THE ENGRAVED PLATE.

While the old man was on his knees, the carriage dashed back to the door, and Constance came up the stairs again, pale and breathless from the excitement through which she had passed.

"Father," she said, as the old man arose, "I have forgotten one thing, can you tell me what it means? When I first reached Washington it was very quiet there, and Church did not wish me to go out or make acquaintances. I was glad of that, but time hung so heavily on me that I took to drawing and etching a little. He led me on, I think, suggesting this thing and that, besides supplying me with everything I could need. Only this—he insisted that I should keep my talent that way entirely private, and do all my work in an attic room to which I was desired to keep a key. He would not, for the world, have anyone, especially the servants, know that I had ever learned a trade or worked for my living. It would ruin me in society.

"I did not think this unreasonable, and obeyed him carefully. The work was a blessing; it took my mind from all that I had lost, and for a time I occupied myself in forming new designs, which carried me out of the world he lived in.

"One day, Church brought a friend up to my studio—a Mr. Crist from the Treasury Department, and they looked over my work together.

"'Indeed,' said the man Crist, who was hateful to me from the first, 'you have not overpraised the lady's genius; but we have people employed for the department that she cannot reach, though as an amateur she is wonderful.'

"I felt my cheeks burn. The idea of calling me an amateur! Why, you know, father, that the best work of the city was given to my William, and the finest of that he left to me, toward the end.

"'What do you think of that?' said Church, laughing. 'I fancy my friend here rather underrates your ability, Constance.'

"'I know he does. Let him try me,' I said.

"'But ours is peculiar work,' answered Crist.

"'I do not fear to undertake it, let the work be what it will,' I replied.

"'And I will bet five thousand dollars against a diamond necklace, that my wife succeeds in anything she undertakes,' said Church.

"Crist cried out at once that it was done, and Church declared that the diamonds were as good as mine. He did not know what difficult task was to be given me, but this he did know, I had never failed yet.

"The whole thing pleased me, father. I was dying for some object of interest. The old ambition awoke in me. I asked Crist for a sight of the high art that I could not equal.

"The man took a note for a hundred dollars from his pocket-book.

"'She may as well try that,' he said, laughing, 'I select it at random. It is only an experiment. If she fails, you are five thousand dollars poorer and no great harm done.'

"I looked at the note, and said with a glow of certainty,

"'But I shall not fail.'

"'Then I am five thousand dollars poorer, and you have a diamond necklace,' he answered.

"'Make it ten thousand,' I urged, looking confidently at Crist. 'Twenty, if you like!'

"'Done for ten,' he said.

"'Done!'

"I liked this. It aroused the old ambition. There was something for me to accomplish. I went to work with spirit but very privately, for Church was very earnest about that.

"He even bought me an easel and paints, with a picture in progress, in order to deceive the servants who began to wonder at my long visits to the attic.

"'It did not matter if they thought me an amateur artist,' he said, 'many ladies gloried in being that, but engraving was a trade.'

"I did not care; the work pleased me, and I found a triumph in winning a bet against my own ability. I think the period in which I was working on that plate, was the happiest that I have known since we parted, father."

"Go on," said Hudson, speaking with an effort, "tell me all about it."

"Well, I finished the plate, and on his own judgment, the man Crist declared that it was a success—I had fairly earned my diamonds."

"That week, Mr. Church brought me a splendid set of jewels, that Mr. Crist had given him for me. I think they made me happy a full day, father; then I grew sick of them."

"Church took the plate away, 'to be broken up,' he said. 'It had done its work, won me a magnificent set of jewels, and must now be destroyed. It was hardly worth while to have such things about.'

"I did not care what became of the thing I had created. It had given me a triumph, and that was enough; so Church took it away."

"Was that all?" demanded Hudson, in whose eyes a strange wild light was shining.

"Yes, except this—sometime after, I found this very plate in the drawer of a desk, which no one but Mr. Church ever used. He had sent me there for a paper that he wanted, and I found the plate. Father, it had been used!"

"Used?"

The word broke from Hudson's lips almost with a cry of terror.

"Yes, I am sure of it. What could it mean?"

"It means the evil I dreaded from the first," said Hudson, excitedly. "It means that these men have made you the instrument of a crime."

"A crime? I do not understand!"

"Nor I, altogether. There must be collusion between Church and some person in the Treasury. This accounts for the sudden wealth that renders him so arrogant."

"A crime," repeated Constance, with animation. "Father, I can brave this man with courage now. Let him be cautious, or he shall curse the day I ever darkened his door. He threatened the life of William Sterling."

"Constance, I charge you be careful; do not again touch a graver. Search for that plate and destroy it."

"I will search for it, father."

The girl's face was resolute, her lips were pressed firmly together.

"My child, if this bad man tempts you again, leave him at once, and come to me."

"Oh! if I could!"

"You must, Constance. He has no power over me, I can protect you and will."

"But, William! who can protect him, while this wolf runs free."

Constance muttered the last words under her breath. Then stooping to kiss her father, said,

"Father, I think you have opened my way to the light. Thank you, thank you."

She pressed a kiss on his forehead and left the room.