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lllllll ’ on, sme BERNER’S VINDICATION K 0 g l '0 CIIAI‘TER XX‘JllI. The awe-stricken women drew nearer "0 [1"10 upon the murdered mun. “Mandala. he is not dead! “And yet what difference? what dif- ference?" he murmured, restlessly. "Mother." whispered Miss 'l‘abby, “it “0 seems to me as he secn this man be- brcathes," exclaimed Gem. whose young my." rcyes had detected the slight, very slight motion of the man's chele The old woman knell down beside the body. and began to examine it more closely. The shirtâ€"bosom, vest, and coat front were soaked with blood, that still scented to ooze from some hidden wound. She hastily unimttoned his clothing. and found a small, round. blackened bullet hole over the region of the left lung. , “'I‘urn him over on his left side. men,” 'she said, half rising from her knee. As they followed her directions, the blood flowed freely both from the wound and from the mouth of the man. “Joe, mount- Fleelfoot and gallop to Blaekville as fast as you can go and bring Dr. Ilart, though I don't believe it will be a bit of use; but still it is our \ duty. And. Tabby and Libby, stop l wringing of your hands and rolling of ‘tyour eyes. and go upstairs and fetch idown the cot bedstead to lay him on, .for it stands to reason we can't carry him upstairs without hastening of his end." said the old woman, as sheibusicd herself with slanching the wound in the chest. All obeyed. The cot bed was made up in the cor- ner of the. room, and the wounded man was tenderly raised by the two laborers, and laid upon it. “Now. stand out of my way. all of you, and don't ask any questions, but be ready to fly the minute I tell you to do anything." said the dame. as she stood over the injured man and still pressed :1 little wad of lint over the but- let bolt to stanch the blood. . The other women and the men with drew to the fireplace and waited. ‘ “line is very nasty and uncomfortable- ooklng, lying here in all these stained .lothes. but I am afraid to undress him, I r fear of starting the wound to bleed- in ' again, and that's the sacred truth," said Mrs. \Vinterose. i, “No; don‘t move me.” spoke a very {pint voice, which, as she afterwards Said, sounded so much as if it might have come from the dead, that the old lady withdrew her hand and recoiled from it. her orders were immediately "Shouldn’t wonder,“ replied the old lady, in a low lone. “Mr. Iloraec tlon- delle has been living at the Ituliarry Springs. within ten miles of us, for the last thirteen or fourteen years, and it would be queer if you hadn't seen him before." “Queer or not, I never did see Mr. Ilorace Blondelle, to know him as sicll. ill all my life before. And that ain t what I mean neither. mother. I have seen this man in a fright somewhere or other." “The man in a fright?" “No: me in a fright when I “Ilush! don't. whispcrl See. him." said the old lady. And in truth the wounded man had turned to listen to them. and was gazing uneasily froin one to the other. \\'hen they became silent, he becl Miss Tabby to approach. She bent over him. “Now, look at. me well. old girl." he whispered. faintly, “and see if you can't ‘ecollect when you met me test." “All!” screamed Miss 'l‘al'iby. as if she had seen a ghost. “It was on the night of the floodl And you rescued of us!‘ “That‘s so." . “Well, then. my 'good gentleman. it ought to be a comfort and a conserla- lion to you, a-laying wounded there, to reflect as how you did rescue us from drowning that night," said Miss 'l‘abby. soothingly. “I don‘t know. as far as the rescuing of you is concerned, old girl, whether the act will be found set down on the debit or credit side of my account the last day." he said, with a gleam of his old humor sparkling up from beneath all his pain of mind and body. “So this was the man.” said the old lady to herself, while Miss Libby. and even Gem. looked at him with a new interest. “Mr. Blondclle. can you tell me how you came to lie wounded?” inquired the old lady. “No. not now. I must save all my strength for what I have to say to the lawyer. Give me more brandy. And then let me alone." he said. speaking faintly and with difficulty. Ills request was complied with, and ‘then the three old women, with Gem. saw him." it disturbs toned “Brandyl brandy!" breathed the same whhdrew to the fire. voice. “Tabby. get the brandy bottle and pour some into a glass- and bring it here. Quick!" she exclaimed. Miss Tabby. ‘too much awed to whim- per, brought the required stimulant, which Mrs. Winterose immediately ad- ministered to the patient. The effect was good. He breathed lore