The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-10-20
WESTMINSTER, ND, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888.

frightened to stay up stairs alone, so crept
down into the hall As it struck ten
o'clock my lady rang the bell, and inquired
if Sir LioneFs carriage had not come fol
Mr.. Dacre.
"'Sir Lionels not a gentleman as would
send horse out on such night heard
old Thomas, the butler, reply sturdily
Why, my lady, have ye ma seen the light
ming? I'd like to see carriage that could
stand in this wind
"'Mr. Dacre, my lady said in that
stately way of hers, Sir Lionel promised
that his carriage should be here by ten
o'clock; he has failed to fulfill his engage.
ment; am afraid you will be obliged to
walk to Stony Place.
Through the open door could see Miss
Dora and Mr.. Dacre look at her in blank
amazement.
"'But, mamma, surely Miss Dora be-
gan, but her mother cut her short with a
gesture.
&c know that young men are not now
what they used to be- my lady said, in a
voice that made me shudder; it seemed to
cut like a sharp knife as you heard it
'And of course there is all the difference
in the world between Northerners and
Southerners; but l should have thought
that, even for Southerner, walk of two
miles would scarcely have been counted a
hardship"
"'Neither of two, nor of twenty, l hope,
Mr.. Dacre replied with laugh But, in
inky darkness, with storm such as this
raging he hesitated.
act is straight path, you cannot miss
it,
"'Do you mean, Lady Barchester, that
you really want me to set out in this
storm 2 he asked Indignantly.
"'Your invitation, Mr.. Dacre, was until
ten o'clock. If it Is the darkness you are
afraid Of my lady added with a sueer,
one of the footmen may accompany you.
'Mr. Dacre's face flushed angrily Thank
you, will not trouble your servant, and,
as am so unwelcome, will intrude upon
you no longer. Good evening, Lady Bar
chester, Goodbye, Dora. Don't let this
trouble you, darling, he added, lowering
his voice. 4 shall see you Tomorrow,
"de Walked to the door, which old
Thomas opened most unwillingly. A vio-
lent gust of wind dashed the men across
the threshold back into the hall, and at that
moment vivid flash of lightning filled the
air with fame, while the crash Of thunder
was so loud that the whole building reeled.
Miss Dora, who had beep standing as one
stunned, spFapg forward with a shrek
"tArthur, you shall not go; you shall
stay here. Mother, you cannot turn him
out. Arthur, darling, say that you will!
not 60
aAnd abe clung to his arm with piteous
entreaty,
"'Be silent, child, my lady said sternly.
Have you no sense of maidenly modesty +?
Mr.. Dacre, must l tell you for the second
time you are intruding?
''He looked at her for moment as if
strongly tempted to tell her what he thought;
then he threw his arms around Miss Dora
iA one passionate embrace, forced open the
hall door, and strobe away,
"'For Heavens sake, be careful at that
bridge, old Thomas cried after him; and
Your father, my old master, wouldn't have
turned dog out on such night as this,
my lady. In Craven, a curse rests on them
as turns away guest
"'Miss Dora peyef closed her eyes that
night, but just lay aud moaped like strick-
en- lamb, 1t was well on to morning when
I fell a sleep myself, and when | awoke she
was standing by my bedside, very white.
but quite calm and determined.
"Annie, please dress quickly she said.
4 am going to Stony Place, and you must
come with me. I will not stay another day
in house where he is not welcome
itBY eight o'clack we were on our way
1t was lovely morning; the storm seemed
to have swept from the earth all that was
not beautiful and sweet, Ny mistress talk,
ed away quite calmly as we walked. She
told me she should stay with her sister and
Sir Lionel until she was married.
est will only be week or two now, she
said with smile and q flint flush, and thai
then she would so to London and | was Il
go too,
"Now, at about half a mile from tn,
Manor, there is little stream which sepa
rates the park from the meadows. | cal
it stream, and so it is in a usual way; il
Summer, even you may ford across it, al
though, after heavy rain, it swells out int
quite an important river You will see it
Sir, as you go to the Manor-iust at tn,
park entrance; there is 20 lodge at this side
In those days there was an old-fashionet
wooden bridge that the gentlefolks set grea
store by, and artists used to come from al
around to sketch. As we drew near
noticed that the river was more swollel
than | had ever seen it before, and ais,
that something was wrong with the bridge
One of the shafts that supported it ha,
been washed away and had dragged dow
with it the little hand rail. l was jus
wondering what We should do, for it is
long way by the road to Stony Place, whel
my mistress suddenly sprang from my side
and with one bound, was at the brink o
the river.
"What followed, Sir, to this day | neve
rightly knew, | heard a shrek
Heavensi l can hear that shrek still;
was more like the cry of wounded anims
than of human creature-and saw Mis-
Dora jump into the river. She fell just il
the middle, where the current was mos
strong, and in a second she was carrie
away by the force of the stream far beyon,
my reach Some men were working in
field near, and heard my cries; but the
wore too late. Miss Dora was dead Ion
before they reached her."
The woman stopped to dry her tears.
"What could have induced her to com
nit so wild deed?" l asked.
"Ah, Sirl she had cause enough for wha
she did, as I saw whenT came back to tn
stream; for there, on the further bank, MI
Dacre was lying, white and ghastly, with
terrible wound in the side of his head. H
must have been on the bridge when it fell
for the doctor said he was not drowned
myself saw that his face was out Of th
water-hut died from hitting his hea,
against a stone. Miss Dora must hay
caught sight of him and tried to spriu,
across the river to his side"
"What became of Lady Barchester?"
The woman shuddered as she replied
'The news that something was wrong mus