Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-09-19

either OF them again, but this u . work
OF necessity"
"One word before we leave. found
the two youngest children. Jennie and
Robert. hid In the parlors. half dead with
fright. Their nurss II not 10 b found.
Hearing the noiss, I presume, they had
crept down from the nursery and prob
ably fearing to return have been con.
cealed thsrs all night. Jennie, you know,
u . sweet, thoughtful child-very unlike
her sisters. Robbie, DR.. Shelby says,
has never been very bright or robust"
"Isuppose. said 0renville. with much
confusion. ''you will hardly bs willing 10
give me . share In providing for Jour
protegesy
How unlike this hesitation 10 Jasper's
natural impuldve gensrosityi What
could Il mean unless the knowledge on
his part that his interest and labor might
soon be % separated from his northern
friends that he would b unable to shsrs
their generous csresi
Tie shadows OF vexatton and sorrow--
almost tdoubt-again crossed Roses brow.
Al Eustace's dark eye sought her lovers
for moment Il had In its calm dignity o
meaning she could not fathom, and her
heart beat wildly when shs saw Jssper's
quail before II. What fear restrained
her natural impetuosity from demanding
Q solution at oncei
In reply to Jssper's question Eustace
simply shook his head, but her father
partly treasured her by the calm and sp-
parently unsuspicious manner In which
he answered:
I'VE will settle all details when We
return. Now we must attend to the
more pressing wants"
In the course Of the ride Mrs. Newton
asked Eustace how Maud appeared when
taken to her parents and compelled TO
witness all the horrors Of that scene.
"Oh, my dear madam! Your ques-
tion reminds me that I have not given
the miserable girl Q thought since en-.
tered that roomi The sight that met
my eyes at first bewildered me. and
when I could rouse above II my whole
attention was 30 engrossed by immediate
necessities that-well. excuses are use
less. II was cruel negligence"
"NO. Eustace. you blame yourself
needlessly. II was most natural over
sight. She was requiring no attention,
and unless In sight and taking some part
I do not wonder you did not think Of
her."
"She was not In the room, am sure,
for I hare no recollection Ct seeing or
hearing her again after one glimpse OF
that terrible scene. Inow remember the
remark she made about keeping her own
counsels as closely rs her sister had done,
to which I then attached little impor-
tance, but which now fear may have
been painfully significant"
When they reached the house, they
were met by DR.. Shelby and Mr.. Austin
and informed that they were ready for
an inquest, waiting only for Dunbar's
evidence, and then would be ready to re
move the body to another apartment to
be prepared for the grave.
After q long and earnest consultation
with reference 70 Mrs. lie Barron the
doctor suggested that the wisest plan
would be to semove her to some quiet
retreat or asylum aS soon rs possible.
Inquiries were then made for Maud.
Neither the doctor nor Austin had seen
her. and such had been the excitement
and confusion her absence was unno-
ticed.
On asking for the young lady one OF
the servants said she thought she had
not returned.
"Returnedy' said Mr.. Newton.
"Yes, sir. ! guess she was sort OF
frightened as soon rs she saw her father.
and she noticed him before Mr.. Dunbar
did. Miss Maud never thought much Of
her mother. nor Of her father. either. for
that matter, only she could always have
her way with him, poor man! And with.
out speaking she slipped right out Of the
room and out Of the house too"
"Do you know where she wenty'
mo, mum, not sure; but Thomas
here thinks he drove her out to old Var.
ney's."
Thinks he didi Why, Thomas, don't
you know whom you took therey'
"Why, sir, my young lady came to
me from masters room all whitelike and
called me out Of doors, then tod me to
put one Of the horses into tho gig that
the servants use and drive her maid oul
to Elmwood, old varney's place, to do
an errand. Before could come round
with the gig woman met me at the back
gate all nufiied up and acting as though
she was afraid Of being seen. She spoke
low and strange and said her mistress
wanted me to take her on an errand.
but, your honor, Miss Maud's maid don't
wear diamonds and Is uncommon will.
ing to talk with an honest lad and to
show her face too"
"Well. Thomas, your young mistress
has sorrow and trouble enough and may
well feel the need Of advice."
eyes, your honor, but young ladies
amt generally willing to seek advice
from an old lover to whom they have
often said nay" replied the cook.
Wishing to stop further revelations Of
the family secrets, Mr.. Newton inquired:
"Whers In Miss 10 Barron's maidy'
"Afiss Maud's. do you mean, siri Oh,
she put Of some time ago, and for GER
tain much more went out with her than
she ever brought here"
"Wsll, we win seek Miss Maud In her
own apartment" And rs they turned
from the gossip loving servants they
heard the cook remark:
"well. well. they'll have breezy time
Of Il. Glad II isn't me-"
II was very evident that the servants
who had remained with Mrs. Lc Barron
through the night had not learned OF Es-
tella's marriage, pillage and flight.
Mr.. and Mrs. Newton ascended to
Maud's apartments. AL was silent. but
after few moments pause they knocked
st the door. She was there and bade
them enter. but whom her fathers best