chroniclingamerica.loc.govchroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1890-03-16/ed-1/seq-18.pdf ·...

TIIE CIIIXA-CI.OSET.From Good Hoaae KeeptngBlng a aaag <>f ealna, a eloael ox-p and wlde.Bowa and rowa ol dlabes, aettliig alde by iMe.When the door I- oj. 'ti g.Ily lo h.di.ddlialntv ahlnlng crysUl the tea noi wl.aad gold.Grandma's blue-sprigged chLna on the upper stieit

(Oraadma uaed to wash 11 and dr> eaih plece neracil),lloplnc. poorold lady. if llving nol to.That futiu-c geueraUona mighl from I.>;- drlnk tea.

Rinc a aaag ol bn eaaa* a eleael deep m <i ¦¦ iCracked and broken dlshcs aetting sldc by Ide,When the d..or stonds open 't - awful to in'inda

Fragmenlary eryslul tl," teu-sel i.- gold.Oraadma'i blue-sprlgged thlna wsarch well the appei

N.d a p'iece to tell Ihe lale of Ita ihaltered - lf.Well ia it for r.randmn -le ha* nol ved lo -...:Tho-." qualntly fashloned teacuna will nevei more hoii

tea.

Sing a aang of Brldgel nf M iry Ann of KaleThe eomlng, golng, restl de, who form the mmlly

Heapaof aea waihed wreckage streajn nlong Ihe ihoreTell »f devaatatlng ilorms when tbe fury' o'er.Softly clo*e Ihe lo<cl door haitrred treaanrea hlde,There's no bftlm t<> hcal thesi woaads, tbougb we

scarch world wlde,Ralm will nol heal hlnn wnre. nor Ihe aad hearl rei I:Vothing now rematns lo do bul to try remcnl

SEFTON'* SERVANT."Do yoa know, it doea aeem odd," aald Mra.

Walton, aettlng dowa her eup, and folding herliands. "Do nol you think bo?"

"Odka? What, .laiie:" Her hnaband apokebriskly, with u faint note ol challeaHC in his \.,<w.

Wo were aittiag, aix ol as, tbeee two and theirfour gncsts. ln ihe cuurtyard at Bagoltaking tea- aome ol ua. am afraid, taking itin the ahape ol wbiskcj nnd Apolliuaria water.But then the day was hot.

¦.Mr. Sefton'a conduct, Jamea, Mra. Waltonanswcre.1. "in aeadiag Fred here in thla way.lt is not that 1 grudge tbe man hia food und bed.Iln. Linjrord. Vou kaow that. In h house likethis one or two extra moutha make literallv nodilfcrenee. Bul 1 do aol underatand whj be iahere. Can you think, Mra. Liagard, why Mr.Sefton has aeal him .'"

Sefton, a middle-aged baehelor, lind been one olua until a daj or two before thia.a irtieat al thei'ourt. Then be had gone to viail the Featheistones near Exeter, taking hia valei with liim.We liinl all liked bim. There had been no mys-tery aboui his movement* whatever, and, conaeftuentlv, onr aurpriae had been gre I « hen, twenty-fonra lntcr. hla aervant had retiirned, lieai na r*note from him. in which he aaked Mr. Waltonto tflke the nian in for a week, and cxplained that.

f'red had falien out with the Featherstones1 l>if-er, and found the house uncomfnrtublc. S»mewouid have thoughi the explanation Insiifllcient,but the Squirc w.is the leasi auapicioua ol men,and, withoul t-akiiiK coimsel, he had wired an

afhrmative.Mrs. Liagard, a particalar friend ol Sefton a,

did not haaten to aoawef; -.. I s..i-l: " lt certninlyseems oueer t*> me. Sefton has hambera ln l-oa-don. Why did he nol aend tiie man to town.which la nearer to Kxeter thaa Worceataliire ?Stirely it wouid have beea more naturaL as wellos more casv, to aend him home."

"Of eaarae il wouid!" Delvea Bagol aaaeutodindolently. He was leaning haek iu hiawith his eyea in the Inwn, which vergea on tbeDne open alde of the coiirtyard. "Or iato lodg-inps ;.t Kxeter. where he mighl have ma le aomeusc of him. Or to a hot.-i .he ..ii."Tirlvcs added, with a sij h. " to pay for his b"And it is imi." Mra. Walton said, "as i! Mr

Sefton were an iatimate friend ol n re. tl »ugh Ilike him very much. This ivas his lirsi visit. (IfMr. Walton did nol knew hi- handwritlng, lahouM l>e teropted to think tbe letter n forcery

" lt is his letter, aufe enough," said Um Sbraequely.

Mrs Liagnrd ceaaeil drawii patterna on Uie

fwivement with tbe ndle of her i le nndooked up. "Sefton ia n fool:" alie suid nirily.

'. Fred can (lo nnything with him rniindliis lager, Mra. Wi Iton Ile alwaya couid. 11is so. Liagard, isift it .'"

"Vou oughl to know, my dear," i id tlie gea*tlemnn. plaeidly.

"Well. le eaa!" ahe aaawere Ij with e shi ¦-.¦¦

of temper. "I dare kij p haa gol Sefton underli is thumh. Vou have all gol we k plaee*menl An.l vour tervante know them." AndaaM finished her whiakcy and Apollinaria verymuch a.s it sne liked it. Mra. Lingai waa i.rito wlth n:"st ol ua. Sl e wa8 well conneete I.She had a rich hnaband Bul al r li also n villant Pau, in whieh ahe apenl half ihe year. an lFrench p"!ish ad long ago hidden any n lgood qualitiea tae woman may have poaaesscd.Almost the aame mighl i>e aaid ,,f hei huabaud. «.

lazv. over-fed maa, rarelj withaul French novelin his hand.

"But." said Mr Walton, impatientijr, "whyahonld Fred wis!i to he here. Vou do Bol thinkhe )ins ciiine io rob the houae, 3

"To kiss the maida, more liki gestedaome one.

"That la Liagard all over!" retorted mndameaaptemptuuualy. "Vou were w :.;:.:_- with mymaid this moralag, my man. I aaw you andblushed lor your taate. Si e has-"

" Pooh, pooh I" tii-m Uie S'iuiic.. N" more tigure than .i blackboard! ** trinm-

phantly."Pooh, pooh!" cried the Squire, still more bn-

patiently: "ihis is .,11 nonaeaae.""No. Jamea, il ia nol nonaense," - id Mn Wal-

ton, plaeidly. "I mel Mr, Sefton'a aervant onthe stoirs near tbe aewiag-room very 1 ¦.t.-night, aad he hurried by tne in n Way I did Iat all like. He i> a good <o\ iag m n, h littleabove his aitdbtioB, and I dare bhj Mr. Scftii.poiled him. He will ael our a I acars."'

¦. Has it oceurred to you." I asked, "thal hemay bave gol into some i .. tr ible wiipoliee? And Mr. Sefton waats bim aafe oul ulthe way for a bil

" Nothing more likelyi" quoth madame, with anevil 5ini!e.

"Well," aaid Mr. Walton. with Rudden decision,"I will not navc him tn the houae after Satui-day."I was lawardly making merry und comrrattilat-ing Mrs. Walton on the cleverneB8 with whichi>he hr.d reached lvr enda. I had aeen them allalong.wjien Mr. Lingard Kald: "Hen. comes thegenueman in ciueation! And "v ¦.11 \\ill -<... I amright. lt is the girls he li nftci He haa oim oltlieni in tow now, the ekanuneg!"

I saw Bagtit's face llneli ill over, He, i.a wellaa Liagard, -¦. tting fa the lawn. I turned,and, to l«* aure, there ^'.a.- red, good-looking,Kllm youag fellow, dreaaed In n tweed suit, whichI gappoee he thoughi he ui .rlit wear, bemufti. He was eros-sing the lawn from Uie gardens with a girl ul his aide Aa I looked, tbepirl.taking from him n haskcl pflcaine towai ll was l^--..." '¦'.: Walton.

Mr. Liagard, ln flne, ha m le -li;.. .. \'r.have made a liad ahot this time," I iooolly. I was nol goiog to help him oi t

diflieulty.Bnt, with French arine«w, he

Cr he had nol tbe gl ce to ip i/c "MiaaWalton. is it '.' Well, mademoiapllc La no doublamusin^' beraelf."

Bagot i;ot up with aneh violenee thal his chniiwent ovei like a ninepin. Luckii)*, it was onlya wieker oae. me and knoek the balls about,"he said to nio. ln- tnead veiy hi.-i,

"All rinht." I aaaeuted, aad, riaing more gently,went with him

"('oaiso beaat!" he cried. ¦¦¦ aoon aa Uie doorof the billlard-room waa ciosed heliiad '¦. "Ibave a good mind tu kiek him. If thal be Freachpoliteiiess, haag Freach poiilcneaa, aay I'""With all my heart," I anawered, chooaLng a

cue."And that woman! After Seftoa lefl she foi*

lowed me aboul the plaee n whole day. waatingto tell my fortune. ralil il ma le me aick. .s!i''la old eoough to be mt roother."

