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Page 96
"Proceed!" said Algernon, compressing his lips, as one whose mind is
made up for the worst. "Proceed, sir. I know your mission."
"The deuce you do!" replied the other, in astonishment; "then you must
have a very remarkable faculty for divining secrets. I rather guess you
are mistaken though," he added, as he drew forth a couple of letters
from a side pocket; "but these will inform you whether you are or not."
Seizing the proffered letters with trembling eagerness, Algernon hastily
glanced at their superscription; then, breaking the seals, he devoured
their contents with the utmost avidity; while the stranger stood noting
the varying expressions of his handsome countenance, with a quiet smile.
At first his pale features seemed flushed with surprise--then became
radiant with joy--and then gradually saddened with sorrow; yet a certain
cheerfulness prevailed over all--such as he had not exhibited for many a
long month. As he finished a hasty perusal of the epistles, he turned to
the stranger, grasped his hand, and, shaking it heartily, while tears of
joy filled his eyes, exclaimed:
"I _was_ mistaken, sir--God be thanked! God bless you too, sir! for
being the messenger of peace between myself and conscience. Excuse me.
Tarry a moment, sir, and I will send some one to take charge of your
weary beast, and show yourself a place of rest and refreshment."
As he spoke, Algernon darted away toward the cottage. Observing Isaac,
he ran to and caught him by the hand:
"Isaac," he said, in a gay tone, while his eyes sparkled with delight,
"wish me joy! I have good news. I--but stay; I forgot; you know nothing
of the matter. Oblige me, though, by showing yonder gentleman and his
beast due hospitality;" and wringing his hand, he sprung into the
apartment where Ella was sitting alone, leaving Isaac staring after him
with open mouth, and wondering whether he were in his right senses or
not.
"Ella!" he exclaimed, wildly, as he suddenly appeared before her with a
flushed countenance: "Ella, God bless you! Listen. I--I am free! I am no
longer a criminal, thank God! These, Ella--these!" and he held aloft the
letters with one hand, and tapped them nervously with the other.
The next moment his features grew pale, his whole frame quivered, and he
sunk upon a seat, completely overcome by the nervous excitement produced
by the sudden transition from despair to hope and freedom.
Ella was alarmed; and springing to him, she exclaimed:
"For Heaven's sake! Algernon, what is the matter?--what has
happened?--are you in your senses? Speak!--speak!"
"Read!" answered he, faintly, placing the letters in her hand: "Read,
Ella--read!"
Ella hesitated a moment on the propriety of complying with his request,
but a moment only; and the next she turned to one of the epistles. It
was from the father of Algernon, and ran as follows:
"DEAR SON:--If in the land of the living, return as speedily as possible
to your afflicted and anxious parents, who are even now mourning you as
dead. You can return in safety; for your cousin, whom you supposed you
had fatally wounded, recovered therefrom, and publicly exonerated you
from all blame in the matter. He is now, however, no more--having died
of late. Elvira, his wife, is also dead. She died insane. As a partial
restitution for the injury done you, your cousin has made you heir, by
will, to all his property, real estate and personal, amounting, it is
said, to over twenty thousand dollars. Your mother is in feeble health,
caused by anxiety on your account. For further information, inquire of
the messenger who will bear you this.
Your affectionate father,
ALBERT REYNOLDS."
Nov. 12th, 1782.
The other epistle was from a lawyer, informing Reynolds of his
acquisition to a large amount of property, by a will of his late cousin;
and that he, the said lawyer, being executor thereof, required the
presence of him, the said Reynolds, or his proxy forthwith.
"I knew it: I felt that all would yet be well: I told you to hope for
the best!" cried Ella, as she concluded the letter, her eyes moist with
tears, and her face beaming like the sun through a summer shower.
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