LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1504, 11 December 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE VILLAGE MYSTERY. (" Chambers's Journal.") [Continued.) I had been watching Miss Brown's varying colour for some time. Now, however, she suddenly reeled from her chair, and without further warning, sank unconscious on the floor. Of course, I started up, raised her, and carried her to the sofa in the library ; and after a little while she recovered, after the usual remedies had been resorted to. She laughed at herself rather hysterically, said she had been very silly, murmured something about the hot fire and the smell oi dinner, and asked if she could lie down for a while in her room. When she fainted J. had loosened the stud which fastened the collar at tier neck, and while doing so, a small gold chain appeared, at tho end of which was a plain gold wedding-ring. Miss Brown's first movement on recovering was to replace this ring, while a deep crimson blush overspread her countenance. No one had seen it but myself ; Mrs Nixon had left the room to fetch some sal-volatile j and the children had of course been exchuL-d. This circumstance somehow made an impression whivh 1 could not got rid of. It was now

only a week to Christmas-day, and the preparations for Christmas festivities were going on rapidly. I had seen more than ever of Hilda Morton lately, and had assisted her in finding out who were the objects of her parents' Christmas bounties, and in distiibating them with her. There was to be a large children's party at the Rectory the evening after the 25th Christmas-tree, games, and all sorts of delights, ending with snapdragon ; just a merry gathering of little ones whom the rector and his dear wife loved to see around them. Miss Brown of course was to come with her young charges » and I was to assist Hilda in lighting and hanging the Christmastree with gifts. Daring the evening, and while Hilda and I were alone, and supposed to be engaged in lighting up the tree, 1 took courage, and in desperation spoke out my whole heait to her. Her reply sealed my fate, aud made me the happiest of mortals. Dear old Dr. Hamilton knew my secret, and indeed had, I knew confided it to the rector ; for my old friend had encouraged me in my suit, and had said, with a twinkle in his eye : 'Go on, my boy ; you have nothing to fear from any stern father's opposition, I know; so pluck up your courage, and attack the enemy herself.'

Now, as he entered, I felt that he guessed our secret; and as he came up to me and gave me a poke, he said—' So, you sly young rascal, you've been and done it! I thought some mischief was brewing when you two went off to light the candles so eagerly. I know all about it, little one,' he added, as Hilda came up; 'God bless you, darling I' and the tears filled his kind old eyes. ' This is what I always wanted-the son and daughter of my two best friends united; now I am quite happy.'

During the interval which followed the Christmas-tree, and while the children had their tea, I made my confessions to the rector and Mrs Morton, and was intensely gratified at the manner in which they received my request. They made no difficulties ; and indeed I found Dr. Hamilton had smoothed all these away, having not only told them of his intention to resign his present practice, which was a very large one, to me, but to leave all his fortune to Hilda, which, though not large, would be a very considerable addition to the settlement I was myself able to make upon her. So all went merrily ; and when tea was over, games began, and the old people made themselves into children again, and delighted the hearts of the little ones; and Miss Brown was wonderfully clever in devising new games and in making herself, as she always did, both popular and useful. Mrs Coulson was one of those extra hands always in request at the Rectory when any unusual bustle or cleaning was going on, and of course she was there on this occasion ; and baby, who was the darling of Mrs Morton, was specially invited too. He was now a plump, rosy little thing, pulling at everything and noticing everything within the range of his little hands and bright intelligent eyes. He was the delight of all, especially of the ladies, and was paid an amonnt of baby adoration which he seemed quite to appreciate and approve of. The mysterious remittances still continued sometimes presents of clothes, always money, and now a nice warm gown for Mrs Coulson, and garments for her husband. These had now ceased to excite wonder, and indeed the baby was now looked upon as no longer a novelty. When the tun of that delightful Christmas entertainment was over, and the little ones were preparing to leave, Miss Brown, who was holding baby, was observed to stoop and make anxious search for something on the floor. Hilda and I stepped forward.

* Have you lost anything, Miss Brown ?' said Hilda.

'Only a trinket I was in the habit of wearing always,' she said; 'and which I think baby clutched from my neck. But please do not make a fuss about it; it may be found afterwards.'

