Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

Older than Watkyns-was standing By the win
dow On the table was q tray with luncheon
door. 1t was locked.
There Is something the matter with the
door, said after fumbling at it for a moment
The woman by the window did not turn or
make any reply.
7 'Do you hear?" I cried, irritated by her
silence. "There is something the matter, Open
| the door, please"
She turned, and, sullen as was her face she
looked i'll at ease with what she had to say.
You cannot get out miss. It's as well to
understand 1t at once. The doors locked on the
outside; and until he who has the key comes
| back here you must stay"
Are you mad ?" 1 cried, trying to crush
down my fears. "Give me the key at once, and
don't talk nOnsense!"
.. haven't got it," she said alphabetically.
1T is no good being angry with me. am as
much prisoner as you are"
GOOD Heavens!" cried; edo You know
| that | am mistress here? My grandfather is ill,
and | must go to him. Open this door at once;
or. If it is fastened. ring the bell.'
She made no answer, but nodded grimly at the
place where the bell-rOpe should have been. 1t
was gone. and even the wire was broken. Then
| when perceived that it was an arranged scheme
! remembered that q green baize door shut in
the little suite of rooms. and would effectually
prevent any alarm reaching the other parts of
the house. The windows were securely fast
ened, but even II broke one and shouted with
all the strength OF my lungs the noise would
hardly pierce the strawberries. And yet, while
felt myself growing paler it seemed so ridcu-
lous that /. the mistress, should be imprisoned
in my own rooms! What could be the motive
Except the station master had not seen any
one who would be likely to mention my arrival.
Was that why James asked me- if had passed
the lodge?
Was my grandfather really i'll? Yes, of that,
as the report came from Ainslie. there could BIZ
mol no NE HoS,&
of revenge for my refusal of his suit. Improba-
bic. almost absurd. as it seemed, that must be
the case, though could not guess his ultimate
intention. l must have my wits about me.
ate my lunch, the woman waiting upon me re-
| spectfully enough How YEARLY passed the
hours until it grew dark! and then step
sounded in the passage a key was put in the
lock, and James entered and locked the door
behind him. He made a sign to the woman,
| and she retired into the bedroom and closed the
door.
I'VE won't beat about the bush, Amber You
have discovered by this time that you are my
prisoner. No one knows that you are here and
until say the word no one win know. The
household is in confusion, owing to Sir Martins
Illness"
"He is ill! Oh, James, how can you keep me
here?"
II will tell you in a few words Sir Martin.
made his will yesterday. He believes, Amber,
that you will marry me. have told him so.
viii you let it be? and will take you to him
this moment
He drew nearer.
"And If do nOt-what then -
"Then you will not see him. He has made his
will in that belief; and has left all to go to me
with the title, feeling sure that shall do what
| is right by you. If he dies, or rather when he
Dies you will be penniess. I am playing both
for love and fortune, Amber. If you will not
marry me- at least you will take no fortune to
your husband"
He said much to the same effect. but only ex-
cited more and more my Indignation and anger
| l refused to bind myself, refused with scorn;
and he left me, after telling me how futile was
all hope that should be released unless would
promise to do as he wished. He vowed that he
had planned to keep me at Ludford in ignorance
OF Sir Martins illness, satisfying the old man
with lying excuses for nv absence But the
news oozed out, as we know, and then nv tele-
gram announced that he was defeated-that
was coming. In his perplexity he hit upon the
desperate scheme of shutting me up in my own
| rooms; and with this success.
All this he told me. SO wild did It render me
that tried to take the Key from him by main
force when he rose to 60. The woman pulled
| Inc back. and sobbing bitterly with rage and
grief flung myself upon my bed. Slowly the
weary hours of night wore away. Now 1 would
leap restlessly up and try the door; now I would
strive to move the woman, persuade, bribe
brighten her; but all in vain. Now would moan
as coniured up the picture Of my dying grand
father only few rooms away calling upon my
name. 1t was frigntful night indeed.
Early in the morning James came again: this
| time he stayed merely to ask if my resolution
held out; and finding that / lOathed him he went
sullenly away again. He was haggard and per-
picked; could my grandfather have taken turn
for the better? My heart leapt high with hope
and then sank; would Sir Martin be safe in my
inscriptions cousins hands? And this added
another terror to my position. Through the
baize door came no sound Of life.
Il
less, though he told me that Sir Martin was
| worse; and more dark-eyed and haggard than
ever, went away again. This time I made up
| my mind that would escape MY passion had
worn itself out by this time, and fear had taken
| Its place. In the dark sat and watched my
passive keeper, and turned from her to glance
| round the room for the means Of escape. Icould,
| perhaps. let myself down from the window, il
| could get rid Of her. If! An, that if The rid
| die was to be solved In different way.
About nine o'clock / heard the swing-door
| fall to with q bang quite unlike the stealthy
way in which my cousin came and went; then
| hurried footsteps along the passage; and then
the noise of some one searching for the door
| handle in the dark. sprang up. Wild with
excltement-perhaps 1t was with fear NV i'm
| movable companion even looked alarmed. We
stared into one anOther's eyes,
amber! Miss McMichael, are you there?"
Ojoy, it was Alnse's voice! Ny heart leapt
high with the sudden revulsion. How the fear
anu uIVoA ehaU "CIo Otti pdSSGU
away at the sound! He knew our situation; for
without losing time he warned me to stand back
from the door and, throwing himself against it.,
at the second attempt burst it in. In moment
he was inside and his arm around me.
Take me to him, Ainsle; take me to him."
cried. g. s5s-,
He knew to whom I meant, yet he paused
| as we were leaving the room and looked In my
face
Are you prepared for great shock. dear |?
VIII you be very brave2 It is good news. my
darling; better than you can imagine There is
some one with Sir Martin who has at present q
better right to you even than have"
nodded anxiOusy not cOmprehending what
he was saying, but only eager to be by my
grandfather's side. We hastened through sew
eral passages, all deserted, and indicating the
confusion into which the house was thrown In
the corridor outside Sir Martins room all the
servants were collected. They made way for
MS. but seemed in no degree surprised at our
sudden appearance together. Ainslie opened
the door, and led me softly in.
The old mans sight was failing. and to suit it
the spacious dark-pannelled room was lit with
numerous candles, which yetfailed to dispel the
gloom. My grandfather was greatly changed.
His face was wan and drawn; but the shadow Of
death seemed tn be- held at hav nv tho yainfin1