TMMI OW•PU11111e&T/91.
II
.k The BIILDPOZD HILIVITSIII published every
h u mans morning .by (MopelcH 4 HITCHCOCK,
One Dollar per annum, In advance.
shrAdvertlslng In all oases exclusive of sub.
*Option to the paper.
1 SP SO lAL NOT IC ES inserted at TeX MINTS per
line for first Insertion, and Tors c Mrs perrlinelor
each subsequent insertion, but no notice Inserted
:tor lees than arty cents.
YEARLY A DVS RTlS.Ektie NTS will be Insert.:
ed at reasonable rates.
Administrator's and Executor's Notices, r;
A. a d ItorliNottees,t2.so ; Business Cards, Avenues ;
oer year) IV, additional lines $1 'each.
Yearly - advertisers are entitled to quarterly
changes: Transient advertisements mast be pat
for fa advance.
All resolutions of aeleelations; communications
of limited or Individual interest, and , notices of
marriages or deaths, exceeding five hussars chug.
•el FIVE c roll's per line, but simple notices of mar=
riagei and death!" will be published without charge..
"be RitPORTSU having a larger circulation than
sally other paper In the county, makes" it the best
:advertising medium in Northern-Pennsylvania.
JOB PRINTING of every kind, in plain and
fancy . colors, done with neatness and dispatch.
Handbills, Blanks, Cards, Pamphlets, Billbesda,
i ;Stateme tits, Vie., of every variety and style, printed
.at the shortest notice. The ItiPOßThit once Is
r
i
well supplied a ith powei presses, a g assort.
ment of new type, and everything in t e printing
line can be executed in the most artist c manner
and at the lowest rates. TERNS IN VARIABLY
C ASTI.
- g3usbier..s garbs.
I\IADILL & KINNEY,
ATTORNEYS:AS - LAW.
°Mee—Rooms formerly ocenpfed by T. M. C. A.
Reuling Room.
11..1. MADILL. 1.18,80 0. D. KINNEY.
MRS. E. J. PERRIGO,
TILACHILIT. OF PIANO AND OBOAN
• .
Lefts(Ms given In Thorough Hass and Harmony.
ultivation of the voice a specialty. Located at A.
,Min St. Reference : Holmes & Passage.
,rands, Pa., March 4, Is3o.
JOIIN W. CODDING,
ATTORN ty-AT-Lew, TOWANDA, PA
er Mason's old Bank.
Office
r , _
TIIth!AS E. MYER
ATTORNEY-AT-LAM',
TOWANDA, PA
Office with I4triCk and Sep :25,18
pEcK ist, OVERTON
ATTOIiNEYS-AT - LAW,
fOWANDA. PA.
IPA. OVERTON
Ir DNEY A. MERCUR,
ArronNEY AT-Law,
TOW ANDA, PA.,
Solicitor of Patents. Particular attention paid
to business in the Orphans Court and to the settle
,lll,•nt of estates.
Office in Moutanyes Block May 1, 79.
OVERTON A; SANDERSON,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
TOWANDA, PA.
F. OVERTON. JR
VET H. JESSUP,
11 •
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW,
MONTROSE. PA.•
: lodge Jewsup haring resumed the praettceof the
law in Northern Pennsylvania, will attend to any
ou,lne.e, Intrusted to htm lii Bradford county'p.
Pei sons wtshlug to consult him. can cat' on H.
Streetef, Esq., Towanda, Pa,, when au appointment
can he made.
lIENRY STREETER,
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW,
TOWANDA, PA
TT L. TOWNER, M. D.,
IL •
)11.t P ATHIC PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
t IteshlenCe and ()thee Just North of Dr. Cor.
bia, s, l Main Strret, Athena, Pa. jun26am.
IL. HILLIS,
I •
A TTOit N EY-AT-L AW,
TOW AN DA, PA. [novll-75
F. GUFF, - .
ATTORN EY-AT-LAWi
WYALUSING, rA.
• for the sale and purchase of all kinds of
les and for talking loans on Heal h.stato.
Lou.
iness will 'Ecelve careful and prompt
, . (June 4. 1879.
111
'll, -
S
All In
Itti,tlt
H. THOMPSON, ATTORNEY
• ,17. LAW, W A LUSING, PA. Will attend
•ustness entrusted to his care yin.ltradford,
i n and Wyoming Counties. Office with Esq.
cnovl9-711.
to all
ulltv•
Pert,
11. ANGLE D D S
ID!
=
=
ou State Street, second ftooi of Dr. Pratt's
apr 3 79.
OM,
Ottlee
SBREE & SON,
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW,
TOWANDA, PA.
ELSBREE. L. F.Lcnnsc
DIE
EINEEII
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
TOWANDA, PA.
Dis'tCy - Brad, Co
JOHN w. MIX,
ATIUQNE7•A7-LAN • AND U. S. COMMISSIONER
ToWANIIA. PA.
Oftlce—Nonh Side Public viquare
SAM W. BUCK,
A TTORNE r-A T-L A IV,
'7O WA NDA, PENS'A
Mike—South side l'i)plar street, opposite Ward
llum.e. CNOV• 1., 1879.
DAVIES tt.CARNOCHAN,
ATTORNiYS-AT-LAW.
SOUTH SIDE OF WARD HOUSE.
Dec 2345. TOWANDA. PA
T ANDREW WILT,
ATToRNKT-AT-LAW
ilffiee over Turner & (*Mon's - Drag Store
Towanda, Pa. May be consuAted In German.
[ April 12:'76.)
AN• J. YOUNG,
RTTOIL s ET -A4-L AW,
•
T . OVIANPA; PA.
.1
I Myr --leroud door south ' , of the First INTationa
Bank Mato St., up stairs.
'WILLIAMS & ANGLE,
-T T •
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW.
tlFFlCE.—=Forruerly occupied by Wm. Watkins,
47,1.
(net. 17, '7ll Y. J. A NOLL
CIPMCI=
WM. MAXWELL,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
TOW AN DA, I'A.
I Office over Dayton's Store
April 12. lon.
A VDILL 8, CALIFF,
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW,
TOWANDA, PA
Office In Wrod , s Block, first door sont of the First
NaLi, isi Bank, up-stairs,
0LD11.1.. rjans-731y3
VV. S. M. WOODBURN, Physi-
L., elan slid ,Surgenn. °lnce at realdeuce, ou
loe . Street, East or Main.
Toaath.m, May 1, 1672 1}•
o ß v L i t
0 1;
1, ,
fi D e
I, E r T T l o t r T si . ri — da. O r f E a. c e
Teeth Inserted on Gold, :Giver, Rubber. and' Al
- tunluin hue. Teeth extracted without :41n.
Get. 3442.
ED. PAYNE, M. D.,
s PIFY.SICIAN AND SPROZON.
ot,co over Montanyeet' Store. Ottice hours fsoni 10
to 12 A. IC ' and from 2 to 4 P. M.