freely and looked around him. “Now, be of good cheer! I have sent \nan on a fast horse for the doctor. said Mrs. a He will be here in an hour,” Witntcrose. cncouragingly. The wounded man laughed faintly, as be r ,plied. “Wlhy, what can the doctor do for me? I'm shot to death. I'd like to see a magistrate, or a lawyer, though." “Woluld you? Then you shall. Hey! one offyou men. run out to the stable as fast as you can, and see if Joe's gone. If he isn't, tell him to fetch Lawyer Closeby as well as the doctor," said Mrs. Winterose. Both of the laborers started on the errand. Mrs. Winterose turned to her patient. “What place is this; and who are you?" he inquired. “Why, don't you know? This is Black Hall, and I am the caretaker." “Black IIallt" echoed the man. starting up and gazing around him with an ex- citement that caused his wound to break out bleeding again. “lilack Ilall! Is it here that I must die? llere. andâ€"~great Heavenlâ€"in the very room where the crime was committed! In the very room haunted by her memory!" And, covering his face with his hands. he fell back upon the pillow. “Tabby. more brandy!" hastily ex- claimed the old lady. as she nervously pressed a fresh piece of lint into the gushing wound. “Yes. more brandy!" he faintly whis- pered; “keep me alive. if possible, till the lawyer comes." Miss ‘l‘hlihy brought the stimulant. and Mrs. Winterose put it to his lips. “But, oh. this room! this Infill 1-...iihzlg,,.,.,.,.. this haunted room!" he murmured. with a shudder. “Be quiet, good man; this ain't the room where the lady was murderch said Miss Tabby. l The two laboring men came in from their errand and joined them at the ,, nrc. “ id you catch Joe?" inquired the dam . “Yes. mum. just as he was riding off. \\'e had to run after him and shout; but we stopped him. and gave him your message." “All right; and now tell meâ€"forl hadn't. a chance to ask beforeâ€"how came this gentleman to be wounded?" “Don't know. mum. We was on our way to a little Ilallow live merryqnak- ing at a neighbor's house in the quar- ries. when we fell in long 0‘ Joe. who had been to the pine woods to gather cones; and we. was all joging along. Joe foremost, when he stumbled and fell over something. which proved to be this man. which. to tell the truth. we look 'to be dead at the lime," replied one of the men. “and have you no idea who shot bun?" “No more than you have yourself. mum. You 50%" A groan from the injured man inter- rupted the conversation. “flush! we disturb him. I oueht to have known better than to talk.“bwhis- pared Mrs. Winterose, and then she walked to the bedside. and inquired: “What is the matter? Can I do any- thing for you?" “No; let me alone, and be quiet,” was the feeble reply. The old woman went back to the fire- place. and sat down in silence. The two laboring men, uninvited, seated them- selves at a short distance. All thouuhts of going to n merry-making were given up for that night. And a weary death which mmmonom and c :nl’nued ill awful s'lezile :nd rtill." ncss until it was interrupted by the sound of horses‘ feel in front of tlr‘ house, and soon after by a loud knock: ing. Miss Tabby sprang up to open the dwi- anil admit the doctor and the “This is a terrible thing, Mrs. Winter- hm." said Dr. Iiart. as he shook hands with the 0in lady. and bowed to the other members of the family. . "'[X‘q'yilvlth llltlt‘t‘ft. ‘ all‘.” “And which is haunted by her ghost “mimosa as she led the war to th\ b d to this day,” pill in Miss Libby. who had .5“. ' L 0 ' come up to the side of the bed. "Notâ€"«not the room where llz'isa was murdered this day fifteen years ago murmured the man. gazing around him. “.-\m I delirious. then? It seems the very same t'uOlll. only with different know, furniture." "It is the correSpondial rc-un in wing. T'olhcr room is in t'olher wing," expllltacd Miss Tabby. l “I am sorry to see you wounded. .\Ir. Blondelle: bill we shall bring yin: round at; right.” said Dr. Hart, as he took the 1mm} of the dying man. “Doctor. you know. or you soon will that you cannot do any such thing. So let us have no flatten; Buy his if you can give me anything to keep me alive until I shall have finished a slate- mgnl, that it may take an hour to make, replied .\frs. - tei‘prl-ling his silt-lire. l I you will do the only thing you possibly t‘tlll speaking Mr. Illuu‘lelle, difhculty. and for me." said faintly. with ith frequent pauses. “Let the examine your injuries." said the doctor, gently. “llo if you must and will. But. pray. occupy as little of my precious time as possible." pleaded the dying man. The dot-tor proceeded to make his ex- aminalion. When he had finished it. he made not a single comment. “I told you so." said Mr. Blondcllc. in- “.