ildren not be found, _she_ would be his heir. _I_ would
have labored and _succeeded_, for one who has disgraced me, and made me
what you see me!'

He stretched out his thin hands, displaying the large veins, coursing
beneath the skin, and apparently full to bursting. 'How wasted they are!'
He smiled as he looked at them, and then asked: 'Will you promise?'

The lawyer turned to Harson, and then said: 'I promise; do you, Harson?'
Harry nodded.

'Good!' said Rust, abruptly. 'You know my name, and much of my history.
All the facts which you detailed to me at my office a short time since are
true--true almost to the very letter. Michael Rust and Henry Colton are
one. The plodding, scheming, heartless, unprincipled Henry Colton, who
could sell his brother's own flesh and blood for gold; who could forget
all the kindnesses heaped upon him, and stab his benefactor, and this
wreck of Michael Rust, are one!'

He struck his hand against his chest, and strode up and down the room,
biting his lips. '_He_ was rich, and _I_ was poor: he gave me the means of
living, but I wanted more. I had my eye on his entire wealth, and I wanted
him to be in his grave. But he thwarted me in that. Feeble and sickly, so
that a breath might have destroyed him, he lived on, and at last, as if to
balk me farther, he married. Two children were born; two more obstacles
between me and my aim. Two children!--two more of the same blood for me to
love. Ho! ho! how Michael Rust loved those babes!' exclaimed he, clutching
his fingers above his head, and gasping as he spoke. He turned, and
fastening his glaring eye on the lawyer, griped his fingers together, with
his teeth hard set and speaking through them, said in a sharp whisper: 'I
could have strangled them!'

He paused; and then went on: 'At last came the thought of removing them.
At first it was vague: it came like a shadow, and went off; then it came
again, more distinct. Then it became stronger, and stronger, until it grew
into a passion--a very madness. At last my mind was made up, and my plans
formed. I trusted no one, but carried them off myself, and delivered them
to the husband of that woman,' pointing to Mrs. Blossom. 'I told him
nothing of their history: he was paid to take charge of them, and asked no
questions. Then came the clamor of pursuit. I daily met and comforted my
broken-hearted brother and his wife: I held out hopes which I knew were
false; I offered rewards; I turned pursuit in eve