'Fair and falee' was a motto we
villagers used to repeat in our youth ;
and age has brought me experience of
its truth. It is for you, Philip to se
lect between riches and beggary. I
should scarcely think' and for the
first time there was a tinge of bitter
ness In the old lodge-keeper's voice
'that you can take long to decide.'
Philip felt that all eyes were fixed
upon him, so commenced roosting on
one leg nervously, while he pulled at
his long, silky moustache.
'Well, a fellow who has been
brought up as I have a gentleman,
who never did a stroke of work in
his life can't be expected to cut un
der to anybody, especially when hfs
rights are concerned. I'm an easy go
er, I am; but when It cornea to be
fobbed of one's rights,
you know,
I'm hard in the mouth, and
difficult
to ride.'
It wa9 fortunate for Philip's self
love that his words were addressed to
Benjamin Darknoll, and his eyes
averted for the moment from the law
yer and doctor, or even 7j6 might have
perceived the profound contempt with
which those two professional gentle
men were regarding'him.
!Hi8 silly swagger, however again
forsook him, and his better nature
once more, and for the last time, en
deavored to aseert'ltself.
But what necessity is there for
what you call Gertrude's disappear
ing? Better half a cake than none.
Can't we share?'
'Share!' thundered the lawyer.
Upon what right will you ground
your claim ? Do you want it to be
proclaimed to the world who and what
you are?'
A solemn silence followed Rock
wood's words.
The unhappy Philip covered his
face with his hands.
It was Darknoll who first broke the
silence with his smooth silvery voice.
'We have decided, in your interest,
that Gertrude Wentworth shall disap
pear.1 You dont mean by death ?'
Who shall describe with what a
co ward's white and haggard face
Philip looked up?
'No, no, no! A seeming death, that
is all ! To live elsewhere, well cared
for excellently-well cared for; but
not again to revisit the Wentworth
estate.'
A grim sense of what was intended
began to enter upon Philip's mind,
but the look of horror was still upon
his face.
You swear her life shall be safe?'
'We solemnly swear that.'
'Then how prevent her return?'
'It shall be prevented.'
What! Do you mean to say that
Gertrude Is to vanish away utterly ?'
Utterly!'
'And no Inquiries to be made?'
And no inquiries to be made.'
'Oh, come, that's a trick above even
you. Mat Rockwood !'
'No inquiries will be made no in
quiries can be made!' said old Dark
noll, his hand on Philip's knee, his
voice reduced to a whisper. 'Cases
have been known where persons in a
trance '
'Philip started.
In a trance,' the old man went on,
'have been spirited away, to awaken
to a new life In some far distant
place.'
A sort of Arabian Nights' busi
ness, you mean, Daddy ; but that cock
won't fight now-a-day8,' said Philip,
whose selfish nature was rapidly re
covering its equanimity. 'Yourgenli
who try on that kind of a game will
precious soon find themselves in stone
jugs, as toiner ones were bum uy iu
stone bottles.'
-rae-gerrii-win-ne -found, neverih
less. And I shall see the dream or
my life realized, and you,' his voice
was now so low that it only reached
Philip's ear, 'wiy grandson the lord
of the Wentworth estates!'
But you don't mean you are going
to bury Gertrude alive? asked Philip,
the horrified look again coming to his
face.
Why not, since we are sure of her
re-awakening?'
'Weak as he wa3 vicious, the young
man turned sullenly away, his head
bent, his hands drooping forward list
lessly between his knees.
Darknoll rose and approached the
two other oonspiritors, who were
standing in a far corner of the room.
Leave'him to me,' he whispered.
I know him none better none bo
well. It Is but a question of time;
the rest will follow.'
And our visit to the old church
vaults?' asked Doctor Malyon, who
having finished his decanter of port,
appeared for the first time to take an
interest In what was going forward.
'To-night, at twelve.'
Midnight ! Quite the sensational
hour ! Does our young friend accom
pany us?' indicating Philip.
No.'
Quite right. Are you bound for
the village, Rockwood.'
