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THE ADVERTISER
THE ADVERTISER
&. vr. rxiBsnoTHtB.
T. C IIACKEK.
O.Vr.FArKBROTHKJt. T.C.U.AC1CXJI.
PublUtbrrs &. Proprietor.
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PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
S.
A. OS BORN,
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OSice with VT.T. Rogers, Brownvile. Neb.
rn L
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IROIBICSOIISr
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TiExVLERKT
OPTS AND SHOE
CUSTOM f.'ORK
3XA.X)3i: TO ORDER,
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i
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AGrainSlrceUBROlVNTlLLEjElJdrcseing the housekeeper, who, ever
ESTABLISHED 1856. i
Oldest Paper in tne State. J
THE
-OB
TVlio Will Save Heir?
CHAPTER XXXI. (Continued.)
The veil was raised as the words
were distinctly but quietly uttered,
and the light of the lantern fell full
upon the spenkfr'p face.
Simple words enough, butlhe effect
they produced upon the old man was
theefest of a thunderbolt. He threw
up his arms with a cry of terror,
while from his nerveless finders the
lantern dropped, to extinguish itself
at his feet.
'I am going mad!' he said 'mnd
mad! My brain iB all in a. whirl It
is uot possible ! It can't be possible!"
Then with another low, vague cry
of terror, he stumbled forward, and
striking his foot against the lantern
he had dropped, came face downward
haavily on the ground.
Tom, who had seen nothing of all
this, came hurrying up, just manag
ing dimly to see the outstretched form
of the steward as it lay on the ground
before him.
Hilloh! What's up ? or, rather,
who's down? Oh, it's you, gaffer.
tumbled over your own lantern, I
h'pose! Rut where's t'other party?'
and he peered around. 'Vanished !
Well,' and he gave a prolonged whis
tle, 'bere-s another queer caper! I'm
not what's generally called nervous,
but I've had about enough of this
place, and if I don't pack up my wa
liee and start for town to-morrow, my
name's not Tom Brompton !'
He raised the steward, who had had
only n momentary fit of some kind,
to his feet; and as he half supported
him, picked up the lantern.
'Lean on me, gaffer. Don't be
afraid. I'm not much as regards size
but I'm as full of sinew and as tough
as a fowl at a luncheon-bar. Hold on
while I find 1113' match box. Here it
is. Hurrah ." and he relighted, tho'
not without much difficulty, the lan
tern. 'Now let us forge ahead, look
around, and inquire for some further
particulars about that figure at the
gate.'
Meanwhile the mj-sterinus visitor
had not paused for a moment, but as
one knowing the way, had passed
rapidly, qn. and entered the house.
chapter xxx rr.
IS SHE MAD ?
When Tom, with Darknoll, still
dazed from his fall, re-entered tiie
housekeeper's room, both uttered a
cr3T of purprise.
For there, in front of the fire, was
seated a woman the stranger they
had just admitted.
She had removed her hat and shawl,
both soaked with water, and thrown
them carelessly aside, had drawn a
a chair in the very front of the fire,
and was drying her feet at the blaze.
Very young, but with a face so
worn as to renderany guess at her ex
act age uncertain, the stranger sat,
with perfect self-composure, warming
her thinrsmall hands. Her long hair
had come undone, and, all dripping
with water as it was, hnng in heavy
dark masses about the head and upon
the shoulders.
Was she handsome? It would be
difficult, atonce to pronounce. The
features were regular and delicately
cut, but, as we before said, dreadfully
worn. Not that there was anything
like physical pain, or even mental
suffering, in their expression ; on the
contrary, a look 01 intense placidity
a look of almost stony quietude and
resignation pervaded the whole. A
statue of marble moving, breathing,
speaking, but still a marble statue.
Stranger still yet!
Mrs Bleek, whose old bonea she
would sa3T creaked when she moved
them from her cushioned chair, was
down on her knees removing the
sponge-like boots from the visitor's
feet an attention which the other re
ceived with a sort of apathetic non
chalance, as one accustomed to be so
waited upon.
She was neither poorl3T nor richly
clad. A dress, plain in color and
comfortable in texture, that was all.
Ornaments of any kind she had
none.
The stranger never turned even to
look at the two men as they entered,
but muttered to herself, as she stared
down at Mrs. Bleek, 6till busy with
her boots, "It's a wild night to make
a lone iourney in : and I have come
man3T, many, many miles!'
