Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-10-26
CHAPTER H.-(Continued.l }


how your steDfather died they car
only conjecture, nor can any motive
be given for the crime He was found
by the servants in the morning wher
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
ana IL 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
nave 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. |
nave told you all. and you must not
let this depress you. or | 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 great effort Mollie shook off
the vague feeling of coming evil that
mad fallen upon her. and she looked I'D
at her friend with an attempt at a
smile
Mrs. Anstruther's face was rapidly
getting familiar to her again: her
voice seemed a 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. LEstrange 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 al nome for the holidays. they had
been away: but she had happy recoI-
iections of white-frocked little girl
who was Joyce. and a tall bow 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'M
1t is nice to think that | shall have
Kind friends near me. I-I-it feelc
rather lonely coming home ik. this
you see. And cough | hated-that is.
dlsilked Mr.. BarlOwe, still. ii is a ter
rible thing to have happened. and
there is my half-sister Kate"
Yes. yes. of course Well. Mollie
your mother and | were true friends
though Mr.. Barlowe prevented us See
Ing too much of each other in later
years. Come to me whenever Won like
my child"
on. | VIII. responded Mollie more
cheerfully. Tell ne. Mrs. Anstrutber
shall like Madame Dubois: do Won
know herr"
MIS- Anstruther moved uneasily.
and drew out her watch.
We shall be at Reverton in few
minutes now" she exclaimed almost
In tone OF relief. ''Of course. not
having been friendly with Mr. Rar-
lowe. | do not know his sister we'll.
but We are on speaking terms and
Henri Dubois comes over to pIay for
mis- with my young people when 10 e
at home. Now. here we are. and don't
forget that you are to come 10 ne
whenever YOU like"
With the uncomfortable impression
that Mrs. Anstruther was trying IN
make the best of things. MoIlie thank
ed her' ana the next moment the train
stopped at the dear old country STA
ton she remembered so well. and she
was In Reverton once more
/ here was only one person on the
platform-a tall and remarkably
handsome woman. with a dark al
most masculine face, and piercing
black eyes under heavy brows and
these same eyes fell upon the uncon-
sciOuS Mollie as the train slowly gIid-
ed into the station. and took i'm every
detail of the sweet little face with a
strange. quick intentness. She was
most elegantly attired in half
mourning, that showed off her splen-
didiy powerful figure to the greatest
advantage; and as Mollie sprang ont
and looked round she came up quickly
with smile on her wide. thin-lippeJ
mouth
Miss LEstrange, think she said
in loud, deep voice 81 am your
aunt. Madame Dubois, and have been
greatly looking forward to Your ar
rival All, Mrs. Anstruther, how are
yOu?"
Her aunt. Leonard Barlowe's sister
her aunt Mollie's brain reeled IT the
notion. while her hand was shaken
with firm. nervous grip that almost
made her scream out with pain.
Then she was conscious that Mrs.
Anstruther had kissed her kindly at
parting while responding very distant
ly to Madame Dubois greeting. and
then they were bowling through Rev
erton In high mail phaeton behind
pair of fine horses, which madame
drove with cOnsummate skill
In spite of her desire to look out for
old landmarks the girl was furtively
studying the hard face by her side as
they dashed along. Instinctively she |
distrusted it. somehow. though If
would have been difficult to have put |
her thoughts into words; and he : feel |
ings were Of the gloomiest a. the |
chimneys OF Chalfont came in sight.
1t was large. ugly, redbrick house,
standing IN well-kept grounds. and |
looked very much as she had remem- |
bered 1t all her life; but she could not |
repress a shudder as she thought of |