Back's Heroine.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4296, 7 October 1882, Page 1

Back's Heroine.

A MUTINY BEMINISCENGE.

[concluded fkom last wbxk ] ' When Nellie stood watching Jack's . retreating figure »s lie ran through the light pouring out from the. tyro bay windows, she first began to realise how completely alone she was, and how fearful was the task she had taken upon herself. Were the servants faithful? Surely Aladeen, the coachman, was a conspirator? She had always disliked the man, with his grim, scowling face; and ereu him coming across the garden, there was no stealth or fear of detection in his manner. He advanced fearlessly toward her, and asked her if she would be so kind as to tell him where the mistress was, as he had a note for her from the colonel, who had sent him.

" Give me the letter," she said quietly, "and I will answer for your mistress getting it." » A shade of alarm crossed his face, and . he hesitated for a moment to comply with the order ; but something in Nellie's face told him that she would stand no disobedience. He gave her the note, which was tied round with a piece of string and sealed in three places, and.then turned to ■ i "Alladeen!" ; "My lady." '• You will get the gig ready at once."

!• The gig, my lady ?" " Yes, the gig ; and put Bess in, and not Hiphero. You understand ?" -Alladeen made a respectful signal of consent, and went straight off, leaving Nellie standing on the lawn in great doubt, and with her mind full of suspicion. " Mary has gone to bed," she thought to herself, "and Bella, too. I must go to them at once." She crossed the grass and entered the dining room by the bay window. The room was dark, save where the moonlight was pouring in; so she took the matches from the chimney-piece and lighted the candle. The other two rooms she knew were still lit up.

Everything was still and silent—there was not a sound to be heard; and, brave girl though she was, a sort of fear began to steal over her. She looked nervously around, expecting to see some one watchng her. As she went through the door, she turned sharply, thinking that some one was following her, and then noticed that the window was wide open. She went . back and shut it, pulling down the clasp. As, she went, out this time, she shut the door softly and locked it. Then the stole alontr the passage and did the same, in the morning and cloak rooms, and when this was finished, felt more easy. As she ascended the stairs, she thought she heard some one moving in the ball room, and therefore went quietly and peeped into it. It was the native maid servant putting out the lights; and she gave a starfc as she heard Nellie's voice. " Light those again," Miss Gray said as quietly as she could. The girl, with a scowl, did as she was bidden, Miss Gray watching her the . while.

" Now go to bed," she directed. Then Nellie saw that all the windows were firmly clasped, and looked the door in the same way that she had locked the others.

Next she went up to the boudoir, where she thought the ladies might be; but it was quiet. She locked the door by which she had entered, and went into Mrs Gray's bedroom.by the other. That good lady was seated in front of her glass, having her hair combed by Parker, her maid, and looked up with a smile as Nellie entered* - ' Nellie felt more afraid of what she had to do now than .any of the rest of the work; for she knew what a nervous woman her aunt was. "Aunt dear," she began calmly,

"iomWtotitf very unpleasant has "hap." pened," and then stopped. . ; *l,Qood...|frac.i.Oßßl!" _cried .the-elderly. Wj; jumping up., " There is nothing, the matter.with Tom, is there F',.,-',• "" .- "No, nothing, I assure you," quickly 3 died" the other. '"It is about ourTeg....The- Sepoys are up in the neighbourhood, arid it is advisable for us to get into the barracks at once. There is no real danger, dear; but it is always best to ; be on the safe side." - " Oh, by all means, darling," said Mrs Gray. But you needn't have frightened me so much. -Caution, of course, is.wise; and we had better go off the first thing in the morningl" .. She had cut open her husband's letter, which Nellie had held out the moment ; ahe came in, and was now reading it. "■; " No, auntie,": cried her niece, "we must be off at once. The danger is more, pressing than that. Capt. Waring came back to warn us; arid he told me—'l . "." Good Heaven !" exclaim the colonel's wife. " Listen, to this." And she read aloud:— : r <■■-•• ••'DiAkr Wife:—Having received news that a rising is meditated in your neighborhood, I can't return myself at j once, but should feel happier if you got I into the fort immediately.. Love to every one. ' -1 ' : :. ' . . "' In haste, yours, Tom. "' P. B.—l don't think much of it; but better err on the saVe side'" "Well,",said Nellie, "that confirms Sr opinion. We had better start at once. oW Parker, be quick and dress your mistress while I go and warn Miss Bella," and without waiting to listen to the torrent of questions that the two women poured out, she ran off to her friend's bedroom and awoke her.. A like explanation was gone through with her; and, when this was completed, Nellie went, to change her own clothes and put on a riding habit. " There is only room for three in the gig," thought she. "I will ride Blue bell." . .

