The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-16
Malcolm, the Ayenger;
TIE MYSTERIOUS MURDER,
By HARRISON .>ArNsWoRTH.
AUTHOR OF "TowER HnL," "BAfrIED Al
- LAST "ATALE of MYsTERY,"t.
ETC. ETC, go
CHAPTER TX. y:
M1LLICENT's RESOLVE, !

not knowing what to believe. Mllhcent
ras w inclined to think with her cousin tnat
+be senses of her widowed parent must be
wandering. For anything OF WATERS 70 20
have been in her possession was IN ltseh
unlikely; and still more strange would IL pe
for the article in question to have tallen' oy
anv nossibility, into the hands OF the young
man Robson through Mrs. Vyner's agency.
"I see that you hardly know how TO De-
Ieve me-" said the latter family; ou1 ~
unite true, for all tn t. And L gave Ine
RING tc Richurl," she added, wring'ng her
nands. 'for bad purpose, nm evil purpose
III, avcn forgive me for it y
Nlillicert sank down on the side OF the
bed, trembling with terror. Could 1t oe
possible that Robson WAS guilty, after all
and that her mother, in q paroxysm OF
revenge, had dabetted his attempt on Walters
life?
Mary, who had hitherto been mute ana
wondering listener, hurried to her cousin
and threw an arm around her. SPEAK
more plainly, aunt" she cried. "Dontyou
see you are frightening us to death sure,
" YOU don't mean us to infer that Richard
committed the murder, and that you know
it2"
"Knew that he meant to take life ?-no,
no But if he has done so, the fault IS mlne'
for it was who made him an opportunity
of seeing that wicked but unfortunate gen.
tleman.'
Millicent, with some difficulty, aroused
herself from her trance of terror. She had
ALWAYS had unbounded influence over the
weaker mind of her mother, and now she
exercised it. By dint of quiet hrmness, she
first soothed the nervous excitability of the
weeping woman, and then set herself to
learn the precise nature of the circumstances
for which Mrs. Vyner was upbraiding her.
self.
It was now that she !e,rned what she had
hitherto only uspected--that 1T was through
the Jealous watchfulness OF Robson that
Walters assiduities had been revealed 10
her mother. 1t was Robson, too, who had'
by his hints, taught the weak and credufous
woman to suspect that Millicent was lend
ing willing ear to Walters entreatles that
she should fly with him.
This was heard by her daughter with o
burst of Indignation. ooh, mother! can 1T
be possible that you believed this of me9
You, who knew me so well Could you
think that if I had loved Mr.. Walters ever
80 well, should have forgotten my duty to
you, or relinquish my sef-respect, and be-
come guilty, fallen creature
"Forgive me, my DEAR" sobbed Mrs.
Vyner penitently. ri am sure was 50 upset
with what Richard told me, that was
nearly beside myself, and didn't know what
to think. And-and was obliged to re-
member that you're very young; and that
he was 80 handsome and fascinating. Be-
sides, your life here is such a miserable one
nothing but working and shaving from
weeks end to weeks end-that knew 1t
must be a great temptation to you IL MI
Walters"
Millicent's gesture Of denial silenced her.
"I never have been tempted rs you sup
pose. Hard as my life is and has been, and
.ltcn as l have repined at our lot, 1 have
never-no, mother, not for single moment
mediate exchanging it for a life Of luxury
bought at such fearful price as my honor.
You do an injustice to the memory OF the
dead when you hint that Mr.. Walters ever
sulied my ears with word it would have
shamed me to listen to-
This was true, for, despite his reckless
ness and ibertine propensities. the young
man had been awed by Milicent's purity
and certain innate dignity which she
lbOSSSSStu. 11c COulu uOU luccU SdEO VI
her earnest eyes without involuntarily re-
spectirg her innocence; nor did he ever leave
her without sense of shame for the hollow
ness of the VOWS and protestations with
which he had been seeking to win her.
Feebly reproaching herself and entreat-
ing her daughters pardon, Mrs: Vyner sob
bed more loudly than before; but at last
Millicent's affectionate kiss paci6ed her, and
she proceeded with her confcssion.'
ut was through Robson,' she said, "that
she had heard of Mr.. Walters intended visit
to her cottage when on his way to the fancy
ball. Although engaged to assist at Der
went Lodge, the young man had fingered
to learn the issue Of the advertisement at
Cambcrwell which his revelations provoked.
When Mllicent, wounded to the soul, by
her conviction of her lovers unworthi-
ness, had shut herself in her chamber to
weep unseen, Robson stole in to Mrs.
Vyncr, to hear her describe the disconcert-
cd Walters reception of her upbraidings.
While triumphing in the knowledge that
!Mllitont would never see or listen to his
rival again, his hatred of the man who had
played with her generous young heart be-
,.ame greater than before. Itwas now that
Mrs. Vyner discovered that Walters had
left one of his gloves behind him, and had
unknowingly drawn the ring off his finger
with it.
Give it to me! cried Robson, as the
widow held it up. &C. will return it, and at
the same time tell him few bitter truths.
Oh, was longing for an opportunity to do
this, and they can't deny me access to him
when have such good reason to give for
seeking his presence"
"And So" Mrs Vyner concluded, &C. let
him have it, and saw no more of him or the
lin. till he brought it back, telling me that
Il. had not had u chance of returning it, and
hat Mr. Walters WAS dead
" But he could not have said anything to
induce yon to think that he had hand In
hat oentlemans DEATH" cried Mary Vyner,
rcprohrhiully.
"I don't know what he said but the news
hooked me, and l refused to take back the
.ny. I felt as if could not bear to have
l. in the house; and then, soon afterwards,
he news came that Mr.. Walters had died
w poison and knew not what to think
md when Richard again offered me the
ring, babe him sell 1t, or get rid OF 1t
: s.mehow, for feared that if it was found
N his possession or mine, suspicion would
:lIl upon us. And so it has, you see, and
.sichard is in prison.
"Yes, aunt" cried Mary, warmly, "he is
in prison because you have not had the
honesty to come forward and say how you
lot the ring. While he-poor, dear, noble
fellow lis keeping silence because he loves
Millicent, and wouldn't get her mother into
any trouble for the world ~
'But, if Richard really killed Mr.. Walters
as every one seems to say he did, should
not have been suspected Of having hat
something to do with it if 1 had come for
ward as you say ought to do2" objected
the widow, with a helpless look at hel
daughter.
"Butevery one does not think him guilty! y
cried Mary, swelling with resentment; "fo
do not, neither does my cousin-do you
Millicent?"
The latter did not reply till the question
was repeated.
"I beg your pardon; I was thinking o
something else. Do think Richard Rob