Speclaiattention given to
DISEASES S DISEASES
or _ and or
THE EYE S ? THE EAR
.1 W. RI A •Isi
G. •
COUNTT SUPEIIIIITINDL
face day last Saturday of each mouth, over Turner
A Gordon's Drug Store, Towanda, Pa.
Towanda, 'June 20, 18715.
CI S. RUSSELL'S
GENERAL
INSURANCE AGENCY
marz&4otr. TowArrritA,ps.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK,
TOWANDA, PA.
CAPITAL PAID IN
SURPLUS FUND..
This Bank offers unusual facilities for the trans , .
active of a general banking business.
N. N. BETTS, Cashier
JOS. POW ELL,-President. •
Mg.S. H. PEET,
TEACHER OY PIANO M-USIC
TERMS.--sloper term.
(Residence Third street, let ward.)
Towanda,Jan.l3,l3-Iy. •
GOODRICH-4k HITCHCOCK. Publishers.
VOLUME XL
H. DORMAUL,
S 2 5 East Water St., Elmira, N.Y.
Ist - nisi; DRY GOODS
24 Floor MILLINERY
3d Floor CARPETS
4th Floor CLOAKS & SHAWLS
Viper floors acceesible by elevator.
for A visit of inspection 13 respectfully solicited
EDWARD WILLIAMS,
PRACTICAL PLUSBEB & GAB FITTER,
Plac'e of business In Mercur Block, next door to
Journal Office, opposite Public Square.
Plumbing, Gas Flttinr. Repairing Pumps of all
kinds, and all kinds of tearing promptly attended
to. All wanting work la his Rae should give him
a rail. Dec. 4. 1879.
S"QUEHANNA COLLEGIATE IN-
WriTurs.--Spring Term will begin 310.VDAY,
APRIL. &TU._ 1880. Expenses for board, tuition
and furnished room, from $172 to $lBO per year.
For catalogue or further purticulara address the
Principal, .
EDWIN E. QUINLAN, A. M.
Towat.da, Jan. 15, 1880. ' 7sl
WALTER CHUR,
•
(Sttecentor to L. B. Powetl,,Scrantois, Pa.)
DEAL= IN
tl
t •
PIANOS, ORGANS,
AND ALL KINDS OF MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE. -
lie continues the agency for the CRICKEBING
and STEINWAY PIANOS, and the MASON &
HAMLIN ORGANS. 'hatch he Is prepared to sell
at: CLOSE-FIGURES.
The trade supplied at manuiacturers , prices.
Agents wanted In all uneecupleeterritory.
3 •
Scranton, Pa, March 25-m3.
1t5.N.1.,11.. filmic
JOHN F. SANDERSON
THE CENTRAL HOTEL,
ULSTER, PA.
The undersigned having taken posseulon
of the above hotnl. respectfully solicits the patron.
age of hie old friends and the public generally.
angle tf . St. A. FORREST.
EAGLE H O TEL,
This well-known house has been thoroughly ren
novated and repalredihroughout, and the proprie
tor le now prepar ed to oiTer drat-class accommoda
tions to the pu Ile, on the most reasonable terms.
E. A. Jg.NNINGS.
Towanda, Pai, May 2, 1878.
Feb 27, '79
- HENRY HOUSE,
CORNER MAIN • WASHINGTON STREETS
'Steals at all hours. Terms to snit the times. Large
stable attaebed.
WM. HENRY, PitornlETOit
Towanda, July "79-tf.
SEELEY'S OYSTER BAY AND
EUROPEAN HOUSE.—A: few door) southbf
the Means House.' Board -by the day or .ureelt on
reasonable terms. Warm meals served at all Moira
Oysters at wholesale andtretall. lebrf7.
TABER HOUSE,
Dec.l•T.l•m
TEAT MARKET*
E. D. DUNDELL,
Would respectfully aononnee that he la continuing
the Market business at the old stand of Di ulloek &
Eundell, cud will at all times keep a full supply of
FRESH
-1111,114 0r 4 4%,
• tt'
0 - YSTEAS
Constantly on baud. Country dealers supplied a
'city rateb.l
FRESH & SALT MEATS,
GARDEN VEGETABLES, ,
FatTITS, &c.
All Goods delivered Free of Charge.
' E. D. RUN - DELL.,
Towanda, Pa. Nov. V. 1879.
rfeb.l'7B
Jan. I, 1875
MARKET.
•
ROSECRANSE & BREWER,
Announce to the people of Towanda and vicinity
that they are now prepared to furnish
•
FRESH' AND SALT MEATS;
POULTRY, FISH, OYSTERS,
•
And Vegetables In their seakon, at the most reason
able rates. Everything purchased of tut
delivered promptly free of charge.
SW- Our location, ONE , DOOR NORTH OF
SCOTT'S BAKERY, is convenient for all.
We buy the best stock, and take great pains to
keep everything In the best order. Givens a call.
ROSECRANSE a BREWER.
Towanda, Dec. 50878.
J. .V: CALIFF
6125,000
66,000
Aril 1,187.9
Vusintos ilabs.
,f3otets.
(80CTLI SIDZ PCBLIC SQUARI.)
(ON TUE EUROPEAN PLAN,)
TOWANDA, PA
CA N TON, PEN R . /L. i
Near the Depot,
.JOIIN N. WOLFE, PPOVE
Plastids.
AIEAT MARKET!
MYER & DEVOE
Located In
BEIDLEMAN'S BLOCK, BRIDGE - STBEET,
Keep on hand,
FRESH AND SALT MEATS,
DRIED BEEF, FISH, POULTRY,
GARDEN VEGETABLES AND BERRIES IN
THEIR SEASON, &c.
air All goods delivered tree of charge.
MYER & DzVOE.
Towanda, Pa., May IS, 1879.
Wart* 'Sabo-.
THE OLD MARBLE YARD
STILL IN OPERATION. •
• •
•
{ The undemitmed having purchased .the MAR
ALE YARD of the late GEORGE MCDABE, de
sixes tolnform the public that haling employed
experieneed.men, he Is prepared to do all kinds of
work In the Ilnt of .
MONUMENTS, •
READ STONES, -
•
MANTLES and
SHELVES,
In the very best manner and at lowest totes.
Persons &siring anything Inthe Marble line are
Invited to mill and 0111411.130 work, and save agents'
commission.
JAMES . Mcl3/11115.
Towanda, To., Nov. Is, 157 5. 3415
I
I,
i 1
'
,goshr.
INVOCATION.
TO new►.
O fogs that from the marabesrime
And mingle with the upper cloud,
Sweep low acrosaour tear-veiled eyes.
And weave a soft, enfolding shrwrid.
O wintry sky of ashengray,
Irrooplug and clinging like pall. •
Cast your dull heaviness away
And %tun wreath of . sziow-flowets fall
.0 damp, salt winds from shore and sea,
That all the naked branches stir,
Attend sour soughing harmony
To solemn requiem for her.
