Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-11-01
CHAPTER XXI.
A WOMAN WITH A MISSION.


Sarah Miller was woman with mis-
sion, however, of a personal not of a gen.
eral nature, Her mission as she read it
was 10 insure the worldly happiness of
her beloved mistress, and her faith in the
inspiration which prompted the task was
such as TO make her believe that sh 10
would succeed.
Everything in this wOman's life turned
Oh her devotion to Beatrice. Her mind
was like dark, sunless ruin, in the CEN
ter of which springs one pure white
marble column, and that column was her
10 for her mistress. The wild words she
once used when telling Frank Carruthers
| what she could do for Beatrlce's sake, il
anything, fell short of the truth.
This then was the emissary who went
| forth on behalf of Beatrice, this, the bear
er of the flag of truce between her and
Maurice Hervey. A strange intermediary,
| yet possessing some valuable qualifications
| for the office, inasmuch as she was devot-
| ed to her own side, hated the foe and,
above all, was full of the belief that in
some unknown way she would be guided
so as to enable her to bring the negotiation
| o satiSfactory issue.
She listened with apparent attention to
| Beatrice's many and clear instructions;
| but her thoughts were in reality far away.
| IN this matter she believed she was CALEB
upon TO act more the part of a principal
| than that of an agent. Beatrice, who was
| anxious to know how Her ley was to be
| found, had to rest satisfied with the assar-
ance that Mrs. Miller would experience no
difficulty In tracing him.
Mrs. Miller reached London without any
mishap. Here she went to a friend s, the
one to whose care Beatrice correspon-
dence had been intrusted. After nights
rest had dispelled the fatigue of the jour
ney, she began the first part of her missiC IL
that OF finding Maurice Hervey.
The task was simple one. She in
| quired until she ascertained where the
register of ticket-of-leaye men resident in
London was kept; then, upon applying at
the proper Office and satisfying the author
| tiles that she sought the man for no evil
purpose. the address was given her. She
| took cab and drove straight to il.
Hervey was sitting in his cherries, sOr-
did room. smoking his short pipe and
working out schemes of vengeance and
plumber much as he had worked them out
in his secluded state in Portland prison.
For hours he had been 81 ting and think
ing of the glorious life he would lead as
soon as he could ascertain the whereabou S
of his wife. Then ne would he able to
soar out of this slough OF poverty, and
eat, drink, and be merry. No wonder
then when after the ceremony OF slight
knock, Sarah Miller opened the door and
stood before him, cry of absolute Joy
sprung from his lips. Next to Beatrice
she was the one he most wished to see.
Now that she was here, Beatrice must
also be accessible.
Sarah, with her white, Tia II face, as
usual thrown into strong relief by her
somber garb, stepped toward Hervey and
$ God looking at him with that peculiar
rapt e preston which at times came over
| her features AS soon as he had recover
ed from his surprise at this unhoped-f for
visit Hervey eyed the woman curious
| ly, but for a while there was silence be-
tween them. Still she continued to gaze
and gaze at the man, not in anger, not in
| fear. but as one actuatet by motives OF
curiosity. 1t was kind of gaze which
no one could be expected to endure for
long without signs of impotence.
''What the devil are you looking at me
like that for" asked Hervey. His rough
voice brought Sarah back to herself. She
drew her hand across her brow.
lit Is written there. 1t is written there, =
she muttered.
What is written there, you old fool?'
asked Hervey.
She made no reply, but her thin lip:
moved, and again her eyes glanced at hin
with wild, strange look.
] 'Slt down, +" said Hervey sharply; 'ant