Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-31

and drank, Win uOclle Ooeucu w otuSrn.
| The clock struck nine, as Wharton was re-
placing the dishes of painted china on the
| tray, preparatory to removing tbem--and,
breaking suddenly and shaip on the sllvery
| chime If thu little bell. ano;her sound msdt-
! Lady Fairfax start to her feet, with a white
face, and clasped hands--the report OF
gunl
"Wharton, she cried, "wbat is that? what
can have happenedf
Dear me- my lady," answered Wharton,
nhlosophicaliy, ''It's nothing on earth but
them wearying poachers again. don know
what Morrison Is about, not to keep sharper
eye on 'enl'
Lady Fairfax went to the window and
strained her eyes over the moon!it slopes
the lawn.
cts no use lookn', my lady," said Wh'r.
ton, "theyie down IN the woods, and y,u
| can't see thing. Sir Roy WI be dreadfullv
put out when he knows the old business
goin on again ! don't see the use OF paying
a lot OF game-keepers, for my part, II they
don't do no goodl'
| Aud Wharton carried her tray out again,
| after she had seen her mistress safely seated
once more in the satin cushioned chair by
the CO. aired shine OF the fire.
"Bless and save my soul !" calculated Mrr.
Wharton as she opened the door, and little
Scotch terrier rushed in; "lts Sir Il vs. little
| Fido. Aud what can have sent him back here,
without his MASTER Here, Edo, Fldo--whats
come to the a'iimal?'
| For, instead of responding to her call wi
| hin usual Jealous delight, the dog skulked
past her, with low howl, and ran down
stairs
swell, never T. cried Mrs. Wharton,
| She was advancing to close the door, when
a white figure glded out # he dark obscurl.
| ty OF a ulster of weeping frs, aud stood
shivering in the square Of moonlight on the
stone pavement, directly in front of the door
way.
"Why, it's Mary Owenson |" cried Mrs
| Wharton, recognizing the pale, drawn face oil
the pew-made widow. "And whatever brings
YOU h1re at this time of nigh, Mary? Come
| in--you'fe as cold as ice, and you tremble he
u at. Aud bless me ~ cried 1rs. Wharton.
recolling with a shudder, "your hands and
your dress are smeared with blood Them
poaching fellows hain't hurt you, have they :?
or DID YOU slip down on tie ice Speak.
child. can't you, and tell me what happened
you ?"
Mary Owenson stared vaguely at Mrs.
| Wharton, as if she were looking into space.
Nothing has happened" she answered,
| speaking strange, unnatural voice. ut
was Gods justice-and was only the tool IN
His hands p
"For mercy's sake, what are you talking
about ?" shrily demand,d Mrs. Wharton.
do come in, and don't stand like luny-
though, to be sure" added Mrs. Wharton,
| ali to herse (, 81 hadn't ought b. bs cross
with her, and she half frantic, as one may
say, with her trouble"
Mary Owenson made no opposition to the
gentle force with which Mrs. Wharton drew
her in but as she entered the lighted hall,
| she looked down at her crimsoned fingers
and bed sbbed dress with shudder.
BLOOD !" she muttercd vacanty, 'blood !
It's as 1t should be--blood for blood No"
as Mrs. Wharton was lending her toward the
door of the servants hall, II won't go in for
ali the people to stare at me, and ask me
que tons and whisper among themselves,a as
added in half whisper, which chilled the
very blood Of the ladys maid; 'but | won't
be stared at Not yet, at leastr
Then come into my room-thaps good
creature" coaxed Mrs. Wharton.
"Who are you ?" demanded Mary. looking
at her with a vacant gaze. Oh, / remember
now-and RENE mber why came. wanted
em to know how 1t came about. The bloody
cross. you know-they'll find 1t on his fore
headl"
"Whose forehead?" ex lamed Mrs. Whar
ton, fairly MAJ d aud bewildered. 'Whol
find it2 Mary Owenson, you are crazy, sure
enough"
The poor young thing nodded her mead.
II know it ;" she said; ''but it was that drove
me mad l had all my senses until he came
riding down the hill, as gsy and gallant az II
a mans life wasn't on his soul Well, well,
It's evenhanded justice, after all-they can't
complaint"
II believe thought Mrs. Wharton, "the
poachers have frightened her ont of the little
| wits che had left after her man died! must
| in tn bar 90 m IN al |
tomorrow her folks II come and fetch her
home!'
She drew forward chair for Mary Owen
son, and had turned to 60 for some warming
and stimulating drsueht to the servants hall
when the sound of hurried footsteps and
many voices in the great vestibule beyond,
attracted her attention.
Lady Fairfax had heard the unsccust toned
tumult and confusion, Also breaking in upon
the quiet thread of her thoughts. She sat an
instant listening, with her heart beating
eomew hat faster than its ordinary wont and
hen rose to her feet and was hurrying to the
door, when it flew suddenly open, aud Mrs.
Wharton rushed in, with q face as white as
her apron.
Lady Fairfax stopped short, at the sight OF
that death-pale lace,
"Whsrton,' she cried, what has happen
ed ? Why do you look 80 pale?"
maid, painting for breath, and striving to force
the semblance of an unconcerned smile to
her lips. "Only IL you would please to go
back"
"What for2" Lady Fairfax locke d at Whar-
ton with vague distIust. "Sir Roy Is not at
home, Wharton, and must see what the mat
ter Is ~
She was passing her maid, when Wharton
stretched out both her hands with cry of
terforl
ooh, my lad my lady! don't so out there!
For Heavens sake, my lady, stay where you
are" she walled.
"Wharton," said Lady Fairfax, in tone Of
calm dignity and command, which the maid
had never before heard from her lips. 'do
not dare to stop mel toM go. / ,cW zee
for myself what all this mystery meansl'
little crowd was gathered in the hall
through the wide. open portals OF the great
doorway the keen winter wind rushed ill.,
mating the light flicker and flare strangely.
Old Morrison, the head game-keeper, war the
first person she recognized.
$50 back, Lady Marianl he cried. cts
A. 49, IA