Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-01-25
CHAPTER XXXTX.
TIL Madness OLE FEAR

cOlllul u nclp IL. III was stronger than
], as the French say-that yearning to b.
near Taras, to pass the house in which he
livcd--the house with which the dearest,
the happest associations Of my life were
connected, and after resisting the tempta.
ton as long as | could, wandering about
the city with the cndeavor TO distract my
thoughts by looking in the shops, | took II
turning down to the river. and at the first
station stepped on board Chelsea steamer.
as it likely" ! asked myself, "that
shall be seen by any one know" Never
theless it was the hope of seeing TaraS il
but afar off that led me into this imprtl-
dence, for, despite my disguise, / knew
that was doing wrong-that I was jeop-
ardizing the escape OF Gordon the safety
of Taras himself-by exposing myself even
to the remote chance of discovery. Most
of the people on board looked like Lam.
beth folk A gentleman was waiting on
the Temple pier who, in the distance, looked
like KaVanagh.
! shivered with suppressed excitement as
we drew nearer and nearer to the spot in
which all my fondest hopes were conferred.
My heart beat wildly as caught sight of
the kilns beyond Westminster, my head
swan, and every object grew dim and in
distinct before my eyes as the boat crossed
toward Lambeth pier
Prudence told me that here at least |
ought to 90 below or screen myself, for
every man on the pier knew me well by
sight. But WAS deaf to every voice, blind
10 every danger | even raised my veil
that | might better scan the faces Of the
passengers upon the pier we were nearing.
oh, if Taras might only be among them!
Ii he would come on board, where might
l..
familiar faces close to me when we ran
alongside, but not his. | stood up and
strained my eyes as the late passengers ran
down the footbridge. He was not among
them, and that vain hope was gone. But
there was still the chance of seeing him at
the window when the bridge was passed
and | could get an unobstructed view of the
house.
We passed under the bridge, snorting as
the funnel was lowered, and then as the
smoke blew away something seemed to
snite my heart like the blow of great
hammer, for, looking back, saw the blinds
ofall the windows were drawn down.
Great heaven. Taras is dead That
was my first thought, and then, divning
the truth, said to myself, "1'he car has
conquered.
But this end of all happiness was too ter
rible to be accepted while any spark of
doubt remained, and tried to cheat myself
with hopes-as if mere belief could alter
the course of inevitable fate, or hope undo
what was done. tried TO explain the drawn
blinds by supposine less dreadful calam-
| ity. Poor old Mere Lucas was gone,
YES yes, said to myself, grasping ut
this possibility, Mere Lucas is dead, poor
! SOUL
Leaving the boat at NauXhall pier, | hur-
! ried along Millbauk, repeating this phrase
/ again and again like "A charm. and crossing
| Lambeth bridge drew near the old house,
still striving to believe that my eyes had
| deceived me, yet faint with dread
could 90 no farther than the corner OPP
posite the house Its aspect of desolatiou
! paralyzed my limbs and forced me to cling
to the wall for support. There was no sign
| Of life in it The shutters of the living
! room were closed the blinds of the win
dows above drawn. The bulbs raras gave
me to plant in the boxes ON my window
Hills the last week was with him lad
lowered and faded. The withercd bloom.
hung over the edge. Even the foliage had
Irooued for want of attention. AT the cor
her of Ferry street one of the carmen from
the pottery was packing jar, in his van
Needless of The risk ran for there seemed
no longer any need of disguise-l tottereL
across the road, and III a voice made weak
and tremulous by emotion | asked him il
he could tell me where Anne. Lucas lived.
Mime. Lucas he responded Carelcssly
J still packing away the jars. "Oh, she''
gone away She used to live in the hons,
down there as is shut up now. shes DeeI
gone ever since Christmas
"Does-does any one live there now"
ALTERED
NO Look here, misss," he added
strengthening himself and scratching hi
head, ''you'rc upset my counting along o
your questions. Here, Bill Wright h,
called to IL young man who was ARRANGING
more jars against the wall, heres a part!
wants 10 know something about Nine Lu
aas"
~ only wanted to know where coule
ind her." said timidly.
she's living now down in Surrey alons
with Mr.. Taras," said William Wright.
s"iie is not dead;'' gasped.
Il haven't heard OF his dying, MUM
though / know he was very bad before h
.eft'
My heart leaped at this, Oh, if Tara
were only H. there was yet hope
Can you rell me where | can lind him
, Nine Lucas, mean?'
II know it's Working way where the
, live now. Betterford think 5 the nam
. Of the place, but can't be sure"
Here said the cerman, run round
the hotiice, old lady, and ask for Mr., kavi
+ nagh lie knows. Hand us up them quarts
/. Bill
. At that name recognized the rashness {
: my folly, albeit neither the carr nc
William Wright had seen through my di
f CAUSE.-THE reck less madness into which m
. fear had led me. Nevertheless within a
hour | was ON my way to Betterford.
- TO BE CONTINUED.
The Complexion of IA Chinese