THS NOVELIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 70

THS NOVELIST.

THE >RROW - - - - THAT FLIETH.

By GUT THORNE,

Author of "Mantrap Manor," "When Jt "W&s Dark," "Made in His Imag«," "First It W«i Ordained," "A LoiA Cause," etc., «te. ICOPYEICnT. SYNOFSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I.—After leaving Oxford, Lord B*Hina and his friend, Michael Dundw, enter into partnership in a motor-building enterprise, trading aa Dundas, Kenmare and 00. On the morning when the story opens a visitor i» announced -who introduces him»elf *& Mr John Archer, of New York. H« tell* Lord Ballina. that he wants a car built, and that he is prepared to pay £3000 on condition that it is constructed with absolute secwecy. Ballina agrees, and Mr Arch«r, on receipt of a signed agreement, pays h«lf the purchase money on the »pot. He alleges that he wishes to avoid being forestalled in patenting an invention. He explains the drawings, which provide for a curious steel-lined well in the front of the c*.r. On Archea-'B invitation Lord Ballina dines with the American and his daughter Muriel. Th« la-tter hi» lordship finds to. Ye r. moii charming girl, and he i* strongly attracted to h«r. CHAPTER ll—Xext dsy, Mr Archer being bu«y w his daughter proceeds to the works of Duudsw, Kenmtwre *ad Co., tnd Lord Balhna

allows her round. He is most caßrteous «a< attentive, and Miss Archer on her part ii fain to admit that she finds the young Eng lishman extremely interesting. Meantime M: Archer pays a visit to an Italian restauxan in the neighbourhood of Wardour street There he meets an Italian engineer, by nora Paleotti. Ai-aher tells him what has beei done about the car, and with subdued voioei and an air of myetery they discus* some fur ther plans. The Italian, Paleotti, announce thsut he has completed his tw/sk, and explain ing that the restauxanteujr is an Anarohis and that the device ia hidden on th« pre md«ei, he take* Axcher by a secret pasc&g< to see the result of his labour* — the in airunieni of revenge. CHAPTER lll.— Dundas »r,d his partner Lord Ballina, discuss the mysterious moto: they are building x or Mr Archer. Both agr& tbja.t-.its design is a taarvel of ingenuity a»< skill. Ballina tells his friend thai he mean to make Muriel Arches his -wife. Dunda congratulatet him, and promises to enlis the sympathies of his aunt, Ir&dy Leaf, o) Lord Ballina's behalf. The two young mci call on Lady Leaf, and she promises to us> her best endeavours to further Lord Ballina' oause. They adjourn to the Hous« of Com moos, where they hear Sir Alfred. Leaf de liver a slashing attack on Socialism. Afte the debate Lord Balline is surprised to se Mr Archer engrossed in conversation with n< less » person that Francis Dalian, th Socialist leader. There is also an Italian ii the group. .That might Lord Bsllin* take his friend Dunda? for a spin on hk caj Nearing Hicham Common they run into sobk thing, and stopping the car they discove the figure of a woman. They ;arry her in sensible form into Dundas's study, and. ar surprised to find that she bears a strikini resemblance to Francis Dalton. TV. [AT an -extraordinary re semblance, though hoi very different in expres sion!" exclaimed Low Sallina, with a. look o wonder. I'She i rapidly "recovering liook, man !" "What a beautifu girl," rejoined Dundas bending forward. "I wonder who she is?' ''Did you never see her before?" "Never." "Surely, Mike, you must have seen her if she is a resident about here-. Thin] again. She looks like a lady, yet he clothes are -those of a poor girl." "I assure you, Ballina, on my word