The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-09

Il.
The luncheon at Darnel Park that day was
more cheerful than it had been since the catstro-
rhe OF nearly week ago. For the first time
since that awful night the household had been
hidden to hope and hope filed the hearts of all,
high and low. The countenance OF old Purdew,
the butler, beamed with gadness as he poured
out Colonel StukeIy's glass of Manzanilla and
gave his sweeping professional glance around the
luncheon table to see that all things were cor
rece before he retired TO his own substantial
meal in the housekeeper's room. Even Miss Oar
mel was amiable, and poor Grace was radiant,
despite those secret griefs which gnawed at her
breast
IL can bear anything" she said to herself, ''if
my father RECEIVERS"
She was dying for another talk with the Colo
mel She wanted to hear what news the detective
had brought last night, and if any fresh eircum
stances had been brought to light bearing upon
that horrible suspicion about Victor de Camillac.
There had been as yet no opportunity for any
confidential talk with her friend. He had been
in his own room all the morning, and just as
luncheon was over and she was hoping to get a
little walk on the terrace with her godfather,
the butler announced Mr.. Colchester, and at this
announcement Grace flew upstirs to her sanctum,
with as scared an aspect as if the man had said
that smallpox or scarlet fever was in the draw
ingroom.
Dora, always ready to do the honors Of her
brothers house. sailed off to receive the Lord of
the Manor; While the Colonel went to the sta
bies to give an order for the dog-cart. He would
drive himself he told the chief coachman,
taking only Nicolls with him The cart was to
be ready for him at quarter to six. He was
going to Scadleigh station to meet friend, and
would arrive by the seven o'clock train. The
ColOnePs position as Sir Adams oldest friend
gave him wide authority in the stables, and
nobody presumed to question his orders
You'd better take Dandy, sir" said the coach
man. Hes good goer, and he don't mind
trains"
Dora found Mr.. Colchester in very low spirits.
He was cheered by the good news about Sir
Allan, but even that could not remove the cloud
of gloom which hung around him as a garment.
People are so d ill-natured! I beg your
pardon, Miss Darnel, only have really no pa
thence. They have been saying such things
about this business, making mystery of it,
insinuating that it has something to do with
Lady Darnels past history"
Indeed, said Dora eagerly.
She had seen few Of her own particular
friends since the catastrophe, spinsters of her
own standing, elderly young ladies strong in
tennis and piety, and to these she had unfolded
her doubts vaguely, mysteriously alleging no
evil but limiting at good deal. And now the
bread she had scattered upon the waters was
coming back to her tenfold. She was not DELHI
erately malicious, she did not even know in the
depths of her own conscience, that she was act
ing cruelty and unfairly to Lady Darnel. She
ancied herself a model of truth, justice, magma
nmity. She told herself that in all things she
was loyal and devoted to her brother. When
she saw him cheated and imposed upon it was
her duty to defend him, to watch for him, to be
eyes and ears for him whom a wild infatuation
hade made blind and deaf
IA parcel of Tables" exclaimed the young
Squire, unconscious that he was alluding to
Dora's chosen friends the select and superior
elements in county society," the handful of corn
amidst the chaff, Il dropped in at Scoville's
yesterday Major Scoville mighty hunter),
and there were pack of women at tea, AMI they
all set on to gable about Sir Allan's DANGER
he was going to die, they were all cock sure of
that, set of ghouls, and then they began to
they had never liked Lady Darnel They
admitted that she was handsome, or had been
handsome; but they had never been able to
bring themselves to believe in her, though they
had tried to do so, for Sir Allan's sake AS if
Sir Allan could care hang what they believed. !"
HE has cared" said Dora so,emnly "all men
are sensitive on these points. Why in France
half the duels one reads about are fought for
10 stronger reason. / told you the other day
that my brother has suffered acutely from the
consequences of his most unhappy marriage.
Was there anything more said9"
IA great deal. They began to talk about some
mana young man-dressed no better than a
tramp, hut very good looking, and with the air
of broken down gentleman who was seen near
Darnel Park late in the afternoon before the
night on which Sir Allan was shot. 1t seems
that Miss Mowbray and her sister Jane-you
know Jane"
AS we'll as if she were my sister, She is one
of the most truthful girls know"
II shouldn't call her a girl" said Edward
bluntly, anyhow she's quite old enough to know
what she's talking about She and Miss Now
bray had been out to tea. 1t IS their normal
condition, don't you know, to be drinking tea in
somebody's house every afternoons; and they were
going home in the dusk, and they were little
frightened, timd, young futterers; so that when
young man jumped up from the bank where
he had been lying, they were ready to drop.
They expected to be robbed of their watches at
least; but he only asked them the way to Darnel
Park, He spoke like gentleman, and he
looked like gentleman, in spite of his shabby
clothes. He was not dressed any better than a
tramp, they say"
That may have been disguise" said Dora.
suspciousy
PRECISELY The same idea occurred to me-
said Mr. Colchester, also suspicious That can
di1 naf11ra OF his was getting narvartaa hu ianl