Middletown transcript., 1905-03-11
~. The Mystery Of Lady Verriker !.
BY TTOLET NJ FILM
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
CHATTER ".
BY VIOLET N. FILM


The dislike which had taken to Signor
Sergali when had first seen him did not
lessen as saw more OF him. The house
had been gloomy and mysterious before
he came; it was twenty times more SO
after his arrival. Everything was altered
to suit his convenience. and he seemed
to rule as master, while Lady Verriker
and Anne waited upon him hand and
foot. Yet / could plainly see that the
former was doing SO with very great
reluctance she seemed to shrink from
being in the same room with him, and
once or twice when had gone away she
had followed me as if she dared not be
alone with him. His manner to her was
rude and imperious. There were times
when could not conceal my Indignation.
"He is worse than Anne u ! declared
hotly. We were at luncheon and the old
wretch was muttering to himself, and
evidently finding fault with the outlet
which he was turning over on his plate
II think it is pity that you've not got
brother or some one who would come
and kick the pair OF them out =
"Oh, hush, Ethel y her ladyship ex-
claimed, and glanced nervously round
as if she expected to find Anne at her
back. "You don't understand
IT understand enough to know that
your health is giving way" I replied re-
belliously. I added mentally, "And your
mind, too !"
When luncheon was over | went up
to my own room. Lady Verriker's be-
hayior was absolutely iLcomprehenslble
to me. Her husband was dead. and she
was free to live where she pleased, yet
she remained in the house, where every
stone recalled her unhappy past. She
was, moreover, apparently under the
dominion OF an ignorant woman servant
and third-rate foreigner. What could
it mean but that there was some mystery
or secret in her life which put her in
their power? But what could that be !?
She was, no doubt, foolish and weak
woman, but could not believe that she
was guilty of positive wrong-doing.
I puzzled and puzzled until | grew
quite dazed and bewildered. ! was sitting
inthe window seat and tke warm sunshine
poured down upon me. and before long
/ felt myself growing drowsy. | must
have gone to sleep, for presently ! was
startled by the sound of voices. The
sounds seem to float in upon the still
air, but was utterly unable to discover
from which direction they proceeded. |
could distinguish Lady Verriker's voice.
1t sounded sharp and piteous.
IT cannot do it dare not Y heard
her say, and it did not occur to me that
was evesdropping. Have you no pity,
no compassion? / believe you want to
drive me mad Y
"That would not answer my purpose
at all" soft low voice answered, and !
was unable to decide whether it was a
mans or a womans. II tell you that
/ must have more. How can / get out
this accursed place without it2 Come
don't be fool know that you've got
it. Anne told men'
81 dare not r. Lady Verriker answered
and broke into bitter weeping. "Oh, |
shall be dead soon | cannot bear this
life longer! | shrink every time that
innocent clear-eyed girl looks at me I
am terrified She will see that am all
a lie-a lie ~
'Oh, spare me heroics | am sick Of
them. say, Anne, she thinks that she's
got conscience" and a laugh foated on
the still air. 1t was mans laugh, but /
heard Anne answer
Fancy my Lady Verriker with con
science y
Isprang to my feet the sound Of that
cool, scornful, taunting laugh and Lady
Verriker's bitter weeping made Inc hot
with Indignation. What brutes they
must be to have heard that piteous appeal
without yielding But to whom did the
soft voice belong? My first idea had
been that it was the Signor who bad been
speaking, but | speedily dismissed that
notion. The Signor's voice was thick
and raucous, and with curious break in
1t that would have BETRAYED him any
where /; but the voice to which had just
been listening was soft and smoc th and
must belong to much younger man than
the Signor. And then the memory OF
the man whom had seen at my window
three nights before flashed through my
mind.
For the first time / saw clear and
definite reason for Lady Verriker's I
screams and her strange reluctance to
make any search. Probably the intruder
had gone on to her window, and she had !
screamed in the first alarm OF seeing him,
and then afterwards she and Anne had |
hidden him in one OF the deserted rooms.
l remembered now how anxious they |
had been to hurry me-away, and how
long time had elapsed before | had
heard Anne returning to her own quarters.
But what could be the strangers hold
upon her? And what part did Signor
Sergali play? | was 50 worried and per-
picked that my head ached.
After tea, Lady Verriker said she would
lie down until dinner-time. She refused
my offers of company with her plaintive
smile. So went out into the garden for
a stroll through the park. | felt more
unhappy and disturbed than | cared to
confess even to myself.
1t was lovely evening. The place
was flooded with sunshine that glnrified
even the desolate. looking Court. wan
dered hither and thither amongst> the
glades and dells, filling my arms with
ferns and flowers, and thinking very dole
iully that could not desert Lady Verri-
xer at present. She seemed to get some
comfort out Of my presence, and it was
for me to leave her when
believed her to be surrounded BY those
who wished her i'll.