New-York tribune., 1884-12-14
YORK DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY

| themselves with terror. The servants will go to-
morrow. Poor Miss Mostyn IL is q cruel ending
Her lip trembled. Her blue, fearful eyes looked
| ike forget me -nots under still water Murmurina
a word of apology, she left the room; Presently
| she returned. capable and composed. With her own
| hands she brought tray OF refreshments for-me,
| saying that the servants were now AFRAID to 20
| abGut the passages at night
| Soon the question that was burning I'm my heart
arose 10 my lips. DO you think Mir Frank Mostyn
is guilty OF this horrible crime Miss Bcncei
4" do not" was the instant reply. And blessed
her in my heart al only saw Mr.. Mostyn a few
noments on that evening. Tor went out to dine with
friend" she continued. "But he impressed me
| most favorably. know his strange disappearance
Is against him. But for that he may not be RESPONSE
"bo You mean-is it possible that you think-he Is
! dc1d Z asked, thrown of my guard for a moment;
"Canddy. don't know Whdf to think. she SAID
musng,y. "Everything has turned thus far upon
| the one theory of Mr.. MOs,yns guilt. Search mas
been made only in the one direction. My own
| opnion-my own suspicion-is utterly at variance
! with the public; but don't know that ought TO TO
say this. My lips must be sealed. fear, Tor must
appear at the nqucst-and it is only fancy you
see-l have No actual proof, ,c cvoa
She spoke soinew hat Incohcrcntly. her eyes nxed @
upon the fire. DO you believe Ill PoSsts"0h' shc
asked abruptly. ~
stared at her in utter surprise. The common
place comfort and snQgncsS o. the room. with us
easy chairs. and curtains, and tabe-coyeis. ana
sofas of purple damask its dwarf bookcases, emma
pictures and ornaments, shown by the lgnt OF the
two tall WAX candles and the blazing IRE; lhe
Youthful matron's own appearance, so trim and
graceful yet so stamped with energetic capaDiiity
and sound common sensc these things We're 50 t aia
mctrIcGlly opposed to that strange question, thal
wondered if had heard Alright.
at is only lately that the theory has occupied my
mind" she continued. " have been readlng-the
fact IS. it haunt, me- wish could shake on the
impression. The Bible shows MS that such n thing
was once possible. Why not in these daysf Shc
seemed 10 be following ont some train oil argument
| in her own mind. At that moment voice. SILKY
| and singularly deep and sweet, spoke outside the
door in answer TO some call from below.
"prayers9 Yes, il is time. Marian. AS am mere
= Niii'rght" shouted Marian from soine lower re
gon. Aud bell rang loudly IN the ,u,, hau ,,,oo,,
| cry: | heard her say to herself Then she rose
| and offered to show me the way 70 thc dining-roon,
| where prayers were 50 be read. " that door She
| lett me- after pointing on my seat. lwo noble
rooms thrown into one with nnrplc curtains depend
! inc from the arcn where folding doors hld once
nnoriicA tnst nfcrlarc y,i'h niatble pillars iillcd
! chcr END ot the ioom ~ ope a dinll niie Wns
nonAFns one p spct 4 s,, gean'}bMh M hSSNy ny{a
! Xxx FmaNmp patirts &etq rNpal chcA pr SIN
! biNF ati tntetho5E b'i8e her lhe 'ttfr
1gttas N ltii'E alltfo eN'1i1gEgsnai GGiggE
| W,Ma' Ve MtM. & 'ttF NW&f WA 81 ,the. 'hble
! s,l8i iNe .WataA2 eN},r sNA9A 'Ng Neh' b' thA'
'NflNf IpwNW dissh iR Glaek .NiM efaVe'
! shNl -iAA ia aI Ihe 9N4 A01F iteAilN- " nN'
Mj'5 %s',, e,n 'and a d,e% 81 rrh tla3k siik Sbe
Mas shogt /, Siaugrs rgih'r Stout tal ,nsalalE
llsmucd and Frafg'al ~ hey Mel H'T o9Y s'V"'
hcside the maiOus chair the costly lla pl lltN al
heT wrists aud throat lust stirred 10y tue lH'lph q,
her swift entrance, the diamond ON her h,lc haHd
Hashng out IFS rays at quiNcung blue llc; she ndd
Gnr strong face still handsome, with ITS smiling,
dark oyes and a, fresh color was on her chc,h Is
framed in heii sllyery cails was surprised AT the
marked rudcuc,s of the patients. No one rose no
one even looked up at her. as she stood regarding
them with that gcntlc, friendly smile bowed;
although her eyes were not turned my way, and as
did 50 became aware that the woman III the i@ru @
shawl had taken her place ut the other cd oi tue
sofa. she was leaning forward. watching me.
Her eyes were of the pacst lghtest blue: almost
wlHc they seemed as their shrinking. evil bllghted
glance searched my face with KIND OF horror,
STRICKEN intensity, and then turned c2Wrrinf toWar9
that figure bv the .natrOu's char. When looked
that way again the lady had gone Miss li"ncc
was in her place. She gave ont ayAn tlat knew
well did not open my book. hut leaned back and
closed my eyes to listen. FAIR though she was. the
woman IN the red shawl Was glitci Wth lndgnill-
cent cOntraltO voice, dominating rather than sup
porting every other voice Deep sweet ilqul Nct
ringing 1t 50 thrilled ana wrought upon my ucrfc',
that | was forced 10 leave the room. l could
Went Eac" thronch the side passage cheerful
glow cduc through ihc hall open dofr oi the
nHirons room. The lady whom ha seen IN the
dining rOon passed me on the threshold: her hcad
was bent her eyes were lNed iiyon tnr HoGi' AZ
plTcnty lost in Thought, she glIled along tlc haI
IT door on the Tignt hand she Pa'i>ti inpn Iir T
hand, pointed 20 the door, and passed through IT,
She had not spoken. scarcely knew whether She
wished ne TO follow. ! waited moment. he
cciVmg no further summons. / went INTO thc ma
trou's loon Shut the door and sat down before the
| made my apologies to Miss Bcnce. when she
came 1t was that contralto voice that affected
me 50 strongly remarked. ,..,.
owncr~ began The matron; Then added
huneliy :" So. don't tell me: plelsc ! ought nGt :,
to nave asked Ny anAietyDth,S; great Fe'poa''ol
WIN do vow not share both with that sweet
faced Old lady | saw Just now = ceItailiy ashGH
that question; bat II seemed 70 me hat the words
,vcr, mt INTO my mouth. and tina! ! was forced 20