Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-15
CHAPTER Y.

presented myself 20 my oSeOntshcd rela.
tivcs. These were two lovable old maids.
sisters of my mother, who had passed
the best part Of their existence in the
Cathedral square of Marshminster. They
knew everybody and all about everybody
and po,tered through life with the as.
sistance Of comfortable income which
they shared in common, . trifie Of Qoe.
sip and series OF afternoon teas At
the daily services Of the cathedral thew
were always to be seen and were init
mately acquainted with the dean and
chapter. Even the bishop condescended
TO take tea with them on occasions, and
they held their heads high in copse.
Gucnce. Moreover, they loved me great
". though i was but a graceless nephew
to the good souls.
When / made my appearance, the
Misses Durrant received me with omen
arms. They had not expected me till
much later in the month, but had al
ready prepared for my reception NV
portmanteau, which had ordered to be
sent down from London. had arrived,
the bedding Of my room was thoroughly
well aired, and Rachel, their hand
maiden. spread for me sumptuous
meal. When l washed and clothed nv.
self anew, / made an excellent meal.
for the long tramp from the Fen inn
made me hungry. / then sat down for a
chat and smoke.
Il think he may, Jane" limited So
phia gently.
If nc sits near the open WINDOW,
Sophia, was the firm reply, whereupon,
this little comedy having been gone
through. as usual, produced my pipe
and tool, my appointed station. Thus
settled, ! made inquiries about Bellin
Hall and its inmates.
Il see you have the London beauty
down here, aunt. p"
OLIVIA Bellin," said they both in q
breath and then sighed.
is there anything to mourn about,
Aunt Jane?" asked. priclring up my
ears for useful information which l
knew these gossips could supply.
"Ah," sighed Aunt Jane, folding her
withered hands, who knows the wick
Cdncss Of the hearth
"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 rs her mother" concluded the old
lady. with feminine spite.
Then to whose heart do you allude?'
This question started o duet between
tho two old ladies.
Francis Briarfield! You remember,
Jane:''
Yes, Sophia That hussy with the
feather boa
Was seen speaking to him in tho
cathedral by Bishop Jevon's tomb"
And he seemed very intimate with
her"
Still. Jane, he was glad when she
left Westminster. p"
Rather relieved, think, Sophia
And poor Olivia Bellin knew moth
ing about his wickedness, they con-
c!uded together
My heart beat rapidly. In this idle
talk saw link which would bind Fe-
llx Briarfield to the girl ut the Fen inn.
WAS she pretty girl?" / asked with
well simulated carelessness.
Handsome is as handsome does,
snorted Aunt Jane, who was remarka.
bly, plain herself
Sure, sister, she was not i'll look.
ing, said the gentler Sophia, who had
been a toast in her youth. ''She had a
good figure and dark hair and eyes.
admired her complexion, Jane. 1t was
like cream and dimple here" finished
Sophia. touching her chin. "A pretty,
pretty dimple."
SOPHIA
We'll, it was pretty dimple, Jane.
No one can deny that.
In this description I espied Rose
Strent, especially as regards the dimple.
had noticed it myself. Evidently there
was an understanding between this wo
man and Felix which had led her tt
taking up her quarters in the Fen inn
with her father, if indeed the landlord
was her father-a fact was beginning
to doubt. / set the garrulOus ladies of
ON another tack.
Do you know anything about the
Fen inn, Aunt Jape?"
The lone inn. child? Never name
it, In my youth it was the scene of 8
terrible murder, and since that tim'
no one has lived in il save one man.
1T is now III ruins, said Sophia
with hated breath, land is said to b
HdUllttU.
Docs any one go near it,"
''No one. don't think there is /;
man in the country who would venture
near the lone inr after dark. Two year
ago n stranger refurnished and repaires
1t. but he did not stay longer than {
week.
What became If him."
''IIe disappeared, said Aunt Sophia
nodding her head solcmnly, vanished
altogether. It was supposed that h,
was drowned in the marshes. The hous
Is still furnished, believe, but no ON
goes near it,
What about the landlord?'
Its in chancery, said Aunt Jam
wisely. 1T has no landlord.
After this discussion went to be-
with plenty to think about. saw wei
enough that Strent and his daughte