Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-01-31
CHAPTER Xxx.


Only one person slept that night in the
big house at Sedge Hill. While Mrs.
Eastbell slum bered, the inmates were
astir, and not few of them abroad, beat
ing right and left for scraps of informa-
ton, and failing in their object miscra-
bly, Sarah Eastbell had disappeared,
leaving not Il trace by which she might
be followed.
AS Reuben rode to Worcester he scan
ned the hedge rows, and the dry bitches,
for trace of her; he turned into yawn-
ing lanes where all was of an indistin-
guishable darkness; he refined in his horse
fifty times to listen to the noises of the
| night-the shrek of distant engine, toll
ing on with it's luggage through the coun-
try to some bustling center; the rattle
of the train, the rustlng of the trees,
the whirring of night bird in the long
grass of the meadows, the yelping of dogs
i'll the farm house yards, as he dashed
by. He found his way at last to Wor-
cester, and went slowly, hopelessly along
| its deserted streets in the direction Of
| the police station.
1t was seven in the morning when he
was at Sedge Fill again. He rode back
| in hot haste, as if something unforeseen
were to be thwarted by his quick return:
and he was prepared for evil tidings, as
he passed into the hall and found Miss
Holland, pale as he had seen her last,
awaiting him with eager eyes.
! what news--what has happened since
have been away?" he exclaimed.
j Nothing has happened" answered
! Mary Holland; ''and you? Have YOU
| heard or seen"
There is not a trace of her."
He sat before the fire where his cousin
I Sarah was surprised by her sister-in-law,
] and endeavored from his bewildered brain
! to shape out a scheme for her discovery.
! when the maid Hartley entered with
breakfast on little tray, and set it down
on a coffee table at his side.
There was Il letter lying on the tray,
addressed to himself. The superscription
was in a strange hand, fine bold hand
writing, characterized by too many flour
ishes to be wholly satisfactory, and he
/ took up the letter curiously, broke the
seal and read the following epistle:
"Sir-After your discourteous behavior
! Of yesterday evening, / cannot, with sat-
] isfaction to myself, remain a guest in
/ your aunt's establishment. I feel COM
PEELED to withdraw from a position which
it is incompatible with my dignity to re-
tain. have intrusted Mr.. Thomas East
/ bell with my kind regards to his grand
mother, to whose hospitality and invaria-
/ BILE kindness | am forever deeply indebt-
! ed. My servant will call for my violin
i'll the course of next week. | beg 10 re-
main, sir, your obedent servant,
edward PETERSON"
| There was a deep furrow on the brow
| of Reuben Culwick when he had finish
/ ed the perusal of this letter.
"Why was this man allowed to leave
| the houseY' he asked. HE who calls
! himself Captain Peterson"
Il didn't know that he was gone, sir
Not that l could have stopped him, Mr..
f! Culwick, as all the servants were away
when I saw him last"
/ when was that?"
eat five o'clock this morning He was
| talking to Miss Holand-here, Just
where | stand, strand think that they
! were having a few words. 1 don't know
; for certain, but think 500
"You suspected them?" said Reuben
quickly.
"Nno, sir, / don't say that was the
| quick answer, as the woman finched be-
/ lore MS STEADY gaze, put L was curious,
of course. It's all in such a middle, sir,
| just now, and Miss Hollands very kind:
she's been always very kind to all of us,
/ but l wanted to hear what they had to
say, because poor Miss Sarah was angry
| at those two being together in the garden
last night"
/ "Those two-which two?"
| Miss Holland and the Captain
Sarah was angry" repeated Reuben
with whom?''
with Miss Holland, just before you
! came. She said she couldn't trust her.
[ heard that as l was passing with my
mistress Cruel, quite by accident"
'That will do said Reuben, modify;
don't say any more | will wait for
Miss Holland"
(To be continued.)