The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-06-18

close as to be able to support her Should her
three o'clock 1 went down to look ut the
bridge, as you know. Then walked down
the river-path towards Kingsleigh, on the
farther side. You know the wood where
North's body was found?"
Lady Gladys bends her head in assent.
sit ends near the village. had inst re-
turned from the post-offlce, at about ten
minutes past four-I remember the time ex-
actly, for the down train had just passed
when, on entering the wood. met Lord
Heriot hurrying out of it. I was surprised
to see him, as he had said at Kingscourt
that he intended going up by the three
o'clock express. l said to him, Did you
hear shot, a few minutes ago, down there !?
l think there must be poachers about He
answered no, he had not heard it, which 1
thought strange. as the shot had sounded
quite near. Then observed that there was
blood upon his hands. -
Lady Gladys utters an exclamation, o
short, sharp cry like one in mortal pain.
81 remarked it to him as he was brushing
past me, saying that he had missed the three
o clock and must not miss the four-twenty.
When l noticed the state of his hands, he
looked at them, and said that he had cut his
finger, and asked me to lend him my hand
kerchief to wrap round it, as he had only
one in his pocket and was going up to town.
pulled mine out of my pocket and gave it
to him. He wrapped it round one of his
hands-I forget which-and hurried away.
1 noticed that he looked very white, and
that his voice sounded strange but l did
not think much about it at the time
supposed the cut had frightened him, for it
appeared to have bled a good deal
thought he had delayed at the MILL and was
afraid l should know it. For that reason I
did not mention having met him"
Lady Gladys has listened like one under
some awful spell. The whole horror of the
circumstances strikes her ut once-yet is this
pain different from the other.
"My mother! she means, turning away
her face.
'You must not tell her."
s'But it must all be told now. These men
will find out everything"
'They can find out nothing from me I'M
less choose to tell them.
''But you must tell them, to save your
self -
81 nm in no danger. Do not fear, Lady
Gladys. They shall never hear it from
me-"
She looks at him q sense of relief comes
over her-of safety, of security. If no one
knows but he, and if he will not tell, then
her brother is safe! But that wretched
brother!
Did he care for her ?" she asks. She
feels as If nothing, worse can happen to her
than has already happened.
81 nm afraid he certainly made love to
her, and thereby reused North's jealousy.
1t must have been in self-defence that he
did it, for he was himself unarmed. What 1
suspect is that North came there, intending
to be rvenged on him, and that Lord Heriot
seized the gun, and then shot him in self
defence"
'.How terrible it is-how terrible!" Lady
Gladys shudders poor Vere poor wretch
ed boy! What will become of us Oh,
Hereward, if you knew of this foolish work
long ago, why did you not warn us? There
might have been q stop put to it before it
had come to this"
81 could not speak. One who knew you
all-who was an older friend than 1 was
thought it better to keep it from the Coun-
tess's knowledge did speak to the girl
that day you saw me walking with her up
the river path, but I think now that my in
reference did more harm than good"
Lady Gladys has covered her face
with her hands. They are silent for
minute or two, he standing near her but not
looking at her. When she takes down her
hands, her eyes are full of tears.
81 must bear it; but it is terrible To think
that our name is furnished forever, the pride
of our house humbled in the dust When
my mother hears this it will kill her"
'.Let it remain secret between us two,"
Hereward says, taking Kuhleborns rein and
moving slowly homewards. 'It need never
go any farther"
'Will you do this 2" she asks, turning her
head towards him. There is look in her
eyes which makes Herewards heart stand
i'll.
Il WILL" he answers. And he is happier
than he has ever been in his life before, wnen
he is placing that life in jeopardy for a
womans sake.
CHAPTER XVI.
- &c y,