CHAPTER XII. A NEW MYSTERY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 125, 24 October 1885, Page 6

CHAPTER XII. A NEW MYSTERY.

" That woman /" repeated Lillis. The next instant she flew to the bathroom. It was empty. She next went to the gallery. The woman was there, limpingly hurrying to the opposite end. "Rebecca! Rebecca Hough!" called Lillis. Though at some distance, she was still within reach of the girl's voice. She turned and came back as fast as her lameness would allow. " Yes, Miss," she courteeied, on gaming the door. But the respectful inquiry with which she spoke was marked by a shade of surprise at Lillis's changed countenance and voice. Lillis bade her enter by a gesture, and then shut the door. She addressed her rebukmgly. " What do you mean,"she asked, byputting such a paper as this in my Bible ?" " Miss I" exclaimed the woman, amazedly. That monosyllable uttered, her whole aspect changed. In one moment her brilliant eyeß were ablaze. Her tawny skin flushed red, and a devouring curiosity transformed her whole i fftCQ She moved forward breathlessly. She looked at the open palm on which Lillis had all at once exposed the slip of paper saved from the flames. "Yes, Mies," she half -whispered, incoherently in her strange, rasping tones. '♦What is it, Mies? What does it say, Miss ? It's getting so dark, you see, Miss !" She caught her breath and put out her long brown fingers with feverish eagerness and baste. . • There was something so startling in her whole deportment, and something, oesides, that so plainly and dearly proved her innocence that Lillis involuntarily closed her hand again and stepped back. " I have wronged you," she said, naatiiy. «• I preceive you are quite innocent. But j perhaps you will be able to tell me who has visited my room during the day ?" Still gazing devouringly at the little white, closed hand, Rebecca shook her head, saying, as she did so : . "Nobody, Miss, to my knowledge-not even Lady Melrosß." . ,

Lillis opened the door. She said, quiokly, oppressed by the woman's intense curiosity: < " Very well— that will do. You can go." There was a moment ef almost imperceptible hesitation on Rebecca's part. Then, appearing to suddenly recolleot herself* she went. ' The girl shut the door upon her with anxious haste. "I wish," she thought, "I wish I had not accused her. My doing so has only excited a morbid ourosity. — But," all at once breaking into speech, " what doea it mean 7 Who did it? Why should any one do it?" She forgot Rebecca. Running to the window, she strained her eyes over the ominous words. Even in the decaying light they were plain enough, though ill-spelt and written in a rude, coarse hand. She read them aloud : "There is danger. 1 Watch ! Beware I" Danger of what?*' she mused, mutteringly. " Watch for what? Beware of what? On !" crying out with sudden vehemence, "it | frightens me I Who is in danger?" "Lillis Melboss !" echoed impressively through the room. It was a voice of singular melody and softness that made that unexpected and startling reply. It was, too, a woman's voice. With a low cry, and an odd sense of superstitious fear, Lillis turned swiftly, tremblingly around. To her amazement Bhe was alone in the room. Save the ugly shadows creeping about the great chamber, nothing was to be seen. Save the gentle bias and crackle of the fire, nothing was to be heard — not the faintest footfall, not the faintest rustle of a gown. An instant, and unreasonable terror took possession of tho girl. For a little she stood chained to the spot, incapable of anything but a wild, roving that penetrated every nook and corner, only to increase her fears tenfold. Under the impulse of these fears Bhe all at once fled to the gallery. " I must have another room ! I can't stay here \' she gasped, jerking open the door. One of the new footmen was in the gallery lighting up. As she rushed out he paused in his task and looked at her in wondering inquiry. The look partially restoredher self-posses-sion. But she addressed him somewhat hurriedly. • * Where is Rebecca Hough ?" she began. " i_ Or never mind," she all at once broke off abruptly with a sudden sense of her own folly. "On second thought, I shall not need her." And without giving the man time for any response, she went into her room again. To appearance, she did so composedly enough ; but secretly she was still quaking from the unreasoning panic that had driven her to the gallery. Once in the room, however, she boldly crossed it and lighted the candle. " I did not know I could be so foolish !" she smiled faintly to herself. "Though the voiceVas strange to me, it was that of a human being. And although undeniably startling, it should not drive me from this pleasant — " Then, suddenly struck by a new thought, she paused, crying the next moment, " Who spoke my name ? Who answered me a while ago?' She looked around. She waited with clasped fingers, great, watchful, expectant eyes, and bated breath.