The Mill Mystery

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I was expected back at the Pollards', though my presence seemed almost necessary there, I felt that it would be impossible for me to enter their door till something of the shadow that now enveloped their name had fallen away. I t

from his birth. Not one of the ugly, mischievous sort, but a gentle, chuckling vacant~brained boy, who loved to run th

ing as much inquiry as admiration. A perfect blonde like her brother, she had none of the sweetness and fragility that usually accompanies this complexion. On the contrary, there was something bizarre in her whole appearance, and especially in the peculiar expression of her eye, that awakened the strangest feelings and produced even in the minds of those who saw her engaged in the most ordinary occupations of life an impression of remoteness that almost amounted to the uncanny. The fact that she affected brilliant colors and clothed both herself and brother in garments of a wellnigh fantastic make, added to this impression, and gave perhaps some excuse to those persons who regarded her as being as abnormally constituted as her brother, finding it impossible, I suppose, to reconcile waywardness with industry, and a taste for t

r, and was in some way imbued with a sense that she had been wronged. He was, therefore, jealous of any one who had, or seemed to have, gained the attention of the man who had possibly for

n which I found myself did not, as I was afterwards assured, contain a single rich article, it certainly had the effect of luxuriousness upon the eye; and had it not been for my inward agitation and suspense, would have produced a sense of languid pleasure, scarcely to be looked for in the abode of a simple working-girl. As it was, I was dimly conscious of a slight relief in the keen tension of my feelings, and turned with almost a sensation of hope to the boy who was smiling and grimacing beside me. But here another shock awaited me, for t

surmises I might have indulged, if at that moment the door at my back had not opened and a figu

you lost sight of her beauty in your wonder at the formidable nature of the character she betrayed. Then see her dressed as no other woman ever dressed before, in a robe of scarlet of

imbecile, and the same characteristics in a woman subtle and decided as this, awaken very different emotions in the mind. Though I had seen that same brow corrugated before, it was like a revelation to behol

nd for what do

hort of the heroic treatment would avail with this woman; "and

l that was worst became suddenly visible, as turning to her softly chuckling brother, she motioned him gently out of the ro

influence over her as she did over me. "I said I thought you knew why I came here. I said this, because this is not the first time we have

n," she broke in, in a voice so distinct I sca

declared, meeting her eyes with a look

nother step, while the flash of her glanc

sguise to spy upo

She gave a spring like the panther she seemed at that minute, but instantly rec

assion, drew up her slight figure to its height and said: "We

was fain to sit upon the pile of cushions

dared put in language the insinuations which you

al desire to keep their secrets to herself, flashed wide op

entirely wasted!" s

dvantage I felt myself to have gained -"the lines before they were defaced

of that joyless laughter; "there are

d of one who know your enmi

nly asked, after a moment of silent c

nt," was a

you

w

but yourself

e but

k I made no sign

and read?" she inquired at last, as she

alled upon to st

the lawyer!" was her

g," was the answer t

and a change

face. When it was at its height she leaned her two hands on

to keep his name free from stain and hi

answer; possibly because I had as yet

antage of my

o real weapons at my command?" and her eyes shot forth a flame that

I declared, "anxious to destroy w

she whispered. "He has tal

. "I know nothing save what your

shall hear how I have been loved, and how I have been forsaken. Perhaps it

at this, for she paused a

love him?

him wreck my li

r two hands closed vi

at your feet, or heard his voice, as day by day he pleaded more and

cried, fascinated by

ealized that her words might have be

ot boast,"

. I felt my eyes close spasmodically, and hurrie

races, even when it is backed by the wealth. I love and the position to which I feel myself equal? I tell you you do not know Rhoda Colwell, if you think she could be won easily. Days and days he haunted this room before I let his words creep much beyond my ears. I had a brother who needed all my care and all my affection, and I did not m

r seen greater passion, as I ha

t I was his destiny, and that he must possess me or die. Die? He would not even let me die when I found that my long-sought 'Yes' turned his worship into indifference, and his passion into constraint. But -" she s

huddering

ry patient, and are very still, but the time comes at last when even a woman

med to emit a flame like death. "Hush! we want no tirades, you nor I; only let me hear what Dwigh

s!" she c

osed her arm from my grasp and sto

urmured. "He will love you just s

once my pride a

ths too long," I averred, "if h

close to my side. "You would hate him, if I proved to you that he and his brothe

nd attitude. "I should try and forget such a man ever existed. But I shall not be easily convinced," I continu

what sort of garments those are which lie under the boards of

eated, in astonis

tion and not turn pale, stop me in my mad assertio

e gap, and she seemed by a loo

me?" I queried, dismayed at the prosp

you have seen him, I will see you a

ert the full force of my spirit and crush her. But I had an indomitable pride of my own, and

t Pollard again. I am not int

can easily be patient till then." And she ca

beauty, which was something absolutely dazzling in its intensity and fire. "I will have the

e to my homeward journey a terror and a pang which proved that however I had

ght Pollard had succumbed to her fascinations, but that having once seen the glint of that subtle soul shine from between those