Columbus index. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1869-1893, 1875-07-16

%Bet this accounts for the paieness that
has made me so uneasy to night" Mr.. Der
went remarked. "Your maid is right, nv
dearest Violet, in drawing my attention TO
your dangerous abstinence. You must
take more care of yourself, or we shall have
you i'll. Where is the cordial yen spoke OF
my good girl? ?"
Millicent came forward with u couple of
|; glasses of the steaming wine, and Mr.. Der
went, seizing one, gaily pledged his be-
.trothed; nor would he leave her, anti she
had swallowed a few drops from the other.
Violet was too restless in her unhappi-
ness, to seek her couch, rs he had advised :
but she dismissed her attendent, whose
assiduties-though she believed them to be
well meant-irritated her
You are very kind she said, with q
pang,Gf self-reproach for the brusoueness
of her manner to the patient, uncomplain-
lng Millicent; Every kind, indeed but |
like best to be alone. Good night! You
have had SO much to do, that / am sure
you are fatigued."
NElGcent could not trust her voice f. re-
ply, fer her woman's hear5 was profoundly
moved 10y the detection Of this unhappy
young creature. Before going to her OWE,
ROOM she sought Sybn'G Mr.. Derwent
was just leaving it, and he put up his
finger with a warning, Hush She il
still slumbaring, but it is q healthy sleep.
She viii awaken tomorrow, though not in
time to accompany Us to church. It must
be your care to watch for her awakening,
| and to prepare her for cur Journey
Mnhcent seemingly acquiesced IN all he
proposed, and then watched him 20 down
! to his study.
\ lew minutes elapsed. and Miiiicent de
scended too. on preteXt Ct making some IN
! quiry hitherto forgotten As her rap on
the study door gained no reply, she boldly
entered. With his head resting on his
hand, Mir. Derwcnt was sitting at the ia
be; his writing case open. and the keys ne
| had put so carefully into his vest, lying be-
side him. Allhcent spoke, but he did not
reply. She drew nearer. and flashed her
/ lamp across his face. Still Ae did not IAovg.
and her heart throbbeI feIfol.vthe while;
she picked up the keys. detached ore FROM
/ The bunch, and then stole lightly from the
room.
in one thing ut least nave taken les
! son from your teachings. ulyMost unworthy
uaster!' - Muttcred. ~. too, have call
ell in tbs IN Of q sleeping drlught; and
| thoEs} / feared that the dose gave You
! was aot strong enough, [ think now that /
may sate!y conclude that it has had the de-
/ sired flect."
/ She aas going straight into Mr. Der
/ went $ dressing room, with the kew which
she had risIled 50 much to obtain, casped
! III her palm; but the servants were troop
M upstairs to snatch q few hours rest,
/ aftar their long day Of hard work, and she
W. obliged to wait until all was quiet.
: Then, and not til then, dared she carry
out her intention.
The key was quickly fitted into the lock
# the drawer into which Mr.. Derwent had
drown the contents Of his desk. Amongst
I Sc. MllIicent searched long and care
Iay; but ct lat she found what 81 was
lseAting. ana was examining it by the light
OF her lamp, when a footstep startled her.
/ II was Mr. Derwcnts. He had shaken
Oh mis- lethargy, and was coming upstairs
Overwhelmed with surprise and terror, she
stood incapable of moving, until it was
too late to quit the room without being de-
tected.
Ordinarily, Milhcent Vyner was a brave
! girl, but in the presence of the danger men,
acing her row, her courage utterly forsook
! her. She had no excuse ready if he asked
| her why she was in his apartments, nor
I NOUltt SO dSLuIe Il HAL nave DeueNcu Iilc
| pretext, even if she had been able to in
! vent one. She must hide; and she looked
! hurriedly round for place Of concealment.
But there was not a closet she could creep
/ into-not an article OF furniture large
! enough to shelter her from his keen
! chances. And he was coming nearer
| nearer. What should she do? To be seen
now was ruin, and again size looked despair
ingly around the room.
The drapeues Of the windows were vol
luminous; there was a chance that she could
evade him. In another moment she had
extinguished her lamp, and crouching down
in the darkest corner, hSd drawn the folds
Of the neavy crimson curtains over her
trembling shrinking form.
CHAPTER XVI.
IKE BRIDAL MORNING.
mir. Derwents step as lie entered MS
dressing-room was slow ami unsteady; MS
eyes, too, were so dim and heavy that it
was with some difficulty that he succeeded
in locking the door behind him. Selling
ali ever from the stand, he repeatedly
| dashed the ice-cold water it contained over
his head and face. This application par
tally revlving him, he sat down to arrange
and number some papers he had brought
into the room In his hand. But this seden-
tary employment brought back the drows-
mess against which he was struggling, and
at last lie flung them down.
cam going to be i'll. that my brain
Ewims so strangely, and my eyes close de-
spite my utmost effCsts ?" he muttered to
himself. at must be something more
than mere fatigue that affects me in this
unusual manner. l could fancy that the
atmosphere Of this room is hazy and heavy.
Will admit some fresher air.
with some difficulty he made his way t.
the window ard threw it open Twice. as
he was dong this, his foot touched Mill
cent, and her blood curdled in her veins.
Tor she momentarily expected to be discov.
cred and dragged from her hiding-place.
But MIR. Derwent was too much engrossed
LIN his own sensations to be as kenn of sinhA