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M's/M w--_-/ ._-- gov/V memomwwm CHAPTER VIII.â€"(C0nlinuedl. "I think it is easy to see through this matter,” said Lyon Berners, after a pause; “this robber chiefâ€"this Captain Inconnuâ€"this Satan of the hand must be, or rather must have been the bus- band of Rosa Blondelle, and most. pro- bably her assassin. The motive for all his crimes seems clear enough. lie could never have been a gentleman. He must always have been an adven- turerâ€"a criminal adventurer. llc mar- ried the beautiful young widow for her money, and having spent it all, and dis- covered another heiress in this poor vagrant girl, he put Rosa out of the way, that he might be free to marry another fortune. “No devil is so bad, however, but that there is a speck of good about him somewhere; and this adventurer. gam- bler, smuggler, robber. murderer, was unwilling that an innocent woman should suffer for his crime; therefore he had you abducted to prevent you 'from falling into the hands of the law." “I do not know," said Sybil; “but I think that in having me carried off, he yielded to the threats or persuasions of Gentiliska, who certainly seemed to know enough of the matter to give her great power over him. Indeed. she hinted as much to me. And she certain- ;ynknew of his presence at my mask a .l' “The daring impudence. the reckless effrontery of that man i" exclaimed Captain Pendleton, in astonishment and 'disgust. , “You said, dear Sybil, that he came in the character of Death ?" inquired Mr. Berners. - a “Yes,” replied his wife, with a shud- er. ‘ “Ah, theh I do not wonder at that poor woman’s great, instinctive horror if that mask! I remember now that, every time he approached her, she shivered as with an ague fit. And yet she could not have suspected his identity." said Mr. Berners. Next Sybil spoke of the discovery of the Pendleton plate and Jewels in the possession of the robbers. “I am glad of that, at all events, Cle- ment, since it gives you a sure clew to the recovery of your stolen goods,‘ suggested Mr. Berners. ‘ “A clew that Ishall not follow. as to do so might seriously compromise the safety of Mrs. Berners. Our first care must be for her," answered Captain Pendleton. “Always thoughtful, always magnani- mous, dear friend," warmly exclaimed Lyon Berners. while Sybil eloquently looked her gratitude. At that moment there was heard a low_ tap at the door, and a low voice saying: “It’s only me. Marse Clem, with the breakfast things." The captain stepped to the door, un- locked it, and admitted Margy with the i breakfast tray, and then carefully locked it again. As the woman drew nearer to Sybil, she began to stare in astonishment at the Indian shawl that lady wore round her shoulders. “You know it, do you, Margy? Well, yes, you are right. It is the celebrated Pendleton shawl that the captain‘s great-grandfather ' brought away from the palace of the Rajah, at the seige if some unpronounceable place in Hinde- stan," smiled Sybil. “That‘s it," laughed her host. “My great-grandfather, a captain in the Bri- tisb army, stole it from the Rajah, and Mr. Inconnu, a captain of banditti, took it from us i" . But Margy was much too dignified to relish such jokes at the expense of her‘ master’s family, even from her master’s lips. She put the tray upon the stand and arranged the breakfast, all in stately silence. Captain Pendleton, with old~fashioned hospitality, pressed his guests loatheir repast; and so Lyon Berners. being propped up with pillows, and Sybil sit- ting in the easy-chair, with the stand placed between them. ale tlnir break- fast together; not forgetting to feed little Nelly, who was certainly the most famished of the party. When the breakfast was over. Margy went out with the tray, followed by Joe. Mr. and Mrs. Berners beingr left alone with their h0st, the captain began to de- vise means first for her temporary con- cealment in the house, and afterward for her successful removal to a seaport. “I confess,” Mrs. Berners." began the captain, “that. when I saw you enter this room I was as much alarmed for. your safety as astonished at your apâ€" pearance. But since your servant has told me. and you have, (‘iillfil‘lin‘tl his story, that no one recognized vou. either on the road or in the house until you reached this room. my anxieties are allayed. The prevalent belief that you perished in the explosion at the Haunted Chapel has caused all pursuit of you to be abandoned for the present. And so long as we can keep you out of: laughing as they looked into each other's sight of others than the few who have' alrerdy seen you, you \\ill be perfectly so «u e. " l OR, SYBIL BERNER’S VINDICATION “Yes; but we must not trust. to their security," interrupted Mr. Berners; “we must rather avail ourselves of thi< lull in the excitement, this cessation of all pursuit, to get as fast and far away from this place as DOSSllJlt‘.." “Oh, yes! yes! dear Lyon l" eagerly exclaimed Sybil, “let us go as fast and as far away from this place as we can. Let us get to Europe, or anywhere where we can have rest and peace. on, llcaven ’only knows how I long for rest and peace!" “You are both right. I shall not op- pose your going; but shall rather speed your departure, just as soon as Berners shall be able to travel. But in the meantime we must contrive some place of safe concealment for you in the house," said the captain, as he arose and opened an inner door