The Ekalaka eagle., 1915-08-06


suddenly over his eyes. "Going?" says
he. echoing the word after me. II am
going to the devil!' The pony started
at the word as if he felt Christian
horror of it. "God bless you, sir, go
where you may" was all had time to
say before he was out Of sight and
hearing. \ sweet and pleasant gentle
man, with all his faults and follies.
1t was dull and dreay enough when
the long summer evening closed in on
that Saturday night
On the next day, Sunday. the close
carriage, which had been kept at Mr..
Ablewhite's, came back to us empty.
The coachman brought message for
me and written Instructions for my
lady's own maid and for Penelope.
The message Uniformed me that my
mistress had determined to take Miss
Rache! to her house in London on the
Monday. The written instructions in
formed the two maids of the clothing
that was wanted and directed them
to meet their mistresses in town at a
given hour. Most Of the other serv-
ants We're to follow. My lady had
found Miss Rachel so unwilling to re-
turn to the house after what had hap
penrd in it that she had decided on
going to London direct from Frizing
hall. l was to remain in the country
until further orders to look after things
indoors and out. The servants left
with me We're to be put on board
wages.
The Monday gave me a good shake
up. The first of Sergeant Cuffs
prophecies of what was to happen
namely, that l should hear from the
Yollands-came true on that day.
had seen Penelope and my lady's
maid off in the railway with the lug
gage for London and was pottering
about the grounds when l heard my
name called. Turning round, l found
myself face to face with the fisher
mans daughter, Limping Lucy. Bat
ing her lame foot and her leanness,
this last a horrid drawback to a wo-
man in my opinion, the girl had some
pleasing qualities in the eye of man.
A dark, keen, clever face and nice
clear voice, and 4 beautiful brown
head of hair counted among her mer-
it's. A crutch appeared in the list of
her misfortunes. And temper reck-
fects.
"Well my dear" l said, what do
you want with me?'
"Where's the man you call Franklin
Blake?" says the girl, fixing me with
a fierce look as she rested herself on
her crutch.
''That's not respectful way to speak
of any gentleman" l answered. "1f
you wish to inquire for my lady's
nephew you will please mention him
as Mr.. Franklin Blake"
She limped step nearer to me and
looked as if she could have eaten me
alive. 'A1r. Franklin Blake?' she re-
peatel after me. "A1urderer Franklin
Blake would be filter name for him.
He's murderer. He's murderer!
He's murderer! He has been the
death of Rosanna Spearman"' She
screamed that answer out at the top Of
her voice. One or two of the people
at work in the grounds near us looked
up, saw it was Limping Lucy, knew
what to expect from that quarter and
looked away again.
He has been the death Of Rosanna
Spearman:" repeated. "What makes
you say that. Lucy:'
II loved her." the girl said softly.
"She had lived miserable life, Mr..
Betteredge. Vile people had i'll treated
her and led her wrong. and it hadn't
spoiled her sweet temper. She was an
angel She might have been happy
with me- l had a plan for our going
to London together like sisters and liv-
ing by our needles. That man came
here and spoiled it all. He bewitched
her. Don't tell me he didn't mean it
and didn't know it. He ought to have
known it. He ought to have taken pity
on her I can't live without him-and
oh. Lucy he never even looks ut me.
That's what she said. Cruel. cruel
cruel. I said, NO man is worth fret.
ting for in that way And she said
There are men worth dying for, Lucy
and he is one Of them had saved
Il
with father and mother. l meant tC
take her away from the modification
she was suffering here We should
have had little lodging in London and
lived together like sisters. She had a
good education, sir, as you know, and
she wrote Il good hand. She was quick
at her needle. l have a good educa-
tion sir rs Won know and I Vrito n
good hand. l am not as quick at my
needle as she was. but could have
done. We might have got our living
nicely And. oh, what happens this
morning? What happens this morn
ing: Her letter comes and tells me
she has done with the burden of hcl
life. Her letter comes and bids me
goodby forever. Where is he:' cries
the girl, lifting her head from tho
cr,1tch and flaming Out again throrul