\nd now give me something to keep me going until I do _ilinish my work. and then send all these. . WWQWQMOWWO+WOM l women out of the room. so as to leave us alone with the lawyer; but let them supply him with writing materials first." “l will ‘1) as you duvet: bill. mean. while. shall I not send for your wife?" gently inquired the doctor. “No; what would be the use? It will be all over with the brim" she can posâ€" sibly gel lit-re." amwlned Mr. blon. lit-lil‘. The doctor did not urge the point; he, probably agreed with his patient. When he had adininislcrell a stimu- laiil, he, whispered to Mrs, Winterose to place writing materials on the little stand llcsidn the cot. null then to take her daughters and item upstairs. When the women had left the room. the doctor bade. the two laboring men to retire with Joe to the kitchen. where he himself would have followed them. see- ing that the rest of the house was closed up and tireless; but at a sign train the dying man he stayed, and look a seat by the bedside. The lawyer sat bet ween the bcd's head and the little stand upon which pens, ink. and paper had been placed. “Is it a will?" said Mr. Closeby. as he rolled out a sheet of parchment he had taken the precaution to bring. The (lying man laughed low as he re- plied : “No. it. is a f‘Ollli'SSli’m. it now. when it will redeem without. ruining mine." The lawyer and the doctor exchanged glances, but made no comment. i. What Mr. Horace Itlondcltc‘s confes- sion would be they had already sur- lniscd. \\‘hat it really was will be seen presently. The work occupied something more than an hour. for the narrator was very t can make. her life weak from loss of blood, and spoke slowly. faintly, and with frequent pauses, while the lawyer. at leisure. look down his words‘, amt the. doctor from time to time consulted his pulse and administered stimulants. Meanwhile. the urea old women. with Gem. remained upstairs. gathered around the small fire in their bedroom. .\wc hushed their usually garrulous tones. or ineved them to speak only in whispers. Never seemed an hour so long. At length it was past. and more than past, when *the door at the foot of the stairs was opened and the doctor's voice was hoarzjl calling upon them to come down. “Is it, all over?" whisperingly inquired Mrs. \\'interose. “The work is Over.” “Bill the man. I mean." “It is not. all over with him yet. still lives, though sinking fast." “Don't you think he ought to have a clergyman?" “He would be dead before a clergyman could be brought here." This rapid. low-toned conversation took place at the foot of the stairs. out of hearing of the dying man. whose senses were fast failing. Mrs. \V’inlerose then came down into he room and took her seat at the bed. and from time to time bathed the suf- ferer's brow with her own preparation of aromatic vinegar. or moistened his lips with braiin and water. Tabby. Libby and Gem sat around the He fire. The doctor and the lawyer stood conferring in a low tone at a distant window. Thus the death watch was kept in the silence of awe. until Miss Tabby. unable to resist her desire to do something for the sufferer. crept up to the side of the cot opposite to to which her mother sat. and “shook his sands," by asking him in a low tone: “Is there no one in the world you would like to see, or to send a message to ‘2" “Noâ€"no oneâ€"but Sybil Bernersâ€"and I have written a message. toâ€"hcr; but â€"to See herâ€"is impossible," gasped the man at intervals. “Tabby. go sit down and keep quiet. You only worry the poor soul!" said Mrs. Winterose. Miss Tabby compiled. and the silent death-watch was resumed. and contin- ued unbroken except by the howling of the wind. the beating of the rain. and the rattling of the leafless trees, until at length â€"â€" inexplicable sound! â€"~ wheels were heard grating over the rough, neglected avenue and approaching the house. \\'ho could it be. coming at that late hour of a stormy night. to a house to which even in daylight and good wea- ther scarcely a visitor ever came? The sound of the wheels ceased before the door. and was iinmedialcly follow- ed by a knock. “Burglars never come in wheeled Car. ridges," 3m. I.pci'ivered her courage and went and opened the door. She recoiled with a loud cry. Every one started up. and hurried forward to see what could be the mat- tt‘l'. CII.\PTI~.