CRUEL AS THE GRAVE

 A NOVEL. 

 BY MRS. EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH. AUTHOR OF "SELF-MADE, " "ISHMAEL, " "SELF-RAISED, " "FAIR PLAY, " "VIVIA, " "MISSING BRIDE, " "A BEAUTIFUL FIEND, " "CHANGED BRIDES, " "RETRIBUTION, " "HOW HE WON HER, " "A NOBLE LORD, " "BRIDE'S FATE, " "FALLEN PRIDE, " "LADY OF THE ISLE, " "THE MAIDEN WIDOW, " "ALLWORTH ABBEY, " "GYPSY'S PROPHECY, " "LOST HEIRESS, " "WIDOW'S SON, " "INDIA, " "THREE BEAUTIES, " "BRIDE OF LLEWELLYN, " "BRIDAL EVE, " "DISCARDED DAUGHTER, " "FATAL SECRET, " "TWO SISTERS, " "CURSE OF CLIFTON, " "TRIED FOR HER LIFE, " "PHANTOM WEDDING, " "LOVE'S LABOR WON, " "FORTUNE SEEKER, " "FATAL MARRIAGE, " "MOTHER-IN-LAW, " "CHRISTMAS GUEST, " "FAMILY DOOM, " "WIFE'S VICTORY. "

 "He to whom I gave my heart, with all its wealth of love, Forsakes me for another. "--MEDEA. 

 "And we saw Medea burning At her nature's-planted stake. "--BROWNING. 

 NEW YORK: THE F. M. LUPTON PUBLISHING COMPANY, Nos. 72-76 Walker Street. 

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 Copyright, 1888, By T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS. Cruel as the Grave. 

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 CONTENTS. 

 Chapter Page

 I. --THE BERNERS OF THE BURNING HEARTS 21

 II. --JOHN LYON HOWE 26

 III. --SYBIL BERNERS 32

 IV. --THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGER 45

 V. --THE LANDLORD'S STORY 48

 VI. --ROSA BLONDELLE 59

 VII. --DOWN IN THE DARK VALE 71

 VIII. --BLACK HALL 76

 IX. --THE GUEST-CHAMBERS 84

 X. --THE JEALOUS BRIDE 91

 XI. --LOVE AND JEALOUSY 104

 XII. --"CRUEL AS THE GRAVE" 112

 XIII. --MORE THAN THE BITTERNESS OF DEATH 126

 XIV. --THE FIRST FATAL HALLOW EVE 132

 XV. --THE MASQUERADE BALL 142

 XVI. --ON THE WATCH 147

 XVII. --DRIVEN TO DESPERATION 154

 XVIII. --LYING IN WAIT 175

 XIX. --SWOOPING DOWN 188

 XX. --THE SEARCH 191

 XXI. --SYBIL'S FLIGHT 198

 XXII. --THE HAUNTED CHAPEL 207

 XXIII. --THE SOLITUDE IS INVADED 218

 XXIV. --THE VERDICT AND THE VISITOR 225

 XXV. --THE FALL OF THE DUBARRYS 238

 XXVI. --THE SPECTRE 250

 XXVII. --FEARFUL WAITING 264

 XXVIII. --A GHASTLY PROCESSION 273

 XXIX. --GHOSTLY AND MYSTERIOUS 292

 XXX. --FLIGHT AND PURSUIT 306

 XXXI. --THE ARREST 324

 XXXII. --A DESPERATE VENTURE 334

 XXXIII. --A FATAL CRISIS 344

 XXXIV. --THE PURSUIT 354

 XXXV. --THE FUGITIVES 363

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 CRUEL AS THE GRAVE

 CHAPTER I. 

 THE BERNERS OF THE BURNING HEARTS. 

 "Their love was like the lava flood That burns in Etna's breast of flame. "

Near the end of a dark autumn-day, not many years ago, a young couple, returning from their bridal tour arrived by steamer at the old city ofNorfolk; and, taking a hack, drove directly to the best inn. 

They were attended by the gentleman's valet and the lady's maid, andencumbered besides with a great amount of baggage, so that altogethertheir appearance was so promising that the landlord of the "Anchor" cameforward in person to receive them and bow them into the best parlor. 

The gentleman registered himself and his party as Mr. And Mrs. LyonBerners, of Black Hall, Virginia, and two servants. 

"We shall need a private parlor and chamber communicating for our ownuse, and a couple of bedrooms for our servants, " said Mr. Berners, as hehanded his hat and cane to the bowing waiter. 

"They shall be prepared immediately, " answered the polite landlord. 

"We shall remain here only for the night, and go on in the morning, andshould like to have two inside and two outside places secured in theStaunton stage-coach for to-morrow. "

"I will send and take them at once, sir. "

"Thanks. We should also like tea got ready as soon as possible in ourprivate parlor. "

"Certainly, sir. What would you like for tea?"

"Oh, anything you please, so that it is nice and neatly served, " saidMr. Berners, with a slightly impatient wave of his hand as if he wouldhave been rid of his obsequious host. 

"Ah-ha! anything I please! It is easy to see what ails him. He livesupon love just now; but he'll care more about his bill of fare a fewweeks hence, " chuckled the landlord, as he left the public parlor toexecute his guest's orders. 

The bridegroom was no sooner left alone with his bride than he seatedher in the easiest arm-chair, and began with affectionate zeal to untieher bonnet-strings and unclasp her mantle. 

"You make my maid a useless appendage, dear Lyon, " said the little lady, smiling up in his eyes. 

"Because I like to do everything for you myself, sweet Sybil; because Iam jealous of every hand that touches your dear person, except my own, "he murmured tenderly as he removed her bonnet, and with all hisworshipping soul glowing through his eyes, gazed upon her beautiful andbeaming face. 

"You love me so much, dear Lyon! You love me so much! Yet not too mucheither! for oh! if you should ever cease to love me, or even if you wereever to love me _less_, --I--I dare not think what I should do!" shemuttered in a long, deep, shuddering tone. 

"Sweet Sybil, " he breathed, drawing her to his bosom and pressing warmkisses on her crimson lips--"sweetest Sybil, it is not possible for thehuman heart to love _more_ than I do, but I can never love you less!"

"I do believe you, dearest Lyon! With all my heart I do!--Yet--yet--"

"Yet what, sweet love?"

She lifted her face from his bosom and gazing intently in his eyes, said:

"Yet, Lyon, if you knew the prayer that I never fail to put up, day andnight! What do you think it is for, dear Lyon?"

"I know; it is for Heaven's blessing to rest upon our wedded lives. "

"Yes, my prayer is for that always, of course! but that is not what Imean now! That is not the stronger, stronger prayer which I offer upfrom the deeps of my spirit in almost an agony of supplication!"

"And what is that prayer, so awful in its earnestness, dear love?"

"Oh, Lyon! it is _that you may never love me less than now, or if youshould, that I may never live to know it_, " she breathed with anintensity of suppressed emotion that drew all the glowing color from hercrimson cheeks and lips and left them pale as marble. 

"Why, you beautiful mad creature! You are a true daughter of your house!A Berners of the burning heart! A Berners of the boiling blood! ABerners of whom it has been said, that it is almost as fatal to beloved, as to be hated, by one of them! Dear Sybil! never doubt my love;never be jealous of me, if you would not destroy us both, " he earnestlyimplored. 

"I do not doubt you, dearest Lyon; I am not jealous of you! What cause, indeed, have I to be so? But--but----"

"But what, my darling?"

"--Ever since I have been in this house, a darkness and coldness andweight has fallen upon my spirits, that I cannot shake off--a burden, asof some impending calamity! And as there is no calamity that canpossibly affect me so much as the lessening of your love, I naturallythink most of that, " she answered, with a heavy sigh. 

"Dear love! this depression is only reaction! fatigue! the effect ofthis damp, dull, dreary room! We will change all this!" said LyonBerners, cheerfully, as he pulled the bell-cord and rang a peal thatpresently brought the waiter to his presence. 

"Are our rooms ready?" shortly demanded Mr. Berners. 

"Just this moment ready, sir, " answered the man, with a bow. 

"Gather up these articles, then, and show us to our rooms, " said Mr. Berners, pointing to a collection of outer garments and travelling bagsthat occupied a centre-table. 

With another bow the man loaded himself with the personal effects of theguests and led the way up-stairs. 

Mr. Berners, drawing his wife's arm through his own, followed the waiterto a cheerful little private parlor, where the bright red carpet on thefloor, the bright red curtains at the windows, the bright red covers ofthe chairs and sofas, the glowing coal fire in the grate, and above allthe neatly spread tea table, with its snowy damask table-cloth, and itsservice of pure French china, invited the hungry and weary travellers torefreshment and repose. 

Through a pair of partly drawn sliding doors a vista was opened to aclean and quiet chamber, furnished to match the parlor, with the samebright-red carpet, window curtains, and chair covers, but also with awhite-draperied tent-bedstead, with bed-pillows and coverings white andsoft as swan's down. In the glow of the coal fire in the inner room satand waited a pretty mulatto girl, Delia, or Dilly, the dressing maid ofMrs. Berners. 

On seeing her mistress enter the parlor, Dilly quickly arose and mether, and handed a chair and relieved the waiter of his burden ofportable personal property, which she hastened to carry into the chamberto put away. 

"Bring in the tea immediately and send my own man Hannibal here toattend us, " said the guest to the waiter, who promptly left the room toexecute the orders. 

"Come, my darling! Take this easy-chair in the corner and make yourselfcomfortable! Here is a scene to inspire the saddest heart withcheerfulness, " said the bridegroom cordially, as he drew forward theeasy arm-chair and led his bride to it. 

She sank into the soft seat and smiled her satisfaction. 

In a few moments the waiters of the inn entered and arranged a deliciouslittle repast upon the table and then withdrew, leaving Hannibal, thefaithful servant of the bridegroom, to attend his master and mistress attheir tea. 

The young pair sat down to the table. And in that quiet and cheerfulscene of enjoyment, the young bride recovered her spirits. The transientshadow that had for a moment darkened the splendor of her joy, even as apassing cloud for an instant obscures the glory of the sun, hadvanished, leaving her all smiles and gayety. 

To say that these wedded lovers were very happy, would scarcely expressthe delirium of pure joy in which they had dreamed away their days andnights for the last few weeks--joy that both were too young and untriedto know could not last for ever, could not indeed even last long--joy soelevated in its insanity as almost to tempt some thunderbolt ofmalignant fate to fall upon it with destroying force, even as the highlyrarefied air sometimes draws on the whirlwind and the storm. 

But then the story of their loves was rare and strange, and almostjustified the intensity of their mutual devotion, and that story isbriefly this:

 CHAPTER II. 

 JOHN LYON HOWE. 

 "A brow half martial and half diplomatic, An eye upsoaring like an eagle's wing. "

John Lyon Howe was the younger son of a planter, residing in one of thewildest mountain regions in central Virginia. The elder Howe was blessedwith a large family, and cursed with a heavily mortgaged estate--acombination of circumstances not unusual among the warm-hearted, generous and extravagant people of the Old Dominion. 

John Lyon Howe had been educated in the Law School of the University ofVirginia, where, at the age of twenty-three, he graduated with thehighest honors. 

Then, instead of commencing his professional life in one of the greatEastern cities, or striking out for the broad fields of enterpriseopened in the Far West, young Howe, to the astonishment of all who wereacquainted with the talents and ambition of the new lawyer, returned tohis native county and opened his law office in Blackville, a smallhamlet lying at the foot of the Black Valley, and enjoying the honor andprofit of being the county-seat. 

But the young lawyer had strong motives for his actions. He had greattalent, an intense passion for politics, and quite as much State prideas personal ambition. He wished to distinguish himself; yes, but not inMassachusetts or Minnesota, nor in any other place except in his nativeState, his dear old Virginia. 

Sometime to represent her in the National Congress, and to do herservice and credit there, was the highest goal of his youthfulaspirations. 

For this cause, he settled in the obscure hamlet of Blackville, andopened his law office in one of the basement rooms of the countycourt-house. 

While the courts were in session he attended them regularly, and did agood deal of business in the way of gratuitous counselling and pleading;advocating and defending with great ability and success the cause of thepoor and oppressed, and winning much honor and praise, but very littlemoney, not enough, indeed, to pay his office rent, or renew his naplesshat and thread-bare coat. 

Besides his unprofitable professional labors, he engaged in equallyunprofitable political contests. 

He took the liberal view of State craft, and sought to open the minds ofhis fellow-citizen to a just and wise policy, or what he, in his youngenthusiasm, conceived to be such. He wrote stirring leaders for thelocal papers, and made rousing speeches at the political meetings. 

He was everywhere spoken of as a rising young man, who was sure to reacha high position some day. Yes! some day; but that desired day seemedvery far distant to the desponding young lawyer. 

And to make his probation still more painful, he was in love! not as menare who are taken with a new face every year of their lives, but as theheroes of old used to be--for once and forever! profoundly, passionately, desperately in love, almost despairingly in love, sinceshe whom he loved was at once the richest heiress, the greatest beauty, and the proudest lady in the whole community--Sybil Berners! MissBerners, of Black Hall!--in social position as far above the brieflessyoung lawyer as the sun above the earth; at least so said those whoobserved this presumptuous passion, and predicted for the young lover, should he ever really aspire to her hand, the fate of Phaeton, to beconsumed in the splendor of her sphere, and cast down blackened to hisnative earth. 

Had they who cavilled at his high-placed love but known the truth; howshe whom he so worshipped, on her part, adored him? But this he himselfdid not know, or even suspect. Had he possessed much less of a fine, high-toned sense of honor, he might, by wooing the lady, have found thisout for himself; but he, an almost penniless young man, was much tooproud to ask the hand of the wealthy heiress. Or had he possessed alittle more personal vanity, he might have suspected the truth; forcertainly there was not a handsomer man in the whole county than wasthis briefless young lawyer with the napless hat and thread-bare coat. His person was of that medium height and just proportions necessary togive perfect elegance of form and grace of motion. His features wereclassic, with the straight forehead, hooked nose, short upper lip, andpointed chin of the strong old Roman type. His complexion was fair, hiseyes blue, and his hair and beard a golden auburn. Added to theseattractions, there was an intense magnetic power in the gaze of his darkeyes, and in the tone of his deep voice, a power that few could resist, and certainly not Sybil Berners. 

But who and what besides heiress and beauty was Sybil Berners? To tellyou all she was. I must first tell you something about her family, the"Berners of Black Hall. "

Theirs was an old family, and a historical name interwoven with thedestinies of the two hemispheres. Their house was older than the historyof the new world, and almost as ancient as the fables of the old world. 

They were among the first lords of the manor in Colonial Virginia, andthey claimed descent from a ducal house whose patent of nobility datedback to the first months of the Norman Conquest of England. 

They had been great in history and in story; great in the field and theforum; great in the old country and in the new. They had been a brave, fierce, cruel, and despotic race, equally feared and hated at home andabroad, equally loved and trusted as well; for never were such dangerousfoes or such devoted friends as were these Berners; no one ever lovedas these Berners loved, or hated as they hated. In the intensity oftheir love or their hate they were capable of suffering or inflictingdeath; these Berners, whose friendship was almost as fatal as theirenmity; these Berners, who "never spared man in their hate or woman intheir love;" these Berners of the burning heart; these Berners of theboiling blood; these Berners of Black Hall; and whose solerepresentative now was Sybil, the last daughter of their line, whoconcentrated in her own ardent, intense nature all the most beautiful, all the most terrible attributes of her strong and fiery race. 

I said that she was the richest heiress as well as the most beautifulgirl of the country. 

She was the inheritor of the famous Black Valley manor, holding besidesits own home plantation, several of the most productive and valuablefarms in the neighborhood. 

There is not in all the mountain region of Virginia a wilder, darker, gloomier glade than that forming the home manor of the Berners family, and known as the Black Valley. It is a long, deep, narrow vale, lyingbetween high, steep ridges of iron-gray rock, half covered with a growthof deep-green stunted cedars. 

At the head or northern extremity of the vale springs a cascade, called, for the darkness of its color, the Black Torrent. It rushes, roaring, down the side of the precipice, now hiding under a heavy growth ofevergreen, now bursting into light as it foams over the face of somerock, until at length it tumbles down to the foot of the mountain andflows along through the bottom of the Valley, until about half way downits length, it widens into a little lake, called, from its hue, theBlack Water, or the Black Pond; then narrowing again, it flows on downpast the little hamlet of Blackville, situated at the foot or southernextremity of the Black Valley. 

The ancient manor house, known as the Black Hall, stands on a risingground on the west side of the Black Water with its old pleasure gardensrunning down to the very edge of the lake. 

It is a large, rambling, irregularly-formed old house, built of the irongray rocks dug from the home quarries; and it is scarcely to bedistinguished from the iron-gray precipices that tower all around it. 

The manor had been in the possession of the same family from the time ofKing James the First, who made a grant of the land to Reginald Berners, the first Lord of the Manor. 

Bertram Berners was the seventh in descent from Reginald. He marriedfirst a lady of high rank, the daughter of the colonial governor ofVirginia. This union, which was neither fruitful nor happy, lasted morethan thirty years, after which the high-born wife died. 

Finding himself at the age of sixty a childless widower and the last ofhis name, he resolved to marry again in the hope of having heirs. Hechose for his second wife a young lady of good but impoverished family, the orphan niece of a neighboring planter. 

But the new wife only half fulfilled her husband's hopes, when, a yearafter their marriage, she presented him with one fair daughter, theSybil of our story. 

Even this gift cost the delicate mother her life; for although she didnot die immediately, yet from the day of Sybil's birth, she fell into along and lingering decline which finally terminated in death. 

Old Bertram Berners was nearly seventy years of age, when he laid hisyoung wife in her early grave. Although he had been grievouslydisappointed in his hopes of a male heir, yet he was not mad enough, athis advanced period of life, to try matrimony again. He wiselydetermined to devote the few remaining days of his life to the rearingof his little daughter, then a child seven years of age. 

Old Bertram loved and spoiled the infant as none but an old man canlove or spoil his only child, who is besides the offspring of his age. He would not part with her to send her to school; but he himself becameher instructor until she was more than ten years old. 

After that, as she began to approach womanhood, he engaged a successionof governesses, each one of whom excessively annoyed him by persistentlytrying to marry him for his money, and who consequently got herselfpolitely dismissed. 

Next he tried a succession of tutors, but this second plan worked evenworse than the first; for each one of the tutors in his turn tried tomarry the heiress for the fortune, and, naturally enough, got himselfkicked out of the house. 

So the plan of home education prospered badly. Perhaps old Bertram hadbeen singularly unfortunate in his selection of teachers. It must havebeen so indeed, since he had been accustomed to say that "they all wereas bad as they could be; and each one was worse than all the rest. "

Thus the literary training of the heiress had been carried on in themost capricious, fitful and irregular manner, the worst suited to her, who more than most girls required the discipline of a firm and steadyrule. 

The educational result to her was a very superficial knowledge ofliterature, arts, and sciences, and a very imperfect acquaintance withancient and modern languages. 

She was in the habit of saying sarcastically, that "she had an utterconfusion of ideas on the subjects of algebra, astronomy, and all theother branches of a polite education;" that, for instance, she nevercould remember whether the "Pons Asinorum" were a plant or a problem, orif it was Napoleon Bonaparte that discovered America and ChristopherColumbus who lost the battle of Waterloo, or _vice versa_. 

And after all, this was but a trifling exaggeration of the neglectedcondition of her mind. 

 CHAPTER III. 

 SYBIL BERNERS. 

 "All that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eye. "

Sybil Berners was at this time about eighteen years of age--a beautiful, black-haired, bright-eyed little brunette, full of fire, spirit, strength, and self-will. She was a law to herself. No one, not even heraged father, had the slightest control over her except through heraffections, when they could be gained, or her passions, when they couldbe aroused; but this last means was seldom tried, for no one cared toraise the storm that none could quell. 

Her father was now nearly eighty years old. And fondly, jealously, selfishly as he loved this darling daughter of his age, he wished to seeher safely married before he should be called from the earth. 

And certainly the beautiful heiress had suitors enough to selectfrom--suitors drawn no less by her personal charms than by her greatfortune. But one and all were politely refused by the fastidious maiden, who every one said was so very hard to please. 

But even if Sybil Berners had accepted any one among the numeroussuitors for her hand, the conditions of her father's consent would havebeen made rather difficult. The husband of the heiress would have beenrequired to assume the name and arms of Berners in order to perpetuatethe family patronymic, and to live with his wife at the old manor housein order not to separate the only child from her aged father. And it wasnot every proud young Virginian who would have given up his own familyname either for a fortune or a beauty. But none of her suitors were putto the test, for Sybil promptly and unconditionally refused all offersof marriage. 

And the reason of all this was, that Miss Berners of Black Hall loved apoor, briefless young lawyer, who had nothing but his handsome person, his brilliant mind, and his noble heart to recommend him. When, orwhere, or how her love for him began, she herself could never have told. Since his return from the university she had seen him every Sunday atchurch, and had grown to look and to long for his appearance there, until it came to this pass with her soul, that the very house of Godseemed empty until _his_ place was filled. And besides this, she oftensaw him and heard him speak at political and other public meetings, which she always attended only to beam in the sunshine of his presence, only to drink in the music of his voice. She took in all the localpapers only to read his leaders and dream over his thoughts. 

Moreover, she felt by a sure instinct that he passionately adored her, even while ignorant of her love for him, and silent upon the subject ofhis own passion. 

This state of affairs exasperated the fiery and self-willed littlebeauty almost to phrensy. She had never in her life been contradicted oropposed. No desire of her heart had ever been left for a momentunsatisfied. She never knew until now the meaning of suspense ordisappointment. And now here was a man whom she wildly loved, and whoworshipped her, but who, from some delicate pride in his poverty, _would_ not speak, while she, of course, _could_ not. 

Yet Sybil Berners was no weak "Viola, " who would

 "Let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on her damask cheek, and pine in thought. "

She was rather a strong "Helena, " who would dare all and bear all togain her lover. 

Sybil did all that a young lady of her rank could do in the premises. She made her doting father give dinner parties and invite her lover tothem. But the briefless young lawyer in the napless hat and thread-barecoat never accepted one of these invitations, for the very simplereason that he had no evening dress in which to appear. 

Under these circumstances, where any other young girl might have grownlanguid and sorrowful, Sybil became excitable and violent. She hadalways had the fiery temper of her race, but it had very seldom beenkindled by a breath of provocation. Now, however, it frequently brokeout without the slightest apparent cause. No one in the house couldaccount for this accession of ill-temper--not her anxious father, norMiss Tabitha Winterose, the housekeeper, not Joseph Joy, the housesteward, nor any of the maids or men-servants under them. 

"She's possessed of the devil, " said Miss Winterose, to her confidant, the house steward. 

"That's nothing new. All the Berners is possessed of _that_ possession. It's entailed family property, and can't be got rid of, " grimlyresponded Joe. 

"Something has crossed her; something has crossed her very much, "muttered her old father to himself, as he sat alone in his arm-chair inthe warm chimney-corner of his favorite sitting-room. 

Yes, indeed, everything crossed her. She was unhappy for the first timein her life, and she thought it was clearly the duty of her father orsome other one of her slaves to make her happy. She was kept waiting, and it was everybody's fault, and everybody should be made to suffer forit. It was no use to reason with Sybil Berners. One might as well havereasoned with a conflagration. 

It was about this time, too, that her aged father began to feel symptomsthat warned him of the approach of that sudden death by congestion ofthe brain, which had terminated the existence of so many of hisancestors. 

More than ever he desired to see his motherless daughter well marriedbefore he should be called away from her. So, one evening, he sent forSybil to come into his sitting-room, and when she obeyed his summons, and came and sat down on a low ottoman beside his arm-chair, he said, laying his hand lovingly on her black, curly head:

"My darling, I am very old, and may be taken from you any day, any hour, and I would like to see you well married before I go. "

"Dear father, don't talk so. You may live twenty years yet, " answeredthe daughter, with a blending of affectionate solicitude and angryimpatience in her tones and looks, for Sybil was very fond of the oldman, and also very intolerant of unpleasant subjects. 

"Well, well, my dear, since you prefer it, I will live twenty yearslonger to please you--_if I can_. But whether I live or die, mydaughter, I wish to see you well married. "

"Ah, father, why can you not leave me free?"

"Because, my darling, if anything should happen to me, you would be leftutterly without protection; your hand would become the aim of everyadventurer in the county; you would become the prey of some one amongthem who would squander your fortune, abuse your person, and break yourheart. "

"You know very well, father, that I should break such a villain's headfirst. _I_ a victim--_I_ the prey of a fortune-hunter, or the slave of abrute! I look as if I was likely to be--do I not? Father, you insultyour daughter by the thought, " exclaimed Sybil, with flushing cheeks andflashing eyes. 

"There, there, my dear! don't flame up!" said the old man, laying hishand upon the fiery creature's head; "be quiet as you can, Sybil--Icannot bear excitement now, child. "

"Forgive me, dear father, and forbear, if you love me, from such talk asthis. I never could become an ill-used, suffering, snivelling wife. I_detest_ the picture as I utterly despise all weak and whimpering women. I have no sympathy whatever for your abused wives--even for yourdethroned or beheaded queens. Why should a wife permit herself to beabused, or a queen suffer herself to be dethroned or beheaded, withoutfirst having done something to redeem herself from the contemptible roleof a victim, even if it was to change it for the awful one ofcriminal--"

"--Hush, Sybil, hush! You know not what you say. The Saviour of theworld--"

"----Was a divine martyr, father, " said Sybil, reverently bowing herhead--"was a divine martyr, not a victim. All who suffer and die in agreat cause are martyrs; but those who suffer and die for nothing but oftheir own weakness are victims, with whom I have no sympathy. I nevercould be a _victim_, father. "

"Heaven help you, Sybil!"

"You need not fear for me, father. I can take care of myself as well asif I were a son, instead of a daughter of the House of Berners, " saidSybil, haughtily. 

"You may be able to protect yourself from all others, but can you alwaysprotect yourself _from yourself_?" sighed the old man. 

Sybil did not answer. 

"But, to come back to the point from which you started, like the fieryyoung filly that you are--Sybil, I greatly desire to see you married tosome worthy young gentleman whom you can love and I approve. "

"Where can you find such an one, father?" murmured Sybil, with a quick, strange, wild hope springing up in her heart. 

What if he should speak of the young lawyer? But that was not likely. Hespoke of some one else. 

