asonably-to-be-expected demise of
old Mr. Cloudesley Willcoxen, passed nearly unnoticed, and were soon
forgotten. Among the most zealous in the pursuit of the unknown murderer
was Thurston Willcoxen; but the ghastly pallor of his countenance, the
wildness of his eyes, and the distraction of his manner, often varied by
fits of deep and sullen despair, excited the surprise and conjecture of
all who looked upon him.

Days passed and still no light was thrown upon the mystery. About a
fortnight after the catastrophe, however, information was brought to the
neighborhood that the corpse of a woman, answering to the description of
Marian, had been washed ashore some miles down the coast, but had been
interred by the fishermen, the day after its discovery. Many gentlemen
hurried down to the spot, and further investigation confirmed the
general opinion that the body was that of the martyred girl.

* * * * *

Three weeks after this, Edith lay upon her deathbed. Her delicate frame
never recovered this last great shock. A few days before her death she
called Miriam to her bedside. The child approached; she was sadly
altered within the last few weeks; incessant weeping had dimmed her
splendid eyes, and paled her brilliant cheeks.

"Sit down upon the bed by me, my daughter," said Edith.

The child climbed up and took the indicated seat. Something of that
long-smothered fire, which had once braved the fury of the British
soldiers, kindled in the dying woman's eyes.

"Miriam, you are nearly nine years old in time, and much older than that
in thought and feeling. Miriam, your mother has not many days to live;
but in dying, she leaves you a sacred trust to be fulfilled. My child,
do you follow and understand me?"

"Yes, mamma."

"Do not weep; tears are vain and idle. There was an injured queen once
whose tears were turned to sparks of fire. So I would have yours to
turn! She came among us a young stranger girl, without fortune or
position, or any of the usual stepping-stones to social consideration.
Yet see what influence, what power she soon obtained, and what reforms
and improvements she soon effected. The county is rich in the monuments
of her young wisdom and angelic goodness. All are indebted to her; but
none so deeply as you and I. All are bound to seek out and punish her
destroyer; but none so strongly as you and I. Others have pursued the
search for the murderer with great zeal for a while;