Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-04
a ~ ~
NoRA,s lest
From
Darkness
To Light
>oeeSS~sSeoooooooaa&
BY MARY CECIL HAY

first, if you will We have a little story
TO tell Nora here, and l know she will
like you to be present, too"
He had drawn up a couch for Mrs. PEN
nington and Miss Giffard, but Nora had
walked up to the wide, low window, aud
stood looking out thoughtfully; remem-
bering well that this was the scene Of
that little water-color sketch in Rachael
Corr's cabin, and recalling that one day
when Mark himself had told her the sad
legend of this house Was he going TO
tell this story again to-day? No, for
Mark only said:
I'VE think that in this room we can tell
you the end of the story better than in
any other spot. Nora. do you remember
it, or do you wish me to tell you any
part again."
"Oh, | remember quite. quite well, she
said.
This was Arthur's room,' Mark said.
Il will call him Arthur still, because, as
you know, the title never reached him.
When | first came here q was paying a
visit to my uncle them, this room was
filed with his machinery, and chemicals,
and a hundred specimens of his odd
tastes and pursuits, and | Investigated
everything; for such work and such ex-
periments had zest for me- too. At last
one day | made an unexpected discovery.
need not tell you now, Nora. That will
do another time. / found that that one
fresco-just above your head. Mrs. Pen
nington-ftted into the wall with a
spring, and, when taken away, disclosed
a narrow, secret staircase. Some Jay,
Nora, you will climb it. | can tell you
what found, just as well as if you had
seen the little turret room to which it
leads"
As Mark spoke, sitting opposite Nora
at the window, he rarely addressed any
one except herself; but the vicar and his
wife sat listening quietly, and did not
seem to wonder why the story should be
told to Nora.
That turlet room opens to the battle
ments by trap door, which cannot be
stirred from without, but which can be
opened from within with very little diff
Guilty. In this dim little room | found
one or two things gradually, l
think, not all at once-excited a strange
suspicion in my mind. First, | found
what seemed to me the remnants of an
old balloon; but presently | discovered
cut into pieces. Then | found portions of
mans dress, an empty bottle, dry crusts
of bread, and torn pieces of paper. For
hours, Nora, | have sat la the gloom of
that secret chamber, trying to bring my
vague surmises into shape. | seemed to
see so much and yet, when | brought
what / saw fully into the light, it dwin-
died into so Little, for want of the key
to ALL Going back again and again to
that story of Arthur's escape, l grew to
feel quite sure that he had, by means of
this little balloon which he had him
self constructed, returned to the Place,
and taken refuge in this unknown room,
from which, one day long afterward. he
may safely have escaped in disguise. Can
you follow me, NoraT'
Yes"
Though L seemed to see that so plain
ly, there were still, as l say, great gaps
where l could find nothing; and l was
obliged to wait, only watching earnestly,
lest the slightest clew should escape me.
But while | waited, l searched well for
any trace of Arthur himself; and Miss
Giffard must remember we'll how, some
times, l wearied her with questions"
YES, | remember" Miss Giffard said.
But she answered Marks smile with one
which was even grateful as we'll as tran
quill and content.
But she never helped me in the slight
est" Mark went on; ''she was too loyal
to her old friend, and too faithful to her
promise. At last, Nora, came that day,
when l was summoned so suddenly
will not recall that" he added, hurriedly,
when he saw how the color left even her
lips as that evening was brought before
her once again. After that the tile
was mine, and the power to act You I'M
derstand, sweet. But then began my
search for you, and the other search was
almost forgotten-almost, not quite, for
had put machinery into motion which
worked on while my own misery
Nora, we will pass that time by, and
will ask you if you remember telling me
one day-that first day you were allowed
to walk to the little church, and when |
met you there-how Miss Giffard had
given you your medicine in her sleep.
Yes, | see how clearly you remember it."
he added. following her grateful, loving
glance across at Miss Giffard. Mora,
those words of yours seemed somehow to
put into my hand the key which / 50 long
had wanted. | went at once 10 Miss
Kate, and told her what l fancied. had
no fear of her resenting my words or dis
credting yours, and she listened kindly,
as knew she would. whatever pain they
cost her.
"She. too" added Mark, after little
pause, while his warm. clear glance rest
ed on Miss Giffard's face, had never
believed in Arthur's guilt, only it had all
been so strange to her, so utterly mex
plicable."
''But-but she did not give the poison,
even in her sleep"
This was Nora's whispered cry, as she
crossed the room and bent to kiss Miss
Giffard's shaking lips But Mark went
on very quietly, only turning his eyes now
away from her.
"She fancied at once. as did. that
this was the solution of the mystery: but.
as a suspicion aud surnise. that knowl-
edge must have been kept in our own
hearts, Nora. for the telling would have
done no good. and only panied her use
lessly. But. in her great desire for JUS
tice 10 be done, at any cost to herself,
she followed up the clew. and at last.
tempted GA gently and imperceptibly,
know the gentle, kind old woman. Nora
confessed all that we hai been unable
TO make clear. She, sitting sleeping in
the outer room that nigbt. had awakened
just in time TO see her young mistress
pour the drops and pu. the glass to cid
Mrs. Says lips. Il had only taken two
or three seconds, and before she could
reach the bed Miss Fate had put down
the empty vial and rltaken her place be-
side the bed
After this confession" continued
Mark. Miss GiffarJ at once gave me the
clew to Arthur's whereabouts. and was
far more anxious even than | was that
justice should at last be done TO him. let
the confession cost her what it might l
soen found him, Nora. and brought him
20 England. while Mr.. Doyle and my own
. solicitors paved the way fer us. You viii
rot understand that quite yet | dare
say | need nor tell Won what Arthur