CHAPTER XVII. REBECCA HOUGH HEARS THE VOICE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 126, 31 October 1885, Page 3

CHAPTER XVII. REBECCA HOUGH HEARS THE VOICE.

The crypt door closed with the unknown speaker, and tbe same voice that had whispered at Lillis's oar rang musically through the chamber of the dead. It called, clearly, warningly : " Villain ! your sins will find you out !" Hood's diabolical countenance changed. He stopped, reeled back, and in pallid alarm dropped the lantern to the floor. In the partial darkness that ensued the form that had taken Lillis's place upon the marble flag vanished into the chapel again. It was a form of medium height, clothed in black, and completely muffled about the head and face. Lillis saw that in the one moment the unknown's hands were on her arm. But.instead of obeying the woman's excited command, she stood in a trance of questioning astonishment till the opening door and the renewed sound of Hood's approaching feet reminded her of the necessityof instant flight. At the moment that the door opened again, Hood, who had quickly .recovered Limgelf, was righting the lantern, and hence no light showed from the crypt. But secure in her knowledge of the place, and spurred on by the sudden ring of her pursuer's boots upon the marble floor, Lillis darted toward the sacristy, gained it, and then, to her speechless horror, struck both extended hands upon a mau's breast. The unexpected blow was received with a sharp, breathless gasp, and a reeling, backward step, that nearly stretched the man on the floor, Wildly terrified now— for Hood had plainly gained the stairs — Lillis evaded the Involuntary clutch that threatened her, and turning about, fled, she knew not whither. It proved to be directly beneath the great pulpit. Rushing blindly forward, she came into sudden and violent contact with the carved woodwork below. : There was- one brief moment in which a flash of light coming from the opening door of the crypt' "glowed dimly around, and then her head "reeled, and she fell. Lantern in ihand, Hd'od dashed into the chapel, both terror ,and rage depicted on his face. " His first blazing glance chanced upon Rebecca Hough. The woman stood leaning against the wall, the picture of abject fear. Her eyes stared, her teeth chattered, her tall form was'shaken by an unceasing shiver, and her tawny skin showed not the faintest trace of colour, She looked at Hood with a gasp of relief. Giving him no time to utter the savage question parting his lips, she burst out, falteringly : •' Your lordship ia here ! Thank Heaven 1 I was nigh frightened to death by a goldenhaired woman, with & voice like, music, and-" . . •'What are you doing here?" broke in Hood, a suppressed shudder in. his fierce voice that yet was not quite even. ' ' Answer me!" He held the lantern up, and glared at her with pale lips and blood-shot eyes. Rebecca shrank back, and then seeming to collect herself, Spoke more composedly. *• I beg your pardon, my lord,'.' she said, humbly. ," I went to the library to see your lordship— to get certain orders, about the young lady. Your lordship wasn't there. After waiting a bit in the hall I turned to go back to the servants, wing, thinking I'd let it go for the night. Something made me turn round a rustle that half frightened me and half reminded me your lordship was coming. But it wasn't your lor debt p, It was a woman— not tall, nor yet short— dreased in black. She had

,yeHow,.,wavy hitfr— a few locks of itfalUng away from the big knot .and over the blaok dress. 'It was the ' hair that made me think. There's nobody at the Abbey withbyel— "> , Hood again interposed. " " The woman ? What did she do ? Where did Bhe go? Cut your story short I" i He spoke between his teeth, and, though roughly, almost inaudibly. Rebecca shook her head, as she answered : "Where -she went I can't say— that is 1 , where she went at last. But she came here : I saw her turn into the chapel passage. And if I hadn't been so done .over between surprise and fear, I'd a seen and knowed more. For a bit I couldn't follow her, to save my life." "But what did you see?" interposed Hood, roughly, again. '• Not much, my lord. First, just as I got across the sacristy, I heard a voice saying like music : " Flee ! Flee !' It came out of the darkness, soft and aweet, and just frightened me to death. But, instead of fleeing, I shut my eyes tight and covered my ears. I couldn't a run to save my life. I couldn't do anything but lean against the wall here, more dead than alive. I believe in spirits, my lord, and I wn't sure the woman wasn't a spirit ; and— and it seemed to me the musical words meant: 'Flee from the wrath to come !' Do you think so, my lord?" «• I think you're a fool !" aspirated Hood, but with very white lips, adding quickly the next moment: *'Andso that wab all you heard ? And you saw nothing after leaving the Abbey hall?" •' I heard nothing but a soft rustle, like spirit wings, a bit ago, as I took my hands off my ears a little ; and I saw nothing till your lordship's light made me open my eyes. I was afraid' to bring one, your lordship sees, for fear I'd scare the woman (if it was a woman) off, and so not be able to find out if she meant harm to your lordship or your lord.ship'a plans. But I ain't clear it wasn't a spirit." " You are faithful— don't be a fool!" cried Hood. • " Spirit or flesh, I'll unearth this mystery. Come and — " A voice broke upon the command from the semi darkness of the sacristy. • It said, nonchalantly: : " You will find it flesh, my dear fellow. Happily I am to eerve you with that sworn assurance and something besides !" i- Robert Hood turned as if a pistol had beeji fired behind- him. His face was livid. The hand that held the lantern shook like a leaf. Murder blazed from his eyes. As he expected, the flaring light showed him the smiling face and curious, incisive gaze of Antony Folger. Before he could either move or speak, Tony repeated, with additional emphasis : " AnH — SmWRTHTNft BESIDES !"