Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-21
Continued from gesterdag.J
ENGAGED In HASTE.
81 MISS n. z. BRADDoN.


little, IF she is not too bad to see any one"
"She may not be too bad to see you" re-
piled Dora. Il dare say her tase for hunt
ing will survive the calamity that has
fallen upon u.s.
True" answered Colchester simply
@She may like to know where next weeks
meets are to be even though she can't 20
out But | trust in God poor Sir
Allan will pull through quicker than you
expect"
Dora rang the bell and sent a 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.. Colchester, and was much too unhappy
TO see any one.
"Thank'ee said the young squire; and
when the man was gone he added, mood
lily, Il didn't think she'd see me. She's
been uncommonly rough on me for the
last year or 80. And before she went to
school in Paris we were no end Of chums.
Goodbye, Miss Darnel, shall call again
tomorrow, and perhaps Lady Darnel viii
be well enough to see me. I have al
ways been one Of her warmest admirers,
you know, and well, it would take a
dooced lot of hard facts to make be believe
that her influence upon Sir Allan's life has
been anything but good influence. and
that he isn't as happy as bird in his mar
rtage with her"
And with these words, Mr.. Colchester
departed, feeling more easy in mind after
ne had thus expressed himself.
The wears wife and the doctors old
maiden sister called in the course OF the
afternoon full of frindliness, and anxious
TO see Lady Darnell were she able to re-
ceive 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 sleep
last night, and dawn of sorrow. There
was no improvement in the patient. The
utmost comfort Mr.. Danvers could offer
was the assurance that he saw no increase
OF danger.
Dora and Grace went down to the din
ingroom to breakfast on this second
morning; but Lady Darnel could not be
induced to leave her room.
Grace had anxieties of her own, as well
as that agonizing fear for her fathers life.
She wanted very much to have n few
Darnel retiring to her daily interview with
the housekeeper the desired opportunity
occurred. Grace and Colonel Stukely
were alone
Have you seen anything more of him"
she asked, plunging at once into the heart
of her subject. Have you heard any
thing?"
"Not word' replied the colonel II
took long walk yesterday afternoon with
the idea that might find out something.
called at the inn, saw the landlord, and
asked IL he had any strangers lodging in
his house, Not a mortal. Then | went
the round of the better class of cottagers,
mostly pensioners of yours and Lady
DarnePs to which you have introduced
me at odd times. | didn't put my
questions directly, but let out our idea Of
burglary at Darnel, and asked if any
strangers had been noticed about the
place. | even walked across to Handle
bury Union, with the notion that it was
just possible the poor fellow may have
had to take refuge there"
80, colonel, how utterly dreadful
"My dear child, the Union has sheltered
better men than he. However no such
person had been heard of there. So l take
it, Mr. Camllac must have had few
shillings about him in spite of his wretched
appearance, and that he has gone on to
some other place. The mystery is that he
should have come here at all, unless with
the idea of seeing you"
81 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 fox hounds are more
likely to find him than anybody else,"
a i'm nptn hat
misery. Victor dying or dead-my
fathers life trembling in the balance. 1t
seems as if the world were coming to an
end"
In 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 a young
man who had perhaps already fallen on
his feet. Grace was not to be comforted.
ITO think of me, surrounded by all these
Injuries" she exclaimed looking angry at
the richly furnished breakfast table. while
the man who was to be my husband has
not as good a shelter as the stable dogs
IL | were not so anxious about my father,
would take couple of dogs and ride
over every bit of waste ground within ten
miles til found that poor fellow"
"If that is your idea Grace, can carry
it out for you, dogs and ALL" said the
colonel kindly.
"Oh, my dear godfather, how kind you
arer cried the girl, repenting all her rude
ness. Forgive me for my ingratitude just
now. | hardly know what | say am
so very miserable-about Victor-about
my father and Lady Darnel most of all"
Poor Lady Darnel; yes, for your
fathers accident is a terrible blow for
her"
ping her voice, and drawing little
nearer to the colonel. "But it is all so
strange-so full of mystery"
And then she told Colonel Stukely how
she had been awakened by cry of agony
from Lady Darnel, and of those strange
words spoken in dream. "My fault, my
fault murdered himl'
"Was not that stranger asked Grace
with a troubled look.
"Only strange dreams are strange Would
you accuse Lady Darnel of having shot
her husband upon such evidence? She
fell asleep with her mind full of death and
murder. and dreamed that she herself had
fired the fatal shot, or had been individ-
ually concerned in the deed. Dreams for
the most part are sheer lunacy. God
knows what hideous visions her troubled
brain may have woven"
ayes, that is just what thought at the
time. But the words have haunted me
ever since. You know how fond am Of
Lady Darnel Ibelieve love her almost
as well as could have loved my own
dear mother. had God spared her to me.
And vet fhpra times yhau faa Nov