LILLIS; OR, THE Mystery of Langdon Abbey.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 3

LILLIS; OR, THE Mystery of Langdon Abbey.

v, MISB SARAH PARR,

mii ThaSt. Ahorn Grace-cup." "Robbed inthorof Tfi°.?Mvl,atlr'3 Plot." "Madame °!»SK" ~ffi> Severed Lives," So.

CHAPXER XXIX. cossmvriNG lady melross. Tony Folger could do more than jKFol"blank look of surprise aftor Lillis's cast * fl ing figure, Lady Molross throw up ' vbrory *indow again> crying shavply : -ir i Mr Folger, where has Lillis

the lodge to spoak to Langdon," iled Tony- , dy Melross once moro withdrew, and hastenod round to tho stables. ibis's fleet steps wero directed to the hnobuah b°wer' L reached it, discovered it empty, and Sh Z Tet about tho task that was to il!tn!hhaca Hough faithful or false. prfkCf showed the fragments of 2Tony had spoken- minute scraps of *b Lnar scattered far and wide by the "° PgSof wind that had caught and 9.&V5U- overtaking to Lthem, and one equally hopeless to P th Vfram them tho desired information. &pground'tho tin * il^. moat3> to" a r with the large space they covered, for* all ogninst her success. frstsho would not bo discouragod. ?lflT and rapidly aho collected tho 2jfl» nor handkerchief, and then reTfv Melross, still"at tho library window, jfher mount the terrace and wont out to ' "ihogW met her keen gaze with a bitter "Cd'my father lived," sho said, "the • «nd humiliations of this day would Sr have been mine !-He loved mo." With those tremulous yet proudly acX *°rdß' Bho avo[ ted r° r A °yf , and co to pa»s on, whon Lady Molross ll nPC moan to Bay," cried hor ladyship, Ac ff ith rare emotion—"you mean XIK I do not love you ? I who-" lillis shook her head drearily, and as a nulofteara blinded her sight, hurried on to the stairsThere ehe pwsed and looked back. ''Give me happiness, not gold, my oother!" she faltered. "I will give you happiness ana gold, my taghter," answered Lady Molross. And biding her pain at tho girl's evident donation under that retort sheturnod away, and Lillis ran upstairs. A lew minutes later tho dog-cart was driven round, and Hood strodo up at tho ame momont. Ho stopped to give an order to tho atablem and then went within doors. He hastened to the library. As he hoped, Lsdv Melross was there alone. "Vhy," she exclaimed, surprised, Mr Meet told me ho was to pick you up at the lodge. Or is it about Lillis ? What did •la sun t 1" Hood looked startled. "Oh, it is all right, explained Lady Mcl-

* She is in her room now- * BUPP°as she altered her mind, and did not go to the "^suppose so," nodded Hood, satisfied titli the knowledge that Lillis was safe. ■'lalteredmine,"adding,abruptly : "Have youaoen Rebecca Hough!" "No," "I thought not, and came back to tell yon that through her address and faithfullesalhave just intercepted a note from lillis to Solicitor Gibba." "To Solicitor Gibbs I"

Hood broke upon the astounded exclamation with a brief and rapid account of rtathad taken place, and his own opinion oflM purpose. Lady Melrosa was crimson with wratli when he ceased. "Gibts !" she ejaculated. "To brave netoogh Gibb3! It was well I took your counsel and prevented her leaving the grcands! Doubtless it was her purpose to writs and mail the letter at the post office." "Doubtless ; but it does not matter," ntanedHood, eoothingly ; " I forgive this rcWHoM act as I forgive her foolish though shocking accusation." "You may well say shocking !" cried LadyMelross, with severity. "1 mother then she came in awhile ago, with the eagle purpose of expressing my deep disjteaure, bat-" "Say nothing!—not a word, I beg ! iitopojed Bood. "It was only the rocktecharge of a rebellious girl." "But that detective, Robert ? What if fc overheard? They are a dreadful set of ateb-ready to ban anybody for the sake of iche!" flood smiled, secure in his breathless observation of Linter. "The detective did not overhear," he did, "and," the smile deepening, " granting that he did, the charge would strike kirn as too utterly preposterous for a moment's consideration. And now let us nto to the point from which we havo wandered. See," holding tho letter written rt the lodge before her eyes. Lady Molroes read the indicated supericription slowly aloud : "'Theßevr. George May.' So you havo written'"

