A GREAT WRONG, Or, The Mystery of Black Hollow Grange.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10017, 13 April 1910, Page 2

A GREAT WRONG, Or, The Mystery of Black Hollow Grange.

CHAPTER XVIII.-Continued. 'Very well, you shall go home,' she replies) serenely 'Here, Jane, assist the young lady to riri-.ss, and have her luggage sent down there is a gentleman below who will accompany her.' Jane obeys, but poor Ishbel is so nervous and married that the toilet occupies twice the necessary time. She stands ready at last, in a pretty travelling-suit that Arthur had bought her in London just before her marriage. My lady reappears, 'Come,' she says imperatively, and Ishbel fellows her down. Doctor Carroll meets them in the hall, and gives her his arm, which she accepts with shrinking terror. 'Good-by, my dear,' says her ladyship pleasantly. 'Take "excellent care of-her doctor, and -mind you take her home to her friends.'

Slje gives the' doctor a meaning glance, snd takes the cue.in an instant. V •'

'Home -..t0 her friends, to be sure,* he answers. 'Come, my dear,!*, ..

He leads her out arid assists her info a wailing carriage. My lady follows to the v„ry steps. "One word, doctor,' she whispers as she slips a roll of crisp nutes into his hand, 'This matter is confidential, if you please. buch things are so painful ' 'My dearest Lady Marlowe,' he cries with great ardor 'A mere waste of words; I understand my business.'

They clasp hands, exchange glai»ces, and the doctor takes his seat. As the carriage moves down the drive, Ishbel puts out a piteous, tear-stained face.

'lf you —please, my lady,' she sobs, 'when ArchurJJcomes —will—you —tell—tell hir"—l left my love for him!'

My lady makes no reply, and the carriage rattles away, and Ishbei's dream of wedded happiness and grandeur is ended forever. The entire day is occupied in travelling, and ishbel thinks the journe.v to her childhood's home is extremely long. At last, as duals is partly falling, she impatiently exclaims: 'What a tedious drive! When shall we get home?" The doctor points to the left-hand window, through which the lights from a large building are plainly visible.

'You sea the lights yonder?" he says.

Ishbel gives a glad, childish cry. 'Ah! arc we Hearing the old Fellside farm?' she asks.

•No, child,' the doctor answers a 'trifle gravely, 'we shall not be able to r«ach the Fellside farm till to morrow* That building yonder is—is Moreton 'House, ?nd as the weather is disagreeably cold, aud you are warn out,-we'll remain there for the night.' 'I wish you would go on; lam so anxious to get home,' sobs ishbel. "To be sure; but overtaxing, your strength and falling ill on the road won'tghelp you at all. Bear the hail how it rattles! No, no, 'twould be madness to think of going on ; we must put up at the Moreton House, my dear.' ' ' Ishbel sinks back into her seat, bitter tears of disappointment trickling down her'wan cheeks; and in a very short time they draw up before the gates of Moreton House. Immense iron gates they all are, closely shut; and a ihassive brick wall runs round the entire extent of the grounds. The mansion itself is large and old-fashioned, and rather gruesome to look at, especially in the weird light of the flaming lamps. 'What a dismal place,' sobs Ishbel, with a shudder, as the doctor lifts her out and leads her along under the clanking elm boughs. 'Ob, no, indeed; on the, contrary, quite a comfortable place,' lie replies as he rings the bell. A porter appears on the instant, and as the doctor announces himself the gates flies open as if by magic; so does the front door, when they reach it, and the doctor conducts Ishbel along a broad hall and into a pleasant sitting-room. 'Say to Mrs Latimer that Doctor Carroll and his charge are here,'he utters in a low voice to the attendant.

In two minutes Mrs Latimer enters —a handsome, middle-aged lady, in full evening dress. She puts out a large white hand and gives the doctor a coridal welcome. 'This is Miss Melville, Mrs Latimer,' he explains, and I want you to make her as comfortable as possible for the night.' She is very tired and hungry, too, no doubt.' Mrs Latimer shows her handsome teeth as she smiles, and tinkles a bell near at hand. A second woman en- ' ters, very stout and strong, but pleasj ant of aspect. 'Ruth take charge of Miss Melville,'nods Mrs Latimer. 'Show her to room fourteen, with fire and a isood supper. See that she is quite com fortable.' Nurse Kuth pounces upon Ishbel without a word and hurries her j away. '

BY E.OIA GAEFJ ON JONES. Author o£ "Pelf and Power," "Strathmore's Sin," Etc, etc.