o honour," his friend exclaimed emphati oally, "I have never set eyes on her be fore. Is it likely a fellow could look oj a face like that and forget it afterwards?' As he finished, the girl raised hereel on her elbow, and, with a dazed look ii her deep blue eyes, over which a stra^ lock of dark, wavy hair/hunig in pretti disorder, she murmured feebly, "When am I? This — this is not the school." "No, youn.g lady," said MicKael Dun das, coining forward. "I regret to 'sa; that an accident v has occurred, which '. fervently trust is not serious. Please res quietly. lam going to call my house Keeper, ajdnd-hearted soul, who respond to the name of Mrs Stokes. She wilf-loo] after you. I say, Ballina, do, like a goox fellow, run eight doors down, for the. doc tor. He has got his name on the loor." "Ah, yes, I remember," said the gir with a sigh, as she sank back with close* eyee. - "I remember — the sudden Sash o light, and the car which flashed by Something caught me by the shoulder Then all became oblivion." "Now, please don't say another won until the doctor confes. Ah, 'here is Mr Stokes, }vet the very person. I euppoe you heard the noise of the accident?" "Well, Mr Michael, did you .ever ! Bu there, what's the use of wasting words Not soVmuch brandy, sir. A teaspoonfu is quit© enough for the young lady. Whil I'm looking after her, you can tell us a] about* it," exclaimed the [good old dame She had an ample red face, eomewhat thshape of a lozenge, while two rebellion little gTey corkscrew curls stood out de fiantly on each side of her frilled cap Her little dark eyes twinkled like engim lamps, between which an aggressive, small round r.oee stood forth, somewhat heavie: in tint than the two highly-coloured cheeks. "Yes, Mrs Stokes," returned Dundas, tv he meekly handed her a decanter md j spoon. '"There was an accident, whicl might &aye had serious consequences. In so glad j*ou dressed and came to our as eistance. The car, by a miracle, eecape< killing this young lady. We carried bej in here, and that' 6 all." "Quite enough, too, Mr Michael," eJh retorted) with a ferocious snaff, thougl whether directed at him or at the spoonfu of brandy held in close proximity to hei noee he was unable to say. "Lawks, sir I wonder we ain't all in, our coffins witl them new-fangled concerns. I declare mj nervea are all shattered, an' I -never puti a foot outside o' the house to take a bil o' fresh air but one o' them nasty, horrk things comes up behind me, an' befor< you knows where you are, they lets off i liorn that 'ud drown the last trumpet There, my dear, keep quiet till the doeto! comes. He'll b© here soon to save us al from early burial." "Don't talk like that, Mns Stokes," tb young man said soothingly. "No one, ". hope, will be the worse for this night's ad venture." ''Adventure ! the young gentleman call it," said Mrs Stokes, shrilly, using th< decanter as a scent bottle. "Why, I call it murder. Oh, sir, when will you evei give over making them .awful things thai kills us pore women 'and them duml beasts as ventures to croas the road. Why I seed a cat — but, there, the young lad] ain't fit to have her feelin's harrered. Ah I hear the doctor coming. I'll say no more but them as kills will rue it afore the] dies, you mark my words, Mr Dundas !" With this ambiguous threat the ole woman, with a warning shake of a finger buetled out to usher Lord Ballina in witl the doctor of the village, whom Miohae Dundas familiarly greeted with a nod. • 'Hullo, doctor. Glad you've come. Thi< young lady has met with an accident. D< reaeeure us that it is nothing very serious