O kindly earth, with open breast,
Gently open that fragile form
Let fall thy dais. Guard well her rest
And shield her from the gathering storm.
O hasten Spring with honied breath
To drift her mound with naturesa bloom ;
o crocus smile slam her death,
0 violet glorify her tomb.
O tender grass, with springing blade,
Uplift the fertile sod and ruse
To gladden with thy grateful shade
The sacred spot where mother Lies.
O clouds In sunshine Melt onlelgh.
0 fogs dissolve la clearer air s
'0 breath of floweret float to the sty,
The perfume of der life is there.
—J. H. Elliot fa Home Ammo/
gel l efrd gala.
RUM MORRISON.
lONTINUED.]
CHAPTER VII
With a sudden, uneasy 4hiver,ltuth
Morrison awoke.. She felt chilled
and unrefreshed, from not having un
dressed and gone to bed. " Dear me,
it must be near morn i ng," she thought;
"I seem to have slept so long." She
got up quickly, and staggered to the
window ; was still pit,chy dark—
not the faintest gleam from any quar
ter oi the heavens—while heavy rain
was falling, with a dull monotonous
beat, llpon the window-panes. Drear
iness inexpressible reigned within and
without 4 "It may be morning all the
while," said Ruth to-herself, "though
it is so dark." She tried, by feeling
the hands of her watch, to learn the
hour; but she had forgotten to wind
it up the previous evening. " What
shall I do now ?" she thought.
" Bridget might easily oversleep her
self such dark mornings as these;"
and she recoiled from the idea of
daj•light overtaking her again at Oak
lands. Were she really the guilty thing
that they tried to make , her out, she
could not have shrunk more from the
notion of meeting, or holding com
munication with any one in the house
or about the place. To get away in
the early dusk, before the family were
astir, was her first desire; her second,
to write fully to Captain Sinclair,
and demand a thorough investigation.
Stie remembered, as she stood, du
bious and shivering, in the raw bit
terness of the nigbt, that a box of
matches always lay, for the servants
use, behind the clock on the mantle
piece, in the dining-room.; "If I can
creep down there without being heard,
I could light my candle,, and find out
the hour." tr ,
She hastily put on spme more of
her garments, and wrapped herself
in a cloak that she had left, ready fOr
travelifig in, at the foot of the bed.
FeeHO on the table for the candle
stick, she stole softly out, standing
for aolioment; in the lobby to listen
if any one was moving, in the house;
and all being silent, she passed gent
ly on down the stairs The dining
room door was not quite closed, but
ajar. She found the fire in the grate
still burning, and readily lit her can-.
die by it, without the aid oflnatches.
When she lifted the light to the time
piece, she found, to her astonishment,
that it was but half-past one. Much
disappointed by this discbvery, sbe
determined to warm herself here, at
all_ events, being dreadfullY cold; and
she shut the door, and stirred up the
smouldering coals, until they broke
out, ,, into a cheerful blaze. When
thoroughly heated at the rekindled
fire," but feeling altogether sleepless
-.J"I have a great mind,"' thought
she, "to stay here until the . morning;
better than going back now to that
cold miserable room above." Accord
ingly, she put out the candle, and
placed it on a small round table in a
little recess near the .fire-place, and
lay down upon the sofa, covering her
self with the cloak. How long Ruth
remained thus, losing coasciousness
in the gradual stealing on of sleep,
she was scarcely aware. She had
neither heard any one Coming into
the loom, nor had the smallest idea
that she was no longer alone, when
she was suddenly roused up by hear..
ing voices close to her. The' sofa on.
which Ruth was lying was at one
side of the room, not very far from
the fire-place; but 'as its upper arm
ran into a shallow niche in the wall,
and the cloak with jwhich she was
covered was dark ih, color;like the
halt seating of her resting place, she
was effectually screened from obser
vation. Looking in the direction from
which the voices came, she saw Mrs.
Montserrat and Marks close by the
fire ;/the former seemed just to have
placed a lighted candle upon the
chimney-piece, and was standing with
her back to Ruth, and between her
and the butler.
"What kept you ?" inquired Marks;
"I thought you'd never come," were
the first distinct words that; Ruth
caught.
".Why, I fancied I heard a stir,"
replied the other, "and I. kept still
as . s mouse. I feared,", she added,
with a low laugh, "that it might be
the gourernante ; but I listened at the
door before I came down; and she's
quiet, ma foi, as a snared rabbit that
can't twist aninch." •
" There is no doubt, Marguerite,
but you did her business cleverly."
"Not so cleverly, after all, that I'd
like to have ventured on it if le maitre
himself had been at our elbow.. But,
Joshua, if you had but seen the letter
she sent to madame! Fortunately,l got
hold of it in time. I cannot tell what
that fool might have done;' if it, had
come into her hands., She enclosed
a note 'from some uncle of hers in it,
so I pitched them both into the fire,
and sent her back a message of ray
own from madame. A great thing
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 1880.
to have her clear off, out of our way,
I can tell you; 1 wouldn't have that
one here after to-morrow nlght's
work—no, not for a thousiad francs:
Demure u she looks, she's deep and
dangerOus. Dlessyourself,youjmuore
homme, 'that you havent her , scenting
you oar; she'd be worse than a deteu•
Live."
The man shuddered at the last
word. ,''Huah for heaven's sake,
don't talk of' those folks now," he
said. " But, Marguerite, come to
business my good • woman ; tell me
again exactly what you know of the
captain's going's to-morrow."
"Why I heard him tell madame
that he would be early in the day in
Lisburn, at the '-Downshire Arms;
that he was then going to the Black
Swan—a public house, on the road
sumewhere near Hillsborough i• that
he had an appointment there, with
tenants,l and was to - receive rents;
and that he would pick , up the even
ing 'mail-car at Banbridge, that 'car
ries. the, cross-post along—l don't
know where, but it. would drop him,
he haid,l as it passed, at Common
CroSs. And now mind : ' Let Marks,'
he said,' 'or one of the men, meet
me there at halt past seven, to bring
up my bag' But I don't wish it to
be known, Maria, what way I 'am
coming didn't laugh in my
sleeve at this—' for the country is
not overiq l uiet, and I shall haver a
large sum of money that.l must
bring with me, as I should not be in
time to ledge it in the bank."
" You have it ail pat, my jewel,"
returned Marks, "and there never
tias anything so lucky: let me see ;"
afld he Paned { over the fire, upon the
chimney-piece, , as if reflecting upon
the information.
" Well'!" exclaimed the housekeep
er, half-angrily, after a few moments'
silence, sure 'Lis all plain sailing
now. ,,
" res,lrlain as day," said the other
looking up. "-I must take care to be
the one to meet my brave captain to-
morrow night."