leading to a small adjoining chamber. Could you live in there for a few days, Mrs. ROI“ ners ?" he inquired, in some uneasiness. “Live in there! Why, that is a palace chamber compared to what. I have been lately accustomed to l" exclaimed Sybilv gratefully. “Well, then it is all right. That room is unoccupied and has no outlet except through this. That shall be your pri- vate withdrawing-room when the doc- 101‘, or any one else who is not in our secret, happens to come into this room. At all other times you mayo safely take the freedom of both chambers,” said the captain, cheerfully. “A thousand thanks in words; for. ah, in all else I am bankrupt, and can never repay your goodness, unless Heaven should show me some singular favor to enable me to do it," said Sybil, fervent- ly. And Lyon Berners joined warmly in her expressions of gratitude. “If you either of you, knew how much gratification it gives me to serve you, you would not think it necessary to say a single word more on the subject 2" exclaimed Clement Pendleton, flushing. “And now tell me about my dear, bonny Beatrix. Surely she may see met I hope she is quite well," said Sybil. "Trix is always well. She is now at Staunton. She is one of your most de- voted friends, Mrs. Berners, and she will regret not to have been home to re- ceive you. But as for myself, great as my faith is in my sister, I hardly know whether I am glad or sorry for her ab- sence on this occasion. Certainly the fewer witnesses there are to your pre- sence here, the better. Beatrix would die before she \VOUIu knowingly betray you; but she might do it unconsciously, in which case she would never forgive herself," gravely replied (alum Pen- dleton. “Well, I am sorry not i; see her. but, at any rate, after t have gone I wish you to send her this shawl. with my love, by some safe messenger," Sybil requested, smiling sadly. “I will be sure to do so. She will be glad to get the old heirloom, which she has been bewailing ever since it was lost; and she will also be well pleased to owe its restitution to you,” replied the captain; and then, surmising that his guests might like to be left alone for an hour or two, he arose and retired from the room, cautioning Sybil to turn the key to prevent the intrusion of any one who was not to be let into the dan- gerous secret of her presence into the house. Three precious hours of each other’s exclusive company the young people en- joyed, and then Captain Pendleton tap- ped at the door to announce the ap-; proach of the village doctor. locked the door, and hastily retreated into her withdrawingâ€"room, where she remained during the doctor’s Visit. As soon as the physician departed. Aunt Margy came in with fresh water, clean towels. and everything else that was necessary to make the inner chain- her comfortable and pleasant for the occupation of Mrs. Berners. When the early dinner was ready, Sybil took hers with her husband at his bedside. And from that time, as long as they remained at Captain Pendlt‘ton’s house, they ate their meals together. Twelve tranquil days they passed rt Pcndleton Park. Their secret was well kept. at least during their stay at the house. On the, thirteenth day, Mr. Berners being suflieiently recovered to bear the journey. the fugitive pair prepared for their new flight. Upon this occasion their disguise was admirably well arranged. They were got up as nnilatloes. Their faces. necks and hands were. carefully colored with fine. brown umber; Sybil's black trusses were cut short and crimped; Lyon's auburn hair and heard were also criinped. and dyed black: Sybil was dressed in a suit of Margy’s Sllndav clothes, and Lyon in a holiday suit of life's. 1, Serious as the circumstances were. the lady and gentleman could not forebear faces. “When we introduced masked balls into this quiet country-place, we had no Sybil un-' :when they heard the guards warning ' stable door. 'the coach, and then climbed after her. ,3 last, so far as we were concerned. had we, dear 7" inquired Lyon Berners. Sybil smiled and shook her head. They were armed with a pass such as colored people were required to have from their masters to show to the au- llririties before they Could be permitted to travel. Our fugitives were not now going to Norfolk, where their story and their j’iersons were too well knovn; but to Baltimore, where they were perfect, strangers. So their pass was to this effect : Pendlcfon Park. Near Blackville, Dee. ltth, 18â€". To all whom it may concern :â€"â€"'l‘his is to certify that my man (imsar. with his wife. Dinah, are permitted to go from this plaCe to Baltimore to return be- tween this dute and the first of next March. Clement. I’endleton. This was designed to protect the sup- posed durkies until they should reach the Mt‘nnunmlal titty. where they were to take. the first opportunity of throw- ing off their disguises and embarking under another name in the first outward bound ship for a foreign port. Provided with this protection, and with a well-filled old knapsack that "Caesar" slung over his shoulders. and with a well-stuffed old carpetbag that “Dinah” carried in her hand, the fugi- tive couple took a long last leave of their friend, and entered the farm wagon, by which Jae was to drive them to the hamlet of Upton, to meet the night coach for Baltimore. The night was very dark; they could scarcely see each other's faces, much less the. road before them. “Marsler,” said Joe. in his extreme