It is the voice,' said Mrs Bleek,
looking up, and also speaking to her
self, 'but not the face! Ah, me! bow
dim mj' poor eyes are! It's not the
face! Changed chau'ged!'
What's the meaning of all this,
gaffer?' whispered Tom.
'Meaning?' and the old man turn
ed his bead-like eyes uporr the lad's
curious and astonished face. 'That
some poor creature has escaped from
a lunatic asylum, that's all ; and your
grandmother seems to mo the mad
dest of the two.'
I'm afraid the old lady has got a
crack' and Tom touched his fore
head. Then he added to himself, 'To
morrow morning, flr6t train, seven a.
in., Mr. Brompton's luggage will
be at the station. When I came
down to Wentworth, I didn'tbargaln
for Han well.'
'Stand upf' eafd Darknoll, very
sternly, crossing to the fire, and ad-
iinoiTi
MYSTERY:
obedient to a word of command from
him, rose to her feet, and drew back
in much alarm, leaving the steward
facing the woman at the fire.
He looked down into the colorless,
impassible face, which gazed up into
his, showing no signs of recognition
or fear.
What brings you abroad snch a
night as this, lass? Where do you
come from ?'
I don't know, was the low, half
whispered repl3r, as the stranger went
on quietly wringing the rain-drops
from her hair.
'Where are j'ou going to?'
'Nowhere. I have come home.'
It's the sapie voice, but not the
same face!' murmured the forlorn old
woman in the background.
The steward wheeled round, and re
garded her with one of those looks
peculiar to himself a look which
nearly caused her to retire altogether
into the fire.
'Look after your grandmother,' said
the steward, fierce', to Tom, 'or she
will find herseif, before long, in some
such a place as this poor creature has
escaped from. Be still, can't 3'ou,
Mrs. Bleek, with j'our nonsense and
tomrooler3 or you'll be shut up in a
madhouse that's what you '11 be!
It required no more to effectually
shut up Mrs. Bleek. Utterly dom
inated by the steward, she subsided
at once, and, though she never took
her dim eyes off the stranger, went
back to her chair and chronological
studies, ticking off the dates on her
fingers.
'What's to be done with her?' whis
pered Darknoll, alluding to the m3's
te?ious visitor, and glancing furtivel3'
at Tom.
'Can't turn her out such a night as
this,' said the latter, 'that's positive.
Give her house room for the night,
and make the proper iuquiries in the
morning.'
'Right, lad, right. We muBt keep
her till the morning, poor thing!'
The last two pitying words were
dragged out between his set teeth,
and there was no mtisio in tho tone
the3 were spoken in, nor was there
an3T kindness in the gleaming 03-es
riveted on the stranger.
Suddenly the latter turned in her
chair, and her eyes quiell3T met his.
The gaze was calm and almost ex
pressionless. 'Someone spoke of a madhouse just
now. Ah, that's a dreary place to
Hvq in ! 'There's no rlaqe like home,
as the song sa3's. You're Benjamin
Darknoll, I think?5
The steward started, shivered, and
glanced at Tom.
'She knows me, it seems.'
'Seems she does,' said that philoso
pher, who, having made up his mind
to what he considered to be the true
state of the case, troubled his head no
more about it.
'P'r'aps she belongs to the neigh
borhood ?'
'P'r'aps. But we've no as3lums
near here.'
This was sotlo voce. The girl or
woman with the wear3T voice and
dripping hair went on,
'They 603- I know nothing; but I
do. I am not quite so foo!;sh as they
all .eem to thluk. That' and she
suddenly raised her hand, and point
ed to the housekeeper 'that's Mrs.
Bleek!'
'The housekeeper'looked up.
'Yes, it's me, dear. Glad to seej'ou
back again. Nothing like the old
times, 3'ou know nothing like the
old times !' and again she went off, to
Tom's Infinite disgust, calculating up
on her fingers the number of years
thoEe 'old times' were off.
'She must belong to the neighbor
hood, said Tom. 'She went into the
house straight as an arrow, while I.
though the park was nearly as wide
as Rotten Row, took every laurel.
She's a lady, too,' added Tom 'you
can see that at a glance; and I reck
on, having seen a pretty fair sprink
ling of both sorts, I'm a judge of the
article.
