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

WE followed the dog-cart at a safe dis
lance, which was not very far Off I'D the
fog. until it stopped at the stable gate.
Then we slipped past quite unseen on the
other side of the road, while MIR. Rayner
was busy opening the gate; and at the front
gate Laurence left me, and l groped my
way down the drive as fast as l could, and
got in some minutes before Mr.. Rayner and
his companion. And, as I could rely upon
the silence of Mrs. Rayner and the COOK, l
said nothing to anybody else about my ex-
cursion.
We were about an hour over dinner, ana,
when Mr.. Rayner had been to the cellar
not the dreadful storeroom cellar-hlmself
to get out q bottle of port, he asked MI
MAYNARD if he was fond Of music.
.sWell, I'm not much Of a dab at it my
self. though I used to tootle a little upon
the cornet when I was q boy" replied the
detective, whose language had grown a lit
tie easier and was less carefully chosen as
he knew us better. "But l don't mind a
tune now and then" -.
"Ah, you are not an enthusiast, see"
said MI. Rayner. "Now l can never DO
happy long without music. Did you ever
try the v~iolina"
"Well, no; that is rather u scratchy sort
Of instrument, to my mind. Give me the
concertina," replied Mr.. Maynard genially.
"Then | won't ask you to listen to my
music said Mr.. Rayner. 81 am only a
fiddler. However, l think l must console
myself for this disgusting weather by "a
a tune tonight; but I'll be merciful and
shut the doors. My wife and Miss Christie
will entertain you, and-let me see, 1t Is
| half-past seven-at nine O'Clock I'll come
and inAict myself upon you again, and we
can have a game at backgammon DO 20"
care for backgammon"
Mr.. MAYNARD having declared that ne
lid, Mr.. Rayner asked me If l could go IN
to the drnwing-room and hunt out La 1Tao-
;ata and Moor's 'Irish Melodies" l went
obediently. and was on my knees turning
over the grsat piles Of music thae s1oou
there, when he came in and softiy snu' su JUG
| door. Before l knew he was near l leiS
something passed round my ueck anu neeiu
the n of a clasp behied. pun uP my
hand and sprang to my feet' star1leu. ~;
Rayner, bright and smiling, are" my manu-
through his arm and led me 10 d ioohins
L. Elashinp and sparkling round my
throat was a necklace OF reu Je"ei' 'n"'
dazzled me by their beauty. 80, ,
UDon't | keep my promlses salo
wOuld DrlH b you ~
please youF" Fan
Rut thew did not at all, after what Laur'
700 had said: the magnificent present
sIIed me with terror. l pat up both HANDS
.ora them off, and flung hen down with
tna,nhl;pp fingers. and then Stood, painting
...;.h fr;gbt Mt nv own daring, wondering
what he would do to me.
He did nothing. After looking at me for
what seemed to me a long Time, WINE
stood trembling, at first proud and mel
oShomed of myself, without the least sign
- d;snleasure he picked up the necklace,
s,;nned II into his pocket, and said iuite
MTbat is very pretty spirit, but is rathel
rnorateful. isn't it, Never mind, you shat
,naie amends for it by and by. Now will
ION 90 and help Mrs. Rayner to entertain
Our lynx-eyed friend! You shali come
Sac,r and fetch me at nine o'clocl. Run
along now, my dear"
He rave me a gentle little tap o. dismis
col and. rather crestfallen, l returned to
.ho ~dininc-room. But neither my enter
tanning powers nor Mrs. Raynors were
called into play, for Mr.. MaynaTt was al
ready rather drowsy, and, after sleepn)
muttering "Bravo-very good as tint
last sounds of Schubert's "Aiieu' dice
away on MI. ftayners Nioiin no
make an effort to listen to a Sc lection iron
Rigoletto, and during some airs rom Mdrth'
which followed heard the REGULAR breath
ing of a sleeping person fom the arm
chair where he was sitting But / wa
having little attention to Inn. The doc
, being shut, 1 had gone closer and closer t
it. as if drawn by an irresistible fascina
ton, as Mr.. Rayner seemed to play tn
> "Adieun as he had never played it before
Every note seemed to vibrate in my owl
heart, and nothing but fear Of his dispieas
. ure if disturbed him before . o'clocl
kept me from returning 70 the drawing
: room, where 1 could have heard eae'
plaintive, passionate note unmufhed by IN
| two doors between. When the last note o
the "Adieu" had died away and Mr.. May
| nard's coarse voice had broken the spell D
] his "Brayo-very goodlnI listened for th