" Leav,e that to me; but see that
you don'tr bungle the business; le
maitre has hiewits about him; re
member that."
• " Oh, the thing is simple enough
now ; trust me, I'll not put my foot
in it, with such a fair opportunity.
Everything turns out just as we
could wish it, doesn't it? But, stop
a momeint—goodness send he has
left the little. persuader where it al
ways Bei; in the drawer here ;" and
the pair !walked' across - to the large
secretary That stood at the opposite
side of the room. Marks unlocked
it with, it key that he, took from his
pocket, and then there was a sound
of different drawers being opened.
" Ali, here it is ;" and in a second or
two the ppalled listner on the sofa
heard th peculiar click which told it
was a deadly weapon that the man
was exarnining.' "Loaded and' all,
by jiminil Faith, the fellow little
dreamed, wheh he was last loading
this, that, as they say, 'he was cut
ting a rod for his own back." And
a suppressed laugh broke from them
both._.„,
"But.now,” inquired Mrs. Mont
serrat, till i me how you mean to man
age. 'Tpa safer to sett'e all here, in
the dead of night, with no one to be
the wiser, than to be , seen talking to
-1 gether when people are about. Don't
you think 1 was right to manage it
so?" .
" To be sure; you're always right,
my dear I Well, when we come to
gether gether f om the Common Cross, by
the Oak Walk, as he always comes,
I'll be hind, as is most respectful;
there'll e a little bit of a young
moon, II; , I suspect, light enough for
work, add not too light for mischief ' ;
and:when we. -get to the lonesoniest
i ,
bit, whe e the road turns , and the
trees ar thickest, just by the lake
side, wh , then—and he cocked the
'pistol with a significant gesture.
" Non I'll send this down to the bot
tom of the water, where it will tell
no tales; and then I'll get at the tin,
quick a( as a weasel would lick the
blood ot . a rat he had throttled , and
like home li a shot, when do you be_at
hand to slip all the swag away, and
then a story is easily made •up of
- murder and robbery as we were
coming home, and the fellow making
off. Do you understand ?"
" I do," returned Mrs. Montserrat,
speaking' with' deliberation. "That
might answer very well ; but we must
be prepared for all difficulties. Sup
pose' now; that he sends you on be
fore him."
" Well, if he does, sure
. and 'ti&
done all the same. 'Tis easy to lie
by in the trees there where I say, and
to manage it as he comes up."
" Yes ; but you might miss him ;
or you mightn't do for him, outright;
and 'tis only • dead men, mind, that
don't tell. And, Joshua, if you only
hit him—if you didn't shoot him
dead, he'd be an awful man, I tell you,
to have the last bout with."
" Never you fear," replied the mis
creant ; " I'll put the grappling irons
in him., Let we get good aim, arid
he'll not speak many words after; be
sides, 'tis a simple thing to silence
him, once he's down. Then, my
hearty, our codrse is clear; no one
will suspect us. Just as well, though,
as you say, that that unsafe looking
craft, • the governess, is off the stocks.
They'll be offering rewards, and all
that sort of foolery. Minis, most
'likely, won't be for staying here.
Anyways, you and I, after a decent
time, when the hubbub settles down
a bit, can be off quietly over the
water with the "needful, my dear,"
(and here he nudged the womanwith
his elbow), "to make us snug in our
old age." .
" We may as well, then," respond
ed the housekeeper, drawing a king
breath, "just; sweep off what's herd '
now."
Then there followed a ransacking
of different drawers in Captain . Sin
clair's secretary, a rattling of silver
and sovereigns, and the rustle of
notes, with occasional, remarks and
exclamations. During all the preced,
lag conference, Ruth remained per
fectly motionless, overwhelmed : at
this marvellous revelation otvillany,
and so absorbed'in the thought of
the danger hanging over Captain
Sinclair's head that she had not yet
even realized what her own position
! 1 1l
WA : 1443138 OF . DENI7NCIATION PROX' ANY QUas
might be, if she were suddenly dis
covered by the two conspirators. It
was only as they was dosing the
secretaty, and evidently preparing to
decamp, that, this "startling thought
rushed upon , her. She bad, now and
again, east a glance upon them as
they stood With their backsto her, both
at the fireplace and secretary; but
except as she did ilto, she instinctively
kept her eyes close shut, as if in
sleep; while her very breathing seem
ed stilled from the attention that she
was constrained to give to every syl-
table they spoke. Now one silent,
earnest prayer for safety , rose from
her throbbing heart, as she felt what
she might expect if they found her,
with their horrible secret disclosed
Already the butler and houseuceper
had reached the door ; Mrs. Mont
'sernit had her hand upon the lock,
and was still saying something to
Marks, but eitheriin so much lower a
key, or Ruth's extreme agitation as
the moment of peril was passing,
deadened her, hearing. Whatever it
ivas, she did not 'enieh it until the
words: " Restez, Testes': give me
the kev," when the'honsekeeper re
turnectquiokly across'the room. She
had not advanced many steps, when,
by her stopping suddenly, dropping
the key from her band, and ejaculat
ing in a trembling whisper: ; µMon
Dieu I" Ruth felt, for she dared not
open her eyes; that' the dread discov
ery was made. A dead silence, in
which seconds seemed expanded into
hours, ensued. At last, Marks, while
his teeth chattered in the extretne.of
alarm,.#sked i "•What is it? For .
God's sake; what ails You?
There was no ,
reply; but the tall
-figure moved swiftly to the sofa, and
Ruth felt the panting breath of her
enemy, and knew that the terrible;
eyes were glaring upon her like those
of a beast a bay. Marks Stole tremb
ling to her side. " Mon Dieu la gait
verilanle!"' was the quivering ejacula
tion.
"Is she asleep ?" • inquired the
other, and his ashy lips could scarce
ly form the words, so great was his
fear.
" Asleep or awake, it matters not ;
whatev4 brought; her here, she sleeps
her last tonight ;" and the voice that,
sealed her doom sounded in the ears
of the unfortunate listener more like
the hiss of a serpent than a human
utterance. " mo that ;" and she
stretched out her d hand for the pistol
that Marks - still field.
" Are. ydri mad, woman ? A shot
in the house at this hour of the
night!"
' True—true • you're right. 'Stay,
I know *bat will do;" and with the
same swift, noiseless motion, so
habitual to her, she passed to the
sideboard at the _other end of the
long apartment, followed by Marks.
Ruth cast one despairing glance to
wards the door, but saw that escape
was hopeless in that quartAr, as the
murderers were now directly between
her and it, Mrs. Montserrat softly
opened a drawer in the' side-board,
and, after a brief search, took out a
long, sharp-pointed steel kept there,
1 and used for sharpening knives.
' " Listen to me, now," she said in a
fierce, commandinc , whisper; turning
to Marks ; " wheel give you the sig
nal, do you instantly gag her with
this," and she handed him a handker
chie, " and seize her hands at. the
same time; I'll manage the rest."
