Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, July 24, 1897, Page 6

ce emacemoansormen 1 CHAPTER XXI—(Continued.) “Something, your worship, as I think will throw a little light upon this dark subject. I found this coat hanging up in the wardrobe of the colonel’s dre: ing room. You see, the cuffs are §hi potted with blocd, openings of the pocket ns if bloody shunds had been thrust into them. The colonel’s servants may be able to swear to the coat,” replied Hudson. “Bring it here; let us examine it; and then go out and call Colonel Greyille’s The constable laid the coat upon the table before the magistrates, and then went ott to fetch the new witness, while everyone else in the room drew near and bent forward to gaze upon the bloody token. But among all the bend- i none seemed so full of horror ment that of Fulke Gre- Like the Gorgon’s head, the sight d to turn him into stone. Before any one found a tongue, Hud- son reappeared, conducting Corporal Knox, the body-servant of Colonel Gre- ville. Room was made for him; the oath ad- and so are ministered and his eviden It was very brief, but vet vonclusive. “What is your name?’ asked the ames Knox, your worship.” re you the servant of Colonel Gre- ; it is one of my master’s vats. He wore it last evening.” ne lay it off upon retiring to his your worship; as soon as T had lighted my master to his dressing room, he took the taper from my hand and bade me leave him, as he should not need my services any more that night. I went out, and he locked the door after me.” “When you answered his bell and en- tered his room this morning, did you see this coat!” * your worship; my master told get another more suitable for morning wear. And so I neither saw or even thought of the missing coat.” This was the gist of K& evidence. other unimportant questions ked, but they elicited no further ition. “Do you wish to put any question to this witness, Colonel Greville?” coldly inquired Mr. Erlingford. “I do not; I say, as I said in regard to the evidence given by Miss Powers—L admit the facts, but deny the inferen- F For all comment, Major Burns point- ed significantly to the blood-stained cuffs before him. “On my truth and honor—as the Lord is my judge—and I hope for salya- tion—I know not how that blood came upon that coat! I know it was perfect- ly fresh and spotlessly clean when I thi t off last night, just the instant before I sank into the arm chair, where I fell asleep,” said the colonel, solemn- ly. The two magistrates consulted _to- gether for a few minutes, and then Ma- jor Burns turned and addressed himself to the accused, saying: “Colonel Greville, a most painful duty 1 before me; and I have no alterna- tive but to perform it. of Miss Pomers as to the conversation which oceurred between yourself and uncle som ago, together with the fatal words you used in reference to your late unhappy wife; the fact that you alone of all the world had access last night to that poor lady’s chamber, and the circumstance of the blood found upon your coat sleevi all combine to fo. f evidence you, as leaves me no choice of whatever. It is my solemn du- ty end your case to trial before a higher tribunal, where I hope, as often stances may ur fame. Mix, e out the mittime Ir. Magistrate,” said Fulke, gravely, ‘since the d h of my beloved wife, existence has lost for me all its worth and sweetness! Even liberty was valu. able to me only as affording opportuni- ty for tracing out her fate. I will, therefore, only ask of your kindness that you will send off a messenger to bring Captain Fuljoy home, that he nay act for me in this search.” ing, Fulke Greville bowed strates and sat down. Burns promised to comply with The warrant of commit- Major this request. tal was sisned and delivered to Hud- son. And the same morning Fulke Gre- ville was conveyed to the county pris- or, some twenty miles away, on the min land. CHAPTER XXII. \We must return to Astrea and take up her history from the moment at which, attended by her French maid, she entered her bridal chamber. She laid off her elegant evening dress, and threw on a graceful robe-de-chambre of white India muslin, seated herself in the easy chair and took the little Bible from the toilet table to read a chapter, as was her invariable custom before of- fering up her evening prayers. “Will madame require anything more?” asked Fifiine, as she arranged the footstool under her mistress’ feet. “Nothing; you may retire; I will ring when I want you in the morning,” an- swered Astrea. “Good-night, madame,” said the girl, -eurtsying. “Good-night,” kindly replied the lady. The Frenchwoman retired, and the bride was left alone. Why did Astrea replace the unopened Bible upon the dressing table, rest her elbow upon the arm of her chair and bow her beautiful head upon the palm of her hand, while sigh after sigh broke from her bosom? She had every means and appliance -of enjoyment at her command. She was_ bl wealth