The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-23
Malcolm, the Ayenger;
OBJ =: -
TEE MYSTERIOUS MURDER,
By HARRISON >AINsWoRTH.:
AUTHOR OF "TowER HILL" "BAFFLED AT
LAST. "a TALE OF MYSTERY" r. - -
ETC, etc. EaS<',s.
CHAPTER XII.
v1o1Er's pERpLEx1T1Es increase.

the deep atfectlon She had long felt Tor MIN
predominated, and she was ready to yield
herself to his embrace, and forget everything
but their mutual love. But this tenderness
vanished before the recollection of the deed
laid to his charge; and hurriedly disengag-
ing herself, she tried to control her voice,
and speak to him with composure.
"Mr. Aubrey, your presence in the gar
den at such an hour has naturally startled
me. Does Mr.. Derwent know you are here,
or shall call servant to acquaint him
with your visit2"
1T is to you come" he answered. 1t
is to see you that I have been lettering
about here these two days"
"You wished to sec me, and yet loitered
about, instead of coming to the house rs you
have been accustomed to do?" faltered
Violet, filled with a sudden conviction
that he had sought her presence to make a
confession of his guilt
eyes," he answered; "I was anxious to
see you alone, or I would not have risked
alarming you, as I did just now.''
Violet felt as if she should fall if she did
not cling to something for support; but,
summoning her little remaining strength,
she said, 4" You did, indeed, alarm me.
must 60 indoors"
Mot till you have heard what am here
to say. entreat you to stay, for my tale
is for your ears alone. I have been silent
80 long because I would not distress you !;
but can be silent no longer"
"Some other time," she murmured, faint
ly-"some other time. l have not courage
to hear it now.'
"Then you guess its nature7 You
Ala4 %la fof fo1
event that occurred here not long ago ?" he
said in suppressed tones.
"Alas yes" Violet whispered; ri guess
but too well what you would tell me. But
Icould not bear to listen to the narrowing
details. Have I not to endure my own
miserable consciousness of having been in
some measure the cause of that dreadful
deed?"
"You, Violet? No, no! It is no fault Of
yours that the love you inspired was min.
gled with the baser passions of revenge and
avaricet"
"Speak Of it no more," she answered
"I cannot forget that the weak, childish
manner in which I have acted, provoked
the passions you name. Go, Mr.. Aubrey.
1t does but increase our pain to dwell on
this. Go; take with you the prayers and
good wishes of Violet Lindsly and do not,
for PHYS sake, attempt to see me again!"
II cannot obey you till you have heard
what 1 am here to say" he exclaimed,
emphatically, eyes, Violet, you must listen,
for your own happiness is deeply concerned
in it,
She had been on the point Of leaving
him, but now she paused. he was evidently
desirious of exculpating himself as far as laid
in his power. YET Of what use was this ?
Nothing would wash away the broad stain
Of guilt that had spread itself between
them. She could, she did, pity-yes, and
she loved him still but with these feelings
mingled a horror Of his crime that she
could never, never overcome.
"My happiness has fed, never to return?'
she cried, sorrowfully. "Why allude to it
I would much rather not hear you. I do
not say this unkindly, but in the conviction
that it is useless to recur to what has hap
pened. Besides it is late I shall be missed,
and sought after, if I do not hasten in.'
He seized both her hands and pressed
them warmly, although, with little shiver,
she shrank from him. and strove to dis
engage herself. Still he persisted, and, at
the same time, exclaimed, "Do not 60 back
to that ill-omened house any more. Fly
its precincts at once and forever. Let the
evil wrought within it be forgotten in
visions of a fairer future. Nay, do not
shrink from me, but let this arm be your
protection now and always?'
Before the startled girl could reply, she
was suddenly lifted aside, and Mr.. Derwent
stood between her and Vernon Aubrey.
'AIiss Lindsly, as your guardian, have
o right to demand whether you are here
for the purpose OF meeting this young
man? ?"
"No, no, it was chance-an accident"
she protested, as she chung to him. "l did
not dream that he was near"
"Then it is from you, Mr.. Aubrey, that l
must demand an explanation. How is it l
find you prowling in my grounds at night
and inducing my ward to commit the
imprudence Of lingering here to listen to
yeu?"
AS he asked this, he drew Violet's arm
through his own to lead her indoors.
II am here, Mr.. Derwent," J" said Vernon
Aubrey, in tones as stern as his own, Ito
see and speak with Miss Lindsly on mat
ter Of grave Importance to her, as we'll as
to myself. Why did not seek her at your
house you well know admittance there has
been denied me-"
"It is very possible" Mr.. Derwent care
lessly replied, "for Miss Lindsly's health
and nerves have been in such delicate
state lately, that have used my own dis
erection rs to the visitors she should re-
ceive. If you called upon a day that I
knew her to be more indisposed than usual,
no doubt you were amongst those to whom
she was denied. Nor do I think Miss
Lindsly will blame me for this. She has
been more anxious to avoid than to meet
You, Mr.. Aubrey. Am I not right, my
dear Violet?
She faltercd an assent, although she
could not help wishing that Mr.. Derwent
had not spoken so harshly.
"Miss Lindsly is quite well enough to
see me now-I suppose you will admit
that ?" retorted VernoD Aubrey; and I
claim from her long-standing friendship an
audience of only half an hour"
"To-night, Mr.. Aubrey-and here-and
alone?" qucried Violet's guardian, sarcas-
tically. "Do you suppose me so wanting
in my duty, or Miss Lindsly so blind to
decorum. as to grant your extraordinary
request?'
Vernon Aubrey was reluctantly COM
PEELED to admit that Mr.. Derwent had rea-
son on his side in saying this. And yet he
was 10th to renounce the purpose that had
kept him wandering around Derwent Lodge
for days. To see Violet alone, to reveal to
her what he had never breathed to any
other, was his settled resolution, but how
to achieve this he knew not.
eff relinquish my wish to speak with
Miss Lindsly now" he said to Mr.. Derwent,
"will you give me your word that I shall
see her in the morning?
''My dear sir" was the reply, "you talk
as if Miss Lindsly were a prisoner, and
her jailor If she thinks proper to re-
ceive you tomorrow. at a reasonable hour,
what possible objection can I have to her
doing so P"
Vernon Aubrey turned to Violet, who,
trembling and irresolute, was leaning on
her guardians arm.
'You hear what Mr.. Derwent says; you
are free agent. Consent, then, I entreat
l. II r