•" Oh, but stop a mowent," remon
strated Marks ; " let us not have more
bloodshed than we need. God bless
me, 'tis horrible; maybe she's asleep."
" How can we tell ? Remember,
she may know enough by this time to
hang us bah. 'See, too, man," she
continued'; "better to have her out
of the way entirety. If we sink her
body to-night in thelake we'll be far
off before it comes up again, and
they'll think she made off. Besides,
I have • more -reasons than . one for
wishing her off my road."
" I tell you, Marguerite, we had
best let her live, if she's asleep ; it's
an awful thing' to •bring so 'much
blood upon one's self."
"Do you want, you fool, to have
the rope round your neck ?" answer
ed the'woman, with irritation. " Be
sides, I'm not asking you to 'do the
job ' • I'll do it myself."
"Well, just try first if she's asleep,
can't you ?" returned the' man ;• and
he drew her over towards' the' sofa
again. Every sentence spoken,
though hardly above the breath, was
distinctly audible to the terrified lis
tener. Mislay hopeless, passive, an
almost' unbreathing form ; an icy
horror seemed to, pervade her whole
frame; with one despairing effort
at self-preservation, she remained un
der the semblance of the deepest
sleep, and, that was all that she could
do; s he' felt it to be her one sole
chance. 'They both bent over the all
but inanimate figure, watching for the
quivering ofan eyelid, or a flush upon
the pale c!ieeft, that might indicate
the consciousness of their ,presence.
"Feel her pulse," whispered. Marks.
Most fortneatery, sheibeardhim, oth
[ ere ise, no , doubtos; ; ;;Adolent start
• would havei be v , -1- • r, when 'the
•
long, cold, — ' • 'fingers crept
up her h: ... .;'s upon the
[ wrist : over ig, poor Rua
could have ='''; l • ':ed no control ; at'
1 she imputed I. only, ander
dence, to the still' calm of d
that a wild fluttering there
at once disclose -that her al
feigneek= L
1 ' 44 skificertatily is asleep,
1 ixi Mre: Monsterrat.
1 ' Then come, here amo "," ear-,
,
ntstly I rejoined' Maki ; and the - two
*A wry-retired, patting out theicandle,
las iii seemed to Ruth; and for ashort
t
'me she heard 'the indistinct mut
t tat the doer; when the sons. of
..gently closing:reached her-rellev
ear,:azidihe concluded that she
was alone and in the darkness. Yot
still she lay quiet, while now a cold
clammy perspiration broke out at ev
ery pore i and the lifting of the pree
sure 'of the last Our brought back
so tumultuous a throbbing to her
heart that it became 'well-nigh insup
portable. She was just about to rise
from , her recumbent position when
.again the door opened, and thou&
there was no light there was Ole
rustling of a tread oil the carpet; and
the sound of a hand feeling for some
thing on the floor. It - was Mrs.
Montserrat, seeking for the dropped'
key. , In a few minutes, her search
seemed successful; she stood immov
able for a brief period, as if to satis
fy, herself that the sleeper had not
awakened ; and then went out silent
ly as she had entered. A considera
ble time elapsed- before the poor
creature, who had been subjected to
fe4ful an ordeal; . dared to move
either hand or' foot. Her excited
imagination conjured up a thousand
terrific phantoms in the silence and
the darkness of that room. Again
and again she fancied that she'could
detect. Mrs. Montsernit's stealthy
step returning, or feel her hot breath;
or she was convinced she caught the
low whispers Xenewed beside the
door; at last, raising herself into a
sitting posture, and peering into the
dense gloom, she slipped off the sofa,
and groped her way to the fire-place.
There was not now n single spark in
the grate, PO she searched in the
usual place for the matchert, and lit
the candle ; r jt was' ten ;mutes to ,
three by, the timepiece before her.
Glancing once more with's shudder
round the room, she -went out into
the hall, crouching down like a hunt
ed thing that would lice anywhere
for shelter. "I must," she thought,
"make,, my way back to my own
room; but I wish I 'was safe up those
'stairs:" As rapidly as she could,
she hurried on, and with difficulty sup
pressed the scram that rushed to
her lips, as her own' elongated sha
doiv fell upon the wall before her at
a turn of the stairs. 'After a careful
survey of both her own apartments,
she locked the outer door, and leay.-
lug / the candle . alight, for she could
stay no more tn the dark, she threw
hertielf again upon the bed, to try
and think aver the awful past two
honrs,.and consider what course she
should take to provide for Captain
Sinclair's safety.. A thousand
ent. thoughts and plans whirled.
through her brain, but one determi;
nation was ultimately °fixed upon-,
to see Mrs.. Sinclair, at all hazards,
before leaving the house, and to tell
her exactly what she had heard ; and
if this failed in making the necessa
ry impression—if she 'were incredu
lous tb so astounding a tale,as; with
her prejudices and impressions, she
very possibly might be—then, to
make her way direct, to the captain
himself, and , put itimself on his
guard. Somewhat calmed when she
had thus settled upon a 'definite
course, and retaining no• single con
cern for hekself or her distracted af
fairs, she now lay-On her side, with
her eyesfixed upon the window,
looking out into the darkness, and'
waiting until it was time for her td
get up, to see. Mrs. Sinclair, and then
toleave that dreadful house forever:
CHAPTER VIII.
Ruth lay In a dreamy trance of
thought, but not asleep, when a knock
aroused her. It was a servant, who.
called out that it was time to get up.
for •that the man with the car Would
be round at the door immediately.
She found it no easy task to complete
her toilet that morning; pins dropped
from . her cold and trembling fingers,
and in her confusion she could find
nothing she wanted. . The unsnuiTed
candle had nearly burned to the sock
et, and gave but a flaring, uncertain
light ; and - her heart beat Xumultu-
ously at the thought of the coming
interview. with Mrs. Sinclair, and 'ap•
prehensive doubts as to its result.
u I must try, at all events," sht ex
claimed, as she finished her dressing
at last; :and issued from her room
with her, candle in her hand. She
turned rip%the second short flight of
stairs, and advanced towards the
door of her late employer's bedcham
ber ; she was in the act of opening it,
when Mrs. Montserrat, gliding from
what quarter Ruth knew not, but
pressing in between her and the door,
confronted her, with the old sneering
and defiant smile wreathing her lips.
" And what does mademoiselle
mean," she asked, in a grating whis
per, " by attempting to:distdrb mad
ame at such an hour of the ulorning
as this ? Madame, who is, 80 poorly,
and, in fact, extremely ill, from all
she went through yesterday." '
Ruth, though at. first startled and
tinstrung, and considerably embar
rassed at this unexpected apparition,
recovered her seg-possession almost
immediately.