h beauty, genius and good- ness; she had realized the one blissful dream of her girlhood’s life; she loved The testimony j CONDEMNED pes, WEALTH. > 4 ae was beloved; she was a happy wife. Why, then, when left alone for a few moments, did profound sighs burst from her bosom, as though it were overcharged with woe? “Who can tell? For why does the young bird, secure in its little nest, yet shudder at the passing shadow of a hawk’s wing? A deep gloom, like the shade cast by the pinions of a descend- ing demon, settled heavily upon the young bride’s soul. In yain she tried to cast it off. In vain she called up all the dark scenes of her past life to com- pare them with the brightness of the present, and to assure herself how great a cause she now had for grati- tude and joy. In vain! for the dark shadow would not depart. At length, however, with a bound of relief from the wierd nightmare, she heard Colonel Greville ascending the stairs, enter his dressing room, and in a cordial, cheerful tone of voice, dis- ians which the apestle fills with advice and instructions to husbands and wives. miss his servant to rest. Now, she thought that in a few moments she would no longer be alone; for her lover- husband weuld rejoin her. She breathed freely and with a smile at her But she read with a divided attention— frequently lifting her eyes from the book and listening for those expected footsteps, that seemed so slow in com- ing. Useless vigilance! all was pro- foundly still in Colonel Greyille’s apart- ments! But she heard the sound of painful breathing near her dcor. It was Miss Hit’s panting and blow: as, with her bridal apartments and went up into the attendant nymphs, Mandy and Sephy, third story. With a gesture of petulant impa- tience, Astrea glanced at the ormolu recent childish weakness, she once clock upen the mantlepiece. It was on the stroke of midnight. Then, with a sigh, she resumed her reading of the finished her chapter. Finally she laid more took up her Bible, opened it, and began to read that chapter in Ephes- the book aside and listened. But as yet all continued perfectly si- lent in Colonel Greyille’s apartments. What was the meaning of this silence? her every sense was strained to its ut- most tension of vigilance. She listened heard the distant sounds of the kitchen servants retiring to rest in remote por- tions of the house. At length these, also, ceased, and not a motion dis- Again she glanced at the clock; it v purning dimly, as though presently it must expire. The shadow that had fallen upon her grew blacker and heav- jer until to her profound depression of spirits was added an excessive nervous iiritability, a strange terror of being left alone, and a wild dread of impend- ing ruin! She would willingly have re- tired to bed, but some awful spell seemed to rest upon her, to hold her fast to her seat, to deprive her of the power to move and the courage to look! Yes, in this strange, unexplainable pan- ic of the nerves, she dreaded even to glance over her own shoulder: And well she might! What dark form is that lurking above the shadows of her bed curtains? It is clothed in female apparel, yet seenis too tall to be a woman! Its face is con- eealed in a black mask, and its head wrapped in a black handkerchief! Its long, black gown descends to its feet, which are cased in thick, soft slippers incapable of sound. In its right hand it clasps what seems a dark lump of some yielding substance. With its left hand it holds by the hangings of the bed and guides itself along, as it glides stealthily toward the recumbent figure of the bride in th eeasy chair. It glides nearer and nearer- —it steals closer and closer—it stands at the back of the chair—this appalling spectre! Feeling, rather than seeing or hearing the atrocious presence, Astrea started shestole in reverential silence past the | Scriptures, and read on until she had | until her ears became so acute that she | on the stroke of one; and her lamp was | it has passed the | foot of the bed—it is crossing the room | turbed the deep silence of the night. | up with a smothered ery, but in an in- | stant a strong hand was clapped over her mouth, and a large sponge. saturat- ed with chloroform. was pressed to her nostrils, until her feeble, silent strug- gles subsided, and she sunk into her seat overpowered, insensible, and for the time being, dead. Then her head was laid carefully over the low top of the chair, and the sponge, filled again with chloroform, was placed over her mouth and nose to retain her in that state of temporary death, and a large | white sheet yas thrown over the whole | figure to confine the vapors of the dead- ly drug, while the dark minister of doom went about other nefarious work. It glided noiselessly to the deor con- necting the chamber with the dressing room ,and silently bolted it. Then as stealthily passed to the door leading out of the hall, and turned the key. Having thus secured