The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-12
PART III.

u U i T-I
Twice In The course OF few months IL mas re-
cured to lie, but, apparently, nothing more Is
TO come OF II, so | have kept my own counsel
and given Arthur no more SyDllline warnings
PART II.
Behold me Installed at Hawkesworth after my
honeymoon as supreme mistress OF Tile Ladies'
Bower, the ouly spot on earth in which am re-
solved 10 be - monarch oil all l survey aud
never, never, never, submit 10 Saralfs 1uflsulc-
ton. The ugly old SpTaWly patterned carpet has
been sent TO Limbo, aud replaced by 4 handsome
Persian rug laid IN the center OF the room.
leaving The good oak boards visible all round It's
edges, Sarah calls them Beautiful boards, as
firm as 4 rock. OF course Arthur must have
imagined one OF them WAS loose, II IS all OF
piece with Tie ridiculous cream that you wrote
Gown III his pocket book"
" You don't mean 10 say he toid you tnat u L
cry Indignantly.
q Ne. lie did not, but ] always make point OF
looking over MS accounts Tor him, or lie would
be continually Cheated. l was hunting IN his
pocket for 4 memorandum. II you must know
how happened 10 see IT," snapped Sarah.
- You are very KIND, l am sure. Icannot even
keep accounts as well as Arthur" l reply, feel
ing crushed.
SupeTsIitiOu is at a discount at HaWkeswOrth
the matteT-Of-iact would reign comfortably III all
our minds, were 1t not for that weird nnger-mark,
always pointing downward.
We have returned nome In good time Tor the
chase OF Tie red deer, of which my husband is a
devoted follower. As for me, l find what WhyLe
Melville used 10 call riding at stag hounds has
become less absorbing pursuit than II used TO
he when ii was my only chance OF meeting Arthur
without his sisters, and am content 10 hunt twice
a week, or even once, II L ride 10 the meet with
him in the morning
l thoroughly enjoy a quiet afternoon at my
silk embroidery in The Ladies' Bower, but there
are generally half a dozen Interruptions just at
The most interesting part OF my pdttern-the most
pleasant being from dear, old, tawny, 81.
Bernard dog, Tiger by name. lie belonged 10
Arthur before we were married, but has taken Il
great love for NE. He knows Sarah does not al
low him upstairs, so spends half his time IN try
ing TO circumYent her and pay his ponderOus
IN ma la m nv
Tile Formally never VarieS-hfst lie lnsinuates
paw, and then his person through the doorway,
having, as / very well know, previously pushed
against II with all his weight, as he has dlscov-
cred that the latch gives way 10 pressure. Then
he advances i0yiully, and scrapeS my dress down
with his huge paw, next lays his head on my
knee expecting pal, and says In dog language
"Mauf," which l take 10 mean ''Glad To see
YOU" After Ihis he signs contenledly as If his
mission in life we're accomplished, and lies down
in the furthest corner OF The room with head IN
his paws, placidly watching me.
am not al all sure that Arthur VIII return to-
night, as The meet has been at Il distance, and II
the stag has taken particular line. which we
generally calculate on his doing when reused In
fairfield covers, Arthur VIII sleep al friends
house. instead of riding home amOug those dan
geTous bogs. have ordered o'clock tea in the
bower instead OF the drawlngroom, ana invited
Mllly and Sarah 10 come uD aud drink II with
me for the sake Of q change.
AT about a quarter to . put away my work
and draw round table toward the window TAX
ing heavy desk off II, which l deposit on the
minutes l can give no coherent description.
The ground suddenly gives way beneath my feet
and L fall heavily alter the desk-l know not
where.
My trst impulse Is to look up. Above my head
are the substantial rafers under tie floor of the
bower, and trap-door closed by spring, which
must have started IN stopping 10 place the desk
on the ground.
A dim light fills the room from what is evil
IDENTIFY the bottom OF the Ladies' Bower window.