She glanced up a littlo uneasily. "Warned by Lillis's attempt, I havo ; nd with your kind permission, she shall bo made Countess of Langdon within an hour dim arrival."

,; He spoke with breathless joy; his dark feceglowed with indescribable delight. "His arrival^when ? At tho close of the week, of course ?"

"Atthe cloaeof twenty-nine hours to-mor row evening I"

CHAPTER XXX,

THE WAITING VISITOR. - Ure Miutosa flushed with an unoasy fane of shame nt the unseemly haste.

"Too soon, Robert," she answered. "Despite your limit of three days, I—" "Kay, pardon the interruption, and hear me out," cried Hood. ~ "Imust goto Paris, and atonce. Linter's |rat boa made the journey a clear duty. IMnmustgowithme. After this morning's faffis attempt I cannot leave her to the coni tingeacies of my absence. Besides, the toy that calls me away may prove an exWediagly dangerous one. LilHs should be loured against the chance of my .death. Het future, and yours, are of vital moment "Be. As Lady Langdon she will be rich «M distinguished, whether I live or die, *Mle,her acceptance of that title will secure .'■ yw, as your ladyship knows, a proud inoeptodonce at once. Have I, then, your :\««Mnt? shall I post this letter ?" • Rapidly, excitedly as he had poured out toe words, Lady Melross had kept pace with M crafty arguments. # For the second time that morning sho had justified his faith in her ambition. _ "But," she cried, breaking upon'his tern of gratitude, "you will be good to her, Kobert? I give her to you, confident that I »m making the best provision for her future wat is possible. Don't mako me curso the % that I yielded to your persuasions." Eer mother's heart was touched, and . ™spoke with a mother's anxious emotion. " . "Be good to her!" echoed Hood, in radiant vehemence. "She shall never how a grief that my hand can avert. I sillgaard her as the supreme joy and trea,<«eof my life. But that iB Tony'a Btop. j»y no more. It is needless now to take torn Into our confidence." ... Lillia did not moke her appearance below *ws till summoned to dinner, which, "a accordance with the old earl's'custom, ■■■•»« served at the early hour of two". .oho found Lady Melross in the dining-Jj-om, and a email table drawn cosily near 'to fire, with covers for themselves only. Lady Melro3B noticed her look of surprise, *?f. ay ' determined to ignore all causes « diSbronoe, smiled pleasantly as they took . w«ir seats. 'We shall have to dine alone, Lillis. j™ carl has taken Mr Folger over to ."""Won, and will not be back until dusk. > v n(?' by way, Mr Folger left his good»J8 and kindest regards for you." Good-bye!" echoed Lillis, suddenly ■W»«d to interest. "Has he gono back to London 2" _"*¥««! something official, I believe— •JttathuiK abput an opening for him at St. 'S OTjburg. He was in a great hurry, and J*»[edeven faster than usual, so I did not vffT'tand him very olearly. Had he been ~™ hurried I would have sent for you." Swiliß clasped her hands on the edga of '■ mb .<ble and looked at hor ladyship in ■, Je8»«al silence. ■a ■•■.Oh," she thought, "if I had only •ski/,

known I Though trifling, heis good-natured, and my letter—"

" Lillis, child, Black is waiting ; let him givo you your soup," said Lady MelroßS. The girl roused herself, removed her hands, and exprossed tho astonishment sho really felt.

