CHAPTER VI.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER VI.

SOJIK OF fSIJ.rat,EY BES'SOH's FItHNDS Madame Bakron's graciousnees to Shirley Benson, was not spasmodic. , It continued during his prolonged stay, and she sought every opportunity, without making the act conspicuous, of "talking to the young man in private. . It really looked as if thero might be some reason for Mary Brady's suspicion?. Madame Barrons one object in life eeeraed to be to make herself indispensable to the doctor, if not to Miriam, though, to thelatter, she was ever most thoughtful and considerate. iC Oh !" exclaimed Madame Barton, whan she and Shirloy wero alono on one occasion, "I do not iiko to think thafc that man is corning back again. I know not why I should feel so, but it makes me shudder oven to think of him." "What man is that, Madame Barron?" asked Shirely. " That Clarence Ashworlh," >ho said, in a chilling whisper. " Then you do not liko him?" ' I fear I do not." "Neither do I," s*id Shirley, veaching out hi 3 hand nnd sinking that of the madame in a burst of confidence. "Ah !'' she er.cl timed, "that makes another bor.d to unite us ; at:d I am glad to say we have many." 11 I hato the follow ; bat why do you think he is coming to YVillowcmoc ?" "Ob, be ia coming to Berisford Manor." " Miriam told you thai ?" said Shirley, in surprise. "Sho did, Mr Benson " •'When?" "La?t night." "Strange thafc f-be s .hould have eaid nothing to mo about ib. J cl:> not like it," " But, Mr Benson, you thould not forgeb (.hat, tiiis Clarence A- h worth ia a kinsman of Mademoiselle Miriam/ laughed the madame, •'I loved Miriam all the more/ said Shirley, musingly, " because sho was so nearly kinless. I have no end of relatives, but excepting my own immediate family I don't care a pinch of snuff for the whole lot." "Mr Ashworth had a great trouble when ho wa3 here," said the madame, thoughtfully, "so ie was natural for the darling cliiid, Miriam, to give him much sympathy Ah, eho is an angel in the jrentleness of her heart ; and then, Mr Clarence Ashworth was so interesting a gentleman, co handsome and romantic, that; I do not wonder he excited a lively interest in the &.weeb chi'd'a breast. Let me ?eo ; what is that old Fnglisrh saying about pify ?" The madame tapped her forehead with her index finger and looked inquiringly at Shirley, bub seeing that he did nob rush to her aid with the desired quotation, she suddenly brightened up, and said : "It is this : 'Pity is neiily related'— Ao ! Here are the exact words : ' Pity is akin to love.'" " I don't believe a word of that saying,'' snapped Shirley. "If there were any truth in it, then the poor, the unforluna^f.and the maimed would be more beloved than the fortunate ; and we know such is not the care '' "Ah ! but think, Mr Benson ; beauty i? never so powerful as when in tears ; and a handsome young gentleman with a great sorrow on his mmd — " "I'lon't believe Clarenco Ashworth has much sorrow," interrupted Shirley. " Then he must be a grand actor." "Oh! he's smart," said Shirley, with a curl of the thin upper lip. "Quick a3 a Hash, and with lots of brains -such as they are. And now I suppose he'll be lieh — " "Rich, handsome, talented, andTyoung ; that ; indeed, is an im sLbible combination. ): said the madam. Seeing a frown on Shirley's face, Bhe has'ened to add : " But why Ehouid wo consider dear Miriom in this connection? Has she not given yon her heart, and will she not soon bo your beautiful wife ? ' "You are sure, then, that sho loves ma ?' : asked Shirley, with an expression on his face r ,that showed he was half ashamed oi having asked the question. "Sure that she loves you?" repeated Madam Barron, and she clasped her hands and threw up her eyes with a rapb expression. "She love?, she worships you ! Still, love is jealous ; and it is not ever unchangeable. Ido not blame you for hating Clarence Aahworth, though, if you were married, as I hoped you would havo been ere this, there would not be the shadow of a dan tier." "When is Ashworth coming?" asked Shirley. '* I do not know, but I think within ten days." "And his mother is coming with him ?" " I believo co." " And they will stop at the manor ?" "Yes. Neither the doctor nor Mademoiselle Miriam would hear to their relatives putting up at the village tavern when there are a dozen unoccupied chambers in the manor." Then turning suddenly to Shirley, she asked : " Have you seen Madamo Ash worth ?" " Yes, frequently," replied Shirley. "Is she old?" "About fifty— she looks younger, but I judge ehe is about fifty, for I know that Frank, the murdered son, was just thirty." "The mother of such handsome men must be beautiful." "My mother thinks that Mrs Ash worth is very beautiful, and very accomplished. As girls they went to one school and were warm friends." " You are filling me with information," said the madame, as she laid her still shapely white hand on Shirley's arm. " You can see," she continued, " that it is natural for me to feel interested in all the doctor'j relatives. Do you think he has ever met this lady ?'