The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-07-11

,o,,,+ ,yont mo to leave EnglandlN
Not for tho world, my darlis- . saia
bo quickly. "Nobody in Gsldsem-not
even at the H~all-knows ! have come back.
That is why ] had TO send for yoa On O pre-
text, and brighten you out OF your life.
The boy / sent for you did no know me. 1
rot here in a fly from the ~st'Ation only a few
minutes before I met him, and senthim off
with the promise of a shilling if he
brought you back with him"
"Oh, that is why he was SO anxious not
to lose sight of me for a moment But
what is all this mystery about Laurence'
Why don't You go to the Hall to meet your
fathers"
"Ah., that is a secretin You won't mind
we.ting till tomorrow to know that, will
you, darling!" =.
ooh. yes, I shall! l want to know now,"
said I coaxingly. Won't you trust mo
with your secret?"
He did not want to do SO; but was our
ions. and hurt at his refusal, and, wheIh ne
saw the tears come into my eyes, he gave
way.
He had been SO much struck by the post
script to my letter, telling him OF a suspic-
;o~uslooking man whom | connected with
the Denham Court robbery hanging about
the Hall. and promising to visit it again on
wednesday, that he had obtained, by tele-
pranbing to the chief OF the metropolitan
nolice. a force of c%onstables to lie i'll wait
about the Hall that night. He had APP
pointed q trustworthy person to meet them
at Beaconsburgh station and conduct them
to a rendezvous he had appointed in the
mark. where they were probably waiting
now. lie was going to station them him
self. under cover Of the fog, in places round
the Hall, among the shrubs, where they
would be well concealed, and yet be near
the approaches of the house, especially on
that side where the ~strongroom was. The
fog might work for them or against them
If might throw the thieves-if indeed they
came. which was a matter of chance-into
the constables' hands, or it might help them
to escape. That must be left to fortune.
"And you know you said in your letter
that Sarah was always raving about a bad
man named James Woodfall, who seemed
to have a great influence upon her ana 70
be mixed up in everything evil she talked
about. Well, I have brought down among
the constables q man who knew James
Woodfall, and swears he could Identify
him. This Woodfall used to be a clever
forger, and got caught only once, "hen nc
was quite a lad; but he has been lost sight
of for years. This is only an off-chaace OF
his having anything at all to do with this
but I mentioned his name to the chief con
stable. and he thought it worth trying. sc
now, my darling, you know everything
and YOU must keep my secrets, every one
like grim death. AS for your journey,
don't be alarmed. l shall be in the same
train with you; and your mother will really
meet YOU at Liverpool Street Station, for
have told her to do So"
Laurence insisted on seeing me home
We had crept along the high-road until W.
were close to the cottage nearest to the
Alders. when we heard the sounds OF hoof'
and wheels, and mems voices hallolnt
through the fog. Laurence opened thu
gate of the cottage garden and led me IN
side till they should have passed.
1t was the dog-cart, with Mr. Rayner OF
foot leading the horse, and Maynard still
in it. -,
Lucky you are going to stay tn
night" Mr.. Rayner was saying. :,
wouldn't undertake to find my way to m.
own gate tonight"