The ceremony of dinner then proceeded. At its closo thoy went to the library. There Lilhs, moved by a sudden impulse, cheeked her ladyship midway across tho room. She caught the wrinkled old hand 3 between her own, crying, tremulously : " Mamma, will it be worth while to tell you that Robort is a bad and thoroughly unscrupulous—" "It will not be worth while, my dear. Let us drop the subject. I want you to answer a few of tho muny letters that have been accumulating during the last fortnight. Come." •

She released herself, and walked with unrufiled patienco to ono of the small writing-desks, where a number of open lottors lay ready for tho girl's examination. " Make them short, my dear," continued her_ ladyship. "Wo can bo excused for saying much after paasing through the scenos wo have lately. I have pencilled thn portions I desire noticed."

But Lillis would not be silenced

Sho ilung her arms about her mother's nock. Sho pressed her soft lips to tho wrinkled check.

<; Oh, mamma ! mamma I" she falterod, tearfully. " do not givo yoursolf to the wicked projects of that bold, bad man! Do not raise a wall between us by trying to force me into a union with him, (Jive up this, mamma, and I will givo up Cyril—all thought, all hope, of over becoming his wife. I promise, mamma, I will give my lifo to you."

Lady Molrosa'a pation.ce was unassailable. She felt herself too near the completion of her ambitious schemes to bo onsily moved tt anger. Sho kissed tho girl aa sho might have kissed a foolish child.

" It is not tho sacritico of your young life to my old ago that I want," aho said. "It is to soo you rich and distinguished aa tho Countess of Langdon. Thero is not such another parti as Robort in all Groat Britain. Consequently I sustain him in his suit Now sit down, my dear ; and after tho letters are written, go and rost. This nervous excitement is telling upon you. " But," speaking in a lower tone to horself, " the strain will soon be over."

Tho girl caught tho words, and answerod them.

"Do not think it, mamma 1" sho exclaimed. "1 will die of starvation soonor than become that bad man's wifo !"

Lady Melross smiled indulgently, pGintedout tho letter she wanted answered first, and silenced tho girl by retiring to a distant seat.

Tho day wa3 closing whon Lillis loft the library .for her boudoir.

LJp to this hour sho had soon nothing of Rebecca Hough since thoir parting at tho box bush bower. But that tho woman had attended to her usual dutios was manifest in the fre3hly-swopt hearth and roplenishod tiro.

Lillis sat down on a footstool drawn to one end of tho rug, and asked herself, as sho had countless times that afternoon, whether sho should intrust hor mother with all she knew and suspected.

But two considerations weighed against it—tho sickening fear of becoming accessory to Hood's death on the gallows, and a solemn sense of responsibility a3 regarded the dead earl's known wishes.

That Lady Molross would unwisoly im peril the latter sho was cortain.

She had just reached this sorrowful conclusion for tho last time when a knock at tho door announced Kebecca Hough's appearance with the lights. Lillis answered the knock, roso from her low seat, and stood watching the woman's approach with robuking oye. Tho gaze was loat upon its object. Rebecca never took her own from tho candles. A respectful courtesy was tho only act that indicatod a consciousness of tho gin's presence.

The candles properly disposed on tho high mantel, she drew tho window curtains, and then, recalled to the firoplaco by a falling brand, seized tho tongs and procoodod to rebuild tho blazing structure.

At that moment Lillis spoko. Her sweet voice, cold and stern, she asked, abruptly: "Did you know you wero stealthily followed to Langdon village this morning — that a man was close upon your stop soon aftor you left tho Abbey gates ?"

Tonga and brand crashed to tho fonder, and Rebecca straightoned.herself and faced tho girl with an aspect of such uncontrollable terror that Lillis's tender heart was touched.

