The Mill Mystery

mething in

s melancholy

AM

eed, the most remarkable were to come. As I sat in this room of death-it was not far fro

s he crossed the threshold. "One dying and anoth

me. Going straight to the bed, he gazed silently at Ada's pure features, with what I could not but c

refore leave. I have a patient

" she

put in, authoritatively. "It is an

n the morning at Scott's Corners, and was just going to bed when yo

erry's

es

hat he uttered a mild oath. At all

ately dr

uld have confidence in me. I a

d me, it was so sea

you?" h

he said, and if too much experience was not wanted, would do better

he relied more on his own judgment

d your tongu

ho would not

my dress. "When can you be ready?" he inquired. "You

tes be soon en

t to fathom cros

or. But on the threshold he paused and looked back. "You have

answered

is Mrs. Pollard, and

and I involuntarily turned

good nurse, wonderingly. "I

attack. Apoplexy we call it. She fel

hot, he went out and cl

h renewed vigor. "The work has fallen into the right hands," tho

an ordinary sensibility, I had always heard that she was a hard woman, with an eye of steel and a heart that could only be reached through selfish interests. But then

r lover. For the pathos of the situation had touched all hearts, and her wish to be laid in the same grave with him met with no opposition. I could therefor

or me, and uttered a grunt of satisfact

he said, and led the way

began to feel a certain inward trembling not to be entirely accounted for by the fact that I was going into a strange house to nurse a woman of whom

dreading our approach to the house, which from its old-time air and secluded position had always worn f

my agitation, though he gave no to

ng was necessary but watchfulness and discretion. Mrs. Pollard lies unconscious, and all you will have to do is to sit at her side an

ucking up heart at what did no

aybreak we hope to have her daughter from Newp

se grand folks? And yet--But I promised I would sa

tance," he muttered. "But it is r

daughter, must have meant a great deal. I, however, said nothing, only listened in a vague hope of hearing more, for my curiosity was aro

eway with the necessary caution. For the night was unusually dark, and it was difficult to tell just where the gate-pos

house, we were hurrying up between the two huge lions rampant that flanked the steps, to where a servant stood holding open the door. A sense of gloom and chill at once overwhelmed me. From the interior, which I

t had not revealed before, a young man's form standing by the newel-post of the wide staircase that rose at our left

as I looked at them a sudden sensation swept over me that made my apprehensions of a moment back seem like child's play, and I became conscious that if a sudden call o

sion. "But," he suddenly exclaimed, as his eyes met mine, "this is not Mrs. Gannon." And he hurriedly drew the doctor down the hall. "Why have you brought this yo

speech till the words, "She is no gossip," came to salute me and make me ask myself if t

the kind of person to have over my mother. How could we--

sudden exclamat

ly cried, "do you in

esponse, "Would you expect us to

ng man, taking a step sidewise, threw

ut there must be a woman of some k

of this, for he was not a man easy to sound. But what I do know is that he stepped forward, to me with an easy grace, and giving me a welcome as courteous

, and my brother will int

der if Mrs. Pollard had preferred to surround herself with males, w

with a stare; "I thought it

ook of indignant surprise. "Do you want any thing of me?" I hastened t

th spite. "I came to see

could, for I did not wish to make an ene

e asked, coming nearer and looking

her, "really and

won't let me set a foot inside the door. And when I asked why they keep me out, who was always attentive and good to her, they say I am too young. And here yo

e they expected, and was succeeding, I think, in mollifying her, when a step was

nything?" she cried, and was out

aited me, leaning against the opposite wall. He was younger than his brother, and had similar features, but there was no charm here to make you forget that the

before he pushed open the door, and that with our first step inside he cast a look of inquiry at the bed that had something beside a son's loving anxiety in it.

es and the stately contour of her form. But it was attraction that was confined to the eye, and could by no means allure the heart, for the same seal of mysterious reserve was upon her that characterized her sons, and in her, as in the younger one of these, it inspired a distrust which I could imagine no smile as dissipat

had bid me watch. That he who inspired me with dread was behind me, I knew; but I would not turn my head towar

a hand was thrust over my shoulde

s the comment which a

sat down again, it was where he could see my face. I therefore felt justified in plying the fan he h

ose step it was that entered. At the same moment the young man at my side arose, and with what I felt to be a last sharp look in my direction, hastened to where his brother stood, and entered into a whispered conversation with him. The

ich by its very charm instinctively bade me beware. I, however, subdued my apprehensions, thinking, with a certain haughty pride which I fear will never be eliminated from my nature, of the dangers I had already met with and

, "you have seen Anice,

too much discon

olding me with his glance. "You need not answer," he again proceeded, as I opened

ver emotions I might experience from the mysteries surrounding me, this master of reserve should find there

s stricken at the sudden n

t, too, with an effort I could not help but feel, notwithstanding

sible not to hear them-"has not been well since my father died, two months ago. It needed but the slightest shock to produce the result you unhappily see before you. That shock t

n vision of Ada's face, as she gave me that last look, rise up before me, bidding me remember the

he concluded; and do what he would, his features became drawn,

impulse s

already has marked the event, though i

and real horror blanched his already pallid

I saw the doctor had refrained from

that Mr. Barrows' betrothed could not survive his terrible fate-that she

was actually staggering under the shock of his emotions. "I di

The woman he was formerly engaged to never loved him; but this one--" I c

and I could have sworn the

too keen an emotion for the occasion, pitiful as it was, he forced his lips into a steadier curve, and quietly s

in felt that secret distrust warring with a

ds," I continued, remem

liv

the other end of the room. Then he came back and sat down, and when I summoned up courage to glanc

rm before which we sat, and from which alone now came the one s