CHAPTER I.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 4253, 29 June 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHAPTER I.

OW, sir, would you ll!!*!: 1111111 llv I ' ttin 8° n8 to loaning §^^ piiiisl&ak y°"r ß el ( f for a few {KSpfesniiji Frank Lorraine, *^-— $$§fi«||i hurrying toward his ""^^^KsP'SSi hotel with the result of tho afternoon's iketching under his arm, stopped short in utter amazement at this unexpected and singular question. From out the shadow of an old, ivycovered church a female figure stepped into the faint light of a new moon. She was enveloped from head to foot in a long, dark cloak, but under the large hat he could discern piquant, girlish features and surling masses of fair hair. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered from his surprise to reply, ] ie Bal^ f politely, — "If you will explain your meaning, I can tell batter whether I shall be able to meet your wishes." She moved a step nearer, as if feeling encouraged by his response. He noticed an air of recklessness about her, which had in it no boldness, .however. "I hope you will not refuse," she said, politely. "If you will do what 1 ask, it will save me from a terribla predicament." Frank was only twenty-one, and at that age a mysterious adventure is especially seductive, particularly when a young and pretty girl is concerned in it. Therefore he began to feel a desire to " see it out." " I shall ba delighted if I can be of any service to you/ he said. " What am Ito lo ?" She lissifc'i ted a moment, then responded ■vith a question. " First allow me to ask if I am coroct is supposing you to be a stranger here ?' This sounded suspicious, and he returned guardedly, — " 1 have been here about a week on & iketching trip." "Then you are an artist! I thought *o !'' The exclamation came involuntarily from her lip3,and had a girlish ring, seemmg more natural thau anything sho had «ud. "You know me, then?" he said, sur•jrisid, and .i h.tio llittered. He thought— or was it only fancy? — that a deeper red dyed her checks as she replied, — "I have scoii you several times, and your sketchbook gave me the impression •;lufc you wore an artist." The fantastic thought suddenly sug-,'i-ared itsolf to Fr.mk, at this, that periap3 she wanted him to go into the ohurehyaivl yoiul r, and sketch the tomb >t p<jmo dead. love. liatlier dulled by tho surmise, lie laid briefly, — " I am merely an amateur." Tho information seemed to mike little impression, for without heeding it she isked, — " Do you leave this town aoon f" " I was intending to go to-morrow." "N)t!iin- could be bettor!" she cried, with an el itionthat he didn't quite fancy. '•Everything wul bj all right if you will !»l:iy a p.u t for a few hours, and keep my vjcret inviolate." ;'; ' Pi.iy a pirtl" he echoed. "What > irt i" it seenio'l an effort for her to reply, but anally she hudeJ tho answer at him recklessly, " L'hat of my husband I" Frank st-iggerod backward, and his handsome bvown eyed almost started from their sockets at these astounding words. ° This was soim thing quite different from his tombstone theory, but dec.dedly more appalling. He could not speak. The unknown young girl, as though relieved that her extraordinary proposition was fairly made, continued volubly,— "I cannot explain why I make so strange a request, or even why I ask such a tiling of an utter stranger. Tnat ia all a part of a terrible mystery. Bub it certainly can do you no harm, and will save n:o." The bewildered young man took wT his hat- as if to cool his distracted head. She watched him with great anxiety, "Where— and when— do you wish me fco personate— the character?" heiuquired, at length. "1 want you to go with me to the hou*e of a friend, where you will see only * few people— all strangers to you—appearing as if the ceremony had ju9t taken place" here in the church ; remain ihere an hour or two, then come back to this spot with me, and leaving me go your way and forget all about the whole »ff*ir." She detailed tlje plan with great eagerness. Frank, as he listened, recovered from ttis stunned condition, and confessed to flimsolf that she was asking nothing untlaaoant, certainly, however amazing. \?*r« i!te old tad ugly it would fc« diftV- .