THE MILL MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 3

THE MILL MYSTERY.

IK „A KATHARINE GRKEN, B!;l-^ aworthMurder/,'' Hand i«!i» f,)ia R ndßin«-"9 tc-

„ HAP TER IV- (ooimmiKD). I* arrangements had already «*Xr t»e removal of my poor Adas **** \ house that held her lover; for f* 40 „ tbe situation had touched all tWP^herwishtobelaidinthesame ***liL mot with no opposition. I Z> A hl?l£ve with a clew conscience; nJtheref° r0 ; ain ,rtodo all that was _t^Jff£& °Wod to take S^Cansbe had expected to. Wr« in the parlour waiting W* *« enter, fully equipped. 5n» wß,#Srto business," he said, and "Com9i«t once to his carriage. ted *2?JtSS- i°* tho fir '" block■ -He Vedld!?ltme, and I was summoning ■teoed "^he o rdeal before me' /? r' rttfo»ge l,™ started, I began to feel a JIEM«BSn« *? to be entirely s*. jT2» by the fact that l was gaing *• £5* h°«oe t0 nt urß° Y vT- aY into»3t^ did not speak any too kindly. dW«CSton«s of the hour, and the Srff*!2sd the unlighted streets, » W fiTto -easeuro me. Indeed, somei«»dCh/weirduncanny seemed to mingle W? f „Me situation, nnd I found my- **■*£ our-approach to the house, dTt gits oldTmO air and secluded «hich _\ always worn for mo an aspect P»& that made it, even in the WfSof somewhat fearful indaylight, a v "f fcrnham, who may havo suspected % ___ though ho gavo no token of •f^mddenly spoke up. W«TSt to toll you," he said, "!T-SSd never have accepted tho H f t^experienced girl like you if **&. vss necessary but watchfulness Mrs Pollard lies uncon- •* dU Hi you will have to do is to sit **2u andwait for tho first dawning >' iTimr reason. It may come at o! laturninß r comQ afc ftSwry rick woman." 'Vunderstand,"- 1 murmureL plucking B™t what did not seem so very diffis&> *® be within "_ '• 5° wi' l L , __*A we hope to have her daughter iISV 6"You do not know Who was I, that I i 1 HknowCegrand folks? And yet would say nothing T^ihvsnow so completely obliterated. •fflllSotbemnch of an assistant, ' teStereu.. « But it is right sho should «KfiStt»t I had hoard that Mrs « U's daughter was a beauty, and that SjS fine match ; which, said of Sard's daughter, must have meant a MtdnL said nothing, only SLd in a vogue hope of hearing more, Ly cariosity was aroused in a strange 1 about these people, and nothing which Samoa' doctor could have said about them Jd bave come amiss at this time. Bat our drive had been too rapid, and we am too near the house, for him to think of Mthinßbat turning into the gateway with (kiuHMry caution For the night was omally dark, and it was difficult to tell iartwhere tha gate-posts were. We, howner entered without accident, and in jmitber moment a gleam of light greeted us to tbe distant porch. "They ate expecting us, he said, and taied op his horso. We flew up the psTelled ro3d, and before I could still the (SbS heart-beat that attacked me at sight & tiepim row of cedars which surrounded thehouse, we were' hurrying up between tie two logo lions rampant that flanked the steps, to whero a servant stood holding j imi the door. A bubo of gloom and chill at once overwbaWme From the interior, which I faintly saw Btretcking before me, there tatted evon in that iir3t moment of loafed entrance, a cold and haughty graadem that, however rich and awe-in-spiring, was anything but attractive to a ss:ore like nine.

taring back, I let Dr. Farnham take tijlesd, which he did in his own brusque nt And then I saw what the dim light y not revealed before, a young man's fen standing by the newel-post of the wide itiircajß tnat rose at our left. He at once eaaefonrard, and as the light from the tap above as fell f ally upon him, I saw his fee and started.