f Now, Mrs Stokee, if you will yield up ! tie decanters, my friend and I will have ' a drink in the other room, while you help j Doctor Hope with the- young lady. Com© j along, Ballina." - They had not to wait long, however, I for a summons to return. And the doctor, I knowing the s-harp, decisive nature of his ' younisr friend, came to the point at once. ! "Nothing serious, Dundas ; a mere bruise on the shoulder. The most eerious part is a grave shock to the nerves. The , young lady seems to be suffering from 1 some suppressed excitement coupled with i exhaustion. She had better remain her© ■ quietly for the night, . as she has also ! sharply twisted her ankle." i "Very well," the young man replied, die1 • cisively. "Mrs Stokes will take charge of her, doctor. I'll rough it with a rug on the sofa. We've been Tather accustomed ■ to that sort of thing at the works, eh, ', Ballina? Sorry there's no garage here for i | your motor, or Fd ask' you to stop and ■ i keep me company." ; j "Never mind me, old " fellow," his [ partner replied. 'Til run her back myself t now. It'll give me eomethirrg to take i my mind, off thoughts. Expect yon at ; the '■ works some time before noon. Don't for1 get -we hand over our' mysterious beauty'" • to-morrow." , ! j "Don't you fear, . my boy. FU be there , '. J in good time," answered Dundas. i When they had carried the interesting : young patient upstairs, and the others , had departed, Michael Dundas retornect. slowly and thoughtfully to his Ktndy. Taking a well-coloured and much--cherished briar from a pipe rack, he stood for some minutes unconsciously staring into the empty bowi in. a contemplative manner. j -"By Jove!" he muttered, "who is this . j lovely girl? Did you ever see such a ' beautiful profile?. Dark hair and blue ; eyes! Yes> what eyes!" Then he sighed heavily. -At the same time his. fingers crammed the Navy-cut i with unconscious energy into the empty J bowl. "Heigho!" he yawned a moment after, as he wheeled a lounge chair up to the fireside. "After all, it's a confoundedly j lonely world, all said and done. What a : beaetly silence after all that has -happened. I wish I had company ; ' what a fool I was not to have made Ballina stop. ' i Her eyes are the deepest blue I ever, | gazed into, and what a lovely, low musical ; voice she has. Now, who can she i>©? . | Certainly not of this place. Mitcham has !■ never produced anything bo charming, and ' that's saying .a lot. An, me! So I'll to couch, that rest may be The guerdon to ttiß tartur'd soul." But sleep was slow in coming, despite its poetic wooing. His mind obstinately refused to be conquered in the -struggle for oblivion, and it was but a fitful slumber that came at last to his tired eyelids, when , i exhausted Nature gave out. Yet even then his slumbers were full of drealns of - steering demon cars, with the beautiful 1 j stranger by his sidta, in a mad endeavour ■ I to/escape from some hideous peril. "Dear me, Mre Stokes," he exclaimed with a start. "I must have overslept myt aelf. What'© the time?" "Half-past 8, 6ir," she returned severely. ; "We're half an hour late this morning, and no wonder, says I." "Ah, that reminds me," he answered, jumping up quickly, as memory cleared. "How has the young lady passed the | night?" She's sleeping peacefully now, sir. Eh, but the poor lamb has had a very sorrowful, hard life." I "Indeed! Have you learnt anything i about her? What is her name?" the young man inquired eagerly, being now j thoroughly aroused. _ "Lucy Uarlton, sir. At least, them were the words she gave me. Eh! but she's 4 I winsome chfld !" "Lucy Carlton — Lucy Carlton," he mused) a moment. "No/ the name is j strange to these parts. The mystery deepens. Now, Mrs Stokes, like a good creature, while I burn my throat with this extra hot coffee, tell me all. Please take a chair." * The good-natured dame needed no coaxing, and after a preliminary futile effort to arrange those two rebellious curls she rapidly told him all ebe had been able to gather from the girl's lips. Her name appeared to be Lucy Carlton. She was an orphan, with an only brother employed in the Post Office, who evidently was a scamp, and never took any notice of her. Her life had been on© continual battle against poverty, and the only weapon the poor girl had to combat lit with was teaching. After unhearoVof trials bravely met and overcome, she managed to secure a situation as an under-teaoher with a certain Miss Rachel Flint, who kept a modern kind of "Do-the-girb" institution on the outskirts of the common. The munificent salary which had tempted the poor girl happened to be one pound per month, everything included — th© "everything" having been studied with a care and nicety /which proved a triumph in meanness. Nevertheless, Miss Flint had been abk; t to add to her prospectus that Frenofr, painting, and music by an accomplished : teacher of the highest merit were nowtaught to the senior pupils of ier establishment, on moderate terms. The poor gitl had struggled bravely for six weeks in underfed and underpaid misery. The only chance for an occasional breath of fresh air was when the peevish, hungry pupils had been coerced to their beds. Then sometimes she used to clip out quietly for an evening stroll, and it" was hurrying home from one of these* surreptitious walks that she came near to being killed by the motor car. "Poor angel,"- said Mrs Stokes in conclusion, with an audible sniff and a glance at the sideboard. "If that there girl ain't one of heaven's suffering angels, my name ain't Stokes!" "What confounded cruelty! She must have 6 offered," 6aid Dundas hotly, as ha