• But we must find It,' said Hilda. ' Get a candle, please, somebody, and wc will have a look.' ,

' Oh, please, Miss Morton, please do not trouble yourself,' Miss Brown answered hastily. 'lt does not matter now. I would so much rather you did not hunt for it.' ' Nonsense!' said Hilda. It must be found. It can't be far off; you have never moved from that spot, you know.' Miss Brown's agitation increased so much, that all eyes were now turned upon her questioningly. « What is'it like? said 1.-

' A little goli ornament,' she answered. ' Bat, dear Miss Morton,' she said to Hilda in a low voice, ' please do not look when all these people are here. If I may come back quietly and look for it afterwards, it would be much better. I cannot tell you more now ; do please let me have my own way in this.'

Hilda looked surprised, and answered rather stifily : ' As you please, Miss Brown. Of course, if you would rather we did not find it, we will not look.' • Oh, it is so hard to tell you,' said she sadly; ' but I think you would be kind, if you only knew, and would pity me. I would give anything now for a friend to speak to.' My gentle Hilda turned a look full of sympathy and kindness upon her as she said these words, and kissed her tenderly. ' Yon shall tell me as much or as little as you like,' she said ; ' and I want you to feel you have a friend in me. Now come away; and when this room is cleared, you shall come back alone, and look for your mysterious trinket undisturbed.'

We followed the crowd into the drawingroom, and were snrprised to see baby, who was in Mrs Morton's arms, the centre of an excited group. ' Where did the little creature get it ?' ' There is no married lady here but yourself.' 'What a thick one!' Such were the exclamations we heard on every side ; and coming up to Mrs Morton, saw in her hand a plain gold wedding-ring, very thick and massive, which Master Baby, with a babv's instinct, had found a most desirable object to put into his mouth. At one end was a small piece of fine gold chain, to which the ring had evidently been attached

• Who does this pretty thing belong to ?' cried the children. And no one spoke 'lt is certainly mysterious ' said Mrs Morton • How did baby get hold of it ? Who claims it ?'

• I do,' said Miss Brown, as she came forward very slowly, and growing so pale that I scarcely thought she would be able to stand. 'lt is mine,' she added, quietly taking it from Mrs Morton's hand ; but her own trembled so, she could scarcely bold it in her fingers. • I suppose it was your mother's,' said Mrs Morton,' and therefore very predouß to you ?' Miss Brown bowed, said hurriedly that it was growing very lato, and that Mrs Nixon would expect the children home; and carried oil tho little ones as quickly as she could. When she had gone, there was a good deal of talk about the strange fiuding <vf the wedding-ring, and Miss Brown's agitated manner. Hilda and I went to a distaut sofa, and there discussed the matter, of which we knew more than any one else, and I also confided to her that I had seen that ring before, and under what circumstances.

' I wish you could induce her to make a friend of you, Hilda,' I said. ' I have now watched her very closely for a long time, and believe me she has Borne very sad trouble to bear ; and I think, somehow, in my secret heart it is connectsu with baby.' ' What do you mean ?' cried Hilda excited!y. ' Why do you think so, Harry ?' • Her strange behaviour that awful night of my arrival here ; her eagerness ; her face when the little one was found unhurt; her visits to the cottage. One day when I passed she did not hear my knock, and was sitting there with the boy on her lap, calling him her child, her darling, her own aweet boy ; while she sang to him and cried ov*>r him, and went on in a manner very unlike what you would imagine to be placid Miss Brown's.

' But why did you not tell me all this before, Harry V said Hilda. ;

• Why did you always run away and put me off, when I wanted to tell another kind of Becret, you naughty girl?' I answered.

' Because, sir, it is not good for people always to have everything they want at the very moment they want it! replied she saucily. ' But now I have a sort of claim upon you to know all your ideas and conjectures, and I won't allow you to have any more secrets from me. Do you hear that, sir V

I did hear; and forthwith we had a long chat, ending in Hilda's making a solemn declaration that many days should not elapse before she had fathomed the mystery. Her curiosity was fairly roused, and Hilda was only a woman after all! ' I know it is nothing bad or disgraceful,' she said.' ' Those gentle lovely eyes could not look one straight in the face as they do, if guilt and wickedness lay behind. No; she may have been deceived or deserted; but she is good and true, and that I'll stick to anyhow. I shan't Bleep much to-night, Harry,' she said ; 'I have too much to think about; and you, you bad boy, have disturbed my mind too. I wish it were tomorrow, that I might go up to the Poplars. Now, go away, do, and don't keep that poor old Father Hamilton up all night.' We joined the elders, who were still talking together, wondering over the mysterious ring ; and after a few parting words we separated. (To bo continued.)