"She tlatter-- her-clt I Baid, paualag upon acaiinou. "thal Maatei Freil haa hen, aenl baikeep an e\e upon her- in Sefton'a intereet.is her readinii ol tlie liddle."

"Rubbisb!" retorted Boeot.he was ln b coa-tradietoiy moo<l Seftoa is as tired "f ei as heihnaband la. What on earth he evei ^lU- m beiaffeetations I ennnol Imm ine

"Vou do not think thal Fred la here on heraccount ¦>"

"Not hei It i.s so ne Intrigue of 1ns own withthe aaaida «»i oi oh! I don'1 know," lie rone.luded fretfulK. atriking hia lsaa.ll over the enaliion. and gramblina as be aought foi i' uadei thefender.

I put dowa my cue. Delvea Bagol aad l wereold trleada. I Liked th.y, liked bia boylab Im*puLsiveuess aml Irank bearlog, u d eveii tbe obatinacy and aelf-conlidencc ihul were well eiin a iiii^'ot. "Look bere, Delvea," I aaid,do you not apeak i" Walton? Aboul Ueaaie, Imca'u. Vou ara wretched company al prea-ut.lnpaiu yoaraelf, aad a eauac "i pulu .iheraHe looked al !ue an.niy: init, aceing me aa*

moved, releated. "Well, I intended to apehim to-day, Brett. And then I beard tbe old bojtalkinir of Uie doctor b1 Aabley wlio wanta tomarry Mary Vooag, nd and boul fortuue-hunt-era jieneraily, you kaow, alanging llMm up lullaml down dale. And 1 inked, thal ia the trutb.Vou know, except my pay and tbe threc bundreda year rent for UiM plaee, 1 have abaolutelynothing.""Thanks to old Siiuire Courteaay ''

"Well, thanks to Iiiu, and oae o. tWO othcrs,"Delvet, aaid gloouiily.

lt wa* a proverb in ihe family tbai a eertainSquire Courteaay had atarted Uie Bugota dowahillby raisiuK iiioi.cy at ruinoua lutereal in tbe i >. Hiadescen.lanta reaeated it the more that be dbrought his eaterpriae '<. a most Lgnomlnioua end.Hla twenty tbouaan gulneaa had done no one anygood, for the old geatleman, ridiag by nighl tojoin the l'rin'-e at Derby, had been waylaid andmurdercd along \.i'!i is aervant, and robbed, oleouwe

"Well, you may make your mind eaay, Delvea,I aaid. "Walton wouid much ratber that Beaalemarried a Bagot with Stjuire Courteaay for agraatpgrandfathcr, to aay nothing of tbe gunpow-

dcr geatleauiB.Bagol rhymea wlth faggot, youknow.ta.ui a Snooiia with the twenty mouaandui haad. , ,,

.l'oaaibly," replicd Delvea dryly. 'Bal a^Bagatwith Uie '"iu wouid he siill more welcoiae."You caoaol .-ai youi cake and have it, young

man,' I retorted. And we played o game ol nltjup, ai.d then wenl to <ii-css J"i dinner.

never tell anv doub! myaelf ol tne Bucoesa ..!1'.- "s's sut. il' I had, a glance at- lia.ol I OUTtwouid have lemovcii lt. Tlie COUrt, nUUlllI at ail

limes, and bcautiful ln aummer, loruMd threc,,, ,, |10|iow s,,u..ic. A greal atone tywer,

lattiecil si, i,, Bpcak, bj wide niullioncd windowa,lornici tbe prim .("1 alde; and this time and

is had meiiowed to a deep orange ":.'. ihewinga were ol atill "Ide. date. luey ran backii., a ie fronl nl rigbl aaglca-long, matiy-gaiilcd

nira oi hrick .md ti.''. maaked by ro¦-..,. umi vcilcd by westeriaa. Like all bouaca

ill in this abape, the t'ouil was a rambling pllcI; wag ;, ilay'a iouraey from one end t" the other.(.. the ground Booi .. am .le lonj .paaange. foi o v*

;,. ti.Mc.-ioi Uaea of ihe limlding, almpllllcd,,, ,':.-;s for tln- atraager, bul .ve he liad no

-,-, i, ;,..!-; ;.,,c. Tl e .. were ai leaaf aix atnir-taaes 11." rooma were on as manj levela, aud

often the onlj way "- reach a aext-door neighiioiwnstogo dow; atniraiiiid aaceml another corkserevvfliglit, pasl a fresb aeriea ol Bngota, who aceined,l»y the fainl gleaiu ol ihe candle, '.. be amirkingIII theii Itala.s

Delvea nnd I were more lucky. We o cupierooma adjoining one another in the weal win*.with a liny ilurk ataircaae, moal auggeative olmidiiighl luuider, al! to oureelves, Above iia

glepl sonic "f Ihe aprvanla. L'nderneath waa tbe-1,,. one oi t:., bandaomeal .- a in lhe

¦-. lined v-nl. '.kabelvea, und wl! wariiicd,,., wintei i.i: is bj .. greal open llreplace, fJankedby oak settleg.

\s i,\ iu bed lhal nighl heard aomelhing, a

insii. aharp aoiuid, a.s caaily recognized by an ed-ucated eai aa anv. lt was tbe click ol one billiardball atriking another. I faney I maet bave bunaome 'une liatening to lt, apprehending whal tt

waa bul ol the time nnd plaee, until at toal i

grew less iirowav, and hegan lo pul one and one

tovether. Then 1 atarted up i" b«l, remerabcrlngtbai it miist Im- 2 ""I" k at leasi ; thal all Uie

men h.d come to i.el ui the aame time wlth my¬aelf; and ih.it therefore this aouad needed ex-

pian.ition. . f ,, ,

Could it i»e merely the echo ln my eara oi im

dav'a play? So ('liek! click il canie. nt reg-1-. intervala. There coitld la- no douht. Soue

onr ln thia atill house. wrnppeil in aluml»er. thia.,-,. iu which enrlj houra were kept. waa piny-

in« hilli irds al .' in the morniag. And i had puiout the hillianl-rooai lighta with my own hanu

two houra before, al leaat; and aren everj one

¦tart to l>ed. , ....

-lt is Bagot," was my flrsl Hiought. l«cannot aleep, and ln- goae dowuataira. Bal Wal¬ton will nol like it."

l>tting it of bed. T out on a drenair^-gown.and sr.itiv feltmy way tolbgota room. rhe¦iiooiwas unlocked. the room waa in darkneaa. bnt i

lieard him breatliing, made my way t.. him, aaa

awoke him. .,¦-.¦..>..llallo!"heerled, graapiagme, who la ii-I Brett Do not make anoise, I whlsperen

"There jv soroethtng wrong downataira.aomethirigverv qucer. nl any rate " I made him liaten. I Imaound "I ihe I.-.lis waaquite audible here.

.. tll righl '" be aaid, brlakjy lightiug his cnndlcand gcttlng up. "Il la Liagard, foi n BovereiguWe will go -low-ti and give him n fright.

- He b eepa ln ihe ,,ther wing." 1 ob pcted¦?Well al ny rate we will go and *><. who lt

is " repiied tbe vouns fellow. thoronirhly wldeaw ike now. And .ordingly we ailently openedthe door. and with n gunrded liirhl p... rn pi,!,,,v tbe nnrr >w atoire isc which 1 "l Its fool

n few n ees nl tl .¦ hilli rd room doil'he- 1 - rfo ilropw tlie imlle.

one awiftly and silently bcihI led by me \ v oi

jr -ci.-,i io I,". eomins frmn the billianlatart r bj our npproaeh. " « io

|: ii | whiapered l"r -1! I hml area i.ill form in a bl ie ro *?. " \» bo w ia it, o]man.'"

Dei -"- did not anawer. Ile a - -;i<'-,- -. emptj paasngc whieh led tl

in b lilding to the 1 "iabl

ii.,n v. i. ttevei - '.'. ¦¦ i.-pca'.-d to

question be lool rd 1 l me, 1 en di ¦;.,-¦|H p« i do nol know v. ho n wa

tered, way un ia ial with him.i:s s.-e w ho is iieiv."