the room against all chances of intrusion from anyone in the house, the apparition passed to the French window leading out upon the upper porch, and raised its shrouded arm. And at that signal, in an instant, the room was silently filled with a black crowd of dark forms, all clothed with long black gowns, and all wearing black masks, after the manner of the first one. There was one among the dusky group, however, that differed from the others—this was Fifine, the French maid of Astrea. The group gathered around the chair of the insens- ible victim, where they stood and spoke in low whispers. “Ts all quite safe?’ inquired one who seemed to be the leader of the band. “All, Outside of this room not a mouse stirs,” answered the tall figure who had signalled in the others. “And my brother, the happy bride- groom?” “He is tone dead for eight hours, or else there is no virtue in the black drap.” “Has she taken it?” Aa ee “No, Monsieur, she refused the wine in which it was infused.” ae could not be that she suspected - “No, Monsieur, that could not be, else would she have warned her husband. No, Monsieur, Madame did not suspect the wine. She declined it because she preferred lemonade.” sates: did you not infuse the drugs in that?” “Monsieur knows that the black drop would deeply tinge and flavor so deli- cate a liquid.” Old port wine is the only medium in which the color aad flavor of the black drep can be effectually hidden. And Madame Greville refused the strong old port wine.” “How, then, have you produced this deep sleep?’ inquired the leader, point- ing to the death-like form of the bride, covered, as it still was, with the white sheet. “It is not a sleep, Monsieur. It is better than that. I will explain. Mad- ame haying refused to touch the wine, all seemed lost but for the quick wit of Fifine. She proposed the vse of chloro- form. Ah, Monsieur, chloroform is a great agent of mercy, not only in the hands of the surgeons, but in our hands, as well! When, for instance, the subjects of our operations are likely to be noisy or troublesome, instead of be- and still as though th esoul had de- the face of the victim, now cold, white ing obliged to silence them by cutting their throats, as in former barbarous times, we can send them off in a swoon as sweet as the sleep of infancy!” “And so this is the swoon of chloro- form?” inquired the leader, lifting the sheet, and holding the light to examine the face of the victim, now cold and white, and still as though the soul had fled. “Par example! Mademoiselle pro- posed its use if I thought I possessed the courage and address to attempt its adininistration with success. If! Well, Monsieur, I arrayed myself in the hab- it and mask of our order, took the bot- tle and sponge and, seizing a favorable opportunity, slipped unobserved into the sacred precincts of the temple of Hymen and concealed myself in the bed curtains. I waited until I felt sure that the whole house was plunged in sleep, and Monsieur le Colonel, in par- ticu in the heaviest hour of his in- sensibility, before I ventured upon my experiment! Then it was easy to creep up behind my subject, clap my hand over her mouth, and hold the spouge over her nose until she dropped into this swoon—and it did not take twenty seconds to effect it!” “Victorine, you should be the Grand Mistress of our Order!” exclaimed the man she had called Monsieur. “I rule the Grand Master, Monsieur! it is enough for my ambition!” “But tell me, truly, did no one sus- pect your identity during the ten days that you have been in the service of the family?” “No one, Monsieur, not even Madem- oiselle Fifine, who did me the honor to approve my moustaches, and immedi- ately began to practice her fascinations upon me. She was rather disappointed to-night when I was forced to reveal myself to her!” This piece of information was re- ceived with a low laugh and a murmur of applause from the dusky group. “Your peculiar talent, no less than your courage and fidelity, make you in- aluable to our order, Victorine! The first mentioned is, indeed, amazing! The ease with which you become in turn the wandering Italian minstrel, the old Irish crone, the gay young En- lish officer, the French cook, or any- thing else our interests require you to be, is almost incredible!” “Truly? But you forget, Monsieur, that this is my trade! I was an indif- ferent comedienne before I became a novice of this order. But we are losing time, Monsieur. And though we may be perfectly safe from interruption, yet there is sé much to be done that we had better hurry. But first let us ex- amine the condition of our beauty here! It will not do for her to recover in the midst ef our proceedings!” With these words the speaker untied and laid aside her own mask, revealing the beautiful dark gipsy face of a wo- man not more than thirty years of age. Then she lifted the sheet from the face of her victim, and bent to examine it, saying: “The