The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-12-20
OR A BITTER RECKONING
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME

no longer doubted that the lady reign
ing at Mallingford Park was his niece,
and concluded that this was the grave
OF some other person-presumably the
wife of his friend, Captain Polling. He
remembered the captains impressive lit
tie story of his unhappy marriage and its
premature denouement; and Mr.. Mallett
had no doubt whatever that he was now
standing by the grave Of that gentleman's
wife. Still the question kept repeating
itself: Why should his niece-of the same
Christian name, too-treasure up this
picture of Mrs. Pelling's grave? He
smiled to himself at the freak of fortune
that ordained the obliteratnon of just
the first two letters Of the surname, and
wondered at the insignifcance of the
triae that had drawn him from England
on such a wild goose chase!
The servant, TO all appearance busy
over her stewpans in the kitchen, was
working herself into a fever of fright.
She expected the exhortation to finish di-
rectly, and then the sisters would wander
all about the grounds, and her mysteri-
Gus visitor would be discovered. She
quaked with fear as the consequences
Of her conduct presented themselves TO
her Imagination. She had seen the brown
cloak fit noiselessly past the half closed
kitchen door a quarter Of an hour be-
fore; but she was sure it had not yet
gone back.
AT last, unable to bear the anxiety any
longer, she decided that she must at
all risks go and warn the man away
before harm came of his dilatoriness
1 ('afrhinu IN n hoSLat aud p,nttor;pn a
few words about garnishing to the other
busy sisters, she started for the grave
yard. She hurried along, keeping we'll
out of sight Of the sisters at their devo-
tons. ntil she reached the corner.
Come away at once! You will be
d~iscovered!'
Mr.. Mallett was startled for a mo-
ment.
You az the woman who helped Cas-
tellan to admit me?"
"Yes; but for PHYS sake come away
now. or we shall all be ruinedr"
There was no installing the terror in
the poor woman's face; and he started at
once. They walked quickly over the
grass; but for all his hurry, Mr.. NAL
lett managed to ask two questions and
get two replies BEFORE they reached the
Ismall door by which he had entered.
what sort of a person was that Pau
line Polling, who lies buried there?' he
asked.
She was n mere babe, only three
months old. She was born in the hos
pital of this town, long since abandoned"
"Merciful heaven!' exclaimed Mr..
Mallett, gazing at her in blank astonish-
ment
The woman was hurrying him along
the narrow passage, for every moment
! now might lead to discovery.
"And It's mother?" he gasped.
"Was the beautiful fair lady for
whom Senior CASTELAR, took the view of
the grave just before she set out for
England"
And before Mr.. Mallett had recovered
from his last surprise he found himself
outside the door, with his boots on the
path beside him, his brain in a whirl
of conflicting thoughts.
"Pelling has by some means jumped
to the conclusion, or been led to it in
tentionally, perhaps, that his wife died
In this convent and Is buried here, while
In truth 1t is his child's grave, and his
wife is still living; and, according to the
present aspect of affairs, Pelling's wife
and Pauline Mailing are evidently one,
And she. Pauline Mailing, or Polling, or
whatever she Is, is going to be married
to Dornton tomorrow morning, and she
has one husband still living ! l wonder il
she knows that he is still alive? After
all, IL this turns put true-and it looks
very like i'll shall resume my rightful
position at Mallingford, for this girl has
disobeyed the clause in Paul's will about
marrying without Summers consent.
And that provides the motive for her
conduct. She knew, If her husband found
her, she would be compelled to resign
the estate. Well, she has played a sue
cessful game SO far; it is my inning
now.
And that evening Mr.. Mallett, who
mad not been across a horse for nearly
twenty years, rode the twelve miles OF
execrable road that lay between Villa
Silentio and Bassilia, and prepared and
delivered personally several kilograms to
be dispatched directly the Office opened In
the morning.