Foi atci Ihe click of.'. lliard halls

.. Wi ,t tlie dickena is np I I nei.. r tln

it. do you l!The st ,n whlrh the wom u ' '"'

shaken my r.ervea I aa for Bhad hai geil atraugely. He nu longer ieenlook on tie affair aa a iaik and .- n ah nen joke. IL- apoke w Ith aa e emphanls

., '.' i? The dewill soon aee.'" and he flung Ihe door wide openI w.-nt in behind

Well, I had not l ed for 1 \*t ,- toble in 1 .. fuli gl.t Ui*Sefi His fi 'e. - ired n l ol II

is, peered I ua ovei ;. s hhouMei .¦ rrcsted on the I. le ene. n

1...11. <. e at- od ¦-' ,

tliud.audible In the ail dead alleithe plaee.iato a pocket '1 heMy first imp ilae h ia to la -. !"it | cheeked il

I t .- luii ..' .a-' room fell - dden preaeneea-. .,? thiinder iu Hm air. IVi ipa lheterrorst.ruckme aal perhapaBngot'adumb-

1!", uauallv so fiaiik and read> "t apif ivorite with tl e aei .-anta nd

out a iii.-tiv word for them, atnod tongring tlie Interloper with hla >.

v ipokc flrat, who moved flral FredI s id, pntting the st.-.- -.!,.. I oiibl,

ing ol thia? Will you rxplain, if you

l':,h: The fellow w-is friglitened He atuI<.-.,-,! i, ln rti le aomethiiig then reeo redI.i- voiee aml fell .¦,.-.. |fi

...,- dow 'i to uae be t ibie 11.¦ «/aa foi d ol the

D ,- li.- pi .! nol |.. li 1 ¦." -'¦ H aroubiwe wouid overlook it. and not

report him t.. Mr. Walton.h si: ui !, me thal his t.-ar exceeded tlie

Bul w hen I tiirned and saw B igol a freezin i< e,1 wondcreil no longer.

Why, li ot!" I aaid, thinking he waa ill, lor1 e \-, .-. the 1 -.;..- ,:. to t..,.,- -, |, "le of tkind -' s ti,c."

II,. did nol l"t me lini-h. Ile shooked u,-,| iru- by hia iolem e. H<- pul un ni

<;,, ed he sei rnnt. "You lie '" he cxi laimeil, u-ldressiiig him in a voiee tremtiliiig with passion,w;,,],- be st rctclii d oul one l. md as ii he

ie, n,-ci: \ oi

not come ilowii to usc 1 r toble Vou I. noldown io play. \" ive r >i.low:, lo

Ile broke ofT ehoked hj Foia uiomenl he I: n d !<¦ ind nildly. Then exclaimin cannol say it! <¦, tuiot s,-, it! ^..-,

:" ,- mn "'1 and di lelj laii rrom "

i".,i me, I waa dazed. I waa '-t 11 looking fromhim to tbe acrx'anl in inexpreasible wonder, when! i. nd him gone. A moment'H heaitation, andhurried after .him. in alarm, and aome angei andmore coni ision, und heard bim stuinble up lhe

si.,ns like one i.lii,d l: ii when I i" icbedthe landing at the Uip be had I". ked hia do n ln-hind him.

To go down '¦' Um billiaid-room and flnd itd rk and tl e man i'Hni« p this was m-. liisi im*I.-,! Then I wenl to my own room aud onthe bed and pinehed my arm. Whal hadnaased mual he u drearo, Tbe ahoii Interx'iew.|)elve s pilSHioll, the -.aVets lear. hiwl left t|.[niperfeel imprcKsii.na ol n ilrcain. Bul n<», tbeiilneh bil home. and 1 aal ci."t. liatening untll

mre thal nl] waa r-iilel nexl door. '111is Idid more than onee, and ao liuiia l>rtween Irotibledgleep and wakina mtil mortiin?. When I flnallyopened mv eyea Bngol was .t my bedalde

.¦ r.ii-it." he i'c.-.i-i. nbriiptly, as tbough lie wereafraid to let the icaolutiou he had 'aken Itlllldi|,,. . -s: of an inatant'a dela.v. "I have made unii.v miml t.. t.ll you. I mual tell aome one, <>r I-!,:¦]] go inad."

ii i can do nnything la help you." I said. mnehconcerned for him, "go on, my dear boy."

.. \ o oannot. No one can, he replleil, In n

cold, Impaasive manner, very unlike lu-s uauaJway. " Lingaid, eurae him' wna right."

.. ||ow do you mean? ln what. Bagot?"li,, bad gone lo the wlndow, and apoke wlth

his l'.i"!c to n»- 11" said thal nian had AOmeatt.-r one ol ol Um women. He told me which.lie was nliout right. Clever fellow, Liagard,"Wlth a hlltei- Laugh.

I am pretty aharp al taking hinta. I aawalrendy a! what he waa driving. '* Do you mean."I said abockril thal Bagot, of all people, ahouldeatertaiu bucIi a thoughi "thal he is here onaccoiint "i Mi* Walton- "f IVsaie ?"

"Aye, 1 do." be aaawered, drearily. "Rtraage,is |i in " f'.ut women are atninge, Brett."

.. or ali .¦ e :" 1 ci ied

.. \-..-. shame IndeeU." he said, in tbe aametone,

I waa efoj | wl I did aol know how tohim, wl, t to s v to him. An Iden aa prepoater

ml wlien entertained by him so abhimy ever> lay reaaon B ¦'. Bagol " i

a-lccl fieiilv. you do nol Inainnate lhal abe.Bessie.aPi.ura h .¦ him ''"

.¦ |.,,oU heie." i,e said, " I milSl tell VOU all or

nothing. 'I ial la iual what I do mean \ .¦

know Lingard noliced bei walkiag with him yea-tei ;." :'""Why. vou Joaloua fool! I cried. apringini

oul of l.'d. "Ihere \vas no h.irm in fhat. Shehad been picking fruit, aad he earrfed the baa <-t|. r ler as anv .-crvant mlght."

"Wait," be anawered, quite unmoa/ed by n.v

Lndignation. "Did you notice thal man'a handlaatnigbt? You did not. I did. Brett. He waaweoring on Iii-. Ii11JL-- flnger Miai Walton'a pearlri ti l: the one hei fatbei gave Imi laai Chrlatmasahould know ii aiiioim h hiindred.""But she may have loal n He may liavc

found it," I aaid, s mewhal atagaered bj this.," It was on her finger when 1 said good-Bighl

to her."1 Ilagot uiu.wcred, gloomily. "<»f thal 1am certaiu. lt cbanged hands alter miduiubt.

Aml that is not all. You .liil not see who tt was

w hom we all l.ui eauffht eoming out of the biillard-i... tn tiu-, morning.al '.' o'clock this mornlng,llr.-ti. I .Inl. lt waa Miss Waltoii."

.. Impoasible'" I erled, akih-ist. remembenng thalsl»e alept in the oth.-r wing.

.¦ lt w.is. iou shake your head. I tell v<;".hc repeated bitferly, " ll was li.. you tbink lbhotild not know her aaywhere.everywherc,manl An.l for lhal leliowa tale, do you Iwllcveit yourself? VYho ever heard >.i a aervant r""1*down alone to uae tbe bUllard-table inlhe middleof the nighl ?" , . ,. ,

I found ;. diffieulty there myaelf. I did n rthelieve Delvea's suspiciona had any hasis. I re-

pudiated t-liem atout-ly in mv own min.L Uul itwas so difflcull to I'Xplaln Fred'a eondiirl "ther.wise, Ilis own story w.:s Improhable. and tnemore improhable tbe m«»re closely I acanned it.On the other hand, if Delvee were right, trcdastrange return and his vigll ln lhe billiard-roomi.- ame intelligible. So iliil his peculiar fenr alaighl .-f ltair.il. whom all tbc bouavbold knewio i.e cnurtina Mias Beeale.

I rememliere.1. too, with n ainklng of tho heana wonl which tlie i.utler had aaid to me liefon-dlnner the prevloua evening. Ile waa an "hlEervant, ln Mrs. VValtou's.ilidei «. and meetlnghim on the ataira 1 hud nol scrupled lo aak himii he could aecounl for tlar reappeorance ol Mr.Sclt.ma aervant, He eould not: and on mjaaking him between i<" t and earneal ll Fredw is courtinn one ol the maida, he had anawerol,-Nn sir. I..- h.-.-|.s binnvll very stiff. I tbinkho conaidera liimsell n cul a.mve Ihem "

A ,. ,i. .,. ihem. I'mphl » onld lt he thalLinc u.i -.¦ ia 11- Itl .'

..r aball leave to-day," aald Delvea, preparing"No: yoo mnal <i" notldna "f th.- kind." I

nnawerrd firmly. "Vou mnal atny twenty-fonrhoura al leaat. And ma«le him promiae thlaNow ili.ii he had lold 1ns atory. 1 could are (toawhile nn.l heart broken be lonked, icl whllr Ipitie-l him I waa angry wlth him. lt waa hardio reiiieinl.er ih.it n lover is the mosl rolatilerrenture In lhe work): and thal f..r him fmra im-plicil confidenee lo decra.ling auspicion la bul a-., ,i ;, step taken ln p momcnt.

