The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-13


a ring fit for lady. Come, let me put it on
your finger"
So great seemed her agitation, so deep her
dread of him, that she could not stir; so thxt
when he approached, laughing, and caught
her round the waist, he slipped the ring on
her finger before she could resist. But it only
remained there moment. With q quick,
sharp cry, she tore herself free, and, taking
the ring off, threw it right away from her
upon the sand. Then, with wild gesture of
fear and loathing, she rushed into the cottage
William Jones walked over and picked up
the ring, while Monk stood scowling darkiy
after the fugitive
s'What the devil ails the girl!' cried the
latter, with fierce oath, pocketing the pres
ent.
II dunno She's never been the same
since-since the painter chap went missing.
I'm afeerd he turned the gals head"
He'll turn no more heads" muttered
Monk under his breath; he added aloud and
with decision, ''There must be an end to this
She must be married to me at once"
''Do you mean it, master? When you
spoke on it fust 7 thought you was joking"
''Then you were fool for your pains.
She's old enough, and bold enough, and viz
enish enough; but III tame her, tell you
there must be no more delay. My minds
made up, and I'll wait no longer''
Sinking their voices they continued to talk
together for some time. Now, Matt was
crouching close to the threshold, and had
heard every word Of the above conversation,
and much that followed it. When Monk
walked away and disappeared, leaving VII
I'M Jones ruminant at the broken gate, she
suddenly reappeared.
Curiously enough all her excitement ha:
departed. Instead Of weeping Or protesting
she looked at William Jones-and laughed.
Monk had left his horse at the coaStguart
station. Remounting he rode rapidly away
through the sandhills in the direction of The
lake. As he approached the spot Of the old
encampment he saw that the caravan had
gone
He rode on thoughtfully till he gained the
highway, when be put his horse into rapid
Tsnc sToS nSs sr 1S1SI 20 Sc sS sne oa
Brinkley, he saw the caravan before MN Oh
the dusty road.
He hesitated for moment, then hurried
rapidly forward, and, arriving close to the
vehicle, saw the IriShnlan's head looking
round at him from the drivers seat. be
beckoned, ard Tim pulled up.
''Has your master returned? I am In
formed that he has been missing for some
days"
Tim shook his head very dolefully.
''No, sor; sorra sight have seen of him for
three days and three nights. I'm going back
wild the baste and the house to tell his friends
the bad news. Maybe it's making fun Of mehe
is, and III find him sc:uewheres on the road"
sI hope you will" said Monk, sympa.
thetically. II think-hum-it is quite pos
sible he has, as you suggest, wandered home
ward. Good day to YOU"
So saying Monk turned off by the cato
which they had just reached, and rode away
up the avenue.
Tim looked after him till he disappeared.
Then the same curious change came over him
which had come over Matt after she had
been listening to the colloquy between Monk
end William Jones.
He laughed.
CHAPTER XV.
A BRIDAL PARTY AND A LITTLE SURPRISE.
A week passed away. The shadow of the
caravan no longer fell on the green meadow
by the lake, and the struggling population OF
Aberglyu, unsuspicious Of foul play, had
already forgotten both the caravan and the
owner.
And if facts were to be taken into coli
sideration in estimating the extent OF her
memory, Matt, too, had forgotten. 1t was
common talk now that she, the grammarleSS
castaway, the neglected protegee OF William
Jones, was to be married to the master Of
the great bouse! Nay, the very day was
fixed; and that very day was only two sun
rises distant, and Monk, Of MonkhurSt, had
in his pocket special license, which he had
procured, at ON expenditure of five pounds,
from London.
Doubtless, in any other more populous 10
cality the affair would have occasicncd no
little scandal and many oninous shaEi!!S::' of
the head; but the inhabitants were few aid
far between, and had little or no time for
idle gossiping. The coast-suartslnen ard
their wives We're the only individuals who
exhibited any interest, and e:en their excite
ment was faint and evancsccnt, like the
movements Of O. fish in a shallow and un-
wholesome pool
But the really extraordinary part Of the
whole affair was the conduct of Matt herself.
Apparently quite cured Of her former Icpuss;;-
nance to union with Monk, she made 10 OIL
| jcc;ion whatever to the performance of tic
ceremony, and laughed mcrrily wien sic was
informed that the day was fixed. M"nG, ii
his grim, tacituIn way, was jubilc:.t. He
cc..e to and fro constantly, and assured the
manners of q lover. Had he been lc;s bent
on one particular object two things might
! have struck him as curious: Q) Thai Mat,
though she had consented 20 rlarl.y him,
Stcadfastly refused to wear lis r.n9 or accept
any other present; and (2) that she still
shrunk with persistent and ill-di:guScd dis
like from lis clrcsses.
It was now late in the month Of August,
md the weather was broken by trOu5lOus
winds and q frctful moon. For several week,
William Joucs, il his mortal terror, had re,
Trained from visiting the cave; he ha1 Ecvci
set his foot therein, indeed, since the night OF
the assassination. At last he coulI bear tbt
suspense no longer.
So late one windy and rainy night Lc stole
forth with his ualit lantern, ard fought hi
way in the teeth of half gale 70 the familiar
place, which he found, however, with SOM
little difficulty. He WAS neither superstition
nor imaginative, but throughout the journe,
he was prey TO naIlelcss tcEIorS. Ever: gus
of wind went through his heart like : knife
every sound OF wind or SCI. made that sam
heart stop and i-tcl. Only supreme gree
and r2:.<erly anxiety led him or. But at las
Ec gained the c2vc. within which there was
sound Is Of ciashing !cGions. Cartons sLricl
ing, drums beating, all the .tc:cl and str(sS
of the awful waters clasling on the cliff
without, and boiling with unusual scream.
through the black slit between tho cave g.:
! tie Devils CalGrcn.
, Trembling, with PcrSpiraticn standing !
great beads OF his face, LIE soarch2d the cay
Tor the CORPSE Of tie murdered nlan, cxDoc
inc to find it well advanced i'll dccomDoS:... o:
{ Strange to say, however, it had disap:,calc;
William Jones was at once relieved a..
alarmed; relieved because re was spared