Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-19
CHAPTER XXTV.

BRIAN REGEfVEs A LETTER.
 Notwithstanding the hospitable invitation of Mir. Frettlby, Brian refused to stay at Yabba Yallook that night, but after saying good-by to Madge, mounted his horse and rode slowly in the moonlight He felt very happy as, letting the reins lie on his horses neck, he gave himself up unreservedly to his thoughts. Aura Cura certainly did not sit behind the horseman on this night; and Brian, to his surprise, found himself singing "Kitty of Coleraine," as he rode along in tha silver moonlight. Why should he trouble himself about the crime of another2 Nol He had made resolve, and intended to keep it.; he would put this secret with which he had been intrusted behind his back, and would wander about the world with Madge and-her father. He felt a sudden chill come over him as he murmured the last words to himself-''her father"
 ''rm fool" he said, impatiently, as he gathered up the reins and spurred the horse into canter. "It can make no difference to me as long as Madge remains ignorant; but to sit beside him, to eat with him, to have him always present like skeleton at feast God help mel,
 He urged his horse into gallop, and as he thundered over the turf, with the fresh, cool night wind blowing keenlY against his face, he felt g sense of relief, as though he were leaving some dark specter behind. On he galloped, with the blood throbbing in his young veins, over miles of plain, with the dark blue star studded sky above, and the moon shining down on him. On-on-ever on, until his own homestead appears, and he sees the star like light shining brightly in the distance-a long avenue of tall trees, over whose wavering shadows his horse thundered and then the wide grassy space in front of the house, with the clamorous barking of dogs. A groom reused by the chatter of hoofs up the avenue comes round the side of the house, and Brian leaps off his horse and fling ing the reins to the man, walks into his own room. There he finds lighted lamp, brandy and soda on the table and packet of letters and newspapers He flung his hat on the sofa and opened the window and door, so as to let in the cool breeze; then pouring him self out glass of brandy and soda he turned up the lamp and prepared to read his letters The first he took up was from a lady. s'Al- ways she correspondent for me-" says Isaac Disraeli, provided she does not cross. " Brian's correspondent did not cross, but not withstanding this, after reading half page of small talk a1id scandal he flung the letter on the table with an impatient ejaculation The other letters were principally business ones, but the last one proved to be from Cal ton, and Fitzgerald opened it with sensa- U1On or pteaSuTe- S4lUOn was CaplGal loCGer writer, aud his epistles had done much to cheer Fitzgerald in the dismal period which succeeded his acquittal of Whyte's murder, and when he was in danger of getting into a morbid state of mind. Brian, therefore, poured himself out some more brandy and soda, and, lying back in his chair, prepared to enjoy himself.
 "My dear Fitzgerald" wrote Dalton, in his peculiarly clear. handwriting, which was such an exception to the usual grabbed hiero- glyphics of his brethren of the bar, 'while you are enjoying the cool breezes and delight full freshness of the country, here am I, with numerous other. poor devils, cooped up fn l this hot and dusty city. How wish were I with you in the land of Goshen, by the roll | ing waters of the Murray, where everything is bright, and green, and unsophisticated- l the two latter terms are almost identical-in- stead of which my view is bounded by bricks and mortar, and the muddy waters of the Yarra have to do duty for your noble river. I suppose you still hold the secret which Ro- 1 sanna Moore intrusted you with-ahi you l see know her name, and whya-simply be. l cause, with the natural curiosity of the hu- man race, have been trying to find out who murdered Oliver Whyte, and as The Argus very cleverly pointed out Rosanna Moore as likely to De at the bottom of the whole affair ! have been learning her past history. The secret of Whyte's death, and the reason for