Rather ll s.-.-m.'.l natural to tbink he ahonldh.,ve been tlie laal lo harhor the thoughl. Tliethoiiglit! Ob. Ihe pity ul it. if he a*cre righl

had heard of thlnga like this before. I knewIhey happened someiimca in piaces Ihe lenaljikely. Uul bithcrto lliey had liefallen mjfriends' frien.la, an.l I could ahruy mj ahouldera

A few .l..\ s lieTorc we had taken t .¦> ttamall laland ln the river. \n.l one nl tl r boya(..nl made a t*ong of fnir women -wretrbcd duit waa ibout ihe la.liea, giving eaeh a veneI remembered lieaeie's:

My next i- tall and plump and frea.\ 1 ..,' eth* f al rilbury,

\- il :.*.';i nnilAnd mllk and no

Are all ln her face, lhal I* falr to aee.She had been vexed in a g-ood-humored way

bj the wonl free," and thc roii strel had auffered,l(, little. f'oiild it le, I wondercd now. lhal h<-had seen arigbt.that hii. mor.' delicate inpight,eynieal youns don thal he wna! had read ln thalunnfTeeted frankneaa which 1 found so eharmingn fatal lark "t reaerve ui odioti* faci "

.\.,: a hunilred iin ea ao! would bellevc inllcseie. ihotigh all Ihrse gay young!.- ,iwi bl.oiihl '¦. -rl liei s.t tiextj.,-r :.t breakfasl in lhe aeal ua illj

.... Ile 1 ilel: t kei <> ¦¦

bj hei father at lhe other orner A- he di o

croweil er ple . ml gi . eyes. Itli.iiiuli she .lri:iii>i"l them iiuiekb Slie n

visdbly li irl and made no re-in:.r'...' ntid I strwi e by ehatl ;-!'. t.ver

oll lhe I.ii. rarda attfUm It im 'wl i.'h

I t.i the wret imi mpen lin r,it was tli <1 thal drea.ll .1 wont m opp

of ilv,: I, hundretl timea nn' "ind yel aom.

huppeued pre ahiv.I. i. i. the 1

,,-t I., n.\ I..- :.'. ,i, wkiepert'd,^ " ,iI',.,..,,-. ...... well

did Uut th. . H......

|:, iedlv

...

Ibe I"Mr. Seftnn's man

.

She did n*>i how Sefl Iaend it t

it ln 1 bul lo misir.ui e

I ntild 1...1 I ¦, . . .

.-, M -

-..-,...;--.. .:Haater Fred'a

,,. hei i' Mra. 1I-.

- W ..'.-,

aame timase

;.-. .¦ .

Uul ......

dear? I lhat l.. .-I mn i- Ml Sel ¦. i -.

I .;..'.I.. see e -.. ....

por, onfuaed, r- 1. an.l !>...' ip*!'...¦ .- wa* rfbci I tbc me uli nl

Sefl .

,¦-.- ,-n referen .¦ to Her f«k e nffaii.,-.-.

tlu- | l, ,'.-,i Mra. I.ii re I\^ ;i |,. ri i r ¦.¦ ere i than evei

.

ita, alone «i in p'.ira, killina t ime aa wei,i,t .;,<¦., k t,. Ile.

. ¦.r.>Iid ii' I,.| |. - .', nl hilli 'i'ls.

iib hu! he.-n hia I'uafom after breakfaat Uut. ,- ¦.:, went, ao fai r. ild mai e mil nnd

rrally tt ope t: liimi-. th.it sotiiet

w.is w r><: n h it nol Rpoken lo papu"tbe:." rea. he tl r al e al wh h. mialii Interfrre waa iu two

M irtl .-I aim il n«>l tell >lr\\., Iton ol i i.-'l s ese p If in he h lliar.l o..m amlmnke thc a nt i n il n ;f l:sliowii ao s': .¦ :, i!e,: re looliah, bul

not to mi I dcuTmlned t keepfoi it few houra eaal

liier filvn . .'..'. ii. I.. I'.i,'-'. and rnI; " 1:

.,,.- he h "I been an ini inte of thi N'«>w.t: ,- VV Iton*' i.-iii. l'i..'.- u I. .i'i' i tin>

.- -i.-n ln ix-.'-i'ii hesliort, ». ite i'<- irded, I nmn moals.ni|ii.-. c iiti'.i i- likin- Ibe Wultoiis,

.iI.i liim ,. f.al

iiud >.' .-- m. nu.ite love,

K, I re ieve, lhal ol u fatlierII,¦ '' ,- i.', Iil lu. k. r«»r her

, ud Ibe onI>viewa slie held lb.il .re.l of tl.- irimaterialwere r.inneeted wnb nmaic nnd pelniisl Ileltii-t iiis'n.rt -\ i» ii j. :,!.¦. ¦ " .'.¦ ..Id man.

\,.i rihoiilil I,.- |.il nt f\|>! iiniii.- mysteriea,Katbei filyn," she uid: "lhal i-- .' mai n pni .,f

in***s. i- it not ''"

I shudderol Uul min.1 of < ict dui .¦-. per-ips ... ¦¦ Itaelf, mn 'I slow to

| 'lo nol tl.iiil ite ndc ' n -Ianid rn.-..'.,!. Ile ' I somethina

n.| fom ;,; ible i>. h'm. bul I... d|.| nol drenmlhal she could .¦ deridin Iil nfl ee; and hi- veryInnoeen. .¦ i* ff.e<! .¦

"Vou ui'.-.; knov .i :r tl mnii arerets, father.I menn," :¦'¦<. te|*':ife.l. invilinu us b«, :. I.ioh t,.

p.iii in 11,<- -.|.,,i tlu prr I,."-, spoitTh.Te are arcrela ln all llvea, lu.lv," hc said

gmvelyI ihinl; you had better lake ire, Mra Lin

»rd, I Kiifrj eated softly, bul so thal all mlubtheur,

1 wisli you would mind your own huainess,Mr r.i.-ti. -hi- mi.''I. rudely, loaina hei leniper;flier.' was hei wenk sp.,t. " I ean lokc ire ul n.\sell withoul y.uii heip Vnd for Pnther Ulyn'aarerets, abould tbink Ibere are n. t mnin ln thislittle villni/e lhat are wortli mueb. Mr, Uretljs for ninking myaterica where there are none,rather

"Strange thinjr* happen everj'where,"1 he anawered <|uite eaiferl* "An old place haa :.lw;.\sit-. mysteriea, n- nld itork** and rlddlea, lad'y.Tliere un- soiur. for Instanee, who sa* lhat Mr.1'ourtenny IbiK.d IVIvea haa nn tloiihi i..|.| y.nil,i. story" he ran on irarrulotialy, * nevei w.i^

rnbhed or »»iiir-*«-r.-'f. bul pol aafc t,, l»,.|i.\. nmltlieil :,»>r,.:..l ln llt*> !'r i.-ii'l.-i's acrviee, nnd thnllhe Inle waa sel nlio.il t>. aave the eatates. N'..nknow that, DelveB?"

"'I'., aave lhe catatea? From wbat?" ma<lanieraaketl, nbtuaelt

"l'i.im ...iiiiisi it imi." |i<-!'.-s snswered, speakin ii.i- ihe old ktentlem m Uul \ ou do m»l h,-!u- .- ihe si.,1-.. .tl i-i '¦"

Ile s!.k iil* head, smilinc nl llie lad. lt w:.s

plen.sunl to aee hou pro ,.i hc waa «.i thc tra.liti.ui,nnd lo". he lookeil nl Delvea while he lw.lt.npon'it. Ifcijr.il had often told me thnl Ihe nldiM'iitleinaii would talk lo him by Ihe hour ..I thi*

thnl nnceslor, nointinu uul Ihelr isirtrniia. nnd<i..t:,ilin- th.'ir vlrtues, .inl showina aollcllii'lelhal he sbould know whal marringra thej hadmade nnd ho* tbey fnred

"Will." said Mrs Mnsar.1, welgbtllj ihe badnboul ..s inu.-li roin in.... i'. 1 i*t eorntMisitioit a n..\

he i-.tr .t.-i| from n flat-lron "I 'h> nol tbinki.h oi your atory >>r riddle, ni whatevcr you...ll it. repeclally ;.s wberever tbc old aenllemanwent. there aeema to be no doubl !,.. t"ok themoney with him. It is nol half an inlerestlnito Mi. itroti. al am rate as the myatery ofFred "

"Fred?" mnrmured the prieat, iin//le<1 and nn-'¦ert..iii. ihe li^hi '.'"iu* from hia faee. "I rto nolIhinl I know Iil*

.. \V,||. ih. i.' hc Is! I.' nk !" ri"il tlie Indy.ilna the old gentleman'* aleeve nol lon cere

monioualy. Fred, us it ehaneed, had .¦..me wlthintbe room to take a iiish from a aervant, and, heinsliisi.le, sti-.o.l waitin^' a inoinent. Father Olynbnd a good view of him. " You do not sec much

rnyatery abonl him. I dara Bajr,1 oootluued *r§.Lingard, caatiag a spiteiul glaace ln my dlrection.-t'ommonpluce enougb, bi lie aot?

