The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-02-15
suspicious.

stagnation. About half dozen passen-
gers alighted, among whom was tall,
bronzed Englishman His searching
glance warmed into smile of pleasure
as he strobe hastily toward Belgian
gentleman who rushed to greet him
with outstretohed arms. With string
of questions the Belgian led the way
into the station yard, where an English
dogcart was waiting They got in and
away they dashed in a cloud of white
dust toward the little village Of Dur
buy After half an hour brisk run they
ratified noisily through the village and
drew up before pair Of massive
wrought iron gates. The house lay at
the farther end Of short avenue Of
elms, along which they drove smartly
AS the Belgian alighted clock ohimed
unsteady.
"a quarter to 49, said he. "You
will just have time to get rid Of your
travel stains before lunch"
Eyes, NJ Barvaux, should like to
make myself rather more presentable
before meeting the ladies, " replied his
friend, Jack Hague. In less than ten
minutes he was once more spick and
span, and as he went down stairs he
found M. Barvaux awaiting him. AS
they entered the morning room in which
lunch was to be served they were greet
ed by a couple of ladies, whom M.
Barvaux introduced as his wife and her
niece, Mile. Richert
The charming manner of his host
soon made Jack perfectly at home M.
Barvaux spoke English quite huently,
and was rather proud of his accomplish
ment, but Jack was rather shy with his
French at first, although the kind way
in which the girl helped him over his
difficulties enabled him to get along
smoothly enough. But he found it much
more pleasant to listen than to talk, and
when Mile. Richert began to speak Of
her love for the Ardennes he instantly
became all eyes and ears.
1t was quite jolly little luncheon
party, but amid the pleasantness there
was something which Jack could not
understand. Ever and anon the girl ap-
peared distracted and seemed to be
Watching NJ Barvaux with look Of
deep anxiety, and once when his wife
placed her arm round the girls neck af-
fectionately Jack thought he perceived
an expression Of mingled hate and fear
on the face of the Belgian as he gazed
under his heavy eyebrows at the girl.
At first Jack put it down as merely his
fancy, but further observation convinced
him that there was something wrong.
The days sped by all too quickly.
Fishing in the Ourthe, which ran close
by, or long rambles in the woods, gath
ering bilberries. occupied the hours Of
daylight, and in the evenings Jack sat
as though under spell while Mile
Richert sang dainty old French love
songs or extemporized dreamy melodies
on the piano.
But still the Earring note which had
struck Jack disturbed the pleasant har-
mony, and as day followed day his first
suspicious were confirmed and intensi-
fed However, he could discover no in
telligible explanation Of the numberless
trivial incidents which, had not his at
tention been reused, would have entire
| ly escaped him. All he could be certain
about was that his host Enthusiastically
manifested strange antipathy toward
his niece This, however, did not pre-
vent Jack and the girl from becoming
close friends, and it seemed, at least to
NJ Barvaux, that their friendship was
rapidly ripening into a much stronger
feeling. Jack felt that his host was dis
pleased at the turn of affairs, and he
was therefore not very much surprised
when M. Barvaux, seizing a suitable
opportunity, asked him point blank
what were his feelings toward the
young lady. He replied with perfect
frankness that he was over head and
ears in love with her.
"Ah, my friend - replied NJ. Bar
vaux, II am very sorry for you.
should have warned you earlier. . Sink
ing his voice to a hoarse whisper he
continued, "She is murderess.
Jack stared at him in amazement.
Had he suddenly taken leave Of his
senses2 No, he seemed perfectly ration
al, although very agitated. In an excit-
| ed voice he went on to describe how the
girl was trying to poison him. Jack
came to the conclusion that his friend
was the victim of hallucination ana
resolved to humor him.
"But she is so devoted to your wife, !"
said he.
Eyes, and that is why 1 dare not
speak. My wife thinks Angeline is an
angel, and am afraid to say anything. :"
On the next evening, the last one Of
Jacks stay, he was sitting in an easy
chair among the window curtains when
suddenly he heard the soft sweep Of a
woman s dress in the room. He turned
and saw figure in white.
"Angeline, was on his lips, and he
was about to spring to his feet when he
saw something which turned him to
stone. She was standing at the side
board with thick green glass vial, the
contents of which she was pouring into
the decanter of wine specially reserved
for M. Barvaux.
His hosts suspicious were, then, COR
rect. Oh, the horror of it The girl he
loved poisonerl He could scarcely be-
lieye his senses, but after what M. Bar
vaux had told him doubt seemed no
longer possible. The girl left the room
as quietly as she had entered, closing
the door as though afraid of being heard.
Jack rushed to the sideboard. He I'M
stoppered the decanter. Yes, there was
certainly a strange smell, which was
act that of wine. What should he do
call Angelina and accuse her on the
spot? He could not. Should he tell his
host? Should he pour away the poisoned
wine? Should he But before he could
make up his mind M. Barvaux, looking
rather pale and disturbed, walked in
from the garden, and as ne did 80 his
wife and Angelina entered the room,
and dinner was served. The girl was
dressed in white, and couple Of glor1-
GUS red roses cleaned In her black hair.
Never before had she seemed so beauti
full to Jack. He asked himself If 1t were
possible that SO divine creature could
nurse thoughts of murder in her soul.
But he could not forget what he had
lust witnessed, and he resolved to be on
his guard and prevent NJ. Barvaux
drinking the wine.
Surprising, after all, he were to be
wrong, how could he face the girl he
loved after accusing her Of such a foul
and unnatural deed? He was too agitat-
ed to eat, and he observed that both M
Barvaux and Angelina seemed also pre-
occupied and i'll at ease. AT length ne
managed to make his host understand
that he was not to touch the wine. The
Belgian smiled with an almost sardonic
expression and eyed Angelina curious
ly. Presently he raised the decanter and
leaned over the table, looking at her
the while with his deep set black eyes
"Allow me, Angeline, he said, "to
pour you out glass of wine. !"
Mono thank you, . stammered the
girlin an aRitated manner.