Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-01-12


never exactly knew He disoerned portion
of a shadow in quick muscular movement
then there was the fall Of something on the
grass then there was a stiffness.
Two or three minutes later the duke be-
came visible round the corner of the hut,
dragging by the collar the now inert body of
the second man. The duke dragged him
across the open space toward the trilithon.
Behind this ruin was hollow, irregular
spot, overgrown with furze and stUnted
thOrns, and riddled by the old holes Of badg-
ers, its former inhabitants, who had now died
out or departed The duke vanished into
this depression with his burden reappearing
after the lapse OF few seconds. When he
came forth he dragged nothing behind him.
He returned to the side Of the hut cleansed
something on the grass, and again put him
self on the watch though not as before, in
side the hut, but without on the shady side
"Now for the second !" he said.
1t was plain even to the unsophisticated
boy that he now awaited the other person of
the appointment-his wife, the duchess-for
what purpose it was terrible to think. He
seemed to be a man Of such determined tenn
per that he would scarcely hesitate in carry
ing out a course Of revenge TO the bitter end.
Moreover though it was what the shepherd
did not perceive-ths was all the more prob
under the exaggerated impression which the
sight Of the meeting in dumb show had con-
yeyed.
The Jealous watcher waited long, but he
waited in vain. From within the hut the boy
could hear his occasional ordinations of sur
prise as If he were almost disappointed at
the failure Of his assumption that his guilty
duchess would surely keep the tryst. Some
times he stepped from the shade of the furze
into the moonlight, and held up his watch to
learn the time.
About half-p II he seemed to give up
expecting her He then went a second time
to the hollow behind the trilithon, remaining
there nearly a quarter of an hour. From
this place be proceeded quickly over a shoul-
der of the declivity little to the left, pres
emily returning on horseback, which proved
that his horse had been tethered in some Sc
cret place down there. Crossing anew the
down between ths hut and the trilithon, and
scanning the precincts as if to finally assure
himself that she had not come. he rode slow
ly downward in the direction of Nerncombe
Towers.
The juvenile shepherd thought of what
lay in the hollow yonder and no fear of the
crook stem Of his superior officer was potent
enough to detain him longer on that hill
alone. Any live company, even the most
terrible, was better than the company of the
dead so, running with the speed of a hare
in the direction pursued by the horseman, he
overlook the revengeful duke at the second
descent (where the Kingdom road crossed
before you came to the old park entrance on
that side-now closed up and the lodge
cleared away, though at the time it was won
dered why, being considered the most con
venient gate of all
Once within the sound of the horses foot
steps, Bill Wills felt comparatively comforta-
BILE for, though in awe of the duke because
of his position, he had no moral repugnance
TO his companionship on account of the girls
ly deed he had committed, considering that
powerful nobleman to have a right to do
what he chose on his own lands. The duke
rode steadily on beneath his ancestral trees,
the hoofs of his horse sending up smart
sound now that he had reached the hard road
of the drive, and soon drew near the front
door OF his house, surmounted by parapets
with square.cut battlements that cast a
notched shade upon the graveled terrace.
These outlines were quite familiar to little
Bill Willis, though nothing within their houn-
Diary had ever been seen by him.
When the rider approached the mansion
small turret door was quickly opened, and a
woman came out As soon as she saw the
horsemau's outlines she ran forward into the
moonlight to meet him.
"Ah, dear-and are you Gomez she said.
II heard Hero's tread when you rode over
the hill and knew it in moment. would
have come further if had been aware"
'Glad to see me, eh p
How can you ask that p
"Well it is a lovely night for meetings. -
''Yes, it is q lovely night"
The duke dsmounted and stood by her
side. why should you have been listening
at this time of night, and yet not expecting
me p he asked.
"Why, indeed There is a strange story
attached to that which / must tell you at
once. But why did you come a night sooner
than you said you would come; / am rather
sorry-I really am ~ (shakiDg her head play
fully for as a surprise to you | had or
dered bonfire to be built, which was to be
lighted on your arrival to. morrow and now
it is wasted. fou can see the outline Of it
Just out there"
The duke looked across to a spot of rising
glade, and saw the fagots in a heap. He
then bent his eyes with blank and puzzled
air on the ground "What is this strange
story you have to tell me, that kept you
awake z" he murmured.
at is ths-and il is really rather serious.
My cousin Fred Pentridge-Captain Pent-
ridge as he is pow-was in his boyhOod a
great admirsr of mine as l think have told
you, though was six years his senior In
strict truth, he was sbsurdly fond Of me-"
you have never told me of that before. 4"
Then it was your sister l tod-yes, it
was. Well, you know | have not seen him
for many years, and naturally l had quite
forgotten his admiration of me in old times.
But guess my surprise when the day before
yesterday received mysterious note bear
ing no address, and found on opening it that
it came from him. The contents frightened
me out of my wits, He had returned from
Canada to his fathers house, and had con-
jured me by all he could think of to meet
him at once. But | think can repeat the
exact words, though will show il to you
when We get indoora. Ny dea. cGlain Har-
riet, the note said After this long absence
you will be surprised at my sudden reappear-
ance, ard more by what am going to ask
But if my life and future are of any concern
to you at ALL beg that you will grant my
request. What l require of you is, dear
Harriet, that you meet me about eleven to-
night by the Druid stones on Verncombe
Down, about mile from your house. ! can
not say more except TO entreat you to come
l will explain all when you are there. The
one thing is, | want to see you. Come alone
Believe me, would not ask this if my hap
piness did not hang upon it-God knows how
entirely am too agitated to say more
Yours, Fred. That was all of it. Now, of
course, ought not to have gone, as it turned
out but that did not think of then. I re.
membered his impetuous temper, and feared
that something grievous was impending over
his head, while he had not friend in the
world to help him, or any one except myself
to whom he would care to make his trouble
known. So wrapped myself up and went
to Vernoombe Down at the time he had
named. Don't you think was courageous p
"Very."
"When got there--but shall we not walk
on; it is getting cold ?" The duke, however,
did not move. "When got there he came /;
of course as a full-grown man and officer,
and not as the lad that 1 had known him.
When l saw him was sorry had come
can hardly tell you how he behaved. What
he wanted don't know even now it seemed
to be no more than the mere meeting with
me. He held me by the hsnd-oh, so tight
and would not let me go till had prom
ised to meet him again. His manner was SO
strange and passionate that l was afraid OF
him in such lonely place, and 1 promised
to come. Then | escaped-then ran home
and that's ALL When the tins drew ON
this evening for the appointment-whioh,o oi
course, never intended to keep-I felt un-
easy, lest when he found l meant to disap'
point him he would come to the house ant
thatswhy could not sleep. but you are Sc
| ialapt ~