I have an appointment with Mrs.
Prudence, at the Abbey.'
They paseed out of the lodge, and
stood beneath the ivy-covered porch.
Shall I give you a light?1
Thanks!'
Malyon leaned forward till the end
of his unlighted cigar touched the
fiery tip of the one that Rockwood
held between his lips.
Safe Investment, eh ?'
Splendid!'
Good Idea, that of Darknoll's;
none but an old fellow who had hung
about church-vaults all his life could
have bit npon it. Its working out
rests with you, doctor.'
With me and Mrs Prudence. That
is an Invaluable woman very.'
A flame rose up from the Ignited ci
gars, aud for a moment illumined
their faces.
Both were as calm and collected as
though their respective owners were
bent upon errands of oharity and
goodness.
At twelve here.-'
A twelve. Take care of yorirself,
Malyon. Darknoll's port wine is
powerful in its effects.
Bah ! there's not a headache In a'
hogshead of such glorious stuff. Au
revoiri
And parting at the garden-gate,
each won't his WBy Robkwood to
wards here the ancient turrets of
the Abbey showed dim and ghostly
above the distant trees; the insm of
science striking off in the direction of
the 'Wentworth Arms,' his thoughts,
desplte his warm eulogy of the port,
bent npon ruca-and-water.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CHURCH VATjtTS.
Midnight!
There is no moon, and the lawyer
and doctor attended by another tnan
come stumbling among the gras
grown graves, which everywhere sur
round the old Abbey Church.
8ome half a mile from the stately
Abbey itself, this itfag'tflficent ruin,
for it is fast becoming one, stands
half-bidden by branching yews, some
of which report affirms to be more
than a thousand years old, yet, tho'
hollow and decaying, they continue
to vegetate with a marvellous vigor,
throwing out branch after branch, as
loth, after so many long years of
watching, to altogether "withdraw
their pall-like shadow from the sleep
ing dead.
Rising above the dark enclosure is
the great church tower, with double
buttresses at its angles, ending, tho'
no, seen in such a night as this, in a
richly embattled parapet, adorned
with pinnacles, all fast crumbling in
to ruin.
The later Wentworths, who cared
little for anything but a thorough
bred horse and hound, had spent lit
tle or no money upon the ancient edi
fice ; and though the present reotor,
idle, good-hearted Frank Mildmay,
had caused some restorations to be
made, they were but few. He was no
antiquarian, and oared more to see
the silvery flash of a trout at the end
of his well managed line, than for all
the artistic marvels that Btone and
brass could offer.
Very ancient, and, to the artist's
eyes, very picturesque, is the old Ab
bey Churoh ; the exterior of the orig
inal building, a mixture of Norman
and early Euglish, peering through
it's veil of ivy, which this was the
rector's doing was not left so thlok
as to conceal all its beauties.
That marvellous Improver of much
in architecture that would otherwise
be harsh and cold, old Father Time,
had placed his mellowing hand every
where, rounding angles, breaking
lines, and softening, even while des
troying. In the great porch old Benjamin
Darknoll Is seated, a lantern by hi9
side, on one of the two stone benches
so much affeoted by village gossips,
male as well as female, on a Sunday.
Seen in the dim light of the lan
tern, there is a something weird In
the old lodge-keeper's bent form,
white hair, and gleaming eyes; and
and bo the doctor thinks, and whis
pers as much to the lawyer.
Queer card, your venerable father-in-law,
Mat, as we see him now. In
that RembrandtiBh light and shadow,
he looks like some old monk, who
might ba-rer been presaxxt Jat this
church's building.'
Curse the church !' is Rockwood's
emphatic and somewhat blasphemous
reply, as he draws his wrappers closer
around him. 'The damp and chill
strikes to one's marrow. I never en
tered one yet that I didnt get a cold
In the head that lasted me a fort
night.' As Darknoll risps, they both greet
him with inquiries about Philip.
The old man answers that he ba3
persuaded him to go to bed.
