Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-01-11
CHAPTER w


while awaiting Senor Castellan's return
His mind was too busy digesting wha
he had just heard. Putting two and tive
together, bearing In mind the fact thai
the senor's description of his beautiful
customer tailed exactly with that given
of the so-called Pauline Mailing by Jack
Dornton, and that the photograph taken
by CASTELAR, was afterward found In that
lady's possession, his belief in the i'm
posture was naturally strengthened, and
his impatience to visit the grave and
see for himself the evidence of his niece's
death increased every moment. At last
he heard the convent bell strike six,
and, with feeling Of relief, he rose
and went downstairs.
He found the senor waiting below,
looking triumphant, but cautious. There
were several loungers about, and Mr..
Mallett and CASTELAR, passed through
the room and out of the house without
exchanging word.
But, once safely outside the senior,
who was brimming over with pleasant
aelf-importanee, rapidly unfolded the
plans which the servant and he had con
cocted for Mr.. Mallett's admittance to
the convent burying ground.
Il shall point out the gate by which
monsieur will enter after that, the rest
must depend on monsieur's sagacity and
OF the exactneSs with which he carries
out my directions. The servant would
have nothing to do with you directly; but
she will arrange matters SO that you can
enter the cemetery by yourself and OBJ
tain a view of the tomb. But monsieur
Will envelop himself in my accomplice's
cloak. and if he is seen from the chapel
windows, they will conclude it is but one
of the sisters crossing the graveyard
to gather herbs from the garden which
lies beyond
Then followed list of directions, to
which Mr.. Mallett paid the closest atten-
tion and, as the old Spanard conclud-
ed, they came within sight of the Con-
vent of the Holy Assumption. A sub
etantial stone wall eight feet high in
closed it on all sides, and on the east
front were massive iron gates boarded
high above the line of sight to shield the
sacred precincts from the vulgar gaze.
Further on, on the west side, was a very
small wicket, almost hidden under the
masses of ivy that hung half way to the
ground. This door was the one used
by the lay sisters when doing their er
rands, and covered way led from 1t into
the main entrance hall. The main gate
was never opened except for funerals
Of the village.
The bells were still ringing for YES
pers as Mr.. Mallett reached this half
hidden little gate, and, according to di
rectons from Castellan-who was lurk
Ing among the brushwood-he gave a
low, quick, triple knock three times over.
and then waited with his eyes on his
watch until FIVE minutes had passed
The bells ceased ringing This was
the moment agreed on. and he pushed
the door gently; it yielded, and the next
moment he found himself in the dim light
Of a long, narrow passage.
He stopped and lifted a snuff colored
garment that lay at his feet 1t was a
huge cloak, like a sisters. He wrap
ped himself In the capacious garment,
carefully drawing the hood well over his
head. Having taken off his boots, he
went stealth.ly along the passage, across
large stone tagged entrance hall, and
passed out of what he had been told was
the main entrance into the inclosure be-
yond. He paused here a moment and
looked about him attentively. In a line
with him stood the chapel on the extreme
right the door Of which was open; and
he saw the backs of the sisters as they
knelt at their devotiOns. He caught
gleam of gorgeous color as the clear
evening light fell through the east win
dow upon the vestments of the priests
at the high altar, and a faint odor of
incense crept out upon the air. He drew
the hood still closer over his beard and
crossed the open space to the other side
Of the chapel Here he had to pass
whole line Of windows, and the profiles
Of the nuns were turned toward him. lie
now shortened his stride and dropped his
shoulders the better to perform the part
be was assuming. and passed on with
out a glance to the right or to the left.
As soon as the windows were passed he
raised his head and looked round again.
He was at the edge of the burying
ground, and over in the extreme corner
under the walls he saw the stone he
had come in search Of He recognized
II by the semi-circular top-there was
not another Ike it in the inclosure-
and his heart quickened little as he
picked his way across the graves.
he sunset SKY na1 cuanse1 from crlm-
son TO saffron, from saffron to clear
pearly gray, and still the brown cloak
stood motiOnless before the headstone in
the far corner Of the convent grave
yard.
Mr. Mallett had received a shock that
entirely banished his preconceived ideas;
and the new beliefs that crowded upon
him were 50 conflicting and confusing
that for a time he was overwhelmed with
perplexity.
Pauline Polling. Died May %, IS"
He read the simple inscription over
and over again; the more he pondered
it the less he understood how il was
that he had been decoyed By fate into
this frutless journey.
Why should his niece, Pauline Mall
Ing. have a picture Of the grave OF Pau
line Polling in her possession? on?-fOr he
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 Pelling. He
remembered the captains impressive lit
tie story Of his unhappy marriage and Its
premature denouement; and Mr.. Mslett
had no doubt whatever that he was now
standing by the grave Of that gentleman's
u-ife Still the question kept repeating