"There is Ernest Godfree. No better match for you in the county. And I'msure he worships the very ground you walk on. "

Sybil made an angry gesture, exclaiming:

"Then I wish he would have respect enough for the ground he worships tokeep himself off it altogether! I hate that man!"

"Well, well, hate is a poor return for love! But we'll say no more ofhim. But there's Captain Pendleton, a brave young officer. "

"I wish his bravery were better employed in fighting the Indians on thefrontier instead of besieging our house. I cannot endure that man!"

"Let him pass then! Next there is Charles Hanbury--"

"Ugh! the ugly little wretch. "

"But he is so good, so wise, for so young a man. And he is your devotedslave. "

"Then I wish my slave would obey his owner's orders, and keep out of hersight. "

"Sybil, you are incorrigible, " sighed the old man, but he did not yieldhis main point. 

One after another he proposed for her consideration all the eligibleyoung bachelors of the neighborhood, who, he knew, were ready upon theslightest encouragement to renew their once rejected suits for the handof the beauty and heiress. 

But one after another Sybil, with some sarcastic word, dismissed. 

"Sybil, you are a strange, wayward girl! It seems to me that for any manto love you is to take a sure road to your hatred! And yet, oh, my dear!I wish to see you safely married. Is there not one among those whom youmight prefer to all the rest?"

"No, my father, not one whom I could endure for an instant as a lover. "

"And oh! when I feel this fatal rising of the heart and fulness of thehead--this Wave of Death that is sure to bear me off sooner or later tothe Ocean of Eternity--Oh, then, my Sybil, how my soul travails foryou!" groaned the old man. 

"Father! do you so much wish to see me married?"

"I wish it more than anything else in the world, my child. "

"Father, you have named every young man in the neighborhood whom youwould like as a son-in-law?"

"Every one, my daughter. "

"Are you sure?"

"Quite sure, my love. Why do you ask?"

She slid down from her low ottoman to the floor, and laid her arms uponhis knees and her beautiful black ringleted head upon her folded hands, and whispered:

"Because, dear father, there is one whom you have forgotten to name: onewho loves me, and is altogether well worthy to be called your son. "

"Ah!" cried the old man fiercely, under his breath--"a fortune-hunter, on my life! the danger is nearer than I had even apprehended!"

"No, father, no! He is as far as possible from being what you say!"fervently exclaimed Sybil. 

"He is wealthy, then?"

"No, no, no! he is poor in everything but in goodness and wisdom!"

"Oh, no doubt you think him rich in these! But who is he, unhappy child?What is his name?"

Very subdued came the answer. Old Bertram was obliged to bend his grayhead to his daughter's lips, and put his shrivelled hand behind his earto catch the sound of her low voice. 

"He is the young lawyer newly settled in Blackville, whose praise is oneverybody's lips. "

"JOHN LYON HOWE!" exclaimed the old man, throwing up his head inastonishment. 

"Yes, father, " breathed the girl. 

"And he loves you?"

She nodded. 

"And you love him?"

She nodded again. 

"A briefless young lawyer, with a long list of impoverished brothers andsisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins! Bad enough; but not as it mighthave been. She can gain nothing by that connection! But then she neednot lose anything either, " murmured the old man to himself. Afterreflecting for a few moments, with his head upon his breast, he suddenlyraised his eyes and exclaimed:

"But I have never seen the young man at this house!"

"No, father!"

"Nor at any other house where we visit. "

"No, father; for although he receives many invitations to visit hisfriends, he accepts none. Father, I think he cannot afford to do so. "

"Cannot afford to visit! Why?"

"Visiting requires dress, and dress money. And he does so muchgratuitous work now in the beginning of his career that he has butlittle money; and his father will not help him at all, because theydiffer in politics. "

"Yes, I know they do; but the young man is quite right. I agree with hisviews perfectly. He will make his mark in the world some of these days, and then his father will be proud of him. "

Sybil blushed with delight to hear her lover so praised by one in whosehands their happiness rested. 

"But, my child, he was wrong and you were wrong to have entered into anyengagement without my sanction, " said the old man very gravely. 

"There is no engagement, father, " gently answered Sybil. 

"Ah! no engagement? that is well! By my soul, though, it was not rightfor him even to have wooed you without my consent! Nor can I conceivewhat opportunity he has ever had to do so. He never comes here. "

"He has never wooed me, dear father. "

"EH!"

"He has never sought my hand. "

"But I thought you gave me to understand that you love each other!"

"So we do, father. "

"Then, if he loves you, why don't he come and tell me so like anhonorable man?"

"Father, he has never even told _me_ so. "

"EH!"

"He has never breathed a word of love to me. "

"Then how the deuce do you know that he loves you, girl?"

"Oh, by every glance of his eyes, by every tone of his voice, and by myown heart! Oh, father, do you think I would bear to tell you this, if Iwere not sure of it. "

"Umph, umph! But why don't he speak?--that's what I want to know! Whydon't he speak?"

"Dear father, can you not comprehend that he is too proud to do so?"

"Too proud! By my word! It is a new hearing that a Howe should be tooproud to seek an alliance with a Berners!" exclaimed old Bertram hotly, rising from his chair. 

 "Old age ne'er cooled the Douglas blood, "

and it had not cooled his. 

Sybil smiled to see how utterly he had misunderstood her, and making himsit down again, she said, "You dear old darling, it is not that! It is the very opposite to that. It is because he is poor and we are rich, and he is too proud to becalled a fortune-hunter. "

"Oh, I understand! I understand!

 'Among the rest young Edwin bowed, But never told his love. Wisdom, and worth were all he had. '"

"Yes, dear father, that is just the truth. You wish me to marry; but, dear, dear father, I can never bring myself to marry any one but _him_;and he loves me truly, but does not seek me?" she breathed in a low andtremulous tone, half smothered also by the hands with which she coveredher blushing face. 

"Now what am I to do in this case? I have nothing against the young manwhatever, except his poverty and big long line of poor relations, thatwill be sure to be a burden to him!" grumbled old Bertram to himself. 

"But, father, we are so rich! We have enough for so many people, "pleaded Sybil. 

"Not enough to enrich all the Howes, my dear! But I like the young man, I really do like him, and if he had more money, and less relations, Ishould prefer him to any young man in the neighborhood for ason-in-law. "

"O father, dear father, thank you, thank you for saying that, " exclaimedSybil, fervently kissing his hands. 

"And now that you have told me your mind, what do you want me to do, mydarling?" he inquired, returning her caresses. 

"Oh, dear father! an old man like you must know! I do want you to giveLyon help and encouragement as you know best how to do it, withoutwounding his pride. You sympathize with his political principles; lethim know that you do. You admire his character; let him feel that youdo. "

"What else?"

"This. Since old Mr. Godwin died you have had no agent for your largeestate, and its accounts must be falling into disorder, Lyon is alawyer, you know. Offer him the agency of your estate, with a liberalsalary. "

"Upon my word, I never thought of that before. Here for three months Ihave been thinking whom I could get as an agent, and much as I esteemedthat young man I never once thought of applying to him! But the fact is, I never looked upon him in the light of a business man, but only as abrilliant barrister, and eloquent pleader. "

"Yet, father, you know he _must_ be a good business man to havecollected such great stores of statistics as he has always at command. "

"Well, my love, I will go to-day and offer him the agency. Now whatnext?"

"He was too poor and too proud to come before, but as your agent, father, you must bring him often to the house on business. "

"And then?"

"You must leave the rest to me. "

Thus it was that the young lawyer became the agent for the great BlackValley Manor. This agency included not only the management of therevenues from several rich farms, but also those from the stonequarries, iron mines, and the water mill at the head of the valley, andalso from the real estate in the village at the foot, all of which wasincluded in the Black Valley Manor. 

The new agent was frequently called to Black Hall, where he was alwaysreceived with the utmost courtesy. And as the acquaintance between theproprietor and the agent ripened into intimacy, a deep and strongattachment grew between them. 

"Youth never showed itself wiser or better than in this young man, "murmured Mr. Berners to himself. 

"Age was never so venerable and beautiful as in this old man, " thoughtJohn Lyon Howe to himself. 

The old man loaded the young one with many marks of his esteem andaffection. The young man returned these with the warmest gratitude andhighest reverence. 

When John Lyon Howe, with his heart filled with love for Sybil Berners, first entered Black Hall, it was without the slightest suspicion of herresponsive love for him. But when they were thrown so much together, hewas not very long in making the discovery so delightful to his soul, and yet--so trying too! for, as a man of good principles, there seemedto be but one course left open to him--the course of self-denial! Heloved the great heiress, and had unintentionally won her love! Thereforehe must fly from her presence, trying to forget her, hoping that shemight forget him. 

He summoned up courage for the sacrifice, and went into the study of hisemployer and in a few words told him that he had come to say good-bye. 

The astonished old man looked up for an explanation. 

John Lyon Howe gave it to him. 

"And so you wish to leave me, never to return to the Hall, because youlove my daughter. "

The young man bowed in silence; but could not conceal the misery itcaused him to make this acknowledgment. 

"But why should that oblige you to leave the house?" inquired Mr. Berners. 

"Oh, sir! can you ask?" exclaimed Mr. Howe. 

"Oh, I see! the little witch has refused you!" exclaimed old Bertramwith a twinkle in his eye. "Come, is it not so?"

"Sir, I have never abused your confidence so far as to seek her hand! Icould not make so base a return for your kindness to me. "

"Oh, you have never asked her to marry you! How in the world, then, canyou know whether she will accept you or not? or, consequently, whetherit will be necessary for you to leave or not?"

"Oh, sir! what is it that you would say?" exclaimed the young man, inquick, broken tones, while his face turned pale with agitation. 

"Nonsense, my boy! When I was young a youth didn't require so muchencouragement to woo a maiden. Before you make up your mind to leave me, go and ask Sybil's consent to the step. "

"Oh, sir! oh, Mr. Berners! do you mean this?" gasped the young man, catching at the back of the chair for support. He was inured to sorrow, but not to joy. And this joy was so sudden and overwhelming that hereeled under it. 

"I mean what I say, Mr. Howe. I esteem and respect you. I sanction youraddresses to my daughter, " said old Bertram, speaking with more gravityand dignity than he had before displayed. 

John Lyon fervently kissed his old friend's hand, and went immediatelyin search of Sybil. And that same night, old Bertram had the pleasure ofjoining their hands together in solemn betrothal. 

"And now I can die happy, " said the old man, earnestly; "for it was notanother great fortune, but a good husband that I coveted for my darlingchild. "

Ten days from this night, old Bertram Berners dropped into his lastsleep. He was well and happy up to the last hour of his life. The "Waveof Death, " found him in his arm-chair, and bore him off without astruggle to the "Ocean of Eternity. " So old Bertram Berners was gatheredto his fathers. 

The year of mourning was permitted to pass, and then John Lyon Howe, having, according to the conditions of the marriage contract, assumedthe name and arms of Berners, was united in marriage to the beautifulSybil. And they set out on their bridal tour as Mr. And Mrs. LyonBerners. 

And now we will again look in upon them as they linger over theirtea-table in the old inn at Norfolk, where we first introduced them toour readers. 

 CHAPTER IV. 

 THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGER. 

 "From the glance of her eye Shun danger and fly, for fatal's the glance. "

Very happy were the married lovers as they sat over their tea, eventhough the scene of their domestic joy was just now but an inn-parlor. Both the young people had good appetites: gratified love had notdeprived them of that. 

They talked of their homeward journey and how pleasant it would be inthis glorious autumn weather, and of their home and how glad they wouldbe to reach it--yes, how glad! For, paradoxical as it may seem to sayso, there is no happiness so perfect as that which looks forward tosomething still more perfect, if such could be possible in the future. They talked of the Black Valley, and how beautiful even that would lookin its gorgeous October livery. 

Suddenly in the midst of their sweet converse they heard the sound ofweeping--low, deep, heart-broken weeping. 

Both paused, looked at each other and listened. 

The sound seemed to come from a room on the opposite side of the passageto their own apartment. 

"What is that?" inquired Sybil, looking up to her husband's face. 

"It seems to be some woman in distress, " answered Lyon. 

"Oh! see what it is, dear, will you?" entreated Sybil. 

She was herself so happy, that it was really dreadful to be remindedjust then that sorrow should exist in this world; at all. 

"Oh, go and see what is the matter. Do, dear, " she insisted, seeing thathe hesitated. 

"I would do so, dear, in a moment, but it might be indiscreet on mypart. The lady may be a party to some little domestic misunderstanding, with which it would be impertinent in any stranger to interfere, "answered the more thoughtful husband. 

"A domestic misunderstanding! O, dear Lyon, that such things should be!Fancy you and I having a misunderstanding!" exclaimed Sybil, with ashiver. 

"I cannot fancy anything of the sort, my darling; Heaven forbid that Icould!" said Lyon, fervently. 

"Amen to that! But listen! Ah! how she weeps and wails! Oh, Lyon, how Ipity her! Oh, how I wish I could do something for her! Oh, Lyon, are yousure it would be improper for me to go and see if I can relieve her inany way?" pleaded Sybil. 

"Quite sure, my darling; I am quite sure that you must not interfere, atleast at this stage. If this should be a case in which we can be ofservice, we shall be likely to know it when the waiter answers the bellthat I rung some five minutes since, " said Lyon, soothingly. 

But Sybil could not rest with the sound of that weeping and wailing inher ears. She left her chair and began to walk up and down the floor, and to pause occasionally at her door to listen. 

Suddenly a door on the opposite side of the passage opened, and thevoice of the landlord was heard, apparently speaking to the weepingwoman. 

"I beg you won't distress yourself, ma'am; I am sure I wouldn't doanything to distress you for the world. Keep up your spirits, ma'am. Something may turn up yet, you know, " he said as he closed the oppositedoor again; and then crossing the passage, he knocked at the door of theBerners' apartments. 

"Come in, " said Lyon Berners eagerly, while Sybil paused in her restlesswalk and gazed breathlessly at the door. 

Both were so interested, they could not have told why, in that weepingwoman. 

The landlord entered and closed the door behind him, and advanced with abow and an apology. 

"I am afraid that you and your good lady have been disturbed by thenoise in the other room; but really I could not help it. I have done allI could to comfort the poor creature; but really you know, 'Rachelweeping for her children' was nothing to this woman. She's been going onin this way for the last three days, sir. I did hope she would be quietthis evening. I told her that I had guests in these rooms. But, Lord, sir! I might just as well try to reason with a thunderstorm as with her. I wish I had quieter rooms to put you in, sir. "

"Pray do not think of us. It is not the disturbance we mind on our ownaccount; it is to hear a fellow creature in so much distress. A guest ofthe house?" inquired Mr. Berners. 

"Yes, sir; worse luck. "

"She has lost friends or--fortune?" continued Berners delicatelyinvestigating the case, while Sybil looked and listened with the deepestinterest. 

"Both, sir! Both, sir! All, sir! Everything, sir! It is really a case ofatrocious villainy, sir! And I may say, a case of extreme difficulty aswell! A case in which I need counsel myself, sir, " said the landlord, with every appearance of being as willing to give information as to takeadvice. 

 CHAPTER V. 

 THE LANDLORD'S STORY. 

 "What wit so sharp is found in youth or age That can distinguish truth from treachery? Falsehood puts on the face of simple truth, And masks i' th' habit of plain honesty, When she in heart intends most villany. "

"Sit down, Mr. Judson; sit down, and tell us all about this matter; andif we can aid either you or your distressed lodger in any way, we shallbe glad to do so, " said Mr. Berners, earnestly. 

"Yes, indeed, " added Sybil, throwing herself down in her easy-chair, with a deep breath of relief and anticipation. 

"Well, sir, and madam, " commenced the landlord, frankly accepting theoffered seat, "the case is this: About ten days ago there arrived inthis city, by the ship Banshee, from Cork, a lady, gentleman, and child, with two servants, who came directly to this house. The gentlemanregistered his party as Mr. And Mrs. Horace Blondelle, child, nurse, andvalet, and he engaged the very best rooms in the house--the roomscorresponding to these on the opposite side of the passage, you know, madam. "

"Yes, " assented Mrs. Berners. 

"Well, sir, and Mr. Horace Blondelle ordered, besides the best rooms, everything else that was best in the house, and, indeed, better than thehouse contained; for, for his supper that very night, I had to send byhis directions, and procure Johanesberg, Moselle, and other rare andcostly wines, such as are seldom or never called for here. But then youknow, sir, he was a foreign gentleman. "

"Certainly, " agreed Lyon, with a smile. 

"Next day, the finest horses and carriages from the livery stables. Andso on in the highest scale of expense, until his week's bill ran up toseven hundred dollars. As a good deal of this was money paid out of mypocket for costly wines and costly horses, I sent in my account on theSaturday night. It is the usual thing, however, madam. "

"I know, " answered Mrs. Berners. 

"Well, Mr. Horace Blondelle very promptly settled it by handing me acheck on the local bank for the amount. It was too late then to cash mycheck, as the bank had been for some hours closed. But I resolved totake it to the bank the first thing on Monday morning to get the money;and I left Mr. Horace Blondelle's apartments with a secret feeling ofcommendation for his prudence in putting his ready money in the localbank, instead of keeping it about him in a crowded hotel like this. For, you know, sir, that the recent daring robbery at the Monroe House hasproved to us that even the office safe is not _always_ 'safe. '"

"Not always, " echoed Mr. Berners. 

"Well, sir, and madam, I was so well pleased with my guest's promptitudein settling his bill, that I redoubled my attentions to his comfort andthat of his party. On the Sunday he commenced the week's account bygiving a large dinner-party, for he had made acquaintances in the town. And again the most expensive delicacies and the mostly costly wines wereordered, with the most lavish extravagance. And they kept up thefestivities in rather a noisy manner through the whole night, which waspainful to me, I being a Churchman. But then, you know, madam, alandlord can not interfere with his guests to that extent. "

"Certainly not, " admitted Mrs. Berners. 

"Well, sir, the next morning after such a carousal, I naturally expectedmy guests to sleep late, so I was not surprised that the stillness oftheir rooms remained unbroken by any sound even up to ten o'clock. Atthat hour however, the bank opened, and I went myself to get my checkcashed. There, sir, I got another check. Judge of my astonishment whenthe cashier, after examining Mr. Horace Blondelle's paper, declared thathe knew no such person, and that there was no money deposited in thatbank to the credit of that name. "

"It was a swindle!" exclaimed Mr. Berners, impulsively. 

"It was a swindle, " admitted the landlord. "Yes, sir, a swindle of thebasest sort, though I did not know it even then. I was inclined to beangry with the cashier, but I reflected that there was probably amistake of some sort; so I hurried back home and inquired if Mr. HoraceBlondelle had shown himself yet. I was told that he had not yet evenrung his bell. Then I went to his private parlor, which had been thescene of last night's dinner giving and Sabbath breaking. The servantsof the house had removed all signs of the carousal, and were movingnoiselessly about the room while restoring it to order, so as not todisturb the rest of Mr. And Mrs. Horace Blondelle in the bedroomadjoining. I told my people that, as soon as Mr. Blondelle should awake, they must tell him that I begged leave to wait on him on a matter ofbusiness. It is as well to say, that while I lingered in the room, thenurse came in with the child, a pretty, fair-haired boy of five yearsold. They occupied a little chamber at the end of the passage, in easyreach of the child's mother. The nurse came in, hushing and cautioningthe child not to make a noise, lest he should wake up poor mamma andpapa, who were so tired. I mention this little domestic incidentbecause, in some strange way that I cannot begin to understand, itquieted my misgivings, so that I went below and waited patiently for therising of Mr. Horace Blondelle. Madam, I might have waited till thistime!" said the landlord, pausing solemnly. 

"Why? go on and tell me!" impulsively exclaimed Mrs. Berners. 

"Why? I will soon let you know. I waited until long after noon. Andstill no sound from the bedroom. I walked in and out of thesitting-room, where the table was set for breakfast, and still no soundfrom the bedroom. And in the sitting-room no sound of occupation butthe waiting breakfast-table in the middle of the floor, and the nurseseated at one of the windows with the impatient child at her knee. 

"'Your master and mistress sleep late, ' I said. 

"'Yes, sir, they were up late last night, ' she replied while twistingthe child's golden ringlets around her fingers, in pure idleness, forthey did not need curling. 

"I went away and staid away for about an hour, and then returned to thesitting-room. No sound from the bedroom yet. No change in thesitting-room, except that the nurse had taken a seat at the corner ofthe table with the child on her lap, and was feeding him from a bowl ofmilk and bread. 

"'Your master and mistress not up yet?' I ventured to say. 

"'No, sir, and no sign of them; I am giving little Crowy his supper, andam going to put him to bed. And if the bell don't ring by that time, Ishall make bold to knock at the door and wake them up. Because, sir, I'mgetting uneasy. Something might be the matter, though I don't knowwhat, ' said the girl, anxiously. 

"'So am I, I wish you would. And when your master has breakfasted, tellhim I wish to be permitted to wait on him, ' I said to the girl, and Ileft the room for the tenth time, I do suppose, that day. "

"Well!" eagerly exclaimed Sybil. 

"Well, madam, in less than an hour from that time, one of the waiterscame to me with looks of alarm, and said that something must havehappened in number 90, for that the lady's maid had been knocking andcalling loudly at the door for the last ten minutes without being ableto make herself heard within. "

"Oh!" breathed Sybil, clasping her hands. 

"Madam, I hurried to the spot. I joined my efforts to those of theterrified maid to arouse the sleepers within the chamber, but with noeffect. The maid was almost crazy by this time, ma'am. "

"'Oh, sir, are they murdered in their bed?' she cried to me. 

"'Murdered? No, but something has happened, and we must force open thedoor, my good girl, ' I said by way of calming her. You may well judge, sir, that I did not send for a locksmith; but with a crowbar, hastilyprocured from below, I hoisted the door from its hangings and effectedan entrance. "

"And then? And then?" breathlessly inquired Sybil, perceiving that thelandlord paused for a moment. 

"We found the room in the utmost confusion. Chests of drawers, clothes-presses, boxes, and so forth, stood wide open, with theircontents scattered over the floor. We glanced at the bed, and the maiduttered a wild scream, and even I felt my blood run cold; for there laythe form of the lady, still, cold, pallid, livid, like that of a corpsemany hours dead. No sign of Blondelle was to be seen about the chamber. "

"Oh! had he murdered her and fled?" gasped Sybil, with a half-suppressedhysterical sob. 

Mr. Berners passed his arm around her shoulders and drew her head downupon his breast, and signed for the landlord to proceed with his story. 

"Sir, " continued Mr. Judson, "I went up to that bedside in the worstpanic I ever felt in all my life. My heart was hammering at my ribs likea trip-hammer. First I took up the white hand that was hanginghelplessly down by the side of the bed; and I was glad to find that itwas limber, though cold as ice. Life might not be extinct. I ran downand dispatched several servants in different directions for physicians, being determined to insure the attendance of one, even at the risk ofbringing a dozen, and having all their fees to pay. "

"You never thought of fees, I'll guarantee, " said Mr. Berners. 

"Indeed I did not. I thought only of the lady. I sent my old mother toher bedside, with a request that she would keep everybody else out ofthe room until the arrival of a physician, and to let nothing betouched; for you see, sir, I did not know but what the attendance of acoroner would be called for as well. "

"Oh, how terrible!" murmured Sybil, from her shelter on her husband'sbreast. 

"Yes, madam, but not so terrible as we feared. Not to tire you with toolong an account of this bad business, I will tell you at once the resultof the physician's examination. It was, that this death-like sleep orcoma of the lady was produced by some powerful narcotic, but by what orfor what purpose administered, he could not discover. The maid wasquestioned as to whether her mistress was in the habit of using any formof opium, and answered that she certainly was not. Well, madam, thedoctor left the lady under the care of my mother, with directions towatch her pulse, and on any indication of its failure, to summon himimmediately. "

"She was in danger, then?"

"Apparently. My mother watched beside her bed all that night; the ladydid not awake until the next morning--that was the Tuesday; and the poorsoul thought it was Monday! You see twenty-four hours had been lost toher consciousness. "

"And her infamous husband?" inquired Mr. Berners. 

"Neither he nor his valet were to be found. I had the police upon histrack, you may be sure; though I did not, at the time of the lady'sawakening, know the full extent of his atrocious villainy. I knew hehad swindled me, but I did not know that he had robbed and forsaken hislovely young wife. "

"Robbed and forsaken his wife?" echoed Sybil, piteously. 

"Yes, madam, incredible as it seems. But I did not know this until thelady came to her senses. When she first awoke and found my mother seatedby her bed, she expressed much surprise, at _her_ presence and at herown husband's absence. My mother, a plain spoken old lady, blurted outthe truth--how Mr. Horace Blondelle, after imposing a worthless checkupon me, in payment of my bill, had absconded with his valet, and beenmissing ever since the night of the dinner-party, and that she, Mrs. Blondelle, had slept profoundly through all these events. 

"Oh, what a dreadful tale for the poor young wife to hear!" sighedSybil. 

"It was worse than anything I ever saw in my life, madam--her grief andshame and despair! She arose from her bed and began to examine hereffects, to see what she might have left, and how far they would gotowards settling my bill. She possessed some invaluable jewelry indiamonds, rubies, and emeralds. I know she did, for I had seen her wearthem. She alluded to these, and said that they were worth many thousanddollars, and that she would sell some of them to satisfy my claims. Shebegan to look for them, and then it was only by her broken exclamationsof dismay that I came to know that he had robbed her. "

"The unnatural monster!" indignantly exclaimed Mr. Berners, while Sybilgazed in almost incredulous consternation. 

"Yes, sir, and madam, the truth was now apparent, even to the poor lady;and it was this--that on the night of the dinner-party he had heavilydrugged her wine, so that when she retired to bed she fell into thatdeep, death-like sleep. Then he took advantage of her state to getpossession of her keys, and to rifle her boxes and caskets, and make offwith her money and jewels. "

"Poor, poor woman!" sighed Sybil. 

"This, madam, " continued the landlord, turning to Mrs. Burners, "occurred four days ago. Since that time her base husband has beentraced to New York, and there lost sight of. "

"And she?" inquired Sybil. 

"She, madam, has given herself up to the wildest grief and despair. Sheis as simple and as helpless as her own child. She has not the faintestnotion of self-reliance. And here is where the trouble is with me. Ihave already lost several hundred dollars through this swindlingvillain. The wife and child he has left behind him are still occupyingmy best suite of apartments, for which, during their stay here, I shallnot receive one penny of remuneration: therefore you see I cannot affordto keep this lady and her suite here, and neither can I find it in myheart to tell her to leave the house. For where, indeed, can she go? Shehas no friends or acquaintances in this country, no money, and noproperty that she can effectually turn into money. "

"Has she no one to pity her among the ladies in the house?" inquiredSybil. 