««» as it «ra«, ne didn't seewhynesnouict not consent. But his curiosity was greatly piqued. " Can I not know what this dreadful mystery is?" be asked. " Impossible ! " she cried. " That must remain ray secret, and you must swear never to reveal even the little you know. Frank hesitated only a moment longer. "Very well," he assented, then. "I place nvvself at your disposal." "Ah! thank you, sir, ao much!" she exclaimed, in accents of joy and relief. " It will all be over very soon, and I hopa you will excuse the great liberty I have taken in asking this assistance from a stranger. Believe me, there was nothing else to be done." •' lam glad you did not hesitate to ask me. Of course you will not wonder at my natural surpriaeand hesitation," he replied courteously. "As for that, I expected you to be thoroughly dumfounded. I was only afraid < >f your refusal. Ido not know what I shouM have June had you not allowed yourself to be persuaded." Sho made a motion for him to follow as she spoke, and started in the direction ol the graveyard. | Frank queried inwardly whether the friends of whom she spoke where ghosts to be evoked from the quiet resting-places within. ' "I suppose," he said, glancing wist- ( fully toward the distant hotel, "1 suppose I couldn t go and get my supper iirst ?" I "No, indeed! wag tho quick an-, »wer. "But never^mind that. You

will find a feast awaiting us where wo are going." This looked more proroismg,he thought, and started or. after her toward the cemetery. As ho passed through tho gate she glanced back, and her eyes fell upon the sketch book. "You must not take that!" she said. "It won't look liko a wedding, you know. Here — let me hide it behind one of these graves. It will be quite safe." Frank suffered her to carry oat this suggestion, wondering at the same time if he had a bridal air about him generally that she should have selected him for the puzzling role. He observed that the str^ined-up feverish manner sho had showed at first had gone, and ill its place was one triumphant, almost gay. Silently they went through the "city of the dead, "coming out on another street, which almost immediately she left for a narrow, dark lane." "It is not to be a feast of goblins, evidently," thought Frank. "It begins to look more like an attempted robbery. This lane is just the place for that." He was by no means alarmed, however, and began to feel considerable interest in his strange adventure. When they came near the end of the lane, his guide, who was in advance a few steps, came back to his side, saying in a low tone : "After we arrive, follow my lead in everything, please, and do not seem surprised at whatever happens. Above all things, be sure and not betray how recently wo have met. Your name, remember, is Arthur St. Clair." " Romantic, certainly," ho muttered. "I'll be careful," he added. "Never fear! Bub your Hame? I m.isi 1-now that, j of course." j She laughed — a tinkling, mn^bal laugh, ! that sounded singularly fascinating to hia ears. " I am Mrs. St. Clair," she said, with light mockery. "You may call me Ita when necessary." Frank resolved to take full advantage of this permission if she proved in the light, should there be any, aa pretty as "she seemed in the dark. lteachiug tho end of the lane, she took him a few rods up a road where the houses were few, turned to tho right, went acr:>S3 somebody's back yard, aud brought him up in front of a pretty cottage which waa brilliantly illuminated. There with a whispered injunction to " be cautious," she pulled the bell, and almost instautly the door was opened. In the flood of light that streamed forth Frailk saw a little dried-up, elderly lady, and, just behind her, a plain but bright looking young girl. Both had an air of great eagerness, and the former took his guide into her arras, while tho latter asked breathlessly, " Is it done ?'• " All is well, Bertie," replied the mysterious girl who had brought Frank. Tnen, turning to him, she bade him enter. " This is Mr. St. Clair," she said. " Arthur, you havo heard me speak so much o£ Miss Snow, and my dear friend, Bertio Snow, that you hardly need an introduction." " Yet it i« a- great pleasure to meet them face to (Face," said Frank, with the utmost gravity, as ho bowed low. Mis 3 Snow, the eldsr, geized his hand in both hers. "Permit me to bo the firat to congratulate you," she said, tremulously. "Ita is a brave girl. What has been done is right. I feel sure it is." As Frank had not the remotest tdei of what had been done, he only replied by a few non-committal words of thanks, and glanced towards Ita. Bertie Snow had taken off her long cloak and hat, a»d she stood before him in a, dre-^s of electric blue, her luxuriant light hair framing an arch, fascinating face, which had no trace in it of the terrible mystery at which she had hinted. Her eyes fell before hia eager, inquisitive look, then raised themselves with a half deprecating, half saucy, wholly unaccountable expression. " if you will give me your arm, Arthur, wo