The Darlington news. (Darlington, S.C.) 1875-1909, January 09, 1896, Image 3
Mouse ontheMarsIi
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TH£ MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
ST>1. W WlAWAXmOL
CHAPTER xhl
“Miss Christie!”
It was Mr. Rayner calling. I dU
not answer.
“Miss Christie, my dear child, an
you there P Are you consciousP”
The handle of the door turned, but i'
was locked.
“I am not ill, thank you."
“But your voice is weak. Did tha‘
woman hurtyouP” he asked, anxious
ly-
“No, no; I am only frightened. !
will tell you all about it to-morrow,
can’t talk now."
Then as 1 thought of what had Jus-
occurred I again became frightened a
the thought of Sarah, and hysterically
begged Mr. Rayner to keep her away
“She shall not come near you, child
I swear it! You are quite safe. I wll
lock the door at the bottom of theai
stairs, and come and let you out my
self in the morning,” he said, in a lov
voice.
The thought of being locked i>
_did not reassure me much; but
thanked him and wished him good
night, with a last piteous appeal U
keen Sarah away. Then I grope,
in the -'ark until Ifound a match ant
lighted my candle which I placed b’
my bedside. I lay awake a long tim!
but finally, worn out, I fell asleep.
The following .morning Mr. Rayne
unlocked my door and cobducted mi
to the breakfast-room. I was looking
very white and haggard. The though
of having Sarah wait on me at thi
table filled me with dread, and witl
tightly closed lips I awated her appear
ance. But to my gr.tat relief Jan.
waited on the table. Had Sarah gon.
already? My heart leaped at th.
thought. At breakfast Mr. Rayne
proposed that Hatdee and I accompany
him to town, sayih j that both mistresj
and pupil were looking as though i
holiday would do them good. JT as
sented, rather nervoualy, and he toll
me to be ready in an hour’s time.
After breakfast I went to my room
where I found Jane attending to tin
work. She looked at me shyly and I fel
sure <<hA bad heard something of nr
advent’) e. I wanted to know what
She prepared to leave the room as
entered.
“Never mind, Jane; don't go. 8<
S ou are doing the rooms this morn
igP”
“Yes, miss.. I have got to get into th>
way of iL You know Sarah is goini
away, miss?”
“Li she?” and I could not keep nr
face from brightening. “But what {
she-going away for?"
“ Oh its all along of you, miss! Sb
burst into cook and mo this morning
and said she would not stay in a hous>
where there were sue goings on. Oh
she said all kinds o’ things about you
but cook and 1 paid no attention b
Ahem; we’ro used to old Sally. Bu
then she said—she said—”
“Yes—well?”
“She said as how she went up U
your room, hearing a noise, and tbei
—as how—”
“Go on.” .
“Then as ho«v—Mr. Rayner came u;
and—and wasn't boat pleased to fim
her there—”
“ Yes—well.”
But Jane would not go on, but go
very red and fidgeted about with th
cloth she was holding. And suddenly
as I watched the gin in wonder, 'th’
whole awful truth flashed upon me o
• the complexion that Sarah nad give!
to the story. I did not speak for i
m nute—and then I said very quietly
“i suppose she didn’t tell you tha
she tried to steal something I weai
round my neck; that, when she foonc
she couldn't, she threw a handkerchie)
steeped with some drug over my fact
to make me unconscious, that shi
might get at it more easily; that it wai
my screams that brought Mr. Rayne;
up-stairs, and that he stood outside anc
called her till she came to him. Hera,
1'il show you the very handkerchief. r
I had tucked it down in the cornet
of one of the drawers. It still smell
faintly of the stuff it had been soakec
in. Little Jane’s face brightened with
wonder and downright honest plea*
ure
“I’m that glad, miss. I could dance,”
sail sho. “She said Mr. Rayner let
her fall down-stairs in the dark, and
went on up Without taking no notice—
and she really is a good deal braised,
and serves her right. But there nevei
is no believing Sarah. And for her to
talk about goings-on! Oh, my, we did
laugh, cook and met” And Jane
chattered on about Sarah and her many
unpleasant attributes till she bad
finished her work, and left the room
with a bright grin of friendship.
