THE MYSTERY OF LORD BRACKENBURY: A NOVEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3219, 13 November 1880, Page 3

THE MYSTERY OF LORD BRACKENBURY: A NOVEL.

By AMELIA B. EDWAHDS,

Author of " JSarbara's History" " Dtbeti

fcun'j Vina" &c.

CHAPTER VII. LOST.

Tiik millor and his family were nt Bupper when these unexpected guests with their lanterns, sticks, and firearms, knocked at his door. Startled and bewildered, tho good man rose and let them in. Bis wife snatched her baby from the cradle. Their three boys sat wondering aud open-mouthed ; the smoking polenta, the flask ot country wine, the black bread, and the three-wick lamp on the table before them.

The miller was so taken by surprise that he could hnrdly bo made to understand at fiist what liis visitors wanted. Would they be pleased to come in ? Who ? What ? Tht, Signori Bernardo from La Spezzia? Tho Siguor Saudro? Ah, yes—of course he rcniciubcred tho Siguor Sandro ? Would they tako the trouble to be seated ? How ? A traveller — what traveller ? A mi-lonlo Inglcse? Hero? Here at the mill? Heavens ! no. How should he be here ? Mis«iug ? Lost? Since when? To-day— this evening ? Holy St. Francis 1 Howwas it possible ? How could any oue bo lost on tho high road between the old bridge and La Spczzia ? Had he hoard nothiuc; —no shout as of some one in distress? No, nothing ; absolutely nothing. He had been all day in the mill, he and his boys, and had only left oil" work when it grew dark. They had not been out with tho cart, or along tho road, all day. What, «oiuj» already ? Ecco !ho might a? well go with them 1 And the miller took his hat from a peg behind the door, whistled to his dog, bade the boys take care of their mother, and went to join in the search. Up the steep and slippory path, out again on the hiiih road, on in the direction of the old bridge they went, shouting, listening, sweeping the road with their liiiiterns as before.

At the point where the caleche had stopped, Sandro Quarauta-Sette called a halt.

" It was hero that he got out-at this very spot. I know it by the young ash yonder," said lie. " What if he turned back to Matterano V suggested the barber. " Turned back ? What nonsense ! Why we left him walking—walking fast towards La Spezzia I" " Ani you lost sight of him—where ? asked the apothecary. " About two huudred yards back," They retraced their stops as far as the second turn of the road. It was here they last saw him. On this point Sandro, Mr Prouting, and the postboys were unanimous.

They stopped to hold a hurried council. Tbey had cow tracked over every foot of the ground by which Lord Brackenbury would have come, and they had found no trace of him. Had he been anywhere within sight or hearing, they muit have found him. What was to be done ? Was it worth while to go farther ? To Matterano? To Borghetto? It was just possible that some accident had happened to him, and that he had been taken up by a vehicle going in that direction. It was also possible that he had missed his footing on the torrent side of the road, in which case he might at this momeut be lying bruised, insensible, dying, among the bushes and boulders far below. There were places where such an accident might happen; but to those familiar with the road, it seemed scarcely probable. Still they were bound to leave no stone unturned. To go back to La Spezzia without seeking him in every direction, likely or unlikely, was out of the question. So said Sandio Quaranta-Sette and the two Bernardos. They decided to divide their forces—one party, including Saudro, Mr Prouting, and Marco Bernardo, making fcrßorghetto, tho other,under the leadership of Bruno Bernardo, undertaking the more difficult duty of searching the torrent-bank. Most of those who had joined under an impulse of curiosity gave up now, and went home; the apothecary, the barber, and the miller being of that number. . Their ranks thus thinned, the exploring parties separated and went their different ways. It was now past nine o'clock. The night, variablo as the day by which it was preceded, had cleared up suddenly. The mists had parted and dispersed. A pageant of massy cumuli swept solemnly and swiftly overhead ; and the depths of space between were powdered with keen stars. Still paußing at times to unite in a prolonged " Hola I" the elder Bernardo's party now tramped rapidly on, meeting only one old peasant, trudging under a burden of firewood. Him they questioned ; but he had , sfccn no one on the road. Arrived at Borghelto, they went straight to the hotel at which Lord Brackenbury had deciined to put up a few hours beforeHere, however, nothing had been seen or heard of him. They debated whether it was worth while to go on as far as Matterano. Now Matterano was a mere mountain hamlet, only four hundred and fifty feet below the summit of the pass, and twelve 1 kilometres further up the mountain. If any accident had happened, and Lord Brackenbury had been taken up by a passing vehicle, that vehicle would certainly hare dropped him here at Borghetto, where tbere was a good inn, instead of carrying him on to Matteranowherethere was none. Besides, no vehicle had passed either to or fro since the yellow calcche drove through at four o'clock ; except indeed one or two country carts belonging to farmorß in the neighbourhood. So said the landlord of the Europa. Nothing on wheels could pass that wav and not be Been from the hotel. Also, there was a water-trough at the opposite side of tho road, whare the peasants always.drew up to let their beasts drink, and where the stable-boys filled their buckets to water the horses for travellers driving through. It was impossible that any cart or carriage should stay for water, or drive through, unobserved. They decided that it was useless to go on to Matterano. " Blessed Mother of God !" said bandro Quaranta-Sette, " What shall we do ? Where can we go ?" He had been the life of the party till now ; but now, for the first time, he seemed utterly hopeless. " You can do nothing but go back to I a Spezzia," said the landlord of Europa. "Howcan we go back without having found mi-lordo?" The landlord shrugged his shoulders. ■' If you had but stayed with us, said he, " all would have been well." Sandro drew his sleevo across his eyes. " Che che ! don't do that, Signor Sandro!" cried the landlady. "It is not like you to despair. Maybe, when you get back to La Spezzia, you will find your traveller waiting for you. "Ay, he might have passed through La Spezzia, and have gone on by mistake to Lerici 1" said Blarco Bernardo. They caught at this hope, just as. they had caught at the hope of finding Lord Brackenbury at the mill; and having partaken hastily of food and drink, set out to return by the way they came. It was nov getting late, and though the night was fine and the road one long descent, the distance seemed half as far agam from

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