"There are no ladies staying in the house at present, madam. Our patronsare usually travellers, who seldom remain over one night. "

"But--the women of your family?" suggested Sybil. 

"There are no women in this family, except my old mother, who keepshouse for me, and the female servants under her. I am a widower, madam, with half a dozen sons, but no daughters, " returned the landlord. 

Sybil lifted her head from her husband's shoulder, where it had restedso long, and looked wistfully in her husband's eyes. He smiled, andnodded assent to what seemed to have been a silent interrogation. Thenshe took from her pocket a little gold-enamelled card-case, drew from ita card and a pencil, and wrote a few lines and handed it to thelandlord, saying:

"Mr. Judson, will you do me the favor to take this in to the unhappylady at once, and see if she will receive me this evening? I feel as ifI would like to try to comfort and serve her, "

"I will with pleasure, madam; and I have no doubt that the mereexpression of sympathy from another lady will be to her like a drop ofwater to a feverish palate, " said the landlord, as he left the room. 

"Dear Lyon, I have a favor to ask of you, " said Sybil, as soon as shewas alone with her husband. 

"A favor! a right, my beloved! There is nothing that you can ask of methat is not your right to receive!"

"No, no; a favor. I like to ask and receive favors from you, dear Lyon. "

"Call my service what you will, dear love! a right or a favor, it isalways yours! What, then, is this favor, sweet Sybil?"

"That you will give me a perfect _carte blanche_ in my manner of dealingwith this poor little lady, even though my manner should seem foolish orextravagant. "

At these words from his ardent, generous, romantic wife, Lyon Bernerslooked very grave. What, indeed might Sybil, with her magnanimity andmunificence _not_ think proper to do for this utter stranger--thispossible adventuress? Lyon looked very solemn over this proposal fromhis wife. He hesitated for a moment; but her large, clear, honest eyeswere fixed full upon him, waiting for his reply. Could he refuse herrequest? Did _he_ not owe everything to her, and to that very high-flownspirit of generosity which was not only a fault (if it were a fault) ofSybil, but a trait common to all her race. 

"As you will, my darling wife! I should be a cur, and worse than acur--a thankless wretch--to wish to restrain you in anything!" heanswered, sealing his agreement on her velvet lips. 

In another minute the landlord re-entered the room. 

"Mrs. Blondelle's thanks and compliments, and she will be very gratefulfor Mrs. Berners' visit, as soon as Mrs. Berners pleases to come, " wasthe message that Mr. Judson brought. 

Sybil arose with a smile, kissed her hand playfully to her husband, andpassed out of the room. 

The landlord went before her, rapped at the opposite door, then openedit, announced the visitor, and closed it behind her. 

Sybil advanced a step into the stranger's apartment, and then paused ininvoluntary admiration. 

She had heard and read of celebrated beauties, whose charms hadconquered the wisest statesmen and the bravest warriors, who hadgoverned monarchs and ministers, and raised or ruined kingdoms andempires. And often in poetic fancy she had tried to figure to herselfone of these fairy forms and faces. But never, in her most romanticmoods, had she imagined a creature so perfectly beautiful as this onethat she saw before her. 

The stranger had a form of the just medium size, and of the most perfectproportions; a head of stately grace; features small, delicate, andclearly cut; a complexion at once fair and rosy, like the inside of anapple blossom; lips like opening rose-buds; eyes of dark azure blue, fringed with long dark eye-lashes, and over-arched by slender, darkeyebrows; and hair of a pale, glistening, golden hue that fell in soft, bright ringlets, like a halo around her angelic face. She wore a robe ofsoft, pale, blue silk, that opened over a white silk skirt. 

She arose with an exquisite grace to welcome her visitor. 

"It is very good of you, madam, to come to see me in my misery, " shemurmured, in a sweet, pathetic tone that went to her visitor's heart, asshe sat a chair, and, by a graceful gesture invited her to be seated. 

Sybil was herself impulsive and confiding, as well as romantic andgenerous. She immediately drew her chair up to the side of the strangelady, took her hand affectionately, and tried to look up in her eyes, asshe said:

"We are personal strangers to each other; but we are the children of oneFather, and sisters who should care for each other. "

"Ah! who would care to claim sisterhood with such a wretch as I am?"sighed the unhappy young creature. 

"_I_ would; but you must not call yourself ill-names. Misfortunes arenot sins. I came here to comfort and help you--to comfort and help younot in words merely, but in deeds; and I have both the power and thewill to do it, if you will please to let me try, " said Sybil, gently. 

The young creature looked up, her lovely, tearful, blue eyes expandedwith astonishment. 

"You offer to comfort and help me! _Me_--a perfect stranger, with acloud of dishonor hanging over me! Oh, madam, if you knew _all_, youwould certainly withdraw your kind offer, " she said. 

"I will not withdraw it in any event. I _do_ know all that your landlordcould tell me, and that awakens my deepest sympathy for you. But I donot know all that _you_ could tell me. Now, dear, I want you to confidein me as you could not confide either in your landlord, or even in hismother. "

"Oh, no, no! I could not tell either of them. They were kind; but--oh, so hard!"

"Now, dear, then, look in my face, look well, and tell me whether youcan confide in me, " said Sybil, gently. 

"If I had never seen your heavenly countenance--if I had only heardyour heavenly voice, I could confide in you, as in the holy mother ofChrist, " said the stranger fervently. 

"Tell me then, dear; tell me all you wish to tell; relieve your heart;lay all your burdens on my bosom; and then you shall feel how well I cancomfort and help you, " said Sybil, putting her hand around the fair neckand drawing the little golden-haired head upon her breast. 

Then and there the friendless young stranger--friendless now, nomore--told her piteous story. 

 CHAPTER VI. 

 ROSA BLONDELLE. 

 Her form had all the softness of her sex, Her face had all the sweetness of the devil When he put on the cherub to perplex Eve, and to pave, Heaven knows how, the road to evil. --BYRON. 

She had been the penniless orphan daughter of a noble, but impoverishedScotch family. She had been left, by the death of her parents, dependentupon harsh and cruel relatives. She had been given in marriage, at theage of fifteen, to a wealthy old gentleman, whose years quadrupled hers. But he had used her very kindly, and she had performed her simple dutyof love and obedience as well as she knew how to do it. After two yearsof tranquil domestic happiness, the old man died, leaving her a youngwidow seventeen years of age, sole guardian to their infant son, betweenwhom and herself he had divided his whole estate. 

After the death of her old husband, the youthful widow lived in strictseclusion for nearly two years, devoting herself exclusively to the careof her child. 

But in the third year the health of the little Cromartie required achange, and his mother, by her physician's advice, took the boy toScarborough. That fashionable watering place was then at the height ofits season, and filled with visitors. 

Thus it was impossible but that the wealthy young widow should attractmuch attention. She was inevitably drawn into the maelstrom of society, into which she rushed with all the impetuosity of a novice or aninexperienced recluse, to which all the scenes of the gay world were asdelightful as they were novel. 

She had many suitors for her hand; but none found favor in her eyes butMr. Horace Blondelle, a very handsome and attractive young gentleman, whose principal passport into good society seemed to be his distantrelationship to the Duke of Marchmonte. _How_ he lived no one knew. _Where_ he lived everyone might see, for he always occupied the bestsuits of apartments in the best hotel of any town or city in which hemight be for the time sojourning. 

We, every one of us know, or know _of_, Mr. Horace Blondelle. There arescores of him scattered about the great hotels of all the large citiesin Europe and America. But the simplest maiden or the silliest widow insociety, is seldom taken in by him. 

There, however, at Scarborough, was an inexperienced poor littlecreature from the Highlands, who had never in her life seen any one moreattractive than the red-headed heroes of her native hills, and who, having aurific tresses of her own, was particularly prejudiced againstthat splendid hue, and fatally ensnared by the raven ringlets and darkeyes of this professional lady-killer. 

And thus it followed of course, that this beast of prey devoured thepretty little widow and all her substance with less hesitation orremorse than a cobra might have felt in swallowing a canary bird. 

So complete was her hallucination, so perfect her trust in him, thatshe took no precaution of having any part of her property settled uponherself; and, in marrying this man she gave him an absolute control overher own fortune, and a dangerous, if limited, influence over that of herinfant son. 

This very imprudent marriage was followed by a few months of delusivehappiness on the part of the bride; for the little fair beauty adoredher dark-haired Apollo, who graciously accepted her adoration. 

But then came satiety and weariness and inconstancy on the part of thehusband, who soon commenced the pleasing pastime of breaking the wife'sheart. 

Yet still, for some little time longer, she, with a deplorable fatuity, believed in and loved him. After he had squandered her own fortune ongaming-tables and race-courses, he wished to get possession of thefortune of her son. To do this he persuaded her to sell out certainstock and entrust him with the proceeds, to be invested, as he convincedher, in railway shares in America, that would pay at least two hundredper cent. Dividends, and in a few months double that money. 

Acting as her son's guardian and trustee, acting also, as she thought, in his best interests, the deluded mother did as her husband directed. She sold out the stocks, and confided the proceeds to him. 

Then it was that they made the voyage to America, ostensibly to purchasethe railway shares in question. His real motive in bringing her to thiscountry was, doubtless, to take her as far as possible from her nativeplace and her old acquaintances, so as to prosecute the more safely andeffectually his fraudulent designs. 

How they had arrived at Norfolk and taken rooms at the Anchor, and howhe had robbed and deserted her there, has already been told. 

Sybil Berners listened to this sad and revolting story of woman'sweakness and man's criminality with mingled emotions of pity andindignation. 

"Believe me, " she said, tenderly taking the hand of the injured wife, "Ifeel the deepest sympathy with your misfortunes. I will do everything inmy power to comfort and help you--not in words only, but in deeds; and Ionly grieve, dear, that I cannot give you back your husband in his honorand integrity as you once regarded him, " added this loving and confidingwife, to whom no misery seemed so great as that caused by the defaultand desertion of a husband. 

"Oh, do not name him to me!" burst forth in pain from the lips of RosaBlondelle; "oh, I hope, as long as I may live in this world, never to bewounded by the sound of his base name, or blasted with the sight of hisfalse face again. "

Sybil Berners shrank in dismay from the excited woman, who continued, vehemently:

"Do you wonder at this? I tell you, madam, it is possible for love todie a sudden and violent death, for mine has done so within the lastthree days. "

"I am deeply grieved to hear you say so, for it proves how much you musthave suffered--how much more than even I had imagined. But try to take alittle comfort. I and my own dear husband will be your friends, will bea sister and a brother to you, " said Sybil earnestly, with all theimpulsive, unlimited generosity of her youth and her race, awakened byher sympathy with the sorrows of this young stranger. 

"Oh, madam, you--" began Rosa, but her voice broke down in sobs. 

"Take comfort, " continued Sybil, laying her little brown hand on thatfair golden head, "take comfort. Think, you have not lost all. You haveyour child left. "

"Ah, my child!" cried Rosa, in a tone like a shriek of anguish, "mychild, my wronged and ruined babe! The sight of him is a sword throughmy bosom! my child that _he_ robbed and made _me_ an accomplice inrobbing--it is maddening to think of it. "

"Then do not think of it, " said Sybil, gently, and still caressing thebowed head; "think of anything else--think of what I am going to say toyou. Listen. While you remain in this crowded and noisy hotel, you cannever recover calmness enough to act with any good effect. So I wish youto come home with me and my dear husband to our quiet country house, andbe our cherished guest until you can communicate with your friends, orcome to some satisfactory decision concerning your future course. "

While Sybil spoke these words, the young stranger raised her head andlooked up with gradually dilating eyes. 

"Come, now; what say you? Will you be our dear and welcome guest thisautumn?" smiled Sybil. 

"Oh, _do_ you mean this? _can_ you mean it?" exclaimed Rosa, insomething like an ecstasy of surprise and gratitude. 

"In our secluded country house, with sympathizing friends around you, "continued Sybil, still caressing Rosa's little golden-haired head, andspeaking all the more calmly because of Rosa's excitement, "you willhave repose and leisure to collect your thoughts and to write to yourfriends in the old country, and to wait without hurry or anxiety to hearfrom them. "

"Oh, angels in Heaven, do you hear what this angel on earth is saying tome! Oh, was ever such divine goodness seen under the sun before! Oh, dear lady, you amaze, you confound me with your heavenly goodness!"exclaimed the young stranger, in strong emotion. 

Sybil took her hand, and still all the more gently for the increasingagitation of Rosa, she continued:

"We are daughters of the Divine Father, sisters in one sufferinghumanity, and so we should care for each other. At present you aresuffering, and I have some power to comfort you. In the future ourpositions may be reversed, and _I_ may be the sufferer and you thecomforter. Who can tell?"

"O, dear lady, Heaven forbid that great heart of yours should ever becalled to suffer, or that you should ever need such poor help as mine. But this I know: so penetrated am I by your goodness, that, if ever youshould lose your present happiness and my death would restore it, Iwould die to give it back to you, " fervently exclaimed the stranger. 

And for the moment she felt as she had spoken, for she was mostprofoundly moved by a magnanimity she had never seen equalled. 

Sybil blushed like a child, and found nothing to say in reply to thisexcessive praise. She only left her hand in the clasp of the stranger, who covered it with kisses, and then continued:

"When I first saw your little white card and the delicate tracery ofyour name and your kind words, I seemed to know it was a friend'swriting. And when I first saw your sweet face and heard your tendertones, both so full of heavenly pity, I felt that the good Lord had notforsaken me, for He had sent one of his holy angels to visit me. Ah, lady, if you had only come and looked at me so and spoken to me so, andthen passed out and away forever, still, still, that look and that tonewould have remained with me, a comfort and a blessing for all time. Butnow--but now to hold out your hands to lead me to a place in your ownhome, by your own side--oh, it is too much! too much!"

And tears of many mingled emotions flowed down the speaker's cheeks. 

"There, there!" said Sybil, utterly confused by this excessive, but mostsincere adulation, yet still caressing the stranger's fair head, "there, dear, dry your eyes, and tell me if you can be ready to leave this placewith us to-morrow morning. "

Again the foreign lady seized and kissed the hands of her new friend, exclaiming fervently:

"Yes dear lady, yes! I am too deeply touched by your heavenly goodnessnot to be anxious to profit by it as soon as possible. "

"Then I will leave you to your preparations for the journey, " saidSybil, rising. 

Rosa also stood up. 

"There will be much to be done in a short time. Will you let me send mymaid to help yours?" inquired Sybil, with a hesitating smile. 

"Thanks, dear madam. I shall be much obliged, " replied Rosa, with a bow. 

"And there is yet another request I have to make, " added Mrs. Berners, pausing with her hand upon the latch of the door--"Will you kindly meetus at breakfast at eight o'clock to-morrow morning in our privatesitting-room, so that I may make you acquainted with my husband beforewe all start on our journey together?"

"With pleasure, dear lady! It is your will to load me with benefits, andyou must be gratified, " replied Rosa, with a faint smile. 

"Then I will come myself and fetch you, a little before the hour, " addedSybil, playfully throwing a kiss as she darted through the door. 

When she re-entered her own apartment, she found her husband impatientlypacing up and down the floor. 

"How very long you have been, my darling Sybil, " he said, with all thefondness of a newly-wedded lover, as he went to meet her. 

"Oh, I am so glad you thought it long!" she answered mischievously, asshe took his hand and pulled him to the big easy-chair and pushed himdown into it. 

"Sit down there, and listen to me, " she said, with a pretty little airof authority. Then she drew an ottoman to his side and sunk down uponit, and leaned her arms upon his knees, and lifted her beautiful darkface, now all aglow with the delight of benevolence, and told him allthat had passed in the interview between herself and Mrs. Blondelle. 

And Lyon Berners, with his arm over her graceful shoulders, his fingersstringing her silken black ringlets, and his eyes gazing with infinitetenderness and admiration down on her eloquent face, listened withattentive interest to the story. But at its close, great was hisastonishment. 

"My dear, impulsive Sybil, what have you done!" he exclaimed. 

"What!" echoed Sybil, her crimson lips breathlessly apart--her dark eyesdilated. 

"Love, you have invited a perfect stranger, casually met at a hotel--agambler's wife, even by her own showing, an adventuress by all otherappearances, to come and take up her abode with us for an indefinitelength of time!"

Sybil's mouth opened, and her eyes dilated with an almost comicalexpression of dismay. She had not a word to say in self-defence!

"Do not think I blame you, dear, warm, imprudent heart! I only wonder atyou, and--adore you!" he said, earnestly pressing her to his bosom. 

"Oh, but you would have done as I did, if you had seen her distress!"pleaded Sybil, recovering her powers of speech. 

"But could you not have helped her without inviting her home with us?"

"But how?" inquired Sybil. 

"Could you not have paid her board? or lent her money?"

"Oh, Lyon! Lyon!" said Sybil, slowly shaking her head and looking up inhis face with a heavenly benevolence beaming through her own. "Oh, Lyon!it was not a boarding-house she wanted, it was a _refuge_, a home withfriends! But I am very sorry if this displeases you. "

"Dear, impetuous, self-forgetting child! I am not so impious as to findfault with you. "

"But you do not like the lady's coming. "

"I should not like any visitor coming to stay with us and prevent our_tête-à-tête_, " said Lyon, gravely. 

"I thought of that too, dear, and with a pang of selfish regret; for ofcourse I would much rather that you and I should have our dear old hometo ourselves, than that any stranger should share it with us. But then, oh, dearest Lyon, I reflected that we are so rich and happy in our homeand our love, and she is so poor and sorrowful in her exile anddesertion, that we might afford to comfort her from the abundance of ourblessings, " said Sybil, earnestly. 

"My angel wife! you are worthier than I, and your will shall be done, "he gravely replied. 

"Not so, dear Lyon! But when you see this lady in her beauty and hersorrow, you also will admire and pity her, and you will be glad that sheis coming to the refuge of our home. "

"I may be so, " replied Mr. Berners with an arch smile, "but how willyour proud neighbors receive this questionable stranger?"

The stately little head was lifted in an instant, and--

"My 'proud neighbors' well know that whom Sybil Berners protects withher friendship is peer with the proudest among them!" she said, with ahauteur not to be surpassed by the haughtiest in the Old Dominion. 

"Well said, my little wife! And now, as this matter is decided, I mustsee about taking additional places in the stage-coach. How many will bewanted? What retinue has this foreign princess in distress, " inquiredLyon, rather sarcastically. 

"There will be three places required, for the lady, child and nurse. "

"Whe-ew! My dear Sybil, we are collecting a ready made family! Does thechild squall? or the nurse drink?" inquired Lyon, with a laugh, aswithout waiting for a reply he rang the bell, and gave the order forthree more places to be taken inside the Staunton coach for the morning. 

And soon after this the young pair retired to rest. 

Very early the next morning Sybil Berners came out of her chamber, looking fresh and bright as the new day itself. She wore a close-fittingtravelling dress of crimson merino, that well became her elegant littlefigure and rich, dark complexion. 

She glanced around the room to see that everything was in order. Yes;the fire was bright, the hearth clean, the breakfast-table neatly set, and the morning sun shining through the red-curtained windows andglancing upon the silver tea-service. 

With a smile of satisfaction, she tossed back her raven-black ringlets, and passed from the room and through the hall, and rapped at the door ofher new acquaintance. 

Mrs. Blondelle herself opened it, and stood there quite ready toaccompany her friend to breakfast. 

Radiantly beautiful looked the fair young stranger this morning, in thedark, bright-blue cloth habit that so highly enhanced the dazzlingsplendor of her blooming complexion and the golden glory of her hair. 

An instant Sybil paused in involuntary admiration, and then recoveredherself and greeted the lady with affectionate warmth. 

"It is nearly eight o'clock, dear, and breakfast is quite ready. Willyou come now?" inquired Sybil, when these salutations were passed. 

Rosa assented with a sweet smile, and Sybil led the way into her ownsitting-room. 

Mr. Berners had come in during his wife's short absence, and he nowstood before the fire with the morning paper in his hand. He put it downon the table, and came forward to meet his wife, and to welcome herguest. 

"Mrs. Blondelle, Mr. Berners, " said Sybil, introducing the parties toeach other by the simplest formula. 

And while they were bowing together, Sybil was watching mischievously tosee what effect the dazzling beauty of Rosa Blondelle would have uponLyon Berners. 

She saw it!

After bowing, they lifted their heads and looked at each other--he, atfirst, with the courtesy of a host--but she with a radiant andenchanting smile. 

Sybil was prepared to see Lyon's surprise at the first view of thispeerless creature; but she was by no means prepared to witness theinvoluntary gaze of intense and breathless admiration and wonder that hefixed for a moment on her beautiful face. That gaze said as eloquentlyas words could have spoken:

"This is the most wondrous, perfect creature that the world ever saw!This is the master-piece of nature. "

With the sunlight of her smile still shining on him, Rosa held out herhand, and said in the sweetest tones:

"Sir, I have no words good enough to tell you how deeply I feel yourkindness and that of your dear wife to me. "

"Dear lady, Mrs. Berners and myself do but gratify our own tastes in_trying_ to serve you; for it will be a great happiness to us if wesucceed in doing so, " replied Lyon Berners, with a look and tone thatproved his perfect sincerity and earnestness. 

As thus they smiled and glanced, and spoke to each other, Sybil alsoglanced from the one to the other; a sudden pang shot through her heart, exciting a nameless dread in her mind. _"Even so quickly may one catchthe plague!"_

"Let me lead you to the table, " said Mr. Berners, offering his arm toMrs. Blondelle, and conducting her to her place. 

Above all, Sybil was a lady; for she was a Berners. So, with thisstrange wound in her heart, this vague warning in her mind, she took herseat at the head of her table and did its honors with her usual courtesyand grace. 

Mr. Berners seconded his wife in all hospitable attentions to theirbeautiful young guest. 

While they were all still seated at the table, a groom rapped at thedoor and reported the stage-coach ready. 

They all arose in a hurry, and began to make the last hasty preparationsfor departure. 

Mrs. Blondelle hurried into her own room, to have her luggage taken downstairs to be put on the coach, and also to summon her nurse with thechild. 

When Sybil Berners found herself for a moment alone with her husband, she laid her hand upon his coat sleeve to stay him, in his haste, andshe inquired:

"What do you think of her now?"

"I think, my darling Sybil, that you were right in your judgment of thislady. And I agree with you perfectly. I think, my only love, that inwhat you have done for this stranger, you have acted not only with thegoodness, but with the wisdom of an angel, " replied Lyon Berners, snatching her suddenly to his heart, and holding her closely there whilehe pressed kiss after kiss upon her crimson lip; and murmured:

"I must steal a kiss from these sweet lips when and wherever I can, myown one, since we are not to be much alone together now. "

And then he released her, and hurried off to put on his overcoat. 

Sybil stood for a minute, smiling, where he had left her, and so happythat she forgot she had to get ready to go. The pain was gone from herheart, and the cloud from her brain. 

And as yet, so little did she know of herself or others, that she couldnot have told why the pain and the cloud ever came, or why they everwent away. 

As yet she did not know that her husband's admiring smiles given to arival beauty had really caused her nameless suffering; or that it washis loving caresses, bestowed upon herself, that had soothed it. 

In a word, Sybil Berners, the young bride, did not dream that thebitter, bitter seed of JEALOUSY was germinating in her heart, to growand spread perhaps into a deadly upas of the soul, destroying all morallife around it. 

 CHAPTER VII. 

 DOWN IN THE DARK VALE. 

 Where rose the mountains, there for her were friends, Where fell the valley, therein was her home; Where the steep rock and dizzy peak ascends, She had the passion and the power to roam. The crag, the forest, cavern, torrent's foam, Were unto her companions, and they spake A natural language clearer than the tone Of her best books, which she would oft forsake For Nature's pages, lit by moonbeams on the lake. --BYRON. 

Jealousy, once called to life in any human heart, is not easily to bedestroyed. Sybil Berners' almost unconscious jealousy suddenly calledinto existence, and as suddenly soothed to sleep, was awakened again bysomething that occurred just as the travellers were about to start. 

It was the merest trifle, yet one of those trifles which turn the courseof fate just as surely as the little switch of the railroad controls thedirection of the train. 

The travellers were just entering the stage-coach. Mr. Berners handedin first Mrs. Blondelle, then Mrs. Berners, and then he himself entered. 

"You sit down here in this right-hand corner, Lyon, dear, and I will sitin the middle next to you, and Mrs. Blondelle shall sit in the left-handcorner next to me, " said Sybil, still standing while she pointed outtheir several places on the back seat; and she spoke perhaps under theinfluence of a latent jealousy, that instigated her to place herselfbetween her husband and her guest, for that long journey. 

"No, no, my dear, not so; but if you will change places with me and takethe right-hand corner-seat, while our fair friend occupies the left-handone, I will sit between you two ladies, the proverbial 'thorn betweentwo roses, '" replied Lyon Berners, gayly and gallantly, with perhaps onhis side a latent desire to sit next the beautiful blonde, but alsoquite unconscious of how these words had disappointed and wounded herwhom he would not have willingly wronged for the world. 

Sybil silently took her seat, leaving the others to follow her example. Mr. Berners politely put Mrs. Blondelle in the left-hand corner, andthen seated himself in the middle seat, between his wife and her guest. 

In front of them, on the movable central seat, sat Mrs. Blondelle'schild and nurse. Facing them on the front seat, with their backs to thehorses, were the two negro servants, Mr. Berners' valet and Mrs. Berners' maid. 

Though the morning was a very fine one for travelling, there were noother passengers inside, or out. Mr. Berners and his party had the wholecoach to themselves, at least, at starting. 

Sybil thought she had never seen her husband in gayer spirits. As thehorses started and the coach rattled along over the stony streets of thecity, Mr. Berners turned smilingly to Mrs. Blondelle, and said:

"I know of few pleasanter things in this pleasant world than a journeythrough our native State of Virginia, taken at this delightful season ofthe year; and of all routes I know of none affording such a variety ofbeautiful and sublime scenery as this we are now starting upon. "

"How long will it take you to reach your beautiful home?" sweetlyinquired Rosa Blondelle. 

"We might reach it in two days, if we were to travel day and night; butwe shall be four days on the road, as we propose to put up at someroadside inn or village each night, " answered Lyon Berners. 

Meanwhile the coach rattled out of the city and into the open country, where the landscape was fair, well-wooded, well-watered, but notstriking. 

"You must not judge the scenery of our State by this flat country aroundour seaport, " said Mr. Berners to his guest, with the air of a manmaking an apology. 

