The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-09
The Yellow
Holly
By FERGUS HUME,
Author of THE Mystery OF q
Hanson Cab" Etc.
COPYRIGHT, 1908, by G. ". Dillingham;
Company
Continued from Bird page.)

her life"
Brendon said nothing, and in few
moments Miss Bull composed herself
sufficiently to tell what she knew. "Iy
father was General Howard" she
said quietly, land Violet was my only
sister. We never got on well together.
Violet was Jealous of admiration, and
as l was said to be prcttier than she
was she hated me intensely"
You limited that she took my IA
ther away" said Brendon.
'She did-at least she tried to. But
IL he had not been murdered l should
have been Mrs. Vane in spite of Vic.
let's arts"
We'll, tell me how you came TO San
Remo and met my father"
"Oh, l knew him before that. We
were six months at Como and saw
your father frequently then. He and
the general used to talk politics. Mr..
Vane was always bringing us books
and magazines, and we used to climb
Mount BisDino. What delightful
summer that was! l remember you
them" she added, looking ut George
with interest. You were scarcely two
years old-a dear, good, fair little fell
low. met you and the nurse some
times and often carried YOU"
WAS the nurses name Eliza
Stokes2"
''No. Il was-lct me see, some
Scotch name-Janc Fraser, think"
"Ah. Then Eliza Stokes was not at
Como?
Il never saw her. Mr. Nane told me
that you had had another nurse, but
that he had to dismiss her at Milan
for impertinencc.'
George saw that Miss Bull was not
keeping strictly to the truth, and cor
rected her at once, You knew Eliza
Stokes at San Remo?'
$50 1 did, quite forgot" Miss Bull
put her hand to her head. with puZ-
zled air. But since my illness have
forgotten so much. 1t is all blank
to me-"
Brcndon remembered that she had
been III an asylum, and thought that
her mind was still weak. 1t might be
that after all she had not told an un-
truth, but had quite forgotten Eliza
Stokes. George was confirmed in his
supposition by her next remark
Eliza Stokes. l remember. Mrs.
Jersey"
You knew she was Mrs. Jersey?'
Yes. That was why l came to this
house,
Did you like her thcn?"
Miss Bulls eyes flashed. She was
another Violet. hated her. Oh, how
hated her! l found her through my
sister mentioning that Lord Derring-
ton had given her this house, SO
came here to board
But your sister knows nothing
about you. She says you ran away
and that it was supposed you were
dead"
Miss Bull laughed bitterly. my
sister knows perfectly well that live
here, but it suits her to disown the
relationship. 1t is my wish also, ana
for that reason l changed my name"
But if you hated Mrs. Jersey
Il did did, but she was the only
person who could talk about Mr..
Vane. She loved him also, but not as
l did, and we have talked for hours in
this very room. We quarrcled, cer-
tainly, but at times she was very nice
l miss our talks greatly"
Did she know who killed him?"
Miss Bull shook her head. NO. She
never knew. No one ever knew.
sometimes thought that Violet-Dut she
declared that lie left her ut the door
)f the ballroom"
Miss Bull" said George, growing
inpatient of this disconnected recital
will you so on with your story"
'Story-yc", il is Il story-a sad ro-
nance She passed her hand again
over hcr forehead as though wcaried
and resumed with in effort. Mr.
Nanc left Como and came 10 Milan:
aftcrwal lie went on to San Reno
My father, who liked his society. Join
ed him there. We stopped at the Hotel
GAnglctcrrc. Eliza Stokes was a
houscmaid there, ana it was while at
tending to our bedroom that she told
me she had been yOur nurse. She was
large. stout girl. with red checks AS
Mrs. Jersey sic WAS vastly improved
but as II girl Miss Bull Shuddcred
in prm way and continued: yet,
she had Ecr admirers. \ waiter call
ed George Rates, wished to marry her
She had accepted him, but while with
in sight of Mr. Vane she could not love
him."
How do you mean?
well, Eliza used to spy on Mr. Vane
and follow him i'm his walks. She was
quite insane about him. 1 told Mr..
Vane, and he kept away from the ho-
tel. And George Rates was Jealous OF
EliZa's love for Mr.. Vane. But he
never loved her, nor Violet-he loved
no one but me-"
And he told you so at the masked
ball?"
Eyes. There was to be a masked
ball, and both Violet and 1 were anx-
ious to CO. We made friend of Eliza.