The prieal paaaed bla haad acnisa his forcliead...I think I know hia lace." he murmured, ihoiight-fuiiv lonklnn from one t.. anotbei ul ua wiin a

puzzled evpiession. Fred had gon.il o iln"Yea I have iren his taee before. Bul nol Intely.No, nol foi a long time. It was when your latuerwa:. here, dear la.l." ,

Mra. Liagard laughed. "Nonaenael abe cried... Fred is i.11 r n boy of twenty now-or liti e more.

And evea Bagol said geatly, "I thlnk you muati.e miataken, fi Uier "

.. ,Um the prieal did nol gtve way. ><>. nc

replled, in aome excitemeat, I am rigtit-niuivet wrong. I rememlMr now. His face pul me

in miad ol a aervaal of yoar faUiera builer. whodletl here suddenlv many \ears ago. Hla naiiie

was taton. I knew him weU-very well. Indceil.ln lhe paaee whieh rollowed. Wilklna, who waa

Btnnding bebind Mr. Walton'a chair. atooped '"

hla i'.ir." Fre.l's name is Aaton. air.' he aald ln

;i |ow tone. but one whieh we all heardWhat :¦" cried.¦ hoat. turning aharply. Are

ron anre of that, Wilklna?" ...

"Ouite anre, air," waa the anawer; l r.rtcK

\sto.i. air." And Wilklna fixeil his eyea on the

prieafa face, mneh Impreaaed, it was clear, by bla

Itul does the man come from this parl '" askedih,. Stiuire. Aml it may be Imagined how heed*fnllv we were llatening. " I thoughi he wi -

mra'nirer.tlial lie waa nol a Worcesterahire man

al all." ..

-II.. gnve himaelf oul r..i a atranger, air, an

¦wercd the butlei cantioiialy. The other aervantahad lefl lhe room . ,,

"Humph! It is rather od,i:" rommented thes;.,iiire. turning agaln to lhe tabte and lookinaround upon ua, his glnaa hetweeit 1ns Hngera

.. |t is. Jamea." Mra. Walton agreed. ; \er.vodd : Uowever, be goea to-morrow. And.WI k na,.-on v-iM not mentlon this dnwaataira, pleaaealwnya thoughi thal there was aometbing in tbeinaii's retiirn thal woiild aol qitite lieai lookingInto." , .,

i;.t s:,t illent, hia eyea eaal down. HeasleaUioih hta Heei ie to he ebiewhere. For the reaio( UH, We stalted Yiiliolis lllCOI.e*, Witll Ul.B lie'-V

li.-ht npon the aubjeet, to accounl lor Fredspreaence. Bul as ihere were al k*aa1 as manytbeorlea ia peraorw al 'he fable, an one ronld makeevea a aiagle rnnvert; and we Boon broke up lndiaorder. Mr Walton riiaappcnred ln Uie direiliuii of tbe st iblea Bn rol nnd I wenl ofl lo etherlo ihe I.pei'a. Aml tbe laai I aaw o| Mra Lln*

:. she wrut workimi ilesneralely to gel up allirta'ion with faiite ile mieux -the old prieat.

The aigbl "f thi.se tw<. remnlned with me all,l.,\ more, I dreamed of them that night. I

ed I aaw her nmid ahrieka of laughter drag-lUng the nhl n.-t toward the altar. while Sefl -

.crvant- eaatina a ainister hackward glaace nl t.hcmn .- Hl one hy one the bi ure >.t r indk-a below

the altar piece fade-l Sa II S»l. ,.-.f u n. " lui'1.*ligbt preaently dnitaled me. M. eyea ara irted andajew dim. 1 awoke, Uie amarl ln them atill.

What waa thh ? A re glow flickered on thewal's of my room, aml now r .se. now annk Irreau*Inrly. A pufT nf white amoke.and yel anothetilarted anake-llke throiigh the open windotwntehed them Inrllv, lylng with mv face tlial

Itut n thlrd followed. Ua! I aprnnc oul(,| U'd wide awake, at lhe sv'ne momeill that a

voiee miLeide acreamed abrilly, "r'ire!" Ilud-dling on a few elothea, and anatehing up mywnt. h a keepaake 1 r>n t-. Ba

Iii-l-..-s I |, .-. it in. f,>r it w..s holted,rt up! Tlie I oiirt la on llrc "

II.Once aaaured Ihat II takcn 1 .. al irm,

lo tll.ai' inl. lie llnhutl un yrt mullc lill

-,\eie lllllBt IWOol t -,i-

lork "f ' ¦.'. .|-[^

Iii this- ire "i men aome

together,., ln.."Ites, i,| ' ,!".-:,

slijih. ¦'

\

ah rp pe ikn "i ibles, and pii kedf t be wi ml..wa

la?l all the wotuen ¦¦ into lhe weal IWalton aay, ln ii \ rp

t ,- IiiiMiiiIi ¦¦

wi11 la*llrett, i

eye.| V I returncl 1 11\

...

.- e. .!.¦ -p le it> .,_.-

" aml 1.1 '.>.¦!. ¦..

I.

worka,s ..-,'. Ii pl :¦ .-. I-

He pointrd to thetbe and who

.

the M .':¦',.-¦.,.!-,- lhe.- room

,. c- hilU take them fllll Blld toMsi. iii .a-, ^. iii (oi aore

Soliietimi ike aud -'¦

ai.,. it iiim -I un from . ievi.- .,- .

More - fromol vill igera lewaided him llia facewith aimita, hia baii a liiaportw.-iath.ilnl a hero No aomler that I ilnl nninim. in..! I look him foi one lhe atablcmeii or

. ed, Vea, I,.- ia woi king likeWho

lon'l vou know exclnimcd '' .. v re 11ia Sefton s mun Ile ali ill i. .-,- n llve po .» d notelu iiioirow \-.-, und al >¦. Iiere aa longlikea .lane will have no ,. unsl him,,ft.-i thia, will laj u pi

|lu oi had |oiiied ua, and, he rin thew,,r,|-. st,...ii fi ..-... iun_ l>\ lli> slde No lloll l| ||w,.s unple ¦¦ und see ii rival audmieh ii rival ilistiuguish hin ." llufnothini Vnd nul nothing; foi ivluil w s ihere

Vel I aaa great I.i uston .. 'I he tiilioiia young fellow Vi I

l're.1 w.ia Iui I Iiiinc c\;i.-- t ¦¦!lo la> of une iu . .-: Ii iidi j

tln ti,,--"....en- nol t am s Ii id pn .',

here he w ua doin Ihem, m. nl ill" and wel I.\\e had Leeli I.i 11 llliatl ia"i ill llilll, "!'

!.,. i,.,il ome \c:¦>. atroi ., iiulueemei t .,

lliia waj Wan it Ihe knowled p tl il |te»aie waa

ni i.i.i the windowa, ivut< mia the aeene ur¦!. ire t" 1":' hei futbei inilei .,¦ obli

oi Injth oinl'ii.<.Vnywuy, lns exertiona pmved Biieeetieful The

ia ia good as ."it and ni nii ol t p hel|n>raitind a-.. the lalk n

erted to its origin "I here is ol vei ¦-

in in li d itiiui.- done, air, i hink, anid V. ilk.No." reiilied tlie Si|iiire cenially lns relii

..,-.. .1.... . ..r. i...i.,!!_ lej.lie-l |,1»- .-'I'lll- _. Ill,ill.. in-. I, 1.

^;,^ areal "For u wondei there ia not Bul ,i

h ,,| broken out aii\ -¦¦¦ here lae, the houaeunisi hiive pone Why, hail the wulbi nie ol limI,,--. nnd na drj iu* tom hw.I."

