"A SECRET SORROW."

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8606, 10 March 1897, Page 1

"A SECRET SORROW."

BY MRS MAY AGNES FLEMING.

Author of "A Mad Marriage," " Carriedßy Storm."

CHAPTER XVI.

(Continued.)

He drew a pistol from his bosom as he spoke, and John felt the cold muzz c pressed to his temple. ' Oh, my lord—my lord, spare my life ! For heaven's sake don't murder me!' cried John, fal'ing on his knees.

'Confess, scoundrel,' said the earl, fiercely, still holding the pistol (o his head. 'Who eamo here last night ?' 'It was Miv Kate Sjdney. Oh, my lord, don't murder me, for heaven's sake!' shrieked John, in disuny. • Treacherous villain!' thundered the earl, livid with passion;' so you dared to disobey my commands, and trompated what I have done to the world ? But by the heaven above nfe, you sh«ll rapent it! Where is Kate Sidney now ?'

* He—he—here, my lord!' said John, his teeth chattering with terror. ' Lead me to her hiding-place, yon lowborn TiouDd!' exclaimed his master,, hoarse with rage ;'she, as well is jou aha'l rue meddling in my actions. Lead on, sirrah!'

Pale with fear, John arose, and preceded the earl to the room in which Kate had found refuge. In vain they searched it; the cage was empty—the bird had flown.

' Escaped!' exclaimed the earl, with an oath so fierce that John quailed in horror ' On, scoundrel; through every room, in this old, infernal place you must go till ycu have found her; and when you have——'

The last of the sentence was lost in a hissing whisper that made John shudder with, undefined terror.

# Through every room they went, op rickety stair-casea, down long, echoing corridors, through old rooms, dasp and mouldy with age—even the ball oontain* ing the trap-door,through which Kate had been taken was explored; but ail in vain —no trace of tho lost one was to be found.

Even John lost his terror of the earl in the superstitious horror that crept over him, as the thought that she bad been carried off by ghosts flashed across his mind.

'So she his escaped!' said the earl, in a voice of concentrated passion, as, after their fruitless search, they again returned to the room in whioh the ethers were. ' And all this story about) her being con* cealed here was only tramped np to delay me longer and give her a chance to reach Dirritole. The scheme succeeded, bat it shall be your last; if I am to be disgraced by you, you shall not survive it.' He drew a pistol as he spoke, and teok deliberate aim at John, who, wild with fear, had fallen on bis knees be'ore him,

* My lord, my lord, would you commit a murde. ?' shrieked Alict, throwing herself before him. *He ia innocent—he has told you tho truth. I swear to you, my lord, Kate Sidney sought shelter in there last night, and we hare never seen her since,'

The earl'g baud dropped, and turning to Alice, he demanded, while his piercing gaze seemed to read her very soul— • And this is the truth?' ' It is, my lord. I would not Ha to save my life,' ' How came she here?'

'It was I, my lord,' interrupted Janie, boldly. ' I brought her here to save Miss Alice.'

For a moment the earl glared upon bar like a savage; then, turning on his heel, he ftrode from the room.

' Lord have mercy!' gasped the white Alice,' wiil he murder us all?' As she spoke the earl entered, carrying in his hand a strong cord. Seising John before he was aware of his intention, he hurled him vio'ently to the ground, and proceeded to bind him hand and foot, The terrified servant struggled violently to free himself: but raising his pistol, the earl hissed im a voice choaked with sappressed passion— ' Cease yonr struggles, «r, by heaven, the contents of this shall load your thick skull.'

This last argument was conclusive. John lay perfectly still, while the earl coolly bound him hand and foot. Then gajgiog him to prevent the possibility of bis crying for help, ho turned to Janie, and seizing her wrists, said, sarcastic ally—

• We mast prevent you using yoor tongue so much for the future, my dear; it may get you ioto t< ouble; and lest v should, I will take the precamfcion of binding this handkerchief oyer your mouth ; and lest you should tire yourself walking, I will take you with me.' Suiting the action to the word, he bound Janie hand and foot, as he had done John. Then rising, he turned to Alice, and said, sternly— •As for you, madam, I shall be obliged to leave you for a few honra. It is not probable however that if your friend has escaped, she will bs abe to take yon away before my return; and to prevent the possibility of yoar escaping during my absence, I shall fasten the door securely on the outside. As soon as those two are disposed of, I shall take you to an asylum where even Miss Kate Sidney will not find you.' The mocking sneer that accompanied his words gare his face the look of a demon. Half fainting, Alice sank on the floor, and covered her face wi h her hands, while the earl strode from the room. In a few moments, tbe sound of carriage wheels met their ear. It was the earl, bringing out the one in which they had arrived the night on which our story opens, and which had sinoe that time remained in the old manor.- Then re-enter-ing, he half dragged, half led the prostrate servants out, Alice heard the door slam to, then tbe sound of heavy bolts drawn across, then the carriage driving rapidly away, and she alona in the old.manor.