"I wished, so ,much, Mrs: Mont
serrat, to see Mrs.;,Sinclair,", she re
plied. " I wrote to her yesterday,
and—and I wanted to speak to her
about that letter, • for I only got a
verbal refusal to it." Ruth felt, as
she was speaking, that the eyes of
the woman, were literally going thro'
and through her ; all she said was at
random—the first thing she could
think of. ..6 1 #0014" she added, "she
eiin
might. rel Vwnd allow me to stay
on until,os.
Sinclair. return"
"J§lck n i mademoiselle—no use.
.r . cliq't.poSSibly allow madame to be
irtatnrbed.' .' . . , I , •
Vell 9 Mrs. Montserrat," rejoined
l''
'Ruth, growing more determined as
she felt the importance ,of the at
tempt, " ' ust see Mrs. Sinclair,
a eptAut by any one;"
made an Mit to get by the
!housekeeper and force. fier-way into
I the room. .
"Upon my word 1" ejactilated Mrs.
Montserrat,-now eyeing her antagon
ist with a suspicious, alarmedtiAnic,
".we'll take care of that;" and driv
ing Ruth forcibly aside, she quicidy
and softly • turned the, key in the
door at which they were standing,
and deliberately put it into her. pock
et.. " Come, now, if you please, and
raise no more disturbances in the
house," she added in an angry voice;
and putting liar hand rudely upon
her shoulder, she compelled Ruth to
go down the stairs before..her.
Seeing that there - was no use in
resistance, and judging it safer, for
the Present, not to awaken any sus
picion, she yielded -without- further
parley , to the housekeeper's violence.
On the stairs they met Marks com
ing up ; a significant glance passed
between the two. "Bring down her
things, will you, at once," said .Mrs.
Xontaerrat to her accomplice, adding
1 1y: selling. in a whisper that she could
no ear.
The hall-door was open, rink the
car already at it; but it was a strange
not
was
utter-
, ,
jef ,N I_Ns, L
__.
if F' '\ \
1 l 1 .
01 t- -tr
4, , s
1
4
driver—Ot Patsey i Bridget ;had
promised. While the • housekeeper
and Ituth were standing in the pater
hall waiting for Mark's return, the
former shading the candle frond- the
cold blast with her hand, Bridget
suddenly burst,open the door leading
up from the lower parts of the house,
and hastened into the hall with a
large bowl of tea and' some bread on
a: plate. " There, Miss Morrison !"
she exclaimed, indignantly. " She
wouldn't let me call you," nodding
towards Mrs. Montserrat ; " and she
wanted to hinder me seeing you at
all;_ but. miss, I have brought you a
dhrop of tea and a bit of bread, and,
for God's sake, take it before you go
out this cold morning; wisha, God ,
help uS!" exclaimed the poor sym
pathizing girl'; and the ready tears
began to gather as she looked upon
Ruth,. and beheld the scared, white
expression of her face„ with the dark
circles- under the large and unnatural=
looking eyes.
Mrs. Montserrat
_said nothing, but
cast 4,frowning look upon the house
maid that spoke more than words,
and which the other returned with a
scornful toss of her head.
"Indeed, Bridget," said Ruth,
am greatly obliged to you, but I
could not touch bit or sup;" and her
sad, hollow voice went to the very
heart of the servant.
" Take it,-Idiss Morrison,darling,"
she whispered, "it it's only to spite
her ;. 'twill do you good ; anyways,
thry the dhrop of tea."
She so far yielded as to drink a
few drops of the hot rquid, and felt
a little warmed and refreshed by- it
" Did' you sleep A, bit at all last
night ?" asked the htiuiemaid.
Ruth knew that tlie woman stand
ing" at her side was watching her re
ply, for she turned instantly as the
question , was put. Wishing to divert
from her mind any lurking suspiefon
She may have ,had, she answered :•
"Oh, I had one good sleep that:re
freshed me a great deal, though it
was not in bed. I went down.to the
dining-room to ascertain the-hour. ;
I thought it was late, haviog forgot
ten to wind my watch, but I found
that it was only a little after one ;
the fire was still burning, and I was
so cold that I remained below, and
fell asleep on the sofa there for 'I
don't know how long." '
" Poor thing! God help you!"
replied Bridget.
Mrs. Montserrat appeared relieved
and satisfied by this colloquy, for
when she passed out to the door with
Marks, as he brought down Ruth's
luggage, she whispered to him: "All
right ; no fear." They both remained
outside, and seemed in earnest confi
dence with the driver while the things
were being settled on the car.
" 'Tisn't Patsey. after all," said
Bridget; "that fellow wouldn't let
him go." She bad no time for more.
Ruth bade her a hearty adieu,
when
told that all was ready now. Marks
and Mrs. Montserrat remained watch
ing her from the door, until a turn
in, the avenue shut out the cai from
view. One long look she east back
at .the place that had been, in one
sense, her home for more than a year
past. How much of discomfort and
trial she had borne during those thir
teen month,S !—not, however, without
some gleams of sunlight, breaking
through the:dark clouds of recolke-
Lion. Fondly , ishe thought of the
little ones, and with grateful' love
dwelt upon that last touching fare
well Then came the overwhelming,
terrifying remembrance of her ,pro
tector's dang er, and the rest of the
weary, wretched drive to Newry was
wholly occupied in deliberation upon
what she should now do, l foiled as
she had been in her first atitempt at
saving him. The current of her
thoughts was left free from any dis
turbanceby:lier driver—a gruff, surly
man, who ,never opened his lips
•during the'. drive, ,but occasionally
eyed
_his eompanion askance across
the car from the side he occupied.
Of him, however, the poor girl
thought little; she was pondering on
the best course to pursue, and trying
to recall the route she had-overheard.
Captain Sinclair was to take.
"How 'foolish I was," she thought,
"_to say that I wanted to speak to
Mrs. Sinclair aboutthe letter, when
I remember that wretch said she had
intercepted it; sure that alone would
have made her keep me out. Reach
him I 'must, atone; yet now I can
not remember one or two' places they
spoke of. Lisburn I recollect distinct
ly; he was to be early at the Down
shire Arms. But where was he to go
from that ? Dear—l don't know
what ails me! I can remember noth
ing." •
At no time conversant . with the
names of many northern towns- or
places, her brain was completely be
wildered. A kind of maddening con-
fusion made .her forget the next min
ute4shat was clear and distinct to
- t before. She kept repeating
to herself over and over, for
_ e might even let go that one
*
clue, and woo till endeavoring Weal'
up some ,m • •f . the forgotten de
tails, whelk .; , : startled from li,er
reverie by t• e • - er breaking silent e
as 'they were entering the town„by
saying in a rude, coarse voice: " I
suppose I've to to drive you to the
coach-office?" -'!'--Y
-. For a momenta °rim° she was so
confused that she &mid that she
cOuld not answer. "No, thank you,"
she said,[ at last; "tv lite ' hotel,
please." . INF
" Why, Sure, you're going to Dub-!
lin?" , ~
" Yes," responded Ruth'; " but \I
,
am not well enough to gO on yet s arttl
I mist stop, first,at the hotel."' 1 ,
She might in perfect truth baVe
said that, for she was far indeed from
being well; she had never felt so up ; l
terly unstrung. The . morning,. tho%
not- actually wet., was raw and gloomy 4
As they drove down the street lot
Newry leading to the hotel which
Ruth had indicate; the shop-boys
were taking ,dowst shutters front the
windows, and stopped to look:after
the car as it. passed. - There was the
youth awning at Jenkins', the watch:
make, door, whom she remembered
so well in the shop the last day she
had been there. The flags were damp
, and sloppy, the streets covered with
Imud and pools of water from:the past
$l.OO per Annym In. Advance'.
wet night. The car , drew up at the
door of the hotel ;. a red haired, un
shaved, sleepy-looking wait t er in slip.
peril, with a napkin across-his arm,
sauntered out. I - -
-" Going to atop here, miss?"