•' ■ "I do not. You see, the Bsrisfords were a queer race ; and they considered, at one time, that when the girls married and changed theirname from Berisford to something else,. they were outof the family. Mrs Aahworth ia descended from Dare-devil General Berisford's sister ; and, < I believe, that branch of the family was lost Bight of until the recent murder, ''.said Shirley, - : . . : ThisVc.o,t?versatjon'' will ,gerye to , give a clue to Madame Barrons aspiration?, if it does not furnish a'hintitd'ner'cbaracter, ; * .She had "fefee'ri- an" 'i|iiportMt'!menab',(jf.' of ■•pr,'> : 'Berisf6r!d's;r'h6uBehbia, ; |V;andi//in;'sthe ■'dt^ifla\yhich/pp s enfed\-wiilih\the '• tvagic ; deat h 1 of ' - FranfcT&shwbrfch ; she was ! desti ne d: " to play no unimportant part,

Shirley Bensgn'tS' salGshnes? was manifest to nearly every one.but himself. ' '"■ . < He bad an. idea that Miriam was treating him unfairly. . , • He could riot see why she ehou!d give a thought to her father where bis own wishes were to-be gratified. '.' . • Without being able to give any reason for his feelings, ho was firmly convinced that in some way the coming of Clarence Ash worth had wrought a change in Miriam. - ■" ' ! > Her treatment of himself was as kind, even more considerate than be'ore, if that were possible} yet, when near her. the subject of Clarence Ashwoith would rise in his mind, or spring up during the conversation. I\eward3 had been offered by the f-heriff of the county and the governor of i he State for the arrest of Frank Ash worth's murderer. Shiriey Benson often took port in {he discussions, that promised to continuo indefinitely in Willowemoc, about the murder; and while ever careful not to talk in such a way as would subject himself to the charge of defamation, or what might be worse, if it came to the ears of Clarence Ashworth, he cunningly planted the germ of suspicion in the minds of the people by such reasoning as the following : Frank Aah worth had nofc an enemy in the world— therefore his death was not caused by revenge. The body wag not plundered ; therefore immediate gain was not the assassin's objeot. "Such crimes, when not committed by a person actually insane, are ins'igated by '.he hope of gain. Now, the detectives woiking on this case ought to rind oub the parson or persons most benefited by Frank Ashworths death ; and having done this, it's my opi :icn they won't be far away from the guilt\ paitios." Thii much Shirley Beneori would sxy, but when questioned by the villagers he ever declined to mention who the dead man's heirs would bo, though heexagjje rated the wealth left by him into something fabn'oii'. A few days afterthe arrival of Shirloy Benson at Berisford Manor, there came to Willowemoc two well dressed men, who put up at the village tavern, These men were detective?, and it chanced that both were well-known to Shirley Benson. Ostensibly these men were lawyers from the city, who had come up to spend a month or two, fishing and hunting in the mountains about Willowemoc; and Shirley Benson, proud of having their secret 1 , kept it to lr'ra self The senior of the ! e detectives was Wilson Biy, a quiet, clerical-1 joking man of forty five. The other detective, John Ptnfield, was under thiity. He dress :d well, was goodlooking and athletic, and to him Shirley Benson became very much attached. Ho took John Penficld driving over the hills, and at such times they would discuss FrankAshworth'smurder, andShirley would dwell with emphasis on the great wealth into which Clarence had come. John Pen6e'.d wasa generous, frank, young fellow, with an imaginary aptitude for tlie profession into which ha had drifted through the influence of friends. Wii-on Bly was a veteran, and to him the younger man leftallthedetailsof " The Willowemoc Mystery," a3 it was now called throughout the country. 11 1 have an idea," said John Penfield to Shirley one day, " that this old fellow they call ' The Jooke' might be in this affair." " Bid you ever see him?" asked Sliirley, 11 Never." " Would you like to meet him?" "Yes. 1 ' "Then," said Shirley, "I'll saddle on my horses to-morrow and we'll hunt the old fellow up." {To be Continued.)