Year: 1861

+ rogue. CHUulu We 20 10 OEI0U OF Te
main where we were? Stickney said. ga
to Orton frst-get Gamblit-and then
make up programme for action So /
bade the landlord to keep sharp lookout;
and also spoke to the driver who had
brought me from Sidney, and who was
now on the point Of returning requesting
him, if be saw anything of the pale man,
to see that he was secured. The suspie-
ious inyidual had only remained at the inn
a few minutes on the previous evening,
and had then gone away in a gig which
had come for him but no one could tell
what direction lie had taken


The coach for Orton soon came to the
door, and Stickney and myself took cur
seats inside. the farmer having determined
to remain where he was until he
heard something about the money. =
There were two other passengers inside.
and two or three outside, but they were
strangers to me. We had gone two or
three miles. when the driver pulled up be-
| fore a small farm house, where won an
and trunk were waiting by the garden
gate. The lady was handed into the
coach, and took seat facing me. and as
/ she turned to give the driver some direc-
+, ton concerning the baggage, she threw
her veil up over her bonnet. She was
pretty-very pretty-with rosy cheeks and
! sparkling eyes, and teeth that cleaned in
their pure whiteness ike pearls. Her
hair hung in glossy brown ringlets over
her neck and shoulders, and was type Of
beauty in itself looked at the rosy
checks again and at the pearly teeth
and into her dark lustrous eyes. Ny gaze
was fixed upon this latter point when she
caught my glance, and quickly dropped
her veil At first | felt a little ashamed
at looking at her SO boldly; but as the
face was hidden from sight, and had op-
tunlty for reflection, it struck me that
had seen those features btfJre.
Here was a study for me, and was
buried in it at once, Where had I seen
that face? Was it possible that I had ev-
er known that woman-one so lovely-and
now forgotten her? thought over all in
innate friends of my wife: but she was
not to be found there. Then I thought
over all the pretty girls lad known be-
fore I was married but when had called
them all by name | remembered that the
girl before me must have been mere child
when I was single man. It was annoy
ing,-it made me provoked with myself-to
| think that could not call this piece OF fe-
male beauty to my mind. I whispered to
Stickney, and asked him if he had ever
seen her before. He said be had not, and
joked me for being 50 curious about pref
ty face.


We stopped at place called Turner's
Mills, y in the edge of Orton, to exchange
mails. and here jumped out to see the
postmaster who was an cid friend of mine
and as I was returning 10 the coach the
thought struck me TO go and look at the
trunk which had been last put on, and see
if any name was on it. Il was marked
with the simple einitials-':A NJ" So that
was all | gained from that source. AS
came to the coach door l approached it
from behind, and as l cast my eyes up /
found that the beauty lad her veil raised,
and was looking cut at the post Office as
though anxious for the mail to come. that
we might be of. The expression of anx-
iety detracted somewhat from her beauty
and as | looked upon her now, seeing her
face in a different light, was struck with
a sort Of snake-like cast which was percep-
tible in the whole character Of he~ features
| was upon the point Of Withdrawing my
gaze, lest she should catch me a second
time, when a slight motion Of her head
rolled her curls over her temple, and I saw
a faint line, something like vein, over
her left eye. It was a mark--a livid
scratch--where something had struck her.
1t might have been the stroke of a whip
But-no quick Y gIided hack behind
the coach, and there / reflected. Such
mark as that could be made by whip,
but was sure that that mark was made
| by a fagot


When l returned to my seat in the
coach the fair passengers S veil was down
again. Could it be possible that my sus-
/ picions were correct, and that chance had
thrown in my way a solution of the prob
lem which had vexed my deputies so much?
Yes, | was sure Of it ; and the more com
pared the two faces in my mind, the more
/ saw the resemblance. Either these
checks were pain. ed red to-day or they
had been painted white yesterday, The
eyes were the same the contour the same,
and that brow, with its tel-tale mark, not
to be mistaken


What's the matter? asked Stickncy,


I feel chilly. I replied. I'm afraid I've
caught more cold.


Never mind. Here we are; a dose of
something will help you.


As Stickney spoke. we stopped at the
door Of the inn at 0rton The driver an
nounced that they would stop there fifteen
or twenty minutes, to exchange horses and
wait for the mail, and also informed the
passengers that they would fnd plenty Of
accommodations in the house if they chose
to go in.


VIII you step in ma am? be added to
my beauty.


She said she would and he helped her
out, and conducted her to a private sitting
room


Stickncy. said 1, am going to find cut
who that woman IS.


Nonsense said he


l think I've got the scent.


Eh2


rode with her yesterday.


With her?


1t was him then.