Middletown transcript., 1905-03-04
!. The Mystery Of Lady Verriker.
BY TIOLET N, FLINN

room, did not really become any more
intimate with Lady Verriker. When a
woman has shrouded herself for years in
reserved silence she does not throw it off
at once. But / understood her better.
although / often felt very intoerant to-
wards her. She was an exceedingly pro-
yoking woman in many ways. Her
reserve, her tinidity, her meekness, her
obstinacy, her niggardly penny saving
habits were all in opposition to my own
nature. But remembered the miserable
life which she had led. the troubles and
wrongs which she had endured | thought
Of Sir Adam, who had described her with
such tenderness, and SO did my very
best to be as friendly as possible with
her. She seemed to see and to appreciate
my efforts, although she made no attempt
to return them.
It was in the evening that the time
passed most pleasantly, when the cur
tains were drawn and the lamps were
lighted. I would get my work. was
embroidering a cushion for wedding
present to friend-and. Lady Nerriker
would play to me for hours. had never
heard any one play as well as she did
there was such meaning in every note.
II often seemed to me that in the music
the true and real woman appeared, bnt
only to die again when the music ceased.
Sometimes, when she was tired OF play
ing, I could persuade her to talk little
Of her early girlish days when she had
known Sir Adam, and at such times some
glow Of her past youth would come back
to her. She spoke very warmly OF his
goodness to her, and of their long friend
ship, and once she limited what grief il
had been to her when the break came.
She very rarely spoke Of her life abroad.
The recollection seemed to be very pain
full to her. Only once did she mention
her husband.
I had been looking through cabinet
which contained photographs, and ! came
across an oval miniature of very hand
some man in uniform-a man with colo
tired eyes, well-cut features, and cyni
cal smile under the light moustache. j
was undoubtedly handsome face, bu
it impressed me very disagreeably.
"What a handsome bad face y | ex
claimed involuntarily, as | held it up
"Who is it, Lady Verriker?''
my husband r she said, half unde
her breath. She looked at the painting
as if in terror; then she suddenly tool
it from me, and threw it back into TIL
drawer with gesture almost Of loathing
"Put it out Of sight, Ethel" she said in
voice which was full Of bitterness :"
would that I could forget as easily as
can do that -
| And l was very glad to obey her. Their
was that in Sir Jasper Verriker's fac
which made me feel very thankful tha
l had never seen him in the flesh.
CHAPTER ~
One night, when had been at Verri
ker Court for a week, it had been late
than usual when / had hidden Lad
Verriker good night, but somehow | coul
not sleep. | tossed and turned in m
bed, and at last got up in despair. | pu
on my dressing gown, and, drawing bac
the curtains, sat by the window for som
time.
1t was fairly light night although til
moon was invisible, and | could see til
lake glimmering beneath the band c
dark trees which bordered it on the othe
side, and the outlines Of the boathouse.
1t was not very wise thing to do, 70
looking at the lake naturally recalled t
my memory Roberts tale. was quit
fascinated by that long stretch Of sti
water, until at last | could have pei
suaded myself that saw some one moy
ing near to the boathouse. My hear
leaped to my mouth, but could not stil
Surefy-yes lit was some one, and tn
next moment all doubt vanished, for
saw the black shadow suddenly projecte
across the path | did not scream.
was too frightened to utter sound.
simply rushed back into bed, and covere
my head with the sheet.
) | lay thus for some minutes before
could reason myself into more sensibl
frame of mind and emerge from til
suffocating warmth Of the bedclothes
, If there had been anyone at the boa
house he or she could not harm me i
, my room, told myself. But still la
and trembled, when suddenly shade,
, was cast over the window which / La
| left uncurtained, and | looked up. T
my horror | saw that the upright figur
of man was silhouetted against the SIX
! with an arm outstretched as if he wer
| grasping the side of the window, while
| curious scraping noise told me that b
! was trying to unfasten the lock.
i tried to scream, but my tongue r.
} fused to move. / felt powerless to sti
J hand or foot. | was sick and faint wit
) terror, and coulu only watch that blac
| form. must have become PARTIAL
unconscious, for my next impression wa
of being startled by hearing wild, terto
: stricken screams from the direction {
. Lady Veiriker's room, and found tbs
the figure had vanished from my window
For moment hesitated then, as til
screams rose again in very frenzy /
/ terror, sprang out of bed, ,-and, with
} courage which was born OF desperation
| rushed down the dark, silent corridc
to Lady Verriker's room. | tried til
! door, but it was locked, and as | knocke
the screams ceased with weird abrup
| | ness.
Lady Verriker p l cried. "What
! it? Let me in Unlock the door Ian
| hammered wildly on the panels. NJ
| a sound came. from the inside Of til
| room, and knocked and called agair
| | was almost beside myself with terro
j Lady Verriker-Lady Verriker y
There vas another pause then lie
ladyslip's voice answered. 1t was wea
, 1 and faint aud Scor rcaiv ordihlu