- ||»w did it eonie lo hn'ak <>ut nl ill'.'" asked(¦., ,,i i|iiei iiloiial) Vnd ln the kit hen Tliein.-s in ihis bul weather wouid la.' Im ua ui o,wouid lliej iml

[en ii.¦ ii"' cook waa makii jum, or ome

IfOltis ..I lhal I- Ind." ¦. ild the S«|iiire mlblently.Itul H.h repiidinlcd tbe un mnkin u

sertllii: rollllllly lhal she l.-"l Nfl lhe lires go nlll,ii iiiahing up tbe dlniiei he iwrvanfa hadtak.'ll II ""ld Sil|>JM-l ]he bllt ler, ton, had l.ieuIbrough Uie kitclieii ot baif-paal 10 and loekedllif, diMira Tlie lirea were oul then. Ile hutl .-.n-

,,,.,i :i giutrded lamp, ;>* uaual, and was certainthal he had droppeil no aparka

,,|ie was inissiiik " "' ,' ¦- ..¦ . ¦¦ ..- .¦ .¦

h.iulh " Where la tlie glil K"iie '."

s,|,. ,-.,n,e in at thal moment, and Bnawereil f«>rberaell Here I am, father," alie aaid iiuieth

..Where llBVe J'OII been, Pllild?" asl.ed MisWalton, inakin- rooin foi hei on the aettle. Whulbnve vou I'cen doin

.. Boins ? Thanking I red foi lns gallantry,ahe iinawered, hei coloi rialng, her tone iinlmated

\,,,| | 1'iinh there nre aome otliera wlm ahouldbave done It, too, Inalead «.i leavins him wltboiit..' vM,r,| ile' h.is hehnveil nobb liiiuk

);,.,. .; ||e ..'. ill have n live poiind note tamorrow :' uiiBwered Ihe Kqiilre

I'.ill she was md looking Bl laT ill.er llerevea were liiineil lull on Bagot, ¦¦. lUi n meaning lnliieni I eoiiid no' fntl.i. I' mighl lie appeal, iii

avmpathy, "' dellance eitlMi Bul whalevei itivna, hia eyea retuineil no nnawei, and bera quiekljilropianl, S.¦ one renuirked tlml Iv looked l,i.(janl aml t.red aml leavlng \iiis. Lingard ln tbeMiiddle of her leiilh ic.ital of lhe mi.'itier inwhieh she hnd hecn anniaetl, and ol all thnl abehad said. iiiul all thal Liagard had aaid, I tbokhim av.a\ w ith me

-This is likelv to pul our old puzzle into tliebaekgrollnd." aiid, eveing him atealthily as weplolde up-tairs to'ethcr.-Whal Ti.e ii-.- ."

.. To he anre. Wh it clse""

.. It is all one," aaa his rurioua anawer.- \'ou do not BMaa," I said, "thal you think."" Seftoa'a aervaal was ut the bottom of it:'

Vcs.J do," bo rejoiucd.

"Uut. eome. eotne." I DTged, lurnin-,' iBto hisrooin. ¦. Th is is a naety thiua to lay al any man a

.1.-. Bagot, \>'n know nothlng."Nothing at aii." hc anawered eoldly. except

thal he .inl it-intentionully or by nccldent. i

know nothing. Or-aee bere, Brctt. ine nre

bruke out aboul half-paal I.from that toWho was so llkely to be aboul then aa ihe manwho hi up the billiard-room al 2 oclocK tne.rning before? Wbat would Walton aay tothis il he knew ol thal '.' Oh, no doubt, headded, with a bitter ieering laujrh, cul ahort m t'u*

nn.hll.- by ,i sorl ot shu.l.ler. "he is a regularUon Juan. ln tlie drawinjt-room mic evening,and the kitcben tbe nexl !

..ii.'-oi,' i said, deliberately, tlie aneer waa so

\ ile, you are eitlier oul ..t your mind .>r a hrtite.Aml I leii him withoul anothei word, thinkinshow atrange a lover'a eyes are. They know norolora. Ilis miatresa is alwaya pureat whlte «rfouleat black. There is no hetwixl and betweenlt he one ilay Investa hia Dvlcinea with qualitiearatlier angclie than ol tbe earth, he la as pronethe ne\i, >>n tbe aliehlesl i>.cation, to aay," Vicc, thy name la wonian!" and till ,.' a wind«nnil. It is so, and ii is atranpv.

At the late breakfaat which followed ourtri.iti.'.-l night, Ikigol talked loutlly and al ran..h.ni with thc Limrnrds, seeming to avoiJ me,and I siw nothlng of liim iintil aboul noon. Then,lurninn. tlie eorner ..f a walk, In lhe ahrublier.v,I ...nn.' upon him.and Fred with him. Tbeywere hnvini* nn Bltercation.1 nibiht have <-\-

neetod M. \s l came up he.itd UokoI exelalm,"No! wnnl to h.ai nothing, ruj manl Noth-«- Will you lie good enough to go your wayand I'' me g« miii<* ?

.. it is for j 'in .w ii sake, sir." urged tbe aervanties| e.l lullv t-noii' h

"Halloo!" ih..i"'iit 1. "this is ;i new devclop-ment." Aml 1 noled the contraat the two men

preseuted na Ihey al.1 t isethcr: Uajrot, wlth biainii. heavy form and croppcd bkvck lin r. his lipsrurlina with aeorn, his head in the air: tIm* other,tall alao, bul ilira and fnlr, with n amall pnlemustache.more handaome, even In tlie largerIm. s oi more*nrtsfocratlc type, but atamped byruatom and edttcation with the benring ul an .n-

feilor. "Wl.it is it. Ikigol '" I Interposed.II,. did i>' anawer. and Fred appeaLrd to me

volubiy. .¦ Mr. Uag-ol will nol liaten lo me. Iledoea nol aive me n henrinK, air," he crled. "Youar>' Ilis fiieml. Mlghl I beg a hearing irom .vou,

."'Wliat is it vou w.nit with blm?'1 I asked< ivilly. , ,

"Sometbing that is for his ndvantnge. In I :..

maln. I mean. air. Aml n Wl lor mine, too."-oh, riibbbi)'.!" l;.-.j"t evelalmed aavagely.

" I'omr along, Hrett " Uul I did nol move, andthe man. after n aliyhl pntise, eontlnued, " ll isaboul Mias VVulUm. sir -in a way."1

I took tighl fiold oi Dagot'a nrm. an.l k.-pt himthere almoal by maln foree. I fell nueer myaelf,hearinn thoae worda, bul I had sueh eontidenccin lleaaic thal I waa determined he ahould heartlie fellow out now. "About Mias Walton frepeaicd, aa careleaaly as I could, "Aboul berring, is it .''."The im.': I found? On, no a!r/ readlly

enough..Tlien whal is lt?" I aaked. Ile had pauaeil

again, md waa ihlftlng hia feei nnl lookina aboulhnij uneaaily, wbile I waa burnlng wlth Im.patience.

.. |t ia aboul Mr Rngol and her. sir." he blurte Iout It is common talk in tl"' eervanta' balllhal Mr Bugot.apenking withoul offetice, air.i- aweetliearting the yoiing lady. An.l I tiiink-well, I oan give him n lejr, up, air, Tl.it is the,. ,.\f him a les up, sir, ir n conslderation.

Uagot, I regrel t. aay, gwore violenlly Uul Iha.l liis nrm na in n , n c. Indeed," I repllesiii'. -ihl-., Vn.l how

"Well, I !:.:¦.'.' something.he would like toknow, sir."

Ah' Alwitil Mir-a Walton .'"|t haa t,. do with her in the v. i.v I have

aaid." he anawered doirxedly, ir.nl ol Lettins out. tor s,¦!:.'. aei ret I now Rathered he

,| in itti I. -'. .. lindii i! it difHeulit ij |nu so tn ii,,., !.. it- value, I mea

/. could ni..rr'. her nmre pleasant-Iike, it he knewlt sir. I ovi word >.i t >vn hc sni to

Imiiii !ns ii..¦ his in lhe billiard room,., ugo lu :¦! ... i.i Ibe yoitn

ri mi' I km.w sonn- iv.irtli moiiej lo him. « lal* li I am rc i.ly

to U'll him i"r "i -io."" Vou t to lhe '.<¦ ee foi li .¦:" rlcd fi

Nt. .'-. ., minute," I i ii»l, smilins - ind myUp* did but smile. Hc

s|.-, t,.«| Uest-ie, had hc the lolt, ie IdioiI . ¦ re not vei

pl,un -. m i'- pri'i-H, ,\ Ih- nmre deltnite. \\ bal d nl lor

\ . ud p. ¦!- be anawered, blinkiagwith ln* eyes

,i h ul .ti ... hiatling contemptnoualy, Hest. utieil in ast.inislim.

ll: i| ¦. Do you I ny wine man

E in a

pokc '" 1 iII.. red.l.I \> ith ansrcr, and brokc out violently

II || |a nol w.rri - ind po in.la tentiini's lula .. 1 -" and

^. ,1 ¦ || t worth ten 1i| II .. ¦¦'....

iil! .'"- | ¦,'. ie"Now, l 1 tu H I, t do vou

,- rhat I will have nothing.,, du with him oi aenae

1. -.i v- ibe .!'¦ u '. wbavc noiie of ii

-|>.- ik in j our interest, nd red au\ ? t, me it my ii worth

-. ll I,'--. t

llang me' lhat ia atl itflil enSll :. I will have no de ilinitt with

.-.,.. |l '.I,,. down the w ilk rew varda, i-'red, I ln

lerp..*4'd, "and I will apeak to Mi RWhen .¦ Iiud olieyed uie ie did n -r -.' fnr,

bul nioved in uul l.» the lawn nn tl.'' er aidc,., ,;,. .,..;,.. md kepl hi* eye ip.m us auspi.'iniislv| tnuk H tlu Iton l." pre,..,i,|. .¦ i: ,n- is i: mkj p nik nl s, ¦..- kind

.. ... i.e il inkful itiv uot uf t ,- kind yo Ihntiirht. Ne-. n

.. ui :. unirrily, for he sl.1. hia he i.i s ilvei " You have .i

il. my Ind, ind ileaei ve lo -

f,,r |t \, seuaibl' now il y. Vnd I|.,| Ui- lie t t.i |* *.'P' i'"' ¦

ilition* " A humlred I ¦.