'The poor boy has had a great
shock, and is shattered for the present
iu body and mind.'
'You know Philip,' Bneers Rock
wood. Surely I do.'
'And so do I. Get over It! pshaw!
A man who has led the life he has,
and is eager still to lead it, has no
more heart or conscience than one of
those stone old buffers In the niches
yonder.'
'You wrong him, Mathew. You
have always wronged Philip,' says
the old man, almost fiercely.
Well, well, time will show. Let
us get over our night's work as speed
ily as possible, for it's by no means a
pleasant one.'
'There Ib nothing unpleasant in
looking on the fair face of a girl who,
all confined as she Is, has not yet
caught the sad decay of the tomb.'
When was she buried?' asks the
doctor.
But three days ago. Her likeness
to Miss Gertrude was remarkable.'
We'll judge for ourselves, daddy,
upon that point,' sayB the lawyer.
What was her name?'
Rose Ayliffe.1
'Ha! I think I've beard my wife
speak of her; but what a devil of a
light you've got! Here, Powder
"Blue" turning to the man who ac
companies the doctor and himself
'come to the" front and tCrn on some
extra glory. You should be quite at
borne at this kind of thing; only a
churoh is not exactly the place you'd
care about breaking into.'
Mr. Bradley for It is that enter
prising, but hitherto unsuccessful,
genius shambles forward, and pro
ducing a dark lantern from beneath
the foldB of bis coat, gives it a twist,
that sends a stream of light dancing
oh the nail-studded church door.
Old Darknoll follows the rays with
his sharp black eyes, and laughs.
There's all that remains of a fellow
who did break into a church just Bev-
en hundred years ago.'
What do you mean ?' asks Powder
Blue, recoiling several steps.-
His skin. The skins of foreign pi
rates and robbers, such as were
guilty of sacrilege, were fanned
and nailed to the church door, as a"
farmer now nails a kite to his barn
door.
'Dear me! Why, so" It Is,' says the
doctor, as, taking the lantern from
-the horrified PowdeT Blue, he closely
inspects Borne dark encrustations
about the nails of the door. 'A com
mon practice wun our ancestors, x
know, especially with -Danish pirates
and the llkei
'Lucky for you, Joe, that we live in
more civilized times,' puts In Rock
wood, 'or we might see that sky-blue
integument of yours serving as a' Sun
day suit to '
Stow it, M!r. Rockwood ! pf ease,
stow It! I ain't up to chaff on Bich
subjects; I ain't, indeed. Not but
what, if such was the law now as you
say was set down by our ancestors,
there's a precious many as is marbled
up Inside places like this as would
find themselves stretched outside
here iu the h'open air along wi' the
westry papers, and sich like.'
Darknoll. who has produced abanch
of keys, opens the door. A huge
lock, but well oiled, as are the hinges
npon which the' grfzzly memento of
the long-defunct pirate rolls back
noiselessly.
'Is it necessary to enter the church ?'
asks Rockwood, as he stands gszing
Into the dark interior from where the
lights they carry are already conjur-
ing up a myriad of danoing shadows, j
Yes ; I have only the key to the
private entrance to the vaults, the
sexton being from home.'
The four men enter. The doctor,
who immediately impregnates the Ba
cred edifice with a strong aroma of
rum-and-water, gazes around him cu
riously ; Rockwood walks on, indif
ferent to everything but the business
that brought them there ; while Pow- j
der Blue, his feelings still shocked by
the robber's skin on the door, wears
the look of one both injured and dis
couraged. Curious that this ruffian, to whom
the darkest night aud most villainous
neighborhoods of Loudon has no ter
rors; who3e brutal nature, bull-dog
like, careless of odds, seeks the quar
rel aud courts the fray, feels a cold
perspiration bursting out from his
forehead and hands, as the lights they
carry quiver hither and thitheramong
the stone figures on the tombs, and
painted saiuts upon the windows and
walls.
