Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-09

come"
''I accept with gratitude. 1t will do
me good to sleep for night beneath your
roof"
With motion expressive of qualification
at his acceptance of her hospitality, Mar
garet fastened from the room into the gar
den. Joseph and Evangeline were walking
towards the house, but seeing Margaret,
paused TIL she came up to them.
''See, mother" said Joseph, " a message
from the mountains. Hold the bird while
1 unloosen the paper. There-the message
is to you, mother. Read it."
| Margaret moved to patch of moonlight
and read
tRanf to Margaret Sylvester The
time has come. Last night, as you know,
a ship anchored In the bay. Tomorrow,
at sunset, come you and your son Joseph
to the hut in the mountain, from which
you will see flag flying. Let no one else
accompany you. l know that you have
day visited Mauvain. Believe nothing
that you have heard in that house for
their own purposes, and to gain their own
ends, those men will lie and lie ; but the
more subtle villain of the two is Harold
as l shall prove to you to- morrow, not from
the lips but by the words of your beloved
sister Clarice. Let no person know what
is in this paper, and bid your family not to
retire to rest tomorrow night until you
return from your visit to the mountain.
You will have that to do upon your return,
and that to see, which will add to the hap
| piness OF you and yours.
Margaret read this missive twice, the
first time in bewilderment, the second with
clearer comprehension. The supreme
moment of her life appeared to be approach
ing, the moment of which she had dreamed,
which she had yearned for, hoped for,
during all the years which had interviewed
since she lost her sister, but the issue of
which was as completely hidden from her
as the mystery of death itself. She ac-
cepted every word written by the hunch-
back as sincerest truth !; there was in her
mind neither doubt nor desire to question.
"You will have that to do upon your re-
turn, and that to see, which will add to
the happiness of you and yours. 1t would
be SO; every action of the hunchback's life
proved that he would not utter what it
was not in his power to accomplish. She
looked up to the window of the room she
had left, and saw Harold standing there
with tender smile upon his lips. The
more subtle villain of the two is Harold
as l shall prove to you tomorrow, not from
the lips, but by the words of your beloved
sister Clarice!" Instinctiuely she drew
Evangeline to her side, and passed her arm
around the girl, as she would have done in
the days gone by around Clarice, to pro-
tect her from evil. In the light of this
startling revelation Harold's face grew dis
torted in her eyes; the story he had told
her sounded in her ears as mockery; he
was utterly, utterly false, and his very
presence in her house was danger to
those she loved.
keep in the garden, Joseph" she said
hurriedly; do not come in for little
while"
She fastened into the house and into the
room in which she had left Harold. He
advanced towards her with an expression
of quick sympathy, almost of love, in his
face. She pointed to the door.
Go !" she said.
He caught his breath and looked around
as though another voice than hers had
spoken.
"Do you not hear me ?" she cried, her
pulses throbbing with indignant passion.
go! And never set foot within door of
mine again. You are false and shame
less villain %
He became grave instantly and moved
to the door. But before he left he turned,
and with gentle plying smile, said
&c 1t is useless to ask why you thrust me
from your house!"
"Quite useless" she replied, in her
sternest tone. 81 shall pray that may
never look upon your face again !"
He made no further attempt to obtain
an explanation, but passed from the room,
saying,
May happiness attend you and yours
to the last days of your lives p
The next moment he was gone.
"My words have come true" he said,
with a sad whimsical light in his eyes.
q shall have to beg shelter from the sky.
Be merciful, clouds, and do not weep as
you pass over my bed of leaves Let me
think-let me think ! | shall have time,
being alone now, quite alone, and without
friend. And there is Eternity before me
time enough, indeed To whom am
indebted for Margaret Sylvester's extra
ordinary change of feeling? Easily an
swered. She received a message from
Ranf my name was doubtless mentioned
in it, and not in hattery. l noticed Mar
garet's stern look as she stood in the moon
light, ard raised her eyes to the window at
which l was standing. Rant is the friend
l have to thank. l thank you, friend.
But you and / have not done with each
other the last page OF the book is not yet
reached. Whence came that soft white
bird, with its false message hidden under
its tender wing? From the mountain, or
from the hunchback's fairy-house of won
ders? The latter is the nearest; it may not
be time lost to wander in that direction.
If Rant be there, he shall give me satisfac-
tion."
Towards Rant S new house Harold, there
fore, directed his steps, and sauntered list
lessly around its ring of wild-fowers,
watching for human sign.
al will not enter like thief, he
thought; ''lif I can convey to the hunch-
backs ears that am here, he will not
finch from meeting"
For an hour or more he fingered, and
| noticad tbrouob fha hadoea which Rant