"A SECRET SORROW."

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8608, 12 March 1897, Page 1

"A SECRET SORROW."

BY MRS MAY AGNES FLEMING.

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

CHAPTER XVII.

(Continued.) A week or two had thus pasted, when one morning Kate was aroused by the sound of many feet in the adjoinin? chamber, and numerous voices speaking loudly. Rising hastily, she dressed and ran* Ihe bell, and in a few moments old Moll made her appearance. ' What is the cause of this usual noise?' demanded Kale, as the old woman I entered. j •No hin^ at all, hon-y 'tis on'y thai captain rome back; indeed it is. They all arrived last night, and they hare been coming ever since. One o' t 'em throwed his 'fernsl old punch-bowl at my head, I dodged him, an' it hit Black Simon right in the eye. He, he, he! Sarre him right, too. Heaven-knows what the fore »dken o'd h*ylhea would have done next if the q&ppen hadn't dropt in an' (jin him a kick which came near knockinghia ugly brains out. 'Deed he did, honey. Sarva him right, too. Kate fe!ta sensation of pleasure at hearing the young chiefton had returned. But she carefully concealed every outward sign of satisfaction, and inquired for Syra. ' Why, Lord save us!' rep'ied the old woman, 'she's with young master, Never seed anybody crazy 'bout anyone liica she is 'bout him. There, now, 111 fetch you in breakfast, honey. It's hungry you are by this time, and you an' the cappen'li raise Sam if I dosen't, tend you. He, he, he!' And with her usual chucke, old MoHie departed. Kate's slender meal was soon over, ahe was aroused by a light footstep; and looking up, she saw the tirl standing before her, Her cheeks were flushed to a burning red, and her great black eyes had a streaming, unatural light. Poor Syral it was the baleful light of jealousy. ' Captain Raymond bade me ask if you would grant him the favour of an interview,' she said, Kate lifed her eyes up to the face of the girl in surprise. (here wa3 something in her tone which startled her; the words were spoken with such concentrated fierceness. Kate fe t amazed that she should be the subject < f this girl's jealousy; her aristocratic pride shrank from such a thought, and holding her head erect, she said, coldly— ' You may tell Captain Raymond I sba 1 be very happy to sea him at any time. His presence will make my prison a little more endurable.'

A fierce Rash shot from Syra'a back eyes, as, compressing her lips, she turned away to deliver her message. ' That 1 should be despite 1 for her,' she anfd, fiercely. ' I who am a thousand times more beautiful than ehe. Why did she come here p Ho mi^ht have loved me bat for her, I hate her!' she hissed in a tone of deep passion; ' and I wish she were dead?' Her (ace actually grew livid with passion ; her beautiful features worked convulsively, and her small hands clenched together until the trew bloodies. Meanwhile Kate's thought, ran on in a very different strain, but they were of the game person. ' What delicacy,' she murmured, 'not to intrude! Can one so gentlemanlike, bo refined, be really a smuggler cap am p Strange, strange! What can ever have brought him to this ?' Her meditations are brought to an en I by the entrance of the young captain himself. With »n easy Bmile he advanced to Kate and held out his hand, 'How handsome! What beautiful eyes he has!' was womanlike Kate's first {

thought, as she arose to welcome him. Aud bow has the time passed since my departure?' he asked, seating himself. * I trust my servants hare attended to your comfort?' '11 hank you, yes. As a captive I have been far better provided for than I could expect.'

'You eannob regret your captivity more than I do,' he said, quickly. * What strange freak of fortune led you here, I cannot account for. Bnt while you stay, I trust at least to provide for your bodily comfort.'

Kate sighed. ' You are 1) king very pale, Miss Sidney,' said Captain Raymond, a alight shade passing over his handsome face. ' I wish to he wen I dared restore you to your friends.'

JBe rose his seat, and began to pane the floor rapidly, while Kate regarded him, scarcely knowing what to say. At length he slopped abrutly, and said— ' Wou'd you venture on the sea P My men are rough and savage, but they are perfectly under my control, and you would be safe. Syra can go with you, and you need fear nothing. Though oniyasmugglerchi f, 1 have not forgotten I was once a gentleina-.i.'

A look inexpressibly sad shone iv hia deep, dark ejes ; bnt Kate did not notice it. Her heart bounded at bis-words; she might yet escape; or, if not, she would at least brea* he the blessed air of heaven onco more. Without a moment's hesitation she loooked up and said, quietly— ' 1 will go with you.'

