Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-11

CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)

lHdI CdHuoL say, sne iSIuAh
hesitatingly. Il suppose they thought
it wise not to inform you. AS for
how your stepfather died they can
only conjecture, nor can any motive
be given for the crime. He was found
by the servants in the morning when
they went to open the study, and was
lying on the floor near the window
which was wide open. You know how
bitterly cold it was last Easter? Well,
1t had been showing hard all night,
and 1t had drifted in and was lying
thiCkly on his shoulders. Had any
trace of his assailant been possible on
the hard ground the snow had covered
IL, and this showed that the deed must
have been done early in the night be-
fore it began. There were no signs of
any struggle, nor was anything taken;
and they fancy he must have been
asleep in his chair, for death was
caused by two terrific blows on the
back of the head Now, Mollie, l
have told you all, and you must not
let this depress you, or l shall feel
more than ever to blame. Joyce will
be delighted to have your companion
ship, and the White House is not so
very far off, you know
With a great effort Mollie shook off
the vague feeling of coming evil that
had fallen upon her, and she looked up
at her friend with an attempt at a
smile.
Mrs Anstruther's face was rapidly
getting familiar to her again; her
voice seemed pleasant echo from the
past Even the little way she had of
shaking her head to emphasize her
words was the same as of yore.
She and Mrs. L'Estrange had been
left widows about the same time; but
while one had made the rash marriage
that had ruined her life, the other
had devoted herself to her two child
rem and their interests.
Mollie had seen little of them since
she had been at school, for when she
was at home for the holidays, they had
been away; bit she had happy recol-
lections of white-frocked little girl
VINO was Joyce, and a tall boy who
used to send them flying to and fro
In swing under some great trees.
Thank you very much" she said,
Strengthening herself and sitting I'D,
1t is nice to think that | shall have
kind friends near me. lit feels
rather lonely coming home like this,
you see. And though | hated-that is,
dlsl1ked Mr.. Barlowe, still, it is a ter
rlble thing to have happened, and
there is my half-sister Kate"
Yes, yes, of course. Well. Mollie.
your mother and l were true friends.
though Mr.. Barlowe prevented us see
ing too much of each other in later
years Come to me whenever you like,
my child
On, | Will" responded Mollie more
cheerfully. Tell me, Mrs. Anstruther
shall l like Madame Dubois; do you
know herr"
Mrs. Anstruther moved uneasily
and drew out her watch.
I'VE shall be at Reverton in a few
minutes now" she exclaimed almost
In a tone of relief. "Of course. not
having been friendly with Mr.. Bar
lowe, l do not know his sister we'll;
but we are on speaking terms. and
Henri Dubois comes over to play ten.
mis- with my young people when he is
at home. Now, here we are, and DOM
forget that you are to come to us
whenever you like"
With the Ilncor for+ol,lo ;,,nro,c;o.
that Mrs. Anstruther was trying tc
make the best of things, Mollie thank
ed her. and the next moment the trair
stopped at the dear old country sta
ton she remembered so well, and she
was in Reverton once more.
There was only one person on tn,
platform-a tall and remarkabl,
handsome woman, with dark, al
most masculine face, and piercin.
black eyes under heavy brows, ant
these same eyes fell upon the uncon
sctous Mollie as the train slowly Gid
ed into the station. and took in ever,
detail of the sweet little face with
strange, quick intentness. She wa
most elegantly attired in hal
mourning, that showed off her splen
didly powerful figure to the creates
advantage; and as Mollie sprang on
and looked round she came up uuickl
with a smile on her wide, thin-lippe
mouth.
Miss L'Estrange, think" she saiG
in loud, deep voice. Il am you
aunt, Madame Dubois, and | have bee
greatly looking forward to your al
rival. All, Mrs. Anstruther, how ar
your"
Her aunt. Leonard Barlowe's siste
her aunt! Mollie's brain reeled at tn
notion, while her hand was shake
with a firm, nervous grip that almo.
made her scream out with pain.
Then she was conscious that Mr.
Anstruther had kissed her kindly ;
parting while responding very distan
ly to Madame Dubois greeting, an
then they were bowling through Re-
erton in high mail phaeton behir
a pair of fine horses, which MADAM
drove with consummate skill.
In spite of her desire to look out f
old landmarks, the girl was furtive
studying the hard face by her side
they dashed along. Instinctively s.
distrusted it, somehow, though
would have been difficult to have p
her thoughts into words; and her fee
ings were of the gloomiest as t
chimneys of Chalfont came in sight.
1t was large, ugly, red-brick hou'
standing in well-kept grounds, a
looked vary much as she had remel
bered 1t all her life; but she could Il
repress shudder as she thought
what had happened there, and in Il
agination saw her stepfather's t