Yes, for the present," said Ruth;;
" at least," , as 'she remembered the
driver was behind, probably watching
her; " until I . get on to Dublin. Will
,you; have my things brought in ?"
" A private sitting-room, miss ?"
.again asked the man.
" No; I shan't be here long enough
to need it," s was the answer.- "Show
me anywhere for the present."
Accordingly the man conducted
her down a dark passage, and opened
the door of the coffee-rooni, where
she was glad
,to see a cheerful fire
the comfort of which she sadly need:
ed. As she , stood beside , the fire
place, and looked from it through the
window Into. the street, she observed
her idriier and the waiter in close
communication, -*bile her luggage
was being got off the car. -
" I may as' well," she thought, , '
"give something to that man, uncivill
as be semi; he might wellexpect iti
this miserable morning."
She' put herband into her pocket
for her purse; in unutterable conrter
nation, she found her pocket, empty
—no purse was there. Vainly she
searched her garments; nothing of 1.
the kiwi had she anywhere about her..l
What bad she done with it? She
could only recollect that she bad had
it the night before, and had reckoned
its contents ; beyond that, she could
recall nothing about (purse or money.
Very probably, in the distracted tur
moil she bad beei in, she had left it
in her own room; but the unwelcome
certainty was before her now / that
there she was in that strange inn
without u pair)) , 'to pay her way. She
sat down, half stupefied from such a ,
fresh accession to her miseries. "I
shall surely go read," she moaned,
and then the thought of Captain Sin
clair recurred and she started up and
drew out her watchto see the hour;
it was half-past eight. '
‘," I have this Watchot all events—
the poor captain's,kind gift.;, I eau
get something on it, surely, some
where ;" and. then she remembered
that there was the chain she bought
for Ferdinand in her trunk, and' that
if she took it back to Mr. Jenkins;
he would give, her, she supposed, as,
much for it as would enable her to
get on to Lisburn. She, stepped out
into the hall, and called to the waiter
to have her 'trunk brought into the
coffee-room. The man - was standing
at' the door, still talking to the driver
from Oaklands.. Ruth repeated her
request, but the- waiter ° only , turned
and gave her an insolent stare, and
resumed his conversation without
any further notice. Boiling with in
dignation, she walked.up to him and
asked, haughtily : "Do you:mean,
sir, to attend to what I have asked
you, or must I quit this hotel, and
seek for one where I maymeet with
common civility ?"
What . the .fellow might have re
sponded it is hard to say, if he bad
not heard a voice calling; of which he
,evidently stood in some awe,
" Well, miss," said he, hastily,
" what do - you want?"-
"I want that trunk brought in
here at once," she answered.. '
Without another word she was
obeyed. After a search through its;
cOntents,, she, found the chanin the
vary bottom of the box ; and locking
all up again in tangled locking confakj,
and wrapping up with a ; bitter sigh
the gift she had designe,d for a far
other purpoie, she hurriedly left the
hotel and repaired tolthe watchmak
er's: There was no one but the same
boy - in the shop. He said Mr. Jen
kins wasn't down yet. , Ruth replied
she would wait, as she wanted to see
him very particularly ; and after a
while, 4gged of the lad to ask if his
master, would soon be done. 4He -,re
turned with a - -message to say lie was
'coming, yet a full half-hour elapsed'
before .he appeared. When he did
come, he evidently Was noti in the
best of humors; he looked as if he
was ; still -half asleep. " Well„miss,
What can I do for you ?" he asked,
quickly, as' -he' entered the, shop.
"You are hither an early customer."
Ruth, in a few- hesitating words,
explained her request, offering him
the chain.-
" 0 miss," said the man, looking
excessively annoyed, " you mistake ;
this is not a pawnbroker'cestablish
ment. You'll- find -one in she next
street:" .
Ruth again explained that she had
lost her purse—that it, was a matter
of the utmost importance to her' to
get to Lisburn at once—that all she
wanted or cared for was simply what'
would: pay for a car there—and that
she'd be sure again gratefully to take
back the chain and repay him the
loan. • • .
The watehMaker, with an angry
frown, took, out 'the same old cash
bbx Ruth' had seen before from the
press, and opening it, reckoned fifteen
shillings and handed it to Ruth.
" oblie ° v.you with that," be said;
" though I must say it is a very
strange thing for you to ask it ;" and
then, tossing the chain into the box,
he locked it.
-
, Ruth thanked him, and eagerly
seizing the money, hurried from the
shop without *another word. Once
the suggestion - oecurred v as she pur-
sued her way back , to the hotel—
would, it be better to repair tea mae
istrate. if she could find one, and tell
him all
_that had happened ? Yet
then she remembered that the tale of
her own suspected guilt would of
necessity be, disclosed • and " he'd
never believe - me," ;he . thought;
" he'd think -I was some fraudulent
imposter; everybody suspects me."
To get to Lisburn and find Captain
Sinclair; seemed to her to be the one
and only feasible project. When she
returned to,the hotel, aheloundt the
still lingering about the. door;
she handed him a shilling as she
: passed, which he took with scarcely
an expression of ,thanks. She dread
ed :setting out for Lisburn while he
was , yet on the watch, as she had a
kind of undefined apprehension' that
he was' creature of Marks and Mrs.
llontserrat . —was lurking about now
at their instigation, and might, in
some unknOwu way, deter her from
prosecuting her jountenif he knew
whither i She was botind. -Time; how
ever, was a. - matter of too much int*
portsuce just then; andieeling that
no more could be wasted Safety,
she resolved to risk Ovrything ' •
and set out for Lisburn'. as as
possible. Slie tang titehell
quired, on the waiter's appears, ce,
if she could gee the landlord:himself.
"He's' out,"- was' the laconic - reply.