'Yes, she's a lad3',' muttered the
old man ; 'and as a lad3', should be
well cared for. All she wants to
night is rest and nourishment; She
shall have both. You want rest,' he
said, approaching; the stranger, and
placing his hand lightly upon her
shoulder.
She shuddered as though the touch
were repugnant to her; but turned,
nevertheless, and looked at him with
her tranquil e3es.
'Yes ; I have come a long way.'
Darknoll crossed to where the house
keeper was seated.
He shook her somewhat roughly by
the shoulder; then looked her steadfast-
in tho face.
There could bo no mistake about
the influence he exercised over her.
He bent down hi8 head, and in one
of those carefull3' modulated tones he
could so thoroughly command, he
said, You will find this poor crea
ture a bed for the night.-'
'Why not?' began the old woman
'why not, since ' She stopped,
confused by the steward's snake-like
eye. 'Well, well I knew things
must all come right when 3ou and I
met In the church3'ard long ago.
'What room is there readj' ?' he ask
ed, impatiently.
"Only Sir Hugh's' she said, apolo
geticallj'. 'I am single-handed here,
aud I air them by turns, why '
He stormed her abruptly. It was
always necessary to stop Mrs Bleek
abruptl3' t keep her ideas in the
right place.
'That room will do.- Take her and
place her there, I will ui3T8eIf pre
pare her a restoring drink-.'
BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1877.
'Some mulled wine and a beat up
egg,' cried the housekeeper, immedi
ately brightening up, 'with just a lit
tle nutmeg.' Then lowering her
voice and bringing her lips near to
Darknoll's ear, she added, with a sat
isfied smirk, 'I know her tastes ; she
was a!wa3'B fond of that.'
Benjamin Darknoll, keeping hia
hand upon her shoulder, swerved
round and glanced at Tom.
Much to his relief, that hero wa3
concocting for himself a stiff glass of
whisky aud water from a case of de
canters that stood on the table. Tom
needed keeping up, he thought, and
he was keeping himself up accordingly-
'The poor thing wants sleep,' con
tinued Darknoll 'rest. A lady, who
ever she is, but cruelly used by the
night. See if sho will go with you.
I will bring 3'ou the drink I spoke of;
meanwhile, bed is the onl3' place for
her now. To-morrow we will find
out where Bbe came from?'
'Where she came from ?' repeated
the old woman, likesome dismal echo
'Where she came from ?'
'Come, do 3ou hear?' and the stew
ard grasped her by the arm, and al
most forced her to her feet. 'Don't
idle time. It is killing her to keep
her here, wet as she is. Get a light,
and see ber well cared for. Nothing
can be done till she ha9 had rest. A
nice business, this,' he muttered to
himself, again glancing at Tom ; 'and
to have occured just when this sharp
young rascal is here! What can have
happened? Time, however, is all
that is wanted. They must be on her
track.1
Without a word, the stranger, in
obedience to the request of the stew
ard, rose at once, and inclining her
head sliglitly as in leave-taking, drew
her drenched garments around her,
and, following the housekeeper, glid
ed out of the room.
'Poor creature!' said Tom, drawing
a ohair to the fire, as the old man bus
ied himself about the drink. 'And
Btich a pretty creature, too! She an
swered 'Gertrude,' when 1 asked her
name just now.'
The Btewar'd gave a jump, which
nearlj' upset decanters and glasses,
and caused him to spill half the con
tents of the jug he held in his hand
over the table.
'What's the matter?' said Tom, tea
tily, and turning round. 'A fellow
must have nerves of iron to live here.
I 'ts one succession of shocks, like an
h'electncal machine.
'I've scalded my hand with the
boiling water, that's all,' replied Dark
noll. 'Let me help you.' And -Tom was
about to rise.
'No, r.o ; sta3' where 3'ou are. I,un
deretand these things, and will make
the drink myself. So ehe said her
name was Gertrude,' he continued,
keeping his hack still turned toward.
Tom. 'Did she sa3' anything else?' j
'Not a word; but sighed and kept
on looking into tho fire. Beautiful
eyes, ain't they?'
'I didn't remark them.'
'She's as mad as a March hare,' said
Tom.
'An j' fool could see that,' acquiesced
the steward.
'Gertrude!' mused Tool. "It's ah
pretty name. I nh'n t iorget it.'