Here, a Crusader, with crossed legs
and half obliterated face, caught the
light for a moment, glared out upon
them with his stony eyeballs, and was
gone. There, a carved oaken dragon,
rampant on a pew, with emblazoned
shield and projecting, painted tongue,
olnnri nttt rt Vila vorv olhnCT ami Cntiaprf
ATr Rrnrllev tn Bfart as from a. Huriden- I
ly disturbed snake.
The interior of this old, exceeding
ly old, church, was very beautiful,
consisting of nave, Bide aisles, and
ohancels, massive pillars, rich with
sculptured adornments, dividing the
nave from the aisles, while tall and
shadowy oak stalls, covered with the
most grotesque of carvings, increased
the gloomy, solemn effect; and as the
shambling feet of Powder Blue clat
tered over one of the many brasses,
that ruffian's heart turned to water
the thing, as he would have himself
expressed, 'being altogether out of his
line.'
AH Wentworths,' said Darknoll,
addressing the doctor, and waving his
baud towards the recumbent figures
around. 'A branch the younger one
of the cruel Stafford's family; cru
el, ever cruel, and proud. 'Ha !' and
be waved his lantern, waking up many
a pale, still face with vanishing
gleams of light "there's a many
here that must fiud their marble pil
lows more easy lying on than they did
their feather ones ! Temple of truth !'
and the lodge-keeper chuckled,
'temple of lies, If we read aright the
tombs and the brasses.'
He paused before a low-browed
arch, a deep reces3, cut in the thick
ness of the wall.
Without being concealed, it was
partially hidden behind a huge stone
front, in which generation after gen
eration of the Wentworths' bad been
obristened.
The fffther stood by while Philip
was christened ; it was he who gave
the name,' whispered Darknoll into
the ear of his son-in-law; 'and what
was so solemnly done then shall not be
undone now."
'You'll have to look sharp about it,
Daddy; a thousand such christenings
wouldn't suffice to make Philip heir
to the Wentworth estates.
'No one else shall inherit them,'
said theoldman through his clenched
teeth that is to say, through the few
fHof ranininarl In l?m
He inserted a key from the bunch i
he carried, pushed open the door as
he spoke, and a rush of damp, earthy
air came out into the chorch, already
chill enough in all conscience. So
great was the rush, so sudden and so
cold, that but the lights they carried
were protected, tttey would inevita
bly have been extinguished.
A flight of crumbling steps, a long
passage, and the four men are" stand
ing in the vaults beneath the church.
A vast and awful place it was this
dismal subterranean abode of death.
The flooring of the great church, sup
ported by circular, groined arches,
seemed, though higher than a tall
man's touch, to weigh down upon the
bead and oppress the brain.
Is" this where you keep your wine,
Mr. Darknoll ? asked the doctor, with
a laugh, though unable to repress a
shiver.
The old man pointed a lean finger
to one out of the many crypts in the
labyrinth of walls, a crypt carefully
boarded in.
'There they rest, as they have rested
for this half century sunshine, bot
tled up in the deenest darkness. I
shall put & corkscrew to the whole lot
when Philip becomes Sir Philip. I
will not stint s glass.'
'Mark me down among yonr guests,
said the doctor. 'You give me a don-
ble Interest in the approaching eveat.
But what are wo tresdifig on that
seems to crumble away so beneath tk
feet?'
'Bones.'
Oh, Indeed!'
There was no astonishing the doer
tor, but the more delicate nature of
Powder Blue was much revolted, and
he raised his feet gingerly up and
down, like a bear that Is learning to
dance on hot plates.
'Bones layers of bones, four feet
deep. Bones are built everywhere
into the walls huge bones, belonging
to stalwart faces. This church Is
Lullt over, or on, one of those vast
tumuli which marked the fierceness
of he straggle between the Saxon
and the Dane, and received, without
distinction, the bones of each.'
What's that? and Powder Blue
gave a great start.
'A rat.'
