The Dickinson press., 1889-08-24

strong tea for Lucy
That evening, when Lucy was sitting
with Mrs. and Miss Norton and Paul in
tho parlor, there was ring at the hall
door, and on its being opened Il strangers s
voice was audible in colloquy with the
maid servant-a mans voice, not loud
rather low, in fact, but with peculiar
keen, resonant quality in its tone. Lucy
looked up with violent start Mrs.
Norton listened for few moments; then,
her curiosity waxing strong, went to tho
door and called:
"What is it, Sarah?"
IA gentleman from London wants to
speak to the master, ma'aln I've shown
him into the dining room."
Mrs. Norton went out. Paul looked mt
Lucy
"low you arc trcmblins!" he said in a
low, anxious voice, "Are you feeling
worse?
"lm nervous - uns,rung," she an
swercd 'the least thing startlcs me-"
"You arc ill, am sure" he urged
and suggested his usual panacca: Wont
you so up stairs and lie down."
81 think will" she murnured.
Let mo help you" hc said eagerly;
lean on my arm-you can scarcely
walk!" Jane Norton discreetly refrained
from pressing her services, and left Paul
to lend Lucy his strong arm up tho
stairs-a support which was perhaps not
so necessary as he seemed to think.
Lucy did not speak until she reached her
own door. then she said in a low hollow
voice:
"rhank you; you aro very good to mo
always! don't think Ill come down.
stairs again tonight.
"No-don't!" lie said tendcrly; I'VE
shall all miss you-but lio down and try
to Sleep"
When Paul returned downstairs. his
brother carrying lighted lantern, was
taking tho strange visitor out by tho
back door.
"Thcy've gone to SEQ the body" said
Mrs. Norton. with tho grave and awe
stricken expression which seemed un-
natural on her fair, fresh, conlely face
"Who is it," asked Paul
Ills names Dashwood and. Paul"
lowering her voice, "hr's a police officer
i'll plain clothes down from Scotland
Yard
From Scotland Yard? Why. surely
there's no time for them to have got a
fellow down from there already, even il
they'd tclcgraphed on the instant!
NO. it seems he hasn't come ABOUT
this business lie didn't know of tho
death AS far az ran make out. he'd
come on s"meerrana about this very Mr.
Bcrrsforl who, it appears. isn't Mr.
Bcrcsford at all! Oh. dcarl oh, dear! it
makes my head wl.irl to think of iii and
ilr asked all about our household, aud,
Paul, he seems curious about Lucy.
asked what our govcrncss' name was.
and how long she had been with us and
seemed as ii he'd like to SEQ her Oh,
Paul, | feel as If VIC were all getting
tangled up in some dreadful mystery"
Some dreadful mares nest," ho re-
joined abruptly, but wincing. "lt's these
detectives business to find marc's nests, u
he added unjustly. "Of course, they
make inquiries about all the members Of
household when any tragic affair like
this las happened. But Lucy is too i'll
to be troubled with any talk or inquiries
tonight; it would DO simply cruel to dis
turb her The poor girl wants rest and
sleep Fanny. you good soull you'll let
her have it,
y am sure Id be the last to worry her
and of course, no doubt, it is police
officers duty to ask all sorts of questions
but this is a dreadful Christmas ove
Paul. | never remember such one,
and Mrs Norton began to weep.
She went up to see the invalid present
ly, and, returning, assured Paul that she
hadn't been worrying her at all, only
bathing her head with eau dc Cologne
and talkin. to her Il little and telling hel
to 20 to bed
Excited and disturbed, they kept un-
usually late hours at EIazclmead that
night Paul was the last to 20 to his
ro'n He had not naturally a light STEP
end he conscientiolsly tried to tread
lightly as he passed by the room wherein
b" i'n9;:ined Lucy was sleeping But his
ElN;.tahing tiptocins was wasted care,
fo' as III. reached her door it opened soft.
ly as if she had been watching for him
She stood on the threshold, still in her
I"a2 grey dress, her golden hair disor-
Gr.~l, her eyes, large, dark and dilated,
had Il kind of Wild fixed intensity in
their gaze
i hoped you were asleep" ho said
softly. looking at her with tender sur
pri. and anxiety.
u soon shall be- But l thought /
wo;;l1 say good night to you, Paulv'
My ,'arlns!" ho whispered, and fond
Iy. reverently kissed her Lucy, love,
go to sleep; don't fret yourself about any
ing; if there is anything to trouble you,
yell talk it over tomorrow. Ill not
Keep you now."
Good night" she said softly. "You
have all been very kind to me hcrc-all!
You shall know what troubles mo to-
morrow
Good night, my darling. Sleep well, "
he said.
a pale, strange smile lighted up her
face
Yes, she replied" shall sleep well.'
The silence of night rested like pail
upon Hazelmcad, only broken by the
ghastly and sinister sound of the bowling
of the dogs. Most of the Nortons, weary
with the excitement of the day, slept
soundly through it; but Paul, wakeful,
felt that cvil-ominous wailing jar on his
every ncrve-would fain have stopped
his ears to shut out the baleful sound.
He was restless, but towards daybreak
fell into deep slumber, from which he
was aroused by a sudden inexpressible
consciousness Of some mdcfined horror
and dread, which resolved itself into a
sound Of suppressed hysterical sobbins
somcwhere-a mufflcd murmur of horri.
fed voices. Paul sprang up and threw
OH his clothes i'll haste. What now ca
lamity had happened? Surely that sob
bing was i'll his ssister-in-law's voice. Yes,
and he caught tho words, "Keep the
children i'll their room," and Send for
the doctor" and ~ what was that his
brother said?-"The doctor can be Of no
use hercr Here-whore? Pa,Il rushed