The Mill Mystery

ctions that a

t within which

AM

Ster

r's chamber, and was now watching the returning hues of life color her pale cheek. At the sound of my name, uttered behind me, I arose.

you follow me?" asked that gentlema

rington, but he impat

roperly looked after." And, leading the way, he ushered me out, pausing only to cast one hurried glanc

he offered

ed," he explained, "and I wish

t I did not hesitate. I fel

omfortable sensation that my tone conveyed s

darkness itself when we entered. It was musty, too, and chill, as

here of cold reserve. By its feeble flame I noted but two details: one was the portrait of Mrs. Pollard in her youth, and the other was my own reflection in some distant mirror. The first filled me with strange tho

ly was, and pale if not haggard with the emotions I had experienced, there was still something natural and alive in my image tha

courage, or, perhaps, I should say, before he took the determination to look me in the face and open the conversation. When he did, it was curious to note the strife of expression between his eye and lip: the

ves-for we children are but one in this matter-in a position which would make any after-explanations exceedingly difficult. For explanations can be given, and in a word; for what has doubtless struck you as strange and terrible in my mother's

eye and lip became more marked. He went on, however, as if perfectly satisfied, his voice

my brother and myself, that Mrs. Harrington had been the occasion of some great misfortune to us; whereas the innocent girl had done nothing but follow out her mother's wishes, both in her marriage and in her settlement in a distant town. But the love my mother had felt for her was always the ruling passion of her life, and when she came to find herself robbed of a presence that was actually necessary to her well-being, her mind, by some strange subtlety of disease I do not profess to understand, confounded the source of her grief with its cause, attributing

ere Dwight who had said that!" And the realization which it immediately brought of the glad credence which it would have received from me had it only fallen from his lips caused an inward tremble of self-consciousne

I could already give you the title of friend. Will you accept it from m

r, so much as it was wonder and a desire to understand the full motive of a condescension I could not but feel was unprecedented in this arrogant nature. I therefore gave him my hand, but in a steady,

omfortable for us." "And what have I said and done," I could not help remarking, though neither so bitterly nor with so much irony a

no means the reassuring and perhaps attractive one he doubtless meant it to be, he fixed me with his subtle glance, in which I began to read a meaning, if not a purpose, that mad

pression I received, even that which might be given by the bold gaze of an unscrupulous man. So I determined not to believe in it, or in any thing else I should see that night, unless it were

g look-oh, my God! was I deceiving myself?-deepened in his eyes-"I hope the day will come when you will see the sunshine stream through the gloom of these dim recesses, and in the new cheer infused into the life of this old mansion forget the scenes of horror that encompasse

. I could not be sure of his feeling, however, for almost on the instant his brow cleared, and advancing with an excuse for his interruption, he spoke a few l

several moments before he spoke, and when he did, his voice

king to you, trying, I presume, to explain to you the

no words to say, though he evi

went on, after a moment's intent scrutiny of my face. "I hope he has

ubtle attempt to learn the nature of the interview which had just p

very soul, but I gave him no help to its unde

ome effort, "that it is our wish for you to r

d, "he said not

in that rich and deep tone which t

r's death have made a great impression upon me; that I cannot, in spite of all explanations, but connect some special significance to the oath you were requested to take; and that, weakened as your mother may have been, something more terrible than the mere shock of hearing of her pastor's sudden decease must have occasioned emotions so intense as to end in death and delirium. If, the

iven you such an assu

," I re

o you ask o

ible for me

rom his lips, how could it be

onfusion ke

time with feeling and something li

ust have the assurance I demanded,

k, I feel confident you would

ed for it,"

did not come. I felt, my heart growing sick, and as for him, he started

ding before me with a sombre but determined air. "My pride alone is sufficient to d

ue friend to Ada Reynolds I may remain in th

you

control, "I do not think; I do not wa

rn up and down the seemingly darkening room. When he ca

rds, "do you remember a conv

n rush of hope that a

de a solemn assertion; do

d, if I did no

ion again-is it suf

ply, as any man of spirit, let alone one of such a proud and aristocratic nature as his, would be apt to under the circumstances, I saw tha

emain, Mr