For one brief instant she looked at tho girl in a wild, whito questioning. The next she stammered, failingly : " A man, Miss ! For Heaven's sake what kind of a man ?— Who ?-Can ho—" hor grating voice dropping to an inaudible whisper, " suspect."' Lillis spoko more gently. "That," she said, "I cannot tell you ; I only know tho fact. Desirous to loam whether you had decoived me in regard to the declared errand to Langdon villago, I went to one of tho upper windows that commands a partial view of the road.

"There, by means of a spy-glass, I found not only that you had spoken truth in that particular, but, also, that you wore followed. The man was of middle height, drossed in a dark grey suit, and wore a black slouch hat. Did you sco sucli a person ?"

An expression of intense relief swopt the woman's rigid face, and softened tho wild stare of her unfathomable eyes. Sho said quickly, and a littlo unovonly too : " You frightened mo, Miss. It's a lonesome road, with its bit o' wood hero and there, and a cripple liko me might be murdered and nobody tho wisor. But it was only a poor foolish fellow you saw. I know-it by tho suit and hat. Ho came to me noar tho big grocer's, and wanted to know if he'd be like to get a place with his lordship, and asked a lot of questions about the duties and so on, which I cut short with short answers." She took up the tongs and plunged the blazing pine knot to a secure position. Lillis's pity vanished with Rebeccas alarm. "I have," she said, a more chilling sternness gathering in her tones, "I have discovered another thing." Rebecca half paused in tho act of replenishing the fire, and then wont stolidly

"I have rend your black treachery in the gathered fragments of the note intrusted to your care, and basely delivered1 by you into your master's hand." An almost imperceptible start attested Rebecca's omotion at that charge. After an almost imporaeptible pause she answered. Not the slightest traco of feeling marking her harsh accents, she said, composedly : , , r . " You shouldn't a' trusted mo, Miss, you ought to see I ain't no friend to you." At that remarkable reply Lillis stood unable to utter a word. , While she thus mutely regarded the woman, the latter muttered slowly, absently, as she began to swsep up the hearth: . ~, " The detective's back again in the lib ry.

"Who?— What was that you said? cried Lillis, starting into sudden life, and, with one breathless movement, reaching tho woman's aide. . Rebecca repeated the words, turning her swarthy face full upon the girl as she did

For a moment LilHs remained motionless, absolutely petrified by the gaze she met. " Mockery, warning, entreaty,,animosity —which is it ?" sho said to herself. Rebecca dropped her eyes and went on with her task, adding indifferently : " Ye?, he's there, waiting for his lordship, who oughtor be home now " . The words broke the spell that had tall6n upon the girl with the look. " Waiting I" sho breathed. And, unconscious of the strange, intent gaze that followed her, she ran headlong fl°As shY reached tho landing of tho last flrrht of stairs, Hood burst open the outer dcor, and striding rapidly forward, stopped at the foot and looked up. Her haste and excitement were too apparent to pass unnoticed. ~_.«„ Dark suspicion and passionate admiration blending in his faceand votae, he spoke one word and then paused, checked by a ser vant's hurrying foot and exclamation : " It's you, my lord !" said the man. "AH light," interposed Hood, im--MlS^star^ffio^ ""LUHs^etf^-'opportunity and ran 'ZodtrnTto her with the suspended !DThe yservant nervously interposed again. "It's the gentleman, my lord, ho sam, rapidly, incoherently. "We thought" * was your lordship's knock andl he got m a'roost unbeknowest, and then, seeing

your lorsdhip hadn't give no orders since he was horo this morning, wo thought as it must bo all right." "The gentleman?" > echoed Hood, angrily. -'What—Hah 1" The last oxclamation broke from his lips as Lillis suddonly fled past him, and the sorvant's moaning burst upon his mind. Ordering the man off with a word, he sprang fiercely after the girl. As her hand soized the door knob, his i grazed her Bhoulder. He was too late, The door fell open. With white face and wild, burning eyes, Lillis rushod into tho room.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE DETECTIVE IKI'EEPERES-BILSY'H ERIUND, The opening door showed the library tenanted not only by Detectivo Lintor, but Lady Melrosa also.