It is luck3' for Mr. Thomas Bromp
ton's peace of mind that his back was
still turned toward the old man b3'
the table, or he would have seen bucIi
a savage contortion of countenance,
puch a menacing movement of the
clenched bony fist in his direction,
that for a moment the hunchbacked
steward peemed to bo converted into
a sort of horrible goblin.
Tom, in blissful ignorance of all
this, went on with his reflections.
'She certainl3' knew the house that
is, her wa3' into it; and she knew
3'our name and nr3' grandmother's.'
'Bah! Chance; that's all. Aud as
for the namec, the3' were both men
tioned before her. Will 3011 drink
any more, as I'm going to lock up the
decanters?'
No.'
'You know j'our way to your own
room ?'
Thank you.'
'And there's j'our chamber candle
stick. Good-night.'
So saying, the steward took up the
warm drink he had been concocting
in a silver mug and abruptlj' left the
room.
Well,' said Tom, as he finished the
remainder of hiB toddy, and stretch
ed out his legs before the now rapidly
deca3'ing fire, 'the next time I take
an outing, it won't be in the direction
of Wentworth Abbey. Believe in
ghosts? Well, I don't know; but if
ever there waohe, it was sitting in
that chair fhiR night.1
And he pointed to the high-backed,
antique chair, latel3' occupied by the
stranger, and which itself looked
vague and spectral in tho flickering
firelight.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE PANELLED ROOJf.
Not a word did the strange visitor
epeak iu answer to Mrs. Bleek'a ran
dom inquiries.
She allowed the old housekeeper to
remove her wet garment, and replace
them with dry ones, to arrange her
hair, and draw around her still shiv
ering form a great warm wrapper.
But this done, she obstinately re
fused to quit the great arm chair at the
bed's head, and drew back from the
bed itself, at first, with something like
a terrified shudder..
'Restj-ou there, then, my bird, If
such be your wish, aud I'll heap more
warm things about you. Like me, I
am afeard, you've been scared by
some one, and so we lose trust in all.'
The faded old woman glanced
about the room, aa though expeoting
to hear stealthy footsteps moving be
uina i.ue paneuea wans, or to see
watchTul eyes gleaming at her from
among the heavy folds of the curtain
ed bed. Then she bent down till her
lips nearly touched the girl's ear.
You're not a ghost, I'm Bure. Not
one of them shudders which come so
often to me In my dreams? Ah, me!
anu none comes to me, sleeping or
waking, so often as youra. You're
Mies Gertrude, are 3'ou not?'
The expressionless eyes were turned
upon her for a moment, and a sort of
sad smile quivered on the lips, but no
answer oame.
Deary, deary me! Old Benjamin is
right, and I'm getting more and more
foolish every day. My Miss Gertrude
that's loatand gone, lies still and cold
under the Abbey Church out yonder.
And yet, and again, after fearfully
glancing about her, Mrs. Bleek whis
pered in the stranger's ear, 'I could
tell you something which can't be all
a dream, though old Benjamin sa38 it
Is ; and, oh ! he's a bad man is Benjy
all the village says so ahd a hard
man when ha'a crossed. Despite his
soft-spoken ways, he's like a tiger,
and do go on bo. that he shakes all
my boot- old brains Into a muddle.'
A sharp knocking brought the
housekeeper to her fret, and 'all of a
tremble.' she hurried to the door.
It was Darknoll, with the restora
tive drink.
'How is she now?'
Q,uiet quiet. Sho never speaks a
word.'
'All the better. Follow her exam
ple. She wants rest ; let her have it.
I'll come again in the morning. Good
night!' and turning upon his heel,
the steward closed the door locking
them botli in.
This gaoler-like proceeding exoited
no astonishment on the part of Mrs.
Bleek. She was long past being as
tonished by anything; but the stran
ger raised her head quicklj'as the key
grated in the lock, but as quickly the
head drooped upon the breast again.
Take some of this drink, m3' bird.
It is warm, and good, aud will cheer
3'ou up.'
Thus urged, the strahgiir again rais
ep her head.
Take some yourself drink first,'
ahay
There was something so imperative
in the manner, so quick and sharp,
that tho meek old lady imtnediatelj
and almost unconseiousl3' obe3Ted.
'That will do, thank you. Put it
down. I will wait a few moments.'
