The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-22
A MYSTERY.

''What's the matter, Phylliss"
Phyllis rosy lips pouted good deal as
she said "Roger has just come to tell
me that Trip is lame and can't move out
of the stable, and it's so far to walk to
the Gables and back"
HIts six miles Perhaps you'd better
put eff going to the Gables, Phyllis"
Phyllis face fell.
"But promised Rose And she has in
vited the Eldred girls, and they have two
visitors from London, and-and"-
"Charlie Dorth, Phyllis2"
"Well, yes, auntie," admitted Phyllis,
coloring deeply. She added that she be-
lieved Mr.. Dorth was coming over from
Hazeldean to the Bartletts' that particular
afternoon.
Phyllis Hartford was not exactly an Or
phan, but at least neither she nor any one
else knew anything about her parents.
All that was known is soon told.
One day, Is years ago or whereabouts,
a traveller arrived at the Rose and Crown
inn at Hazeldean with pretty little girl
in his keeping, but almost entirely free
from luggage of any description. The Wis
itor was noticed from the first to act
strangely but as he paid for three days
entertainment in advance his eccentrici-
ties were tolerated. Dawkins, the land
lord of the Rose and Crown, had told the
whole story thousand times if he had
told it once.
The next day, after securely locking the
little girl-who, by the way, called him
"papa'-in the chamber, he went out,
saying he was going to purchase her some
picture books. But just outside of the
Rose and Crown and in full view of the
landlady he was set upon by three men,
who had that moment arrived in the vii
lage, bound firmly and led away.
During this process one of the three re-
marked to Mrs. Dawkins-Dawkins had
just stepped out for awhile
"It's a wonder, mum, you amt all been
a-murdered in your bedsl It's precious
lunatic what is just escaped from the asy-
lum."
This startling information drove all
thoughts of the little girl up stairs COM
pleteIy out of the worthy landlady's head.
But when her better half returned he
instantly saddled the mare and rode pell-
nell all the way to Hazeldean station
with the child in his arms He reached
there just in time to see the train moving
out.
"Hip' Dawkins cried. "Take the gen.
tleman's daughter with you'll Here's the
gentleman's daughter"
"Keep her safe" responded one of the
three. ~ will return for her."
But he never kept his word. Days pass
ed into months, and months ripened into
years, but nobody ever came to reclaim
Phyllis Hartford or to explain the mystery
the biggest mystery the Rose and Crown
could boast.
The vicar took the case up. It was
placed in the hands of the police, and
Phyllis case was advertised far and wide,
but with no satisfactory result. At length
Phyllis was adopted by an amiable gentle
woman who lived at some distance from
Hazeldean and whom she grew up to call
aunt. Certainly she never could have loved
a real aunt any more than she loved Miss
Rachel DeptfoTd.
"Auntie," said Phyllis suddenly, 81
think shall walk to the Gables, after all.
May IS'
"You will tire yourself, my child"
ooh, no. l shall not walk back-at
least, not alone. Mrs. Bartlett is sure to
give me the loan of trap"
every well, dear. But 1 shall expect
you home very early. If you are not back
at dark, / shall make Roger walk all the
way to the Gables after you"
In 90 minutes more Phyllis, bending
forward her dainty figure to the breeze,
was speeding through the wood on her
way to the Bartletts'.
Phyllis enjoyed herself immensely that
day. The party even tried their hand at
skating on the mere and Mr.. Dorth was
the kindest and most indulgent of part
ners. She did not like the look of one of
the Bartletts' guests, nor could she under
stand why he started so violently when he
heard her name mentioned by Rose Bart
lett, nor why ne eyed her so keenly and so
persistently the whole afternoon. The
time came to explain the accident which
had befallen Trip aid to beg Rose for the
loan of horse and trap.
"Dear me, Phyllisl Why, papa has
taken the regular carriage horses to
bennington, and we had to promise Mrs.
Eldred her girls should catch the 4 80 p.
m. train, and there isn't another horse
left. You are dreadfully tired Of course"
"Not bit, dear. You forget 1 walked
90 miles one day last spring."
"Really2 Then why can't you walk
back with Charlie DorthP I'll speak to
mamma this minute"
A strange incident happened just as they
were setting out together. At the gate
way they encountered the hatless figure
of n man. He was of middle age, tall and
meager, but still prepossessing. He SEEM
ed in a state of intense excitement, as if
he was being pursued Meeting the pair
at the gate he stopped short.
CDR. Rodman is here, (" he cried.
That was the name of the guest at the
Bartletts' whose face Phyllis did not like.
81 believe So" answered Dorth, and
made as if to pass on.
Suddenly this unaccountable person
caught glimpse of the face of Dorth's
companion and sank, gesticulating, to the
ground. Dorth shook him to no purpose.
He had collapsed. The man was attired
respectfully, but was without an overcoat,
and the air was keenly cold.
"We cannot leave the poor man here"
said Phyllis pityingly. "Oh, here comes
the gardener, who will perhaps carry him
into his house while you run for doctor. !"
"I'll do that with pleasure" answered
Dorth, who at once rushed off in the di-
rection of the Gables to fetch DR.. Rodman.