‘R XXIX. Sybil Berners stood before them! gym; Burners. in inagniliecnt beauty! Cybil Br-rncrs. developed into (1 \mnum of majestic dignity and angelic grace: Yet they all knew her in an lllzlzllt. said Miss Tabby to herself. as' HIST TOOK A NIP. Greenâ€"llow does your dog like your new neighbors? Itrowna-ll's a little early to say. Rov- er has had only a small piece. __â€"____________-’- The scene that folliwed is indescrib- able, unimaginable. I-‘orgotlrn was the dying man! Unseen was Lyon Burners. whose fine form filled up the doorway. They crowded around her, they car- csscil her, they cried over her. they ex- claimed liliout l.er. they asked hi-r a score of questions. and. without. waiting for a single answer. asked her a hunâ€" dred others. “(‘th bless my dear old home, and all the people in it." were the first. words that Sybil spoke after she was permitted to catch her breath. "And you. my darling. you! God bless you in coming home!" fervently ex- claimed the old woman. . u where is my child, Mrs. \\vln~ “Now, H ' lerosc‘? Where. is my Gem? the lady in- quired, looking eagerly around the room. “Gem. come here." said the dome, And the beautiful young gir1,who had been timillly lingering in the back- ground. yet with some suspicion of the lady‘s identity. ton. came modestly for. ward. and was silently folded in the arms of her mother. .\ moment they clung thus: and then Sybil lifted the young head from hm- hosom, and. holding it between her hands, gazed tenderly down in the sweet face. _ ‘ “My daughter! my little Geml' she murmured. “It is bill a few nionlhs since I knew that I possessed you." “But I always knew that you were my mother. I always knew it, though no. one ever told me!" robbed Gem. “And did you think that I had de- serted you all this time. my daughter, my daughter?” inquired the lady, linger- ing pit the last word, and tenderly gaz. ing nlo her dark eyes. “I thought you were compelled to do it. mother!" “What! to leave you here alone, un- cared for and unschooled, all these long years? No. my daughter; no. no. no. I did not know that I was blessed with a daughter; I (lid not know that you lived, until within a. few months past. Mistaken love for me, inordinate care for me, induced all those who were nearest to me to conceal your existence from me. test. if I should know it, I should compromise my safety, my li- berty and life, Gem, by seeking to see you!” “Oh. mother I“ “.\nd they were so far right, my dar- ling, that as soon as, at last, your fa- ther informed' me of your existence. and of a necessity to bring you over to us for education, I became so impatient that I could not wait for you to be brought to me. I felt that I must fetch you, at all risks. for the sake of seeing you some few weeks earlier than I could by waiting for you over there! So here I am, my daughter!" “But, oh! dearest, dearest mother, at what a hazard!" sighed Gem. “I do not believe it, my darling. I do not believe, after all these years. that any one will seek to molest me for the few days that I shall remain here. even it my presence should be suspected. which will be very improbable. as I have taken and shall take every precaution for secrecy. I have travelled only by night, Gem, and this is the first. time I have raised lily thick veil." “But. oh. mother!" she said, giving an alarmed look around. for she sud- denly remembered that there were the doctor and the lawyer in the house; but she did not see them. They had dis- creelly withdrawn into the back roonl. “And now. dear Gem. here is your father. who is waiting to embrace you," said Sybil. And Lyon Berners. who had forborne to interrupt the iiiceling between the mother and daughter. and who was standing apart, talking in low, eager tones with Mrs. \Vinterosc. now came forward and folded his daughter to his helirle. and laid his hand upon her head and blessed her. “But who is that?" exclaimed Sybil, in a Slftl‘ll:d tone, as she turned her eyeS upon a ghastly and blood-stained form, sitting bolt upright on the cot bedstead, and staring in a death panic at her. At her exclamation all eyes were turned in the direction that hers had taken, and Mr. Berners looked inquir- ineg to_wards Mrs. hastened to reply: “Oh, I forgot. In my joy at her an rival, I forgot all about the poor. dying Iman! Sir. he is Mr. lllonl‘lclle. who \\'intcri:ise, who " H gowns the. great Dubarry Springs up you- der. lle was set upon and murdered by â€"-the Lord only knows whomâ€"but he was found by Joe lying in the. pine woods. and with the help of two labor- crs he was brought here. “'0 sent for the doctor. but he could do nothing for hiln. It..- must die. and knows it." she (Itlltl‘tl in ll \Vflispt‘l‘. In the meantime, Sybil. staringr at the ghastly face which was staring back at her through its glazing eyes. lecognized an old acquaintance. (To be continued). ..