The Yale expositor., 1901-12-06

bilant remarks.
Not get free?" he said, there Is
enough here 10 free US forever. Not
get free-well be on the sea tomorrow
night unless you have other engage
ments. Everything is settled. Once
at Whltby. we can put the sea between
us and Yorkshire. and. what is more.
between us and London. Are you
gamer"
when we have disposed OF this"
said Dick. with a shudder. I'VE will
talk OF the next proceeding"
Dispose OF IT," said Foster. What
do you mean?"
There Is an ancient opening In the
ground. drain. or conduit. just out
side the abbey. north OF the aisle, we
can bury II there"
why bury IT," asked Foster
THAT We may have the chance OF
escape you dream OF
Yes. you are right" said Foster.
"the horse will give the alarm. II the
body Is not found for day or two our
retreat will be covered by the doubt
and delay"
Come. then" said Parker. and the
two men proceeded TO lift the body.
The moon came out from behind n
scuddlng bank OF clouds as II TO bear
witness against the deed OF blood: but
az the same moment II shone upon
the graceful figure OF Mary Lockwood
rs the heroine OF the Star and Garter
hurried through the meadows TO the
abbey-hurried not from fear, but in
order that she might pause In the Ia
milliar ruin to think OF Dick. and more
particularly TO think OF him upon the
very spot where last they had sat to-
gether. and he had urged her To accept
his proposals OF a secret marriage.
AS Mary entered the wide aisle. n
shaft OF moonlight pierced the gloom
and disappeared as a fash OF lightning
might have done. IL startled her for
n moment: but hardly had she reached
the stone seat beneath the old elder
tree than the moonlight came stream
| ing In upon her with a calm and steady
radiance. She took this for a good
omen. which may be noted as evidence
OF the utter unreliability OF superst!-
I tious interpretations OF natural phe-
nomena: for at that moment the awful
shadow OF the murderers and their
/ victim had been struck by that same
moonlight right across the abbey foot
path.
The next moment Mary was holding
her breath and creeping into the fur
thest shadows OF the elder tree. a
muttered curse had held her SPELL
/ bound. so strange. so unexpected. so
/ ferocious was e. She turned 10 look
| in the direction from which IL had
come
Two dark figures carrying a helpless
burden met her startled gaze. She
wondered II this were some rude test
OF her courage. but this idea was
quickly dispeiled by the tremendous
earnestness OF the actors.
No two men could have played the
part OF bogies as these played.
AS they approached her she saw that
they labored with the weight OF their
CHASTITY load.
She saw the dead mans arms swing
TO and fro. and the poor head move
helplcssly from side TO side
AS the first rufiian bore his share OF
the body. with his back towards her
the other stopped low and muttered
curses not loud but deep.
The moon disappeared while the
awful procession passed her hidine
place. and IL seemed to her process
sion OF magnitude. so long did IL ap-
pear 10 be passing.
Mary had never felt fear until then
Her heart stood still. And yet II
seemed to her as II her breath came
and went with the noise OF 20 people
She clutched the elder tree with q
silent prayer OF gratitude for the SOUND
Of the rustling ivy overhead. which
seemed 10 assist In shielding her from
observation.
The wind had stopped. as II to lister
to the tale OF blood. stopped dead. n,
II II had never rustled an ivy leaf
much less uprooted an oak. But tn,
next moment IL stormed through IN,
open spaces on the towers moaned n
the hollows OF the crypt. When IN,
moon once more emerged from IN,
stormy clouds the ruffians paused with
their load. and the foremost OF the tive
muttered; Curse the wind" as Mi
hat was blown along the aisle. stop
ping almost at Mary's feet.
Would he follow IT." was tn,
thought that once more terrified her.
She shrank TO the furthermost cor
ner OF her shallow retreat. and clunl
to the trunk OF the rugged elder In an
agony OF despair. But the second mar
said with an oath: Come on you car
get the cursed hat when the job s,
ended" and they took up their load
afrcsh and disappeared beyond the alb
hey walls.
The moment she could no longer Gee
the rufiians. the awful fascination IA
which they held her abated.
She crept from her hiding place
siezed the hat. and with the speed OF I
hunted fawn bounded into the oper
| and nod frr,aanorfive NJ dead mr. llvlno