chloroform has all been inhaled or evaporated. The sponge is quite dry. Yet her face is death-like, her res- piration impreceptible and her pulse quite sunken. She is in as deep a swoon as any woman may be and live! Yet it 's best to make ‘assurance doubly sure.” Fifine, take the botile and the sponge and stand beside her. Watch her at- tentively, and upon the slightest indica- tion of returning consciousness, ¢lap the chloroform to her nose again. I have other work to do!” The French waiting maid obeyed, took the bottle and the sponge, and placed herself before the poor bride, from whose ghastly features she never once removed her glittering, snake- like eyes, until all the proposed devil- tries were enacted in the room, “Stand out of my way, all of you! I have something to do that requires space!” commanded the woman called Victorine. She was immediately obeyed by the others, who all with drew to the walls. “Now then, Monsieur! You are some- thing of a surgeon! breathe this vein!” she continued, stripping up the sleeve and baring her left arm as she walked | up and stood before the person ad- dressed. “What now, Victorine?” “Open this vein!” “For what purpose?” “Stupid! do you not understand that this ,our deed of darkness, must not seem to be a deed of abduction, lest we should haye the hue and cry after us! That it must, on the contrary, seem a murder, and his crime! That thus two most important points will be gained! We shall throw the avengers off the true scent, and we shall secure his ap- prehension and detention for some time, even if we do not get rid of him forever!” “Admirable! Victorine! you are the master-spirit of the enterprise” “I shall prove that presently by deeds, not words! Breathe this vein!” And again she offered her bare arm to his lancet. The vein was opened, and the rich, thick, crimson stream of life flowed freely. She extended her arm so as to let the blood drop fast as she moved from place to place through the chamber, noiselessly overturning chairs and rending draperies, and leav- ing upon everything she touched the commonly-accepted sign of guilt! No one could have looked upon the room without feeling convinced that some awful struggle between victim and as- | lead; one arm lay listless on her bosom; sassin, for life or death, had gone on within its walls. When she had com- pleted her task, she turned toward Dunbar and laughed the low, fearful laugh of successful crime and trium- phant guilt, saying: “A woman wide awake and sitting in her chair would not suffer herself to be murdered without making some re- sistance! Behold, therefore, the marks of a desperate conflict! It would be rich could we be present to see how the sapient law officers will dweel up- on all these signs as conclusive proofs that a foul crime has been committed! But by whom? I will help them to that conclusion, also!” And, saying these words, she went and drew the bolt of the door of the dressing room, and passed into it. Af- ter an absence of five minutes she re- turned, smiling, and whispering: “He sits in his chair and sleeps like ' the dead! His coat lay upon another ! chair near him. I have smeared the cuffs and the inside of the pockets, and hidden it in the wardrobe; ‘for it must seem his deed.’ Now, bind up my arm! my blood has done its work, and if but my ruse succeede, my veins have not been drained in vain! Now, bind up my arm, quickly! I tell you, I feel faint, for even I cannot lose so mu of my life-stream without giddine: And, even as the fell woman spoke, she turned ghastly white, reeled, and might have sunk to the floor, had not the man, who seemed the leader of the band, and whom she had called Mon- sieur, caught her in his arms, and seat- ed her carefully upon a lounge. He bound up her wound and took a flask of brandy from his pocket and placed it at her lips. She drank freely, breathed deenly, and exclaimed hearti- ly, though in a low whispe! “This is indeed eau-de-vie! me new life!” Then, springing to her feet, she said: “We must get her to the boat as soon as possible, for the transformation can ‘not be made until I have her to my self, fer a zood hour, and that can only be managed in the cabin of the ship. Brothers, be careful as you go to leave | no vestige of your presence here. Fi- | fine, when we have gone, look around, | and see that no sign of our nocturnal | visic remains.” “I will take care of that, madame,” answered the waiting woman. “Now, then, to remoye our beauty! ur, will you please to lend Ss, you will p the undivided honor of bearing her off? If so, proceed—none but the brave de- serve the fair! ” concluded the woman. The leader approached and raised the light, insensible form of the victim- bride in his arms, and passed with her through the French window out upon the upper front porch, followed by the other members of the gang—who, in | obedience to the directions that had | been given them, looked carefully around the