will go into the parlor." Frank hastened to obey, beginning to like tha sound of his new name. As he felt the touch of the tiny white hand on his arm, it occurred to him that hia part was an uncommonly agreeable one to play, and that he could enter into the spirit of it readily. They entered the parlor.Miss Snowand Bertie following. The occupants of the room were four young gills, one tall, dark and queen-like, the others commonplace. Four pairs of eyes immediately transfixed him with curious, inscrutable undisguised stares. Ita at once introduced him. The handsome girl proved to be a Miss Weld, and turned her dark eyes from him to Ita with a jealous, envious expression m them which seemed in keeping with the dark mystery involving him. After congratulations, which he bore with a good grace, they all proceeded to thedining-room, where waß the sumptuous repast Ita had promised him. No servants were visible, but the elderly Miss Saow 6*rv*& averythiner herself. Ita lea tns conversation, and was vary gay and brilliant. Was it real, or was she, too, playing a part? Frank wondered. He noticed that she chose topics that were very general and safe. Tha dark Miss Weld was the only one who appeared in the least gloomy. Nothing gave him a clue to the reason of his being there, but,' not allowing that to disturb him, he abandoned himself to the enjoyment of the occasion, and was so very tender in his manner to Ita that more than once he brought a blush to her cheeki. Nothing could exceed the naturalness with which he spoke of her as " my wife." The elderly Miss Snow, who seemed to be the presiding genius of the affair, was all the time in a state of palpable emotion, which sometimes choked her utterances, and overflowed in stray tears. Her feelings were so heartfelt and genuine that Frank, while being wholly unable to explain their origin, was drawn toward her in spirit on account of them. Once, as she brought some peaches to Ita, she bent over, and, laying her disengaged hand on the fair head, said tremulously : "I am so thankful, dear child, that they can never force you to do that dreadful wrong now. At this the brightness in the girl's face suddenly clouded with something that resembled shame, and her eyes fell. " Don't take it so much to heart, dear Miss Snow," she murmured. " Whatever happens, I shall never forget your goodness." "There! I have made you remember all that trouble, and I ought not, tonight," gaid Miss Snow, remorsefully. " But. do not worry, deary ; it can't help ooming right now." Then, turning to the listening, curious Frank, she added, earnestly. "I am sure that you, Arthur— for I must call you so— l am sure that you are not afraid of the consequences of this itegT

Frank grasped the hand she extenaea cordially, as he replied, with entire truth : " I am not afraid of anything." She gazed a moment adrairinglyat Jus handsome and manly, if somewhat audacious features, thea at Ita, as though the sight of the comely pair was a joy ; and, smiling through tears, she passed on. The others had been mute witnesses of [ this scene, which all evidently understood, aud which made Miss Weld scowl. Ita seemed unable to recover her spirita for a while, but glanced sideways at Frank, and finally gave a little hysterical laugh, after which her vivacity returned. The repast over, Ita took leave of her friends, and, much to Frank's regret, prepared to depart. Ho was enjoying himself immensely, and had no desire, for so speedy an ending. A3 they stood in the hall, Ita once moro enveloped in the long cloak and larcre hat, he thought it was decidedly hard to be so soon deprived of a lovely creature, whom he had called his wife for two hours. Miss Weld was morose to the last. The other girls, pleased »nd admiring, but awe-struck throughout. ''-Be very, very prudent, and Heaven bless you !" said M ss Snovr, in a lachrymose adieu. " Well, what is the programme now?" asked Frank, rather disconsolately, when they were again, out in the street. "Nothing, except that you are to go back to the church with me, and then go your way while I go mine," she answered gaily, walking on. He did not like the prospect at all. The end of the adventure was tho only part to which he objected. "Did I succeed to your satisfaction " he asked. "You couldn't have done better," she replied. "You were really perfect." Something that sounded like a smothered laugh reached his ear with the last word, and emboldened him to say : " Then may I not claim a reward for my services, Ita ?" She turned her head from him, saying freezingly : "Sir, the time in which I gave you the right to use thai; name has