Muffled to the eyes in a great coat, with his hat slouched dawn over his face, the earl sat in the driver's sea', as they flew rapidly a'on* in the road opposite to tba f < which led to Dirritole. The moor once passed, he studiously avoided the high-road; and passing through the narrow by-strce.e, with which he seemed parfectly familiar, he stopped at length before a 'ow, filthy-looking taverc, that stood by itself, at some distance from any other dwelling. The sound of wheels brought the landlord, a short, thickset, viUafaous-lookinp man, to the door. His eyes sparkled as they fell on the earl, whom, in spite of his disguise, he immediately rocognis'd. ' ' Ah; my lord, how d'ye do ?' he said, in a t ue of easy familiarity. • We'd be gun to snspact you were «oing to give uthe slip, af er all. The captain insisted you weren't going to come at all, and wa going to cm his Inc^y to-morow; bb?aks are after him, yon know, my lo>d A look of diigosc passed over tbe earls face, at the cool insolence of the fellow ; but without noticing his vulgarity, he ssii, hastily— ' And when do you expect the cap'ain here?'

' He's here now, my lord; he always flies to tbe crib when the beaks is after him,' replied th« man, * Wi 1 you walk inP'

' There are two persons in tbe carriage, Milnes,' said the earl, lowering his voice. Take care of themforthe present, and t*ke the carriage oat of sight, I must leave it. th«?re for the present. Yon under stand.'

• Perfectly,' said the fellow, with i knowing wink- ' Tba beai« know betei

than to come here to lobfc for anything Walk in here. I'll attend to the reet.' He pushed open the door that led front the shop into a little dark dan, half filled with smoke, and powerfully impregnated with the mingled odours of onions and tobacco.

Seated at a tablo, in the middle of the floor, smoking a short, black, stumpy pipe was a man of middle age, of sinister and forbidding appearance. • Well my lord, you're arrived in port at last, said the man, gruffly. 'IM a notion to hoist sail and leave yon. Wben'a the cargo!' •Safe with Mile*,'answered the ear!, paying no attention to the effrontery of the fellow. ' And how, captain, you may Bhowthe police officers yonr heels m soon as you like.' >Ay sy, sir,' answered the captain. Once on bine water, and I can lautik at them all. I never feel sa'e on dry land. Ab, my lord, cheating the revenue isn't now what) it once was.'

, Here the captain sighed, overpowered by melancholy refleolioM, . J ,-,-,,.._„ ■■ 'And what part of the. globs is your destination now,, captain ?'inquired Us* .e»rl. \ ■• " •■ T^-fr-

'Cuba,if I can escape thorn pinto that are always cruising about there.* answered the captain. ' Cuba,' said the earl, musingly. Tet, that will do rery well. Once there, those two will not give me much trouble. Well captain,' be added, raising his ?oiM t ' when do you start P 1 • To-day, now that IVe sot the earfo,* •aid the captain. "The wind's fair, tad I sha'n't breathe freely until I'm en the deck of my. cutter once more!' ' Then our business is at aa end for the present!' said the earl, throwing a well-filled purse on the table. •At tome future day I may again require your services. In the meantime, you will And •here the reward I promised yo«. Good morning.' Drawing his hat over hia brows ooee more, the earl left the room, and* springing on his horse, which stood at the dew, he started once more for the Moor Manor* < These two, at least, are disposed of,'he muttered, a« he rode a'oag. * And now for Alice. I think I have too much influence over her to betray me, and if loan silence Kate Sidney's tongue all will 4m yet well. How artfully the jade craved permission to visit her friend. If I had on'yhave refused, she might have betrayed herself, and told me all. Alice once out of my way. 1 will find some means of keeping Kate's tongue quiet, end I wi'l burry on this match between Amdale and Lord NetteviU's daughter. Her fortune is said to be enormous, and" the lady henelf is as anxious for the match as any of us. Yea, my plans must noceed.

So saying, he rode rapidly forward, and soon came in sight of toe dreary old mansion,

Alighting from his horse, he eagerly approached the door, to discover if it had been visited daring hii absence; bat no—everything was just as he bad left it.

Hastily withdrawing the bolts, be pushed open the door and entered. Everything, with one exception, was precisely the same as when he went away. The fire was still burning, the carriage cushions still lay scattered over the floor, but Alice waa gone!

Doubting the evidence of his sense*, the earl sought everywhere, bat ail in vain, No trace of the lost one could be found.

(To be Continued.)