The Yellow Holly

d with the late Mrs. Jersey, George thought it just as well that she should be questioned. Certainly Miss Bull, who appeared to be a dour and secretive sort of person, might not speak

t this straw. Therefore, on leaving Ireland, he turned his steps in the direction of the b

stabbed, and Ireland had mentioned that the woman with whom the deceased man had left the ballroom wore a sprig of yellow holly. Had the berries been red, George might not have thought so m

what means could she have induced my father to leave the room with her? I don't suppose she murdered him herself, for she had no reason to do so, unless it was jealousy, which for a woman in her position was absurd. Bah! I am making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Eliza Stokes probably never went to the ball an

him with a grin, as George had given him half-a-crown when he left the mansion after the inquest. "Miss Bull, sir, yes, sir," said Jarvey, "step this way,

om the table to the door, and wondered if the assassin had entered stealthily, with a bared weapon, and had stabbed the wretched woman before she had time to turn her head. But on second thoughts he was inclined to think that the assassin had been in friendly conversation with Mrs. Jersey before inflicting the fatal strok

haggard than ever, but her eyes gleamed brightly, and she seemed to be in perfect health. Margery, now being the nominal head of the house, appeared more important, but sh

miling in her prim way, but without offering

asked Georg

ady eyes on his face. "Many of the boarders left on accou

d I been a boarder I should not have

ntly, "I don't suppose it did. I o

could not conceive why this was so. He was rather embarrassed how to begin the conversation, especially as Margery was present. Something of this showed itself in his m

g she would send the inconvenient third

d, Mr. Brendon. Anything you say before he

yes on the old maid. "I would rather d

nd she held. "I have really no secrets worth revealing. A lonely old woman

Mr. Brendon?" she said in an interrogative manner. Again George felt awkward, but judged it best to plunge into the middle of the matter and get it ov

nd her lips tightened. "I don't see what b

unds impertinent. But I am anxious to learn something about

ame here as a boarder many years ago, and, as is my custom, I kept myself

she was?" asked

at I know nothing," rep

retive a woman. Nevertheless, George tried another tack.

ad given her a lease of the house to silence her about the possible marriage, so for the sake of her niece Mrs. Jersey might have left some confession which would s

lf. "That is not my business," she said; "Miss

reen box," said M

consist of?"

Miss Bull, quickly, and from that moment, Margery p

p me," he said, t

on why we should help you," was Miss

e might soften under the influence of a love-tale. Brendon disliked telling his business to strangers, especially anything regarding Dorothy, whom he looked upon as a sacred vestal not to be lightly mentioned. However, so much was at stake that he determined to speak openly, on the bare chance of Miss Bull

hly, as she was evidently jealous, and sulkily withdrew. When the door was closed Brendon resumed his seat, but Miss B

m about to tell you, being my own private bu

aid Miss Bull. "I never care

s Bull. It is merely that

terest can that have

g to you in a way which you may regard as foolish, but I am so anxious for certain information, and, from what Mr. Irelan

pain, and sank into a chair. Alarmed by her pallor, which had now returned, George would have called for assistance, but she stopped him. "I shall be all right shortly," she muttere

, gloomily, "for if she does not become my wife she will accept n

face grew red. "Is her mother the Honorable

?" asked George, surp

ith feigned indifference, but with barely concealed agitation

is beautiful," cried Br

why. Perhaps it is on account of your romance; perhaps because--because--" her hand clenched itself and she

Mrs.

n to Lord D

landlord of this

sed to Mrs. Jersey, furnit

urprised. "Why not a seven-yea

it stood, and as it stood he gave it to Mrs. Jersey. She turned it into a boarding-house some fifteen years ago. I don't think she added or too

o state that Lockwood was his father. But the time was not yet ripe for such a disclosure, and he said nothi

Mr. Ireland. I did so on behalf of Margery Watson, as I wanted the girl to continue the boa

Jersey leav

pally on an annuity f

becoming more and more confirmed, "

Mr. Ireland about the lease, and then sought out Lord Derrington. I represented to him the pos

he year?" a

r. So now the poo

an, Miss Bull, to h

don. I am only a desolate old woman who has had a hard life. I should have been married and settled, but--but"---- She

er actions toward Margery. "Well, Miss Bull--" he rose--"you have told me what I want

secrets. The less said the soonest mended. When Miss Ward becomes Mrs. Bren

orge, shaking his head. "I will be frank wi

ine in his face. "I thought I had seen some one like you before. I

ge Vane. I am Lord De

real earnest, and George rang the bell for assistance. Margery, who had evidently been lurking outside, rushed

she demanded, "you--you." She raised her hand

age of the she-bear by the power of his glance. "Miss Bu

--no one but me!" she cried, and took the slender form of her friend

the servant, who was a quiet, respectabl

rely devoted to Miss Bull. And well she may be for it is Mi

sitting down. "You can go. I shall

losed the door George heard her muttering something to he

feeling, and still more anxious to find out, if possible, why she had fainted on hearing his name. "I wonder if Mrs. Jersey told her anything," muttered George as he looked out of the window; "but that's impossible. Mrs. Jersey would keep her own secret so as to terrorize over Derrington. Besides, Miss Bull declared that she recognized my face. I wonder if she k

faint to resume the conversation. She begged Mr. Brendon to call another day. Margery gave this message in quite a frie

till smiling; and then, with a burst of good nature, "

, artfully, but rejoicing at the opport

id Margery. "She asked

me," replied Geo

y bills," said Margery, "a few photographs,

ory, Mis

nd within hearing. "She told me it was a story she was writing. Oh, such a long story! Sheets and she

life, and Margery's next words put the matter beyond a doubt. "My aunt said that she woul

ot look thoroughly

it. The story was Italian," went on Margery, staring at him, "for wh

e convinced that Mrs. Jersey had left a conf

But she will not be angry at my telling you. She likes yo

ms with Miss Bull. Evidently she had known his father; she may even have loved him. But George had heard so much that day that his brain was quite bewildered, and he wan

Miss Bull has them. But she'll show them to you," brightenin

he reached the corner. He saw a tall, red-headed man crossing the road, and a cab was bearing down on him. The man stood paralyzed in the center, and it was apparent that the horse would soon be on him. George, almost without thinking, dashed into the street, and, seizing the an

with rather an American accent. "You have saved

e admiring crowd pressed around. Seeing this, Bawdsey took him by the arm and ran him r

and he had an alert manner about him which made Brendon wonder how such a sharp person ever came to place hi

ge Br

shed than he showed, as Brendon guessed by the trembling of his hands. "I have lived over fifty years in the world,"

orge, good-humoredly, "it is a good thing I have s

cipating the remark. "But have you ever h

d Brendon, "

cross any open space. At times it takes me unexpectedly, and I get a sort of paralysis of the will an

ter see you home,

be cured and maybe it will get worse. At present it does not prevent me attending t

d George, for this was the

do you kn

thi

ever, I'll see you again, and I'll trust you.

e, and George was staring