anxiety, “I hopes you'll pardon the liberty, sir; but, has you thought to take money enough for you and the missus?" “Plenty, Joe! ‘l‘endlcton, Heaven bless him, has seen to all that," smiled Mrs. Berners. “And. marslcr. sir, I hopes as you’ve made some ’rangemcnls as how we may hear from you when you gets over yonder." “Certainly, Joe. A correspondence. that will be both sure and secret has been contrived between the captain and l myself." “And, missis," said Joe, turning weep- ineg toward his lady, “when you’re over yonder. don‘t forget poor Joe; hilt send for him as soon as ever you can." “Indeed I will, Joe," promised Sybil. “And, missis; please don’t let little Nelly forget the, neither. I love that little thing like a child l" “Nelly will not forget you, Joe." And the little dog, that Sybil had in- sisted on taking with her. even at the risk of its being recognized as hers, now jumped up from her place at her mistress’ feet, and ran and licked Joe's face, as if to assure him of her con- tinued love. At which, for the first time, Joe burst out crying, and sobe hard. “Conic, my man, prove your devotion to your mistress by deeds, not tears! Drive fast, or we will miss the coach," Lyon Berners advisrd. .loe wiped his eyes with the cuff of his coat, and whipped up his horses, and they rattled over the rocky road for an hour or more before they reached the little hamlet, where they were to wait for the coach. It was very late, and all Upton was asleep, with the exception of the hustlers at lhe stable, where the coach stopped to change horses. iiere Joe drew up his wagon, but his passen- gers retained their seats while waiting for the coming of the stagecoach. They had not waited more than five minutes, horn blow, and the huge vehicle rumble down the street, and pull up before the Very quickly the tired horses were taken out and led away to rest, and the fresh ones brought forth. Meanwhile Lyon Berners alighted, and spoke to the agent, to take places for himself and his wife. “Show your pass. my man! show your pass! We, can’t take you without a pass. flow do we know but you are running away 1’" objected the agent. Lyon Berners smiled bitterly to think how near the man had inadvertently approached the truth. He handed up the pass, which the agent carefully exam- ined before he returned it, saying: “Yes, that's all right; but you and the girl will have to get up on top, there. We can't have any darkies in- side. you know. And in fact, if we could, there’s no room. you see; the in- side is full.” , Caesar helped Dinah up on the top If Joe handed up the little dog; and was about to take a dangerously affecting leave of his beloved master and mis- tress, when lur-kily the coachman cracked his whip ard the horses started. Joe watched it out of sight. and then got into his seat on the wagon, and drove back to Pendleton Park, the most discrinsolate darkey under the sun. Meanwhile the flying pair pursued their journey, almost happy, because at length they were together. Soon after sunrise the next morning the stage reached the station at which it was to breakfast. .\"ot wishing to sub- ject their disguise to the too-prying eyes of strangers in broad daylight, they took the provisions that they had brought along. and went apart in the woods to eat them. after which they resumed their places on the top of the coach, in time for its starting. At noon. when the coach stopped to dine, they went apart again to satisfy their hunger. It was not until night, when they reached an obscure roadside inn, that they dared to enter a house or ask for a cup of tea. Being darkies, they were sent to the kitchen, where they Were m. \‘E idea how long the masquerading would gated with a very hot pot of the bever- age that “cheers but not incbriatcs." iiere, also, as they had to change coaches. they were. required to show their pass before they could be permit- ted to take their uncomfortable seals on the top of the Vehicle to continue their journey. ’f‘hey travelled both‘fiy day and night, never giving themselves any rest. The policy of the first day was cunlznued to the end of their journey. They always took their meals apart from other people, during the, broad daylight. deny- ing themselves the comfort of a cup (I tea or coffee until night, when, in some dimly-lighted country kitchen, they could safely indulge in that refresh- ment. At the end of the third day they ar- rived at Baltimore. It was just nightfall when they reach- ed the inn where the stage, stopped. They alighted, with knapsack, carpet- bag and dog, and found themseivcs on the sidewalk of a crowded street. “This way," whispered Lyon lierners to his wife, as he turned into a by-street. “Sybil,” he continued. when they felt themselves comparatively alone, in the. less-throngeil thoroughfare â€" “(\‘ybil, if we. are. to drop our disguises here. we must do so before we, enter any inn, because we should have no opportunity afterwards, without detection." And, relieving her of the carpethag and carrying that as well as the knap- sack, he led her by a long walk to the woods on the outskirts of the city, where, by the side of a clear stream, they washed the dye from their faces and hands, and then changed thon- upper garments. Their knapsack con- tained every requisite for a decent toilet; and so, in something less than half an hour, they had transformed themselves back again from plain, re< spectable darkies, to plain, respectable