"Yet this is very pleasant to look upon, " answered Rosa, sincerely. 

"Yes, very pleasant, as you say; but you will use stronger language whenyou see our vast forests, our high mountains, and deep valleys, "answered Lyon Berners with a smile. 

Sybil did not join in the conversation. She had not spoken since she hadunwillingly taken that corner seat. And worse than all, to herapprehension, neither her husband nor her guest had noticed her silence. They were apparently quite absorbed in each other. 

Some hours of jolting over bad turnpike roads brought the coach to theinterior of an old forest, where, at a wayside inn, the horses werechanged, and the travellers dined. Here, on resuming their seats in thecoach, they were joined by two other travellers, elderly countrygentlemen, who took the two vacant places inside, and who would havemade themselves very confidential with Mr. Berners on any subjectwithin their knowledge, from crops to Congress, if he had not been tooengaged with his fair guest to pay them much attention. Sybil continuedsilent, except when occasionally her husband would ask her if she wascomfortable, or if he could do anything for her, when she would thankhim and answer that she was quite comfortable; and that he could donothing. And as far as bodily ease went, she spoke the truth. For therest, Sybil could not then and there ask him to leave off devotinghimself to their guest, and show _her_ more attention. 

A few more hours of more jolting over worse turnpike roads brought thecoach to the foot of the Blue Ridge, and to the picturesque village ofUnderhill, where our party passed the night. Here, in the village inn, Sybil Berners, feeling that Rosa Blondelle, as her guest, was entitledto her courtesy, made an effort to forget the pain in her heart, theshadow on her mind, and to do the honors of the table with her usualaffability and grace. 

After supper, which was pleasantly prolonged, the travellers separated, and were shown to their several bed-chambers. 

And now, after twelve hours, Sybil found herself once more alone withher husband. He had not perceived her silence and dejection during thejourney, or if he had, he certainly had not ascribed it to the rightcause. He was equally unconscious of having done a wrong, or inflicted awound. And now his manner to his wife was as tender, loving, and devotedas it had ever been since their marriage. His very first words showedthis. On entering the room and closing the door, he suddenly threw hisarms around her, and clasped her to his bosom as a recovered treasure, exclaiming:

"Now, my darling, we are alone together once more, with no one to divideus. "

"Thank Heaven!" breathed Sybil with all her heart; and her jealousy waslulled to rest again by the kisses that he pressed on her lips. She saidto herself that all his devotion to Rosa Blondelle in the stage-coachwas but the proper courtesy of a gentleman to a lady guest, who was, besides, a stranger in the country; and that she, his wife, ought toadmire, rather than to blame him for it--ought to be pleased, ratherthan pained by it. 

Very early the next morning the travellers arose, in order to take theearliest coach, which, having left Norfolk at sunset, would reachUnderhill at sunrise. 

Poor, ardent, impulsive Sybil! She had passed a very happy night; andthis morning she met her guest with a gush of genuine affection, embracing and kissing her and her child, making them even more welcomethan she had done before, and feeling that to-day she could not deal tookindly by Rosa, to atone for having yesterday thought so hardly of her. 

Under these pleasant auspices the travellers sat down to an excellentbreakfast. 

But the warning horn blew, and they prepared to resume their journey. 

On entering the coach, they found the other passengers, three in number, already on the back seat. But they were gentlemen, who voluntarily andpromptly gave up their seats to the two ladies and their escort. Thecoach started. 

Their route now lay through some of the wildest passes of the BlueRidge. And here the enthusiasm of Rosa Blondelle burst forth. She saidthat she had seen grand mountains in Scotland, but nothing--no, nothingto equal these in grandeur and beauty!

And Lyon Berners smiled to hear her speak so, as one might smile at theextravagant delight of a child, for as a child this lovely strangeroften seemed to him and to others. And she, with her sweet, blue eyes, smiled back to him. 

And Sybil looked and listened, and felt again that strange wounddeepening in her heart--that strange cloud darkening over her mind. 

 CHAPTER VIII. 

 BLACK HALL. 

 Seest thou our home? 'tis where the woods are waving In their dark richness to the autumn air; Where yon blue stream its rocky banks are laving, Leads down the hills a vein of light--'tis there. --HEMANS. 

At the close of that second day, they stopped at a hamlet on the summitof the Blue Ridge, from which they could view five counties. At thelittle hotel they were entertained very much in the same manner as atthe inn of Underhill. Again Sybil's unspoken and unsuspected jealousywas soothed by the caresses of her husband. 

In the morning they resumed their journey in the early coach, that tookthem across the beautiful valley that lies between the Blue Ridge andthe Allegheny Mountains. And again Lyon Berners' devotion to RosaBlondelle deeply distressed Sybil. At nightfall they reached Staunton, where they slept. 

On the morning of the fourth and last day of their journey, they tookthe cross-country coach and changed their route, which now led themtowards the wildest, dreariest, and loneliest passes of the Alleghenies. 

About mid-day the coach entered the dark defile known as the "Devils'Descent. " And, in fact, it needed all the noon sunshine to light up thegloom of that fearful pass. Here the delight of the impressible youngforeigner deepened into awe. 

"I have never seen anything like this in the old country, " she breathed, in a low, hushed tone. 

And again Lyon Berners smiled most kindly and indulgently on her, andagain Sybil Berners sickened at heart. Every time Lyon so smiled onRosa, Sybil so sickened. She strove against this feeling, but she couldnot overcome it. 

As the day declined and the coach went on, wilder, drearier, andlonelier became the road, until, at nightfall, it entered a pass sogloomy, so savage, so terrific in its aspect, that the young strangerinvoluntarily caught her breath and clung for protection to the arm ofLyon Berners. 

"I have never _dreamed_ of a place like this, " she gasped. 

"You think, " he said indulgently, "that if the other pass was called the'Devil's Descent, ' this should be the 'Gates of Hell. ' Yet to us, it isthe 'Gates of Heaven;' since it is the entrance to our Valley Home. "

And this affectionate mention of their mutual home almost consoled thewife for the smile he bestowed on their beautiful guest while speaking. 

Then all the women except Sybil held their breath in awe. 

It was indeed an awful pass! a road roughly hewn through the bottom of adeep, narrow, tortuous cleft in the mountains where, at some remoteperiod, by some tremendous convulsions of nature, the solid rocks hadbeen rent apart, leaving the ragged edges of the wound hanging at adizzy height between heaven and earth! The dark iron-gray precipicesthat towered on each side were clothed in every cleft, from base tosummit, with clumps of dark stunted evergreens as sombre as themselves. So tortuous, besides, was the pass, that the travellers could see but afew yards before them at any time. There was but one cheering sight inearth or sky, and that was the young crescent moon straight before themin the west, and shining down in tender light upon the rudest precipiceof all. 

"It does remind one of Dante's descriptions of the 'Entrance into theInfernal Regions, ' does it not?" inquired Lyon Berners. 

"All except the little moon! Without that, its gloom would be perfectlyhorrible! and it is horrible enough now, " answered Rosa with a shudder. 

"But I love it! Even its gloom and horror have a weird fascination forme. It is my abode. I only seem to live my own life in my own BlackValley, " said Sybil, in a low, deep voice that thrilled with emotion. 

They were suddenly silenced, for they were at the sharpest, steepest, most difficult and dangerous turn in that most dangerous pass; and to godown with any chance of safety required the utmost care and skill on thepart of the coachman, whose anxiety was shared by all within the coach. Each passenger clung for support to what was nearest at hand, and mightreasonably have expected every instant to be dashed to pieces on therocks by the coach pitching over the horses' heads, as it tossed andtumbled and thundered down the falling road, more like a descendingavalanche than a well-conducted four-wheeled vehicle. 

Our travellers only let go their holdings and loosed their tongues againat the foot of the precipice. 

"That was--that was--Oh, there is no word to express what it was. It wasmore than terrible! more than awful! And it is just a miracle that wehave escaped with our lives!" gasped Rosa Blondelle, aghast with horror. 

"There has never yet been an accident on this road, " observed LyonBerners, soothingly. 

"Then there is a miracle performed every time a vehicle passes down it, "replied Rosa, with a shudder. 

"But look now, there is a very fine scene, " said Mr. Berners, pointingthrough the window as the coach rolled on. Sybil was already gazingthrough the right-hand window, and so Rosa stretched her fair neck tolook from the left-hand one. 

Yes, it was a fine scene. The young crescent moon with its tender beamhad gone down; but the great stars were out in all their glory, and bytheir shining the travellers saw before them a beautiful little river, whose rippling surface reflected in fitful glimmers the cheerful lightsof a village on its opposite bank. 

"This is the Black River. It rises in those distant mountains, which arecalled the Black Rocks, and which shut in our Black Valley. The villagehere is called Blackville, " explained Lyon Berners. 

"What a deal of blackness!" replied Rosa Blondelle. 

"If you think so, I must tell you in the first place that we are notresponsible for having named these places; and in the second, that thenames are really appropriate. The stupendous height and dark iron-grayhue of the rocks that overshadow and darken the valley and the river, and also the situation of the village at the entrance of the darkvalley, justify these names. And even if they did not, still we are notso irreverent as to interfere with the arrangements of those who havegone before us, " laughed Lyon Berners. 

And as he spoke the stage-coach reached the banks of the river, and drewup before the little ferry-house. Here the travellers alighted, and hadtheir baggage taken off. And the coach, waiting only long enough tochange horses and to pick up passengers, all of whom, both man andbeast, had been brought over from the village by the ferry-boat, went onits way, which lay along the east bank of the river. 

Mr. Berners had his luggage and that of his party put upon theferry-boat, and then he led the ladies on board. He saw them comfortablyseated, and the nurse and child in a safe place, and then he turned tothe aged ferry-man with hearty good will, and inquired:

"Well, old Charon! all right with you?"

"Yes, sir, thank Heaven!" replied the old man, whose occupation, combined with his great age and flowing gray locks, yet stalworth formand unbroken strength, had conferred upon him the name of his infernalpredecessor--the navigator of the River Styx. 

"All right in the village, and in the valley?" further inquired Mr. Berners. 

"All right in the willage, sir. And Joe, who has just arrove at thetavern, do report all right in the walley, " was the satisfactory answerof the ferry-man. 

"Oh! then our carriage is waiting for us there?"

"Yes, sir, which it arrove just about twenty minutes ago, punk-too-wellto time!" replied the old man. 

The passage across the Black River is very short, and just as theferry-man spoke, the boat touched the wharf immediately under thelighted windows of the hotel, before the doors of which they saw theBlack Hall carriage and horses standing. 

Mr. Berners assisted the ladies of his party to land, and proposed thatthey should stop at the hotel and take supper before going on to BlackHall. 

"Oh, no! please don't, on any account! I feel sure that Miss Tabby haslaid out all her talent on the supper that is awaiting us at home. Andshe would weep with disappointment and mortification if we should stopto supper here, " eagerly objected Sybil. 

"Miss Tabby is our housekeeper; the best creature, but the greatestwhimperer in existence. She is, in turn, Sybil's tyrant and Sybil'sslave; for she is both despotic and devoted, and scolds and pets heralternately and unreasonably as a foolish mother does an only child, "explained Mr. Berners, turning to Mrs. Blondelle. 

"And her lady?" inquired Rosa, with an admiring glance toward Mrs. Berners. 

"Oh! Sybil turns the tables, you may be sure, and indulges or rebukesher housekeeper as the occasion may demand, " laughed Lyon. 

"Come here, Joe!" called Mrs. Berners to her coachman, who was seencoming out of the tap-room. 

"Bress my two eyes, Miss Sybil! how glad dey is to see you, and you too, Marse Lyon!" exclaimed a very black, short, squarely built, good-humoredlooking negro coachman, as he came and bowed to his master and mistress. 

"Joe! you have been at your old tricks again. Joe! why can't you letbar-rooms alone? Joe! where _do_ you expect to go when you die?"solemnly inquired Sybil, shaking her finger at the delinquent. 

"I do 'spect to go straight to de debbil, miss, for sure! Dat's dereason why I wants to take a drap of comfort in dis worl', 'cause Inebber shall get none dere. But bress my two eyes, miss, how glad dey isto look on your putty face again. "

"My 'putty' face? I want to know if _that's_ a compliment? But, Joe, what has Miss Tabby got for supper?"

"Lor bress your putty little mouf, Miss Sybil; it's easier to tell youwhat she hasn't got, " exclaimed Joe, stretching his eyes. "Why, MissSybil, there an't a man nor a maid about the house, what ha'n't been ontheir feet all dis day a getting up of that there supper, " he added. 

"There! I told you so!" said Sybil, turning to her husband. 

"Then let's go on and eat it, my love. We can leave our two servantshere to follow in the wagon with the baggage, " said Lyon Berners, leading his wife and his guest to the carriage, and placing them inside, with the child and nurse, while he himself mounted to the box beside thecoachman. 

"Oh! I am very sorry Mr. Berners has been crowded out, " regretfullyexclaimed Rosa Blondelle, looking after him in surprise as he climbed tohis roost. 

"Oh, he has not been crowded out! He has gone up there to drive; for theroad is not very safe at night, and our coachman is rather too muchexhilarated to be trusted, " answered Sybil, touching very tenderly uponthe weakness of her old servant. 

Their road lay along the bank of the river up the valley, between thetwo high mountain ridges; but it was so dark that nothing but thesegrander features of the landscape could be discerned. 

As the carriage rolled slowly and carefully along this rough road, themusic of distant waters fell upon the listening ear, and from thefaintest hum that could hardly be heard, it gradually swelled into adeafening roar that filled the valley. 

"What is that?" fearfully inquired Rosa. 

"What is what?" echoed Sybil. 

"That horrid noise!"

"Oh! that is the Black Torrent, the head of our Black River, " answeredSybil in a low, pleased tone; for the sound of her native waters, however dreadful it might be to strange ears, was delightful to hers. 

"Oh! more blackness!" shivered Rosa. 

"But it is a beautiful cascade! All beautiful things are not necessarilylight, you know. "

"No, indeed, " answered Rosa, "for the most beautiful woman I have everseen in my life is very dark. " And she raised and pressed the hand ofher hostess, to give point to her words. 

Sybil did not like the implied flattery, delicately as it was conveyed. She drew her hand away; and then, to heal the little hurt she might havemade in doing so, she opened the window and said, pleasantly:

"Look, Mrs. Blondelle! You see the lights of our home now. "

Rosa leaned across Sybil to look in the direction indicated, and she sawscattered lights that seemed to be set in the side of the mountain. Shesaw no house, and she said so. 

"That is because the house is built of the very same dark iron-grayrocks that form the mountain; and being immediately at the foot of themountain, and closely surrounded with trees, can not at night bedistinguished from the mountain itself. "

Here the carriage road curved around an expansion of the river thatmight have been taken either for a very small lake, or a very largepond. And about midway of this curve, or semi-circle, the carriage drewup. 

On the left-hand was dimly seen the lake; on the right-hand the gateletting into the elm-tree avenue that led straight up to the house. 

"That is the Black Pond, and there is Black Hall. More 'blackness, ' Mrs. Blondelle, " smiled Sybil, who was so delighted to get home that sheforgot her jealousy. 

The carriage waited only until the gates could be opened by the slow oldporter, whom Sybil laughingly greeted as "Cerberus, " although the namegiven him in baptism was that of the keeper of the keys of heaven, andnot that of the guardian of the entrance to the other place. 

"Cerberus, " or rather Peter, warmly welcomed his young mistress back, and widely stretched the gates for her carriage to pass. 

As the carriage rolled easily along the avenue, now thickly carpetedwith forest leaves, and as it approached the house, the fine oldbuilding, with its many gable ends and curiously twisted chimneys, itssteep roofs and latticed windows--all monuments of the old colonialdays--came more and more distinctly into view from its background ofmountains. Lights were gleaming from upper and lower and all sorts ofwindows, and the whole aspect of the grand old hospitable mansionproclaimed, "WELCOME. "

 CHAPTER IX. 

 THE GUEST-CHAMBERS. 

 Deserted rooms of luxury and state, Which old magnificence had rudely furnished With pictures, cabinets of ancient date, And carvings, gilt and burnished, --HOOD. 

The carriage drew up at the foot of a flight of stone steps, leading tothe front entrance of the house. The double oak doors stood wide open, showing the lighted hall and a group of people waiting. 

Sybil looked eagerly from the carriage window. 

"I do declare, " she exclaimed, "if there is not, not only Miss Tabby, but Miss Libby and Mrs. Winterose besides; Mrs. Winterose, " sheexplained, turning to her guest, "is the widow of our late land steward. She is also my foster-mother, and the mother of the two maiden ladies, Miss Tabby, who is our housekeeper, and Miss Libby, who lives with thewidowed parent at home. They have come to welcome us back. Heaven blessthem!"

As Sybil spoke, Mr. Berners dropped down from his perch on thecoachman's box, and opened the carriage door. 

He assisted first his wife, and then their guest, to alight. And then hetook the sleeping child from the nurse's arms, while she herself gotout. 

"You know the way, dearest Sybil! Run on before, and I will take chargeof our fair friend, " said Mr. Berners, as he gave his arm to Mrs. Blondelle to lead her up the steps. 

But Sybil had not waited for this permission. Too eager to meet the dearold friends of her childhood to care for any one else just then, or evento feel a twinge of jealousy at the words and actions of her husband, she flew past him up the stairs and into the arms of her foster-mother, who folded the beautiful, impetuous creature to her bosom, and welcomedher home with heartfelt emotion. 

Miss Tabby and Miss Libby next took their turns to be embraced andkissed. 

And then the old servants crowded around to welcome their beloved youngmistress; to every one of them she gave a cordial grasp of her hand, andloving words. 

"It is very delightful, " she said, with tears of joy in her eyes, "it isvery, very delightful to be so warmly welcomed home. "

"Everything as well as everybody welcomes you home, Miss Sybil! Even theBlack Torrent! I never heard the cascade sing so loud and merry as itdoes to-night!" said Old Abe, or Father Abraham, as he was called, forbeing a full centenarian, and the oldest negro, by twenty years, of anyon the estate. 

"Thank you, dear old Uncle Abe! I _know_ you all welcome me home! And Ilove to think that my torrent does too! And now, Miss Tabby, you got theletter I wrote from Underhill, asking you to have the spare roomsprepared for the visitors we were to bring with us?" inquired Sybil, turning to her housekeeper. 

"Yes, ma'am, and your orders is obeyed, and the rooms is all ready, aswell as yourn and Mr. Berners', even to the kindling of the fires, whichhas been burning in the chimneys to air them rooms all this blessedday, " answered Miss Tabby. 

"That is right, and I thank you; and now here comes our visitor, " saidSybil, as her guest approached leaning on her husband's arm. They hadcertainly lingered a little on the way; but Sybil was too happy tonotice that circumstance now. The jealous wife was for the time subduedwithin her, and all the hospitable hostess was in the ascendant. 

"You are welcome to Black Hall, my dear Mrs. Blondelle, " she said, advancing to receive her guest. "And now, will you walk into our sittingparlor and rest awhile before taking off your wraps; or shall I showyou at once to your rooms, which are quite ready for you?"

"At once to my rooms, if you please, Mrs. Berners; for, you see, my poorlittle Cromartie is already fast asleep. "

"Come, then; you will not have far to go. It is on this floor, " saidSybil, with a smile, as she led the way down the wide hall, past thegreat staircase, and then turned to the right and went down a longpassage, until she came to a door, which she opened. 

"Here is your bed-chamber, " said Sybil, inviting her guest to enter alarge and richly furnished room; "and beyond this, and connected withit, is another and a smaller apartment, which is properly thedressing-room, but which I have had fitted up as a nursery for yourchild and his nurse. "

"Many thanks, " replied Rosa Blondelle, as she followed her hostess intothe room, and glanced around with the natural curiosity we all feel inentering a strange place. 

The room was very spacious, and had many doors and windows. Itsfurniture was all green, which would have seemed rather gloomy, but forthe bright wood fire on the hearth, that lighted up all the scene withcheerfulness. 

Sybil drew an easy-chair to the chimney corner, and invited her guest tosit down. 

But Rosa was too curious about her surroundings to yield herselfimmediately to rest. 

"What an interesting old place!" she said, walking about the chamber andexamining every thing. 

Meanwhile the nurse-maid, more practical than her mistress, had foundthe door of the adjoining nursery and passed into it to put her infantcharge to bed. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Rosa, who had drawn aside one of the green moreen windowcurtains and was looking out--"Oh! what a wild, beautiful place! Butthese windows open right upon the grounds, and there are no outsideshutters! Is there no danger?"

"No danger whatever, my dear Mrs. Blondelle. These windows open at theback of the house, upon the grounds, which run quite back to the foot ofthe mountain. These grounds are _very_ private, being quiteinaccessible, except through the front grounds of the house, " saidSybil, soothingly. 

"But oh!" whispered Mrs. Blondelle, nowise tranquilized by the answer ofher hostess--"Oh! what are those white things that I see standing amongthe bushes at the foot of the mountain? They look like--tombstones!" sheadded, with a shudder. 

"They _are_ tombstones, " replied Sybil in a low, grave voice; "that isour family burial-ground, and all the Berners, for seven generations, lie buried there. "

"Oh, good gracious!" gasped Rosa Blondelle, dropping the curtain andturning away. 

"Don't be alarmed, " smiled Sybil. "The place is much farther off than itseems. And now, my dear Mrs. Blondelle, let me make you acquainted withthe bearings of this green bedroom, and then you will like it better. You see it is in the right wing of the house, and that accounts for itshaving windows on three sides, back, front, and end, and doors thatconnect with the house and doors that lead to the grounds. _This_ door, "she said, opening one on the left-hand side of the fireplace--"this doorleads up this little narrow staircase directly into my chamber, whichis immediately above this, as my dressing-room is immediately above yournursery. So, my dear, if ever you should feel nervous or alarmed, allyou have to do is to open this little door, and run up these stairs andknock loudly at the upper door, which is near the head of my bed. Ishall hear you, and fly to your assistance. "

"Yes, " laughed Rosa. "But suppose some robber were to get into thesewindows, and be right upon me before I could run, what should I dothen?"

"Call for assistance, and Mr. Berners and myself will run down to yourrescue. But in order to make that practicable, you must always leavethat lower stair door unfastened; and you may do it with perfect safety, as it leads nowhere but into my bedroom. "

"I will remember always to leave it unfastened, " replied Rosa. 

"But, my dear, I assure you there is not the least shadow of a shade ofdanger. Our faithful negroes are all around us on the outside, and ourfaithful dumb guardians sleep on the mats in the large hall and thesmaller passages. However, if you still feel nervous, I will have one ofthe maids sleep in your room, and one of the men sleep in the passageoutside, " said Sybil. 

"Oh, no, not for the world would I disturb the arrangements of thefamily. I am not at all nervous _now_, " said Rosa Blondelle. 

"Then, dear, get ready for supper; for it has been ready for us for anhour past, and I am sure you must need it. I will, with your permission, go up to my own room by these stairs; and when I have changed my dress, I will come down the same way and take you in to supper, " said Sybil, as, with a smile and a bow, she opened the door and slipped away up toher own room. 

Rosa Blondelle passed into the little adjoining nursery, to see afterher child. 

The room, small as it was, had two windows, one west and one south, anda little fireplace north. The east side was only broken by the doorthat communicated with the bedroom. There were green curtains to the twowindows, green carpet on the floor, and green covers to therocking-chair and the child's chairs, which were the only ones in theroom. There was a cot-bed for the nurse and a crib for the child. Awell-supplied wash-stand completed the furniture. The child lay sleepingsoundly in his crib, and the nurse sat by him, occupying herself withsome white embroidery that she habitually carried in her pocket, to fillup spare moments profitably. 

"Crow is quite well, Janet?" inquired the young mother, approaching andlooking at her rosy boy. 

"Yes, me leddy, and sleeping like an angel, " answered the woman. 

"Those are very comfortable quarters, Janet. "

"Yes, me leddy, though the roaring of yon Black Torrent, as they ca' it, gars me grew. I wonder does it always roar sae loud. "

"Oh no, Janet. Mr. Berners says that it only sounds so when very muchswollen by the rains. And Mr. Berners should know. "

"Aye, ma'am, and sae he suld! And a very fine gentleman is the laird!"

"He is not a laird, Janet! There are no lairds in America. "

"And what will he be then, ma'am?"

"Simply a gentleman--Mr. Berners. "

"It is a pity he is na a laird, ma'am, and a duke to the back of that! aprincely gentleman he is, me leddy. "

"I quite agree with you, Janet. Well, leave your charge for a moment, and come and arrange my hair for me. Unluckily I can not change mydress, for my luggage was left behind at Blackville, and I don't supposeit has arrived here yet, " said Rosa Blondelle, as she returned to herroom attended by her maid. But there an agreeable surprise met her. Shefound her trunks set in order, ready for her. 

"I declare, there they are! And I suppose the servants who brought them, finding the door wide open and no one in the room, just put them in hereand retired. Janet, open that trunk and get out my black velvet, andpoint lace set. I must not wear anything very light and gay on thisfirst evening, after a fatiguing journey, when we all feel so tired asto be fit for nothing but bed, " said Rosa Blondelle, throwing herselflanguidly into the green-covered easy-chair before the dressing-table. 

"And, 'deed, me leddy, there's nae dress ye look sae weell in as thatbonny black velvet, " said the maid. 

Rosa knew this well, and for this reason, perhaps, selected the dress. 

The maid quickly and skilfully arranged her mistress's hair in itsnatural golden ringlets, that needed no ornament whatever. And when hertoilet was complete, Rosa Blondelle's fair beauty was even moreresplendent than usual, from its contrast with the rich blackness of herdress. 

"'A star upon the brow of night!'" quoted Sybil, as she entered the roomand stood for a moment in involuntary admiration. Then, with a smile, she drew the arm of her guest within her own and led her off to thesupper-table, where they were joined by Mr. Berners. 

It was a warm wainscotted little room, with crimson carpet and crimsoncurtains, a good open fire of hickory wood, and a small, but luxuriouslyspread supper-table. 

