The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-02-04

Degan 10 speak again, DIS voice seemed
TO mix with the distant noise made by
the rOmping children, and both sounds
became merged in the roaring of the
sea,-the sea which had spared for 3
harder fate the man who had loved her,
and whose love had been his doom.
Just conscious enough to know that
consciousness was leaving her, she rose
hastily, all her powers concentrated on
the effort to leave the room while she
oould but she found the floor heaving
under her feet, and fell heavily to the
ground. :.
At the sound Of the fall, old IsOtt
bounced into the room, and was quickly
followed by Mr.. and Mrs. Carter. Mr..
Smith had promptly raised Mrs. Dem
bigh in his arms, and stretched her,
insensible, on the sofa.
"What have you been doing to hsrf''
asked the old servant, looking isrcly at
him, as she turned her mistress head
to meet the cold air from the window,
which the vicar had hastily opened;
"another telegraph clerk you be, l
warn't," she went on muttering. "Drat
they nasty telegraphs. can't think
how gentlefolkS can encourage such
things, as if bad news didn't travel
quick enough by post"
"What is it," asked Mrs. Carter; but
Isott inconsistency interrupted her.
"Don't ye ask 'un, ma'am, for good
ness sake, or we'll never bring her to.
Get out of the way now, sir, do'ey /;
we can't bring her round not till we've
a got her to ourselves, Mrs. Carter and
me-"
"Stay," said the vicar, II had better
carry her at once up stairs. She had
a heavy fall" he said to his wife, and
the sooner you can get her into her bed
the better"
"Can l be of any use'" asked the un-
lucky Smith.
The vicar declined his help, and, lift
ing poor Elsie, carried her up the stairs,
his wife running before them with
candle to prepare her room. Isott was
following, but stopped, bethinking her
self that she must not leave the lower
part of the house and the vicarage chill
dren to the mercy Of this evil-disposed
unknown.
81 had better go, / think" said the
visitor. II will call to inquire for
Mrs. Denbigh tomorrow. Perhaps
Mr.. Denbigh may be back by that time"
"You can please yourself" said Isott,
rudely, for she was very angry, though
she hardly knew at what. "Master'll
be here to. morrow, please the powers,
and you might "a waited, whatever
your business may be, not coming a
frightening my poor miSsus cut of her
senses, enough to give her her DEATH"
"But l do assure you, my good wo-
man, l have MT the least idea what made
your mistress faint" said the tormented
man, goaded into self-defence. 81 do
assure you I never said word that
could annoy her. l only came to ask
for the address of an old friend Of mine,
who is friend of Mr.. Denbigh, too,-
Captain Clavering."
1sOtt had hustled to the window, and
was closing the sash, but at these words
she turned on the speaker like a IT,
gress:-
"And who be you, I'd like to know,
coming a tormentiug my poor dear,
mater not here to see after her, wi talk
ing about her dead husband"
''Her dead husband" cried Mr..
Smith, aghast.
"What, don't yee see it yeti Bless
ya, can't ye see even yet what 'tis
you've gone and donei l tell ye, Cap'n
Claveripg be dead, poor gentleman
drOwndsd, and Mr. Denbigh's wife were
Cap'n Clavering's widder. Now you
know"
The vicar came hastily down stairs,
and desired Isott to go to her mistress,
adding that she was recovering her con-
sciousness, though she was deadly cold.
"Anything wrong with Denbigh3"
he asked anxiously ofthe stranger; but
Mr.. Smith did not hear, and stood
staring straight before him. He start
ed when Mr. Carter repeated bis ques-
ton, and said, in a rapid, bewildered
manner: "Iknow / am in the way here,
but l can't help it. You are the cler-
gyman of the parish, ARE you mott"
~ am," said the vicar, surprised.
"And a magistratel Then can !
speak to yOuY l am sorry, but it is
business Of frightful Importance"
Mr.. Carter went into the drawing
room, where they clustered together,
vaguely excited and alarmed. Hastily
directing one of the servants to escort
them to the vicarage, he returned to
parlor, where the unknown still stood
in the same fixed attitude. The vicar
could not help feeling rather nervous,
especially as the mans first act was to
close the door carefully, shutting them
in together in the dismal little room,
where the fire had nearly burt out, and
the candle had guttered away into de-
plorable mass Of half-melted tallow.
Bu. the first word he spoke enchained
the yicar's attention, and the two sat
on in earnest conversation for a length
of time, until the last spark of fire had
died away and the cool moonlight fill
ed the room. 1t was nearly midnight
when their conferen nee was brought to
an end by the stealthy opening of the
door, at the sound of which both start
ed like guilty creatures. 1t was Mrs,
Carter who came in. her face white and