So Sarah, after doing me a wrong
worse than all the rest in cireolaUng
lies to injure my reputation, was go
ing. But she would probably not go
at once and I felt I could not sleep an
other night in the same house with her.
I had resolved to leave the Alders as I
lay awake the night before. I disliked
to do so I was sorry to leave Mr
Burner and sweet little Haidoe. And
there vis still another reason which
made tli» thought of leaving Gddham
harder tfian ever. But the terron 1
had passed through outweighed all
other considerations. So I packed my
boxes and was ready to go. I had no
■alary yet, as 1 had not been two
months at the Alders, but my nnole
had given me a sovereign for emergen
cies. So I went to the study to inform
Mr. Rayner of my intention, rather
nervously, and I took the dragged
handkerchief with me to convince him
my adventure was not mere fancy, as 1
thought ho might try to make me be
lieve.
Mr Rayner received me kindly and
gave mo a chair. Then asking me to
wait a minnte while he spoke to Sam,
he left the room. He had been gone
but a moment when I heard a noise
and looking up saw Sarah.
I sprung to my feet with a scream
and darted to the bell.
“Don’t!” said she, sharply. “At
leakt wait a minute—give me a hear-
isg. I did not mean to hurt you last
night; and I didn’t want to steal your
letter. I only wanted to read it I am
of a curious disposition and don’t
stick at trifles to find oat what I want
to know. The stuff on the handker
chief would only have made you sleep
a little sounder so I could take the
letter. I am sorry I frightened you.
I’ve come to ask you to forgive me.”
She said all this in a hard dry tone,'
not as though she felt it at all.
“No, no; I can't forgive yon,” 1
said, inooherently. !*It wisn’t onlj
your tnHng to steal my letter and to
stup .» me, but the orael way you
looked at me—as if—you would like to
kill me. I can’t forget it—Ohl I can’t
forget it. And yo« did worse than
that. Yon told oook, Mr Rayner was
coming to mr room. Oh that r
wicked of yon, for you knew it wasni
true.” * •„
“That’s thnt little tattling Jane, 1
know!’’ said Sarah, vlxenishly. “J
never said ^uiii a thing at all; but eb«
ll'.ee to me i a s. iry up of everything
she hears.”
I was silent for a minute. Sarah be
gan again in. a different tone:
“ You’re very hard upon a poor ear
vant. Miss Christie. I don’t deny that
I was Jealous of you, and that I want
ed to prove to Mr. Rayner that you had
letters on the sly from a young gentle
man. There now—I’ve made a clean
breast of it! But don't it seem hard
that I, who've served him end his well
for aigh seven years, should have.to gr
>rd of a young lady whs,
alter much effort
into a pretty .toller nk wb
.note ran, as well as I
“Dbab miss peanmat—f am
stHsuyoy that 1 must writ*, lei
-barotliefewasselaec mttsiar*'
-hat r<«! IN. hurt?
veil, wifi;
- if yea!
jou saw Ihs imrfc la
k 1 BUI
lust at the wor
na
lasn’t been here two mom
“It isn't at my word. Sarah; I have,
had nothing to do with it And, as to'
year going away, I heard about it only
this morning through asking Jane why
she was doing my room.”
do
/
'Then
awa f ?”
you don’t want me to gc
doesn’t matter to me whether
r ou go or stay, as I have packed my
ooxes, and am going back to London
myself this very afternoon.”
Sarah started. Then she gave a dis
agreeable laugh.
“ You won’t go," she said.
“You can go up-stairs sad look M
my boxes,” I said, indignantly.
“ Have you spoken to Mr. Ra-
. Haynet
said she,
yon spoken
about it yet, may lask, miss?'
but I am going to tell him
this morning."
•'Then would you mind, before you
go, miss”—sbe laid a peculiar emphasis
on these words—“asking Mr. Raynet
to let me stayP It won’t matter fa-
yon, yon see: but it’s
cantelL”
more to me than
morrow, that 1 nay MS rou aaAkaowthsI
rou’'—another pises Mating. “I ahaU pul
this on the seat near th# peSl, whore I koow
you soever/ evening.
