Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-17
CHAPTER XXXV.
Mother and Child

Sne ndd nothing else to occupy her mind
| now. She wondered what it meant There
was no doubt that the official-looking per
son below was pretending to stroke a
dog. There was no Jest about it. either
because the other two men took no heed
They appeared to be too absorbed in their
occupation. Then, all at once, the truth
| Of it flashed into Vera's mind with a sud
denness that left her pale and trembling
1t was plain enough. She could not say
for certain who 1t was patting and
caressing an imaginary dog. but she was
quite certain that there was MESA se
to her behind It. In the first place the
man had seen her at the window. o. that
she felt certain. And he was telling her
as plainly words could speak that her
handkerchief had been found, and that
Bruno led her friends to the right spot.
No doubt these willing assistants had as
sumed the guise of land surveyors with a
view to getting better knowledge of the
house. Once the excitement Of this dis
covery passed away, Vera's courage came
back to her. She now knew that she was
safe. She knew that 1t would not be long
before she was restored to her friends
again. She deemed 1t prudent to keep
away from the window, and when at
length she looked down again the men
were gone.
There was nothing for it but to kill the
dreary afternoon as best she could. 1t
seemed to her that she knew every inch
of her room, every design and pattern on
the wallpaper. She would have given
much for book to while away the time.
but. apparently, Silva had overlooked
that requirement. AS she lay back in an
armchair, for the first time a small
wooden trap in the ceiling attracted her
attention. 1t seemed strange to Vera that
she had not noticed it before. A sudd IN
resolution possessed her She balanced a
couple of chairs. one on the other. upon
the bed and made an attempt to lift the
trap. There was not the slightest trou-
bic. The square Of board gave to her
touch at once. Vera thrust her head and
shoulders through, and saw that she was
Immediately under the roof. A slidi g
glass window overhead lighted up the
place, so that Vera could see what sort of
place she had discovered. Instantly
she made up her mind what to do. She
turned yachting jersey out of one of the
baskets and removed the bodice of her
dress. short serge skirt completed the
outfit. and few moments later Vera had
squeezed through the trap, and was walk
ing along the boards which covered the
whole area Of the house under the roof
what she was now anxious to find was a
way down. Here was a large tank which
supplied the house with water, and by
the side of 1t short iron ladder, the end
of which was lost in the semi-darkness
But Vera had discovered enough Doubt
less the iron ladder was a permanent
structure for the use Of workmen in case
anything went wrong with the big tank
In all probability the bottom of the iron
ladder reached down until it Joined the
servants staircase. Vera had seen ar
rangements of this kind in small country
houses before.
At any rate the knowledge was worth
having. Here was a clear avenue of es-
cape. AS soon as the house was quiet
Vera would be able to steal away, and
once outside she would know exactly
what to do. She had no money, but that
was mere detail
gan to fall. and there had been no further
sign from Silva. The clocks outside were
striking eight when some one tapped at
| the door. and in response to Vera's query
the voice Of Silva spoke:
I'VE are dining in half an hour" he
said. VIII you be 50 good as to come
down? 1 have unfastened the door"
Vera was trembling with excitement
and apprehension. She fastened to
change her Dress and q few moments
she reached the hall she found Silva
awaiting her. He looked somewhat
anxious.
Your mother is in the drawing ROOM
he said. Il hope you won't mind sitting
down to cold dinner. For motives of
prudence we have sent the servants to
London for an evening at the theater. To
any one as intelligent as yourself you VIII
see why we adopted such a course. VIII
you precede me?"
Vera had nothing to reply Just for the
moment she was incapable Of speech. She
was wondering whether or not she would
awake presently and find it all no more
than dream The drawing room was
brilliantly lighted. A tall, dark woman
stood by the fireplace. Her regular fea-
lures appeared to be absolutely COM
posed. but agitated though Vera was she
did not fail to notice the restless move
ments of the hands. Just for few mo-
ments the two looked at one another
Then something like a smile came over
the Countess Flavto's face
so you are my daughter she said. Il
am afraid l should not have recognized
you Come closer SO that l can look at
your fac. Thank heaven, you are not in
the least like your father / cannot be
SUI. = ;.tiy thankful for that"
Il . I've thought about you often" Vera
said cJldly: but, surely, If you are my
mother. you have strange way o. max
ing yourself known to me. What is the
could have come to Park lane and asked
for me in the ordinary way. without send
Ing this creature of yours"
Vera looked round for Silva, but he had
discreetly disappeared.
Il am glad that man has had the de-
cency to leave us alone" she went on
'Oh, 1 have been thinking about this
meeting all day. 1 do not know what to
imagine. or what to believe. You say
that you are my mother, but how am 1 to
be certain that"
Il swear it." the countess said. with a
touch of passion in her voice You are
my daughter beyond the shadow of a
doubt. Oh, there is a deal in what YOU
say, but could not come to Lord Raven
spurs house. There are most urgent rea-
sons You are wondering. perhaps, why
| have not been near you all these years
but 1 can explain. You remember moth
ing of your father for which you can
thank your Maker With the solitary ex-
ception Of yourself there was not a crea-
ture on earth that he cared for. He was
the embodiment Of refined cruelty. His
greatest delight was in the tortured
degradation of others. All. you little
guess what veritabie hell the two years
which followed your birth were. l will
tell you all about that some day, and you
will be sorry for me. If you had only
had my experience you would not wonder
why l fed and hid myself when my re-
lease came. You would not wonder why
be like your father and remind me Of
him every hour. I was so near the Dor
derland of insanity then that I should
have killed you. II by one look or gesture
you had reminded me Of the man who had
ruined my life. And then, when the lapse
of years had restored my strength and
vigor again. longing to see you took
possession Of me. And when at length
had found you. or, rather my faithful
servant. Silva. had found you for me-
there were certain circumstances which