The Masked Bridal

against the wish of the money-lender, who desired to retain it. And as the lawyer placed the watc

s hurried to court, and the judge investigated the case at once. Mr. Bryant and Mr. Knowles gave their testi

dered to be searched, when no less than three more

imony, and he was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, without Ed

r was led away, Royal Bryant

a radiant face, "and I think we are to be congratul

ith returned, lifting a pair of grateful

oguish gleam in his fine eyes: "I shall never be guilty of paying my copyist in gold again. Now come, I have a carriage waiting for you and will send you d

street, where a hack sto

o enter it, when he laid

rn to the office for two or three days-you need rest after your recent anxiety and excitement, while I am to be awa

to the young girl's face, then, closing the carriage door, he gave the order to the coachman,

ares, she was, for the moment, supremely happy, for Royal Bryant's manner had been far more suggestive to h

o the street where she lived; then, suddenly coming to hersel

a's watch here!" she murmured, a

, she found a pretty purse with a silver cl

within a crisp ten-dollar note and Royal Br

sed amount, as a loan, until you find yourself in mor

urse to her lips w

niless-that I had almost nothing with which to tide over the next few

rooped, her chest heaved with the rapid beating of her heart, as she realized that her deepest and strongest affe

ble tenenment-house could be designated by such a name-and she sprang

the stairs to be met on the threshold of her room by Kate O'Brien-who had seen the carriage stop-with her

he breathed, w

, pitifully; then added, in a lower

h, leaning against the

he is a

thing in the woman's face and mann

swiftly but noiselessly to the bed, looked dow

k of agony at what she saw, for the shadow of dea

upon her pillow as Edith came

lids fluttered open, and she bent a look full of

n girl, but struggling mightily with her agony an

ick!" the dying woman command

and from its depths drew forth a beautiful casket inlaid

one, fumbling feebly among

ned a key from a golden chain w

pered, glancing

x and threw back the cover, thus revealing several packag

take something out of the box, when she suddenly choked, and in

h a last expiring effort, and t

r and began to chafe the cold hand that hung over the side of the

s a spasmodic twitching of the slender fingers lying on the young