“ Youie year at noeiuly,
M LAURXKCB ttSAMe*
It was dated “Wednesday," and
this was Thursday afternoon; so thatft
was this morning's walk that he had
meant Oh, if I had only come out
here last nfght and found the letter! 1
would go past the park to-morrow; but
« it would be too late, aad he
not expect me then—he would
think I was too HI to corns out
So the next morning I took ears to
.pass Geldhsm Hall, bom going andre-
Uurning; but the first time I saw no one
An the park, and the second time, to
my surprise, I saw Mr. Rayner and
Mrs. Reade sauntering along together
onder the trees in a vety friendly man
ner. I had noticed that it had grad
ually become quite natural for the
haughty Mrs. Reads to turn to Mr.
Rayner as soon os we all came out ol
church on Sunday, and for them to
have a long chat together, while her
daughters looked at the people from
the Alders as superciliously as before;
but I did not new that he visited ai
Geldhsm Hall, still less that be and
Mrs. Reade were on terme of such in
timacy that she leaned on hie arm ai
they walked along, and laughed as he
talked in a much more natural and un
affected manner than her dignity gen
erally allowed.
The next evening I had to go to tos
at Mrs. Mannen’to take part in the
final arrangements for the school treat
«Rnt wivt t "Moh w “ to occur the next day. Mrs.
u * Manners received me with the ut&oel
makeany difference, Sarah, Irene*- kindness aad introduced me to the
sirs ted, presently. “You overrate my *” — - -
Importance in this household in the
strangest way. My words haven’t half
the weight with Mr. Rayner that yours
have.” Sarah looked at me eagerly as
I said this, but she did not seem satis
fied. “That is quite right aad natural,
as yon have been here so long and are
•o much older, too.”
She did not like my saying that, 1
saw, by the tightening of her min lips;
but I oc t dnly had not meant to offend
her. However, after a minute's panes,
she said again:
“Then, as you won’t he afraid of
your words having any effect miss,
perhaps you will the less minAsking
Mr. Rayner to let me stay."
I concluded that as I was going sway
it would make no difference, so I said:
“Veiy well; I will ask him."
As soon as the words had left my lips
she thanked me coldly and left the
room without showing the least grati
tude.
When Mr. Rayner returned to the
study I informed him of my intention
to leave the Aiders at ones. “And, oh,
Mr. Rayner.” I went on quickly, “you
mustn’t think me ungrateful or ca
pricious; but I have packed my boxes,
and I want you to release me from my
engagement, cpd let me go back to
London by this afternoon’s train! For,
If I had to alrep ir. that room another
night, 1 should go mad.”
“My dear child,” he said, gravely,
“you can’t do that—for oar sakes."
“Bat I mast—I must, indeed,” I
cried, piteously. “You don’t know.
you can’t tell wjiat I suffered when I
felt her hand creeping up to my throat,
aad thought I was going to be killed—
I did. Indeed. And then I thought the
■tuff on the handkerchief was poison.
She saya it la only something to make
me sleep. Is It true, Mr. Rayner?
Here la the handkerchief.” And I
pulled it from my pocket and gave it
to him.
“Quite true," said he; but I saw him
frown. “It is chloroform, which she
got out of my medioine-chest. No, that
wouldn’t have hurt yon, child, but it
was a cruel trick all tbo same Do you
know what she did it for?”
“Oh, yes, she told met She wanted
to get at a letter—from a—from a
friend which I wore round my neck.
But I have forgiven her and promised I
would ask you to let her stay. 1 told
her it wouldn't matter what I said; but
the made me promise.”
“And what made you think tv hat you
said wouldn’t matter?” asked he,
gently.
"There b no reason why It should,"
laid I. “But I couldn't have promised
to ask yon to let her stay if ihi
ad not
fou must
“I will
been going away myself. Mr. Rayner,
mist let me go.”
let you go if you wish It
But yon can not go to-day. Think what
people would aay of naif it got rumored
ibout that our child's governess
was so cruelly treated under our roof
that she went away without a day's
warning. No; you ahall have a difler-
»nt roitn, or Jane shall sleep In yours
for a week or so, until your very natur
al nervousness has gone off; and then,
if, at the end of the three months, you
itilt wiah to go, why, we won’t keep
you, child, though 1 think some of ns
will never get over it if you leave us
too suddenly."
H j spoke so sweetly, so kindly, and
yet with such authority of superior
wisdom, thnt I had to give way. Then,
bound by uiy promise, I had even to
ask again that Sarah should stay, and
he agreed that aha ahould.
