Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-06

SSSS AAs0 cOAO bSAOAO VIC DUH u
mus; yet when. on leaving, he offeredme his
nand, he smiled so blandly that I could
fancy it a dream. And seeing him smilo
SO, ana AInslie crossing che bridge with his
hand on the horses neck, l was somehow
uneasy without rhyme or reason.
we were at breakfast the morning after
James, visit, when Ainslie, who had had
his and gone into the town to the little read
face. A''
Amber, | have heard in the town that
Sir Martin is i'll. 1 came in to tell you at
once; but there can be no reason for alarm.
or we should have been the first to hear
"Grandpa i'll! How can that bel James
said he was as we'll as usual.0
"Slr Martin must have been taken ill af.
ter James left the park. Still, l wonder
That he has not telegraphed to you. There
IS a train at eleven which reaches the sta
ton by a quarter to twelve. l could drive
you almost as soon if 1 could get a decent
a from the Angel"
But, slow as was the little cross country
line, l preferred to trust to it. Needless to
say, l was in great distress at the news.
My grandfather, cold and u~nsympathetic
as ne was, was yet the only relative I ] had
IN the world except James, his younger
sons child. Sir Martin, people said, had
never recovered from his grief at the death
of both his sons in the same year-my ia.
Their in India, n his brother of typhEs fe.
YER at the Park. But he had always been
kind to me in his stern way. Though had
that l should become James wife, he never
clearly mentioned it to me.
would you rather have a compartment
to yourself!" Ainslie asked, as he opened
the door of one in which a middle-aged man,
much wrapped up, was already ensconsed.
l haH M n0I1 rrfh nm Tho l~~..
tage at Ludford hardly suficing for one
visitor. "
~ dear, no" | said, making myself com.
Portable. 81 will let you know how Sir
Martin Isl" And before 1 could saw more
we were moving away from the platform.
MY thoughts, as l tried to catch a last
glimpse Of him, were hardly cheerful; but
they! were speedily interrupted by my COM
panion speaking.
.may I ask if you were speaking of Sir
Martin McMichael of Stuart Park"
l took a good look at him before answer
ing; but though it was August, he was so
closely wrapped up that I could not see
have judged him to be a foreigner; his
mustache was quite white, but his face,
where L could see it, was unwrinkled-he
might be fifty. His eyes were keen enough,
and his voice undoubtedly that of a gen
tleman. Treasured by my survey, l an
swered:
Eyes, he has been taken i'll suddenly. Do
you know him?"
II did %once,' he answered with a rest
less movement. "Are you going to Stuart
Park"
l bowed, and looked out of my window,
conscious that he was scrutinizing me earn
estly.. He said nothing more, and, after
creeping through innumerable small sta.
tions, we reached Stuart Town. I had an
bounced my coming by telegram; but there
was no carriage to meet me, an omission
Tor it was two miles to the Park-which
filled me with fear. Ny grandfather must
be very i'll. Declining the station.master's
offer OF assistance, l set out to walk the
distance.
Before l reached the house, when its great
stacks of chimneys and old Tudor gables
were just appearing among the trees, I met
James coming hastily to meet me. He
seemed nervous n p~erturbed, but his first
words explained this.
"Sir Martin is worse, Amber-very ill, 1
fear. He was attacked while I was away
yesterday. l fastened to meet you, that
none of the servants might see you and tell
him that you were come, without prepara-
tion."
that l came at once"
eyes; did you come in by the lodge.gate
or the little bridle-path?"
"By the bridle-path. Are you going in
this way?" He had turned off into a path
which led to q side door in the right. wing.
eyes; the doctor says his nerves are pre-
ternaturally acute, and the slightest shock
or noise must be avoided"
He told me other details as we passed,
without seeing any one, to my rooms on the
first floor in the right wing. Save my
maids, all the other rooms in this wing
were guest chambers. It was lonely, but /
preferred it; for from the windows a beau
tiful view of the Stretton Hills could be en-
joyed, particularly in winter, when the
%shrubbery outside was ~leafless. My bed
room was inside the sitting-room. At the
door Of the latter a strange woman met us.
co,s Matky !sS,.y lou k noe lis is away ave- T., said d my
l knew of this, though I had momentarily
forgotten it. passed into my bedroom to
take off my things without the slightest
suspicion. When I came back into the sit
ting-room the MAZDA tall, stupid-looking
woman, much older than Watkyns-was
a tray with luncheon. But I had no appe-
tite and l went at once to the door. 1t was
locked.
"'There is something the matter with the
door, said, after fumbling at it for a mo-
ment.
The woman by the window did not turn
"Do you hearW 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 ill at ease with what she had to
say.
"You can not get out, Miss. It's as we'll
to understand it at once. The DOORS
locked on the outside; and until he who
has1 the key comes back here you must
stay"
"Are you mad" I cried, trying to crush
down my fears. "Give me the key at once,
and don't talk nonsAnse!H
~ haven't got it," she said, %apathetic.
ally. "It is no good being angry with me. I
am as much a prisoner as you are"
"Good H~eavenso I,cried; "do you know
that I m mistress herep My grandfather
is ill, and l 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 I perceived that it
was an arranged scheme, a sudden feeling
of helplessness came over me. I remem-
bered that a 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
fastened; but even if I broke one, and
shouted with all the strength of my lungs,
the noise would hardly pierce the shrub
berries. And yet, while I felt myself grow
ing paler, it seemed so ridiculous that I, the
mistress, should be imprisoned in my own
rOomsl What could he the motive? Excent