Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-05-08
CHATTER XIV.
BETWEEN TIE DARK AND DAWN.


Mr.. Moore had not far to ride ere he met
Mr.. Hugh Brandreth riding towards him.
The first glance assured him that as far as
Basil was concerned he had nothing to tell.
mir. Moore" said the happy father with
face beaming, give me JOY"
You have not seen Basil?' said the
father.
No; but he is coming, and although the
mystery of his absence puzzles me not q lit
tie, care nothing for it. Suffice 1t to zee
that my boy lives"
at Is q curious affair altogether" return
ed Mr.. Moore. "Who can DE at the bottom
of it?'
"The bottom is not TO be found In the man
who died in yon church tower" said Mr..
Brandreth. "He was only the tool. We
must find the principal"
"Well spoken; we must fad the principal.
But how? The police have been working
FOR many weeks and found nothing"
'"rhe police have theories, and work up
70 them first II takes a deal to put them
Gu the right scent"
What is your theory"
al have none, Mr.. Moore"
Nor !, unless it is a woman. You see,
Brandreth, that Basil is only mortal like
ourselves, and we in our youth were not
absolutely free from indiscretOn. lie may
have had lidson."
II don't think So" replied Mr.. Brandreth
"Basil is not a milksop, but, for man, he
he'd very fixed ideas of purity. He argued
thai we are unjust in casting a sinful wo-
man oaIt while We hail sinful man rs
brother"
1T does seem unjust" replied Mr.. Moore;
but there is a per contra view of the mat,
ter. A yirtuous woman holds higher posi-
ton than a good man. Everything con-
nected with woman is extreme"
Just So"
"Well, Brandreth, what do you say to
staying with us until your son arrives"
II was really coming to thrust myself up
on YOU had letter from Basil this morn
Ing, Us you may guess, and in it he tells me
that he should like TO meet Ruth and myself
Mt the same time. / took the hint and came
10 ask you to take me in"
They rode back together, and long and
earnest was the discussion that ensued be-
tween the elders.
Basil distinctly stated in HIS letter that no
steps to unearth the principal offender were
to be taken until his return, and this was
somewhat perplexing.
Il am fairly burning to Get at the root OF
the matter" said Mr.. Brandretl, and Mr..
Moore expressed similar desire.
kendall was on his way back, and was 'ex-
pected about the same time "a Basil, earlier
In the day perhaps, but not before the thir-
teenth of the month. The coincidence Of
the impending arrivals appeared very re-
markable, but on the whole satisfactory.
Only Vida felt the shadow Of the coming
time. To her in any case it could bring
naught but darkness. She must commit an
other crime or bear with the spectacle of the
happy lovers together. And that she could
not'do.
81 should go mad" she said, "and N
frenzy do something to lay the past bare.
GO mad l-horrible thoughtl--and be put in
90 madhouse, and be shut out from thu
lglt and reason ever more. No, death rath-
or"
AT dinner she had 10 listen 10 the ,oyous
talk OF others, and join IN occasionally. But
she did 1t in a half-hearted fashion that
drew Mr.. Brandreth's attention, and two CT
three times she found him looking at her
,curiously.
His eyes were keen, with an analysing
light in their depths that alarmed her, and
she was thankful when Mrs Moore rose and
gave the signal for the ladies to retire.
in the drawing-room she was easier. bfr.
Brsndreth did not look at her earnestly any
more, but was pleasant and chatty
He asked her TO sing, and turned over her
music for her, "ln the absence of a younger
knight" he said, "but by-and-by one may
come TO YOU"
Never" she answered with fierce lighs
in her eyes; II am doomed to a single life
while live"
lie stood just little behind her, and
glanclng down at the fair hesd and neck,
saw that her bosom was throbbing wildly.
His brows bent and he became thoughtful
again.
Did he read her secret then? Thinking II
over afterwards he was not quite sure, but
certainly he seemed to be looking at more
OF the innw woman than ever be had dons
before.