ffhy! leonkl not tell. Not because his bdsome features struck me pleasantly, fttiheydidnot. There was something in tltiirexpression which I did not like, and yd as I looked at them a sudden sensation m_& over me that made my apprehensions damomentback seem liko child's play, and Itame conscious that if a sudden call of lordeath were behind me urgiug me on to instant to quit tlio house, I could not do i: virile that face was before me to be hitened, and, if possible, understood. "Ah, I see you have brought tho nurso," rasthe words with which he greeted Dr. Mum. And the voice was as thrilling in i 5 tones? the face was in its expression. "But," he suddenly exclaimed, as his oyos Bt mine," this is not Mrs Gannon." And totariedly drew the doctor down tho hall. "Why have you brought this young girl ?" bilked, in tones which, however lowered, lerald easily distinguish. " Didn't you •wtherewere reasons why we specially Muted an elderly person ?" "No"!heard the doctor say, and then, hback being towards me, I lost the rest of Eipeech till the words, "She is no gossip," M» to salute me and make me ask myself JJB "as » secret skeleton in this house, «' they feared so much the eyes of a tager. . - * "Bat," the young man went hurriedly on," wu not at all the kind of person to have J» ny mother. How could we " and i w his voice Tell bo as to become unintelligible, .■■■'■ ' - M ths doctor's sudden exclamation aped me oat. : What!" ha wonderingly cried, "do you *d to ait tip too?" ll llof ,Dy brother," was the calm response. would yon expect us to leave her alone "^Ufcranger?" doctor made no answer, and the jragnai), taking a glance sidewise, threw "•mm fall of anxiety and trouble. i dont like it," be murmured ; " but mm be a woman of some kind in the stranger " aedidnot finsib his words, but it seemed "•oewere going to say : " And a stranger TWm all, be preferable to a neighbour." m cannot be sure of this, for ho was not t'SSff&fcmnd; But what Ido know SM BtePped forward to me with an t___§ .and gWng me a welcome as ttfiu 1 faad been the oneof all others bTT?,™^, led me up the stairs to a Stnl.il eannouneed tobomine, saying, ■*■* meat the door, Inbwl??*;™ five minutes, and my BoXu j eyouto y°urdutiea" »dl». t Men no woman in the house, Mffii Jr, gmDing t0 wonder if Mrs Polto surround herself with NSrrm» 8 i 8 door was suddenly opened girl stepped in. "ltk,',„u T me' Bbc B£,W with a stare; Wffi&P. ? M the nurse as was here." «(I)ifeinf 19the, nurse," I returned, smiling myself at her look of indignant Ila^L, me ?" *cn«.«ji ■¥*• for ncr oyes were like •ftfj,1* hj*d was tossing airily. tUteto'^-! 8*1"' almoß* with spite. "I . t«ffil ?° U J wanted anything ?" I™^im With what S°od Bafcure ""hkiinn J nofc wisn te make an enemy "AndSs OTen °* a chambermaid. *kc2? m really the nurse?" she *»iiK' 8? c? rer and looking at mo in ftoi^i Msured ncr, " really and truly 'I»4s eiil don w underatand it!" she cried, M«Pollard's favourite maid wl,en she was took, and *•*» W • now> bu* thoy wont let wh, fL DSld? the do°r- And when I L*t,>tDov r S„ VOand to her, they say PifiSk And hei-e you bo younger IwtSfW too- * don't like it," ;-, Wh'tT B , head aSain and again. a^ rvad i4 ' and I think it is isS&fri T nM V h«rt. so I hash*pSWtsat *™8 no* the nurse !f»ollffi e?faad was succeeding, I think M^anl *' when a BteP was heard in t l a f , fright6ned Btart> k^you i»r tnß doorfe^ecriT 6 l™ don,t want a"y V^ a oVtt dWa8°Utofmy^ht hiUB co detain me, and I <;3P4w* A* 1 cro-sed the sill I -WM W: fiS, 0 ' Btßight of the tall, slim, SLWit tl,. tbat awaited me, leanr^» « opposite wall. He was ""«» brother, and had similar

features, but there was ao eharrri here to make you forget that the oye was darkly glittering, and the lip formidable in its subtlety and power. He advanced with much of the easy nonchalence that had so characterised the other,

"Miss Sterling, I believe," said he j and with no further word, turned and led me down the hall to the sick room. I noticed evon then that he paused and listened before ho pushed open the door, and that with our first step inside ho cast a look of inquiry at tho bod that had something besides a son's loving anxiety in it.. And I hated tho man as I would a serpent, though he bowed as he set me a chair, andwas careful to move a light that he thought shone a little too directly in my eyes. The other brother was not present, and I could give my undivided attention to my charge. I found her what report had proclaimed hor to be, a handsome woman of the sternly imposing type. Even with her ape against hor and the shadow of death lying on her brow and cheek, there was something strangely attractive in the features and the stately contour of her form. But it was attraction that was confined to the eye, and could Ly no means allure the heart, for the same seal of mysterious reserve was upon her that characterised her sons, and in her, as in the younger one of these, it inspired a distrust which I could imagine no smile ac dissipating. She lay in a state of coma, and her heavy breathing was the only sound that broke tho silence of the great room. "God help mo I" thought I; but had no wish to leave. Instead of that, I felt a fearful pleasure in tho prospect before me—such effect had a singlo look had upon me from eyes I trembled to meet again or road. I do not know how long 1 sat there gazing in the ono direction for that faint sign of lifo for which the doctor had bid mo watch. ; That he who inspired me with dread was behind me, I knew ; but I would not turn my head towards him. I was determined to resist the power of this man, oven if I must succumb ftt riflo to that of the other.