Mr. Berners led their guest to her place at the board, and left his wifeto follow. These courtesies were no doubt due the visitor, yet they madethe wife's heart ache. She hated to miss the attentions her husband hadalways hitherto bestowed on her alone; and she hated more to see themlavished on another, and that other a beautiful, fascinating, and, asshe half suspected, most dangerous woman. It was in vain she said toherself that these attentions were no more than any gentleman shouldshow to the invited visitor of his wife. She could not argue away herheartache. She could not endure to see her husband touch the beauty'shand. It drove her almost out of her self-possession to see their eyesmeet in that provoking mutual smile. Oh! how she repented ever havinginvited this fatal beauty to her house! And yet she pitied thefriendless stranger too, and she struggled bravely against thosefeelings of jealousy and hatred that were creeping into her heart. And, in fact, from this time the whole inner life of Sybil Berners became onehard struggle between her passions and her reason. And this strugglesoon manifested itself in a series of inconsistencies of conduct thatwere perfectly incomprehensible to both Lyon Berners and Rosa Blondelle. 

For instance, on this first night at home, while they sat at thesupper-table. Sybil was silent, abstracted, and depressed. Hercompanions mentally ascribed her condition to fatigue; but Sybil thenscarcely knew what fatigue meant. After supper she aroused herself by aneffort, and offered to attend Mrs. Blondelle back again to that lady'schamber; and when they got there, even lingered a little while, and verykindly repeated her request that if Rosa should be frightened in thenight, she should run up the communicating stairs and rap at Sybil'sbedroom door for assistance. And then Sybil bade her visitorgood-night, and vanished up the stairs. 

The travellers were all very tired, and so, notwithstanding Rosa's fearsand Sybil's jealousy, they were all soon fast asleep. 

 CHAPTER X. 

 THE JEALOUS BRIDE. 

 Yea, she was jealous, though she did not show it, For jealousy dislikes the world to know it. --BYRON. 

Rosa was the last to wake up in the morning. The nurse had alreadydressed the child and taken him from the room; so Rosa rang her bell tobring the truants back. 

Janet came alone. 

"Where is little Crow?" inquired Crow's mamma. 

"In the breakfast-room, me leddy, on the laird's knee, " answered thegirl. 

"I tell you there are no lairds in America, Janet!" said the lady, impatiently. 

"Well, on the gentleman's knee, ma'am. "

"Very well, now come help me to dress. "

Janet hastened to obey, and in half an hour Rosa Blondelle issued fromher chamber, looking if possible even more beautiful than she had lookedon the previous evening; for she wore an elegant morning robe of whitecashmere, embroidered down the front and around the bodice, sleeves, and skirt with a border of blue bells, and she had her splendid hairdressed in the simple natural ringlets that were the most becoming toher. 

Janet walked before her mistress, to show the way. Far up the greathall, she opened a door on the left-hand side, admitting the lady to adelightful front room, whose front windows looked out upon the lake, thevalley, and the opposite range of mountains. 

It was a golden October morning, and from a cloudless deep-blue sky thesun shone down in dazzling splendor upon the valley, kindling up into aconflagration of living light all the variegated foliage of the trees, upon the mountain sides and the river's banks, where the glowing crimsonof the oak and the flaming orange of the elm mingled with the royalpurple of the dogwood and the deep green of the cedar. And all thisgorgeousness of coloring was reflected in the lake, whose waters seemeddyed with all the prismatic hues of the rainbow. 

"'Black Valley, ' indeed!" said Rosa Blondelle, with a smile, as sheentered the breakfast-room and glanced through the windows upon themagnificent scene; "'Black Valley, ' call you this? I should rather callit 'Bright Valley. ' Oh, what a glorious day and oh, what a gloriousscene! Good-morning, Mrs. Berners. Good-morning, Mr. Berners. LittleCrow, this kind gentleman is spoiling you, " she said, as she advancedwith smiling eyes and outstretched hands to greet her host and hostess, who had risen from their chairs to meet her. 

They both received her very kindly, even affectionately, and as they hadwaited only for her presence to have breakfast, Sybil now rang andordered it to be brought in. 

Sybil's own little "high chair" had been rummaged out from its corner inthe lumber-room and dusted, and brought in for the use of the baby-boy;who, in honor of his mother, was permitted to sit up to the table withthe grown people. 

"But why, I repeat, should you call this glorious vale the 'BlackValley'?" inquired Rosa, as they all gathered around the board. 

"It was black enough last night, was it not?" asked Mr. Berners, with asmile. 

"Oh, it was black everywhere last night; but no blacker here thanelsewhere, so I don't see the justice of calling this the Black Valley. I should call it rather the 'Valley of the Sun. '"

"Would not the 'Valley of the Pyrotechnics' do as well?" inquired LyonBerners, with dry humor. 

"I think it would, " replied Rosa, quite seriously, "for certainly thismorning, with this glorious sunshine and these glowing, sparkling woodsand waters, the place is a perfect spectacle of fire-works!"

"You view the scenery at its best and brightest. It is never sobeautiful and brilliant as on a clear sunny autumn noon-day. At allother seasons, and at all other hours, it is gloomy enough. In a veryfew hours from this, when the sun gets behind the mountain, it will bequite black enough to justify its name, " said Mr. Berners very gravely. 

The conversation had been carried on between Mr Berners and Mrs. Blondelle exclusively. Sybil had not volunteered a word; and it happenedalso that neither of her companions had addressed a word to her. Shefelt as if she were dropped out of their talk, and though bodilypresent, dropped out of their company as well. She felt that this wasvery hard; and once more she experienced the wild and vain regret thatshe had ever invited this too-alluring stranger to become an inmate ofher house. 

Before now, when they had been together, Lyon Berners had beenaccustomed to think of, smile on, talk to, only her, his wife! Now histhoughts, smiles, conversation were all divided with another!--Oh no! Ohno! _not divided_, but almost entirely absorbed by that other! At leastso suspected the jealous wife. 

"Is it possible, oh! is it possible that he loves me less than formerly?that he loves me not at all? that he loves this stranger?" thoughtSybil, as she watched her husband and her friend, entirely taken up witheach other, and entirely oblivious of her! And at this thought asensation of sickness and faintness came over her, and she saved herselffrom falling, only by a great effort of self-command. They, talking toeach other, smiling at each other, enjoying each other's exclusiveattention, did not observe her emotion, although almost any casualspectator must have seen it in the deadly pallor of her face. 

In all this there was little to arouse her jealousy; and perhaps therewas nothing at all. Her heart pang may have come of a false fear, or atrue one; who could then tell?

For my own part, looking towards this situation of affairs through thelight of after knowledge, I think that her fears were, even then, well-founded; that even then it was a true instinct which warned herthat her adored husband, he to whom her whole heart, soul, and spiritwere entirely given, he for whom only she "lived and moved and had herbeing, " he was becoming fascinated, for the time being at least, bythis beautiful stranger, who was evidently also flattered by hisattentions. And this in the very honeymoon of the bride to whom he owedso much!

And yet indeed, I say, still speaking in the light of after knowledge, that at this time he was equally unconscious of his wife's jealousy, orof any wrong-doing on his own part, calculated to arouse it. Had LyonBerners suspected that his attentions to their fair guest gave such deeppain to his high-spirited wife, he would at least have modified them toretain her confidence. But he suspected nothing. Sybil revealed nothing;her pride was even greater than her jealousy; for this last daughter ofthe House of Berners inherited all the pride of all her line. At thistime, this pride quite enabled her to keep her pain to herself. 

At length the severe ordeal was, for the moment, over. She perceivedthat her companions had finished breakfast, and so she arose from thetable, leaving her example to be followed by them. 

"Let me lead you to our pleasant morning parlor. It is just across thehall, and commands the same view of the lake and mountains that thisroom does--from the front windows I mean; but from the end windows youget a view _up_ the valley, and may catch glimpses of the Black Torrentas it rushes roaring down the side of the mountain, " said Mr. Berners, as he offered his hand to Mrs. Blondelle and led her from the breakfastparlor. 

Sybil looked after them with pallid cheeks and darkening brows; then sherushed up into her own chamber, locked her door, threw herself upon herbed and gave way to a storm of sobs and tears. While she was stillweeping vehemently, there came a knock at the door. She lifted up herhead and listened; controlling her voice as well as she could, sheinquired:

"Who is there, and what is wanted?"

"It is I, my dear, and I want to come in, " answered the voice of herhusband. 

"I have not even the privilege of shutting myself up to weep alone! forI belong to one who can invade my privacy or command my presence at hispleasure!" exclaimed Sybil in bitterness of spirit; and yet bitternessthat was mingled with a strange, deep sweetness too! for she loved tofeel that _she did_ belong to Lyon Berners; that _he had_ the privilegeof invading her privacy, or commanding her presence at his pleasure. Andah! _that_ was a happiness Rosa Blondelle would not share!

"Well, well, my darling! are you going to let me in?" inquired Mr. Berners, after a moment of patient waiting. 

"Yes, in an instant dear!" exclaimed Sybil, hastily wiping her eyes andtrying to efface all signs of weeping from her countenance. 

Then she opened the door. 

Her husband entered, closed the door, and then turned around with somelight, gay word; but at the sight of his wife's pale and agitated face, he started in surprise and distress, exclaiming:

"Why, Sybil! Why, my darling! What on earth is the matter? What hashappened?"

At the sound of his anxious voice, at the sight of his troubled face, Sybil turned aside, sank upon the corner of the sofa, dropped her headupon its cushions, and yielded to a tempest of sobs and tears. 

He hurried to her side, sat down and drew her head upon his bosom, andin much alarm exclaimed again:

"In the name of Heaven, Sybil! what is all this about? What has happenedto distress you so deeply? Have you heard any bad news?" he inquired ashe caressed and tried to soothe her. 

She did not repel his caresses; for, jealous as she was, she felt noanger towards him then. She laid her head upon his bosom, and sobbedaloud. 

"What bad news have you heard, dear Sybil?" repeated Mr. Berners. 

"Oh, none at all! What bad news _could_ I hear to make _me_ weep? I donot care as much as that for anything on earth, or anybody except you!"she answered, lifting her head from his bosom as she spoke, and thendropping it again when she had finished. 

"Then what is it that troubles you, my own dear wife? What cause can youhave for weeping?" he inquired, tenderly caressing the beautiful, wayward creature. 

She lifted her head, and smiled through her tears as she answered:

"None at all, I believe. What does Kotzebue say? 'To laugh or crywithout a reason, is one of the few privileges women have. ' I have nogood reason to weep, dear Lyon! I know that I have not. But I am nervousand hysterical, I believe, " she added; for, as before, his tendercaresses dispelled her jealousy and restored her trust. With her headresting on his bosom; with his arms around her; with his eyes smilingdown upon hers, she could not look in his face and retain her jealousdoubts. 

"I have no reason in the world for weeping. I am just a nervous, hysterical woman--_like the rest_! It is no wonder men, who see theweakness of our sex, refuse to trust us with any power, " she added, witha light laugh. 

"But I utterly deny this alleged 'weakness of your sex. ' You bewrayyourself and sex by repeating the slander, though even in jest, as I seeyou are. _You_ are not weak, my Sybil. Nor do you weep without a cause. You have some good and sufficient reason for your tears. "

"Indeed, no; I have none. I am only nervous and hysterical, andthoroughly ashamed of myself for being so, " she answered, verysincerely, for she _was_ really thoroughly ashamed of her late jealousy, and anxious to conceal it from her husband. 

He looked at her so inquisitively, not to say so incredulously, thatshe hastened to add;

"This is really nothing but nervous irritability, dear Lyon. Do notdistress yourself about my moods. "

"But I must, my darling. Whether their cause is mental or physical, realor imaginary, I must trouble myself about your tears, " answered LyonBerners, with grave tenderness. 

"Then let it be about my _next_ ones; not these that are past and gone. And now to a pleasant topic. The ball that we are expected to give. "

"Yes, dear, that is _your_ affair. But I am ready to give you anyassistance in my power. Your cards, I believe, are all printed?"

"Yes; that was a happy idea to get the cards printed while we stopped inNew York. "

"Now they only need filling up with names and dates. "

"And the addition of one little word, Lyon. "

"Well, and what is that?"

"_Masks. _"

"MASKS!" echoed Mr. Berners, in surprise. 

"MASKS, " reiterated Mrs. Berners, with a smile. 

"Why, my dear Sybil, what on earth do you mean?"

"Why, that our party shall be a masked, fancy-dress ball. That will besomething new in this old-fashioned neighborhood. "

"Yes, and something startling to our old-fashioned neighbors, " said Mr. Berners, with a dubious shake of his head. 

"So much the better. They need startling, and I intend to startle them. "

"As you please, my dear, wayward Sybil. But when do you propose thisaffair to come off?"

"On All-Hallow Eve. "

"Good. All-Hallow Eve is the proper sort of an eldritch night for sucha piece of diablerie as a mask ball to be held, " laughed Mr. Berners. 

"But now, seriously, Lyon; do you really dislike or disapprove thisplan? If you do I will willingly modify it according to your judgment;or even, if you wish it, I will willingly drop it altogether, " she said, very earnestly. 

"My dear impetuous Sybil, you should make no such sacrifices, even if I_did_ dislike or disapprove your plan; but I do neither. I dare say Ishall enjoy the masquerade as much as any one; and that it will be verypopular and quite a success. But now, dear Sybil, let me hear whatfantastic shape you will assume at this witches' dance?"

"I will tell _you_, Lyon; but mind, you must keep the secret. "

"Oh! inviolably, " said Mr. Berners, with a laugh. 

"Oh! I mean only that you must not speak of it outside the family, because, you see, it is such a perfectly original character that if itwas known it would be taken by half a dozen people at least. "

"I will never breathe its name, " laughed Lyon. 

"Then the character I shall take is--"

"What?"

"Fire!"

"Fire?"

"Fire. "

"Ha! ha! ha! it will suit you admirably, my little Berners of theBurning Heart. But how on earth will you contrive to costume andimpersonate the consuming element?"

"It would take me a week to tell you, and then you would not understand. But you shall see. "

"I hope you will not set all your company in a flame; that is all, mydear. "

"But I shall _try_ to do so. And now, dear Lyon, if you wish to help me, sit down at my writing-table there, and fill out and direct theinvitations, you will find the visiting list, printed cards, and blankenvelopes all in a parcel in the desk. "

"But is it not early to send them?" inquired Mr. Berners, as he seatedhimself at the table. 

"No; not for a mask ball. This is the tenth. The ball is to come off onthe thirty-first. If the cards are sent to-day, our friends will havejust three weeks to get ready, which will not be too long to selecttheir characters and contrive their costumes. "

"I suppose you know best, my dear, " said Mr. Berners, as he referred tothe visiting list and began to prepare for his task. 

Sybil went to her dressing-glass and began to arrange her somewhatdisordered hair. While she stood there, she suddenly inquired:

"Where did you leave Mrs. Blondelle?"

"I did not leave her anywhere. She left me. She excused herself, andwent--to her room, I suppose. "

"Ah!" sighed Sybil. She did not like this answer. She was sorry to knowthat her husband had remained with the beauty until the beauty had lefthim. She tortured herself with the thought that, if Mrs. Blondelle hadremained in the morning room, Mr. Berners would have been there at herside. 

So morbid was now the condition of Sybil that a word was enough toarouse her jealousy, a caress sufficient to allay it. _She_ would notleave Lyon to himself, she thought. He should know the differencebetween his wife and his guest in that particular. So the guest, beingnow in her own room, where her hostess heartily wished she might spendthe greater portion of the day, Sybil felt free from the pressing dutiesof hospitality, at least for the time being; and so she drew a chair tothe corner of the same table occupied by her husband, and she began tohelp him in his task by directing the envelopes, while he filled outthe cards. Thus sitting together, working in unison, and conversingoccasionally, they passed the morning--a happier morning than Sybil hadseen for several days. 

But of course they met their guest again at dinner, where Rosa Blondellewas as fascinating and Lyon Berners as much fascinated as before, andwhere Sybil's mental malady returned in full force. 

Oh, these transient fascinations, what eternal miseries they sometimesbring!

But a greater trial awaited the jealous wife in the evening, when theywere all gathered in the drawing-room, and Rosa Blondelle, beautifullydressed, seated herself at the grand piano, and began to sing and playsome of the impassioned songs from the Italian operas; and Lyon Berners, a very great enthusiast in music, hung over the siren, doubly entrancedby her beauty and her voice. Sybil, too, stood with the little group atthe piano; but she stood back in the shade, where the expression of heragonized face could not be seen by the other two, even if they had beenat leisure to observe her. She was suffering the fiercest tortures ofjealousy. 

Sybil's education had been neglected, as I have told you. She had a finecontralto voice and a perfect ear, but these were both uncultivated; andso she could only sing and play the simplest ballads in the language. She had often regretted her want of power to please the fastidiousmusical taste of her husband; but never so bitterly as now, when she sawthat power in the possession of another, and that other a beauty, arival, and an inmate of her house. Oh, how deeply she now deplored hershort-sightedness in bringing this siren to her home!

At the most impassioned, most expressive passages of the music, RosaBlondelle would lift her eloquent blue eyes to those of Lyon Berners, who responded to their language. 

And Sybil stood in the shadow near them, with pallid cheeks, compressedlips, and glittering eyes--mute, still, full of repressed anguish andrestrained fury. 

Ah, Rosa Blondelle, take heed! Better that you should come between thelioness and her young than between Sybil Berners and her love!

Yet again, on this evening, this jealous wife, this strange youngcreature, so full of contradictions and inconsistencies; so strong, yetso weak; so confiding, yet so suspicious; so magnanimous, yet sovindictive; once again, I say, successfully exerted her wonderful powersof self-control, and endured the ordeal of that evening in silence, andat its close bade her guest good-night without betraying the anguish ofher heart. 

When she found herself alone with her husband in their chamber, herfortitude nearly forsook her, especially as he himself immediatelyopened the subject of their beautiful guest. 

"She is perfectly charming, " said Mr. Berners. "Every day develops somenew gift or grace of hers! My dear Sybil, you never did a better deedthan in asking this lovely lady to our house. She will be an invaluableacquisition to our lonely fireside this winter. "

"You did not use to think our fireside was lonely! You used to be veryjealous of our domestic privacy!" Sybil _thought_ to herself; but shegave no expression to this thought. On the contrary, controllingherself, and steadying her voice with an effort, she said smilingly:

"If you had met this 'lovely lady' before you married me, and had foundher also free, you would have made her your wife. "

"I! No, indeed!" impulsively and most sincerely answered Lyon Berners, as he raised his eyes in astonishment to the face of Sybil. But he couldsee nothing there. Her face was in deep shadow, where she purposely keptit to conceal its pallor and its tremor. 

"But why, if you had met her before you married me, and found her free, why should you not have made her your wife?" persisted Sybil. 

"'Why?'--what a question! Because, in the first place dear Sybil, Iloved _you, you only_, long before I ever married you!" said LyonBerners in increasing surprise. 

"But--if you had met her before you had ever seen me, you would haveloved and married her. "

"No! On my honor, Sybil!"

"Yet you admire her so much!"

"Dear Sybil! I admire all things beautiful in nature and art, but Idon't want to marry all!"

"And are you sure that this beautiful Rosa Blondelle would not make youa more suitable companion than I do?" she inquired. 

His whole manner now changed. Turning towards her, he took both herhands in his own, and looking gravely and sweetly in her face, heanswered:

"My wife! such questions between you and me ought never to arise, evenin jest. I hold the marriage relation always too sacred for suchtrifling! And _our_ relations towards each other seem to me dearer, sweeter, more sacred even, than those of most other married couples! No, my own Sybil! Soul of my soul! there is no woman that I ever did, orever could prefer to you!" And he drew her to his bosom, and pressed herthere in all good faith and true love. And his grave and tender rebukedid even more to tranquilize her jealousy than all his caresses haddone. 

"I know it! I know it, my dear husband! But it is only when I feel howimperfect, how unworthy of you, I am, that I ever have doubts!" shemurmured with a sigh of infinite relief. 

 CHAPTER XI. 

 LOVE AND JEALOUSY. 

 There was a time when bliss Shone o'er her heart from every look of his; When but to see him, hear him, breathe the air In which he dwelt, was her soul's fondest prayer; When round him hung such a perpetual spell, Whate'er he did none ever did so well; Yet now he comes, brighter than ever, far, He beamed before; but ah! not bright for her. --MOORE. 

Fortunately for the fascinated husband and the jealous wife, the CircuitCourt was now sitting at Blackville, and the lawyer's professionalduties demanded all Mr. Berner's time. 

Only one year before this, when the struggling young lawyer dependedupon his work for his bread, he could hardly get a paying client; nowthat he was entirely independent of his profession, he was overwhelmedwith business. As the wealthy master of the Black Valley manor, with itsrich dependencies of farms, quarries, mills, and hamlets, he might haveled the easy life of a country gentleman. But in Lyon Berners'apprehension, work was duty; and so to work he went, as if he had had toget his living by it. 

Every day he left home at nine o'clock in the morning, in order to bepresent at the opening of the court at ten. He reached home again atfour in the afternoon, and dined with Sybil and Rosa. After dinner heretired to his study, and spent the evening in working up his briefs andpreparing for the next day's business. 

Thus he was entirely separated from his guest, who never saw him exceptat the table, with the breadth of the board between them, and almostentirely from his wife, who only had his company to herself at night. 

Yet Sybil was content. Her love, if, in some of its phases, it was ajealous and exacting passion, in others was a noble and generousprinciple. She would not spare a glance, a smile, a caress of his, toany other woman; yet she would give him wholly up to his duty, hisprofession, his country, or to any grand _impersonal_ object. And thefew hours out of the twenty-four when she could enjoy his society apartfrom her dreaded rival, compensated her for the many when he was absentor engaged upon his professional duties. 

But ah! this could not last!

It happened, very naturally, that while Mr. Lyon Berners spent hismornings in the court-house, Mrs. Lyon Berners spent hers in receivingthe calls and congratulations of her friends, to whom she alwayspresented her permanent visitor, Mrs. Blondelle. 

At length two unconnected events happened at the same time. The courtadjourned, and the last visit of ceremony was paid. 

Sybil, at the instance of Mr. Berners, gave a dinner-party, and theyentertained the judges and barristers of the court. And upon thatoccasion, Mrs. Blondelle of course was introduced, and equally ofcourse, her beauty made a very great sensation. And Sybil was wellpleased. She was perfectly willing that her protégé should outshine herin every company, if only she did not outrival her in her husband'sadmiration. 

But ah! whether it was that the long interruption of his conversationswith the beautiful blonde had given a new zest to the pleasure heenjoyed in her society, or whether his admiration for her had been ever, under all circumstances, on the increase, or whether both these causescombined to influence his conduct, is not known; but it is certain thatfrom this time, Lyon Berners became more and more blindly devoted toRosa Blondelle. And yet, under and over and through all this, thehusband loved his wife as he never did or could love any other woman. But Rosa Blondelle was one of those vain and shallow women who must andwill have a sentimental flirtation or a platonic friendship with someman or boy, always on hand. She, like those of her mischievous class, really meant no harm, while doing a great deal of wrong. Such a womanwill engage a husband's affections and break a wife's heart from merevanity, and for mere pastime, without the slightest regard for either ofher victims. And yet, because, they have not been grossly guilty, aswell as deeply sinful, they retain their positions in society. 

Rosa Blondelle's whole life lay in these sentimental flirtations andplatonic friendships. Without a lover, she did not care to live at all. Yet hers was a sham love, though her victims were not often sham lovers. With her fair and most innocent face, Rosa Blondelle was false andshallow. And Lyon Berners knew this; and even while yielding himself tothe fascination of her smiles, he could not help comparing her, to hergreat disadvantage, with his own true, earnest, deep-hearted wife. 

But every morning, while Sybil was engaged in her domestic duties, whichwere now greatly increased by the preparations that were going on forthe masquerade ball, Lyon Berners would be walking with Rosa Blondelle, exploring the romantic glens of the Black Valley, or wandering along thepicturesque banks of the Black River. Or if the weather happened to beinclement, Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle would sit in the librarytogether, deep in German mysticism or French sentiment. 

Every evening Rosa sat at the grand piano, singing for him the mostimpassioned songs from the German and Italian operas; and Lyon hung overher chair turning her music, and enraptured with her beauty. 

Ah! Rosa Blondelle! vain and selfish and shallow coquette! Trifle, ifyou must, with any other man's love, with any other woman's peace; butyou had better invade the lair of the lioness, and seize her cubs--youhad better walk blindfold upon the abyss of Hades, than come betweenSybil Berners and her husband!

For Sybil saw it all! and not only as any other woman might have seenit, just as it was, but as the jealous wife did--with vast exaggerationsand awful forebodings. 

They did not suspect how much she knew, or how much more she imagined. Before them the refined instincts of the lady still kept down the angrypassions of the woman. 

Whenever her emotions were about to overcome her, she slipped away, notto her own room, where she was liable to interruption, but far up intothe empty attics of the old house, where, in some corresponding chamberof desolation, she gave way to such storms of anguish and despair asleave the deepest

 "Traces on heart and brain. "

And after an hour or two she would return to the drawing-room, whenceshe had never been missed by the pair of sentimentalists, who had beentoo much absorbed in each other, and in Mozart or Beethoven, to noticeher absence. 

And while all unconscious of her, they continued their musicalflirtation, she would sit with her back to the light, toying with hercrochet-work and listening to Rosa's songs. 

She was still as a volcano before it bursts forth to bury cities underits burning lava flood!

Why did she not, in the sacred privacy of their mutual apartment appealto the better nature of her husband by telling him how much hisflirtation with their guest pained her, his wife? Or else, why had shenot spoken plainly with her guest?

Why? Because Sybil Berners had too much pride and too little faith to dothe one or the other. She could not stoop to plead with her husband forthe love that she thought he had withdrawn from her; still less couldshe bend to tell her guest how much his defection troubled her. Nor didshe believe her interference would do any good. For, to Sybil Bernersearnest nature, all things seemed earnest, and this vain and shallowflirtation wore the aspect of a deep, impassioned attachment. And in herforbearance she acted from instinct rather than from reason, for shenever even thought of interfering between these platonists. So, outwardly at least, she was calm. But this calmness could not last. Herheart was bleeding, burning, breaking! and its prisoned flood of fireand blood must burst forth at length. The volcano seems quiet; but thepent up lava in its bosom must at last give forth mutterings of itsimpending irruption, and swiftly upon these mutterings must followflames and ruin!

It happened thus with Sybil. 

One morning, when the weather was too threatening to permit any one toindulge in an outdoor walk, it chanced that Lyon and Sybil Berners weresitting together at a centre-table in the parlor--Lyon reading themorning paper; Sybil _trying_ to read a new magazine--when RosaBlondelle, with her flowing, azure-hued robes and her floating goldenlocks, and her beaming smiles, entered the room and seated herself atthe table, saying sweetly:

"My dear Mrs. Berners, is it to-morrow that you and I have arranged todrive out and return the calls that were made upon us?"