__-_+____. PERSONAL I‘OIN'I'ERS. Interesting hussip About Some of the ' World's "rominenl People. The, Prince of Wales is a crack .rhC‘t, and is said to be one of the finest in England. The King of Spain received a hand- some legacy some time ago from one of his subjects. It amounted to 3,000.0th pcselasâ€"which is more than $595,000 in our money. King Leopold of Belgium is, perhaps, the most skilful of [loyal Gardeners, and is said to be proudcr of his lively gardens and greenhousw~the products of his skill and careâ€"than of any other of his possessions. The German Emperor is said to much regret the fact. that he missed being born on the. birthday of Frederick the Great by three days. His father, the Emperor Frederick. was born on the anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig, in which the French troops were utterly defeated by the combined Prussian, Russian and Austrian armies. Signor Tito Mattei, the famous com- poser. who is pianist. to the. King of Italy, started his musical career at an earlier age than is usual even with Continental musical prodigies. [to was only a little over five when he gave his first concert. At eleven he was a pro- fessor of music at Rome and a member of several famous philharmonic socie- lies. and when he was twelve, I‘Opo Pius IX. gavo him an audience and pre- sented him with a gold medal. Ilerr Kubelik, perhaps the greatest of “magicians of the violin,” owas his bril- liant career almost entirely to his pea- sant father, who, although self-instruc- ted, not only taught. all his sons to play on every instrument, but by incessant toil in his garden gave them the best available musical training. Unfortun- ately, the parent never lived to see his son‘s triumph; and. by a curiously pathetic irony of fate the very first fee the young violinist received was spent on a wreath for his father‘s grave. Sir Walter Bullcr. the distinguished New Zealand scientist, whose death is just recorded. had an unusually versus tile career. He began by editing a pa- per in the Maori language; at twenty- four he was a resident magistrate, at twentyâ€"seven a judge of the Native Lands Court, and shortly afterwards he was out fighting the rebel Maoris. He was mentioned in deSpatches for at; lantry in carrying news by night; through forty miles of the enemy's country. At thirty-three he went to London as Secretary of the New Zealand Agency, and entered as a student at the Inner Temple. 110 was one of the few instances of a man being made a judge before he became a barrister. When Prince Edward of Wales was a. very little boy a children's party was held in the neighborhood of Sandring- ham. at which he was present, and dur- ing the course of the evening the has less, to his delight. bestowed a toy sword upon her little guest. “You must tender your thanks very nicely for your present," said the Prince of Wales, who was standing by. To cveryone's sue-- prise the little Prince mounted upon a chair, and gave forth gravely. “Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much. for my beautiful sword; I shall always. value it and always wear it." His father burst into a heady laugh. “Little beggar!" he exclaimed, “why, he speaks better than I do!" Mr. Booker Washington, who is now the head of a great industrial trainng college for colored people in the United States. was born a slave. He usedto carry hooks to school for his little mis- tress. but while in slavery had no school. ing himself. and thought the happy children he saw in the schoolâ€"house must he in Paradise. Before the Civil, War, by which slavery was abolished..‘ broke out, he used to hear his mother and the other slaves whispering to! gethervabout the struggle, and their joy was very great when at last they. were set free. Mr. Washington chris-. tened himself “Beaker.” In the school! house, after the Emancipation. he was asked his name by his master. As @- slaveâ€"boy he only had one, but he, thought he ought to have at least a, couple, and said. on the Spllf‘ of the mo. lnenl. "Booker Washington." as indif- fel-enlly RS if he had borne the double name all his life. “4... SHOULD II.\\'E KNOWN BliT’I‘En, Father (slernly): “So again in your examinations! you explain that '2" Son: “lie-Cause they went and asked me just. the same questions a; before." you‘ve failed How do “I like to believe that all men are hon- est," said the IllOl'Lllth’I‘. “Same here,‘ I“mined the deinoralizer: “still I always diaw the line at taking the same pal, cut medicine for liver complaint that f usi- for toothache, no matter how lb: label reads."