The Mill Mystery

d

nse, 't is ha

HE

we reached the refuge of our room. But I was scar

ne thing I wish to impress upon you, and that is: That no matter what people may say, or what conjectures they may indulge in, Mr. Barrows never came to his end by any prem

ng down by her side, pressed my cheek close to hers. She smiled faintl

led here, a young man full of zeal and courage. Whatever the experience of his college days had been - and he has often told me that at that time ambition was the mainspring of his existence - the respect and appreciation which he found here

n. For he was one for women to love, and it is not always easy to modify a naturally magnetic look and tone because the hand that touches yours is shy and white, and the glance which steals up to meet your own has

st met, and, without knowing it, first loved. And then the weeks which followed when each look was an event, and a passing word the making or the marring of a day. I did not know what it all meant; but he realized only too soon the precipice upon which we stood, and I began to see him less, and find him more reserved when, by

only a short square separated us. He was slowly yielding to an insidious disease, some said; and I had

it was a farewell, and trembled with a secret anguish that was yet strangely blissful, for did not the passionate constraint of his arms mean love? But when, after a moment that seemed a lifetime, I drew back and lo

s engaged to had released him, without fault of his own, and that with this release new li

s wondered where his great soul got its strength to carry him through the exigencies of his somewhat trying calling. But whatever his weaknesses - and they were very few - he was conscientious in the extreme, and suffered agony where other men would be affected but slightly. You can imagine his jo

waited for my reply. "A t

g-day. Ah, it will never be finished now! and our wedding-day is to-day! and the bride is almost ready. But!" she suddenly exclaimed, "I must not go yet - not ti

and touched at once by the

ake upon his memory, you will uphold his honor and declare his innocence! Say you will be my deputy in this, and I

murmure

she persisted. "I can die knowing

how feeble would be any power of mine to stop the tide of

would sooner believe he had, than that he s

tremblingly arose, and going for her writing-desk, brought it back a

nd I was only too glad to have her with me at this time, for my poor Ada's face was growing more and mo

but when I came back with Mrs. Ga

and hastily looked at her face for confirmation of the fear

te her name, and then handed the pen to

re will be any one to dispute my last wishes." And taking the paper in her hand, she glanced hastily at it, then folded it, and handed it ba

," whispered Mrs. Gannon in my ear

it to be futile, I

were Dr. Spaulding and Dr. Perry. I was therefore obliged to come back alone, which I did with what speed I could;

alone betokened that she was not yet fled to the land of quiet shadows. At her side was a picture of the man she loved, and on her breast lay a bunch of withered roses I could easily be

ne long, long look. Then, as if satisfied, she softly closed them again,