The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1881-11-26 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHAPTER XXX. He cometh not, she sald ; I am a weary-4 1.01147-• I wish that I were dead.  Days passed—weeks ;—and it was two months since Gerard's disappearance. The harvest had long since been gathered in. The once clear, bright, still, blue sky was now leaden and gloomy. The evenings grew cold ; the days muggy always; often the rain, for hours and hours together, poured ceaselessly. Out of doors all was black, and dreary, and depressing. It was weather that made those whose hearts ached cry in their utter wretchedness that the light, and the life, and joyousness would never come again. It brought dull thoughts even to the young and gay of heart. It seemed as though the shadow of a great sorrow was upon everything —as though earth and heaven mourned" sullenly. During all this sluggish time no further light had been thrown upon the weird mystery which surrounded the fate of Gerard Athells. Hearty and prolonged investigation—it became energetic enough after Bob Pigott had offered fifty pounds reward—had not advanced the authorities one step beyond the facts already known to the reader.  Baffled in their every effort to find some trace of him, dead or alive, the police fell back upon their old theory. The most probable explanation was, they declared, that Gerard had been murdered, and his body thrown into the river. The receding tide had carried it into the sea, and after that —well who could tell? It was impossible to take proceedings against anyone until the body, or a portion of it, was found. And even then—though people might wag their heads and think what they liked —there was absolutely no real ground for suspicion against anyone in particular. So the matter rested in a state of horrible uncertainty. The mystery promised to remain impenetrable. Agnes had slowly recovered. That is, she was no longer confined to her room. She was up and about. But all life and heart seemed to be crushed out of her. She moved as one dead to all external influences. She had grown paler and thinner. She was like a breathing shadow amongst living people. Sometimes she would take her little stool and sit for hours together at Mrs Merlin's feet—she had never left this good lady's h)use. The sight of George was hateful to her, and occasioned her the strongest tremor and agitation. And he had been advised by Dr Blundoss not to insist upon seeing her. Then she would take Mrs Merlin's hands and turn her own wan, sorrowful face to her's, and cry plaintively: " Will Gerard ever come again—do you think that he will ever come again?" Mrs Merlin could only stroke the girl's fair hair, and bid her be strong, and gather hope and pray to God to give her patience and comfort in her great affliction. Then it was advised that Agnes should have a total change of scenery. Her brother, unknown to her, wrote to their friends in Wales • and it was arranged that Mrs Merlin should accompany Agnes to their house. Agnes was indifferent. All places were now the same to Let. Thorn wan IDA One spot on earth where she could lose her I misery. "lam so weary of everything," she cried one day, "I wish that I was dead." Mrs Merlin chided her for her wicked speech ; but she herself sighed inwardly, for she felt that only *the grave could brina the poor girl solace. Agnes, for the last time, returned to Instow Lodge. There were a few little presents Gerard had made her, which she wished to take with her to Wales. "No one," she said "could find them but herself." So, with a shudder, she re-entered the home of her childhood; fearfully because it seemed to her that this house had somehow or another been concerned in her lover's murder. Then, without regret, she looked upon it never to see it again. Nurse was also to go with her. So the old house was deserted. George Robinson, since his sister had refused to see him, had taken lodgings in the town; the place had grown distasteful to him too.  Mrs. Merlin saw her charge safely to her destination, and then returned. There, in the south of Wales, amidst glorious air and tht kindest of people, we will for a time leave Agnes.