396

just been taken from the rack, and could have swallowed a bucketful. " What do you want to know? " she asked. " I wish to know all that you can tell me about a certain paper, "or certain papers, which I have reason to believe Mr. William Murray Bradshaw com- mitted to your keeping." " There is only one paper of any con- sequence. Do you want to make him kill me? or do you want to make me kill myself?" "Neither, Miss Cynthia, neither. I wish to see that paper, but not for any bad purpose. Don't you think, on the whole, you have pretty good reason to trust me? I am a very quiet man, Miss Cynthia. Don't be afraid of me ;

• only do what I ask, it will be a great

deal better for you in the end." She thrust her trembling hand into her pocket, arid took out the key of the little trunk. She drew the trunk to- wards her, put the key in the lock, and opened it. It seemed like pressing a knife into her own bosom and turn- ing the blade. That little trunk held all the records of her life the forlorn spinster most cherished; a few let- ters that came nearer to love-letters than any others she had ever received ; an album, with flowers of the summers of 1840 and 1841 fading between its leaves; two papers containing locks of hair, half of a broken ring, and other insignificant mementos which had their meaning, doubtless, to her, such a collection as is often price- less to one human heart, and passed by as worthless in the auctioneer's in- ventory. She took the papers out me- chanically, and laid them on the table. Among them was an oblong packet, sealed with what appeared to be the office-seal of Messrs. Penhallow and Bradshaw. "Will you allow me to take that envelope containing papers, Miss Bad- lam? " Mr. Gridley asked, with a suavity and courtesy in his tone and manner that showed how he felt for her sex and her helpless position. She sccir.cd to obey his will as if she The Guardian Angel. [October, had none of her own left. She passed the envelope to him, and stared at him vacantly while he examined it. He read on the back of the package : " Withers Estate old papers of no account apparently. Examine hereafter." " May I ask when, where, and of whom you obtained these papers, Miss Badlam? " " Have pity on me, Mr. Gridley, have pity on me. I am a lost woman if you do not. Spare me! for God's sake, spare me! There will no wrong come of all this, if you will but wait a little while. The paper will come to light when it is wanted, and all will be right. But do not make me answer any more questions, and let me keep this paper. O Mr. Gridley! I am in the power of a dreadful man " "You mean Mr. William Murray Bradshaw? " " I mean him." " Has there not been some under- standing between you that he should become the approved suitor of Miss Myrtle Hazard? " Cynthia wrung her hands and rocked herself backward and forward in her mis- ery, but answered not a word. What could she answer, if she had plotted with this " dreadful man " against a young and innocent girl, to deliver her over into his hands, at the risk of all her earthly hopes and happiness? Master Gridley waited long and pa- tiently for any answer she might have the force to make. As she made none, he took upon himself to settle the whole matter without further torture of his helpless victim. "This package must go into the hands of the parties who had the settlement of the estate of the late Malachi With- ers. Mr. Penhallow is the survivor of the two gentlemen to whom that busi- ness was intrusted. How long is Mr. William Murray Bradshaw like to be away ? " " Perhaps a few days, perhaps weeks, and then he will come back and kill me, or or worse ! Don't take that paper, Mr. Gridley, he isn't like you ; you would n't but he would