Naturally quick, she was soon dressed, and then went back into tke boudoir, unlocked the farther door and rang the bell. No notice was taken of the summons ; and a second and third being ineffectual, she went down herself to see what was' the matter. There was nothing but a chill silence through the whole bouse. A brave woman was Nellie, but her heart beat fast as she stood in the deserted kitchen and looked •round.. Oh, how silly she was ! Of course the' servants had all gone (o bed, and left the serrant girl she had seen to put out the lights. She would go to the stable 'herself. The kitchen door was unlocked, and so was the scullery door. As she stood in the passage she could see a light twinkling in the coach-bouse. -No dcubt Aladeen was getting the g«g ready. Holding uj> her habit, she crept quietly to the window and looked in. There were - two men talking inside, but as she did not understand Hindostanee she could sot xfiake out.what they were saying. One was .Aladeen, and the other a dark, scowling ruffian whom she had never seen before. Suddenly they both stopped conversing, and the stranger opened the door and came out, almost brushing against her as she cowered in the corner behind it. Ue went on down the passage and disappeared. For a moment she stood in blind terror; then, plucking up courage, she walked out from behind the door and faced Aladeeu. He was sharpening a knife on an old razor-strap* and looked up with a guilty start as he saw her. " Aladeen, is the gig ready P" He recovered himself as she spoke, and - went on insolently with his work. "No!" - " You will get it ready ?" "No!" Without a moment's hesitation she . turned away and walked back firmly into the house. She would go up into her uncle's "; den," a small smoking room.

She knew that a lady's small revolver was kept over the mantel piece. It was a toy of the colonel's. He bad bought it for Mrs Gray, but that lady had never touched it, and it had been hung up with many other weapons in" the smoking room. On her way Nellie searched in a cupboard in the kitchen and found a candle, which she lit, and then quickly and nimbly ran up the stairs to the den. Yes, there the revolver bung; on it depended the lives of all of them. She took it down almost tenderly, and blessed the day—long agor-when her brother j " sported a saloon " and made her practice | with a pistol. The weapon worked perfectly. But where were the cartridges? Happy inspiration ! She remembered that a few had been used by the colonel and Captain Waring one evening as they sat on the veranda, shooting at the great lizards on the wail. The cartridges were in a tin box. Was it on the shelf? Her heart iank when she found that the box was not there. „ i What was to bo done ? Every second was precious. Suppose the ..insurgent Sepoys grew impatient and did not wait for the lights to be put out ? She ran up wildly into thff colonel's room and searched on the mantlepiece and dressing table, in the drawers—everywhere. The box was not to be found. At last she thought of her ancle's, velvet coat he wore that night. She remembered it well. She looked around; there were some coats hanging against the door. She flew to them and seized them as a drowning man would seize a plank. As she did so, something rattled.' Thank Heaven, it was in one of the pockets of the velveteen coat. Perhaps it was the cartridges that rattled. Tremblingly she thrust in her hands and polled.out.the missing box. She could almost have cried as she raised the lid and'saw. the long, thin packets with tippings of lead lying side by side. After loading the revolver she hastened down stairs., and stole toward the coachhouse. Aladeen, still sharpening his -knife and chuckling to himself, stopped as he heard a light step on the stones. He ran to the window and peeped out, grinning with delight when he saw Miss Gray. „ "The'bird comes to the net,"* he laughed to himself. " Fool that I was to let it oat once." He drew back and waited for the door 1 to open, dropping the knife on to the che3t that held .the carriage, rugs. Nellie entered quickly; then Aladeen . leaped forward, with his arms open and an exulting grin on his dark fa<je. It was only to meet * small,! glittering barrel field unflinchingly to his face. His jaw dropped, and with it his arms. " Aladeeu, the gig is hot ready." The worif came slowly; great beads of iweat

