The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-09-14
CHAPTER x.
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.

THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
On the day following Harold Caring
tons night journey to London with De
tective Clarke, Madgo Trevylian rose
early, as was her custom, to prepare
breakfast. The fire had been already
lighted IN the little parlor by the young
girl who came up from the village for a
few hours each morning to help with
the rougher work.
This girl let herself in with key hid
den outside, generally before any one was
mp, and cleaned the kitchen first.
Madge was always the first to come
down stairs. Olive the last. OF late
Harold Darlington also had often plead
ed indulgence for tardy appearance at
the breakfast table.
This morning, Keturah, the sshelp,"
came to Madge, with perturbation in
her face, saying she had found a pane Of
the kitchen window broken.
i'm sure I never dun it. He warn't
broke yesterday when I was here,
miss, that du know was all the girl
could say tearfully.
sit cannot be helped, any way" said
Madge gently. Accidents viii happen.
DO not worry. viii go and look at it,
while you lay the CLOTH
The pane was splintered in a peculiar
manner. It looked almost as though a
stone had been thrown, and Madge's
eyes involuntarily sought the floor.
Quicker than Keturah, she spied the
missile lying among the broken glass. It
was a round pebble with piece Of pa
per wrapped round it, which she nm
folded curiously.
A moment later Keturah heard fall
and cry. and coming into the kitchen,
found Madge lying on the floor white
and insensible.
Alarmed, she rushed up to Mrs. IRE
vylian, who flung on her dressing gown
and carne down at once, and while she
tried to bring back consciousness to the
stricken girl, and trenblingly chafed
the icy, nerveless hands, a crumpled bit
Of paper fell out Of one of them-the
writing on it was familiar-an as she
read it her face took an expression of ut-
ter bewiiderment.
Helping Keturah to put Madge on the
parlor sofa, she went to Harold CARING
toms room and boldly opened the door.
The chamber was empty; the bed had
not been slept in, though an open port
manteau stood by the wall, and his
clothes hung in the press.
Meanwhile, Olive had come down
stairs Mrs. Trevylian started back with
added alarm, almost terrified at the
sight Of her wretched face and haggard
eyes. A lost soul, wandering in depths
Of darkness, could not have looked more
desperate, and yet there was an air Of
fierce defiance about her not good to see.
Mrs. Trevylian shuddered as she looked
at her. and said sternly;
ssCome with me- have something to
nay to both you and Madge"
She shut the door after them both, and
locked it.
Madge sat up on the sofa, staring with
wide, grief dried eyes into vacancy.
eMother-oh, mother, forgive ner7
She threw herself on her knees by Mrs
Trevylians side. Indeed, I will tell all.
! know have done wrong, but do not
condemn me unheard"
In broken accents, her head bowed on
her mothers knees, as in childhood,
Madge unfolded her STORY, concealing-
extenuating nothing.
s.Olive, do you know anything Of this
wrctched business? Were you, too, in
the plot to hoodwink me?'
II know all" answered Olive, in hard,
dry tones. "You were both infatuated
with Harold Darlington, but I saw
through him from the first. Look al
this She produced the advertisement
from The Penzance Herald from her
purse, and handed to Mrs Trevylian,
who read it, and gave it, with a pitiful
look, to Madge, who sprang to her feet,
the color all returning TO her face.
Il DO not believe it," she cried, scorn-
fully and angrily. what proofs have
you that Harold Darlington is the man
named here2 Though all the world
doubt him, will believe in his faith,
honor and honesty"
Her whole frame QuiYered with ex
citement.
HHushi Madge," said her mother, fore
rag her back into her seat, but not un-
kindly. y wish to put few questions
to your cousin Why did you not tell
me this before, Oliver she asked, sternly.
Simply because knew you would
not believe in it if had no further
proofs to offer. But have. Wait till Q
this evening and you shall know all. In
spector Venner viii be here from Pen
zance; I have made the appointment
with him. she concluded, with bitter
triumph in her tones.
Mrs. Trevylian looked at her niece
with thrill OF curious repulsion, chill.
ing all the kindness Of her heart.
II am at loss to account for this con.
duct on your part, she said In tone Of
stern disapproval "and think you have
forgotten yourself strangely in daring to
net on your own responsibility in my
house. Whatever Harold Darlington is,
was, or may have done, nothing can ex.
cuse deceit or treachery.n