We have always known that the glass was con-
tinued 10 The level OF the floor, though hidden by
the wlndow-seat but no one ever discovered that
il went q few Inches further. Under this bar OF
dusky light Is seated-a thlng-unspeakably aw-
full, fObed in daik silk and Venetian point rings
and thimble are on its skeleton fingers, piece
OF work, once White, now yellow with age, lies IN
its lap long tresses OF dark, silky hair that have
gone on growing after all other life became ex
tinct, fall softly 10 the very ground
] perceive, as soon as can collect my senses,
that am in the presence OF the disgrace TO the
family"
ION, my poor Innocent" whisper, must /
share your terrible fate? Why did not God de-
liver you !"
My attention is distracted by sounds above
me. i can bear tile tea-iIay being placed on the
table, noises OF combat between Sarah and
Tiger, who scratches at the trap-door, whining
pleously, then the snuiiing aud scratching cease.
i conclude that Sarah has trlumphed and
dragged MIN out OF the room by the scuf of his
neck. have so often caught hold OF the loose
soft folds of bis wel-iurred skin III order TO see
him bravely endeayOr 10 tug me up some very
steep bit OF hill, that little feeling OF indg
nation creeps into my mind and rouses my
Sluuueu faculties. comprehend LlhL as my
best friend has been banshed with contumely,
l must eDdeavor to help myself. Standing under
the trap-door call as loudly as can:
Safah-Sarah Milly l am down here
right below you % but receive no answer. II
seems as if my voice were sIihed among the dust
Of centuries.
picture them waiting Indignantly for tea, and
at last pouring out their own, with slsterly CON-
ments on the rudeness of my absence.
/ daresay Sarah is finding fault with the tea
poi. as 1t Is new-fashi0ned-a wedding present
resolve 10 try The effect of an inarticulate
shout, TO attract their attention, and putting
both hands to my mouth to concentrate the
sound strive TO emulate ArthuPs view" 10
the best OF my small power. have the salts
faction OF hearing both girls rise and fly from
the room. Now understand the fate OF the lost
Bride. Ii was not the Will OF God, but the COW
ardice and stupidity OF man, that left her TO die
by Inches OF hunger aud despair. Her cries fer
help must have terrified the supersiitious house
hold Instead OF bringing succor.
For myself l cherish hopes of escape on
Aflhuls return; he may remember my strange,
three times repeated dream and couple II with
Tigers futile attempt at rescue, for | feel suro
the faithful brute will come back to the trap
door, IN spite OF Sarah.
Most likely Whole night and the greater part
OF the next day must be spent in mis- horrible
place. l pray that through the long hours OF
darkness may be permitted TO retain my rea-
son. Else better L should die, than that Arthur
should be chained TO an lmbecile for the rest Of
bis days.
picture myself dead and forgotten, like the
poor wreck beside me, the Innocent maligned
creature, who seemed TO have met death while
putting, with her falling strength, few last
stitches 10 tue wfely Diece OF DeedewOrk in her
hand. Feeling perhaps the same kind of COM
fort In 1t that Marie Ant0lnette managed to ex
tract from knitting up tie wool OF her raveled
piece Of carpet. think, with almost smile, of
the brave lieutenant who in bis strange wood
land prison combed his wig on his knee. Aiasi
my hair Is my own, and my work Is above, IN the
bower
Perhaps after all the greatest mercy That can
befall me will be death in the night and then
then, why perhaps Arthur Will mar ry Miss
MucklewoIth. All WHAT Sarah Calls my un.
disciplined spirit rises In rebellion AT the thought.
determine not 10 die I'LL have endured 10 the
utlernoSl extremity OF endurance.
On, that could mud sons occupation, but
there is nothing In this terrible place that can
touch.
Ny heart sinks lower as il grows darker and
uatker. AT last speak, to comfort myself with
the sound of my own voice
marry Miss Muckleworth-no, he shall not %
Suddenly i hear mighty sound OF voices
barking, rushing, hammrring. The trap. door
springs backward and Arthur's spurs, all over
mud-splashes from The bog. appear in the OPEN
Ing, swiftly followed by his person.