Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-02-20
CHAPTER XIV.

Rack wounding calumny
The whitest virtues strikes what king so
strong
Can tic the gall up in the slanderers tongue?"
At Ventry the utmost CONSERVATION holds
full sway. During all the past evening
questions had been rife, first as 10 the
strange non-appearance of Norah, and
later on about the continued absence of
Delaney, and presently as the evening
wore on, everyone-as if bracketting them
began TO wonder, in rather aside sort
of way as to where they could be.
Until dinner was over. however, no very
great alarm was felt, even By Madam. The
night was so inclement that probably Norah
had been kept at the rectory, and Denis,
who had gons shooting in that direction,
would, in all probability, have been COM
PEELED by the hospitable O'Shaug hnessys to
stay AMI dine with them. At least so
argued Madam up 10 nearly eleven o'clock,
with the intent to allay the nervous fear
that already was beginning TO find a home
within her breast.
But when midnight came and neither
Norah nor Denis had returned, her assumed
calm broke down, and she gave way openly
to TO TIE terror that was consuming her.
Messengers were at once sent out, TO the
rectory first, and then on to the O'Shaugh-
nessy's, aud as the two houses were many
miles apart, much time was lost in this
vain quest. When the men returned, with
Colonel O'Shaughnessy who was always
eager for tho fray, and the kindest soul
alive-a regular emergency man." if
ever there was one--to say nothing was
known of either Moran or Delaney at either
of the houses, Madam fear grew TO agony,
and the whole male portion OF the house,
hold fnrnal mt with lon arn md
overcoati to search high and low. Colonel
O'Shaughnessy undertook the command;
but the night, rs we know was terrible,
and, unfortunately, Madam was under tbs
impress on that Norah had gone in direc-
ton Numerically opposite TO that she had
really chosen. AS for Denis, who shall say
where a sportsman's feet will take him?
The servants, too, and the outdoor con-
tingent were only half hearted in their
search for the sing pair. Nothing so
sharp as an lrishman, If you can get him
to put his heart into n thing; but the Irish
reasantry, Us a rule, have "a fatal knack OF
forming conclusions for the nse .ves-on
every topic under the sun that is at al
known TO then--and worse still, acting on
them; and, as the specimens employed on
this occasion had come TO an unanimous
decision that 'Misther Dinis an Miss
Moran were lar Too cute 10 lose tlefTl-
selves in any storm, the search. though
seemingly vigorous and indeed very kindly,
if protestngly, conducted, was in reality
but poorly carried out, and las we also
know resulted in nothing.
The gray morning brought to Madam no
tidings of either niece or son. All night
she had spent pacing up and down her
room, and from her room down the broad
staircase, and through the spacious hall TO
the entrance Door, where, having ordered
it TO be flung wide open, she would stand
awhile, silent, motionless, listening as one
might for cry from afar for help. But
none came, and nothing was left her but
the slow, hopeless journey back to her
desolate chamber. With the first flush Of
the dawn despair seized upon her.
1t is now seven o'clock, and the dull
daylight is putting the lamps to shame
One by one the footman extinguishes them
in the library, where Madam, with Lady
Glandore, Miss Blake, aud some Of the ota-
ers, is walking up and down, waiting,
waiting always, as she has waited since ten
o'clock last night. She is still in her din
ner dress of black velvet, and her face is
ghastly pale; from one side OF the room to
the other she walks necessarily, not talking,
bat always with that terrible look Of ex-
BcSOdhtJ uIOi hoi idcc. w udL IL Sno
expects
To her, as to Norah, the face Of the man
Moloney has stood out clearly, with a hor-
rible persistency, all through the changes
Of the past miserable night.
Lady Glandore, who has risen out OF her
languor and her rather hot-house style to
quite an extraordinary degree has ordered
coffee, and now tries 10 induce her to par
take of it. But Madam repulses her with
a harshness hitherto unknown to that sweet
and kindly nature.
"No, no." she says hoarsely, almost
pushing Lady Gandore away from her.
"But, dearest Madam, consider" says
that spoiled beauty, taking her rebuff with
The utmost mildnsss. TINS may be, nfter
all, only dreadful mistaken affair all
through, and when presently they come
back, we"
"Theyr
Madam looks at her strangely, question:
ingly, as IL not understanding, and then ali
at once n slow red burns like fire upon her
cheeks She is expecting them, of course,
but something In the way Lady Glandore
has spoken has widened her vision, and
shown her solution OF tho problem hither-
20 unthought OF.
"He--Denis, stamrers Lady Glandore.
coloring In turn and altering her mistake
little 10 late.