The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-12

QUICK"
The county are a set of snobs,'' said
wry face. why couldn't they take such a
splendid woman as Lady Darnel on trustl"
MY dear Mr. Colchester l am thankful to
know that in good society no one is ever taken
on trust" replied Miss Darnel. What would
society be like if people were!"
Perhaps a good deal peasanter than it is
now" retorted the reprobate squire, who troubled
himself much less about the antecedents of an
acquaintance than about the pedigree of a fox
hound.
mo, Mr. Colchester" continued Dora Darnel,
my poor brother has not been happy Of late.
There are mysterious circumstances connected
with his marriage that have not been able to
fathom; but | am not fool, and in spite of all
outward appearances have seen enough to know
that Allan is not happy. This sudden idea of
going off to winterin Italy is so unlike him-such
complete breaking up of the life he loves-that
the notion could only have arisen out of dis
turbed state of mind"
But, my dear Miss Darnel, the physician
ordered" interrupted Colchester.
''Physicians may be inspired to order any
thing They are often only the mouthpieces Of
their patients. If this dreadful event is not the
work of my brothers own hand, in an interval
ofdespair, why then we have to look for a still
darker solution of the mystery, and to ask where
is the murdered"
II say burglar" protested Colchester ''Sir
Allan heard man in the room next his own, got
up, put on his coat, challenged the man.
Burglar saw revolvers on table, snatched up one
and shot Sir Allan-or shot him with revolver
of his own just as likely"
Would a burglar enter room in which there
were two lamps burning-a room evidently &C.
cupied!"
burglars have cheek enough for anything.
No doubt, Lady Darnel keeps her Jewels in her
bedroom, women always DO"
Miss Darnel shrugged her shoulders with the
air OF declining to waste any more time IN argu-
ment with person of Mr.. Colchesters limited
intellect.
Il should very much like to see Grace" he
said, getting very red, and fatering little, ''if
she is not too bad to see anyone"
''She may not be too bad to see YOU" replied
Dora. Il dare say her taste for hunting will
survive the calamity that has fallen upon US"
True" answered Colchester simply. ''She
may like to know where next weeks meets are
to be, even though she can't go out. She is al
ways interested in the hounds. Perhaps she
would like to have couple of puppies at walk
They might be an amusement to her while there
is illness in the house. But trust in God poor
Sir Allan will pull through quicker than you
expect"
Dora rang the bell and sent servant for her
niece. Mr.. Colchester walked up and down the
room meanwhile, sorely troubled, and finding no
word to say to his companion.
The footman came back, to say that Miss
Grace Darnel sent her compliments to Mr.. Col
chester and was much too unhappy to see any
one.
''Thankee,7 said the young squire; and when
the man was gone he added modify, Il didn't
much think she'd see me. She's been uncom
monty rough on me for the last year or So And
before she went to school in Paris we were no
end of chums. Goodbye Miss Darnei; | shall
call again to morrow, and perhaps Lady Darnel
will be we'll enough to see me- have always
been one of her warmest admirers, you know,
and well, it would take a dooced lot OF hard
facts to make me believe that her influence upon
Sir Aliens life has been anything but good in
huence, and that he isn't as happy as bird in
his marriage with her"
And with these words Mr.. Colchester departed,
feeling more easy in his mind after he had thus
expressed himself.
The wears wife and the doctors old maiden
sister called in the of the afternoon. full
of frendliness, and anxious to see Lady Darnel,
were she able to receive a friend. The county
sent cards and inquiries but offered no warmer
form of sympathy. And so the long day of
grief and fear wore on, to be followed by another
sleepess night, and dawn of sorrow. There
was no Improvement in the patient. The utmost
comfort Mr. Dauvers could offer was the assur-
ance that he saw no increase of danger.
Dora and Grace went down to the dining
room to breakfast on this second morning. but
Lady Darnel could not be induced to leave her
room. There she was close to the sick chamber
There she within call at any moment
should her husband recover his Senses and ask
for her. There, too, she was secure from the
horror of strange faces, the agony of having to
go on with the routine of daily life. She was
shut in from the outer world-her own mistress.
Grace had anXleties of her own, as we'll as that
agonizing fear for her fathers life. She wanted
very much to have a few words with her god
father and on Miss Darnel retiring to her
daily interview with the housekeeper the desired
opportunity occurred. Grace and Colonel Stuke-
ly were alone.
Have you seen anything more of him." she
asked, pluneing at once into the heart of her
subject. Have you heard anything|
Not word" replied the Colonel. Il took
long walk yesterday afternoon with the idea that
| might find out something. | called at the inn,
saw the landlord and asked if he had had any
strangers lodging in his house. Not mortal.
Then went the round of the better class of
cottagers, mostly pensioners of yours and Lady
Darnels to whom you have introduced me at
odd times. L didn't put my questions directly,
but let out our idea of burglary at Darnel, and
asked if strangers had been noticed about the
place. l even walked across to Handebury,
Union, with the notion that it was just possible
the poor fellow may have had to take refuge
there"
"Oh, Colonel, how utterly dreadful"
MY dear child, the Union has sheltered bet
ter men than he. However, no such person had
been heard of there. So | take it Mr.. Camillac
must have had few shllings about him in spite
gone on to some other place. The mystery is
that he should have come here at all, unless with
the idea of seeing you"
Il feel convinced that he came here TO see me
and for no other purpose, and that he is lying
dead or dying on some dreary common where
the foxhounds more likely to find him than
anybody else" said Grace impetuously. "Oh,
what double misery Victor dying or dead
my fathers life trembling in the balance. 1t
seems as if the world were coming to an end"
III vain the Colonel argued with his god
daughter, urging that in life the unforeseen is
always likely, and that there was no reason to
grieve for the fate of young man who had per-
haps already fallen on his feet Grace was not
to be c0mfOrted. The romantic fancy which had
induced her to pledge her young life to this
stranger was a folly of the past; but all her
womanly feelings were enlisted by her lover in
the hour of his helplessness and restitution.
ITO think of me, surrounded with all these
luxuries." she exclaimed, looking angrily at the
richly furnished breakfast table, while the man
who was to be my husband has not as good
shelter as the stable dogs"
MY dear child, young mans life is generally
fact of his own making said the Colonel