The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-01-25


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
iady's possession, his belief in the i'm
posture was naturally strengthened, and
his tmpatience to visit the grave and
see for himself the evidence of his niece's
death increased every moment. At last
ne heard the convent bell strike six,
and, with feeling of relief, he rose
and went downstairs.
he found the senior 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 a word.
But, once safely outside, the senior,
who was trimming over with pleasant
sef-importance, rapidly unfolded the
plans which the servant and he had con-
eocted for Mr.. Mallett's admittance to
the convent burying ground.
shall point out the gate by which
monsieur will enter; after that, the rest
must depend on monsieur's sagacity and
on the exactness with which he carries
out my directions. The servant would
have nothing to do with you directly; but
she VIII arrange matters so that you can
enter the cemetery by yourself and OBJ
tain 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 a list of directions. to
which Mr.. Mallett paid the closest atten-
ton; and, as the old Spaniard conclud-
ed. they came within sight of the Con
vent of the Holy Assumption. A sub
stantial 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 err
rands, and covered way led from it 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 d.
rections 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 long, narrow passage.
He stopped and lifted a snuff colored
garment that lay al his feet 1t was
huge cloak. like a sisters. He wrap
ped himself II the capacious garment,
car sfully drawing the hood well over his
head. Having taken off his boots. he
went stealthily along the passage, across
a 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 atteHtively. 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 IS they
knelt at their deyotions. 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 Ugh altar, and a faint odor of
incense crept cut 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 a
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
he 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
Il by the semi-circular top-there was
not another like it in the inclosure-
and his heart quickened a little as he
picked his way across the graves.
The sunset sky had changed from Grim
son to saffron, from saffron to q 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 shock that
entirely banished his preconceiyed ideas.
and the new beliefs that crowded upon
him were so conflicting and confusing
that for time he was overwhelmed with
perplexity.
Pauline Polling Died May %. is
He read the simple inscription over
and over again; the more he pondered
L. IL L.
that he had been decoyed by fate into
this fruitless journey.
Why should his niece, Pauline Mall
ing. have picture of the grave of Pau
line Polling in her possession 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-pfesumably the
wife of his friend, Captain Polling. He
remembered the captains impressive lit
tle 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, toc-treasure up this
picture of Mrs. Pelling's grave? He
3mlieQ 10 ulluScll Ut the freak OF fortune
that ordained the obliteratnon Of Just
the first two letters of the surname, and
wondered at the insignifcance of the
trife that had drawn him from England
on such a wild goose chased
The servant, to all appearance busy
over her stewpans in the kitchen, was
working herself into fever of fright
She expected the exhortation to finish di
fectly. and then the sisters would wander
al about the grounds, and her mysteri-
Gus visitor would be discovered. She
Quaked with fear as the consequences
of her conduct presented themselves tC
her ina gination- She had seen the brown
cloak fit noiselessly past the half closed
kitchen door quarter Of an hour be-
fore: but she was sure it had not yeI
gone back
At last, unable to bear the anxiety any
longer. she decided that she must al
Ill risks 60 ard warn the man away