The Lady of North Star

y walked on, environed by the solemn pinewoods, and enveloped in the strange

was sitting on t

ing why you should do that, though I ma

e girl's tones, as she echoed

ognized it, and he continued slowly: "You see, I found this last night-not far from the place where Koona Dick was lying. I did not know to whom it had been writt

," answered the girl

4

r of it? Was h

was the

gnature. "Tell me," he said, "what is Koona Dick's name?-I mean the second half of his

something of a surpris

as you think," was the reply. "

e as your own, Corpo

man who had found his thoughts confirme

me perfect," ans

tmorland, England?"

he girl, "and Sir James is his

hill, and from the vacancy of their gaze it was evident that he was lost in thoug

u did not guess unti

that was all. But when I read the note last night, and recalled your ack

t have undertaken to follow hi

hout resigning from the force. Perhaps y

rm all lawful orders and instructions, which I shall receive as such, wit

hard service, yours," she said. "And

ave no choice in the matter. Duty, after a

light in the unwavering grey eyes. It was clear to her that he meant just wha

agree with you," she replied. "

nell to you? This letter suggests an intimacy b

girl answered quickly

od

m, Corporal Bracknell halted abruptly,[48] looking at

he said. "I am Koona

g him the girl saw a flash of somet

-last night?" he said, at

e girl quickly. "You have read th

roke in the co

be astonished, and as he looked at her it se

u," he answere

" she d

s in the shadow of a spruce and you passed me without seeing me. I was about to speak to you, but the sight of your face kept me silent. It was that,

ked the gi

that there was no life left in him, or I should have done my be

4

ere is he now?" came

a mystery to me. When I returned to the place with Mr

, if he were really dead?

moved-" Corporal Brack

occurred to him. She saw that he was looking at her

sked quickly. "What

ed, "did you see your

he answere

g dead in the snow, you left the table. You w

almost incredible, but which was thrust upon him by force o

she cried. "You cannot think that I a

remember that I saw your face as you came out of the path; and that the man was your

ve all I have to know that the body of the man who was my husband was still where you first

his d

reply. "The certainty of that

im that she was in deadly earnest and that she meant every word she said. He wondered what marita

she said; "you know yo

swered, nodd

girl could love Dick Bracknell when she knew him for what he was, and any wom

ords may have to any one who knows what I know. It would almost seem that you had wished for Dick Bracknell's deat

5

ople might think

At least many people wo

girl. "You have asked

must remember that I saw you coming

you have reached," said

as the pr

in doub

ndicate," answered the corporal quietly. "As you must see, they ar

now of

nd I were at breakfast, and whilst you were supposed to

ot guess why

N

that I had put it in my pocket last night, and naturally concluded that I had lost it outside. That is the explanation of the journe

5

n was so simple that he felt it to be altogether true. But there were

wly. "I suppose Mr. Rayner was among them f

rankly. "I did not wish him t

is mind. Did she love Rayner and favour his aspirations, and knowing herself to be already a wife, had she deliberately removed the barrier which

ave-I mean

not give me that name. I do not wa

is a question I wish to ask you. Tell me, did y

a w

ou saw

reed quietly.

r view of the place[53] where you knew your husband would be waiting for you

more pronounced. The frank blue eyes wavered, and for a second or two h

dily. "There are wolves and-and bears.

the answer was a mere evasion, and he was not plea

sked, "were you afrai

ly given, "but I loathed him, and hated the

a few seconds, and then aske

t all whilst you were out, or whils

face working strangely, the blue eyes expressive of awful fear. He waited in far more di

ds. I do not[54] know what happened.... I saw him fall in the snow, and I waited. T

ore, and as he looked into her troubled face, his heart smote him

d fall? Was it after your ri

wickedness. There was a terrible hatred in my heart for my husband, and as I saw him standing there, it flashed on me how easy it would be to free myself from him

ed hand and broke into a storm of weeping. The corporal himself was greatly

y, "you examined your rifle this

e chamber," said the

excitement in[55] his manner, "an

p-but for the shell w

. "I thought so. Now think carefully, and

ed in her eyes. "Why do you ask?" she cried. "I thought I did, but this mo

of a rifle. I was a little distance away, and I distinctly heard the reports

ith the hope in

d perhaps I did not kill him after all. Oh! thank God! Thank God! I hated him, and though I was tempted, it wa

of it. At first, I was doubtful, and will own I suspected you. But

stood there without speaking, and the[56] girl watched

hird person was in the neighbourhood when your husband was shot. I have found the place where he stood, and I was following the

y husband's team,"

ck Bracknell. If he were not dead-and I am sure he was-he certainly was in no condition to walk away. A

. He knew his cousin, and Koona Dick's record in the territory was not an attractive one. He wondered how this beautiful girl had been

thinking, Mr

to marry such a scally-wag as I

m not surprised that you should wonder.... If you

into step by her side, an

ype="