Produced by Rich Magahiz David Moynihanand the Online Distributed Proofreading TeamTHE LIVING LINKA NovelBY JAMES DE MILLEAuthor of The Dodge Club Cord and Creese The Cryptogram TheAmerican Baron c cTHE LIVING LINK                                   CHAPTER IA TERRIBLE SECRETOn a pleasant evening in the month of May 1840 a group of young ladiesmight have been seen on the portico of Plympton Terrace a fashionableboardingschool near Derwentwater They all moved about with thoseeffusive demonstrations so characteristic of young girls but on thisoccasion there was a general hush among them which evidently arose fromsome unusual cause As they walked up and down arm in arm or with armsentwined or with clasped hands as young girls will they talked in lowearnest tones over some one engrossing subject or occasionally gatheredin little knots to debate some point in which while each offered adiffering opinion all were oppressed by one common sadnessWhile they were thus engaged there arose in the distance the sound of arapidly galloping horse At once all the murmur of conversation diedout and the company stood in silence awaiting the newcomer They didnot have to wait long Out from a place where the avenue wound amidstgroves and thickets a young girl mounted on a spirited bay came at fullspeed toward the portico Arriving there she stopped abruptly thenleaping lightly down she flung the reins over the horses neck whoforthwith galloped away to his stallThe rider who thus dismounted was young girl of about eighteen and ofvery striking appearance Her complexion was dark her hair black withits rich voluminous folds gathered in great glossy plaits behind Hereyes were of a deep hazel color radiant and full of energetic life Inthose eyes there was a certain earnestness of expression howeverdeepening down into something that seemed like melancholy which showedthat even in her young life she had experienced sorrow Her figure wasslender and graceful being well displayed by her closefittingridinghabit while a plumed hat completed her equipment and served toheighten the effect of her beautyAt her approach a sudden silence had fallen over the company and theyall stood motionless looking at her as she dismountedWhy what makes you all look at me so strangely she asked in a toneof surprise throwing a hasty glance over them Has any thinghappenedTo this question no answer was given but each seemed waiting for theother to speak At length a little thing of about twelve came up andencircling the newcomers waist with her arm looked up with asorrowful expression and whisperedEdith dearest Miss Plympton wants to see youThe silence and ominous looks of the others and the whispered words ofthe little girl together with her mournful face increased the surpriseand anxiety of Edith She looked with a strange air of apprehensionover the companyWhat is it she asked hurriedly Something has happened Do any ofyou know What is itShe spoke breathlessly and her eyes once more wandered with anxiousinquiry over all of them But no one spoke for whatever it was theyfelt the news to be serioussomething in fact which could not well becommunicated by themselves Once more Edith repeated her question andfinding that no answer was forthcoming her impatience allowed her towait no longer and so gathering up her long skirts in one hand andholding her whip in the other she hurried into the house to see MissPlymptonMiss Plymptons room was on the second floor and that lady herself wasseated by the window as Edith entered In the young girls face therewas now a deeper anxiety and seating herself near the centretable shelooked inquiringly at Miss PlymptonThe latter regarded her for some moments in silenceDid you wish to see me auntie dear said EdithMiss Plympton sighedYes she said slowly but my poor darling Edie I hardly know howto say to you what I have to say IIdo you think you can bear tohear it dearAt this Edith looked more disturbed than ever and placing her elbow onthe centretable she leaned her cheek upon her hand and fixed hermelancholy eyes upon Miss Plympton Her heart throbbed painfully andthe hand against which her head leaned trembled visibly But these signsof agitation did not serve to lessen the emotion of the other on thecontrary she seemed more distressed and quite at a loss how toproceedEdith said she at last my child you know how tenderly I love youI have always tried to be a mother to you and to save you from allsorrow but now my love and care are all useless for the sorrow hascome and I do not know any way by which I can break bad newstotoaa bereaved heartShe spoke in a tremulous voice and with frequent pausesBereaved exclaimed Edith with white lips Oh auntie Bereaved Isit that Oh tell me all Dont keep me in suspense Let me know theworstMiss Plympton looked still more troubled IIdont know what tosay she falteredYou mean _death_ cried Edith in an excited voice and oh Ineednt ask who Theres only oneonly one I had only oneonlyoneand nowhe isgoneGone repeated Miss Plympton mechanically and she said no more forin the presence of Ediths grief and of other facts which had yet to bedisclosedfacts which would reveal to this innocent girl somethingworse than even bereavementwords were useless and she could findnothing to say Her hand wandered through the folds of her dress andat length she drew forth a blackedged letter at which she gazed in anabstracted wayLet me see it cried Edith hurriedly and eagerly and before MissPlympton could prevent her or even imagine what she was about shedarted forward and snatched the letter from her hand Then she tore itopen and read it breathlessly The letter was very short and waswritten in a stiff constrained hand It was as followsDALTON HALL _May_ 6 1840MadameIt is my painful duty to communicate to you the death ofFrederick Dalton Esq of Dalton Hall who died