viciously struck a match for his morning smoke. "Now 7 Mrs "Stokes, I rely upon yon to see that Miss Carlton wants for nothing. You'd better take up a tray of something with my compliments." "Poor creature," he soliloquised, as he stood puffing furiously at his. briar, with his hands in his pockets, staring out of th© window on to a. well-kept lawn. ''The highest form, of modern martyrdom, to mj mind, must be that of a school teacher. Kilkenny* cats aren't in it with that institution, kept by the -respectable Miss Rachel FKnt. Ah, here's the post at last. Now for a look at the morning papers, then "I may hope for a word with the young teacher." Having finished the perosal of his private ooTsespandenee and given 9 glance at the morning papers, he rang the belL for the "belp," who was supposed to relieve Mrs Stokes of the heaviest house duifcifls, but who in. reality happened to be only a hindrance, as the resigned old housekeeper said at least a hundred times a day. Then he gave orders that he would like to speak with Mrs Stoke* before he started.

'"Is there- any chance of my seeing Miss Carlton, Mrs Stokes, before I leave?" he said to her as soon as she arrived. "I've some -important business in town to-day that needs attending to." "Miss Carlton's. respects, sir," the housekeeper Teplied, "and she hopes she'll be able to thank you for your kindnees herself in a few moments. Though it is I that thinks we onght t thank her for bringing her pretty sweetness to brighten the place up. She s nearly ready, an' says that her ankle hardly gives her any pain now."

'Well, I'll wait here. There's no particular hurry for an extr^ half-hour or «>• Tell her to xesfc quietly here when I'm gone, Mrs Stokee. She'll be company for you." I'H willimjly- tell her," the old lady said, with alacrity, as she disappeared. "Brighten up the place a bit, she- said. By Jove! it is rather dingy, after all," he continued, ac he looked round bis wellstocked chambers, where luxury, combined with taste, was to be found in the choice pictures on the walk acd the well-filled artistic bookcase, filling a recess by phe brightly tiled fireplace. "A. face like hers, I think, brighten anything. Now who on earth can this scarecrow be that's coming up the gravel walk. Reb'gion, I fancy. Low, too, by the cut. Tracts given by one hand, coin taken in tin other style. It's that— or, by Joye — education!"

As he finished the front bell gave a decided sharp ring, and the "hindrance" brought in a card on a silver tray with the words, "Lady to see you,' eir, or the gal bupstairsi I didn't ketch on ter the

"Let me see, Liz," he Teplied. "Bhew I Mies Bachael Flint — Rachael seeking- for a -lost governess and refusing to be comforted. ' Now things are getting interesting. Show the- lady in, Liz."

"Mr Dundas, I believe," said a shrill, decisive voice, as a tall, angular spinster of an impossible, unknown age entered with a stiff bow.

"The same, at your service," he replied, bowing. "Please be seated." His quick eye noticed the sharp features, which bore a permanently hostile look. The sharp nose stood like a hawk's beak above a slit of a mouth, as if a fine pea had abruptly drawn a line, and then a 6 abruptly finished, the whole being surmounted by a curious black mechanism in, which waved a single black plume, plucked from some ostrich of false breeding. There was more power of expression in that single plume than in all the rest of the human fabric beneath its yoke. At that moment the door opened, and the young girl entered, leaning for support on the arm of Mrs Stokes.

"So, Miss — Minx!" her principal said grimly, the plume giving a single nod of deep, lowering intensity. "This is the way kindness is repaid. Run away, is it. hussy? And this is our reward, is it? It was only this morning we learnt where you had levanted to. Oh! yyoyou — you — abandoned, wanton — profli " "Hold, woman!'.' shouted Michael Dundas, starting up. "I^ot a word of insult to\ this lady under toy roof. If you're Flint, I'm adamant, so mark my words. 'If you will listen to reason I will explain. There was an accident."

"Accident!" she sniffed, ferociously, •whilst the plume stiffened. "Accident, is it? I should call it a clandestine assignation. Ota! what a terrible shock the institute has received. Of course, miss, its happy, pure portails are closed to you for ever. Never shall it be said that the hiVh moral tone for which we are so widely known had ever suffered from contamination. Your things will be sent here, or where you chooee, at your own expense. What is due to you, less breakages, will be paid. I think I've said sufficient." The feather waved grandly. "More than sufficient, you withered harpy!" exclaimed Dundas, as he saw the pale, agitated countenance of the girl, as she vainly endeavoured to stop a. flow of tears. "It was our fault," he said, turning to her, "that you got into this trouble, amd, by Jove! we'll get you out of it. You've had your say, Miss Flint, so full of Christian charity, that there's nothing left for me to say except — there's the door! I deeply sorrow that such as you are allowed to wither the happiness of girlhood's budding nature. There is nothing, I think 3 to. detain you." "Nothing, indeed," she exclaimed, as she drew herself up, the plume waving defiantly. '"Nothing but a man's low insults and an abandoned woman's ingratitude. Otu that I could ever have stooped so_ lew as to enter such a den of — of immorality."