Tho detective had eagerly seized the opportunity to draw her ladyship into a minute description of the evonts of the night of the tragedy. But, at tho startling entry of Lillis and Hood, both rose involuntarily to thoir feet, staring dumbly. Lillis fled to Lintor. "For Heaven's sako," she cried, " tako it to Solicitor Gibbs !"

Speaking tho choking, breathless words, sho thrust a sealed envolopo into his hand.

Hood rushed upon them liko a whirl wind.

In a raomont ho had torn tho lottor from Lintor's hand.

" Givo it mo I" cried Lady Molross, palo, stern, and haughtily erect. "la my child insano '!"

Lillis burst into an anguished cry, Hood, too much onraged to notico tho command, Hung tho lottor into tho liro.

Drivon to uttor despair, Lillis turned passionately to Lintor. Sho cried, passionately, pointing to Hood : "Ho is not the old earl's son ! Ho is not tho heir to the title and estatos of Langdon ! Cyril Chosnoy is tho hoir ! That man is Robort Rood, son of Lawrence Hood—"

Thoro Lady Molross suddonly burst into toars and caught the girl to her heart, " Oh, Iloavon pity mo!" sho wailed, brokenly. "My child is mad ! Oh, Lillis, Lillis ! Would Heavon I had died boforo this hour !"

" Yes, sho is mad," falterod Hood, with slow, ashy lips. "I will ring for Robocca Hough."

'■ I am hero, my lord," spoke Robocca's harsh voico at tho door. "I saw Miss running wild-liko down tho stairs and along the hall, and thought I'd bo wanted." "Tako hor to hor room," sobbed Lady Molross, in genuine grief. "Como, my lovo."

Lillis broko from her enfolding arm. Sho cried, despairingly, turning to tho dotoctivo :

"I am not mad. Bring Solicitor Gibbs horo, and I will prove lam not. I swoar it. - Cyril Chosnoy is tho Earl of Langdon ; and that man," pointing again at Hood, "knows it only too woll. Tell Solicitor Gibbs ! Toll Cyril Chosnoy and—" "For moroy's sako, hush!" breathed Rebecca Hough at hor ear. " He'll have you in a madhouse."

There was something in the unnoticed interruption that effectually checked the girl. A gonuino terror struck through tho woman's suppressed voice. With a dospairing gosturo and glanco at LintCr, sho submittod to Kobocca's impelling arm and turned to tho door, followed by the weeping Lady Melros?.

Lintor, roused from his astounded ailonco by the movement, started aftor them, crying, loudly, hurriedly : "Hold! I must spoak to that young lady. She is, I boliovo, perfectly e.ino." Luly Melross and Hood tu'nod upon him with ono consent.

" How dare you, sir, think to ineddio with my child ?" cried tho baronot's widow, hor eyes flashing wrathfully through hor tears. •• Mind your own business !" thundored Hood, intercepting him. " l?y lloavon, I've a groat mind to have you put out of door.*, neck and ticols ! Your impudonco is insullbrablo, and your audacity in returning to tho Abbey unexampled. What brought you, you mean cur? Speak, and spoak quick, or I'll have you kicked out yet."

Tho door closed upon tho furious throat, and tho two faced onch other alone.

Linter's largo oyes wero dangorously ablaze, but he answered tho question calmly.

" I came," ho said, " purposely to urgo your lordship to accompany mo immediately to Paris."

" I'll accompany you nowhere!" shouted Hood, besido himsolf. " I'll go to Paris mysolf. And now, sir, leave tho Abbey this instant, and send your bill to tho steward to-morrow. From this hour you aro out of my employ. liegono !"

His faco livid, hii hand shaking, ho. pom tod to the door.