room in leaving it, to as- sure themselves that no vestige of their fatal presence remained to betray them. And thus they pa d from the bridal chamber, through the front poreh and down the outer stairs to the | path leading through the shrubberies down to the water’s edge. The leader carried the insensible form of Astrea in his arms. The wo- man Victorine walked by his side, oc- | casionally shredding off fragments of | the victim’s muslin dress, or a lock of her golden hair, to hang upon the bushes, saying, with her horrible laugh: “This is to make his sapience, the magistrate, believe that her body has been dragged, struggling, through these bushes and cast into the sea! Thus, you perceive, I make it a com- plete case of perfect sequences! Nota link in the chain of events shall be wanting. It shall appear that Astrea De Glacie has been murdered, and by him who is called Fulke Greville. And if the strong objection your democratic juries feel to convicting a gentleman does not save him, nothing else will!” They shuddered—even those evil men —to hear her speak thus! They neith- er approved or replied, but pursued their way through the shrubbery until they reached the water’s edge, where a large boat lay moored and awaited them. The body of Astrea was carefully placed in the stern. And then the whole party embarked/ Six of them, three on each side of the boat, took oars and rowed swiftly toward a ship that lay at anchor about a mile below the island. On reaching the vessel they em- barked, carefully carrying the body of the unfortunate Astrea, who now, too late, was beginning to show signs of returning consciousness. Monsieur bore her down into the cabin and laid her in a berth, and left her in the care of Madame Victorine. Then, bounding up the stairs, three steps at a time, he threw off his black mask and black gown, and revealed himself as dashing a young sea captain as ever trod the quarter-deck. At the same moment, as at a signal, his dark companions threw off their sloughs, and appeared as reckless a set of sailors as ever worked a pirate ship or bearded a peaceful merchantman. At the word of command from their captain the men immediately com- menced work. Some occupied them- selyes with getting up the anchor, while others were busy with the sails and ropes. Meanwhile, in the cabin below, a sin- gular scene was going on. It was ina small recess in the interior of the ship, lighted by one small lamp that hung from the ceiling and swung with the motion of the waves. It was accom- modated with two berths, one on each side, and with a chest of drawers at the upper end, immediately opposite the stairs leading up on deck. On the edge of the right-hand berth lay ex- tended the body of Astrea—still dressed in the rich white India muslin wrapper, how much torn and defaced. Her beautiful face was marble; her glistening golden hair trailed in faded splendor over her shoulders and bosom; her violet eyes, under their snowy, half-closed lids, looked like orbs of It gives the other hung lifeless over the edge of the berth. Beside this form of death stood the woman, Victorine, still clothed in the long flowing black robe, but with her black mask laid aside, and holding in lier hend the sponge, saturated with the murderous chloroform with which she had again stupefied her victim. “There! that will do for the pres- ent!” she exclaimed, as she stood con- templating her fiendish work. “How long shall you be?’ inquired the voice of the captain, in a fierce whisper from the head of the stairs. “An hour,” answered the woman, in the same key. - “Do not be longer, for we sail with the first tide. And, mind—disguise, but do not disfigure her; it would spoil her market.” “I will not. I will only darken her. She will make a beautiful brunette. Her eyes are of such dark blue that, with black eyelashes, eyebrows and hair, and dark-brown skin, they will pass for black! Oh, yes, she will be equally charming as a brunette; more so, indeed, to those who think—'It is but the embrowning of the rind that proves the richness of the fruit en- closed within, ” said the woman, with a cynical laugh. “Besides,” she added, “how could you possibly get rid of a fair woman? Who would take her un- less I darkened her?’ “No one! You reason well! Perform your part as well! Change her com- plexion, but preserve her beauty.” “Sacredly.” “And finish your work within the time specified.” “Yes, I will; and do you be sure to have the boat ready to take me back to the island. The gallant bridegroom, haying lost his bride, must not also lose his French cook, else will the co- incidence of their joint disappe: suggest that the one has murdered the other and fled, which would be a great scandal; or that they had bolted to- gether, which would be a greater,” laughed the woman. “I will have the boat got ready in time. Victorine?”’ “Monsieur!” “Lest I should forget to remind you | in the hurry of the last moment, member that the next rendezvous is at the Balize.” “I will remember to mect you there, Morsieur. Never fear.” The captain then disappeared from the top of the stairs. And the woman commenced her dreadful task. First, she picked up the wick of the lamp, to raise a stronger light. Then she took a bottle of pale- brown. liquid from the top of the chest of drawers, and poured some of the contents into a tumbler. Then she took a soft piece of flannel, and ‘sitting down beside the insensible girl, began to dye her skin by dipping the cloth in the liquid and gently washing her face that soon changed from its trans- parent lily fairness to that clear, ligh- brown hue, peculiar to the complexion of quadroons. Her face, neck, bosom, arms and hands were all made to as- sume the color of the mixed race. when this process was complete, the | woman replaced the tuinbler and the bottle, and took from the same stand a large vial of° k preparation, labeled clipse,” with which, by the aid of a small sponge, she proceeded to saturate the golden hair of her victim, which began rapidly to assume a raven hue. Hair, eyebrows, and even eye- lashes were treated in the same man- ner. And when this second process was in its turn perfected no one could have recognized Astrea. Her fair complexion was now of a clear olive. Her glistering golden hair, and her delicately penciled eyebrows and eyelashes, were now inky black. In a word, the radiant blonde had beey | transformed into a brilliant brunette. She had been as beautiful as a sunny ady before; she was beautiful as a starlit night now. gazed, well pleased with x, Saying: “I Swonder what she will think when she first looks at herself in a ¢ ‘4d Her reason will be disturbed by het lost identity! And farther, what will she think when she finds herself out at sea, with none but strange faces around her? I should not be surprised if amazement were to drive her mad.” “Have you got through? We shall scarcely have time to put you ashore and bring back the boat, before the tide will serve!’ spoke the voice of the captain down the stairs. “I have; it is a ‘feat accomplished!” Come down and gaze upon the magic work! And tell me whether she were more lovely as a blonde or a brunette?” ‘The captain crept softly down the stairs and stood by his accomplice, criticizing her handiwork. < “She is exceedingly beautiful, even now; yet, in my opinion, she was far more so before you changed her com- plexion. But this may be a mere mat- ter of taste. I, being swarthy as a gipsy, naturally admire blonde women. Blonde men, on the contrary, might fancy this dark beauty. Besides, ss you justly hinted, it was nece y, for two reasons, to change hee into nette; first, to make her u 1-eco ble to her friends, and, secondl, render her saleable as a quadroon. You have done your work admirably,. Victorine.” “Thank you, Monsieur.” “And now to the boat.” The woman arose and followed the man to the deck. Here at the star. board gangway lay the boat, manned by six rowers. The captain handed Victorine in, took the place by her side, and gave the order to put off. The boat left the ship and was swiftly rowed toward the island. When they reached the shore the woman sprang lightly upoa the sands, and the boat was again turned with its head toward the ship. As the boat receded from the land, the captain stood up im the stern, waving his cap in adieu and saying: “Remember the rendezvous on the first cf June at-Balize.” “Lhe first of June at the Balizet 2 shall remember!” replied the woman, as she turned. and walked rapidly through the shrubbery toward the bouse. Day was just breaking as she glided up the stairs to the upper porch and passed through the French windows and re-entered the desolate ehamber of Astrea. The girl, Fifine, was sitting there in the morning twilight. “Has anyone stirred?” inquired Vie- torine, in a low voice. “No one; except that I heard that fat woman overhead turn in her bed and shake the house!” j “Then let us hurry to our chambers. Every moment that we remain here longer endangers our liberty and even our lives!” And with these words, after a last careful survey of the room, and a few more artistic touches to the picturesque crime, Victorine and Fifine glided noiselessly froma the chamber and stole up to their own rooms in the garret of the back building. The girl threw herself upon her cot bedstead to try to compose her own ex- cited nerves and gain a few hours of restcring sleep before it should be time for her to arise and perform her part in the morning’s work. But the woman, whose condition of tempered steel seemed to defy the ef- dazzlingly | | head, at the strange wa ily. First, she took the refreshment of A ikake ‘bath. Next, she folded her long, blaek hair compactly. and con- y cealed it all under a Inxuriant black, wig. This she attached to her uppe@ lip and chin the black moustaches a imperial. Aud finally she arrayed her™ self in the white linen