Middletown transcript., 1904-06-18

such thing in my life exclaimed Eve
lyn. withsom annoyance. Fancy, ifno-
body had told you, might have been
waiting at Satellite still ! should not
have known what to do; and as it is
again her conscience gave her one or two
undoubted pricks--what fearful trouble
am But really there was 10 need
for yod too have come. ! conld have
managed by myself.
Nonsense, Miss Luttrell! Did you not
hear me promise to deliver you safely in
to Parker's hands? And surely you do
not suppose / should be so reniss as to
leave you in such straits as these? No
decidedly shall carry out my promise
to the letter; and, sooner than any blame
should fall upon me, / shall certainly es-
cort you all the way to Royston. Let me
see, though. Isuppose it is Parker who
has made the mistake. What did Lady
Howard say in her letter. Are you sure
the train she told you to come by was the
ten minutes past nine one, and not the
nine train?
Oh, yes, am quite surel But here is
She broke off somewhat abruptly
however as she glanced down at the pa
per in her hand, and it was only the pro-
gramme.of the theatre which she had
been keeping so securely. How tiresome !!
must have dropped aunt Lydia's note
Dropped i'll You do not mean to cay
that the letter is lost to, exclaimed Falk-
land, starting forward with look of ter
rible anxiety on his face. Really, Miss
Luttrell, how very But discovering
Miss 1uttrelPs gaze concentrated upon
him in absolute amazement, he seemed
suddenly to bethink himself, tor, leaning
back against the cushions, he folded his
arms with an air of calm complacence
and laughed indolently. II is SO annoy
ing, always think, to lose ones cores
pondence; one never cares to have ones
private affairs published upon the house
tops. But, great heavens, why are we
stopping here Falkland sprang up from
his seat and let down the window with a
bang as the train began to slacken speed.
Why, what do you mean? We stop
at Redhill, Of coarse; this is where Parker
will be waiting with the luggage; and
Evelyn commenced rubbing vigorously
the window nearest to her, at the same
peering out anxiously through the dim
med glass in the hope OF catching a
glimpse of the missing maid.
But Falkland, who had his head half
way outjof the windows as the train came
to stand-still by the side of the lamp-lit
little station, all at once drew back into
the carriage and brought up the window
again with a resounding bang.
Redhill, Miss Luttrell? Oh, did l not
explain? As he turned his face towards
her, Evelyn noticed that he was deathly
pale. Lynwood is the first stopping place;
so that it will be the next station where
Parker is to be found.
Are you sure Evelyn bent forward
anxiously. Had you not better ask some-
body to make certain? LYes-here comes
a guard; ask him.
She had risen to her feet and was about
to lay her hand upon the window, but
Falkland was before her. He had seized
the strap and seemed to be making vain
attempt to let the window down, when
suddenly key was inserted in the lock,
the door was hastily thrown back, and
the light of lantern was directed into
the carriage.
There was momentary pause as both
Falkland and Evelyn, completely dazzled
by the light, started vacantiy at the dark
figure berore them. and then
Great heavens Miss Luttrell, is that
you? I thought must have been mis-
taken.
1t was Major Brown himself who stood
there indistinctly defined in the darkness;
and at the sound of his voice Eyelyn's
heart gave q great bound, whilst every
particle of color retreated from her face.
Only now did she realize that after that
evening she would most probably never
see him again-never again Full Of this
new thought, she Immediately thrust out
her hand, forgetting as she did SO all her
terrible suspicious of the past four-and-
twenty hours.
Yes, | am here, she answered; and, as
there can be only second to wait, / sup
pose it is-good-bye? / am going now,
she added falteringly, to join my aunt,
who has hurried off at moments notice
TO one of her boys, who has met with an
accident at school.
/ do not understand. An accident ?
And Lady Howard has left Satellite?
Certainly! Lady Howard left by the
$50 express, supplemented Falkland in
;one Of some impatienee. Miss Luttrell
nad letter to that effect but of course
t is quite likely that you have heard
nothing. The whole affair has occurred
n the space Of about an hour.
Oh, no, of course not-that is quite
likely was the Majors reply, in voice
which made Evelyn survey him in silent
wonder, whilst Falkland's face became
imply liyid. Only, as it happens, it was
ully ten minutes to nine when took my
departure from the hotel and can
assure you that barely two seconds before
was in your aunt's room, talking to
Lady Howard herselfl
At ten minutes to nine you were talk
ng to aunt Lydia at the Royal George!
What on earth do you mean?
mean what I say, Miss Luttreli Il
md, if it lie true that you are off now to
DIN her in London-because this il the
express which does not stop before you
each town. am afraid you are the
'ictim Of another forgery and some vile
cheme concocted simply with an idea of |
nveigling you away. And, having SO
himself, the Major folded his |
rms and, with an air Of studied calmness,
TODD looking from one to the other of |
he two Mortified couutenances.