Lintor gazed at him from under his heavy lids with steady coolness and composure, With tho same ho spoko. " You aro right, my lord. lam out of your employ, but by my oini will. Know, however, that my sleepless efforts to discover tho Earl of Langdon's murderor will ceaso only with tho murderer's arrest. Ibid you a good evening, Lord Langdon."

Ho bowod, withdrew, and, before a servant could respond to Hood's furious pull at tho boll, was out of tho houso.

Bilsy answered tho summons.

Hood, standing impatiently at tho open door of tho library, beckonel him into tho room with a faco of such livid passion that tho man stared in unconooalod astonishment.

" You have scon tho stranger that just wont away?" hissed Hood, brcathlossly. "You would know him?" " I let him in, my lord. I'd lukhv him." "You aro not particular about tho way you mako inonoy ?" Uilsy understood tho terriblo moaning underlying tho hushed question. His eyes gleamed avariciously. "Not if it's a paying way, mylcrd. Not if I'm suro of a big sum," ho replied. " It will bo a sum largo enough to mako you an independent gentleman for life. Follow that man, deal him his doath-blow, and your fortune's made. But," as Bilay opened his mouth to answer, " not near the Abbey, remember. Tlioro is a wood close to the vil—"

Bilsy, impatient to be gono, interjocted rapidly : "I know, my lord, and I understand! But tho figger, my lord ? It's a bold deed and needs a square promise." Hood named tho sum, withfiercoomphasis, and eyes that flamed balefully. " He's a dead man !" said Bilsy, all the evil in his nature fired by the onormous amount of Hood's bribe.

Ho touched his forelock, took a stop toward the door, and then, chocked by a sudden thought, turned round again. "What if I'm balked?" he said. "Tho placo is a good placo enough, but it's early yet, and somobod/ might clianco along whon not wanted."

"Follow him !"

"To London?"

"To London! Hados ! Any whore ! Everywhere ! Only do it, and- do it coon ! Mind ! Soon ! Or it will be too late for you and me !" Doubly roused by tho fearful passion in Hood's faco and voico, the man answered, quickly, significantly : "It won't bo too late, my lord! He's a dead man !" Emphasising tho words with a bloodcurdling look, he loft the room. " And I a safe man !" brgathed Hood, as the large, powerfully-built form disappeared from his Satanic gaze. At the moment tho door closed upon Bilsy, Dotoctivo Linter dropped lightly from the balcony, where ho had beon a witness of the foregoing scene. " Some evil afoot!" ho thought. " Men's countenances have been, my study too long to leave me in doubt as to the nature of the colloquy just ended But what is it?—a plot against me or a plot against that beautiful girl? Ah, if I could only have caught a few words ! Still, it's a great deal to have seen. Those carelessly drawn curtains have proved useful.'' He stole away and made rapidly acrosß the turf for the gate from which LiHis bad been turned that morning by Bilsy. As he gained tho deeper gloom of the park ho paused, fancying he heard a suspicious sound. He turned, and, standing in the shadow of a monstrous oak, strained his gaze through the gatheiing darkness. Ho listened attentively, even pressing his ear against the ground. Presently he went on reassured. "I'm afraid it's the young lady, he thought again, uneasily. "That woman whom I overhauled this morning in my grey suit was entirely too reticent. And— But, we'll see, my lord ! There's a double mvetery here to bo cleared up, I find ! Mies Melross is no more mad than I am; but she is in dead earnest! And—so am While he had stood listening, Bilsy, who had got upon his track with the keen instinct of a blood-hound, stood in a breathless silence only a few rods distant. But no sooner did the detective move on, than, warned by tho halt, Bilsy changed bis course.

Turning quickly ho took a roundabout path to the village, that would keep him out of Linter's sight, and hearing till tho fatal momont of the attack.

By running at iull epetd ho effocted his purpose, gaining the cover of the wood designated by Hood just as Lintor came in view, and just as twilight had settled into tho darknoss of night. There he waited.

{To be Continued),