Then she swept from the room, the feather dancing madly in fiendish-, impotent wrath.

"Mias Carlton," the young fellow gaid, as soon as eh© had vanished, "you must look upon this as a happy deliverance Do not weep over such as that," with a wave of the hand in the direction of the

vanished plume. ."You will use this house ' as your. own, under, the motherly care of Mrs Stokes, until we can arrange something. I will take a room out, arid only give an occasional look in to see how things are going. Cheer up, Miss Carlton ; there's sunshine ahead. Now, Mrs Stokes,*' I must be off to town. Look well after Mies Carlton.

"Like the apple of my eye," the housekeeper said resolutely. Then he left, with a silent pressure of the hand, which spoke the gratitude the young woman felt that the tongue refused to utter. His mind was continually filled with the image of that fair girl's face. A sudden wild, passionate yearning woke in his breast for .this' strangely defenceless girl, making so brave a fight for a hard existence. As he turned into the yard of the works he breathed a fervent prayer that, come what would, he would never desert her. At least she would have one friend, one that she might find her Bayard, sans peur % et sans- reproche. "Ah, MacVittie," he exclaimed quickly, as a- stalwart Scot approached, cap in hand. "Lord Ballina turned up yet?" "Na, Maister Dundas ; ahm thinking he's unco late- the morn. We've pat the finishing touch ipe the car. She's .a' ready for them tae tak' over by th© time contracted. A graund' piece o' worrk, if yell be givin'an cc to this shed." As he finished he opened the door of *a dark green-painted building, which evidently had been specially constructed for some important work,, owing to its size, th£ light being admitted only from the TOOf. „ He entered with the foreman at his heels, and having quickly closed the massive door, surveyed the latest production of the firm.

"A queer thing that, yet beautiful in construction," he thought, as he examined the fine symmetrical lines. The long, narrow curves showed plainly the leanneas of it« structure, the eye being specially struck with the height of the wheels and the- sidles ; the powerful cylinders, well set forward, mutely spoke of extraordinary speed. The whole car had been painted with ftp invisible dftrty grey paint, resembling that which now destroys the beauty of our Dreadnoughts. Michael Dundas stood meditatively eyeing the machine, endeavouring to fathom the mystery that lay in the silent form. There is often more in silence that speaks of dread than activity. "You demon," he muttered, "what mischief are you concocting in those brain cylinders of yours?" However, at that moment voices were heard which warned him that his friend Lord Ballina had arrived with visitors, ■who turned out to be no others than Mr Archer and his lovely daughter, whose laughing, radiant beauty seemed to bring a bright ray of sunshine into the place, and to whom Lord Ballina was paying assiduous attention.

"Well, Dundas," exclaimed Lord Ballina, after an all-round handshaking, "here is Mr ATcher, with the usual American punctuality. He is expecting his chauffeur here immediately. Has anyone called, MacVittie?*

"Na, your Lordship — sir, I mean," he replied quickly. "But I'll just gang an' mak' inquiries."

As he turned to go, however, there was a knock at the door, and a short stranger entered, escorted by* a clerk, who saidi, "The chauffeur, gentlemen." The partners gave a sudden start, and looked at each other.

They had both recognised the little Italian who had formed one of the group of four at the House the night before. Mr Archer turned, and threw a quick, sharp frown at the foreigner, then said sharply :

"So you're the man who has been recommended to me as a chauffeur? Reckon I'd like to see what you're capable of. Will one of you gentlemen accompany us to the yard, just for form's sake, to see what the motor can do? I'm right satisfied with everything you've done. Real handsome, I call it.

Accordingly they left the building, leaving Lord Ballina with Miss Archer, who seemed to be in one of her happiest mdods, arid the young man by her side felt himself each second getting deeper and deeper entangled in the meshes of Cupid's net.