Verj well,lt. ,... .- otbei h ml. ll ¦. inf.iruiiitii.il he :ive*

not 1|ll.ii i¦¦"- l«T lt,. ,. |H ,,i slei it lo i .. Ind. aceini;

this. I - '" cpeak unpleaiKitillj lo him.his eyea, w th il *>h

u n !.:..! at.ippe.1 v ,

V|...,e.l. S .'in- one Uesaie W >.

,. ,,-i,| |,,- ir w ii sl .. .1 l. ind we listei .1losslv. W U\ nol I '. '' "'.'.. bnew th H

to Sefton - servanlu ii-ji we mi f ll.il h:-.ii

\ ou urc lea in lo daj. are yo md '" II.-r..!<...r, hilverj tone ime irisply Ihroiiith the mr;., h '.! >wer \.«' oiil.l imi heai liideeil '" lli-iimr .' tniiii II"'- could iinj mic h ive sus|ie. ledwiuiiaii .: 1 am mueh lnileliti'.j to \"U for 1I'tunin,\ nn., to in.- yeatcrdu I lefi " on

ir.l iable. I .1" imi mind lehsbp weiii oii pleisantly, "thal my father \\ 's

\n\ :.i,.i\ with me fnr miahiying it n few weokaii ^ iinxio s n.it to ln- senlded this

,,.,,'- | vvimiI down '" lhe room oiyself, b n lfound thc nentlemen were atill up

\ [e\\ ii, ,- m orils p --i.-'l i.i"i il I.. r fathiwishina t... him. nnd aome inimej elinked.Then sin- ilit:,-.l ..n. little rei ti whal alw hadclTe, t.'.l

Uul we atood t-lierc stooil -t 111 looking differ,.t,t wraya lkig.il did n.H dnre raiac his eyea or,ui.rt ii'iine I in slicer mcrej nnd pltj »I.«i nollook at him Whal bad la? done >i rather,. i, ,i i, k.| hc ii"' done. V'tilcnii hud r ille.1 VenuaBniirehe.l' Ikittom Imd dubbed 'l itani aaal,\n liab krentleman had alandered his ownmreetlieuri Ml this Maater Delvea ha.l done.Uut it lleaaic %> .s not avenaed In thal ruomenlil ber priile eoul.l she havi known >>\ thc offenoe,aa lleaven forbld she sbould had nol found aolaeeenough In ln-* luimlllation then ahc waa nol theRir| j |(.,k her for, imt n verj merciieaa vlxenindeed ,,

I i-oiihl nol aaj anything to him aboul thalI ,| ired nol I merclj propoacl t.> blm wlth ilfeeted earclesaneaa nn uaaumlmi his conseul thitwe ahould .-epl I'n-.l's trrins

Uut ln- s mi N-,' -nll " I will have notbinat.. .I.. with his arerets! ^."l are all t.'leverfor me Arrnnae whnl you like. hm I will baveno i,-t nr pari in it. mn pny him anvtliln*." Allthis with .i rlull rc flnah on hia face and avertetleyea.

His prcjudlec :.. uust Uie man waa Invineilile,and. aeelnu I .I.I nol prevall, 1 lel blm ao Imekto the hoitse, nnd rel-urned nlone to Fred,

.. lt is of ii,i nsr." I aald bruequelj betweenthem tl"-'. were enouirh tn apoil anj man'a temp,.r. "Mr. Unjrol will have nothlna lo s.u t,.

Tlu- Baeraaeera al OMPlauated the akull ;.'..! ro honea. their Iga tli n uitljni the tt SBlhead. Vour to. 6. rn pirate, not ..n tl¦eaa. bul "1. th.- hlffn repntatlon ,.t atandard ren ii -

-k.iiu- un.! -i varlou d lli- i,,,i,- ;,i.i rorner

trafflc as* aevi r to anj degr ¦¦ ...'¦ rt. .1 lloatetter'a Btantaehniti ra, :.'ti.ah tt. .i atandard Invlgoranl snd eossaetlva

ig been t.i.-- ahlnlna aark sl whlrh hl* ahafta aave

been dlrected hesp loeal blttera, rompoaed ..f Bery aa-ntlmulanU, aith an Infualon »i- estrael paaalMr.

' tonle ..!.. are >tlll aoui.-Uniea rerommended aaIdentlral wlth ai -.Iat lo, di i.«alna vlrtue* klndred

i . i'i, bo* fainll; n dl. Inc Theae |.-r.i, -i ..li rhlle Ih t< .' lulidi ., and previ alive al

.ii-..i-,. purau - ii. aucceaaful i.>i ovei omlna taalarla,dyapepala, Bervouaneaa, kMasy Ireubtas, rMtaatlpallaa nn.lrkaiaiatla 11'aiaafai. uul uuiy ou thla, bul uu uiauy oasvUneuta.

your ofi'er. If you take my adviee you will make¦ clean l.reast of it, and trust to his nonerosity.It is not likely you can sell your knowledge elae.wbere.boiwaUy."

"Thal is parl <>f my aeeret, sir." he said aaaHy."Oh, very well. <»nly la* careful wlmt you are

dolng," I replled, Boeaewbal oettJed. "Mr. Basotaud l ahall <>f eonrae put our beanaa together. Weknow one or two <|iieer tldngs of you already.Wliy are you here, Pred? What were you doiagin tne bilfiard-room tbe aight before last ? Whalwere you dolng ih thovnst wlag laai night wheny ni sef. the house 00 tire ?"

His jaw fell. 1 saw tlie perspiralion st.irt outand stami gleamlng oa his roreheed; and I knew,notwiUiatanding lns baaty dealahv thal aay ehaaealUot had told. Ilut I appeared to aeeept hiaitatementa, aml said: "\cr.v well. you aay youdid not set the houso on (ire. But why have youmade a aeerel of the fael tImt your fathcr waabutler here in old Mr. Bagot'a tiw»tnMv lum agaln. He Blood tilent, disconeerted.

doubtful how iiiuch I knew. how nuich n wouidhe sale lor him i<> deny. " Do you not think youhad better he caadid, my man, and lell me \oir

aeeret '" I pald.Ile recovered hituself. "No, sir. I ihink not,"

he replled grlmly.Ltotag back t" Um house after this. i eaaa*,.-.«I

criHwed 'I"' courtyard, npon Bagol and Fatbei(il.vii They were itanding outatde the abattered,empty eisements of the kitchen, looking ill at themiacliief done bj tbe Bre: aml I kilned them lhebare, amolw-atained walhi aeei.I dreary enoughafter the aiinahine and treea, bal the atone looi o{the looni- If dllloll said lt had onee 1*0011 thehanqueting-hall.waa chaoa itaelf, littered a fooldeep with |.laster alld ruldusii. Iracmotlts of half-Imlnod furnitlire and charred hcams whiell hadfallen from 'he chimney-piece, Pbta and ponalay about, aml poola <»f water atoad aaaoag thedeoria.

.Dear, dear!" cried the prie.st "wh.it a aadaighl:"

I'arti'-nlarlv in a kit. hen." I su::i:ostod "heeifully. Bagol st,..,d lietween ua, k-ealag htaelbowion the sill aud looking in.

"Very true \.-i i have aeen ai aad a aigbl in

thia room before," rejoined the fathcr: "a \<t\aad sikht. lt waa ln your father'a lifeUaae, fielvea.His butler dieil auddenly. I euppoee rl la tbe aighloi thia room brioga it so freahlj to my mlad to-

day. lor he w is found de.id here. ill tlial corner,when the aervanto eame down .me aaarnlni

|fe spoke slowiy and UlOUghtfully. scar< hllicr hiamemory, na old men will: aml he had cican f«>r-lotteti hia reeognitlon ot Aaton tln- day before,aaold men '-'.il1 foigel l* \.'s euilo'Ja I turnedalightly t" see ii llaxot aotieed tiie lapso: and thenl fiocgoi i' all Beyond lum, at the aeat is.-

inent, atood Fred, appareaUv looking ln idlj aapeople had hcen ilolug all day. and as wo weie

doiag now, but roally. oi so | luafJreted. listemnito ua. " Vou were living here, then, Fathcr Olyn ?I aaid, auddenly nifnded to pursue ihe aaDjeet.NeiUier of my companloaa nad s»'en aai newueighbor.

