The Portland daily press., 1872-10-05
aAnd there was no telegraph at the post.
Office. of course pr said her husband grim.

AN i never Vi tlldb till 700
said Lady Hancock. with the old tell-tale
blush. "But don't be angry, John. dear.
please. You may be sure did not miss the
train on purpose"
"You know how much l hate irregularity,
Lucy" he answered, still grumblingly, if
somewhat Modified. ''Women are such
muffs! They never can do things with pre-
cision or forethoughtv'
Now don't scold me; there's darling"
pleaded the lady in her sweetest voice; and,
alter little more half-surly annoyance on
his part, and a great deal of love-maklng
on hers, peace was re-established between
them, and Lady Hancock went upstairs to
her sister-in-law.
s'Lucy. Lucy, dear! what is it?' exclaim-
ed Annabella, starting up from her bed as Lady
Hancock entered and Selling her by both
hands. while her white, wan face searched
into hers Tor the warrant of death or of
life. 20
| was there" she answered. "Poor little fell
low! He will soon be no longer perplexity
to any of us!'
''My poor boy! my childp' murmursd the
girl. Lucy, can scarcely stay away from
him; ought to CO."
'And betray everything? No, dear; you
can do no good to him new whatever, to
yourself only infinite harm. The risk was
awful to me to-day; you must be satisfied.
and you must control yourself"
For Annabella, weak by nature and weaker
still by suffering, had begun again to sob and
lament SO passionately that another nervous
attack was imminent If she could not be
Gained in time. No one in the world save
Lady Hancock had any real power
over this poor creature; but even she failed
to-day; and in the midst of her exhortations
her sister-in-aw went off into strong Mysteries,
and the noise of her sobs and shrieks arrested
Sir John as he was passing her door on his
way to his own dressins-room. So this again
was another ruffie on the not too smooth
surface of the baronet's temper, and his wife
had to bear the effect as well as she might.
Poor Lady Hancock! she was the one to be
pitied among them all. Without fault of her
own, here she was entangled in the meshes
Of disgraceful secret; secret which, If
known either in its reality or only as it might
appear, would estrange her husband from his
only sister forever, and anger him gravely
with herself; secret which forced her to tell
lies and commit receptions, to put herself in
the power of others las just now of the sta
tion-master at Three Lanes) and which was
as burdensome to keep as it was impossible to
impart, with apparently no end to the disas-
tiers and miseries involved. s-
But with Annabellas restored senses the
difficulties of the day were by no means over.
Late in the evening, knock came at the hall
door-an unusual thing, as we all know, in
the country, where even day visits are rare
and a loud, boisterous voice was heard, ask
ing for lady Hancock in the hall.
"Why, there's that beast Gayp' said Sir
him here to-nght?'
Lady Hancock felt her face grow white,
and for moment she thought she should
have tainted. Her husband looked at her
sharply. An atmosphere of mystery makes
itself felt; and Sir John was becoming sus-
picious and aroused. But he had not much
time to note his wife's changing looks, for the
servant announced Mr. Gay; and Mr.. Gay
came into the room.
A bold, handsome, snowy man, with loud
voice and great display of shirt-front, a
swagger in his walk, and smile of assurance
on his face-a man whose whole manner of
being explained at first slightly man like
Sir John Hancock, naughty, reserved and
not of the most amiable temper, should hold
him in supreme abhorence-this was their
visitor, Mr.. Gay, local attorney.
Evening, Sir John; evening, my lady,"
said Mr.. Gay, with familiar cordially. 'Late
visitor, amt I? Hope not more late than
welcome? Hal ha hap -f g.
can uncommonly late visitor Mr.. GAY"
said Sir John coldly. - o-l
$50 l knew you'd think; but neighbors,
you know, take liberties
''No one takes liberties with me Mr.. Gay"
''Quite right, Sir John-quite right; moth
ing like keeping up the old blood head well
up and all that! And how is Miss Annabella,
my lady%' he asked suddenly turning to La
dy Hancock. 81 don't see her down among
you this evening" ........ .------ 10
''Miss Hancock is not very we'll to-day"
answered the lady, while Sir John fidgeted i'm
patiently, and seemed with difficulty 20 re-
strain himself from breaking out on the spot.
1t had struck him that Gay had been too free
toward both the ladies, his sister particularly
''Sorry for that" said Mr.. Gay ;"as I have
something to tell her this evening. Share list
down this evening. Brazilians bad. Want
instructions"
II can carry any message if absolutely nee
essary," said Lady Hancock, with lips that
trembled in spite of herself; ''but she is so i'll
do not think she can attend to business to-
81 think she'd better if she CAM said the
attorney, with meaning. 81 scarcely like to
hold on without instructions you see Brazil
ians returned won't do" ----
"Good heavens! what rubbish are you talk
ing THEREOF Sir John said, savagely. "Have
you secrets and double meanings with Lady
Hancock? for on my soul you have not spok-
en- sense. What does it all mean?'
Gay laughed loudly. g 'Secretsp double
meanings? dear me, no, Sir John! But you
see, as your honOred father left some papers
in my hands, and have the management of
few hundreds belonging to your sister, Miss
Annabella, am bound to be careful how 1
work, else should get the blame if anything
went wrong. Just now she happens to have
rather heavy investment in New Brazilian
bonds, and am naturally anxious to know
her wishes, as things look bad tonight
"But why was l never told of this invest
ment" Sir John asked, with as much tenn
per as establishment. GAS my sisters guard
ian, and naturally having the right to be ac-
quainted with all hef 5hsirs, this secret in
vestment you talk of comes upon me with sur
prise; am most gravey displeased, both
with her and with yourself, Mr.. Gay, that
you should have encouraged this underhand
proceeding, and that she should have entered
into it," =
''Well, you see, Sir John, all the ladies'
bless 'em-lke their little bits of secrets,''
said Mr.. Gay, wagging his head with know
ing air. Gone must oblige 'em, and let 'em
believe they are doing it cleverly. Alwsya
let woman think she takes you in if that's
what she likes; that's my advice, and know
the sex pretty well. That she should take
you in il another matter"
Just at this moment the dogs were heard
barking furously
81 think, my lady," said Mr.. Gay, signif-
cantly, "ifyou would be so kind, you had
better go up stairs and tell Miss Hancock that
the Brazilian bonds are bad, and have been
returned. '''"'
t'Stay where you. are LUCK" cried Sir
John, II will know the meaning of all thisp'
''Taks advice, Sir john" said Mr.. Cav,
with in odd kind of authority in his voice
eff your sister likes to manage her little al
fairs in secret, let her.''
do want you to give me advice, fellow?"
the baronst turned on him fiercely. "Mind
your own business, and let me attend to
mine.''. NEa T.
''My lady''-pleaded Gay,
How dare you speak to my wife, STRIP
interrupted Sir John; and as he spoke the
dogs harked more furiously than before, and
mans stop was heard on the gravel outside
the window.
Mr.. Gay and Lady Hancock exchanged
looks, and Sir John caught the glance as it
passed between them. He felt his brain reel.
and the realities of life seemed to fail him.
There was something-he did not know what
between his wife and this. low, vulgar, inso-
lent attorney; there was a mystery on hand,
at his very doors, u his own house, and he
had no clew ss To- what it all meant. His ewes
grew 80 wild that his wife trembled and sbrank
visibly when he strobe toward her and sell :,
her arm roughly. -~eo
NWhat does it mean, Luc~c
hollow voice. Am to ,:Jr ee ssla u
heaven itself is a lie 81. believe that the v~'-