The Irish standard., 1895-05-11
CHAPTER VII;
THE EPISODE OF TIE BARREL.

=. CHAPTER VIZ = 49,. 49,
: THE EPISODE OF THE BARREL. =
The police had brought a cab with
them, and in this I escorted Miss
Morstan back to her home. Alter the
angelic fashion Of women, she had
borne trouble with a calm face as long
as there was some one weaker than her
self to support, and I.had found her
bright and placid by the side of the
frightened housekeeper. In the, cab,
however, she ! first turned faint, and
then burst into a passion of weeping
SO sorely had she been tried by the
adventures Of the night She has told
NE since that she thought me cold and
distant upon that journey. She little
guessed the struggle within my breast,
or the effort 81. se1f-restraint which
held me back. My. sympa thies and my
love went out to- her, even as
my hand had IN the garden. | felt
that years Of the ,conventionalities, ct
life could not teach me to know her
sweet, brave nature as had this one,
day of strange experiences. Yet there.
were two thoughts which -sealedsthc
words of affection upon my lips. She
was weak. and elpless, shaken in mind
and nerve It was to take her at a dis
advantage to obtrude love upon her at.
such a time. Worse, STILL. she. was
rich. If Holmes researches were sue
cessful she would he an heiress:: Was
it fair, was it honorable, that q half
paw surgeon should take such advan-
tage Of an intimacy which chance had
brought about? Might she not look
upon me as mere vulgar fortune
seeker? could not bear to risk that
such a thought should cross her mind.
This Agra treasure interviewed like an
impossible barrier between us.
I'd. It was nearly two o'clock when we.
reached Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The
servants had retired hours ago, but,
Mrs. Forester had been SO interested
by the strange message which Miss
Morstan had received that she had sat
up in the hope Of her return. She
opened the door herseH. q mid ale-aged,
graceful woman, and it gave me joy to
see how tenderly her arm stole round
the others waist and how notherly,
was the voice in which she greeted her.
She was clearly no mere paid depend
ent, but an honored friend. / was in
troduced, and Mrs. FORESTER earnestly
begged mesto step. in and to tell her our
adventures : / explained; however, the
Importance Of my errand, and prom-
ised faithfully to call and report any
progress which we might make with
the case. AS We drove away I stole a
glance back, and still seem to see
that little group on the step, the two
graceful clinging figures, the half
opened door, the hall light shining
through stained glass, the bare rheter,s
and tie brig stair roes. s. Il was sooth-ss
ing to catch even that passing glimpse
81 q tranquil Eng lish home ia the midst
Z Of the wild, dark business which had
Absorbed us. II
And the more Y thou off what had
happened, the der and darker il.
grew. Is reviewed. the whole extraor-.
binary sequence ef. events ~ I attled
on through the silent II streets.
There was the orig inal prob en;; that.
at least was pretty clearsnow. The.
Z death OF Capt. Morstan, the sending Of
the pearls, The advert isefment, the let
]. ter we had had light upon all those
events They had only led us, how
ever, TO deeper and far g. more % tragic
mystery. The Indian treasure The
curious plan found among aaforstan's
baggage the strange scene ut Maj
sSholtp's death the rediiscoyeEy of the
i treasnre Immediately lowed pss the
! na1ardef 81 tho a iiscoyerers the very ait1.
guar accornl, IL to tlsR Inn, 1aies