But later in the day it was not
pleasant to see Sarah’s sold smile as
she said, when she heard I was going
to stay:
“I told you ao, miss.” *
And when I said to her: “I kept my
promise, and aaked Mr. Raynerforyoo
to stay, Sarah," she answered:* “Then
I am to stay, of course, mbs?” in the
same tone. And I waa reluctantly
obliged to admit that she was.
And, as I looked at her face, whlcl
could never seem to me again to loot
any thing but evil, a sudden horroi
seized me at the thought that I haf
pledged myself to stay for five wholi
weeks more In the asms houae with this
woman.
CHAPTER XTV.
The day after my holiday, which was
Thursday, I wont to my “ neat” undei
the trees by the pond. I had neglected
to visit it the day before, an unusual
occurrence, but I was feveris \ from the
excitement of my adventure, and Mr.
Rayner had forbidden my walking
about the grounds for thb reason. .1
found Mona sitting among the reeds,
not far from my “neat," playing with
some bib of paper, which she was busy
burying in th# mud with the aid of two
little sticks. I stooped down and
picked up one or two of the bits of pa-
S er. There was writing on them in a
and I knew and I had not made out •
dosed words before I knew that Mona
had got hold >•! n note written to me by
Mr. Laurence Reade.
Down I Jumped into the mud. oaring
nothing for it although I sunk in up to
my an kies. I made acarafnl search In
the mud nad around npo* the ground
and collected every piece of paper 1
could find, which I carried to my room.
I careftaUv cleaned the fragments aad
ptano
ras playing, Mr. Laurence
i in to take hb sisters home.
Reade, who greeted me with Icy
poMteners. I did not find it a pleasant
party. The talk ran upon parish mat-
ten, of which I knew nothing; and I
went to a table by the window and
looked at the photographs in two large
albums. When Mr. Ifm ners came In
there waa a stir, and as he remarked ft
waa a pleasant day they all flaw upon
thb topic and worried itto death. Then
became and sat by me, greeting me
kindly, aad showed me some pictures
of scenery and told me what plaoes
they represented.
Then we had tea, after which we
went nnstaira to look at the articles for
■ale. While we were looking at them
Mr>. Manners said to-me, nervously:
“You have never been hi a situation
before, have you?”
“No, never before."
“A governess’ position Las manv
trials and difficulties.”
“I haven’t met with any yet,” said
L smiling.
“Of oourae^ome are pleas
anter to live with an oti ra. But in
all there arise occ jr-v: w' on we must
pray for guidance."
“Yea, Mrs. Marnera,” very gently.
“An honest open face!” said she, a
though talking to henelf. Then in a
quicker and more practical tone:
*T hope you will not think I am
catecijMtig you rudely; but Mr. Man
ners and flake a great Interest uvyeu,
knowing how young and inexperienced
you are to have to go outinto the world
alone. And he thinks I have neglected
you a little. But, you see, Mrs. Bay-
net ia so very—reserved, and lives such
a secluded life, that it i* not easy to
form an Intimacy. But I want you to
feel sure, my dear Mbs Christie, that,
if you ahould want a friend’s advice at
any time, you need not fear to confide
in me; and Mr. Manners, being a man
and your parish clergyman, could help
yon is oases where my woman’s judg
ment might be at. rault. ”
I thanked her with tears in my eyes,
ud, although I did not anticipate
needing her help, her manner-was so
fin cere that I was touched by it
Then we went down stairs and Un
shed up the evening with music. After
leveral of the ladies had given speci
mens of their skill I was asked to play,
ind I chose Schurcmn’s “Arabesque,”
ind they seemed astonished because I
played it by. heart. I heard Mias Beade
whisper:
“I don’t like her style. That great
iifference between forte and
teems to be an affectation.’
■While I was
Reade came
When I had finished, every body
looked at ns qs he shook hands with
me in a rnllnr distant msnner; but he
managed to press my hand before he
bt it go; so I did not mind. And
every body listened, as be said:
“We nesrd up at the Hall dreadful
reports that you were ill, Mbs Chrbtie,
and wouldn't be able to come to the
school-treat.”