It was with reluctance that he finally yielded to the girl's assertion that her father' would be wondering at her continned absence and made a move. Yet ere they left he turned with his hand on the key and said :

"Miss Archer, do you remember our conversation about cars the other day, and how I asked you if you vrould trust me?" "Perfectly," she said with a surprised look. "But why do you ask?" "Only to recall it to you* mind. I don't want you to forget it. Now, would you trust roe over that motor? You know we built it ; doesn't that - prove me?"' "Yes," she said shyly. "I could tru6t you, I feel." 'Do 60," he 6aid earnestly, as he clasped her hand. "Miss Archer— Muriel — I want to say " "Hush," she replied, with a pretty gesture, as ehe heard her father calling loudly. "I would trust you, even with my life, in that motor." "Thank you," he whispered quietly, as they joined the party just in time to see the motor, perfectly \inder the control of the strange Italian individual, disappearing through the main entrance of the works. "It's been a big success, Ballina,"' bis friend said. "Mr Archer has expressed himself thoroughly satisfied." "Nay, more than that ; allow me to say," interposed the American with a grand air. "You have even exceeded my hopes." "And I must say-;" continued Michael Dundas with ■warmth, "that chauffeur chap knows his business."

''Yes ; I got him on the recommendation of a friend whom I met in the House last night. He appears to be perfectly eati«facfory. I trust, Muriel, that you will be pleased with your father's new inven-

tion. I've given him directions to take the car to my special garage for the moment. So, gentlemen, we'll just step into the office and cry quits." "Well, are you satisfied, gentlemen?*' he said a little later, buttoning his coat. "Everything, I think, is concluded." "Perfectly," Lord Ballina remarked. "In fact, there has not been a hitch from start to finish. That car will do wonders, I fancy." "Possibly," the other retorted curtly. "However, I must be going. You had better return to the hotel, Muriel ; perhaps Lord Ballina would be kind enough to escort you there. I'm afraid I must keep an appointment; however, I hope to join you in a cup of tea." "With the greatest pleasure," the young man. answered eagerly. "There is nothing to detain me, is there, Dundas?" "Nothing, old man— the little there-Is to do I can easily manage." As. soon as they had departed Dundas entered the office, and, taking off his coat, began to study the plans of a new 12 b.p. car for an enterprising hotel. However, his thoughts were elsewhere, and tbe scenes of the morning kept recurring vididly. He gave a great deal of. thought to the strange fact that the anarchisticlooking ruffian, that Italian fellow, should suddenly .appear in the light of the American's chauffeur. The more he endeavoured to unravel the. mystery, the more bewildered" he became. • Until at last, in a fit of irritation, be tossed the papers aside, and, reaching for his hat, determined to return early to Mitcham, for his interest in the young teacher was hourly increasing. He quickened his footsteps as his pretty villa came in view, and on. taming in at the gate he was astonished to see Mrs Stokes rushing wildly to meet him, her usually ruddy face quite pale. "Oh, Mr Dundas," she cried between gasping sobs. "I've been waiting for this dratted day to pass. She's gone, sir!" "Gone!" he exclaimed, his stunned wits barely (grasping the catastrophe. "Gone, woman? Where? What do you mean?" "I only wish I knew," she whimpered, "but — but it was this way. After I had seen to the girl's wants, I went to hay© a mouthful, as I felt that there- faint. Afterwards I had a bit of a nap, aaKl when. I woke up with a start, I rushed to the study and found it empty. Th«n I did feel that queer, I nearly fainted." "Quick!" he exclaimed, as he hurried to the study. "Surely, she must have left a message, or at least some trace. You should never have left her." "She insisted on my going, Mr Michael," the housekeeper answered with another violent outburst. "Oh, dear! But look, sir, on the mantelpiece there's a letter for you. T never noticed it before. She must ha' written it." , "A clue at last," he exclaimed, rushing to th© mantelpiece, much, to the discomposure of the old 1 woman, who by illchance happened to be in the .way. He gave a glance at the envelope, and noticed that the paper tead been taken from his writing-table, which stood in front of the window. * Written in, a nervous, trembling hand he. read his own name. Then with a quick movement he tore it open, and hastily read the following short note : Dear Mr Dundas, — Alas! what can I say, beyond repeating over and over again my deepest gratitude for your kindly aid to a poor, friendless girl. Do not judge me harshly at my sudden . flight. I cannot explain. But for God's sake, never — never Ist that car pass from your works. Adieu ! — Your humble grateful friend, Lucy Carlton. ' "Gone!" he cried, reeling, as- if struck, then linking into a chair he buried his face in his hands, while the paper fell unheeded to the floor. (To be continued.)