'Well?' questions Mrs Latimer, turning her fine gray eyes upon the doctor. 'Miss Melvilie—wild monomaniac,' he explains, with a professional air. 'No expense to he spared, first-class treatment, no quesions asked. And ba sure,' he acids with marked em phasis. 'you keep her here. I foot the bills as they come due.' •Very well,' bows the benitrn lady; 'and now sis down, doctor, acd I'll ring and order your supper.' 'Bless us, no! I'm off this minute —due in London by dayilght. Good night. Mrs Latimer. You'll not forget my. directions?' 'I am not likely to forget, doctor.' He i'a gone while she answers. The great door closes with a clang, and the desolate winter night settles down'upon MoratonHouse., its gruesome surroundings. In the small but comfortable apartment Ishbel sleeps we'll, for she is utterly worn out'-rsleepi. and dreams of the.handsome bridegroom ghe loves 30 fondly..' Ha is with her again, his arms are about her, his kisses on her lips. She awakeb with a great sob, to find it all a dream. One high, barred window, against which the hail still beats, looks down upon the sodden gruuna and the bare, tossing trees.

She gets up and makes her toilet, with a strange prophetic pain at her heart.

She climbs upon the small bed and looks out of the barred window: the weather is wild and -wintry, and her heart sinks. Will that doctor keep her at this wretched place all day, she wonders.

While she watches the driving sleet strange sounds come distinctly to her ear—hideous shrieks, outcries, and curses that make her blood run cold. What in Heaven's name can it mean? What sort uf place is this Moreton House?

She shivers and grows faint with terror, and is on the point of leaving the window when a strange figure in the grounds below catches her eye. Iha figure is that of a woman, and she wears a gown of coarse ssrge; a clanking chain drags from her ankle; her hair dies in matted masses, and her face is like the face, of a wild beast.

She goes scudding across the stormy grounds, clanking her chain and uttering fearful, shrieks; and Ishbel, though she grows faint at the sight, watches hsr with.a,sort of fascination. The woman reaches the wall and begins to ciaw and scratch at it, in her wild efforts to scale it; but at this juncture a man comes running across the grounds, and calls to her in an authoritative voice. She turns and leaps at him like a panther as •he comes up, tearing him with her nails and biting him with her teeth. He-gets out his whistle and blows it lustily, and in two seconds half a dozen men coine to his relief. They overpower the strange creature, pinion her arms, and bear her away, her hideous crie3 resounding in all directions. Ishbel drops back upon her couch, quivering in every limb. 'Oh, merciful Heaven' Bhe murmurs with white gasping lips, 'what place have they brought me to?' Her door opens noiselessly,! and Nurse Ruth enters, with a tray of edibles in her hand.

'Well, miss, and I hope you'ye had a good night's rest' she begins in a cautious tone.

Ishbel leaps up and seizes her arm. 'Where am I?' she demands in midden indignation, 'answer me! I saw that awful creature below there a minute ago, and I've heard the terrible cries. What does it mean? What sort of a place is this?' The woman only looks at her and smiles, • a smile of fearful significance.

'You do not anwser me,' cries Ishbel. 'Where is Doctor Carroll? Let me see him this instant! I won't' remain.under this roof another hour!'

•Doctor Carroll has gone,' jthe wo man answers quietly.

'Gone!' echoes Ishbel. 'Ob, you are surely mistaken.'

'Not I. He went last night.' The girl sinks down on the foot of the couch, her limbs refusing to support her. 'Why he was to take me borne this morning—home to the Fellside farm,' she falters.

% think not; you have made a mistake,* Nurse Ruth replies with stolid calmness. 'He brought you here to stay. No need to fret, however, we'll treat you very kindly.' 'Here—to this place!' Ishbel almost shrieks. 'Woman, are you crazy" Lady Marlowe said I was going home!' •No doubt she said so; but you are to stay here, nevertheless. Doctor Carroll has gone; so pray] have your breakfast and don't get excited.' TO BE CONTINUED 1