I was, therefore, surprised when a hand was thrust over my shoulder, and a fan dropped into my lap. "It is warm here," was the comment which accompaniodtho action,

i I thanked him, but folt that Lis sole object j had boon to cover bis change of position. For, when ho sat down again, it was whero he could see my face. I therefore folt justified in plying the fan he had offered mo, in such a way as to shut off his somewhat basilisk gaze. And so a dreary hour went by. It was now well on towards morning, and I was beginning to suffer from the langour natural after so many harrowingexcitements when the door opened behind me, and the electric thrui shooting through all my members, testified as to whose step it was that entered. At the sama moment the young man at ray side arose, and with what I felt to be a last sharp look in my direction, hastened to where his brother stood, and entered into a whispered conversation with him. Then I heard the door close again, and almo-t at the samo instant Mr Pollard tho elder advanced, and without seeking an excuse for his action, sat down close by my side. Tho fan at once dropped ; I had no wish to avoid this rwan's scrutiny.

And yet when with a secret .bracing of my nerves I looked up and met his .eyes fixed with that baffling expression upoa mine, I own that I felt an inward alarm, as if something vaguely dangerous had reared itself in my path, which by its very charm instinctively bade me beware. I, however, subdued my apprehensions, thinking, with a certain haughty pride which I fear will never bo eliminated from my nature, of the dangers I had already met with und overcome in my brief but troubled lifo ; and meeting his look with a smile w.'sich I know to contain aßpiceof audacity,! calmly waited for tho words I felt to be hovering upon his lips. They wero scarcely the ones I expocted. " Miss Sterling," said he " you have seen Anico, my mother's waiting maid ;" I bowed. I was too muchdUcoacerted to speak. " And sho has told you hor story of my mothor's illnos3?" he went on pitilessly holding me with his glance. "You neod not answer." ho again proceeded, as I opened my lips. " I know Anice ; sho has not tho gift of keeping her thoughts to horself."

"An unfortunate thing in this house," I inwardly commented, and mado a deters initiation on tho spot that whatever emotionI might experience from the mysteries surrounding me, this master of reserve should find thero was one who could keep her thoughts to herrelf, even, perhaps, to his own secret disappointment and chagrin. " Sho told you my mother wao stricken at the sudden news of Mr Barrows's death?"

"That was told me," I answered; for this was a direct question, put, too, with an effort I could nrt help but feel, notwithstanding the evident wish on his part to preserve an appearance of calmness. "Then some explanation is needed," he remarked, his eyes flashing from his mother's face to mine with equal force and intentneas. My mother "- his words wero low, but it waa impossible not to hear them—"hasnot been well since my father died, two months ago. It needed but the slightest shock to produce the rseult you unhappily soo before you. That shock this very girl supplied by the inconsiderate relation of Mr Barrows's fearful fate. We have taken a prejudice against the girl in consequencp. V-.t you blamo us? Thia is onr mothor." What could I feel or say but No ? What could anyono, under tlio circumstances? Why then did a sudden vision of Ada's faco, as Bno gavo mp that last look, riso up before me, bidding me remember the cause to which I was pledged, and not put too much faith in this man and his plausible explanations. " 1 only hope death will not follow the frightful occurrence," he concluded j and do what he wiuld, his features became drawn, and his face white, as his looks wandered back to bi? mother.

A sudden impui-c seized me. " Another death you mejn," said I ; " ono already has marked the event, though it happened only a few short hours ago." His eyes flashed to mine, and a very vivid and real horror blanched his already pallid ch^ek till it looked blue in the dim light " What do you mean ?" he gasped ; and I saw tlie doctor had refrained from telling him of Ada's pitiful doom. " I mean," said I, with a secret compunction I strove in vain to subdue, "that Mr Barrows's betrothed could not survive his terrible fate—that she died a few hours since, and will be buried in the same grave as her lover." "His betrothed?" Young Mr Pollard had risen to his feet, and was actually staggering under the shock of his emotions, " I did not know he had any betrothed. I thought she had jilted him " " It is another woman," I broke in, jealous for my poor dead Ada's fame. " The woman he was formerly engaged to never loved him; but this one " I could not finish tho sentence. My own agitation was beginning to master me. He looked at me, horrified, and I could have sworn the hair rose on his forehead. "What was her name ?" he asked, "Is it—is it anyone I know i" Then, as if suddenly conscious that he was betraying too keen an emotion for the occasion, pitiful aa it was, ho forced his lips into a steadier curve, and quietly said : " After what has happened here, I am naturally overcome by a circumstance so coincident with our own trouble" ...,*. i "Naturally," I assented with a bow, and again felt that secret distrust warring with a new feeling that was not unlike compassion. , , „ T " Her name is Ada Reynolds, I continued, remembering his last, question, "She lived " , ... . "I know," he interrupted ; and without another word walked away, and for a long timo stood silent an the other end of tho room. Then he came back and sat down, and when I summoned up courage to glance at hia face, I saw that a change had passed over it, that in all probability was a change °Anfmy heart sank—sank till I almost envied that unconscious form before which we sat, and fiom which alone now came the one sound which disturbed the ghostly silence of that dread chamber.

(To he continued,)