"Yes, madam, " politely replied Sybil. 

"Then, dear Mr. Berners, I shall have to ask you to write a fewvisiting-cards for me. I have not an engraved one in the world. But youwrite such a beautiful hand, that your writing will look likecopper-plate. You will oblige me?" she inquired, smiling, and placing apack of blank cards before him. 

"With the greatest pleasure, " answered Lyon Berners, promptly puttingaside his paper. 

Rosa turned to leave the room. 

"Will you not remain with us?" courteously inquired Sybil. 

"No, dear; much as I should like to do so, " replied Rosa. 

"But why?" inquired Lyon Berners, looking disappointed. 

"Oh! because I have my dress to see about. We are far from allfashionable modistes here; but I must try to do honor to madam'smasquerade for all that, " laughed Rosa, as she passed gracefully out ofthe room. 

With a sigh that seemed to his sorrowing wife to betray his regret forthe beauty's departure, Lyon Berners drew the packet of blank cardsbefore him, scattered them in a loose heap on his left hand, and thenselecting one at a time, began to write. As he carefully wrote upon andfinished each card, he as carefully laid it on his right hand, until alittle heap grew there. 

Sybil, who gloried in all her husband's accomplishments, from thegreatest to the least, admired very much his skill in ornamentalchirography. She drew her chair closer to the table, and took up thetopmost card, and began to decipher, rather than to read, the name inthe beautiful old English characters, so tangled in a thicket ofrose-buds and forget-me-nots as to be scarcely legible. She lookedclosely and more closely at the name on the card. 

What was there in it to drive all the color from her cheeks?

She snatched up and scrutinized a second card, a third, a fourth; then, springing to her feet, she seized the whole mass, hurled them into thefire, and turned, and confronted her husband. 

Her teeth were clenched upon her bloodless lips, her face seemed marble, her eyes lambent flames. 

He rose to his feet in surprise and dismay. 

"SYBIL! what is all this? Why have you destroyed the cards?"

"Why?" she gasped, pressing both hands upon her heart, as if to keepdown its horrible throbbings. "Why? Because they are lies! _lies!_LIES!"

"SYBIL! have you gone suddenly mad?" he cried, gazing at the "embodiedstorm" before him with increasing astonishment and consternation. 

"No! I have suddenly come to my senses!" she gasped between the catchesof her breath, for she could scarcely speak. 

"You must calm yourself, and tell me what this means, my wife, " saidLyon Berners, exerting a great control over himself, and pushing asidethe last card he had written. 

But she snatched up that card, glanced at it fiercely, tore it in two, and threw the fragments far apart, exclaiming in bitter triumph:

"Not yet! oh! not yet! I am not dead yet! Nor have the halls and acresof my fathers passed quite away from their daughter to the possession ofa traitor and an ingrate. "

He gazed upon her now in amazement and alarm. _Had_ she gone suddenlymad?

She stood there before him the incarnation of the fiercest and intensestpassion he had ever seen or imagined. 

He went and took her in his arms, saying more gently than before:

"Sybil, what is it?"

She tried, harshly and cruelly, to break from him. But he held her in afast, loving embrace, murmuring still:

"Sybil, you must tell me what troubles you?"

"What troubles me!" she furiously exclaimed. "Let me go, man! Your touchis a dishonor to me! Let me go!"

"But, dearest Sybil. "

"Let me go, I say! What! will you use your _brute strength to hold me_?"

He dropped his arms, and left her free. 

"No; I beg your pardon, Sybil. I thought you were my loving wife, " hesaid. 

"You were mistaken. I am not Rosa Blondelle!" she cried. 

"Hush! hush! my dearest Sybil!" he muttered earnestly, as he went andclosed and locked the parlor door, to save her from being seen by theservants in her present insane passion. 

But she swept past him like a storm, and laid her hand on the lock. Shefound it fast. 

"Open, and let me pass, " she cried. 

"No, no, my dear Sybil. Remain here until you are calmer, and then tellme--"

"Let me out, I say!"

"But, dearest Sybil. "

"What! would you _keep me a prisoner--by force_?" she cried, with acruel sneer. 

He unlocked the door and set it wide open. 

"No, even though you are a lunatic, as I do believe. Go, and expose yourcondition, if you must. I cannot restrain you by fair means, and I willnot by foul. "

And Sybil swept from the room, but she did not expose herself. She fledaway to that "chamber of desolation" where she had passed so manyagonizing hours, and threw herself, face downwards, upon the floor, andlay there in the collapse of utter despair. 

Meanwhile Lyon Berners paced up and down the parlor floor. 

 CHAPTER XII. 

 "CRUEL AS THE GRAVE. "

 Go, when the hunter's hand hath wrung From forest cave her shrieking young, And calm the raging lioness; But soothe not--mock not my distress. --BYRON. 

Lyon Berners was utterly perplexed and troubled. He could not in any wayexplain to himself the sudden and furious passion of his wife. 

Suddenly it occurred to him that it was in some way connected with thecards she had thrown into the fire. They were not all burned up. Somefew had fallen scorched upon the hearth. These he gathered up andexamined; and as he looked at one after another, his face expressed, inturn, surprise, dismay, and amusement. Then he burst out laughing. Hereally could not help doing so, serious as the subject was; for uponevery single card, instead of Rosa Blondelle, he had written:

 Mrs. ROSA BERNERS. 

"Was there ever such a mischief of a mistake?" he exclaimed, as heceased laughing and sat down by his table to consider what was to bedone next. 

"Poor Sybil! poor, dear, fiery-hearted child, it is no wonder! And yet, Heaven truly knows it was because I was thinking of _you_, and not ofthe owner of the cards, that I wrote that name upon them unconsciously, "he said to himself, as he sat with his fine head bowed upon his hand, gravely reviewing the history of the last few days. 

His eyes were opened now--not only to his wife's jealousy, but to hisown thoughtless conduct in doing anything to arouse it. 

In the innermost of his own soul he was so sure of the perfect integrityof his love for his wife, that it had never before occurred to him that_she_ could doubt it--that any unconscious act or thoughtless gallantryon his part could cause her to doubt it. 

Now, however, he remembered with remorse that, of late, since the risingof the court, all his mornings and evenings had been spent exclusivelyin the company of the beautiful blonde. Any wife under suchcircumstances might have been jealous; but few could have suffered suchagonies of wounded love as wrung the bosom of Sybil Berners, --of SybilBerners, the last of a race in whose nature more of the divine and moreof the infernal met than in almost any other race that ever lived onearth. 

Her husband thought of all this now. He remembered what lovers and whathaters the men and women of her house had been. 

He recalled how, in one generation, a certain Reginald Berners, who wasengaged to be married to a very lovely young lady, on one occasion foundhis betrothed and an imaginary rival sitting side by side, amusingthemselves with what they might have considered a very harmlessflirtation, when, transported with jealous fury, he slew the man beforethe very eyes of the girl. For this crime Reginald was tried, but forsome inexplicable reason, acquitted; and he lived to marry the girl forwhose sake he had imbrued his hands in a fellow-man's blood. 

He recalled how, in another generation, one Agatha Berners, in a frenzyof jealousy, had stabbed her rival, and then thrown herself into theBlack Lake. Fortunately neither of the attempted crimes had beenconsummated, for the wounded woman recovered, and the would-be suicidelived to wear out her days in a convent. 

Reflecting upon these terrible outbursts of the family passion, LyonBerners became very much alarmed for Sybil. 

He started up and went in search of her. He looked successively throughthe drawing-room, the dining-room, and library. Not finding her in anyof these rooms, he ascended to the second floor and sought her in theirown apartment. Still not finding her, his alarm became agony. 

"I will search every square yard within these walls, " he said, as hehurried through all the empty chambers of that floor, and then went upinto the attic. 

There, in the lumber-room--the chamber of desolation--he found his wife, lying with her face downwards on the floor. He hastened towards her, fearing that she was in a swoon. But no; she was only exhausted by theviolence of her emotions. 

Without saying a word, he lifted her in his arms as if she had been achild. She was too faint now to resist him. He carried her down stairsto her own chamber and laid her on the sofa, and while he gentlysmoothed the damp dark hair from her pale brow, he whispered softly:

"My wife, I know now what has troubled you. It was a great error, my owndear Sybil. You have no cause to doubt me, or to distress yourself. "

She did not reply, but with a tearless sob, turned her face to the wall. 

"It was of _you_ that I was thinking, my beloved, when I wrote that nameon the cards, " he continued, as he still smoothed her hair with hislight mesmeric touch. She did not repel his caresses, but neither didshe reply to his words. And he saw, by the heaving of her bosom and thequivering of her lips, that the storm had not yet subsided. 

He essayed once more to reassure her. 

"Dear wife, " he earnestly commenced, "you believe that my affections areinconstant, and that they have wandered from you?"

She answered by a nod and another tearless sob, but she did not lookaround or speak to him. 

"Yet withal you believe me to be a man of truthful words?"

Again she nodded acquiescence. 

"Then, dear Sybil, you must believe my words when I assure you, on mysacred truth and honor, that your suspicions of me are utterlyerroneous. "

Now she turned her head, opened her large dark eyes in astonishment, andgazed into his earnest face. 

"As Heaven hears me, my own dear wife, I love no other woman in theworld but you. "

"But--you are almost always with _her_!" at length replied Sybil, withanother dry sob. 

"I confess that, dear; but it was because you were almost always absenton your domestic affairs. "

"You hang enraptured over her, when she sings and plays!"

"Enraptured with her music, darling, not with her. To me she is a primadonna, whose performances I must admire and applaud--nothing more. "

"Then I wish I was a prima donna too, " said Sybil, bitterly. 

"My wife!" he exclaimed. 

"Yes, I do! I would be all in all to you, Lyon, as you are everything tome, " she cried, her face quivering, her bosom heaving with emotion. 

"My own dear Sybil, you _are_ all in all to me. Do you not know, dear, that you are unique? that there is not another like you in the world;and that I value you and love you accordingly? What is thisshallow-hearted blonde beauty to me? This woman, who, in a week, couldforget the man who had robbed and deserted her, and give herself up toamusement! No, dear wife. I may be pleased with her good-natured effortsto please me; I may admire her beauty and delight in her music; but Icare so little for herself, that were she to die to-day, I should onlysay, 'Poor thing, ' and immediately forget her! While, if _you_ were todie, dear wife, life would be a living death, and the world a sepulchreto me!"

"Is this true? Oh! is this indeed true?" exclaimed Sybil, in deepemotion. 

"As I am a man of truth, it is, as true as Heaven!" answered LyonBerners, earnestly. 

And Sybil turned and threw herself in his arms, weeping for joy. 

"You shall have no more cause for distress, dear, warm-hearted wife. Thislady must find other audience for her music. For, as to me, I shall notindulge in her society at such a cost to your feelings, " said LyonBerners earnestly, as he returned her warm caress. 

"No, no, no, no, " exclaimed Sybil, generously. "You shall deny yourselfno pleasure, for my sake, dear, dear Lyon! I am not such a churl as torequire such a sacrifice. Only let me feel sure of your love, and thenyou may read with her all the morning, and play and sing with her allthe evening, and I shall not care. I shall even be pleased, because youare so. But only let me feel sure of your love. For, oh! dear Lyon! Ilive only in your heart, and if any woman were to thrust me thence, Ishould die!"

"Nor man, nor woman, nor angel, nor devil, shall ever do that, dearSybil, " he earnestly answered. 

The reconciliation between the husband and the wife was perfect. AndSybil was so happy that, in the lightness of her heart, she becamekinder to Mrs. Blondelle than she had been for many days past. 

But as for Mr. Berners, from this time he carefully avoided Mrs. Blondelle. He was as courteous to her as ever, even more courteous thanever when his wife was present, but as soon as Sybil would leave theroom, Lyon would make some excuse and follow her. This went on for somedays, during which Mrs. Blondelle, being cut short in her platonicflirtation, first wondered and then moped, and then resolved to win backher fancied slave. So she whitened her face with bismuth, to make itlook pale and interesting, and she arranged her golden locks and flowingrobes with the most studied air of graceful neglect, and she affectedsilence, pensiveness, and abstraction; and thus she utterly imposed onLyon Berners, whose sympathies were awakened by her. 

"Is it possible, that this pretty little fool can really be pleased withme, and pained by my neglect?" he inquired of himself. And then, humanbeing like, he flattered himself and pitied her. 

When this course of conduct had been kept up for a week, it happened oneday that Sybil went alone to Blackville to purchase some articles forher approaching mask ball. 

Lyon Berners was reclining on the sofa in the drawing-room, with thelast number of the "North American Review" in his hands. 

Suddenly a soft hand stole into his, and a soft voice murmured in hisear:

"Mr. Berners, how have I been so unhappy as to offend you?"

He looked up in surprise to see Rosa Blondelle standing by him. Herlovely face was very pale, her beautiful hair in disorder, her blue eyesfull of tears, her tender voice tremulous with emotion. 

As Lyon Berners met her appealing gaze, his heart smote him for his latecoldness to her. 

"In what manner have I been so unhappy as to offend you, Mr. Berners?"she repeated, tearfully. 

"In no manner at all, dear. How could one so gentle as yourself offendany one?" exclaimed Lyon Berners, rising, and taking both herunresisting hands in his own; and feeling for the first time a sentimentof _tenderness_, as well as of admiration, for her. 

"But I thought I had offended you. You have been so changed to me oflate, " murmured Rosa, with her blue eyes full of tears. 

"No, no, dear, not really changed, indeed. Only--absorbed by otherengagements, " answered Lyon Berners, evasively. 

"You are the only friend I have in the whole world. And if _you_ shoulddesert me, I should perish, " murmured Rosa, pathetically. 

"But I will never desert you, dear. Nor am I the only friend you have inthe world. My wife is surely your friend, " said Lyon Berners, earnestly. 

Slowly and sorrowfully Rosa Blondelle shook her head, murmuring sadly:

"No woman ever was my friend. I know not why. "

"_I_ can easily imagine why. But in regard to my dear wife, you aremistaken. Surely she has proved herself your friend. "

"She is a noble lady, and I honor her. She is my benefactress, and Ithank her. But she is not my friend, and so I do not love her. "

"I am sorry to hear you say so, dear. "

"And I am sorry to be obliged to say so. But it is true. _You_ are myonly friend, Mr. Berners. The only friend I have in the wide, wideworld. "

"And do you love me?" inquired Lyon Berners, taking the siren's hand, and utterly yielding to her allurements; "say, fair one, do you loveme?"

"Hush! hush!" breathed Rosa, drawing away her hand and covering herface--"hush! that is a question you must not ask, nor I answer. "

"But--as a _brother_, I mean?" whispered Lyon. 

"Oh! yes, yes, yes! as a dear brother, I love you dearly, " ferventlyexclaimed Rosa. 

"And as a dear sister you shall share my love and care always, "earnestly answered Mr. Berners. 

"And you will not be cold to me any longer?"

"No, dear. "

"And you will come and listen to my poor little songs this evening, andlet me do my best to amuse you?"

"Yes, dear, I will throw over all other engagements, and delight myselfin your heavenly strains to-night, " answered Lyon Berners. 

"Oh! I am so happy to hear you promise that! Of late I have had no heartto open the piano. But to-night I will awaken for you its most gloriouschords!"

He raised her hand to his lips, and thanked her warmly. 

And just at that very instant Miss Tabitha Winterose appeared in thedoorway, her tall, thin form drawn up to its utmost height, her pale, pinched face lengthened, and her dim blue eyes and skinny hands liftedup in surprise and disapprobation. 

"Well!" simultaneously exclaimed Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle, as theyinstinctively drew away from each other. 

But Miss Tabitha could not easily recover her composure. She was shockedand scandalized to see a gentleman and lady, who were not related toeach other, sitting so close together, while the gentleman kissed thelady's hand!

"Did you want anything?" inquired Mr. Berners, rather impatiently. 

"No, I didn't. Yes, I did, " answered Miss Winterose, crossly andconfusedly. "I came after that lady there to tell her that I think herchild is going to be very sick, and I want her to come and look afterhim. That is, if she an't more pleasanter engaged!" added Miss Tabitha, scornfully. 

"Please excuse me, Mr. Berners, " murmured Rosa, sweetly, as she got upto go out with the housekeeper "_Old Cat!_" she muttered, under herbreath, as soon as she was out of Lyon's hearing. 

When Mr Berners was left alone, he did not resume the reading of hisreview. His heart became the prey of bitter-sweet reflections, made upof gratified self-love and of severe self-reproach. 

"That beautiful creature _does_ care for me, and is pained by mycoldness! Ah! but I hope and trust she loves me _only_ as a sister lovesa brother! She has no brother, poor child! And her heart must have someone to lean on! I must be that one, for she has chosen me, and I willnot be so recreant to humanity as to reject her trust. "

Then his conscience smote him. And he felt that he had shown moretenderness for this lady than the occasion called for, or than his dutywarranted. He had called her "dear;" he had kissed her hand; he hadasked her if she loved him! And this in the face of all his lateprotestations to his wife!

Lyon Berners was an honorable man and devotedly attached to his wife, and he was shocked now at the recollection of how far he had been drawnaway from the strict line of duty by this lovely blonde!

But then he said to himself that he had only caressed and soothed Rosain a brotherly way; and that it was a great pity Sybil should be of sucha jealous and exacting nature, as to wish to prevent him from showing alittle brotherly love to this lovely and lonely lady. 

And worried by these opposing thoughts and feelings, Lyon Berners lefthis sofa and began to pace up and down the length of the drawing-roomfloor. 

In truth now, for the first time, the mischief was done! The siren hadat last ensnared him, in her distress and dishabille, with her tears andtenderness, as she never had done in the full blaze of her adornedbeauty, or by the most entrancing strains of divine melody. 

While Lyon Berners paced up and down the drawing-room floor, he seemedto see again the tender, tearful gaze of her soft blue eyes upon him;seemed to hear again the melting tones of her melodious voice pleadingwith him: "How have I been so unhappy as to offend you, Mr. Berners?"What a contrast this sweet humility of friendship with the fiery prideof Sybil's love!

While he was almost involuntarily drawing this comparison, he heard thewheels of the carriage that brought Sybil home roll up to the door andstop. 

From her morning drive through the bright and frosty air, Sybil enteredthe drawing-room blooming, and glowing with health and happiness. Forsince that full explanation with her husband, she had been very happy. 

Lyon Berners hastened to meet her. And perhaps it was his secret andpainful consciousness of that little episode with Rosa, that caused himto throw into his manner even more than his usual show of affection, ashe drew her to his bosom and kissed her fondly. 

"Why!" exclaimed Sybil, laughing and pleased, "you meet me as if I hadbeen gone a month, instead of a morning!"

"Your absence always seems long to me, dear wife, however short it mayreally be, " he answered earnestly. And he spoke the truth; fornotwithstanding his admiration of Rosa, and the invidious comparison hehad just drawn between her and Sybil, in his heart of hearts he stillloved his wife truly. 

She threw off her bonnet and shawl, and sat down beside him and began torattle away like a happy girl, telling him all the little incidents ofher morning's drive--whom she had seen, what she had purchased, and howexcited everybody was on the subject of her approaching fancy ball. 

"The first one ever given in this neighborhood, you know. Lyon, " sheadded. 

And having told him all the news, she snatched up her bonnet and shawland ran up-stairs to her own room, where she found her thin housekeeperengaged in sorting out laces and snivelling. 

"Why, what's the matter now, Miss Tabby?" cheerfully inquired Sybil. 

"Well, then, to tell you the truth, ma'am, I am dreadfully exercisedinto my own mind, " answered Miss Winterose, wiping a tear from the tipof her nose. 

"What about, now?" gayly demanded Sybil, who felt not the slightestdegree of alarm on account of Miss Tabby, knowing that lady to be aconstitutional and habitual whimperer. 

"Then, it's all along of the wickedness and artfulness and deceitfulnessof this here world. "

"Well, never mind, Miss Tabby; you'll not have to answer for it all. Butwhat particular instance of wickedness frets your soul now?" laughedSybil. 

"Why, now, there's where it is! I don't know whether I ought to tell, orwhether I ought'n to; nor whether, if I was to tell, I would be lookedupon into the light of a mischief-maker, or into the light of a truefriend!" whimpered Miss Winterose. 

"I can soon settle that question of ethics for you, " laughed Sybil, allunsuspicious of what was coming. 

"Do just as your conscience directs you, Miss Tabby, no matter howpeople may look upon you. "

"Very well, then, ma'am; for my conscience do order me to speak! Oh, Miss Sybil! I have knowed you ever since you was a baby in my arms, andI can't bear to have you so deceived and imposed upon by that theretreacherous, ungrateful White Cat!"

"White Cat?" echoed Sybil, in perplexity. 

"Yes, Miss Sybil, that red-headed, false-hearted White Cat, as you tookinto your house and home, for to beguile and corrupt your own truehusband!"

With a gasp and a suppressed cry, Sybil sank into her seat. 

Miss Tabby, too full of her subject to notice Sybil's agitation, continued:

"No sooner had your carriage left the door this morning, Miss Sybil, than that there White Cat comes tipping on her tiptoes out of her room, in a long loose dressing-gown, with her hair all down, in a way as noreal lady would ever be seen out of her own chamber, and she tips, tips, tips into the drawing-room, where she knows Mr. Berners is alone, andlaying on the sofa!"

With a powerful effort Sybil controlled her violent emotion, heldherself still, and listened. 

"And that was bad enough, Miss Sybil! but that was nothing to whatfollowed!" sighed Miss Tabby, wiping another tear from the end of hernose. 

"What followed?" echoed Sybil, in an expiring voice. 

"What followed, ma'am, was this: but to make you understand, I must tellyou what I ought to a told you at the start, which is how it happened asI seen her tip, tip, tip, on her tiptoes to the drawing-room, just forall the world like a cat after cream. Well, I was up here, in this veryroom where I am now, a sorting out of your fine things as come up fromthe wash, and I found one o' _her_ lace handkerchers among yourn, fotchup by mistake. So I jes took it and went down them back stairs as leadsfrom this room down to hern, to give her back her handkercher; when jesas I got into her room, I seen her slip outen the other door leadinginto the hall. So after her I goes, to give her her handkercher--which Ithought it was best to give it intor her own hands, than to put itanywhere in her room, because I didn't know nothing about this forringnuss o' hern; and you know yourself, ma'am, as we ought to be cautiousin dealing with strangers. "

"Yes, yes! Go on! go on!" gasped Sybil. 

"Well, ma'am, she flitted through them passages too fast for me, jes asif she was afraid o' being caught afore she got out o' sight! I jes seenher slip into the drawing-room, where I knowed as Mr. Berners was alying onto the sofa, and then I turns back and runs away. "

"Oh, why didn't you follow her in?" groaned Sybil. 

"Yes, why didn't I, ma'am; which I wish I had, and would a done if ithadn't a been for that forring nuss a coming outen _her_ room, and ascreeching after me:

"'Missus Winterblossom! Missus Winterblossom!' which I allus told thathuzzy as I wasn't a 'missus, ' but a 'miss, ' nor likewise a 'blossom, 'but a 'rose. ' Howsever, there she was, a yelling at the top of hervoice, 'Missus Winterblossom! Missus Winterblossom!' until I had to runto her, only to stop her mouth!"

"Ah! the wretch! she was the accomplice of her mistress, and wished tobring you away, " breathed Sybil more to herself than to her housekeeper, and in a tone too low to reach the ears of Miss Tabby, who continued:

"It was the baby, as had been eating of new chestnuts, and got thecramp. So the forring nuss, as wasn't worth her salt, comes screamingafter me to come and do something for the baby. Of course I went and didwhat was right and proper for the poor little suffering creetur; andwhen I had put him to sleep, I thinks about his neglectful mother, andso I ups and goes after her. And when I opens the drawing-room door, ma'am--well, I sees a sight as strikes me intor a statty o' stone, or apillar o' salt, like Lot's wife. "

"What? what?" panted Sybil. 

"I seen 'em both, him and her, a sitting close together and a going onjes like two lovyers as was going to be married to-morrow, or a brideand groom as was married yesterday. "

"How? how?"

"Well, ma'am, if her head wasn't a leaning on his shoulder, it was sonigh it as it made no difference! And her hand was squeezed interhizzen, and her eyes was rolled up inter hizzen in the most be-devillingway as ever I see in my life--for all the world as if she was a lovingof him, and a worshipping of him, and a praising of him, and a prayingto him, all in one gaze!"

"And he!--and he!"

"Oh, my dear honey! what can you expect of a poor, weak, _he-man_? Helooks down on her as if he enjoyed being loved and worshipped andpraised and prayed to, and he squeezes of her hand up to his mouth as ifhe'd like to have eaten it!"

"_Oh, my heart! my heart!_" moaned Sybil, turning deadly pale. 

Still, Miss Tabby, full of her own subject, scarcely noticed the painshe was inflicting, so she continued:

"And jes that minute they happened either to see or to hear me, I don'tknow which. Anyways, they looks up, and--whew! they jumps apart as if afire-cracker had gone off between 'em! Well, I tells my lady as herchild is sick, and she jumps up, impatient like, to go and look afterhim. And I comes away too. And that was just about ten minutes beforeyou got home yourself. "

"Deceived! Betrayed! Scorned! Laughed at!" bitterly exclaimed Sybil. 

"And that's all. And now look here, honey! Don't you go to taking onabout this here piece o' business! And don't you get mad long o' yourhusband on any woman's account, whatever you do! Come down on the woman!That's what you do. It is all _her_ fault, not hizzen! _He_ couldn'thelp himself, poor innocent creetur! Lor! honey, I don't know much aboutmarried life, bein' of a single woman myself; but I have heard my mothersay as men are mons'rous weak-minded poor creeturs, and need to beguided by their wives; and if they an't ruled by their wives, they aresure to be by some other woman! And it stands to reason it is morerespectable to be ruled by their wives! And so, honey, my advice to youis, to send that bad woman about her business, and take that innocentman firmly in hand. "

And so Miss Tabby babbled on, no longer heeded by Sybil, who soonslipped away and hid herself in one of the empty spare rooms. 

 CHAPTER XIII. 

 MORE THAN THE BITTERNESS OF DEATH. 

 He to whom I gave my heart with all its wealth of love, Forsakes me for another. --MEDEA. 

"Oh my heart! my heart!" moaned Sybil, as she sank down upon the floorof that spare-room, the door of which she had bolted, to secure herselffrom intrusion. 

"Oh, my heart! my heart!" she wailed, pressing her hand to her side likeone who had just received a mortal wound. 

