Cruel As The Grave

harp is found

nguish truth f

on the face o

th' habit of

eart intends

ter; and if we can aid either you or your distressed lodger in

erself down in her easy-chair, with a

nshee, from Cork, a lady, gentleman, and child, with two servants, who came directly to this house. The gentleman registered his party as Mr. and Mrs. Horace Blonde

sented Mr

er than the house contained; for, for his supper that very night, I had to send by his directions, and procure Johanesberg, Moselle

agreed Lyon,

til his week's bill ran up to seven hundred dollars. As a good deal of this was money paid out of my pocket for c

answered M

o take it to the bank the first thing on Monday morning to get the money; and I left Mr. Horace Blondelle's apartments with a secret feeling of commendation for his prudence in putting his ready money in the

," echoed M

unt by giving a large dinner-party, for he had made acquaintances in the town. And again the most expensive delicacies and the mostly costly wines were ordered, with the most lavish extravagance. And they k

t," admitted

any sound even up to ten o'clock. At that hour however, the bank opened, and I went myself to get my check cashed. There, sir, I got another check. Judge of my astonishment whe

" exclaimed Mr. Be

had removed all signs of the carousal, and were moving noiselessly about the room while restoring it to order, so as not to disturb the rest of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Blondelle in the bedroom adjoining. I told my people that, as soon as Mr. Blondelle should awake, they must tell him that I begged leave to wait on him on a matter of business. It is as well to say, that while I lingered in the room, the nurse came in with the child, a pretty, fair-haired boy of five years old. They occupied a little

me!" impulsively ex

-room, where the table was set for breakfast, and still no sound from the bedroom. And in the sitting-room no sound of occupation but t

nd mistress sle

while twisting the child's golden ringlets around her f

om the bedroom yet. No change in the sitting-room, except that the nurse had taken a seat at the

istress not up yet?

if the bell don't ring by that time, I shall make bold to knock at the door and wake them up. Because, si

tell him I wish to be permitted to wait on him,' I said to the gi

gerly excl

and said that something must have happened in number 90, for that the lady's maid had been knocking an

d Sybil, clas

he terrified maid to arouse the sleepers within the chamber, but

murdered in their be

by way of calming her. You may well judge, sir, that I did not send for a locksmith; but with a c

y inquired Sybil, perceiving that

scattered over the floor. We glanced at the bed, and the maid uttered a wild scream, and even I felt my blood run cold; for there lay the

fled?" gasped Sybil, with a h

and drew her head down upon his breast, and si

te hand that was hanging helplessly down by the side of the bed; and I was glad to find that it was limber, though cold as ice. Life might not be extinct. I ran down and dispatched

f fees, I'll guarant

she would keep everybody else out of the room until the arrival of a physician, and to let nothing be to

red Sybil, from her shelt

coma of the lady was produced by some powerful narcotic, but by what or for what purpose administered, he could not discover. The maid was questioned as to whether her mistress was in the habit of using any form of

in dang

t awake until the next morning-that was the Tuesday; and the poor soul though

s husband?" inqu

h I did not, at the time of the lady's awakening, know the full extent of his atrocious villainy. I

en his wife?" echo

, at her presence and at her own husband's absence. My mother, a plain spoken old lady, blurted out the truth-how Mr. Horace Blondelle, after imposing a worthless check upon me, in pa

e for the poor young wif

towards settling my bill. She possessed some invaluable jewelry in diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. I know she did, for I had seen her wear them. She alluded to these, and said that they were worth many th

xclaimed Mr. Berners, while Sybil gaze

he had heavily drugged her wine, so that when she retired to bed she fell into that deep, death-like sleep. Then he took adva

woman!" si

ners, "occurred four days ago. Since that time her base hu

?" inqui

ars through this swindling villain. The wife and child he has left behind him are still occupying my best suite of apartments, for which, during their stay here, I shall not receive one penny of remuneration: therefore you see I cannot afford to keep

er among the ladies in th

t present, madam. Our patrons are usually t

f your family?"

house for me, and the female servants under her. I am a widower, mad

s. He smiled, and nodded assent to what seemed to have been a silent interrogation. Then she took from her pocket a littl

nhappy lady at once, and see if she will receive me this eveni

ression of sympathy from another lady will be to her like a drop of

k of you," said Sybil, as soon a

e is nothing that you can ask of me

to ask and receive favo

! a right or a favor, it is always yours!

manner of dealing with this poor little lady, even

this possible adventuress? Lyon looked very solemn over this proposal from his wife. He hesitated for a moment; but her large, clear, honest eyes were fixed full upon him, waiting for his reply. Coul

than a cur-a thankless wretch-to wish to restrain you in any

the landlord re-

ery grateful for Mrs. Berners' visit, as soon as Mrs. Berne

d her hand playfully to her hus

he opposite door, then opened it, announc

stranger's apartment, and then

rchs and ministers, and raised or ruined kingdoms and empires. And often in poetic fancy she had tried to figure to herself one of these fairy

rosy, like the inside of an apple blossom; lips like opening rose-buds; eyes of dark azure blue, fringed with long dark eye-lashes, and over-arched by slender, dark eyebrows; and hair

xquisite grace to w

urmured, in a sweet, pathetic tone that went to her visitor's heart, a

us. She immediately drew her chair up to the side of the strange lady, to

but we are the children of one Father, a

rhood with such a wretch as I am?"

comfort and help you-to comfort and help you not in words merely, but in deeds; and I have

her lovely, tearful, blue ey

h a cloud of dishonor hanging over me! Oh, madam, if you knew

wakens my deepest sympathy for you. But I do not know all that you could tell me. Now, dear, I w

ell either of them. They w

ook well, and tell me whether you ca

ly heard your heavenly voice, I could confide in you, as i

on my bosom; and then you shall feel how well I can comfort and help you," said Sybil, put

young stranger-friendless now,