stood upon the man's face. "By the" .Heaven above us I will shoot you dead"if .you do not do what I tell you, and' at once!"

He dropped his eyes and glanced toward the knife. She saw the look.

,M Now go before me to the stable—no closer—not an inch closer, if you value your life! Keep in front-^'so! "If you move quicker, I will shoot you through the back!"

„ They reached the stable door, and she made him open it and go in. The place was dark save for the moon, but there was light enough to lead out Bess. Nellie stood with the revolver raised, feeling no weariness in her excitement. She made the man harness the horse to the gig, and lead both round to the front door, walking behind him all the way, with the barrel of the revolver glancing in the soft iroonrays. She made him fasten the reins to the tree by the door, and then marched him back and compelled him' to saddle Bluebell and lead her round also; then she ordered him back once more—he was cursing under his breath but shaking with fear—and made him lock the stable door and place the key en the ground; and then told him to put the coach house'key down too She watched him go into the house as she directed, and then cautiously advanced and locked it. She peeped in and saw him stamping the ground with fury, and ran for her dear life up to Mrs Gray's room and hurried her and her companions down to the gig. She saw them drive off, and told them to go by the cutting ; and then she mounted Bluebell i and rode away slowly, as if to cover their ! retreat.

Presently two shots rang out on the night air, one after tbe other, and her heart seemed to leap up into her throat. Was Jack in danger—oh; Heaven! was Jack in danger? Then she heard a crash, as if from the coach-house, and she knew that Adaleen was free. She gave Bluebell tbe bridle, and cantered down the curve into the road. As they approached the cutting, however, she saw some figures in the road, and stopped irresolute. Were they friends or foes ?

The .men had seen her too. as they marched down. She prayed that they had missed the gig. They had not quite reached the cutting yet, but had broken into a run. She wheeled the mare round and turned back. If they would only follow her, the others might be saved, she thought. ;r - * ■■•.■■

The sharp report of muskets rang out upon the night air. Bluebell leaped forward madly. Was she struck ? No, surely not—she was dashing on again, her eyes glancing with fire. They were past the spot where the curve entered the road, and had almost reached the place where it left it, when Nellie beard a faint yell. It proceeded from Aladeen, who stood cursing as she galloped past. She was sweeping on now to the dark figure of M,ammo. She saw him in the dull grey liftbt; but a wild fury bad seized her; she would ride on heedless of everything. She aimed the revolver at him, pulling the trigger again and again at him and those who were - with him. They dashed wildly at her, but Bluebell was not to be held. back. On, straight down tbe Bandermunda Boad she dashed.

And thus it happened that the first man who saw Nellie Gray after she had passed Mammo was Cecil. She had passed Ben's Brake, and ridden on wildly till she reached ,the fort. Then the. good horse stopped, and, as some of the soldiers ran down: to' meet this strange rider, Miss Gray dropped from her saddle and fell into the road: motionless, while Bluebell bent over her, touching her cheek softly wi?h her quivering nostril. ,

The detachment reached the fort some hours afterward. The rising was quelled, and Jack and Cecil became the heroes of the hour. It got them both their promo tionJ After a little while Jack's heroine became Jack's wife, and the love that had been proved in a time- of bitter sorrow and trial, and amid death and tribulation, met its fitting reward. [the end.]