The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-04-29

do you know who was his friend
at the Hall?"
mo, l don't, sir. He never spoke
about it. but l did have my suspi-
cions," he answered, smiling.
"Oh what were they?" l asked.
81 fancy he came to see Lucy Bry-
den, the housekeeper's daughter. She's
a good-looking girl, you know" and
the old man winked knowingly.
What made you think that, eh?"
well, from something l was told,'
he replied mysteriously. HE was
seen walking with young lady across
the Park one night, and card as ow
it was Mrs. Brydens daughter. But
next day 'ad surprise. A young
lady called here for him, and she was
dressed exactly as the young woman
who had been in the Park with him
was. But it wasn't Mrs. Bryden's
daughter"
Then who was it?'
Il heard him call her Ella. She
came from London"
"Ella?" l gasped. What the deuce
do you mean, Denman? What sort OF
a girl was she? A LADY,"
Yes, sir, quite lady. She was
dressed in brown, and one thing no.
ticed was that she had on splendid
diamond bracelet. 1t was a beauty"
"a diamond bracelet" l echoed.
There was no doubt that Ella had ac-
tually been to Warnham without my
knowledge, for the bracelet that the
old ostler, in reply to my eager ques-
lions, described accurately, was the
one / had given her.
What time in the day did he call?
Where did they go?" demanded, in
surprise.
She came about midday, and they
both went for walk toward Broad
bridge Heath. They were gone,
should reckon, about three hours, and
when they returned it was evident
from her eyes that she'd been crying"
Crying! Had Ogle been talking to
her angrily, do you think?"
mo, don't believe so. They re-
manned here and had some tea to-
gether in the parlor, and then l drove
EN- to Horsham, and they caught the
6:25 to London"
| was silent There was some re-
markable unfathomable mystery in
this.
,th 7 OF oct
know you've got sharp pair of ears
when you're perched up on that box
Of yours Did you overhear their con-
versation while driving them to Hor-
! sham?"
| Again the old man removed his bat
tered hat and calmly scratched his
| head
well, sir, to tell you the truth, did
ear a few words" he answered 81
card the young lady say as 'ow she
wor powerless. He seemed to be beg
ging of her to do something which
Mortified her. l card her ask him in
whisper whether he thought they
would be discovered, and he laughed
at her fear, and said, If you don't
do it, you know the consequences will
be fatal !"
do you think they went up to the
Hall when they went out walking?"
Il don't know, sir. They could, Of
course, have got into the Park that
way. But you don't look very well,
sir. l hope what I've told you isn't
isn't very unpleasant" the old ostler
added, with a look Of apprehension.
mo, get me some brandy, Den
man." | gasped.
While he was absent / arose and
walked unsteadily 10 the window that
overlooked a comfortable looking cor
ner residence surrounded by belt o
frs, wide road and beautiful
stretch Of valley, and blue downs be
yond. The landscape was peaceful an
picturesque, and / sought solace II
gazing upon It, But this latest revel
alton had unnerved me. Dudley an
Ella had met in that quiet rural plac
for some purpose which l could no
conceive. Their meeting had evident
ly been pre-arranged, and their OBJ
ject, from the words the old man ha
overheard, was apparently of secre
and sinister character.
The strange inquiring look had de
tected in Elias face whenever she ha
glanced surreptitiously at Dudley o
the previous night was, now felt as
sured, an index of guilty conscience
and Mrs. Laing's dread that Ell
should know the truth of my friend
tragic end appeared to prove in Gel
tain degree the existence Of some sc
cret knowledge held by all three.
Yet l could not bring myself to be
lieve that my well-beloved had wilful
ly deceived me. From what Denma
had said it appeared as If Ogle ha
held her under some mysterious thral
and was trying to compel her to az
against her better judgment. He
pure womanly conscience had perhaT
revolted against his suggestion an
she had shed the tears the old ostlt
nav hONiNCo, yCt hV bad pCl SiotNd A'i
held over her threat that had cove
her, and perhaps, for aught l knes
compelled her to submit
My thought that the man who we
my friend should have thus treated II
woman | adored filled me with fierce
anger and hatred. With bitterness
told myself that the man in whom
placed implicit confidence, and wit
whom l had allowed Ella to sper
many idle hours punting or scullir
while l was absent at my duties
London was actually my enemy.
With sudden resolve / determine
to travel back to Staines and by pc
session of the knowledge of her my
FERROUS visit to that village, wor
from her its object. At that momel
Denman entered, and drank the bral
dy at one gulp, afterwards orderir
the fly and driving back to Horsha