whites; and "Comer" and “Dinah” be- came in their next phase, the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Martin. The only thing that could not he changed was the color of Lyon’s hair, which, having been dyed black. must remain black until time and growth should restore its natural Color. As the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Martin they walked back to the city. At the first hack stand “Mr. Martin” called a. carriage, placed “Mrs. Martin" with her pet (10f!v knapsack and Carpetbag in it, entered and took a. seat by her side, and told the hackman to drive to the best hotel. “For it is our policy now to go boldly to the best," he said, as he took Sybil's hands, cold from her outdoor toilet, into his and tried to warm them. They were driven to the Calvert House, where Mr. Berners registered their names as the Rev. Isaiah Martin and wife; and where they were received with the respect due to the cloth, and shown a handsome room on the first floor, which was cheerfully lighted by a chandelier, and warmed by a bright coal fire in the great. Here poor Sybil enjoyed the first real repose she had seen since the com- mencement of her flight. Ilere Lyon ordered a comfortable and even luxur- ious supper; and the fugitive pair sup- ped together in peace and safety. Although it was late when the table was cleared, Lyon felt that no time was to be lost before he should make in- quiries about the outwardâ€"bound ships. So having ordered the morning and evening papers to be brought to their room. he first examined the shipping advertisements, and finding that the Energy, Captain Strong, was to sail for Havre on the next day but one, taking passengers as well as freight, he put on his hat, and leaving Sybil to amuse her- self with the newspapers during his absence, he left the hotel to see the ship- ping agent. A strange sense of peace and safety had fallen upon Sybil, and she sat there before her cheerful fire reading the news of the day, and occasionally contrasting her situation now, in the finest room of l l l a large and crowded hotel, with her position but a few days before in the Robbers‘ Cave. The time passed pleas santly enough until the return of Mr. Berners. Ile entered very cheerfully, telling her that he had engaged a cabin passage in the Energy, which would sail on the day after to-morrow, and thct they must be on board the next afternoon. Sybil was delighted to hear this. \i.<ioiis of perfect freedom, and of for- eign truvi‘l with her beloved Lyon, flit- ted before her imagination, They talked over their plans for the next. day, and then retired to bed, and slept well until the next morning. They arose and breakfasted early. The morning was fine. and clear, and they wrapped themselves in their outer garments, and started with the intention of going out to purchase a couple of trunks and other necessaries for their long voyage. Lyon was cheerful; Sybil was even gay; both were full of bright anticipa- tions for the future. For were they not flying toward freedom? They had reached the great lower halls of the hotel, when they were stop- ped by a sound of altercation in the office. which was on their right hand as they went out. “I tell you," said the clerk of the house, in an angry voice, “that there is no one of that name ierc l" “And I tell you there is! And there she is nowl I'd know her among ten thousand !" exclaimed a harsh, rude- looking man, who the next instant came out of the oflice and confronted Sybil, saying roughly : “i know you, madam! You're my prisoner, Madam Berners! And you'll not. do me, I reckon, as you did Purleyl I'm Jones! And 'tan't one murder you've got to answer for now, but half a dozen l" And without a word of warning, he snapped a pair of handcuffs upon the lady's delicate wrists. “Villain l" thundered Sybil‘s husband, as with a sweep of his strong arm he felled the rufiian to the floor. It was but a word and a blow, “and the blow came first." He caught his half-fainting wife to his bosom, and strove to free her from those insulting bracelets; but he could not wrench them off without wounding and bruising the tender flesh. Meanwhile the fallen officer sprang to his feet, and called upon all good citi- zens to help him execute his warrant. A crowd collected then. A riot en- sued. Lyon Berners, holding his poor young wife to his bosom, vainly, madly, desperately defended her against all comers, dealing frantic blows with his single right arm on all sides. or course, for the time being, he was insane. (To be continued). -â€"â€"+â€"~â€"â€"-â€"n THE AITCHES AGAIN. “Once in Banbury," says a writer, "I dined with an English farmer. We had ham for dinnerâ€"a'most delicious ham,, baked. The farmer's son soon finished, his portion and passed his plate again. “ ‘More 'am, father,’ he said. “The farmer frowned. ‘Don't you say 'am. son: say ’am.’ “‘I did say 'am,’ the lad protested, in an injured tone. “ ‘You said 'am l' cried the father fiercely . "am's what it should be. 'Am, not ’am.’ “In the midst of the controversy the farmer's wife turned to me with a little, deprecatory smile. “they both think they're saying! 'am l' she said." t Mistress: “Now. remember, Bridget,' the Jonescs are coming to’ dinner to-f night." Cook: “Leave it to me, mum.l I'll do me worst They‘ll never trouble you again i i" First Neighborâ€"Look here, sir! your dog has eaten one of my chickens! ell, sir, do you object. to my dog roaming around my