The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-05-14
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CHAPTER xX.-tContfnued.)

What did it all mean? If Mary Hol.
land were not to be trusted, IL this
strange girl had for years deceived him
II his mothers warning were after ell cor.
rect, what was to be done at the elcv.
enth hour, when he was In great trouble
The door opened, and Mary Holland came
into the room.
"You sent for me?'' she said.
YES" he said, Sin misery and fear
sent for you. Sit down, please" he said
Il am anxious to ask you many ques,
tions."
The old pallor which Sarah Eastbell
had perceived stole to Mary's face as
Reuben spoke, but she took the chair
which he had indicated, and which was
at little distance from the couch, and
sat down facing him.
Though we have not seen a great deal
Of each other in our lives, Mary" he be.
gan, kindly and earnestly, "still it is
through you that great changes have &C.
curred-that l have lost my fathers love,
and home, and fortune"
YES" said Mary sadly, "that Is true"
II lost the three without losing conf
dencs In you. As learned to respect
you, so / began to think of the POSSIBLE
lty of many past mistakes, on my side and
my mothers. OF late days l have con-
sidered you the friend of all in this
house."
II have done my best to be the friend"
she answered.
Last night, and for the first time in
my life, suspicion seized me. hardly
know what 1t was. 1t would have pass
ed away, but that 1t came again to-day,
strengthened by new doubts. You see
this letter? Are you aware of its pur-
port?'
mo, save that It was written in my
presence by Captain Peterson. Dare he
does he refer to me In that?' she cried,
with the color mounting to her cheeks
for q moment, and then dying away into
the old gray tint.
"Not by word. He Is as silent respect
ing the past relations between you as
you have always BEEN"
you know, then?" she said In dis
may.
II know that you and he were confer
ring together in the garden last night;
that there Is a secret between you which
do not share, and which you have made
no effort to reveal; and I believe that
man knows where Sarah Eastbell is, and
Is In all respects a villain. Tell me what
you know of him, and when you knew
him first"
II cannot" she said in low voice.
HE is at the bottom Of terrible mys-
terry; he has brought grief to me; he is
linked with Thomas Eastbell against the
peace of this house; and you will not give
me one clew to his life."
II know but little Of him. Reuben"
she answered, "and that cannot divuIge
now. 1t is more than my life's worth to
attempt 1t. could not explain to Sarah
Eastbell; cannot explain to you at this
time. 1 can only say that am a woman
grievously misunderstood"
Miss Holland" said Reuben, IT am
sorry, but | cannot trust you any more
In this house."
She did not speak again. She looked
at him steadily for a few moments, and
then went away, and up the stairs to her
own room, at the end Of the corridor, and
1t was some hours before she was seen
again in that house. It was nearly mid
day when, dressed as for a journey, she
reRppeared In the corridor and faced
Hartley, still at her old post, a woman
forever on guard.
You are trusty servant, Hartley"
She said, as she advanced; ''but you must
be extra vigilant, extra strong, and clever,
and cunning, while am away"
Are you going-at this time, Miss
Holland" exclaimed Hartley, in sur
prise.
"Yes-for little while. I will write
to Miss Sarah by next post"
ITO Miss Eastbellp' exclaimed Hart
ley.
Meanwhile listen at this door-you
are good at listening, believe"
"Oh, madaml-I-what makes you soy
thatT
"All Is mystery In this house, and /
set you on the watch for all Of us-lf |
have seemed part of the mystery, too, it
was your place to warn one who will
soon be rightful master here But listen
now for me-"
Il do not understand, madam"
I'm the brink of many strange confess
sions, that poor woman has slept in much
security. 1t has been our mission more
than once to keep the truth from killing
her, and heaven will pardon the fiction we
have woven round her life, as pray that
heaven will pardon me-"
Mary went swiftly down the stairs, and
out Of the house wherein she had snent
nearly six years Of her life, winning no
mans love, or woman's gratitude.
CHAPTER XXI,
Sedge Hill was more desolate after
Mary Holland had departed. Though
Miss Holland knew it not, she had been
the ruling agent of that house, for good
or evil, for longer period than that from
which the opening of our story dates.
forlorn little woman, set forever under
suspicion by an adverse fate beyond her
power to resist, she was still to be missed
when she had passed from the homo into
which Simon Culwick's charity had in
stalled her.
The news reached Thomas Eustbell
when Willis had brought him his lunch
into the picture gallery after he had rung
FL. II not kasa.S :.