“Oh, no, 1 wasn't UL One of tiu
servants gave me alright lathe night,”
»M L “1 woke up in the night and
Wind her ransacking by things. Then
I screamed with all my might, and Mr.
Rayner earns up and oafled her out
and scolded her.
1 was glad to be able to give thb ex
planation, whioh was listened to with
much attention by all in the room, for
I felt sure rumors had gone about
Then Mrs. Manners spoke to Mr.
Reade about the bazar and he prom
ised to come and help.
“You are going to }ave a much
grander affair than usual, 1 hear,” h«
said.
“It sounds nngnclofis to say so,”
she returned, rather anxiously, “but 1
am rather sorry that we have not kept
to the old simple custom- Still, when
Lady MUU offered a marquee, and to
come herself to help to sell, and to
bring her friends, wo were obliged to
make a difference. But if Lady Milb
oomes’she'll bring a Vt of idle young
men, and they wi' .oke I n of every
thing; and I do : want hose fast
E mtlemen from L •cd • • O ot to talk-
g to the village girls.”
“I don’t think they will went to do
so,” said Mr. Reade.
And In the slight bustle of departure
he whispered to me:
“Wait and I’ll come back and take
you homo.”
But, when I had put on uy hat and
mantle, and Mrs. Manners had led me
down into the drawing-room again, to
say a few last words to me, I heard a
ring and Mr. Rayner’i voice in the halL
I started and blushed, and Mrs. Man
ners stopped In her talk and looked at
me very searching!;’
“Mr. Rayner must have come to
leteh you home,” she said, coldly.
I would not have missed the walk
home with Mr. Ronds for the world.
“I am afraid se,” I stammered.
She looked colder still at my eon*
fusion; .but tber* was only one way oot
e! it, to I burst out:
"Oh. Mrs. Manners, Mr. Reade said
he would come to fetch met What
shall I do?"
“Yon would rather go with him?"
“Oh, yea, year’
Her manner changed all at one
She put her am around me sod drew
me to the French window.
end, and as
the corse
an
let me go, bet
while he said:
“Mbs Christie! Prey
gbe. Where were yon ri
“I—I wee going home," I
bt a low voice.
“But that b not the way."
I said nothing.
“Why did yon want to ran heme as
fast alone, when I had promised to
come and fetch your*
“I—I didn’t want to trouble' yon."
“That was very kind of you. Bat, if
I happen not to mind the trouble, may
I see you home now I am here? Or
would you prefer to go alone?"
“I would rather go alone, thank
you,” said L though it waa heart
breaking to hare to say h. But I
thought it was time to show,some
spirit, for I sew that Mr. Reads did not
believe me
He stepped aside to let me asm, end
raised his hat very stilly) then hb
manner changed all at ones.
» 3,0,1
I didn’t mean to make yen ery!"
I could not stop him—I did try—but
he was ao much bigger than I that he
had his arms around me before Inoeid
get away.
“Oh, Mr. Reade, let me go!" 1 said,
frig'itencd.
But, as 1 held up ny face to my It,
he kissed me, and, : 'ter that, of coons
it did not matter, for I km tv that he
loved me and that I was safe with him.
I remember every word he eaidte
me as we walked toward the Aldan
that night; hot. If I were to write It
down, it would read just like the same
thing over aad over again, and not it
all as it sounded to me.
We did not go straight ’back, bet-e
longer way round, for fear the gram
ahould make my feet wet; aim we
passed the front gate and went on to
the aide gate that led past the stables.
And there Laurence left me, for I did
not want that spiteful Sarah to see him
with me. I went through into the
shrabr * - - 6 - -
left off for fear Mr. Rayner, who might
be in hb room, aa it was now qsite
dark, should hear mo, and want to
know how I got back and Why I was
•o late; and Just then I could not have
-old him. I wanted to slip upstairs to
ny room without seeing any one and
o straightway to sleep with the re-
iombrance of Laurence and hb last
kiaa all fresh and undisturbed in my
' ind. Then I thought I ahould dream
,f him.
