Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-21
CHAPTER V.

AAO AAAeSNA NV phia gently.
 If he sits near the open window, Sophia, was the firm reply, whereupon, this little comedy having been gone through, as usual, produced my pipe and took my appointed station. Thus settled, made inquiries about Bellin Hall and its inmates.
 II see you have the London beauty town here, aunt.
 "Olivia Bellin," said they both in a sreath and then sighed. "Is there anything to mourn about, Aunt Jane:'' asked. pricking up my pars for useful information which I tnew these gossips could supply.
 'Ah," sighed Aunt Jane, folding her withered hands, ''who knows the wick .dnesS of the heart?'
 "Olivia's heart. "
 Dear me, no, Lionel" said Aunt Sophia scandalized "She is good girl as good as she is lovely-and not so silly as her mother" !" concluded the old lady, with feminine spite.
 Then to whose heart do you allude?" This question started duet between :he two old ladies.
 Francis Briarfield! You remember, Jane:''
 "Yes, Sophia That hussy with the leather boa''-
 Was seen speaking to him in the cathedral by Bishop Jevon's tomb"
 And he seemed very intimate with aer."
 Still. Jane, he was glad when she left MarshIninster.
 Rather relieved, think, Sophia "
 And poor Olivia Bellin knew noth ing about his wickedness, they con- >luded together.
 My heart beat rapidly. In this idle ak I saw link which would bind Fe- Iix Briarfie!d to the girl at the Fen inn
 Was she pretty girl:'' asked with we'll simulated carelessness- ''
 Handsome is as handsome does, norted Aunt Jane, who was remarka- ply plain herself.
 Sure, sister, she was not i'll look ng," said the gcntler Sophia. who had been toast in her youth. ''She had good figure and dark hair and eyes. I admired her complexion, Jane It was ike cream and a dlmple here," finished Sophia, touching her chin. "A pretty, pretty dimple-"
 | "Sophia!'
 Well, it was a pretty dimple, Jane. No one can deny that "
 In this description I espied Rose Strent, especially as regards the dimple. I had noticed it myself. Evidently there was an understanding between this wo- man and Felix which had led her to taking up her quarters in the Fen inn with her father, if indeed the landlord was her father-a fact I was beginning to doJbt. I set the garrulOus ladies of on another tack.
 Do you know anything about the Fen inn, Aunt Jane:'
 ''The lone inn, child? Never name it! In my youth it was the scene of a terrible murder, and since that time no one has lived in it save one man. "
 ''It is now in ruins" said Sophia, with bated breath, land is said to be haunted.
 Doc; any one go near it:'
 No one. I don't think there is a man in the country who would venture near the lone inn after dark. Two years ago a stranger refurnished and repaired it, but he did not stay longer than a week.
 What became of him?
 ''He disappeared, said Aunt Sophia, holding her head solemnly, vanished was drowned ill the marshes. The house goes near 1t.
 What about the landlord?"
 Its in chancery, said Aunt Jan' wisely. Ut has no landlord. After this discussion I went to bet with plenty to think about saw wei enough that Strent and his daughte - had taken up their abode in the ruinet house for a certain purpose. That pur pose was, verify believed, to encompas the death of Francis Briarfield, and nov . that it was accomplished they disap e peared. As Aunt Sophia said, the fur ] niture of the former proprietor was stil Y there, so q touch or two had rendere' n the house habitable. This accounted fo - their unwillingness to receive me as guest and for the mildewed aspect 0 :. the rooms which had struck me so forci bly,. 4 second tragedy had accentuate the evil reputation of the house. But while the first tragedy was known t all, the second was known only to my a self and to-Felix Briarfeld. felt certain that he was connecte in some way with the unexpected deat of his brother Francis had been lure to that lonely inn for the purpose of b' ing murdered, and the crime had bee = accomplished by Strent and his daugi ], ter. So far as knew, Felix had not bee near the house on the night in question yet he was without doubt morally guilt :. of the crime. Olivia. believing him o be her lover Francis, did not place muc
 faith in my story, but surely, when sf was convinced by the sight of the dea body and had torn the mask from u face of Felix, she would let me de , with him as he deserved. J. Next morning was up betimes, ar telling my aunts would not be bat till late went round to the sole livery st
 bles possessed by Marshminster. The
 were kept by Bob Fundy, bow legg'
 little man, who had been a jockey .. his youthful days and who was gre
 friend of mine. He expressed great j. 4 at my reappearance in Marshminst
 and mounted me on the best of b
 steeds. I was in too great a hurry to e
 change more than few words with tl lre-ial old fellow and set out at on Bellin Hall Later on Iregretted n N&ete. as . few words of explanatis