Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-01-05
CHAPTER XVIII.
9 r,,r ,osr WITH CorU IA

which was quite dark, lighted candle
and sat down, not to sleep again, but
to think over the fresh developments
of the night.
Who were the perpetrators OF the
outrage upon him? That question.
narrow as were the limits within
which 1t cNlld be answered. was as
difficult to solve as ever. He had heard
and seen nothing to help him to auy
further knowledge than this. that more
than one person had been concerned
in it. The probabilities were, he
thought. in favor of the belief that the
attack upon him had been made by the
lad Tom and Coch Tai. with tie con.
nivance If not the actual assistance Of
the old woman.
That Tregaron had had hand In II
he could scarcely believe. The farm
er's conduct throughout had oeen
straightforward. while the manner of
the other three persons toward himself
had been uniformly suspicious and
bad.
That their object had been murder
he could not doubt. What plumber
would he be likely to yield worth such
a crime? That was the mystery. Sure
ly some other motive must be sought
and this. he thought. could hardly be
other than jealousy on the part OF
Coch Tai or fear lest Mason should
find out the truth concerning his broth
er's fate.
Here again there was mystery
Granville had not carried on his per.
son either much money or much prop
erty of value, certainly but poor
booty for which to run the risks at.
tendant upon murder
AS for Gwyn. he could not think OF
her without a softening of the heart
a glow of gratitude and admiration
That this girl had sacrificed her OWL
comfort. her own rest, during the past
few nights, he was now convinced be
yond a doubt. She had feared some
such outrage as that Of which he hat
been made victim and had conceived
the idea Of protecting him by keeping
watchful eyes. To do this she hat
feigned illness when she was on tht
highroad to recovery.
1t was she who had been the watch
er and he who had been the watched
during those nights when they had al
been puzzled by the inconsistency be
tween her favorable symptoms ant
her vehement complaints Of pain and
weakness.
What could he do in gratitude to
the girl for her splendid condHct, her
unseltish care? His heart beat quick
ly, and his eyes grew moist as he
thought Of it.
And then he heard a heavy tread In
! the room over his head and knew that
the farmer and his son were getting
up.
1t was 5 o'clock and still dark. But
before many minutes were over the
door opened, and the old woman came
in with sticks and paper to light the
fire.
She stopped short and blinked for
The first time in his recollection when
the saw the lighted candle and the
| doctor sitting by the table. But she
| made no comment as she went down
ON her knees to her work and then pro-
ceeded to prepare the table for break
| fast.
| In the meantime Mason had heard
the voices of Gwyn and Of her father
in earnest conversation on the stairs,
and little later he heard the farmer
and Tom go out by the back way to
their early work.
Presently the old woman disappear
ID. And he was left alone until it was
nearly o'clock.
Then Gwyn came in. She looked pale
and fragile. and she walked rather I'M
steadily, but it was plain that she was
much farther advanced on the road to
complete health than she had pretend
| ed.
They stood silent, both deeply NOV
ed, for some seconds until Gwyn. re-
covering herself and reddening slight
ly, said in whisper:
Il want to tell you now-what you
said you'd hear-the reason-the reason
| of--of what was done to you. 1t was
| very wrong, wicked. unjustitinble. of
| course. hut they would not have done
you any real harm. 1t was only a
trick. a trick to brighten you. because
of-Of jealousy"
| As she uttered the last word she
turned away and spoke slyly and
| quickly. Whatever he Thought he con-
| sidered II best to accept the suggestion
without open skepticisnl, SO he merely
inclined his head.
"Of course it was absurd. most alb
! surd, But they do not Understand. SO