She waited notonly a few moment",
but nearly an iiouj and when she did
rise from the cha.ir, Mrs. Bleek was
fastslperj-sound as a church.
The stranger paused in the centre of
the room, raiser! both hands to her
F1ejad ji-a vul pressed her forehead oon-
vulriivel3'. ,v
-Mad! madi md !' she said. 'They
"ftH-eay it all'! But memor3T some-
rtimes comes to rile sometimes! How
'did Licckhere ? That I forget ! I re-
"member thTs f6om vaguely vague-
v.! Uli. 5vuv can t 1 mini:? ror a
.. . .. -w ., . 1 n ",--
j- y ' 1
m-oftien an seems clear, ana men uar-
m .. ,., ., ,
n,sdflrjk.,jfs !'
She moved towards the bed, and
glanced between the curtains. Glano
ed, and, as before, drew back imme
diately, with the same frightened,
awe-struck look.
This I remember,' phesaid, after a
pause, and with the same convulsive
movement of the hands to the head.
'He lay there there; and it was to
wards this place' and she laid her
hand upon one of the elaborateK' carv
ed oak panels. 'Oh, if I could but
keep my reason for but a brief time
longer, I would have some revenge
some, for the torture they have made
me sutler ! But even while I speak,
the old feeling comes back, and my
brain is going going !'
With a feverish impatience, she,
still following the line that had been
indicated b3' the pointed finger, felt
along the wo6dwork of the panel.
He often talked of this panel in his
sleep, and of the disappointment ho
had hoarded up for my brother 1113'
brother What a fate that brother
reserved for me! Ah, this beating of
the blood at the temples this dim
ness of sight! It is always so ! Go
ing, going!
She staggered suddenly back against
the wall, and thrdw out both arms as
for support.
The 3hock was a severe one, but the
result was astounding.
As the half-fainting girl clutched at
the carved wood-work, topreventher
self from falling, the panel she rested
againBt Blid hack, discovering a receBS
behind.
At last!
The dream that in her short waking
hours of reason had visited her for
five long 3'ears, was at last realized.
It was possible that her revenge might
come.
Eagerly she peered into the dark
cavity in the wall. Nothing yes a
small ebony box, which, for there was
no ke3 she forced" open, of, rather
tore open, with a sort of mad strength.
Papers! One, two. three; she count
ed them eagerly ; then, as she again
touched the spring, the panel closed
with a Snap.
With a curious cunning In one evi
dently so afflicted, she crouched
quickly down upon the floor, and
peeped around at the place where the
good Mrs. Bleek was Bleeping the
sleep of the just.
jno movement on me part ui luan
ancient dame, who was rendering her
slumbers vocal by entunlng them
through her noso.
With astonishing celerit3, the stran
ger, or let us now call her Gertrude
Wentworth, threw off the wrappers
supplied her by the housekeeper.
Divesting herself of her corset, she,
with the same astounding nimbleness
of fingern, proceeded, by the help of a
pair of scissors taken from a needle
case, to unrip a portion of the interior
lining, sufficiently large tocontain the
tlnee documents, which she sewed
strongly and carefully in the smallest
compass, into the bod3' of the stays.
She laughed to herself when she
had done this, but it was a laugh by
no means pleasant to hear; itwo3 not
a mocking laugn, and there was noth
Ing of mirth in it; the lips alone
moved, while the eyes, as Tom Bromp
ton had observed, 'the beautiful eyes,'
remained inexpressibtysad.
'Over my heart! she said, almost
with a sigh 'over my heart! The
time may yet come may jet come
but when, ah, when? She resumed
her wrappers, all the while watching
the sleeping housekeeper with a cat
like vigilance.
'All I fear now Is my head, my
poor, wearied troubled head ! The
terrible sensation has come back
again, and the'.'.blood, as always, is
like a throbbing fire at my temples !'
Choking for air, she approached the
window and threw aside the curtain.
A scream, checked in a moment by
the violent pressure of a man's hand
upon her mouth, and Gertrude Went
worth felt that ehe was once more in
the toils.
The window was open. A ladder
had been placed against It, and b3T
that ladder two men had ascended
Doctor Balm, of Windlestraw House,
and his chief assistant, Mr. Joseph
Bradley? better known to the reader
as Powder Blue.