round jacket, trowsers and apron of “Monsieur le Chef.” In which character the reader already knows * she performed her part te everybody’s admiration. CHAPTER XXIII o The boat was rowed rapidly back to the ship. It was broad day. The ap- proaching stn had fiushed with erim- son the eastern hcrizon. The tide was on the turn. It was going out. The captain sprang upon the deck, and be- gan to give his orders in an impatient and peremptory tone. The anchor v raised, the sails set, and the gallant little brigantine st out to sea. The wind was fair, and she ailed swiftly down the broadening creck and far out into the open bay. In an hour or two the shores of Mary- land had faded into the distance. Meanwhile, in the cabin below, AS- trea was slowly returning to conscious- ues: o human creature, much less & delicate young lady. would have been so long subjected to the power of ehlo- roform and recovered ea pletely Thus it her large di her in sem memory of the past, co! the present, or fear of the looked up at the queer ¢* pened that Astrea opened eyes and looked around without ature. She = over her at the odd little door at the head of the short stairs, and finally turned her eyes down upon the unknown form of the negro woman who had taken Victor- place. Then she rubbed her e) as though trying to awake from some unpleasant dream, and looked around once more! while her face be- sume first an then of perples s this? How came I And—who are you?” she in- ristfully at the negro. y hip de chile. Cap'n feteh you. I’se de stewardess,” replied the negress. q “Lhe Kite? the captaim? stewarde: What are alking about?’ claimed Astrea, opening her large eyes to their widest extent, and then hastily rising upon her elbow and throwing @ wondering glance ~ rcund the eabin. = “You’s on de Kite, honey, as I said “What plac here? afore. Cap'n fotch you. Use de stew- ardess, p'inted here for to ‘tend to you.’ “But what does it all mean? Where is the Kite goinz?Who is the captain? Why was I brought here? And where, oh, where, is my ‘us! , and why has be left ne here alone?” exclaimed 7 Astvea, heapiag qnes*ion upon question in ey iv pidation that seareely reached the climax of terror, for mem- ory and uader. iding had not as yet returned in full foree. . “Lor’ Gore ehile, how you does run on, to be sure! Who you think e to "member of all dem questions i to ’ply ¢s which you mus” know ‘nuff more "bout it dan ldo! A I kuow, boat w shore up de erik soner’s "bout ‘tw midnight an’ day, s & an’ fotch you olf ’n sheet in dead swoon; here; an’ me s your face ‘till little while ago, when eap'n tel! me come down 2 "ten’ to on. So how I know anything "bout guardian! itt Why- about to a negres ts “Cap'n Full-ob-joy? No, honey, I don’ know nuflin’ "2 1l "bout no Cap'n . ws interrupted by the Tult-cb-joy. 1 ’fers to de cap’n of dis ship.” “Then what does all this mean? And ' where is Colonel Greville? Why has he Ieft m wildly Jaimed Astrea. “Colonel—who, honey?” inquired the negress. “Colonel Greville! .Oh,. why has he left me alone so long in this strange place? I must have had a fe¥er, and been out of my mind, and lost my memory, for I have no recollection at I came here! Oh, you said ensible whem they brought me in here. Ah, to be sure! that was it! I have had a long illness, and have been delirious—indeed, my head feels very queer still—and they brought me while I was in a stupor! and they are taking me a sea-voyage for my health. I have heard of such cases before. Is not that it, my good woman?” inguired Astrea, smiling. “Haps so, chile? I don’t know nuf- fin” ’tall "bout it, any more an’ I told you.” “Why, certainly it is sof But how strange! Do you know, all these long weeks of illness are perfect blanks in my existence. The last thing 1 remem- ber was sitting in my bedchamber very late at night, waiting for my husband to eome in; and feelimg very ill and nervous, and being afraid to look i around, and fancying I felt or saw a tall, black spectre behind me, and screaming and fairting—and that is " all. That must have been the com- j mencement of my illmess. It must have been the sudden congestion of the brain—followed by long fever and deli- rium! Thank Heaven, I am_ better’ now! But why does Colonel Greville stay away so long? Pray go and let him know that the crisis of my fever has passed, and that I have recovered my senses, and wish to see him above all things.” “Chile, I don’ know what you're a talkin’ "bous, no more’n de dead! An’ I s’peets you don’t, nuther! I @gon't know nuffin bout no Colonel cog Dere’s no sien here—nebgr was.” ‘ ~- “What? Colonel Greville not nese? . Now Cans Fuljoy, neither?” ex- clair:ed Astrea, falling back per- i plexity. a Bs } “Nyther de one nor yet de oder! Neb- er ia all my boru days heard:tell on i *em.” ‘ “What? Oa! surely, they never sent me, ill, and on this. voyage alone? Who came vith ne? In whose charge was I placed?” asked Astrea, huried- ly, aaxlously, :