Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-08
CHAPTER Xxx


complain, whatever happens"
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 n trace by which she might
be followed.
As Reuben rode to Worcester he scan
ned the hedge rows, and the dry bitches,
for a trace of her; he turned into yawn-
ing lanes where all was of an indissin-
guish able darkness; he reined in his horse
fifty times to listen to the noises of the
night-the shriek of distant engine, toll
ing on with its luggage through the coun-
try to some bustling center; the rattle
of the train, the rustling of the trees,
the whirring of a night bird in the long
grass of the meadows, the yelping of dogs
in the farm house yards, as he dashed
by. He found his way at last to Wor-
eester, and went slowly, hopelessly along
it's deserted streets in the direction cf
the police station.
1t was seven in the morning when he
was at 'Sedge Hill 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.
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
Sarah was surprised by her sister-in-Iaw,
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 coffee table at his side.
There was a letter lying on the t1ay,
addressed to himself. The ,superscription
was in strange hand, a 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 position which
it is incompatible with my dignity to re-
tain. l have intrusted Mr.. Thomas East
bell with my kind regards to his grand
mother, to whose hospitality and invaria-
BILE kindness 1 am forever deeply indebt-
ed. My servant will call for my violin
| i'll the course of next week. 1 beg TO re-
main, sir, your obedient servant,
ADJ DT1nnnco~y
There was deep furrow on the orow
of Reuben Culwick when he had finish
ed the perusal of this letter.
"Why was this man allowed to leave
the house?" he asked. HE who calls
himself Captain Peterson
Il didn't know that he was gone, sir.
Not that could have stopped him, Mr..
Culwick, as all the servants were away
| when 1 saw him last"
when was that?'
"At five o'clock this morning. He was
talking to Miss Holland-here. lust
| where stand, sir-and think that they
were having few words. I don't know
for certain, but 1 think so."
You suspected them?' said Reuben
quickly.
"N-no, sir, don't say that" was the
| quick answer, as the woman fiinched be-
fore his steady gaze; "but 1 was curious,
of course. It's all in such a muddle, sir,
just now, and Miss Hollands very kind !;
| she's been always very kind to all of us,
but I 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.
1 heard that as 1 was passing with my
mistress cruel, quite by accident
''That will do," said Reuben, moodily;
don't say any more. 1 will wait for
Miss Holland"
(To be con:inued.l