The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-27

picked her up ia town, and fetched her
box, and told where she was coming, and
who ] was, whether tit would have
been wiser. / could do that yet. ! must
unr2vcl the mystery that enshr0uds her
or-Or I'm not Alexis DougOuriski's
daughterin
The strange creature who called herself
Olive Minchin was summoned al that
junct;Ire TO take her ladyship's tray from
Wilson, the butler He was waiting
somewhat impatiently at the large door
at the east wing. He always was impa-
tient when he reached there. Being de-
barred entrance irritated him. He was
not compelled to carry up the tray; the
man under him was equally competent for
the duty. 1t was, however, as if Wilson
observed the task in aggravation Of her
feelings
IT'S very heavy, Miss Minchin," he
grumbled. Il think YOU had better let
me lift it on to her ladyship's door; not
that Ia offer to carry II in, oh, dear, no,
not l. you're quite welcome to the job"
"Oh, ! can manage IT, I'm not Miss
HenstOck, you know. Why this is no
weight. Perhaps ! shall want lot more.
shall if Lady de Lucerne invites me to
share her repast.
Olive Minchin spoke Misunderstanding
~. Wilson liked her much better than
he did Nelly
You ring Miss Minchin. and III bring
you as much MORE he replied, in the
same tone as her own.
But the tray was weight nevertheless,
and as soon as Olive was in the east cor
ridor she put it down and carried it by
detachments to her ladyship.
you are bringing me a good meal, -
observed the baroness: that is right:
renewed hope and need of superb bundant
energies have latterly strengthened my
appetite. Perhaps by month to-day,
Olive, my long lost banished boy may be
home again taking his proper place in
society. Can YOU wonder at the great
change in my seIf-feelngs, appetitesl
There are times when ! indulge in such
ecstatic visions of the future. The past
has been so dark-sO hideous
Miss Minchin was fUssing around. plac-
ing the tray Alright arranging the bar
oness' shawl and cushion; drawing the
small round table near the fire, and per
forming tactfully those numerous little
attendances which were moFe the Office of
q maid or of loved hand than of paid
companion.
IF were my lady I would not indulge
in too much hope continued Olive She
was dying to know what had so utterly
Frustrated Nelly but though far more
friendly with her employer than was
Nelly, yet She dared not put the exact
question. She hoped to work it round by
degrees skillfullly TIL she discovered.
Too much hope, Olive" reiterated the
baroness, with considerable spirit why,
the matter as l a short time since CON
tded-though | scarcely know why-tO
Miss Henstock, is getting compressed into
a nutshell. BY the by breaking off alb
ruptly) you must nurse her up; she is not
the thing. It would never do to send her
of, especially ut this juncture. A week
or two and then all end to secrecy Oh,
the ecstasy of the thought. Roy Gun
tons letter of this morning announces his
brothers speedy return"
Olive Minchin took a seat on a stool at
her ladyship's feet. She was annoyed al
the sudden turn the baroness had given
to the conversation. But patience!
Il think your ladyship is mistaken in
imagining Miss Hcnstock ill., she said
warily, ut is the effect merely of Il
delicate complexion and-and a mind ill
at ease. She has a secret in her past and
unless | very much err your ladyship
touched on it recently"
The baroness laid down her fork and
looked up quickly
"a secret-in her past-I touched on it {!
Nonsense, Olive, what strange IDEAS you
encourage in that odd little brain of yours.
Let me recall exactly what it was | did
l remember: words of exultation escaped
me TO the effect of my sons probably
speedy return. | was thinking how soon
| might let her off "
"Oh, she does not wish to go; she is
homeless. Or it might be that she-she
knows something about Lord Lane,
and
Miss Minchin, you forget yourself My
sons honor, despite his unhappy expe-
rjence, is above all scandal. l resent
deeply such an implication!'
your pardon, Lady Mary My con
lecture was very Wild
Just so; YOU had not even the excuse
of Miss HenStOCk's advent here in any
such circumstances as would warrant the
suggestion You picked her up a solitary,
forlorn waif, utterly unknown to Briar-
wood. No, no.
Olive Minchn snatched the baroness
hand and covered it with kisses She had
a hundred little dcmonstrativC ways of
winning forgiveness that always made
her a favorite.
Did you mention no ones name besides
his lordship's?" she asked, coaxingly.
Mr.. Gunton' - replied the baroness,
taking up her fork again and toying with
her food; 'and-Oh, yes with recOllec-
ton, 81 mentioned the cur whose guilt
my son has so long suffered for. MIR.
Boyd
What What screeched Olive, the
smile dying off her smiling face, and hor-
ror filling the pupils of her large, beauti-
full eyes-eyes that always puzzled Nelly
SO much, IN that they seemed to remind
her of some one whom she had known,
though when or where she could not
recall--perhaps only in a picture, she
thought.
Miss Minchinl" exclaimed the baron
ess, diSpleased at her companions unre-
strained excitement; please e-mem--'
But who did you say, Lady Mary?"
pleaded Olive, wildly. MIR. Boyd-whichl
what Mr.. Boyd?"
MARK Boyd, the dastardly eur. who
not only committed a deliberate murder,
but has allowed another To-
Mark Boyd commit ted-a mur-der!"
Missed Olive Minchin, through her closed
teeth, her eyes shining wildly; then he
- he-wiu be hanged like the cur
he-is!'
What is the inexplicable meaning of
all this agitationl' demanded the
baroness, rising. There is some mystery
hidden beneath it all. Is this villain
anything to you2 relative2"
He Is a tend - retorted Olive, partly
recovering compoSure. Eyes, / know him,
my lady. Used to know him well; but
nothing to his credit can I tell YOU. If he
is hanged l would-would like to go and
see him finished off
There was something execrable in the
triumphant expression on her beauteous,
vet foreign-loolling face. Yet she but adj
united TO half foreign extraction. Her