Strange Visitors

long. I must arouse myself and act. Calling the nurse to take my plac

ou not explain to me this frightful m

to be seated, and takin

re too weak to hear thi

vehemently; "I am not

loor hurriedly for a few

I will tell

ve heard dark hints thrown out that my father had been deceived, and that this child who claimed to be his son should look in a lower quarter for his father. Richard's mother was not a woman of high moral principle, and he partakes of her nature. My father provided for him well, but as I was the elder son the b

rt?" I repeate

call him uncle. Neither Richard nor myself desire the relationship t

ied?" I said,

slow determination of a man resolved on uttering a repulsive truth. Herbert's mother was a beautiful but pennile

ring her to wait till I should be free to please myself. But Richard stepped in between me and my happiness. He stole this girl's heart from me; gained her love as he has endeavored to obtain yours, by flattery a

ard fled, as I have stated; but I was ignorant then of the cause, and it was not till in the

ecretly cared for. When he was about two years old, the great-aunt of whom I have spoken died,

eived from Richard's deceit had preyed upon her health, and she was

ift of fascination. I believe he could by some unexplainable psychological process make any great wrong appear right to a woman. But I i

to become his guardian; and in the event of Herbert's death before reaching his majority, the whole property was to

fully, "you listen as if you did not rig

ams was the same wronged Alice? Had she arisen from her grave beneath the granite of the church-yard to warn me? Or are the dead jealous of their rights? Do they cling to

d control over his fortune. He has thought to entrap you as he did Alice, and throu

tain, through my agency, possession of a son whom he had never acknowledged? Tis true I remembered him to have said that he feared I would miss my pupil very much. He had asked pla

each in some distant city, he would have had the reins in his own hand. It was by an unexpected, but I hope fortunate chance, that I overheard a conversation to this effect between him and the deformed servant. I could not ascertain the day set for this adventure, but I surmised that it was at no remote date, and I have kept alert. You have avoided me, Miss Reef, and I have been obliged to watch your movements distantly. Not from suspicion of you, for I

fess, considering I did not return his love, but it w

ur frequent journeys to the village, by your cloistering in your own apartment, and more than

ssed. Sitting by my window I thought I heard a commotion in your room. I listened until my surmises grew into certainty.

re Herbert lay sleeping. A strange suspicion came over me. Can the intruder be Richard? I thought. If so, what was he doing at that hour of the night? I seized a lighted candle

plot he had contemplated. Chance or a friendly Providence had thwarted his purpose. I had him in my power, a

my pet dove, where the charms of

art turned to stone. I arose, and

Tell me of your plans; rega

rically; "I must go! Oh, oh, oh!" I should