"Oh, my heart! my heart!" she groaned, as one who complains of aninsupportable agony. And for some moments she could do no more thanthis. Then at length the stream of utterance flowed forth, and--

"He loves me no longer! my husband loves me no longer!" she cried inmore than the bitterness of death. "He loves that false siren in placeof me, his true wife. He gives her all the tender words, all the warmcaresses he used to lavish on me. His heart is won from me. I amdesolate! I am desolate, and I shall die! I shall die! But oh, how muchI must suffer before I can die, for I am so strong to suffer! Ah, how Iwish I might die at once, or that suicide were no sin!"

But suddenly, out of this deep abasement of grief, blazed up a fierceand fiery anger. She started from her recumbent position, and began towalk wildly up and down the floor, beating her hands together, andexclaiming distractedly:

"But why should I die in my youth, and go down to the dark grave, tomake room for _her_, the traitress! to make room in the heart of myhusband and the home of my fathers for her, the--! Oh! there is no wordbad enough to express what she is! And shall _she_ live to bloom andsmile and brighten in the sunshine of his love, while I moulder away inthe earth? Oh!" she cried, striking her hands violently together, "thereis madness and more than madness in the thought! I will not die alone;no, no, no, no, so help me, just Heaven! I will not die alone. Oh, Samson was a brave man as well as a strong one when he lifted thepillars of the temple, and willingly fell beneath its crumbling ruins, crushing all his foes. I will be another sort of Samson; and when Ifall, I too will pull down destruction upon the heads of all who havewronged me!"

These and many more wild and wicked words she uttered as she walkedfiercely up and down the room, her eyes blazing, her cheeks burning, herwhole aspect full of frenzy. 

At length, again her mood changed; the fire died out of her eyes, thecolor faded from her cheeks; her frenzy subsided, and gave place to astillness more awful than any excitement could possibly be. She sankdown upon a low ottoman, and rested her elbows upon her knees and herchin upon the palms of her hands, and gazed straight before her intovacancy. Her face was deadly pale; her lips bloodless and compressed;her eyes contracted and glittering with a cold, black, baleful light;her hair unloosed in her agitation, streamed down each side, and fellupon her bosom like the ends of a long black scarf. At times shemuttered to herself like any maniac:

"And oh, how deeply deceitful they have both been with me, affecting amutual indifference while I was by; falling to caressing each other justas soon as my back was turned! She--she only acted out her false andtreacherous nature. But he--oh, he! in whose pure truth I had suchpride. Ah, Heaven! how low she must have drawn him before he could havegained his own consent to deceive me so! before he could come fresh fromher side and her caresses, and meet and embrace me! What stupendousduplicity! Well, well!" she continued, nodding grimly; "well, well, since deceit is the fashion of the day, I too will be in the fashion; Itoo will wear a mask of smiles! But behind that mask I will watch!--Oh, how I will watch! Not at my fancy-ball alone will I play a part, butbefore it, and perhaps, _after it_! None shall ever know how I watch, what I see, until I descend with the fell swoop of the eagle. Andhenceforth let me remember that I am a daughter of the house of Berners, who never failed a friend or spared a foe. And oh, let the spirit of myfathers support me, for I must ENDURE until I can AVENGE!" she said, asshe got up with a grim calmness and paced up and down the floor torecover full self-command. 

At length, when she felt sufficiently composed, she went to her ownchamber, where she made a more elaborate and beautiful toilet thanusual, preparatory to joining her husband and their guest at thedinner-table. 

"Now smile, eyes! smile, lips! flatter, tongue! Be a siren among thesirens, Sybil! Be a serpent among the serpents!" she hissed, as sheglided down the stairs and entered the dining-room. 

_They_ were there! They were standing close together, in the recess ofthe west window, gazing out at the sun, which was just setting behindthe mountain. They started, and turned towards her as she advanced. ButSybil, true to her tactics, spoke pleasantly, saying:

"You get a beautiful view of the sunset from that window, Mrs. Blondelle. "

"Yes, dear, " answered Rosa, sweetly. "I was just drawing Mr. Berners'attention to it, and telling him that I really believe use has blindedhim to its beauty. "

"Possession is a great disenchanter, " answered Sybil. 

Both the others looked up to see if she had any hidden meaning under herwords. But apparently she had not. She was smiling very gayly as shetook her place at the head of the table and invited her companions totake their seats. 

Throughout the dinner-hour Sybil seemed in very high spirits; she wasfull of anecdote and wit; she talked and laughed freely. Her companionsnoticed her unusual gayety; but they ascribed it to the exhilaratingeffects of her morning drive, and to the anticipations of her mask ball, which now formed the principal subject of conversation at the table. 

After dinner, they went into the drawing-room, where Sybil soon left herhusband and her guest alone together; or rather, she pretended to leavethem so; but really, with that insanity of jealousy which made herforget her womanhood, she merely went out and around the hall into thelibrary, and placed herself behind the folding doors communicating withthe drawing room, where she could hear and see all that might be goingon between her husband and her rival. 

It is proverbial that "listeners never hear any good of themselves. "

Sybil's case was no exception to this rule. This is what she heard of_herself_. 

"What ever could have ailed Mrs. Berners, " inquired Mrs. Blondelle, witha pretty lisp. 

"What could have ailed Sybil? Why, nothing, that I noticed. What_should_ have ailed her?" on his side inquired Mr. Berners. 

"She was very much excited!" exclaimed Mrs. Blondelle, with asignificant shrug of her shoulders. 

"Oh! that was from her exhilarating morning ride, which raised herspirits. "

"Which excited her excessively, I should say, if it really _was_ theride. "

"Of course it was the ride. And I admit that she was very gay, " laughedMr. Berners. 

"Gay?" echoed Rosa, raising her eyebrows--"Gay? Why, she was almostdelirious, my friend. "

"Oh! well; Sybil gives full vent to her feelings; always did, alwayswill. My little wife is in many respects a mere child, you know, " saidMr. Berners, tenderly. 

"Ah! what a happy child, to have her faults so kindly indulged! I wish Iwere that child!" sighed Rosa. 

"But why should you wish to be anything else but yourself, being socharming as you are?" he softly inquired. 

"Do you really like me, just as I am, Mr. Berners?" she meekly inquired, dropping her eyes. 

"I really do. I have told you so, Rosa, " he answered, approaching her, and taking her hand. 

She sighed and turned away her head; but she left her hand in his clasp. 

"Dear Rosa! dear child!" he murmured. "You are not happy. "

"No, not happy, " she echoed, in a broken voice. 

"Dear Rosa! what can I do to make you happy?" he tenderly inquired. 

"You? What can you do? Oh!--But I forget myself! I know not what I say!I must leave you, Mr. Berners!" she exclaimed, in well-acted alarm, asshe snatched her hand from his grasp and fled from the room. 

Mr. Berners looked after her, sighed heavily, and then began to walkthoughtfully up and down the room. 

Sybil, from her covert, watched him, and grimly nodded her head. Thenshe also slipped away. 

An hour later than this, the three, Mr. And Mrs. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle, were in the drawing-room together. 

"You promised me some music, " whispered Lyon to Rosa. 

"Oh yes; and I will give you some. I am so glad you like my poor songs. I am so happy when I can do anything at all to please you, " she murmuredin reply, lifting her humid blue eyes to his face. 

"Everything you do pleases me, " he answered, in a very low voice. 

Sybil was not standing very near them, yet, with ears sharpened byjealousy, she overheard the whole of that short colloquy, and--treasuredit up. 

Lyon Berners led Rosa Blondelle to the piano, arranged her music-stool, and placed the music sheets before her. She turned to one of Byron'simpassioned songs, and while he hung enraptured over her, she sang thewords, and ever she raised her eyes to his, to give eloquent expressionand point to the sentiment. And then _his_ eyes answered, if his voiceand his heart did not. 

That song was finished, and many more songs were sung, each moreimpassioned than the other, until at last, Rosa, growing weary andbecoming slightly hoarse, arose from the piano, and with ahalf-suppressed sigh sank into an easy-chair. 

Then Sybil--who had watched them through the evening, and noted everylook and word and smile and sigh that passed between them, and who nowfound her powers of self-command waning--Sybil, I say, rang for thebedroom candles. And when they were brought, the little party separatedand retired for the night. 

From this time forth, in the insanity of her jealousy, and with asecretiveness only possible to the morally insane, Sybil completelyconcealed her suspicions and her sufferings from her husband and herguest. She was affectionate with Lyon, pleasant with Rosa, and confidingin her manners towards both. 

And they were completely deceived, and never more fatally so than whenthey imagined themselves alone together. 

_They were never alone. _

There was never a tender glance, a fluttering sigh, a soft smile, alow-toned, thrilling word passed between the false flirt and thefascinated husband, that was not seen and heard by the heart-broken, brain-crazed young wife!

And oh! could these triflers with sacred love--these wanderers on thebrink of a fearful abyss--have seen the look of her face then, theywould have fled from each other for ever, rather than to have dared thedesperation of her roused soul. 

But they saw nothing, knew nothing, suspected nothing! They were, likechildren playing with deadly poisons, with edge tools, or with fire, ignorant of the fatal toys they handled. 

And, moreover they meant nothing. Theirs was the shallowest pretence oflove that ever went by the name of a flirtation. On the woman's side, itwas but a love of admiration and an affectation of sentiment. On theman's side, it was pity and gratified self-love. So little did RosaBlondelle really care for Lyon Berners, and so truly did she estimatethe value of her very luxurious home at Black Hall, that had she knownthe state of Sybil's mind, she would very quickly have put an end to herflirtation with the husband, and done all that she could to recover theconfidence of the wife, and then--looked out among the attractive youngmen of the neighborhood for another party to that sentimental, meaningless love-making, which was yet a necessity to her shallow life. 

And as for Mr. Berners, had he dreamed of the real depth of anguish thistrifling with the blonde beauty caused his true-hearted wife, he wouldhave been the first to propose the immediate departure of their guest. 

Had Sybil been frank with either or both the offenders, much miserymight have been saved. But the young wife, wounded to the quick in herpride and in her love, hid her sufferings and kept her secret. 

And thus the three drifted towards the awful brink of ruin. 

 CHAPTER XIV. 

 THE FIRST FATAL HALLOW EVE. 

 AMBROSE--Where be these maskers, fool? COLLIN--Everywhere, sage! But chiefly there Where least they seem to mask! JONSON--THE CARNIVAL. 

It was All-Hallow Eve, a night long anticipated with delight by thewhole neighborhood, and much longer still remembered with horror by thewhole country. 

It was the occasion of Sybil Berners' mask ball; and Black Hall, theBlack Valley, and the town of Blackville were all in a state ofunprecedented excitement; for this was the first entertainment of thekind that had ever been given in the locality, and the gentry of threecontiguous counties had been invited to assist at it. 

Far distant from large cities and professional costumers as the ruralbelles and beaux of the neighborhood were, you will wonder what they didfor fancy dresses. 

They did very well. They ransacked the old cedar chests of theirgreat-grandparents, and exhumed the rich brocades, cloths of gold andsilvers, lutestrings, lamas, fardingdales, hair-cushions, and all thegorgeous paraphernalia and regalia of the ante-revolutionary queens offashion. And they referred to old family portraits, and to pictures inold plays and novels, and upon the whole they got up their dresses withmore fidelity to fact than most costumers do. 

Some also went to the trouble and expense of a journey to New York toprocure outfits, and these were commissioned to buy masks for all theirfriends and acquaintances who were invited to the ball. 

These preparations had occupied nearly the whole month of October. Andnow the eventful day had come, and the whole community was on tiptoewith expectation. 

First, at Black Hall all was in readiness, not only for the ball and thesupper, but for the accommodation of those lady friends of the hostesswho, coming from a great distance, would expect to take a bed there. 

And all was in readiness at the village hotel at Blackville, wheregentlemen, coming from a distance to attend the ball, had engaged roomsin advance. 

Nevertheless the landlord of the hotel was in a "stew, " for there weremore people already arrived, on horseback and in carriages of everydescription, from the heavy family coach crammed with young ladies andgentlemen, to the one-horse gig with a pair of college chums. And thedistracted landlord had neither beds for the human beings nor stalls forthe horses. But he sent out among his neighbors, and tried to get"accommodations for man and beast" in private houses and stables. 

"And the coach be come in, sir, and what be we to do with thepassengers?" inquired the head waiter. 

"Blast the coach! I wish it had tumbled down the 'Devil's Descent' intothe bottomless pit!" exclaimed the frantic host, seizing his gray lockswith both hands, and running away from before the face of histormentor--and jumping from the frying-pan into the fire, when he camefull upon his daughter Bessie, who stopped him with:

"Pop, you must come right into the parlor. There's a gentleman there ascome by the coach, and says he _must_ have a bed here to-night, nomatter how full you may be, or how much it may cost. "

"Impossible, Bessie! Clean impossible! Don't drive me stark mad!" criedthe landlord, jerking at his gray hair. 

"Well, but, Pop, you must come and tell the gentleman so, or he'll sitthere all night, " remonstrated the girl. 

"Blow the fellow to blazes! Where is he?"

"In the parlor, Pop. "

The landlord trotted into the parlor and gave a little start, for, atfirst sight, he thought the gentleman's head was on fire! But a secondglance showed him that the gentleman only had the reddest hair he hadever seen in his life, and that the level rays of the setting sun, shining through the western window, and falling fall upon this head, setthis red hair in a harmless blaze of light. 

Recovering from his little shock, he advanced to the gentleman, bowed, and said:

"Well, sir, I am the landlord, and I understand you wish to see me. "

"Yes; I wish to engage a room here to-night. "

"Very sorry, sir; but it is out of the question. Every room in the houseis engaged; even my room and my daughter's room, and the servants'rooms. And not only that, sir, but every sofa is engaged, and every rug;so you see it is clean impossible. "

"Impossible is it?" inquired the stranger. 

"Clean impossible, sir! utterly impossible!" returned the host. 

"All right; then it shall be done. "

"Sir!"

"I say, because it is impossible, it shall be done. "

"Eh!"

"Here is a hundred dollars, " said the stranger, laying down twobank-notes of fifty dollars each. "I will give you this money if you caninduce any of your guests to give up a room for me to-night. "

"Why, really, sir, I should be delighted to accommodate such a veryliberal gentleman, but--"

"You must decide at once. Now, or never, " said the stranger, firmly, forhe saw the game was now in his own hands. 

"Well, yes, sir; I will find you a room. The two young college gentswho took a room between them may be induced to give it up. "

"_Must_ give it up, you mean, " amended the stranger. 

"Well, yes, sir; just as you say, sir. "

"And I must have it in fifteen minutes. "

"Yes, sir. "

"And supper served there in half an hour. "

"Yes, sir. "

"And your company at supper, as I want to have a little talk with you. "

"All right, sir. "

"And now, you can go and see about the room. "

"Just so, sir, " said the landlord, gathering up the two fifty-dollarbills that had bought him, body and soul, and then bowing himself out ofthe room. 

"'Money makes the mare go, ' and the horse too. I wonder what he'll thinkwhen he finds out his bank bills are not worth the paper they areprinted on, " mused the stranger, as he paced thoughtfully up and downthe room. 

Fortunately for the landlord's speculation, bad as it ultimately proved, the two collegians who had engaged his best front bedroom had not yetarrived to take possession of it. Therefore the business of turning itover to a more profitable party was the more immediately practicable. All the landlord had to do was to see that a fire was kindled in thefireplace, and the table was set for supper. 

Then he returned to the parlor, to conduct, in person, such a wealthyand munificent patron to his apartment. 

"Ah! this is cosy!" said the stranger, sinking into an arm-chair, andspreading his hands over the blazing fire, whose beams were caught andreflected by his red hair, until it shone like a rival conflagration. 

"Glad you like your quarters, sir, " said the landlord, putting his handupon the pocket that contained the purse with the two fifty-dollar billsto see that they were safe. 

"Ah! here comes the supper. Now, landlord, I want you to join me, thatwe may have that little chat I spoke of, " said the stranger, wheelinghis arm-chair around to the table, while the waiter arranged the dishes, and stared at the flaming red head of the guest. 

"What name might I have the honor of entering on my books, sir, if youplease?" inquired the host, as he obligingly took his seat opposite hisguest. 

"What name might you have the honor of entering on your books?" repeatedthe stranger, helping himself to a huge slice of ham. "Well, you _might_have the honor of entering quite a variety of names on your books, as Idare say you do; but for the sake of brevity, which is the soul of wit, you may put down Smith--John Smith of New York city. Common name, eh, landlord, and from a big city? Can't help that--fault of my forefathersand godfathers. Whenever I have to sign a check the bankers make mewrite myself down as 'John Smith of John. ' Can't do any better than thatif it were to avert a financial crisis. All my ancestors have been JohnSmiths, from the days of William Rufus, when his chief armorer John, surnamed the 'Smiter, ' for his lusty blows, founded the family. So youmay set me down as 'John Smith of John, New York city. ' And now send thewaiter away, and fall to and tell me some of your neighborhood news. "

Nothing but the consciousness of the possession of those two big billswould have given the landlord courage to have left his business belowstairs to take care of itself even for the half hour to which hementally resolved to limit his interview with the stranger. However, hedismissed the waiter with some extra charges, and then placed himself atthe service of his guest, and even took the initiative of the_tête-à-tête_ by asking:

"You are quite a stranger in this neighborhood, sir?"

"Quite. "

"Travelling on business, or for pleasure?"

"Pleasure. "

"A delightful season this, to travel in, sir; neither too warm, nor toocold. And the country never looks so rich and beautiful as in its autumnfoliage. "

"True, " answered the stranger, briefly, and then he added, "I didn't askyou to come here to catechize me, my good friend; but to submit to becatechized yourself, and to amuse me with the gossip of theneighborhood. "

Again nothing but the consciousness of a heavy fee would have inducedthe host of the "Antlers" to put up with this traveller's "nonsense, " ashe termed his general assumption of superiority. 

"What would you like to hear about, then, sir?" growled the landlord. 

"First, what important families have you in this part of the country?"

"Well, sir, the most principlest is the Bernerses of Black Hall, whichhave returned from their bridal tour about a month ago and taken uptheir abode there in the old ancestral home. "

"The Berners! Who are they?" inquired the traveller, carelessly triflingwith the wing of a pheasant. 

"You must be a stranger indeed, sir, not to know the Bernerses of BlackHall, " said the landlord, with an expression of strong disapprobation. 

"Well, as I don't know them, and as they seem to be persons of thehighest distinction, perhaps you will tell me all about them, " said thetraveller. 

And the landlord not unwillingly gave the guest the full history of theBerners of Black Hall, down to the marriage of the last heiress, atwhich the bridegroom took the name of the bride's family. And then hedescribed the situation of the Hall and the way in which it might bereached, and ended by saying:

"And if you think of making any stay in this neighborhood, sir, andwill send your card to Mr. And Mrs. Berners, they will be sure to callon you and show you every attention in their power, sir; invite you totheir house, introduce you to the neighbors, make parties for you, andmake you generally welcome among us. "

"They are very hospitable, then?"

"Hospitable! Why, sir, even when they were on their bridal tour, theyfell in with a lovely lady in distress, and what do they do but pay herbills at the hotel, and fetch her and her child and her servant, all, bag and baggage, home with themselves, to stay at Black Hall as long asever she likes?"

"Indeed! That was a very unusual stretch of hospitality. And this ladyis still with them?" inquired the stranger. 

"She is that, sir; although the word do go around that it would be wellif she was to go away. "

"Ah! why so?"

"Well, sir--but, lord, it is all servants' gossip, and there may benothing in it; but they do say that the master of the house is too fondof the visitor, and likewise she of him; and that this do make themistress of the house very unhappy. "

"Ah!" exclaimed the stranger, in a half-suppressed voice. 

"They do say, sir, that whenever the mistress turns her back, theytwo--the master and the guest--do go on like any pair of sweethearts, which is a great scandal, if it's true. "

"Ah ha!" muttered the stranger, clenching and grinding his teeth. 

"Howsever, sir, if the master is in love with the visitor, and themistress is made unhappy thereby, that is no reason why they should putoff their mask ball and disappoint the whole community, I suppose theythink; so they have not done so; but they have their ball this evening, just as if they were the happiest household in the country. "

"Oh, a mask ball have they, this evening! And what sort of an affair isit to be?"

"Well, sir, the ball is to be like other balls, I believe, only that theguests are to appear in fancy dresses, or in loose gowns calleddominoes, and to wear false faces until supper-time, when they unmaskand reveal themselves to each other. "

"Yes, that is just like other mask balls, " said the stranger, and thenhe seemed to fall into thought for a few minutes; and then, rousinghimself, he said:

"Landlord, you told me that your house is very full to-night, and so youmust have a great deal of business on your hands. "

"I just have, sir, " replied the impatient host. 

"Then I will not detain you any longer from your other guests. Pray sendthe waiter to remove this service immediately. And then, I think, as Iam very much fatigued by my stage-coach journey over your beastly roads, I will retire to bed, " said the stranger. 

And the landlord, glad to be relieved, got up and bowed himself out. 

His exit was soon followed by the entrance of the waiter who quicklycleared the table and also retired. 

The next proceedings of the stranger were rather singular. 

As soon as he found himself quite alone, he locked his door, to securehimself from any possibility of interruption, and hung a towel over thekey-hole, to guard his movements from observation, and then he unlockedhis portmanteau, and took from it a strange and horrible disguise, thatI will try to describe, so as to make it plain to the reader. 

It was a tight-fitting suit, the pantaloons and jacket being made allin one piece, and of such elastic material as to fit close to the form. The ground of this dress was black; but upon it was painted, in strongrelief of white, the blanched bones of a skeleton--thus: down the legsof the pantaloons were traced the long bare leg bones, with the largejoints of the hips, knees, and ankles; across the body was traced thewhite ribs, breast-bone, and collar-bone; and down the sleeves weretraced the long bones of the arms, with the large shoulder-blades, elbow-joints, and wrists; the bones of the hands were traced in whiteupon tight-fitting black gloves, and those of the feet upontight-fitting black socks: a round scull-cap was to be drawn over thehead; this was all white, to represent the skull, and had its skeletonfeatures marked out with black. 

The stranger having divested himself of his upper garments then put onthis horrible dress. When he had finished his revolting toilet, even tothe drawing on of the skull-cap, he surveyed himself in the mirror thatreflected as ghastly a figure of "Death, " as Milton, Danté, or evenGustav Doré, ever conceived. 

He laughed sardonically, as he exclaimed:

"Ah ha! they will not expect 'Death' to be a guest at their ball!"

Then over this grim costume he threw a large travelling cloak, and uponhis head he placed a broad-brimmed black felt hat. And now, being allready, he prepared to leave the room. 

First he put out the light, and then he cautiously unlocked the door, and, secure from observation himself, he looked out to see if the coastwas clear. 

The passage was dark, but soon he saw a door on the opposite side open, and two young men come out in masquerade dresses, and hasten, laughingand talking, down the stairs. They were evidently on their way to themask ball. 

The next instant, the door on the same side with his own opened, and alady and gentleman, both in black dominoes and masks, came out andpassed down stairs. 

"Good!" said the stranger to himself. "If I am met at all, I shall bemistaken for one of the invited guests of the ball, and pass out withoutbeing recognized. " And so saying, he softly drew the key from the insideof the lock, and closed and locked the door, and taking the key withhim, glided down the stairs and out of the house, and took the road toBlack Hall. 

 CHAPTER XV. 

 THE MASQUERADE BALL. 

 Light up the mansion, spread the festive board; Welcome the gay, the noble, and the fair! Through the bright hall in joyous concert poured, Let mirth and music sound the dirge of care! But ask thou not if happiness be there, If the loud laugh disguise convulsive throe, Or if the brow the heart's true livery wear; Lift not the festal mask!--enough to know No scene of mortal life but teems with mortal woe! --WALTER SCOTT. 

The whole front of Black Hall blazed with festive lights; and theselights were all reflected in the dark waters of the lake, and by theglowing foliage of the trees that clothed the mountains, and by thesparkling spray of the cascades that sprung from the rocks on the otherside. 

The space immediately before the house was crowded with carriages ofevery description, from the splendid open barouche to the comfortablefamily coach and the plain gig. 

The portico and passages in front of the house were thronged witharriving guests and waiting attendants ready to show them to thedressing-rooms, which were lighted and warmed, and supplied with everyconvenience for the completion of the toilets. 

The drawing-room and dancing saloon brilliantly lighted by chandeliers, and beautifully decorated with festoons of dark bright evergreens andwreaths of gorgeous autumn leaves and bouquets of splendid autumnflowers, stood ready with wide open doors to welcome the company. 

At the hall door, at the head of the servants, stood Mr. Joseph Joy thehouse steward, and Miss Tabitha Winterose the housekeeper, bothdisgusted with the heathenish costumes, distracted with the confusion, disapproving of the whole proceedings, yet determined to do their duty. 

Their duty was to see that the men and maids did _theirs_, in showingthe gentlemen and ladies to their dressing-rooms. They had both in turnbeen astonished, scandalized, and appalled by the grotesque figures thathad passed them. But their manner of expressing their sentiments wasquite different. 

Joseph Joy stared, wondered, and shook his head. 

Miss Tabby sighed, whimpered, and moralized. 

"I feel as if I had been drinking for a week, and had a lively sort of anightmare! Here comes another ghoul, in a false face and black gown andhood! Now, how is anybody to tell what it is? Whether it is a tall womanor a short man? Gentleman, or lady, if your honor pleases?" said JosephJoy, addressing himself to a black domino that just then came up. 

"Gentleman, " answered the unknown. 

"Pass to the right, then, if you please, sir! Here Alick, show thisgentleman in the black shroud to the gentlemen's dressing-room. "

A trembling darky came forward and took charge of this terrificpersonage. 

"Ah, my goodness! no good will ever come of this!" sighed Miss Tabby. 

"No good? Yes there will too!" answered Joseph Joy, who was fond ofcontradiction. "All these bare-necked, bare-armed, and bare-leggedpeople will get the pleurisy and be laid on the flat of their backs forthree months, when they will have the opportunity of meditating on theiniquity of their ways! And won't that be good?"

"Yes, it will; and I hope it will be sanctified to their souls, " sighedMiss Tabitha. 

"And now here comes another bogie! Gentleman, or lady, please?" politelyinquired the usher, as a red domino approached. 

"Lady, " softly murmured the domino. 

"Pass the lady on to your maids, Miss Winterose! And here's another thatcertainly belongs to your department too! And another, and another, anda whole dozen of them!" exclaimed Mr. Joy, as a troupe of bayaderes, gipsies, peasants, court ladies, et cætera, filed up. 