At the bottom of the ladder stood
another man, feeble, hunch-backed,
and bent Benjamin Darknoll.
Some hours later, when Mrs. Bleek
opened her dim eyes, upon the day
she found the apartment empt3' of all
but herself. The door was locked, but
the window was open.
The bird had flown !
CHAPTER XXXIV.
AGAIN AT tVlXULESTRAW.
Great had been tho commotion
iu Dr. Balm's philanthropic" establiuh-
i-meiitort the discovery of tluilisktoC
one of its in matea.
Such a thing had never before oc
curred in the annals of Windlestraw.
The joy was proportionate great
when the fugitive, cleverli' tracked
and run down, was brought back to
the abode of Health and Happiness
that secluded El3'siura, where, for a
consideration, those who desired it
could find rest for themselves or for
others.
On the noon of the day following
Gertrude's return to Captivity, Mrs.
Murdoch, once principal matron in
Windiest! aw House, is alone in her
small private room, sunk in what is
known a a brown stud3'.
Once principal matron that is to
to eay, she held that responsible posi
tion some five 3'ears ago, whena stran
ger was introduced to tho establish
ment by Doctor Balm, who quietv
superseded Mrs. Murdoch in her of
fice. This stranger was Mrs:" Prudence
Catt. There was no discussion upon
the matter : the doctor, or rather the
doctor's wife, never permitted her or
ders to be disputed. Like those re
markable laws of the Medes add Per
sians, contradiction was impossible.
Mrs. Prudence took Mrs. Murdoch's
place ; but then the salary paid to
Mrs. Murdoch remained the same,
and money is a great consoler in all
afflictions.
No quarreling eneued.
How could those two women quar
rel? Mrs. Murdoch was hard, cold,
and self-contained; the character of
Mrs Prudence Is already kuown to the
reader.
But of late it was impossible to ig
nore the fact Jane Murdoch had de
veloped much strangeness of conduct,
which, failing to find dn explanation
for it in her own mind, the red-eyed
little lady, ex-herbalist of the London
Warren, had thought It her duty to
communicate to the doctor.
A eilent woman at all times, and,
even when speaking, abrupt to mor
oseness, Jane Murdoch had lately
been singularly neglectful of her usu
al duties; would Bit for hours brood
ing by herself, and to auy question.
would answer vaguely and wide of
the matter, aB one whose mind was
painfully pre-occupied.
It is all along of her daughter,' sug
gested some of tho servants to Mrs.
Prudence. 'Since her daughter Nan
C3'jwent awa3 to Lunnon.aud took to
play-acting and such-like wickedness
it ha' gone nigh to break her heart.
It ha" nigh put her off her head,
that's what it ha done.'
But Mrs. Prudence concerned her
fielf but little with bucIi domestic raat
tera. Mrs. Murdoch was sullen, re
bellious even, and performed her du
ties like one who despised herselT for
having such duties to perform.
Dangerous symptoms these In one
in a situation of trust. They were
oarefully noted by Mrs. Prudence,
and as carefully reported to the doctor
and his wife.
Not but what it was quite in Mrs.
Prudence's power to aot upon her own
responsibility, and discharge any ser
vant of the establishment at a mom
ent's notice if eb'e ati ChoSe.
Butabe did not choose to do any
VOL. 21.-N0. 43.
' - -
thing of the kind. A captions wom
an ; she preferred that the odium of
aii3 severit3 should, fa!! upon others,
not upon herself.
So she privately reported the cold,
stern woman as one stubborn and
stiff-necked, and hard to deal with.
For Mrs. Prudence herself, Windle
straw House was indeed an Elysium.
Not only was she directress in the ab
sence of the two principals, but and
that without arousing an3' jealousy on
the part of the learned 'SeppyV better-halfshe
was the one constant and
sole assistant permitted In the doc
tor's labaratory ; her knowledge tes
tified to b3 Dr. Mah'on of herbs and
simples rendering her services invalu
able. So, as the serpent lay coiled among
the flowers of Paradise, so did those
twin snakes jealousy and malice raise
their heads in the health and mind
restoring (see advertisement) atmos
phere of Windlestraw.
Matters have at last come to a cli
max. The escape of a patient had aroused
the fiercest Ire of Septimua'Balm and
his wife, if so strong a term as fierce
can be used to such soft-gliding, eofc
speaking, velvettj' people.
