Morris tribune., 1883-03-14


for one so young.
II am going away" he said abruptly.
81 have good post offered me in Lon
don, and wish to accept it,"
but DR.. Majendie?'
"Oh, he's willing! We don't suit each
other. He Will be glad to be rid of me.
We do not get on as | expected-indeed
Liffy has not proved the agreeable spot
had anticipated. shall not be sorry
to turn my back upon it."
A feeling closely resembling delight
vibrated within her ut this announce
ment. She waited patiently like one
who has suddenly awakened from the
nightmare. But Jasper Searle's next
words brought her back to her old pain.
You must let me have a little more
money than We agreed upon"
Hilary started, a harrassed dread in
her face.
81 cannot" she murmured from be-
tween shaking lips.
II think you cam" he said slowly. II
Hilary locked her hands together.
Her eyes were full of misery.
"Have mercy, Jasperw she gasped.
"For Heavens sake, for the sake OK the
ties that bind us together, have mercyp
"You mention these ties"--mockingly
- chow have you remembered them?"
ut has not been my fault" she
moaned. Heaven knows l would not
have treated you as have done had"
"Hushp He raised his hand author
atively. His quick ear had caught the
sound of the gently opening door. Hill
airy turned sharply, and knew that the
worst had come to pass.
1t was all over in moment. She saw
mild. white face. pair Of glittering
mad eyes, a pistol leveled at Jasper
Searle Then there was cry of hor-
ror. Waiting neither to give the alarm,
nor to call for assistance, she sprang
from the low window, and ran like one
demented down the gravel path. She
must fetch John; he could help her.
Her breath was coming short and fast,
she WAS struggling with her desperate
terror and anguish, when some one
caught hold of her detainingly.
Miss Corbyn-Hilary, what has hap
pened?"
Hilary heard the VOICE, saw the
alarmed face with tender light on it, and,
guish, flung herself into the outstreatch-
ed arms.
They have met! She was mad
John you knew she was madp'
Yes, yes" he said, wiping her brow
tenderly-"my dear how you trembleW
"She has killed h; mp Hilary murmur-
ed in tone of indescribable woe.
John shivered as he heard it.
"Who is killed." he said, sootbingly,
speaking to Hilary as though she had
been q child, for in his bewilderment
he had almost feared that her reason
was overturned.
Jasper! John hold me. feel must
die, / think"
He held her very tenderly, waiting
until the paroxysm had passed; then
Can you explain to me? If any one
is injured may be of USE"
This brought Hilary to herself. She
recovered her composure in some de-
gree, and struggled out of the arms that
fain would have kept her.
You warned me, DR.. Bellew warned
me, that it would be safer to put Edna
under restraint, that her madness was
increasing dangerously. Oh that / had
listened to you. But it is too late. She
has killed her husband and my broth
en-"
"Your brother and her husbandl' DR..
Majendie CALCULATED, wondering whether
he was losing his senses.
l. Cd liz lluS bCCll "lChStA 1Attil'
He treated Edna terribly the few
months they lived together. He drove
her mad. You see, he thought he was
marrying an heiress, and, instead, he
found that Edna's only dover was a ia
tai one--insani y Her father died raw
ing; the awful disease was hereditary in
his family"
"But your brother? I thought Sir
Donald COrbyn-"
''He was not my fathers son, but my
mothers by previous marriage. John,
we are wasting time; they want YOU"
cay, indeed. Hilary, walk slowly.
| will hasten"
He sped away. Hilary sat down on a
bench and buried her face. She was in
mortal terror. She dared not 60 on to
the house until she had schooled her
self to calmness, and that, at present, in
her shivering agitation she could not
easily do; but after desperate struggle
she rose, and, with slow exhausted steps,
with ashy, stricken face, followed the
doctor to the Abbey.
Jasper Searle was not, however, fatal
ly, nor even dangerously, injured. He
had received but a flesh wound, and
with good care and nursing was we'll
very shortly. He said very little to the
doctor, but acquiesced at once when
John stated that, as soon as he had re-
covered, it would be better for him to
carry out his former intention and settle
in London. To Hilary, who tended him
so affectionately, he breathed a few
words of regret for the past, intimating
that she would never be troubled by
him again. Probably the knowledge
that in future she would have a powerful
hxy hor ci1n hn1,,ol this
luton, He had striven hitherto for his
own vile ends to keep his sister and
John Maiendie apart; bat he saw now
that his work was all undone. Also the
sight of his mad wife had shocked him
terribly; and, though he would not have
owned it, Hilary knew that he would
be thankful to leave liffy speedily for
ever.
There was little hope for Edna. Hill
airy suffered terribly when she was re-
moved to the asylum. She was haunted
by vague fears, which all the doctors
assurance were unable to ouell, that her
cousin would miss the kindly treatment
which she had been used; but she knew
there was no possibility of retaining her
safely at the Abbey, and with bitter
tears she let her 60 from her. Mrs.
Trealwny left the Abbey also. She felt
that she pest be near her unhappy,
wronged child unto the end. A sad, sad
life Edna's has been--a life spoiled by
the cruelty of the man whom she had
devotedlY loved until his baseness had
changed the affection to hatred.
Hilary sat on bench under the bud
ding chestnut trees; she looked surpass-
ingly fair, with the peach-bloom upon
her cheeks and the light that never
was on sea or shore" in her eyes. She
was dressed with unusual care. John
was coming this afternoon. He had
been absent few days in London, and
Hilary had missed him sorely. The
tangled knot which had caused them 80
much trouble was unraveled now. A
few weeks before Johns lips had
touched Hilary's, few weeks before he
had whispered the cd. old story, and
Hilary had not repulsed him. No won
der there was soft, radiant light In her
violet eyes, no wonder she began to
mimic the song of the birds, as she
thought of the caresses that had been
- IL L