passed." "I beg pardon," he humbly apologised. Without answering, she hurried along still faster. Frank maintained a rueful silence until they were near the old church, when he broke out desperately : *' Please do not be offended with me for my carelessness. The name become so familiar that it slipped from my lip 3.'' " You are excusable, but do not forget that we are now strangers." She spoke less coldly, tut formally. This time they had come around, instead of through the graveyard, and now stopped in the spot from which they had started. " At least let me express my pleasure at having been able to do you a Bervice," he said, determined to detain her by some means. " You have been very, very kind, and I am greatly indebted to you," she replied, her stiffness relaxing. "Don't speak of that — I have been fully repaid ;-but," he added audaciously, "I do not like such a speedy ending." She tapped the ground with her foot, and, half laughed. "You are curious to know what it- all means, I suppose 1" she questioned. " I am human, Mrß. St. Clair." This time she laughed outright. " I wouldn't mind tellingyou all now — but — no, I would not dare.' "You have trusted me thus far — why not trust me further?" he urged. "i might be able to assist you still more." "Oh, no," she answered, shaking her head. " You have done all you can, and I had better tell you nothing. You understand, of course, that only a tenible emergency could have forced me to act as Ididi" She looked at him appealingly, and Frank reassured her upon the point. But he felt his head whirl. This girl, one moment so full of gaiety, and apparently undisturbed by a uingle care, the next the heroine of a terrible mystery and desperate with sore peril, was a perfect enigma to him. "I am sure of one thing — that Mias Weld is a part of your mystery," he said. "You are right, she is the bottom ol it all. How did you guoss ?" " Her looks betrayed her." " Sure enough, she did seem glum." Tho puzzling being by his eide spoke these words in a tone of the greatest iati«foction, and laughed again. " Whatever she was, stie was undeniably bewitching," thought Frank, and the idea of losing her entirely waa most obnoxious. "Am I never to see you again, or know if what I have done effects youi purpose 1" " I hope there is no possible chance ol our ever meeting again !" she cried, as iJ alarmed at the thought. Frank was much wounded at the reply. After two hours' assumption of a tendei relation such a quick change from the ideal to the real was chilling. "lam afraid I must have made myself rery disagreeable to you, since you are so glad to see the last of me." "Oh, no! indeed no!" she said, quickly and oontritely. " But under the circumstiiuces, don't you see, it would be dreadfully embarrassing were we to meet. 1 am aure I should like you if I knew you — it isn't that." " Yet something may come up in the future so you will need me again— some result of to-night's proceprlin;/3 that you do not fores«A," he suggested, with eagernes*. "Let me tell you my name and " " I had rather you would not," «he interrupted hastily. "But " She paused irresolute, thought a moment, and concluded impulsively : "If you will come here a year from now, at this hour, if it is possible I will meet you and explain everything." I With these words she turned hurriedly, not waiting for his reply, and glided away. I He started to follow, but checked him- , self. 1 " I will be here," he called after her, his eyes watching the retreating form wistfully. The darkness enveloped and swallowed it soon, but the breeze brought back the words : " Good-night and good-bye, Arthur." Nothing was left for him but to find his sketch-book and go to the hotel. A night's sleep made his evening's experience seem very dream-like. Yet the piquant face of the mysterious Ita was too real in his remembrance to be • vision. Tu.e»tropg dwretofiadjomckeT

to so baffling a mystery made him remain another day in the tewn, instead of returning home as he had previously intended. He found the lane through which he had passed, but could not identify any particular house as the one to which he had been taken Nor did he, in his sauntering 3, catch any glimpse of Ita, or dark Miss Weld, or even wizaned Mi 93 Snow. He deemed it a point of hoior to make no inquiries, and finally gave up the quest, paying a farewell visit to the old church, and heaving a sigh of regieb to the memory of what he termed his short but happy matrimonial experience. Shortly after his return home, Frank went abroad with a pat ty of young men, all, like lum-elf, ambitiou3 to become workers in the field of art.