It has been intimated to Jane Mur
doch that the doctor, iu the courhe of
the morning, will pay her a visit, ac
companied by Mrs; Balm, iu her
room.
A hint, which, as the woman well
knew, signified dismissal.
Formalities of that kind were never
used bj Dr. Balm without a result
having been determined upon before
hand. What is the matter with Mrs. Mur
doch? Is there an apprehension tf
coming misfortune in the set, cold
face ? On the contrar3 her e3es glit
ter as with the light of some coming
triumph, and her thin-lipped mouth
wears a smile.
She has locked the door, and, more
than that, has hung a shawl or gar
ment of some kind over it, bo thatany
inquisitive e3'e would find only a dark
disappointment, iu"; peering througli
the ke3'hole.
She hai been busy mending and
darning an active, industrious wom
an, and clever with her needle.
A pile of garments of various kinds
are scattered on the floor beside her
chair. A pair of eta3's, partiall3 rip
pod, lie before her on the table.
But, for once, needle and thread are
idle, and the eager scissors have ceas
ed their sharp clippings.
Mrs. Murdoch's; whole attention is
absorbed ly the contents of two pa
pers two 'written papers, which are
opened out upon the table. They
were the papers which poor Gertrude,
in one of her rare lucid intervals,
had sewn'into heir stayo the night of
her visit to the Abbeys
It has been described in a former
chapter how the unfortunate girl, af
ter reclo'sing the panel, had, on ap
proilobing thewindow, been recap
tured b3 her relentless gaolers;
They had easily tracked her from
Windlestraw to Wentworth, and with
the aid of Darknoll, the rest of their
work had been eas3T:
The relapse from reisoh if reason
it could be called, where there was no
possibility of following up a connect
ed idea was the immediate result of
Gertrude again finding herself izi the
hands of Doctor Balm and his rayr
midons. She hadoflered no resistance she
thought of none. Gentle and submis
sive, sue nad suomitteu wunout. a
word. The subtle drugs which, un
der the direction of Matyrin, the little
herbalist knew so well how to admin
ister, resumed their swa3 and the
mind, which had for so brief a space
struggled toward the light, fell back
into the darkness, and all was, aa be
fore, a blank.
It is lucky,' said the matron, still
ruminating, 'that it was I who un
dressed her when brougth back. Had
the fingers of that red-eped dwarf once
touched the 6ta3's, she would have
found these hidden papers ay. quick
er than I did. How I hate that wom
an ! After so man3 3'ears of service,
to be dismissed, and through her ! I'll
be revenged, that I will !'
The hard mouth grew harder, and
the straight brows tightened into a
frown that harmonized with her
words, while the strong, bony hand
clenched Itself fiercely, and she smote
the larger of tho documents before her
as though she were smiting the face
of a foe.
There's been some deadly, black
work afoot, and who knows but what
the key to it maj'n't be here? lam
no scholard, but can make out that
one of these is a will in favor of a Miss
Gertrude Wentworth, and that must
be the girl that's here, but the3' call
her Mary. This other paper is-a state
ment of an exchange of children, and
a heap of other things beside ; a twist
ed hank, which wiser heods than
mine most unravel. A black business!
a black business!' she repeated, slow
ly folding up the papers as she spoke.
'But there's a fortune for Bornebodv-
several somebodies, perhaps who
knows? At least, I'll try for it.'
She had taken out of a capacious
pocket an equally capacious pocket
book a dingy and greasj" affair, with
a great clasp, which opened with dif
ficulty, and closed with a suddeli
snap, like a steel-trap, that is sure to
hold fast what it has once caught.
Placing the papers in this bulky re
ceptacle it might, at a pinch, have
done dut3 as a valise Jane Murdoch
fastened ft careful3 then, holding It
in her hand, which rested on- Iref lap,
coutiuued to ruminate.
.-jt'.i jjj'j"'- ' i if ' ' 'wviiaw-wwMMg 't0tmm .' ,Sy
OFFICIAL PAPER OF THECOUSTY
- . - - ' i-
What shall my first move be? who
to consult? Ah, there's the difficnltyv
I don't like law3ers, never did. They
ma3 take advantage of my being only
a woman, and no scholard, to play
the game out for themselves They
are capable of it. Thev're a bad lot.
and there's no choice between 'em!