But I was disappointed. For close
o the stable walls" I saw two men,
•cither of them Mr. Rayner, and one
ad a dark lantern. - I thought they
ictod like thieves. They sauntered
'round as if waiting for some one,
ihea they oame close enough tor me
to recognise them, ahdi aaw to
lurprise, that one of them was Tom
Parkes and the other the gentlnmaii
who had visited Mr. Rayner one even
ing, and whose familiar conversation
with Sarah had surprised me. I had a
full view of hb face as he passed. He
was short, of slim, neat build, fob,
clean ahaven, with grey eyre and an
imperturbable expresaioa of face.
When they were opposite aw they
turned beck, and lust aa they got to
the harness-room door Sarah came
from the house with the key and let
them in and followed herself. And hi
another minute Mr. Rayner passed am
from the road and let himself in after.
them.
Thb mysterious affair, which I could
not understand In the least, spoiled
my dreams I did dream of Laurence,
but I dreamed I was carried awn?
from him by burglar*.
I TO BK OORTIHCJED.J
V
DON’T WAIT
For a Oold to Ban into Bros
oRtHp fff fmanmnnt^
Check it at Cnee
AYER’S
Cherry P^toral.
“Early in the Winter, I took a
severe cold which developed into
an obstinate, ‘ “ '
very painful
troubling me day and ai
nine weeks, in eiitte of ni
remedies. Ayerie Cherry .
torsi being recommended toe, I
‘ ‘ 1 inaid: of M
iu which ueveiuiKH uiw» <
nute, hacking cough, <
nful to endure and '
nwt rlow ansi nirirlit fnr '
egan to take it, and
boon, I was relieved of the
tickling In my throat. Before 1
finished the bottle, my oMgi
was nearly gone, lenanotapeak
too highly of its excellence.”— •
Mrs. £ Bosch, Eaton, Ohio.
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral
AT TMR WORir’A FAIN
ud
FOR SALE,
flOAL, hard and «
U wood of all kteda.
may baaent me by Wephoa*to
the office of the Darlington
Manufacturing Company, or,
they may bo gtwen to the driver
of my wagoa.
J. L. EDWARDS.
Not, Il—tf.
> end I
i ealb attention to
mom of the Fire Insurance
of her late husband's barineet:—With
much sstisfaction, the
the prompt end liberal
which have been experienced by those
having sutained lose enAer policies b
sued through her Agency,—and as sbe
represents only first-clam, high grade
Companies she feels assured ofaeon-
tinuauce of these valuable business ad
vantages, ee connected with transection*
hrough bar Agency; and therefore takes
greet pieesure in requesting continuance
nf like generous support
i iSt
Manufacturers
—or—
Doors,
Blinus
&£OT7XjX>X13’Q8
—ABB- ;V-
Buildiog Material.
B8TABLMHBD J947
CHARLESTON, 8. 0.
April, So IMS—.y
LARD m SALE.
L ots and parcels of land
for sate by the Darlington Land
Improvement Company, who will sell on
terms One-third cash, balance. to rail
purchaser, lota of l acre to 90 acres,To
cated where desired on our property.
Our land* are good fanning lends for
Ml kinds of crops, as well as being loca
' * in or near our town. All perrons
to purchase will please cell on
tbe undersigned, who will afford every
waer* to ex amine our
property. Webeljeve we offer rare in
ducements for far
That’s our buinesp
est and most i
Darlington
of genuine
toe, button
now worth
ooen-am.
Pres. ATrea*.,
CARD,
L* Co.
' v.'-‘ fy ■ 2#.
Onr line of $8.00 Shorn
ev<*r, as we took more
before, and i
ever handled. In i
Bran
\ of sorts
tTou-
t can be
loved
that re-
okt
'medicine.
which for more than so yean
has been curing many
briajES Blood, Neural-
gia. Headache, Livnr andKid
ney troubles. It’s the peculiar
combination of iron, the great
strength-giver, with selected
shin remedies of true
that makes Brown’s Iron
Bitters so good forstrengthen-
ing and purifying the system.
It is specially good for womeh
and children—it makes them
strong sad rosy.
bmi<
:-usj
TOiffll. BMilK JIB
MM ti ll
HAI
for ladtos ai
comment, as we j
Shoes for f
hand-sewed 1
full line of
Good*-, Trunks,
We are also i
—■ i intoimjeraitoe
THE
RILEY,.
riiow tobacco, overbanted i
rone, we propose 1
renter I
■•to T
Ourl
. igi