.. Ves. They brought me to him at onee tosee if there was an\ life in iiim. Ah, me.' Intie iiiidst of life . ^'"i know the reat. myrhlldren." ind the "Id gentlemao eiaaaed him¬aelf and mattered pioualy; " It was .1 aad tlung,and atrange, too."

Ii my own curioelty had not led me to <|ue<rnnnhim furtber, Fred'a iuee. upon whieh I araa ahaito keep wat.-h withoul attiactiag his notice. wouidave iodiiced nie to do s,, lt waa atrangely pab>,

I tllOUglit, aud his lips were prcsscd foeethor. Ilev. ,s ^.i/niL' into the empty room. aud seeniol un*eonacioua of ..ur preeence; bal I knew by s..me in-stinct that lns every aenae waa "n the nWt,

!.,. v. ,s nni loalng a word. "Whal was theie oi death. Father Olyn?" I aald eareteaa

"Vou were aayiag that there was aoaaetbing.¦ al'out jt."

Ile di,-.! "i beart-compiaint. There waa uoth-in th it." tl..- prieat expiained. " It

wi -, wl -.t .. i, "l been doing was atrange."V t.i ¦'. li ,t --v s tiWell." i.-ioied the pnest.in li is sh, w.medit a t ve

ua'., "there were people w ho said lie had been dlg...

¦¦.i graci ia lu that corner?" I eried,

\»s. S une s: [d that II a ia a i»-- .-.

tiome it lie li ol had a warniug II" had r»r.1 ,:nl>, jifteil up one "! t:,e t<|l| ... sr ,-.,-s, amls-riped Ollt a ll'ti'' earth. just as lt mlght l»e thatriibbiab there now, He was lying dead and eoM

slde of it. with the lool iu lns ji.uid Doabt*-,\ ia oul of hia mlnd."

I sti.le a look at Fred. II . eyea niet mine.His t.e waa livid. I atood sii.-ut a moment, dur*ie whieh mv miiid was working - laai t anytime iu mv life Then I called to Fred " Fred:"1 aaid, "wouid you i--i.ii the kev ,.; tbe kitchei

Wiikiha has itIle aeetned to l.es.t . I' nol

heard cleariy. But iu the md Im aaid " \>s. sir,1and w.iiked awajr.

i; _,,' hecame aware of tii.- ser- ¦. l f-.- I -*

time 'What on earth do you wanl to go iifor?" he asked 11*». <. ll t. r 11 .-. 11\ " BNall you wanl to are from here '"

\ .. im, mere a lilm, .." 1nnawercd And I »*aited wtth itle

.t.-r a rather 1«. ti_ Inten-al, r.-tWilkins B.1.VB he ea not lind tiie i..-\. |

reported. Ile 'uinks Mr. Walt n, \-,.

t,. ii,e uiagiatrati - - ... lt wi'b

Mi! hen pleaae t re n h me that hair,1 aaid. Tberc were t»o or ihree ch Ira al riding,

ial, in tia- couil id. nol far fromWin p he waa onl.

ing to do iaia 1..,. utkeil-1 i.-t tn t!.r<> ,.!i t lie .* iwered

Buiting ihe iiction :.< tie' word, .nni hobily at.-p-plng from tie chair t.. the aill, where I s-

iliiu'ing t.i ti," peipendiculai bura I'.' 'l.ere 1to a lull atop. Struggle as I wouid. I -*

etween Ihem, while th" pne»i rlutcbed ..- <,., ,-,,- .'¦' tne to laj

a,i Ih i\cs prodilrd niy .' '-s wlUi tie::,-; t ..- Mra Llngai araa

Well, I am a 'nti.' Btout, I t aay I liket,, I,.- found bj ri.e ruem.i in a ridi

i on the poinl atepping liai k, am weie well lounde

f Fred'a .. lt exprraae I no ai aeiii.ii a grent (leal ol -tiiii. ailent Intereat. "I'

- .;..-i bj ti ,- - t to a .at

whieh pi.I s, raa.i.|U| ... .,.. Uugarda reai lafd taewindovi I'ln ar to he funn ed me

tn Lor iu int. md Madame threw me h.ll|aa>l li> w i\ ol a l":t: blll 1 «:>¦

| now I pn ked m\ w over thernei ol the kr. hen II t

n> h ,| pi,, m, foi the wi IUver.inplclelj ruined, nnd quite a p l

.- I,. whl< h Fali >¦ iUj n h .¦!

inuuted \ here more ol il, 1 io ight, k»k-Ing from the window, than w-ia iwtural I a a

iiu over Ibia, nmid a volle) olwhen the voiee ol i newcomei cauaed me t<> look'-,, ,i througb the window, did he?" the Bqaira

v lS .,,\,.,_: VV y, Brett, what are you itp to?Ii,| you le.t s.'iid lu th-' key '.' Wllkinl

\ . i.,..' i anawered. He s.Mit word th.tVou had 1'

"

| lertainb aol" And llMreupon Walton, aax*

Bi faiiry, '" fcbow how li.'ht aml sli^hf aml-. he atill waa, atepped un to the aill, and ita

live aeeomla atood heaide me Bagot, Fathcr fllyn\\n | | n ed if one of Um law

wide l lirahethan winduwe, Lingai 1 md fTie aer-,, , .',. otiwi Fred'a face glared ir. ,ii me.

,,,;,. |,j hei. menacing tbe Index '.< the aitua-tioiii or 1 waa much mlstaken.

1 lili'kcd as,,|e two or 1 liree pie, es of chirre,|u,,,.| - |..i..k here." 1 said t, Wallon ; "how,:,,, ^ this paith ome Imw "'

l niii Why, so tt is'" he exclaimed, st'.'.p-in^ down "IVrliapa aome otie tried le i>out the lire with it lapfoie we eame on lhe aeei >.

"

-Not likely," I aald. I looked abonl f>r ,1 t olwlth whicli t" onrry on my reaeareliea. I plckedup ii aaucepan it laat, aml wlth it aeiaptal awaysome of the rubblah. TIm S<|utre asked quea-tinna, but 1 paid n<> hee.l i>. them antil I foundwhat l w.niled, and what I 11... looked |o lil'l.Then I atood up, and made a si^n to Fred rignimpeiatlve. "Fred," l crb?d, "eoeae m hen*.pleaae! Aml Bagot," 1 contlnued, turning aal>el\es. "you had letlcr I'OBBe tOO. Do m pl.vtie iu. l, imt come!" I adici aharply, aeeiBg tl illie heaitated.

While they were oheying me, nettber <>f themvci-. willingly, l l-egged Lingard to e-ill one of tbe.. ird. neis. aml bld him brlng his s|K\Ue. Then.ilireeting I're.l to atand aai.le a moment, I sl"\veith.- Si|iiire aml Delvea thal one .,i the aal st,.t,e«whieh lormed the Boor waa nol ln its plaee Ap-|, ii. uil., it had lapen raiaed, and haaUly thrownliHck Bagot, ui a few aeeonila, had ii up agaln.Its remov.il dlacloaeil ,i Bhalloa hole, perbapa afool deep, from which, no doubt, tbe earth I hadnotiee had been I 'l..Who has done this '" eiied lhe N(uir.\ 1-

iiiU into it open-eyeil and apen-aioutbed, whilei,-,t .is ,.i perapiration atoeal upon Haater

l leii's iiinw. "Aml how did you diaco'vei itaBretl

"Tlial remalna (¦> he aeen." I re'ihed .iracularly.I Imde tae gardeiMr, who had jaat rlimla-d intalhe iimiiii wlth a loup'te oi spades on lns ahouldei,dlg derper. " \u>l. Fred," I addeil with pollte-neoa, "perbapa you will take a aaaaat aad lead Iliaiul.", ^

l.'a.e, fear and |n'tolc\iiv BtlUggMHl for themaaterj ln his face. I wondered thal lhe oUwridid iml see lhal aOmetllillU .'. is Wiong. When ln'

did in t siir, i«ut looked al me aa thourh li<- eouldkill. I made as it I did not nolice it. aud wenlon apeaklag to the Sqnire. "Who dh) it f 'lheman wbu s«'t \o,ir hoiisi- oii llre 1 ist ntarlil. I ev-

pect," I sanl.llol li,.; Sils the win.l iu tlnt <|iiaitcr'

cried Walton. ..Then he aad 'c"ei let u.e

IMltell him' I ploialse \,.||, hl' Will U' 111 »\'T-ccater gaol In a verj alwrl tlroe."

..(¦.e, Fred/ l aald aweetly, "taka b spade.And this time Fred took one. nnd lieijan t" digfeveriahly, with his faee bidaaa Irom me.

Baijot whibtlcd, undcrstanding at laat