Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-10
CHAPTER *, AND LAST.

TO ask NuetHcH you ASSA SiuaA W seeing
him for few minutes 2"
It was late in the afternoon of the fol-
lowing day, and Phyllis Yef~erton, look
ing sadly pale and wan, was lying list
lessly upon the couch in the cosy little
boudoir.
Miss Dare was scarcely prepared for
the look of dismay which came into
Phyllis eyes, merely at the mention of
her guardians name.
81 had better say that you are not well
enough" added the elder lady hurriedly,
noting with alarm the effect that her
words had produced. at is no use over
firing yourself; tomorrow will do equally
well for Sir Ughtred, am sure"
Tomorrow! Phyllis moved restlessly
upon her cushions. Alas, of what avail
was procrastination in a case of this
kind! If she had to see her guardian
again the sooner the better for her own
peace of mind. Consequently it was with
an air of sudden determination that she
instantly replied
No, am really better. II will see
him now"
Yet as Miss Dare hesitatingly with
drew, and as Phyllis heard the door close
behind her old governess, the girl gave
utteranee to a groan of the deepest de-
spair.
All her experiences of the previous
night seemed like dream to her now
everything was so hazy, so indistinct
She could recollect closing the window
but there her memory failed her The
scene had faded away into oblivion-she
knew nothing more until she found her
Ill Iyysprr 4ol,I hor JoJ
Miss Dare bending anXiously over her.
It seemed that Sir Ughtred and Capt
Grant had only Just left the billiard
room, where they had remained unusual
" late, and had scarcely reached their
rooms when they were considerably
alarmed by hearing a loud cry coming
from the western corridor. Hurrying
breathlessly to the spot, they had discov-
cred Phyllis lying in an unconscious con-
dition upon the floor.
When she had recovered and seemed
well enough to be Intercepted upon the
subject of this extraordinary attack, even
then Miss Dare found that there was lit
tie chance of arriving at any satisfactory
explanation of the mystery.
Certainly Phyllis had explained her
reasons for leaving her room, and had de-
scribed her attempt to brave the terrors
of the darkness in order to assure her.
self of the security of the door in the
picture gallery; but beyond that she
seemed to have little or nothing to re-
cord-she could only shudder when ques
toned by her further. Consequently her
companion had to draw upon her own
imagination as to the reason why Phyllis
had subsequently tainted.
Haunted as she was by that terrible
scene, Phyllis felt a strange reluctance
to bring it more vividly before her mind
by speaking of it. What had it meant
What could it mean, but that perhaps
some even more frightful crime had been
committed under the very roof which
was sheltering her nowi
The door opened; there was firm step
upon the floor, and Sir Ughtred was
standing beside her.
Miss Yelverton-Phyllis!" At the
sound of her guardians voice every par
ticle of color left Phyllis cheeks. Gam I
disturbing you? Are you asleep?" She
had turned her face away as though she
could not bear to meet his gaze; yet now
she raised her eyes and gave one swift
glance at his handsome profile.
At the same moment Wharf, who had
stopped to take her hand in his, stopped
short abruptly, and with a strangely
panied expression moved away from her
side.
Il quite understand ought not to
have worried you this afternoon. L might
have known that l am about the last
person in the world that you would care
to see, after all that you have gone
through during the last four twenty
hours" he murmured bitterly. 1T is all
my fault; you must blame me, of course,
for putting you to all this trouble and
annoyance. But believe me, was quite
as ignorant as you were as to what was
taking place here. Until last night had
reposed every confidence in Mrs. Mathews
and her confederates. / would have
trusted her with anything and every
thing; consequently 1 have never had
the slightest misgiving in leaving you IN
this house, where she has always been
allowed full control And now" he added,
with a significant shrug of his shoulders,
81 only find out my mistake at your cost
1t is no use, Miss Yelverton, cannot tell
YOU how ashamed | am of myself"
PHYLLIS. who had been listening to him
with an expression of momentarily in
creasing bewilderment, now sank back
amongst her pillows and sighed.
'What do you mean, Sir Ughtred? Am
1 mad, or-are you, this afternoonH"
Wharf shook his head as though the
question was beyond him.
at is difficult to know where to be.
gin-it is such strange and complicated
affair" he observed after short pause
yet you will have heard some OF the
facts of the case, / suppose; you must
know. of course, all the details OF my
cousins unfortunate end, and of the mys-
terry which surrounded it at that time
Mrs. Mathews, l believe" he continued
with note of sarcasm in his tones, has
always had good deal to say upon the
subject, and any number Of new theories
to PROFOUND"
Phyllis started.
Mrs. Mathews"
Eyes, Mrs. Mathews. Has she never
given you a history of the family?
feel positive that she will have done her
best to explain most fully everything
l. l. ha