Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-12-12
-TESSA.
CHAPTER X.

The twilight had deepened rapidly
during the last half hour, and it was
now as nearly dark as it ever would
be on that midsummer night. Tessa
entered the hall, paused a moment by
the dining-room door, and listened till
she distinguished Austen's deep tones
among the voices OF the other men.
Then she entered the drawing-oom.
No one noticed her. Mrs. Calender
had forgotten her grief for time, and
was discoursing on the misdeeds OF the
county member, who had absolutely so
far forgotten himself as to vote against
the Sunday closing bill. No one had
moved during the time Tessa had been
absent from the room, or seemed like
ly to move; and Tessa, after few
minutes, slipped out unobserved.
Now, if ever, was the time, she
thought. Trembling at her own bold
ness, she went back into the garden
and motioned to Antony, who had ven
tured up the laurel-walk and was
standing half hidden behind some
thick bushes, to approach. She led
him through the side-entrance, across
the hall, up the staircase to the door
of his mothers ROOM Oh, how the
boards creaked-how the balustrades
groaned TCssa was in an agony of
fear lest some one should hear the
strange noises and come to ascertain
the cause. With a heart beating fast
with anxiety she stood outside the
door and waited while Antony said his
last farewell.
Perhaps ten minutes passed while
she wal ed, though it seemed more
like an hour to her; then the door
opened, and Antony came out. His
head bent, and Tessa noticed that he
CROPPED his way along the passage like
man suddenly stricken with blind
ness. She noticed too that he held
tightly in his fingers half-opened
rosebud which that morning she had
brought, fresh and dewy from the
garden, and placed between the fin
gers of the dead woman.
Il may keep it?" he said; and Tessa
bent her head silently.
As noiselessly as before they crossed
the hall, passed the drawing and
dining-room doors, and reached the
outer door. Tessa breathed more free
ly as at last they stood outside in the
laurel-walk. She would have flown
back TO the house at once; but Antony
detained her to ask few more ques-
tians about his mothers illness, and
Tessa-impatient as she felt-was too
sorry for him to refuse TO listen.
"You have been very, very good to
me, Miss Cardine!" he said at last.
"How can show my gratitude, l
wonderP If you were really my little
sister"--and his voice grew deeper, his
manner more impressive with each
world should take you in my arms
and bless and thank you for all your
kindness to me and her. As it is
and he lifted Tessa's clasped hands to
his lips and kissed them with a chiv-
alrous tenderness that reminded Tessa
of Cleveland--'I can bat thank you
thus-bid Heaven bless you and make
you very happy in the life that lies be-
fore you.
Tessa gave low sob. Sadly she
drew her hands away from the detain-
ing clasp.
Goodbye" she said gently; and
Antony turned away. He ran down
the path, and, pausing at the gate,
waved his hat in last farewell.
Tessa kissed her hand in return.
"Oh, goodbye. good-bve!" she said.
The tears were standing in her eyes;
but a tender little smile lowered round
her lips as she turned to re-enter the
house-turned and saw Austen stand
ing on the step behind her with such a
terrible look of concentrated anger
and loathing on his face that her
heart God still with terror. She
felt the blood rush to her face, ebb
back to heart Us quickly; but, with a
great effort, she forced a pitiful smile
to her hips.
"Were you looking for me, Aus
temp" she said, putting her fingers
lightly on his arm. II thought you
were in the dining-room with the
othersp"
81 have no doubt you thought l was
safely out OF the way somewhere"
Austen returned with a sneer.
His hand closed over the little fin
gers with a cruel clasp. Silently he
led her across the hall into small
room which was set apart for his
especial use, and shut and locked the
door behind him. At any other time
these solemn proceedings and his stern
manner would have moved Tessa 10
laughter and defiance, but she was too
frightened and nervous now to feel
amused. She was quite ignorant
how much Austen had seen or heard
OF the parting interview with Antony
whether or not he had recognized
his brother-and she determined that
she would wait to be accused before
she defended herself. She folded her
hands patiently and stood quietly by
the table waiting for him to speak
There was a long silence. Tessa
would not. and Austen could not,