An expression of p'eaEure flitted across bis face; bnt as if fearing she bad decided hastily, ho said— ' Bat consider first tho danger. We are always exposed to storms, shipwrecks and disasters on sea, from which we are safe on land. Besides, we are smugglers; we must follow our calling and scenes of bloodshed and death are hardly fitted for a lady's eyes.' Kate shuddered. Her new-born hope seemed about to be crushed in its berth; and she taw before her long, dreary days of solitude and gloom in the old Moor Manor. The young chief saw the sudden look of disappointment, and resumed— ' I do not say positively that these will occur; I only sp ak of probabilities. I do not wish to drawyoa blind )ywiih me. Consider—l hare named the dangers, but its adrantages will be far above this lonely subterranean residence. As you decide, so shall it be.' Kate paused for a moment; but even the dangers would ba far preferable to the dismal solitude here, and she laid, firmly

I ' I will bravo all dangers and go with i you. This dismal place would soon drive me insane.' ' Be it bo, said Cautain Raymond, gayly. It will not fee the irat time the Water Witch has been graced by the presence of a lady. I trust you will find your residence more pleasant than it has been here. The sea breezes will soon bring back your lost roses.' The young lady conrtseyed. ' When do you start P' she said ,smiliDg. 'Ob, immediately, if possible, or at least as soon as everything can be got ready. I soon tire of the land, and cannot be 00' too soon for blue water. My men, 100, like frne sailors, are growing weary of delay, and muut be off,' There was a pause. Kata scarcely heard his words; sbe was thinking of something else. 'I wish jo 1 would tell me of those with whom I was in the manor,' she said at length, looking up anxiously in his face, 'lam sure jou know. Do tell roe.' ' They are gone.' ' Gone !' repeated Kate, starting to her feel. ' WhereP How? When did they o?' ' Really, Mist Sidney, that is more than

I can tell you. They were here whan I left, and where gone tho next day. They have not returned since. Periups,' be said, witha slight smile, • ghost frightened them a*ay.' ' The ghost!' x«p?ated Kate, vaoantly. Yes, tho nhost of the old Moor Manor. You have heard it is haunted, presume?' he said, with a wicked of his blue eves. ' Yes.' said Kate, looking up in his face with a half smile. 'I certainly have heard of it, but I begin to think it is & fish and b'ood ghost.' ' Upon my honour, Miss Sidney, I give you credit for great penetration. Pray, who told you it was a flesh and blood ghost?'

1 Not you, certainly,' said Ka'.e. confess sir, is it not so P Is this ghost not an ingonioas device of frightening peop'e away from the old Moor Manor.?' '•No, Miss Sidney, I cannot claim the h«DOur of devising that project. It was one of my men,' he replied, laughing. ' When fir^t—long before I joined them —Ihey used this od mansion for m rendezeous, they found these subterranean vault? so uaeul that they determined not tobs troubled with visitors. For this purpose they undertook to pity the ghost. A mask, resembiog a skeleton, a little rod ochra tortp esent blood, some phosphorus to give them the appearance of being enveloped in flames, and the disguise was perfect. The pace soon got the reputation of being haunted, and people would aooner go ten miles round than pass here. Some;foolhardy braggarts, having more brandy than wisdom in their heads, undertook to spend a night here, but one sight of the ghost anditk awful groans sent them flying with shrieks of terror.'

' Still/ said Kate,' it puzzles me how they could pass through the room anddisappear, as ghosts ought to do, without exciting suspicion. Spirits, you know, doa't generally open doors to so out.' 'Very true,'siid the captain, 'and neither does the ghost of the old Moor Manor. There is a passage whioh connects i hese underground chambers with the rooms above. Though tbi< passage i hey go to a suite of rooms directly overhead of ihe one in which you were. This old manor is full of secret doors constructed for heaven knows what evil purpose. These my men, by dint of long search, have discovered; and by their aid they are enabled to play the ghost to perfection. The ghost enters through a secret door, which opens noiselessly oy a spring; and keeping down in the shadow where its fiery garments will stand boldly out, passes aero ■ th« room and vanishes through another secret door.' 'Well, I moibtsay it is a very ingenious pan,' said Kate; 'and one, I suppose, which hai succeeded in securing your domain from intruders.' (To be Continued.)