The Portland daily press., 1880-07-23
THE
LAST MOVE IN THE GAME.
AN ORIGINAL TALE.

ing off rapidly with what DR.. Erdae called
a malignant fever; but Joe Mattocks, the
sexton, and Mary Merrill, blind and aged
nurse, and Dick Marley, a lawyers clerk,
believed they had been poisoned with DIR.
Erdale's knowledge) for the purpose of COW
ering up a terrible secret with which they
were acquainted. Lord Falconberg had two
children-his son, Lord Walter, student
at Oxford, and daughter Alice, both of
whom were great favorites with their dead
mothers brother, Ned Buckhurst, who
lived at the grange, few miles from Fall
conberg Hall.
A road of the New Forest, known as the
DEVILS Gap, which ran past wayside inn
called the Raven, was exceedingly danger
Gus at night, on account of its abrupt ter
mination on the edge of an old and deep
quarry 1t was the business of Sillas Gar
mem, the landlord of the Raven, to see that
two lights, one red and the other blue,
were kept burning at a little distance from
the edge of the precipice, every night, from
sunset to sunrise.
One day a couple of disguised strau-
gers stopped at the Raven, and imperiously
demanded dinner of the landlord, who was
at first inclined to resent their harshness,
but after a few whispered .wosds from one
of them, the manner of the landlord sud-
denly changed to obsequiousness.
DINNER, gentlemen?' he said. Ger
tainly. The best the house can supply.
Perhaps you would prefer private room?"
Certainly" answered the young travel
Ter. "And this pretty girl he added, at
tempting to take the hand of Ethel Carmen,
the landlords beautiful daughter, who
shrank timidly back, Shall wait upon u.s. -
''My daughter does not wait apon stran-
gers,' observed Ethel's mother, dryly, and
Silias conducted his guests to the little par
lor, where a cheerful fire was blazing. A
whispered conversation took place, which
lasted for some time
do not leave Ethel till | RETURN" said
Mrs. Carmen to the old blind nurse, Mary
Merrill, who had come in with her grandson,
bright boy named Ralph. 81 must hasten
to the kitchen and prepare dinner for
these travellers. Strangers seldom stop here
except to bait their horses:'
''Are they strangers?" asked her visitor.
The landlady regarded her earnestly
''To me, at least" she replied. II can
not answer for my husband"
Il do not like these men," observed
Ethel, as soon as her mother had with
draw. ''What can bring them here?"
Evil! Evil to the house Of Falconberg,"
groaned the blind woman The storm has
been gathering for years. The clouds are
black ard heavy. They will burst soon.
have known it-felt it for years-seen it in
my dreams, for when l sleep the blessed
light returns to me-"
'Evilr' repeated the astonished girl.
what evil can possibly threaten those so
highly placed?'
The lightning strikes the stately oak and
leaves the humble shrub unscathed," con-
tinued the speaker "You must watch
over them-over the noble maiden whose
generous regard has cast CLEANS of sunshine
on your gloomy path; over her thoughtless
brother, who has listened to the beatings of
his heart, / fear, rather than the suggestions
of reason. You must watch these men,"
~ will,'' faltered Ethel, blushing and
turning pale by turns, las if she comprehended
the allusion; for she secretly loved the young
Lord Walter.
''The hawk shall not replace the falcon in
its nest" added the blind nurse emphatically,
''although it has been Matched there.'
The mistress of the Raven now made her
appearance from the kitchen, and the speak
er took her departure, accompanied by her
grandson.
'sThank Heaven thought the girl, Lord
Walter is far away with his tutor. If any
danger threatens, it cannot fall upon him.
Angels will watch over the Lady AliceH'
The best dinner the house could furnish
was quickly served in the little parlor, Silias
himself waiting upon the guests. After a
long private conversation, they took their
leave, to the intense satisfaction of Ethel,
who felt as if weight had been removed
from her heart
By this time night, which lends its aid to
every evil, began to spread her dark
mantle, vailing the twilight world The
landlord of the Raven appeared uneasy and
on the watch, going frequently to- the door
and looking out as if he expected some one.
His daughter regarded these movements
with intense anxiety; herheart was alarmed.
The warnings of the blind woman had
terrified her, and again and again she men,
tally thanked Heaven that Lord Walter was
absent.
A light chaise drew up in front of the
house, and two travellers, after exchanging
few words with Silias, alighted and entered
til e kitchen. They were the young Lord
Walter, and the Reverend DR.. Barnard, his
tutor, but both so well wrapped up that
neither Ethel nor her mother could recog-
nize them. As the last wrapper fell from
the person of the younger, the anxious girl
started; her worst apprehensions seemed
realized the object of her secret pre-occupa-
ton stood before her.
Lord Walter" she faltered.
Gwen so, Ethel" replied the young man,
sadly. You appear more surprised than
pleased to see me. My poor father! Have
you heard? Does he still livep'
"Liver' repeated the girl. HAS Lord
Falconberg been ill?''
"DyingH' exclaimed the young man with
a burst of natural grief. 'Dying, Ethel.
Hurd, the faithful steward wrote me word
not to lose an hour if | wished to see him
again"
His nearer looked thunderstruck.
BY order of her father, in words too i'm
perative to be disregarded Ethel retired to
the kitchen with her mother to prepare the
repast for the new corners. She would have
piVpn worlds 10 in n rho hr hon 6
Lady Alice upon his guard.
Strange, Doctor" observed his pupil.
when they found themselves alone, that
Ethel should not have heard of my fathers
illness. II must have been very sudden
'Fever" said the tutor with shudder.
Meanwhile blacksmith from the nearest
village was busily occupied in repairing the
broken springs of his lordship's carriage.
Ethel was on thOrns; vague present.
ment of impending danger overwhelmed her
but without paralyzing her courage or pres
ence of mind
Whilst in this state of suspense, excited
alternately by hope and fear, she recognized
the voice of Frank Oatlands, directing the
men who accompanied his fathers team to
unyoke the horses and give them a feed.
He had been drawing wood in the forest
''Savedr' she murmured; "savedr'
The next instant she darted from the
house and stood by his side.
Frank Oatlands was magnificent speci-
men of the Anglo-SaXon race, and an al
most brotherly attachment existed between
himself and the heir of the Falconbergs
THANK Heaven you are here, Franh.'
said the agtated girl, grasping his arm with
a boldness which surprised him, for the
conduct of Ethel was marked by great re-
serve. Lord Walter has arrived! They
have written to him that his father is diving!
Why should they lure him to Walburc by a
lie? Some terrible danger threatens him.
but you will not leave him. | am certain
that you will not. for his own. for his dear
sisters, for all our sakes."
The clear blue veins in the temples of the
young farmer became distended with indig-
nation at the mere thought of foul play to
one so dear to him. Under any other cir
cumstances he might have bushed at the
allusion to Lady Alice, for we doubt if his
heart was quite free in that respect: but
now her brother claimed all his care. and
his hand closed over the heavy hunting
whip he carried with quiet resolution.
"Where is Walter?' he asked.
Gin the little parlor with his tutor. '"The
carriage has broken down." whispered
Ethel pointing to the men @ho were re-
pairing it. ''lt has been done purposely,
fear"