The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-09-01


She will mover even thank you. She will just
march over all your safeguards and precau-
tions straight to her rebel Irsh poet, and to q
disastrous fate of one kind another. She
has 1t in her,"
"who is Csssapdrs nowf Bat prophesy
as you like, at the bottom of your heart. YOU
know nothing you say will make any differ
"If you have resolved to set yourself up as
windmill for all Young Ireland to tilt against,
I think 1t very likely you will do it, and that
lie the bell. What are we to dor
Let Ms leave our plans to be settled by the
chapter of accidents. Some unexpected ex-
PLANTATION may come ont that will make you
ashamed Of your suspicious"
Then you must allow me to mention my
midnight expedition and the fate of your es-
say at breakfast. 1t will give me the opport'
unity of making observations"
"Of course you win not hint at suspicious T.
'sWouid yon rather do it yourse,ff"
"No, no; If anything is to be said you must
laying trap for the most Ingenious person
felt"
Il shall not feel the least sneaky. merely
hope most heartily that she will clear herself"
The party at breakfast was an unusually
silent one, and Bride did not find the tack of
Introducing the subject of the nights adven-
lures 80 easy ss she had expected. A dead
weight of expectation seemed to brood over
every one, and she cleared her throat once or
twice before she felt able to launch her thun-
derbolt in the heavy cir. Pelham was the
only person present who looked unconcerned,
and ate his breakfast as usual, aud she knew
by experience what o very weak conversation
al reed he was to depend on.
He received her first remark that she had
passed disturbed night and been alarmed by
unaccountable noises in the house, with an
unoonoerned did you, indeedf" and Bride
peculiar sound her own voice had had in speak
ing, looked implorjngly across the table TO-
wards John, in the hope that he would put in
word to help her: ,d He carefully ayoasd her
broken at last by Ellen's saying, quickly and
nervously.
'The noises don't sffect us much, you s,e.
Only Pelham does not believe in them ("
Bride was sufficiently provoked TO long to
throw back into Johns teeth his late words.
''The most ingenious person in the world" All
her caution and politeness could not restrain her
from casting an indignant look on Ellen, and
allowing her voice to raise to tone OF dis
pleasure as she continued
Il should be glad enough to accustom my
self to your theory of ghosts, and would oom-
pound for any amount of noise, If our midnight
visitors were satisfed with walking through
the rooms, leaving things there as they find
Extensively last night
"Do you mean TO say that the house has been
robbed 7" cried Pelham, interested at last. L
should not have thought it possible. House
breaking, except for the sake of getting arms,
has hitherto been an unknown crime in these
parts. hope you have not lost anything of
value"
Nothing has been stolen - said Bride, slow
lr "bat q very serious injury has been in
ficted on my brother. A manuscript that he
left on the drawing-room table last night was
found this morning torn into shreds; and, as
if to show that it had not been done by acct
dent, mysterious message was scribbled on
the outer Sheet the only one left untorn. We
both feel anxious to trace this strange act to
rfna hos nnA bail hn Ahoy, f1f 60 No
who can give as a clue to batter understand
ing sgsss,k Is;a for vonr.a,f. R,;as,n i0.srruuteo
job q, hastily; 81 ON not at all sure that /
ject worth investigation."
During the latter part of Brides speech
he had raised his eyes auxiously to Elen's
face, and the rapid changes there, the deep
Il lsb, and then taa ebbing away of color to
extreme pRllor, were SO many blows struck at
his heart. bis o Rn face grew as sgitatad as
hers. and L?ebis. looking from one to the
other, cried ont in dismay,
How frightened ycu all do look, t, be surel
Is it very alarmiog I Might We all have been
murdered in our bsds last night Are things
beginning to be here as they were in the
French revolution, when the chaufeurs did
such dreadful things, do you supposer
Don't excite yourself, Lesba, pray" said
John, sharply there is nothing whatever
for you to trouble yourself about"
"But, John, you are as pale as death your
self and you can't think how frighten ed of
robbers sm since Bride made me read about
the ohauGeurs
bride had better irtsrmit her doses of his
tory, if they suggest nothing better to you
than ridiculous fears"
mot 80 very Ridiculous" said Pelham,
firing mp. "Surely suoh strange occurrence
in the middle of the night is sufficient ground
for sGms alarmI hope you dom don't m mean to to
asked for a clue. DONE know that this is
worth much, but remember having an i'm
preston in the night that heard steps on the
terrace, aud when looked out of my window,
just about sunrise, saw Murdock Malachy
| leaning against the post of the side gate. I
wondered at the time how he came to be there
at that hour. 1 have observed him several
times lately hanging about the place in q sus-
picious way. He should be questioned"
mo, Pelham" said Ellen, impetuously,
| don't accuse him. He has nothing whatever
to do with this, can answer for it. Don't
let us bring him into our quarrels agaiu. He
had the worst of it long ago."
l assure You Ellen," said Pelham, gravely II
merely mentioned what 1 have observed.
This is no qnarrel of ours either, as under
stand ii"
And" said John Thornley,, leaning forward