Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-12
roubIed. ana nnalns no woru 10 say TO MS

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 SO And before she went 10
school in Paris We were no end of chums.
q pod bye, Miss Darncl. shall call again
to morrow, and perhaps Lady Darnel wiz
he well enough to see me. | have al
ways been one of her waTmeSt admirers.
you know, and l-well. il wOuld take a
dooCed lot of hard facts to make he believe
that her influence upon Sir Alians life has
been anything but IA good influence, and
that he isn't as happy aS a bird in his mar
Iiage with her"
And with these words. Mr.. Colchester
departed, feeling more easy in mind alter
he 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 Darneil were she able to re
Ceve friend The county sent cards and
inquiries, blt offered no warmer form of
sympathy. And SO the long day
of grief and fear wore on, to
he followed by another sleep
last night, xnd 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
ing-rOom to breakfast on this second
morning; but Lady Darnel could not I've
induced to leave her room.
Grace had anxieties of her own, rs well
as thai agonizing fear for her father : life.
She wanted very much to have few
words with her godfather; and on Miss
Darnel retiring 10 her daily interview with
the houSckeeper the desired opportunity
occurred Grace and Colonel Stukely
were alone.
Have you seen anything more OF hlms
she asked. plunging at once into the heart
of her subject. Have you heard any
thing
Not a word replied the colonel 81
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 any strangers lodging III
his house. Not mortal. Then went
the round of the better class of cottagers
mostly pensioners of yours and Lady
Darnels TO which you have introduced
me at odd times. | didn't put my
questions directly, but let out our idea OF
a 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 1t wa
just possible the poor fellow may nave
had to take refuge there"
40, colonel, how utterly dreadful
MY dear child, the Union has sheltered
better men than he. However no sucf
person had been heard Of there. So | taxi
il, Mr.. Camillac must have had few
shillings about him in spite of his wretcheC
appearance and that he has gone on Il
some other place. The mystery Is that ht
should have come here at all, unless witt
the idea of seeing you"
Il feel convinced that he came here t.
see me, and for no other purpose, and tha
he is living dead or dying on some drearl
common. where the fox hounds are NOR
likely To find him than anybody else,
said Grace impetuOusly. 20. what double
misery Victor dying or dead-m!
fathers life trembling in the balance.
seems as if the world were coming TO al
end"
In vain the colonel argued with his god
daughter. urging that in life the unforeseen
is ALWAYS likely: and that there was N
reason To grieve for the fate of younI
man who had perhaps already fallen oI
his feet. Grace was not TO be comforteG
ITO think of me. surrounded by all thes
luxuries,- she exclaimed looking angry Il
the richly furnished breakfast table, whil
the man who was to be my husband ha
not as good a shelter as the stable dogs
II were not so anxious about my father
| would take couple of dogs and rid
over every bit of waste ground within tel
miles til found that poor fellow
IF that is your idea, Grace, can carr
| 10 out for you, dogs and ALL said tn
colonel kindly.
~Oh. my dear godfather, how kind yoI
are cried the girl, repenting all her rude
ness. Forgive me for my ingratitude jus
now. | hardly know what | say. | an
so very miserable-abOut EictOr-abou
my father and Lady Darnel most Of all"
Poor Lady Darnel; yes, for you
fathers accident is a terrible blow 70
| her"
1T is not that only" said Grace, DROP
/ ping her voice, and drawing Gttl
/ nearer to the colonel. But it is all 5
strange-so full of mystery"
| And then she told Colonel Stukely HOY
/ she had been awakened by a cry of agon
| from Lady Darnel. and of those strang
| words spoken in a dream. My fault, m
/ fault murdered him"
"Was not that stranger" asked Grac
with troubled look.
"Only strange dreams are strange. Woul
YOU accuse Lady Darnel of having she
her husband upon such evidence: Sh
fell asleep with her mind full of death an
murder. and dreamed that she herself ha
fired the fatal shot, or had been indiviC
ually concerned in the deed. Dreams fO
the most part are sheer lunaCy. Go
knows what hideous visions her trouble
brain may have woven"
Yes, that is just what thought at tn
time. But the words have haunted II
ever since. You know how fond am {
Lady Darnel Ib'lieve l love her almOs
as well as could have loved my ow
dear mother, had God spared her to M
And vet there are times when feel wO
ried and perplesed about the mystery {
her past life. Aunt Dora says such crut
things"
MY dear, it is in your aunt's nature
say cruel things, just as it is in the natur
of wasps and hornets TO sting. don
wish to he rude about your family, but
fancy that old Sir George Darners secon
wife must have introduced particular
venomOus strain into the fine old stocl
1t is a good thing for the race that Mi
Darnel has remained a spinster.'
Yes, Aunt Dora has peculiar talel
for being disagreeable, and she has exc
cised it unsparingly with regard to Lad
Darnel Ialways take my stepmother
part; and yet in these last dreadful da.
Aunt Dora's insinuations about the my
terry of her past life have made me miser
BILE. IfIwere once to believe that she is
hypocrite. that her devotion to my faith
IL I,iocn of lctinc--N