The Portland daily press., 1883-07-21
,on the table and

DOn the LaDe and
pressin iany papea.s-~.
Uttered il, -er, ladyTtif1hheA
parently abou. a. shirty, she was tall
and of good figure, her dress handsome
though simple. A veil obscured much of
her face, which was toward me as entered.
Either her complexion was naturally color
less, or agitation had driven the blood from
her cheeks; the latter,I conjectured, since
her left hand was p7essed to her side. l
stood dumbfoun led, and at least twice this
unexpected apparition repeated the words
have set down. Who was she, and what on
earth was she doing alone and at this time of
the night in our chambers? As far as | re-
member said at last in bewildered tone.
still holding the door-handle:
Eyes, certainly, am Mr.. Warrington
sYou must be surprised to find me here.
lam Serjeant Greathead's niece"
= "Oh, yes!' / answered, with bow and a
vain attempt to indicate by my tone that
thought this perfectly satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION of her presence at $50 in his
chambers; %, yes
HE is rather unwell this evening, aud
thought he would like TO have some papers
to read, in case he should not sleep. l have
volunteered to fetch them-was it not bold
of me?-and my cab is waiting in Fleet
street."
"The Serjeant not well am very sorry.
Can give you any assistance?" From The
appearance of the table she must have un-
dpne most of the bundles in search of the
right papers, such was the lit er upon it.
She really was very good-lookiDg woman.
"You can undo the harm you have inno-
Gently caused. Mr.. Warrington, by getting
lme glass of water, if you will be so kind.
You startled me not little | was prepared
to find darkness and loneliness, but not to
meet any one."
s'If have frightened you do wish / had
stayed away-which is unselfish," / added
gallantly; but it is curious that fate should
have led me here tonight for the first time
this year,
Yes; not only curious, Mr.. Warrington,
provoking also."
candle and drew some water from the filter
There was flavor of romance about this,
and yet, handsome as she was, and guar
as were the circumstances, something re-
PEELED me. had not got over the start she
ca ised me perhaps.
"Are you sure that you have got what you
want?" She had replaced the papers and
cleared the table with wonderful deftness
while was away. She was standing now
by the fireplace, evidently ready to go.
II have, thank you," she answered rather
thoughtfully; sperhaps you would be good
enough To escort me 10 my cab, my nerves
have hardly recovered yet"
She smiled bewitchingly as she spoke what
/ took for badinage, out the next instant
saw that it was true enough. We were
moving toward the door. and I had lust
said, with pleasure" when heavy foot
step, coming along the passage outside,
made itself clearly heard even through the
closed doors 1t halted a couple of seconds
rs If going no farther, then it proceeded on
and up the stairs. Well just duri ng the
second or two that it halted at the door, |
saw my companions FACET had turned
white again and had the same nervous, ex-
pectant expression had first observed. Her
nerves had not recovered the surprise of my
sudden entrance.
''1t would hardly do for any one to find me
here," she said, with forced laugh, finding
my eyes fixed upon her face.
"No? but that was so like your uncle's
footstep that it did not alarm me''
She did not smile as expected. On the
contrary, she helped to unfasten the outer
door with almost petulant eagerness. Once
in the open air she breathed more freely, but
she hardly spoke again except to thank me
when put her into the cab.
Il hope the SERGEANT will sleep tonight
not need his papers," were my last words,
which she only acknowledged by a bow, as
sne tnrew herself back. But had cause, az
will be seen, to remember them.
did not get much work done that piobt
Qultt ds III was, my VlsiJOr naQ unsettled me.
Isuppose. Twice thought heard Some
one in the Ser1eant's room, and was foolish
enough to take a light and 60 and see. Of
course there was no one there; SO after a
short time l gave it up and went home to
bed.
fhe next day, be it observed, was Sunday
I pass on as briefly as can; at breakfast on
the Monday received more serious shock.
Among the items of intelligence in the
morning Post appeared this paragra b lit
will save me much explanatory: "We re-
gret To have to announce the sudden d ath.
at his residence, Gloucester Road, of Mr.
Serjeant Greathead, Q. c., of the Western
Circuit, Recorder of Dlddleham. His de-
cease, which took place very suddenly ON
Saturday evening, was caused by a heart
complaint from which The learned gentleman
has t. some time suffered"
"Umph,'' said TO myself, and being
lawyer, began 10 think and 10 put two and
two together, not without now and again
little ssric feeling dosa the small Of my
bsck. Mr.. serjeant Greathead died on Sat