Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-18
The House on the Marsh;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
NJ FLoRENcS WARDEN.


denly stifeping again.
" Mr.. Rayner. promised to be in
the drawing-room TO accompany his
violin at quarter to seven"
'Pray don't let me detain you,"
said he, between his teeth. II am
sorry l came at all to disturb you in
your meditations upon your late enjoy
ment. But, as shall leave Geldham
for the Riviera in two days, and shall
not have another opportunity of seeing
you before go, l took the liberty of
coming round this way tonight, to
congratulate you on having become an
accomplished coquettc. Goodnight
and goodbye, Miss Christie. l wish
you another pleasant evening with Mr..
Rayner."
He shook hands with me, trembling
all over with passion, and dashed
away through the plantation before l
could find voice to call him back.
Twas too utterly miserable to cry,
and when little later, 1 returned to
the house and undertook to play the
accomplishments for Mr.. Rayner 1
failed to give the expression to my
music. Mr.. Rayner noticed my de-
preston of spirits and asked me if
found the Alders so dull after my ex-
perience at Dcnham Court. at the same
time putting away the music, saying
we would not try to play any moro
that evening.
Now tell me-" he said, ''all about
Denham Court. have heard some
thing of your doings, Miss Prim, from
another quarter. For one thing.
heard you wore the pendant l gave
you"
Eyes, it looked so beautiful with my
muslin frock. And, do you know,
some of the people thought it was made
of real diamonds
'.Did they really?"
'Yes, and l had to laugh because
people who had worn diamonds all
their lives should have been so de-
ceived. Why, Mr.. Carruthcrs said he
saw a pendant like it in real ones
which was worth fifteen hundred
pounds. Do you think it is true?"
II dare say it is. Stones of that size
would be very valuable. To whom did
it belong?'
"He didn't say. And it had initials
behind it too just like mine"
"How very curious! The same in
itlals?'
"Oh. I don't know! I shouldn't
think they We're the same"
Il thought he said they were the
same?"
"Oh. no! He wanted to see the back
of the pendant; but l wouldn't let
him."
'Why not?'
"Well, you see. Mr. Rayner, II
thought, if he still went on thinking
they were real, as l believe he did, and
he were to find out by the initials who
gave it me, why-why, he would think
you must be mad, Mr.. Rayner, to give
diamonds to a goyerness!' said l.,
laughing. Fifteen hundred pounds!
Why, it would be about thirty-eight
years salary!'
Mr.. Rayner laughed, too.
"That was very sharp of you," he
said. eff he had been as sharp as you
he would have got at it and found out
the initials, if he really wanted to know
them
but I didn't wear my pendant
again"
"Why not?'
because people noticed it too much,
and-and, Mr.. Rayner, it is really too
handsome for me-"
He smiled and said nothing was too
handsome for me. Then told him OF
how the pendant was taken from the
desk and afterward restored to me
with the initials removed. But he did
not seem to think this event of much
Importance. Then he remarked:
81 suppose there were some ladies
there with jewelry that made your eyes
water"
Zone lady had dazzling diamonds
they said"
"And what was the name of the fort
innate lady?"
Mrs. Cunningham
81 suppose she is very careful Of
hers" Mr.. Rayner remarked.
"Oh, yes-you don't know how
careful! She has one set of what they
call cats eyes and large diamonds
which she keeps"
That she keeps where?" said Mr.
Rayner, yawnlng, as if tired.
ooh, that she keeps always con
cealed about her person" said l.
DO you mean it?' he asked, mucl
interested.
.Yes, really. She told me so. Ant
nobody in the house, not even he
maid, knows where they are. SIN
sleeps with them under her pillow"
Mr.. Rayner rose.
"Well, 1 don't think even the re
sponsibility OF diamonds under you
pillow would keep you awake tonight
for you must be tired out"
He was tidgeting about the room, a
if he were anxious to get to bed, too
But he did not look sleepy; his eye
were quite bright and restless. H
gave me my candle.
pheasant dreams of Denham Court
madam, though you don't deserv
them. What business have you to re
peat secrets that have been told you il
confidence?'
"Oh. Mr.. Rayner, as if it mattered-
to your said I, laughing as I left tn
room.
Eyes, it is lucky you told it to me.
he answered, laughing back.
CHAPTER XIX.
Mr.. Rayner was right. was yer.
tired; and the next morning 1 over
slept myself, and did not come down
stairs until breakfast was more thai