The Dickinson press., 1894-09-01
CHAPTER III.
LacrOix and De Lacroix.

IacrOix beautiful. and had sufficient
reason later to believe that in this was
but thinking US others did The wo.
men, indeed. Of the neighborhood, rich
and poor alike, who were themselves
destitute Of shape and plain-faced were
shocked that she possessed IL figure and
seemed to think that there must be
something uncanny. If not diabolical
about her dark and foreign type OF
beauty which made men admire it SO
l am not sure that Mrs. Steinhartlt her.
self had not some such suspicion.
But though was from the first. OF
course, very much impressed by Miss
Lacroix's beauty, what attracted me t.
her more and more as the weeks went
by was that overlaid expression l have
already tried to describe, which seem
ed to ask for sympathy and help, and
which took strong hold Of my curiosity
as well as Of my interest. AS we saw
more Of each other, and were more al
ease with each other, l observed that
this expression was habitual. and it be
came to me more clearly lcfinablc; She
would look through it sometimes mt me
with wistful look Of appeal or in
Quiry. She seemed, thought, several
times as II she would take me into he1
confidence; and 1 found ut length that
1t was not mere conceit of myself or OF
my Office made me think so.
frequently looked upon the ladies
ut Timperley Hall. and took four.
o'clock cup Of tea with them mot, how.
ever, to the neglect of others, il less
pleasant, parochial visitations.) During
these visits we talked without that
c0nstraint which somehow MIR. Stein.
hardt's presence imposed upon us. Miss
LacrOix and l agreed in our opinions
concerning the ruthlessness with which
Lancashire pushed on its industrial
way; we often astonished poor Mrs
Steinhardt sometimes even Ourselvcs)
by the warmth with which we would
discuss the outrage done to man and
nature.
Ono afternoon we talked thus. II
was we'll on in springtimc; the stream
was running full. and all nature in
spite of drawbacks, was striving to
look green. l told them how had that
morning stood by the little plank bridge
just below Timperley Hall looking
across ut the dreadfully numbered little
peninsula on which the ruined spinning
mill stood, when there stood up ut my
elbow an old man whom l knew by
sight as all eX-handloom weaver.
"A fine brook, tha, parson." he said
Yes" said l, suiting my reply to
what thought his persifage; what
a pity no trout seem to know Of it!'
"Ah, but" said he sadly, there were
trout in it wOnst; though there's been
none for mony a day. Thout! Aw defy
onything to live in that, bout settin
cured first, like a red herrin' or Il sally
mander! There was lad drownded
like as it might be this spring, and he
Were never found till like as it might
be next back-end, down theer in that
mud; he were not gone ut all, but he
We're cured thro' and thro' black. mon
black!
This 1 told! and then l continued
Drowning, they say, is an easy death
but to drown In such stream as that
seems horribly repulsive. l fancy nj
one would crave to commit suicide ir
It,"
1 perceived my stupid blunler as
soon as had spoken; had not thought
that what said could be taken as al
lusive," to the disappearance of Mr.. La
croiX.
Excuse me-" said Miss Lacroix, ris
ing hurrieilly, Il do not feel very we'll
Do not come. Mrs. Steinlarlt; shal
get better by myself"
I. Of course, made apology to Mrs
Steinhardt for my stupidity.
YES" said she; ''you see she can
bear amy kind of allusion to her father.
end. She told me soon after she cam,
here (she couldn't, you know, go OF
living in that big house up there al
by herself)-she told me Il strang
dream she had once or twice when he
father was lnissing-the strangcst thinl
but scolded her so, she has never sait
another word to me about 1t. Still,
fancy, she thinks Il great deal abou
her father though she does not sa,
much; they We're rare and fond O. on
another"
That very evening l nexpectedl,
learned from Miss LacroiX .erself wha
that strange dream was. l was return
ing by moonlight from the house Of ;
parishioner along that same road whicl
first brought me upon the valley.
railway engine in the distance wa
uttering long-drawn whistle, and tn
mill was grinding painfully round, witt
q sound Of the most eerie melancholy
to bring change of air to rooms tina
no longer existed. as l descended tn
steep path toward the stream. Pass
ing the pond on my right (Which I b,
fore mentioned rs rejecting the lighte
windows of the many-storeye
cloaked and hooded, standing O
the margin Of the pond unde
one Of the trees. paused
minute, while my heart beat wit
apprehension, ani then passe
through gap in the fence and az
preached. The figure turned quick!
rs II impatient Mt the intrusion, and i
the pale moonlight 1 recognized tn
face of Miss Lacroix.
"Miss Lacroix!' 1 exclaimed. "Yo
here!"
"Oh, Mr.. Unwin," size began, in ev
dent tension of feeling. Il :oul.l &c
rest indoors, and so came out here t
sec Uncle jacques; could not renal
with him, and so I came out here t
look Mt this, which always fascinate
me. L-ook!'
stood by her side and looked; thi
Is what ! saw: All Inverted ref1ectiO
Of the tall chimney Of the chcnic.
works which was emitting, as it ofte.
did late in the evening, its strange pinl
lsh vapor; this vapor in the retlcctio
looked as il it were slowly rising frol
the bottom of the pond, and, rs il
color blended with the tints the watc
somehow took as the breeze -utfled
this way or that, produced the inlpre
sion of slowly simmering cauldro
Of red. green and coppcr-b;own fam'
This was SO wonderfully weird fame
that confess felt my skin creep.
turned my eyes away, and then locke
again and again, but the impressio
was ever the same.
It's indeed very stranger" / said.
lis 1t notY' said she. You see
also? Mr.. Unwin," she went on, turn
ing suddenly to me, and speaking wit
a vehemence which increased as til
words came, Il have wished to tell yol
You are clergyman, and must he;
me make my confession; and you wi
keep 1t secret to yourself. Yoa ha1
heard. perhaps. that my fathcr-n
dear father!is thought to be dca,
now Just year ago."
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