No, no. There were rats In plenty,
chasing each other in and out of fie
crypts, or sitting on the coffins,
ghastly things dropping from 'hole
and wall, and wsitauing trie visitors
with fearless, gleaming eyes ; but rats
had no terrors for Mr. Bradley, Rate f
why the huuses In the London War
ren were honey-combed by rats. Tby
held jubilee iu its alleys and courts,
and glided before the nocturnal p&a-
senger as he walked, swift, gray, and
ghostlike. No ; It Was not a rat that
Mr. Bradley meant, but 'That thati'
and he pointed to a hideous, vampire
thing, clinging, with Outstretched
wings, to a great leaden coffin a sort
of horrible family escutcheon.
'Oh, the bat! Bats grow to a great
size down here,' said the lodge-keeper.
'The vapours nourish them. The
coffin that fellow Is clinging so fond
ly to contains an abbot a jovial, mad
cap abbot, in those good old times be
fore tho eighth Henry turned 'the
monks adrift. They say that Abbot
Everard he was a Wentworth, too"
had sold himself to the Evil One ; and
I sometimes fancy that these horrible
creatures," pointing to tho bat, 'are
here to watch over their master's bar-2
gain.'
'You seen! In a cheerful humor to-'
night, Daddy,' said Rockwood, una
ble to repress a shudder. 'But bats
are not easiness not our business, at
any rate, for the present. Where la
thi3 girl's cofiin that yon spoke
about?'
Not here,' said the old man, quick
ly snd disdainfully 'not here. None"
but great folks lie here.
He pushed on till, Cftef passing
through several other grim passage?,
he stopped before a number of stone
shelves, upon which some coffins,
oovered with plain black cloth, aud
studded with plain black nails, had
been newly placed.
Take down that one" he said, hold
ing up his lantern, and Indicating the
newest-looking, and place it here" up
on this pile of earth. Do you believe
in ghosts, doctor?' continued Dark
noll, turning suddenly towards Ma
lyon. Who? I?. No.' laughed the cyn
ical doctor; I've prepared too ma
ny skeletons for that. Jeremy
Taylor, a very clever personage, whw
a
I have read his works,' quietly In
terrupted the old irian.
'That worthy divine compares a
skeleton to a cage of bone, from which
'the winged soullongsihce hssfiown.'
Now, nothing will persuade me, a- a
man of science and some experience,
that that soul is likely to rehabilitate
itn elf from the musty contents of an
old wardrobe or clothes-press, full of
moths and fleas not to mention
worse insects ha! ha!' This was rn
a parenthesis. 'I wonder whether
they are ghostly, too? to go wander
ing up aud down moonlit corridors,
aud highly arlstocratio people all
their lives as cold as icicles, and as
proud as the devil to go frightening
seme unfortunate housemaid out of
her wits, by bursting out of a cup
board where the ghost, mind you, has
no right to be, add consulting an ig
noramus concerning a secret in which
she can take no possible interest.'
When Rose Ayliffe died.' sajd
Darknoll, who had been giving bus
slight heed to the doctors tatk,f4I
thought I saw a ghost.' "
'Ah! indeed?'
'I was crossing the park, the face of
the dead girl still vividly in my mind
softened by the touch of death but
of all trace of coarseness when I
came upon its living copy, framed in
the moonlight out of the shadow of
the trees.'
Ah! I know,' grumbled the doctor,
who wa3 taking a cheering swig at &
pocket flask. 'Theresa always moon
light in such matters, as they turn on
the lime-light ou a theatre in asensa-
tion Ecene.
It was no phantom, as I confess 1
at first imagined, bnt Miss Ger
trude Wentworth hewelf, taking a
solitary ramble in the park. Tho
liken es"? was
He was stopped by an exclamation
of astonishment on the part of Rock
wood. With the experienced Band of th
trained burglar and few honest
workmen are more dexterous Brad
ley had prized open the cnfUn lid in
a few minutes.
Jt was Mathow Rockwood who had
uttered the expression of surprise.
to be C0?O2"SrjED
Has Fresh Drugs, Wall Paper
School and B'lank Books, Bird'Cages
Paints, Glass, Oils, etc. at lower pri
ces tbnn any house in Brown via?"