After which rapid 'summing up' of
the entire legal profession, Mrp. Mur
doch put the huge pocket-book back
into hnr pocket, and continued, now
with both hands resting in her lap, to
ponder. 'If something should turn up out of"
this, it might be tho means of reclaim
ing my poor gel. I can't bear to think
that flesh antl blood of mine is going
headlong to the pit' (it was an in
vblntar3' pun) 'by frequenting them
theatres. I haven't heard from her"
for these three 3"ears, come next Mi
chaelmas, but I've heard of her to my
shame. It was onl3 the other day I
come across a newspaper,, in which
was writ down in print all about her
singing and dancing. Ah I' (this
with a heavy sigh) 'and Nancy nev
er missed chapel once till that man
came. That man ! What man ?' and
again the hard mouth tightened;
'She has never told me his name, this
scoundrel, who visited our village to
steal m3' daughter, and m3 daughter's
heart from me i I swore I would nev
er forgive her, but oaths are weak
against a mother's love. The man i
ah! if he has behaved bad to Nanc3,
I pra3' heaven,' and the stern, old
woman raised two rather formidable
fists, and shook them threateningly
in the air, 'to give me the power, be
fore I die, to render him the measure
he has meted out to her. The light,
foolish bird ! He came like a thief in
the night, and stole her, so bright, so
beautiful, so clever, from beneath her
mother's wing! Well, well! Provi
dence watches over them who wait
and pray, aud nothing is denied to
those who bide their time-.'
A sharp knock at the door, at tho
same time tiie sound of a stumble on
the threshold, caused Mrs. Murdoch
to start hurried 13 trt her feeU
to re continued
Etch Tnt'i One Another-.
A certain squire had a friend to vIb
it him on business, and was very
much annoyed to be interrupted by
his wife, who came to ask him what"
he wanted fordihher-
"Go- away ! Let us alone!- impa
tient said the squire.
Business detained the friend until
after dinner time, and the squire
urged hitu to remain. Thu squire"
was a generous provider, proud of his
table, and he complacently escorted
his friend to a seat. A little to the"
surprise of both, they saw nothing on
tho board but a huge dish of salad,
which the good wife began quietly to"
dish up.
"My dear," said the squire, "where
are the meats?1
"There are none to-day," said his
wife.
"No meats ? Whht in the natne of
povcrt3' ! The vegetables, thou !
Wli3' don't 30U have them brought
in?
"You didn't order any."
'.Order! I didn't order anything!""
Kuid the amazed squire.
"You forgot," coolly answered the"
housewife. "I asked what you should
have, and -ou said lettuce alone.
Here it is."
The friend burst into a laugh, and
the squire, after looking lugubrious
for a moment, joined in.
"Wife, I give it up. I owe you one.
Here's that i fty dollars 3011 wanted
for that carpet which I deilied you.''
The squire forked over. "Now let us
have peace and some dinner."
The good woman pocketed the pa
per, rung the bell, and a shmpiuous
repast of fish, poultry and vegetables
was brought in.
A few days afterward the squire re
mains! working in the garden later
than the usual tea hour. His wife
grew impatient of delay and went to'
find him. His excuse, when asked
what he was waiting for, threw her
into a flutter of excitement.
"Some one's come to sfeppef !' she
exclaimed. "WI13 don't 3'ou tell-me?"
I declare, j-ou sre the provokingest of
men."
And without asking which of hlsr
friends was expected, he hastened to
change her dress and slick up her hair
for the occasion. This done, She came
out and found the squire seated at the'
table reading the newspaper.
"Where's 3our compauy ?"
"My company? I haven't any"
compan3."
"But 3ou said you expected some
body to eupper," exclaimed the indig
nant wife.
"My dear, I paid no saeh thing.
You asked we what I was wating for,
and I said summons to come to supper
that's what I wgg waiting for, aud
I came at once." ,
"And 3ou have made me go and
change my dress! Oh, I'll pa3 3otr
for this."
"No matter about it, m3' dear? 1
owed ycu for that lettuce."
Willow trees are being set out at th
cuts along the line of the St. Joseph"
and Denver City Railroad, for the pur
pose of preventing snow from drift
ing into the cuui-
Water in which a good big pinch of
salt has been dissolved, 'freshens sal J
Ssh of ham much quicker than- a Hk3
quantity of unsalted water will. Trifi
lit