" Well, the landlady ?" The Min was
inclined to be offensively rude and
famillar-7the - result, -Ruth surmised,
of the conversation between him and
the car driver; he muttered some
thing scarcely intelligible, and hold
ing the door half open, he looked out
into the passage. •
sat, -Peggy, is missis there?'
"She is. What's.wanting?"
"Tell her that a yoring woman
here must see - her, she says—her as
came a while ago on .the cars from
Oaklands ;" and a feWwords inaudi
ble to Ruth, • acconiplinied with, a
sheering laugh, followed.
• "Oh !" - and then a loud shrill voice
called out; " Minis, you're 'await
ing ;" a summons that, in the lapse
of a few minutes, brought, the litod
lady herself into the toffee-room.
She was red-faced, bustling-looking
woman, from, whom, in her present
nervous, = sensitive mood,. ;faith
shrank, dreading some further }risco- .
lent rudeness:
" I beg your- pardon," she began
mildly ; " but I was very anxious to
see either the landlord himself or
you."
•" Well, Miss, and what can I do
•for you?" asked the woman; in a not
ungracious tone.' .
" It is.'of impOrtance,", continued
Ruth, and she looked pleadingly into
the landlady's - face—" could not
tell you of .how much importance;
not to myself, but to others, that I
should get to Lisburn as fast as ever
I can ; and I'm afraid if I haven't a
quick 'horse I shall never be there in
time. Can you give me a good .horse
and car—a really good one? I'm
ready to pay whatever you ask.
That's why I wished tot speak to
yourself. 'lndeed, indeed," she add
ed, and , the poor worn-out
_creature
trembled' so .from nervous _ anxiety
that she had to grasp the back of
the chair at which she was standing
for support, "I don't know what
may take place if I don't get on
soon."
do what I can for you, - my
poor thing;" -said the. woman- in a
soft motherly manner. " There,
don't take on so;" for the unwonted
words 'of kindness brought up the
quickly gathering tears._ "Look,
couldn't you send a' messenger--to -
Lisburn ? l'll fetch one that'll do
your bidding well, if it's-'a - matter of
so much importance; and do you
stay qiiiet,and rest here st,bit:"
" 0 no-no ; thank you a thousand
times. Indeed, I. must 'get and
at once, please; for she began to feel
actual terror now at, every instant's
delay. " I suppose," added - Ruth,
as the woman was bustling 'from the
room to see about, the car, "I might
leave my trunk here for the present ?"
"To be sure, to . be sure, if you
like." And then she heard the in
quiries as to - what horses were out,
and which of those in-was the fresh
est ; and very soon, a covered 'car
was round, into which. the good-na
tured Woman herself packed Ruth,
saying she
_would. on any ac
, count, let hey drive so•far in an open
conveyance, and that the charge
-should be all the sage. She insisted
likewise, on here taking a glass of
wine and a biscuit, early as the hour
was--to 'cheer her -up, she ,said—and
wouldn't heir of payment ; and com
forted her with the assurance, that
Roger, the horse, and Mat; the dri
ver, were the best-matched pair in
the Kilmorey Arms, and would have
,er in Lisburn "in less _than no
NUMBER 451
time." -
"Twehty-four miles ejaculated
Rntb, in consternation, as • she was told ! -
the distance. "-Oh 9 .' she' groaned, "I •
shall never catch him ; I shah be late, I
shall. belate."
It was a quarter to ten as - they drove
out of Newry, and for the first few-miles
they appealed to make - very- good• way
then there was a manifest falling-Off, a,
more urgent application of the whip on
the part - of Mat, and a emiitantly-dimin- -
ishing rate of speed on the part of Roger.
The car, too, was' most - uncomfortable in -
its -motion, swaying from .side to _side, as
the horse got into.a kind of jog -trot, that
produced, in the weary, anxious traveler,
pain in her side and'uneasy sickness. She
sat with her watch in het hand nearly the '-
entire way, calling occasionally through_
the small' window to know if he could
manage to get on a •little faster ; an en
treaty
that caused an immediate applica
tion of the whip, and perhaps a minute's
accelerated motion, but no more. Hour
by hour - sped along that - 'strange load,
- with more than once a leap of joy to her .
heart, when she imagined that some small -
town to which they Were- approaching
was-Lisburn,ifollowed by depressing dis
appointment 1-at learning her 'mistake.
Ultimately, Ruth abandoned all hope of- ,
overtaking Captain Sinclair. " Why. had
she not adopted some step in Newry? Ile
will be murdered," she exclaimed in ago
ny, "and it will be all my fault." Then
she tortured her brain to try and remem
ber what other places she had heard them
say he would be in, - but,she could not re- -
collect, and so the time - passed on, until
at last the driver called to her through -
the. Window that there -was Lisburn, just
right before them, and be pointed to it
triumphantly with his whip, •as though
he bad effected a great -achievement in
getting there at-all. - '
" Where am I to drive to - ?" he called
out again.-
"Oh, to the. Downshiro Arms Hotel ;
and, please, quick." When they stopped
her tongue was so dry, - her mouth so
parched, that she could not fgr, a moment
articulate the question she ad longed to
pit to the obsequious waiter who mane
to.open the door - of the car.
4 "Is Captain Sinclair here?" she almoit
gasped.
" Well, !ma'am, I rater think he •is,"
'said the man.. "1 have - lieen out, but if
you please to crime in, I'll inquire." 'The
-mention of the captain's, name appeared
to elicit still more courtesy from the itt
tendant No words could convey rile
thrilling sensation of relief poor Ruth ex-.
perienced'as she heard that her almost
abandoned hope might -still be realized ;
and with a firm step she- walked into the
sitting-room that the man-opened for hcr.
I want to see Captain Sinclair at
'once," she repeated ; "please see after
him without a moment's delay."
"Yes. ma'am, at once," and the speak
or hastily withdrew. In less than two.
Minutes be returned, androh, how long it
seemed to Ruth I "He loft this; ma'am,
more than two hours ago. I was out,
you see," added the man; apologetically.
"1 knew he bad been here, but I didn't
know that be was gone."
• - Down to ' , her. feet the cold chill, 'the
deadl' anguish of disappointment ran
like ice. "AA, what am Ito do?" she
groaned, putting her band ,to her fore.
head., • .
"-Very sorry, indeed, ma'am, very sor-
Us" repeated the man, looking a little
disconcerted at the troubled aspect of the ,
figure befoie him.-
Oh, could yeti, .will you find out at
once where Captain Sinclaii Went ?" again
implored Ruth.• -
"Certainly, ma'am, 'certainly ; and the
waiter hurvied off upon this second er
rand.
But Ruth, in her intense desire to as
certain whit sh'e wanted, followed him
into the hall, where he - was questioning
Boots on the subject -of her inquiry.
"Whet(' did he go to from this?, Didle
take a car?" she asked, interrupting the
other interlocutor. -•
"Re took a car, ma'am ; yes, it was a
,little before . twelve ; but the captain-uev-
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