A VILLAIN’S WORK.
“His gain is loss, for he that wrongs his friend,
Wrongs himself more, and ever bears about
A silent court of justice in his breast;
Himself the judge and jury, and himself
The prisoner at the bar, ever condemned.”--TENNYSON.
“Call a carriage for me, Charlton,” Judge Leigh says, feebly, when he
has left Vivian’s house after a short call. “My limbs fail me; I cannot
walk to the hotel.”
He seems to rally his strength surprisingly when he and Charlton are
alone in a room together. His almost livid face turns purplish red, his
eyes flash fire, he strides up and down the floor, muttering wrathfully
to himself. Charlton, regarding him in troubled curiosity, hears such
words as “Robber! Thief! To beggar an old man! The cowardly, drunken
scoundrel!”
“What is it, father? Has Essex been up to any more deviltry?” the young
man exclaims anxiously.
“Mischief! The villain!” Judge Leigh repeats, in a dazed way, and he
continues to heap wild terms of approbrium on the object of his wrath.
“Father, please explain yourself. This is alarming. You have had some
terrible shock!”
“A shock! Good heavens, Charlton!” striding up and down in wild
excitement. “Don’t you understand yet? That scoundrel has beggarded me!”
“Father!”
“By forged checks on the bank. He has gambled away thousands upon
thousands, and even overdrawn my account. We are ruined! Leigh Place
will have to be sold!”
“Poor father!”
“Poor Charlton, you should say, my boy, for a life of poverty lies
before you. I am old! Life’s sands are ebbing fast. I----” he reels,
and falls in an apoplectic fit.
A physician is summoned, and does all he can, but human skill is
powerless now. Judge Leigh never speaks again, and before the dawn of
another day he is lying dead.