All these Miss Winterose passed on to Delia, with directions to showthem to the ladies' dressing-rooms. And then she turned to Mr. Joy witha deep sigh, whimpering:

"Ah! Joseph, where do all these people expect to die when they go to?I--I mean, to go to when they die?"

"They don't trouble themselves about that, I reckon, " said contradictoryJoe. 

"Ah! but it is written that we shall not make to ourselves the likenessof anything that is in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or inthe waters under the earth. And here are all these people making ofthemselves--" Miss Tabby stopped and snivelled, and then stopped againto wipe a tear from the tip of her nose. 

"Well, what?" demanded antagonistic Joe. "What are these people makingof themselves? Nothing that breaks the first commandment, for surely youdon't mean to say that they make of themselves the image of anything inthe heavens above, the earth below, or the waters under the earth, doyou?"

"No, Joseph; but I was mistrusting as they had made themselves up intoimages of something in t' other place. "

"With the Evil One for a pattern, eh? And here he comes, sure enough. Talk of the d---- and you know what happens, " muttered Joe Joy, as amost appalling apparition approached. It was a tall, thin figure, cladin a tight-fitting black suit, that clung close to the skin from thecrown of the head to the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands;skull-cap, mask, jacket, sleeves, trousers, shoes and gloves seeming tobe knit all of one piece, or else very artistically joined together. Crowning the black brows were two tall white horns; tipping the blackfingers were long white talons; terminating the black feet were clovenwhite hoofs. Crimson glass goggles over the eyes gave the look ofburning coals; and by some "devilish cantrap strange, " some trick inchemistry, at least, little jets of flame appeared to issue from themouth and nostrils of the mask. 

"Heaven save us! There's no mistaking his sex, or identity either, "gasped Mr. Joe, backing himself away from this diabolical figure untilhe was stopped by the wall, from which he cried out, "Here, Jerry, showthe--Enemy--into the gentleman's dressing-room. "

The shuddering boy, shaking in every limb, shrank away and merelypointed out the door of the dressing-room. 

Miss Tabby had merely time to raise her hands and eyes in mute appeal toheaven, before a shoal of new arrivals--"flower girls, " "strawberrygirls, " "match girls, " "morning stars, " "evening stars, " "springs, ""summers, " "nuns, " "bacchantes, " etc. , claimed her attention; while atroupe of "brigands, " "monks, " "troubadours, " "clowns, " "harlequin, ""kings, " "crusaders, " et cætera, demanded the guidance of Mr. Joy. 

And after this thicker and faster they came, crowding one group behindanother, until the ushers were nearly demented. When drove after drovehad divided and passed to the right or the left, that is, to the ladies'or gentlemen's dressing-rooms, and the stream began to slacken a little, so that they could distinguish individuals, Mr. Joy in turn receivedand passed a "puritan preacher, " a "cavalier soldier, " a "Highlander, " a"knight, " a "minstrel, " the "vailed prophet, " a "Switzer, " a "Chinesemandarin, " a "Russian serf, " and black, white, and gray, red, yellow, and blue dominoes, he suddenly exclaimed:

"Good Lord deliver us! What's _that_?"

Miss Tabby, who, to her infinite disgust, had been receiving and passingany number of "fairies, " "fisher girls, " "soubrettes, " "sultanas, "et cætera, turned around, and in a quavering voice, inquired:

"What's _what_?"

"Why, _that_!" shuddered Joe, pointing to a ghastly figure that wasstanding quite still, a few paces from where they stood, trembling. 

"It's a skeleton! Oh, my goodness! how did ever IT get here?"

"Yes, it _is_ a skeleton! Oh, this is too horrible!" gasped Joe, shrinking up against the wall. And his female companion clung close tohim. 

Meanwhile the "skeleton" stalked towards them. 

We, reader, have seen the figure before. But so distinctly was theskeleton of the human body painted in white upon that tight-fittingblack suit, that the illusion was perfect; and the wonder was not greatthat the two poor ignorant servants trembled and gasped, and shrankback. 

"Why, if you were not afraid of the Devil, why should you shrink fromDeath?" demanded the stranger:

 "Grinning horribly a ghastly smile. "

"I--was not--afraid; only it gives one such a turn!" replied Joe, withchattering teeth. 

"Then direct me to a dressing-room, " ordered the stranger. 

"But--are you--a gentleman's skeleton, or a lady's?" gasped Joe. 

"I am neither. I am Death, " curtly replied the stranger. 

"Lord save us!" ejaculated Miss Tabby. 

"Are you going to direct me to a dressing-room?"

"Yes, sure, as soon as I know what sort of a one you want. Are you agentleman's death, or a lady's?" faltered Joe, who could by no meanscommand his nerves. 

"I am a lady's death!" replied the stranger, in a tone so grim that MissTabby ejaculated:

"Heaven have mercy on us!"

Joe was about to direct the stranger to the ladies' dressing-rooms, whenhis attention was suddenly diverted by the arrival of a crowd of"knights, " "Indians, " "Welsh bards, " "grisettes, " "Greek slaves, "et cætera, who demanded immediate service. The usher divided them accordingto their sexes, and then noticed that the ghastly figure of "Death"joined the gentlemen's party and accompanied them to theirdressing-room. 

 CHAPTER XVI. 

 ON THE WATCH. 

 False--from the head's crown to the foot's sole--false! To think I never knew it until now, Nor saw thro' him e'en when I saw him smile; Saw that he meant this when he wed me, When he caressed me! Yes, when he kissed my lips!--BROWNING

While this busy scene was being enacted below stairs, equally important, if quieter dramas were being performed in the dressing-rooms up-stairs, where the maskers were putting the last finishing touches to theirtoilets. 

In Mrs. Berners' dressing-room, Sybil, the queen of the festival, wasalone. Mr. Berners, who had assumed the character of "Harold, the lastof the Saxon Kings, " had already completed his toilet and gone belowstairs, as he said, to take his place near the door to welcome hisguests as they should enter the drawing-room. 

So Sybil was alone in her apartment. She also had just completed hertoilet, and now she stood before the large cheval mirror, surveying thereflection of her figure from its clear surface, where it looked like aframed picture. 

Ah! far the most beautiful, far the most terrible figure in thepageantry of the evening would be that of Sybil Berners! She had chosenfor her character the unprecedented part of the impersonation of theSpirit of Fire. It suited well with her whole nature. She was a truechild of the sun--a fervent Fire Worshipper, if ever there lived one ina Christian community. And now her costume was but the outward sign ofthe inward fervor. Let me try to describe it. 

She wore a robe of chameleon-hued satin, so artfully woven, with a warpof golden thread and woof of crimson silk, that, as with every change oflight and shade, it glowed in ruby coals or blazed in amber flames; andas with every motion of her graceful form it flashed around her, sheseemed to be clothed in living fire. 

She wore a burning garnet, like a live coal on her bosom; and on herbrow a golden circle set with garnets, and having golden points set withamber and topaz, and tipped with diamonds, and flashing like littletongues of flame from a circle of fire. 

Her mask was of golden gauze, perfectly moulded to her beautifulfeatures. 

Never had Sybil Berners worn a dress so perfectly expressive of herselfas this, for she herself was Fire!

She had confided the secret of her costume to no one but to her husband, not even to her guest--courtesy did not oblige her to do that; and inorder to preserve the secret inviolate, she had on this occasion dressedherself without the assistance of her maid. 

Being now ready to join the maskers, she slipped a large dark cloakover her dress, opened the chamber door cautiously to see that the hallwas clear, found it to be so at that moment, and slipped out, glideddown the front stairs, elbowing crowds that were pushing up, and sopassed down to the lower hall, and stole through the multitude thatfilled it up, back to the rear door. She passed around the outside ofthe house to the front door, and entered with the swarm of new arrivals. Would the ushers, Joe Joy and Miss Tabby, recognize their lady? That wasthe question, and that was the test. She passed up with the rest, letting her black cloak slip down to reveal her robe and crown of fire. 

"Heaven save us! who comes here? It must be a mermaid from the 'lakethat burneth with fire and brimstone for ever and ever. ' It's a she, anyhow, and belongs to your department, thanks be to goodness!"whispered Joseph Joy, to his companion in duty. 

"This way, ma'am, if you please. Delia, pass this lady on to the ladies'dressing-room, " said unconscious Miss Tabby, courtesying and pointing. 

And Sybil passed on, smiling to herself to perceive that not even herold family domestics had recognized her face or form. So, keeping up herstratagem of being one of the masked guests of the ball, she entered thelarge chamber that had been chosen for the ladies' dressing-room andfitted up with a dozen small dressing-tables and mirrors. Her entrancecreated a sensation even among that fantastic crowd, each individual ofwhich was a wonder in him or herself. 

"Oh! look there!" simultaneously whispered twenty masks to forty others, as they caught sight of her. 

"What a marvellous dress! What a splendid creature!"

"What a dazzling costume!"

"She throws us all in the shade. "

These were a few of the impulsive ejaculations of admiration that werepassed from one to another, as Sybil flashed through the throng andstopped before a dressing-table, where she made a pretence of putting afew finishing touches to her dress. 

Then, certain of not having been recognized, and wishing to escape suchclose scrutiny in such confined quarters, she joined a group of ladieswho, having completed their own toilets, were just then passing out ofthe chamber door into the upper hall, where they were met by theirgentleman escorts. 

There was no one to meet Sybil; a circumstance that was not of muchimportance, since there were one or two other ladies of the same party, who, having no escort of their own, had to follow in the wake of others. Nor would Sybil have minded this at all, had she not looked over thebalustrades and seen issuing from the little passage leading from Mrs. Blondelle's room, two figures--a gentleman and a lady. The gentleman sheinstantly recognized as her husband, by his dress as "Harold, the lastof the Saxon Kings. " The lady she felt certain must be Rosa Blondelle, as she wore the dress of "Edith the Fair, " the favorite of the King. 

For an instant Sybil reeled under this shock; and then she recoveredherself, re-gathered all her strength, and sternly crushing down allthis weakness, passed on as a guest among her guests to the door of thedrawing-room. 

There they were received by a very venerable mask with a long andflowing white beard, and dressed in a gold 'broidered black velvettunic, white hose, white gauntlets, and red buskins, and holding a longbrazen wand. This was no other than "Father Abe, " the oldest man on themanor, personating my "Lord Polonius, " that prince of gentlemen ushersand gold sticks in waiting. 

While Sybil stood behind the group, she saw her husband and her rivalprecede every one to the door. 

"Names, if you please, sir?" inquired the usher with a bow. 

"Harold the Saxon and Edith the Fair, " answered Mr. Berners in a lowvoice. 

"Mr. Harry Claxton and Miss Esther Clair!" shouted poor old Abe at thetop of his voice as he opened wider the door to admit his unknown masterand the lady. 

"Name, sir, please?" he continued, addressing the next party. 

"Rob Roy Macgregor. "

"Mr. Robert McCracker!" shouted the usher, passing in this mask, andpassing immediately to the next with, "Name, missus, please?"

"Fenella the dumb girl, " murmured a very shy little maiden, whom theusher immediately announced as "An Ell of a dumb girl!" And so on, hewent, making the most absurd as well as the most awful blunders withladies' and gentlemen's names, as announcing the "Grand Turk" as MissAnn Burke; for which last mistake the poor old man was not much toblame, as the subject was but a little fellow in a turban and long gown, whom Polonius naturally took to be a woman in a rather fantastic femaledress. But when he thundered forth a "Musketeer" as a "mosquito, " and a"Crusader" as a "curiosity, " and "Joan of Arc" as "Master Johnny Dark, "he was quite unpardonable. 

Meanwhile Sybil had entered the room, which was blazing with light andresounding with music. As the guests were now nearly all assembled, thegentlemen selected partners and opened the ball with a grand promenadeto the music of the grand march in "Faust. "

Introductions are of course unnecessary at private masquerades, as wellas impracticable at all such festivals; so when the ghastly mask "Death"came up and offered his skeleton arm to Sybil for the promenade, sheunhesitatingly accepted it, supposing him all the while to be one of herinvited guests. 

But in joining the promenaders, he entered the circle at a pointimmediately in the rear of Harold the Saxon, and Edith the Fair. Deathkept his eye on the two, and speaking in a low voice, inquired of hiscompanion;

"Beautiful mask! though we may not yet discover ourselves to each other, yet we are at liberty to form a guess of the identity of our friendshere?"

"Yes, " answered Sybil, in a low voice. She scarcely understood what shehad been asked, or what she had answered; for her whole attention wasabsorbed in watching her husband and her rival, who were walkingimmediately before her--so close, yet so unconscious of her presence; sonear in person, yet so far in spirit!

"--As, for instance, lovely mask, " continued Death, "I think I know this'Fair Edith' as the beautiful blonde who is staying here with ourhostess. Am I not right?"

"Yes, " answered Sybil, in the same absent and unconscious manner; forshe really had not the slightest idea of what he had been talking about, but only a half-conscious instinct that the best and shortest, as wellas the most courteous, way, in which to be rid of him was to agree withall he said. Her whole attention was still painfully absorbed by thepair before her. 

"But as for the gentleman, Saxon Harold, I do not recognize him at all!However, he seems to be quite devoted to his fair Edith, as is mostnatural! Fair Edith was his best beloved! best beloved? Yes, beloved farbeyond his queen!"

Sybil knew what he was saying now! She was listening to him with herears, while she was watching the pair before her with her eyes. 

"When Harold's dead body was found on the battle-field, it was not thequeen, but Fair Edith, who was sent for to identify it, and to her itwas given, " continued the stranger. 

A half-suppressed cry broke from Sybil's lips. 

"What is the matter? Are they treading on your feet?" inquired the mask. 

"_Some_ one is treading on me, " murmured Sybil, with a sad doublemeaning. 

"Do not press on us so, if you please, sir!" said Death, turning andstaring angrily at the unoffending little Grand Turk, and Fenella thedumb girl, who happened to be immediately in the rear. Having thusbrow-beaten the imaginary enemy, Death turned to his companion and said:

"King Harold and Fair Edith were lovers, and these who assume theirparts are also lovers, and they take their related parts from asentimental motive! You are tired! let me lead you to a seat!" suddenlyexclaimed the stranger, feeling his partner's form drooping heavily fromhis side. 

She was almost fainting, she was almost sinking into a swoon. Shepermitted her escort to take her to a chair, and to fetch her a glass ofwater. And then she thanked him and requested him to select anotherpartner, as she was too much fatigued to go upon the floor again for anhour, and that she preferred to sit where she was, and to watch themasquerade march on before her. 

But Death politely declared that he preferred to stand there by her andshare her pastime, if she would permit him to do so. 

She bowed assent, and Death took up his position at her side. 

 CHAPTER XVII. 

 DRIVEN TO DESPERATION. 

 For only this night, as they whispered, I brought My own eyes to bear on her so, that I thought, Could I keep them one half-minute fixed--she would fall Shrivelled!--She fell not; yes, this does it all. --BROWNING

As the circle revolved before them, Sybil saw no one but Lyon Bernersand Rosa Blondelle, and these she saw always--with her eyes, when theywere before them; with her spirit, when they had revolved away fromthem. She saw him hold close to his heart the arm that leaned on hisarm; she saw him press her hand, and play with her fingers, and looklove in the glances of his eyes, and speak love in the tones of hisvoice, although no _word_ of love had been uttered as yet. 

At last--oh! deliverance from torture!--the music ceased, thepromenaders dispersed to their seats. 

The relief was but short! The band soon struck up a popular quadrille, and the gentlemen again selected their partners and formed sets. LyonBerners, who had conducted his fair companion to a distant seat, now ledher forth again, and stood with her at the head of one of the sets. 

"There! you see! they _are_ lovers! I wonder who _he_ is?" whisperedDeath, leaning to Sybil's ear. 

Sybil bit her lip and answered nothing. 

"Ah! you do not know, or will not tell! Well, will you honor me withyour hand in this quadrille?" requested the stranger, with a bow. 

Scarcely knowing what she did, for her eyes and thoughts were stillfollowing her husband and her rival, Sybil bowed assent, and arose fromher seat. 

Death took her hand and led her up to the same quadrille, at the headof which Harold the Saxon and Edith the Fair stood, and he placedhimself and his partner exactly opposite to, and facing them. 

Thus Lyon Berners for the first time in the evening was obliged to seehis wife, for of course he knew her by her dress, as she knew him by hisdress. She saw him stoop and whisper to his partner, and she surmisedthat he gave her a hint as to who was their _vis-a-vis_, and gave it asa warning. She fancied here that her confidence had been betrayed insmall matters as well as in great, and even in this very small item ofdivulging the secret of her costume to her rival. And at that moment shetook a resolution, which later in the evening she carried out. Now, however, from behind her golden mask she continued to watch her husbandand her rival. She noticed, that from the instant her husband hadobserved his wife's presence, he modified his manner towards hispartner, until there seemed nothing but indifference in it. 

But this change, instead of being satisfactory to Sybil, was simplydisgusting to her, who saw in it only the effect of her own presence, inducing hypocrisy and deception in them. And the resolution that shehad formed was strengthened. 

Meanwhile the only couple that was wanted to complete the quadrille nowcame up, and the dance began. 

Sybil noticed, in an absent-minded sort of a way, how very gracefullyher grim partner danced. And the thought passed carelessly through hermind, that if in that most ghastly disguise his manner and address wereso elegant and polished, how very refined, how perfect they must be inhis plain dress. And she wondered and conjectured who, among hernumerous friends and acquaintances, this gentleman could be; and sheadmired and marvelled at the tact and skill with which he so completelyand successfully concealed his identity. 

She noticed too, in the superficial sort of manner in which she noticedeverything except the objects of her agonizing jealousy, that herstrange partner watched Rosa as closely as she herself watched Lyon--andshe even asked herself:

"Does he know Rosa, and is he jealous?"

Meanwhile the mazy dance went merrily on, heying and setting, whirlingand twisting to the inspiring sound of music. And Sybil acted her part, scarcely conscious that she did it, until the set was ended, and she wasled back to her seat by her partner, who, as he placed her in it, bowedgracefully, thanked her for the honor she had done him, and inquired ifhe could have the pleasure of bringing her a glass of water, lemonade, or anything else. 

But she politely declined all refreshment. 

He then expressed a hope of having the honor of dancing with her againduring the evening, and with a final bow he withdrew. 

But he did but make way for a succession of suitors, who, in low andpleading tones, besought the honor of her hand in the waltz that wasabout to begin. But to each of these in turn she excused herself, uponthe plea that she never waltzed. 

Next she was besieged by candidates for the delight of dancing with herin the quadrille that was immediately to follow the waltz. And shemechanically bowed assent to the first applicant, and excused herself toall others, upon the plea of her previous engagement. 

That Sybil consented to dance at all, under the painful circumstances ofher position, was due to the instinctive courtesy of her nature, whichtaught her, that on such an occasion as this, the hostess must notindulge her private feelings, however importunate they might be, butthat she must mingle in the amusements of her guests; for she forgotthat a masquerade ball was different from all other entertainments inthis, that her masquerade dress put her on an equality with all herguests, and emancipated her from all the duties of a hostess as long asshe should wear her mask. 

Meanwhile she was looking for her husband and her rival, who had bothdisappeared. And presently her vigilance was rewarded. They reappeared, locked in each other's arms, and whirling around in the bewilderingwaltz. And she watched them, all unconscious that she herself was the"observed of all observers, " the "cynosure of eyes, " the star of that"goodlie company. " All who were not waltzing, and many who werewaltzing, were talking of Sybil. 

"Who is she? What is she? Where did she come from? Does any one knowher?" were some of the questions that were asked on all sides. 

"She outshines every one in the room, " whispered a "Crusader" to a"Quaker. "

"I have heard of 'making sunshine in a shady place, ' but _she_ 'makessunshine' even in a lighted place!" observed Tecumseh. 

"Who, then, is she?" inquired William Penn. 

"No one knows, " answered Richard Coeur de Lion. 

"But what character does she take?" asked Lucretia Borgia. 

"I should think it was a 'Priestess of the sun, '" surmised Rebecca theJewess. 

"No! I should think she has taken the character of the 'PrincessCreusa, ' the daughter of Creon, King of Corinth, and the victim of Medeathe Sorceress. Creusa perished, you know, in the robe of magic presentedto her as a wedding gift from Medea, and designed to burn the wearer toashes! Yes, decidedly it is Creusa, in her death robe of fire!"persisted the 'gentle Desdemona, ' who had just joined the motley group. 

"You are every one of you mistaken. I heard her announced when sheentered--the 'Spirit of Fire, '" said Pocahontas, with an air ofauthority. 

"That is her assumed character! Now to find out her real one. "

"Shall I whisper my opinion? Mind, it is _only_ an opinion, with no datafor a foundation, " put in Charlemagne. 

"Yes; do tell us who you take her to be, " was the unanimous request ofthe circle. 

"Then I think she is our fair hostess!"

"Oh-h-h!" exclaimed all the ladies. 

"Why do you think so?" inquired several of the gentlemen. 

"Because the _correspondence_ is so perfect that it strikes me at once, as it ought to strike everybody. "

"How? how?"

"The correspondence between her nature and her costume, I mean! Theoutward glow expresses the inward heat. Believe me, Sybil Berners hasbeen masquerading all her life, and now for the first time appears inher true character--a 'Fire Queen!'"

Such gossip as this was going on all over the room, but only in thiscircle was the secret of Sybil's character discovered. But soon thisdiscovery found its way through the crowd, and in half an hour after thesecret was first revealed, every one in the room knew of it, except theperson most concerned. Sybil was surrounded by a circle of admirers, each one of whom, even by the slightest change of tone or manner, revealed their knowledge, for it would have been as much against thelaws of etiquette and courtesy to recognize her before she was willingto be recognized, as it would have been to have unmasked her before shewas ready to unmask. So they were very guarded in their manners--evenmore guarded than they needed to be, for Sybil was not critical, she wasindeed scarcely observant of them. She was too deeply absorbed inwatching her adored husband and her abhorred rival, as, twined in eachother's embrace, they swam around and around in the dizzy waltz, appearing, disappearing, and reappearing as they made the grand circleof the saloon. 

At first they did not see Sybil, entrenched as she was behind her groupof admirers; but the moment that they did see her--and Sybil knew thatvery moment--they modified their manners towards each other. And againSybil was more disgusted than pleased at what she thought confirmed herworst suspicions of them. 

At length the waltz was over. Lyon Berners led his fair partner to aseat, left her there and came to speak to his wife. But it was not untilher group of admirers had separated to go in search of partners for theensuing quadrille, that he had an opportunity of speaking to herprivately. 

"How are you enjoying yourself?" he inquired, on general principles. 

"I am looking on. I am really interested in all these fooleries, "answered Sybil evasively, but truly. 

"Why were you not waltzing?"

"Why? Because I did not choose and could not have borne to have had mywaist encircled by any other man's arm than yours, Lyon, " answered hiswife, very gravely. 

"My darling Sybil, that comes of your old-fashioned notions and countrytraining; and it deprives you of giving and receiving much pleasure, "answered Mr. Berners. 

And before Sybil could reply to that, the Black Prince came up to claimher promised hand in the quadrilles that were then forming. 

Again, as she flashed like fire through and through the mazes of thedance, her elegant figure, her graceful motions, and her dazzling, flame-like dress was the general subject of enthusiastic admiration. 

It was impossible but that some of this praise should reach the ears ofits object. And equally impossible that her own name should not becoupled with it. So Sybil at length discovered that her identity wasknown, to some persons certainly--to how many she could not evenconjecture. 

Suddenly she resolved to try an experiment. She turned to her partnerand inquired:

"Do you know me?"

"Not until you permit me to do so, Madam, " answered the Black Prince, very courteously. 

"Your reply was worthy of a knight and prince! So I permit you torecognize me, " said Sybil. 

"Then you are our beautiful hostess; and I am happy to greet you by yourreal name, Mrs. Berners, " said the Black Prince. 

"Thanks, " answered Sybil. "I saw that many persons knew me, and I wishedto ascertain whether you were among their number, and how you and othersfound me out. "

"Some diviner of spirits, " laughed the Black Prince, "divined you, notonly _through_ but _by_ your costume, in its correspondence with yourcharacter. And as soon as he made this discovery he hastened topromulgate it. Then I, for one, perceived at once that the splendid'Fire Queen' could be no other than a daughter of 'Berners of theBurning Heart. ' And now, Madam! am I permitted to introduce myself bythe name I bear in this humdrum world of reality, or has yourpenetration already rendered such an introduction unnecessary?"

"It is unnecessary. I have just recognized--Captain Pendleton, " repliedSybil. 

The captain bowed low. And then, to the "forward two" of the leader ofthe band, he led his partner up to meet their _vis-a-vis_, to "balance, ""pass, " "change, " and go through all the figures of the dance. 

And so the dances succeeded each other to the end of the set. And thenCaptain Pendleton led his beautiful partner back to her seat, and stoodtalking with her until the music for the waltz commenced. 

Then, having solicited her hand for that dance, and having ascertainedthat she never waltzed, he bowed and withdrew to find a partnerelsewhere. 

Very soon Sybil saw him whirling around the room with some one of themany unknown flower girls that constituted so large a portion of thecompany. 

Soon after this she saw both her husband and her rival among thewaltzers; but they were not waltzing together. Edith the Fair waswhirling around and around the room in the arms of a hermit, whileHarold the Saxon was engaged with a pretty nun. 

"They know me! they are cautious!" muttered Sybil, biting her lips withsuppressed fury; for their forbearance, which she called duplicity, enraged her more than all their flirting had done. 

And now she immediately put in execution the resolution that she hadformed in the earlier part of the evening. Seeing her new acquaintanceDeath standing unemployed, she beckoned him to approach. 

He came promptly. 

"King of Terrors!" she said with assumed levity, "I do not waltz, but Iam tired of sitting here. Give me your arm to the other end of the room, and even all around the room, perhaps. "

"Spirit of Fire! it will not be the first time that I have had the honorof waiting on you or following in your track, " said Death, gallantly. 

"True; Fire has often preceded Death as his agent, " assented Sybil. 

"Say rather, that Death has often followed Fire as her servant. "

"Enough of this. We seem to be well paired, at least. Let us get up andwalk. "

Death bowed and offered his arm, and Fire arose and took it. And theywalked around the room, keeping outside the circle of the waltzers andnear the seats by the walls. But as they walked, many exclamations ofadmiration, wonder, and awe struck their ears. 

"Splendid creature! She moves like a spirit or a flame, " exclaimed one. 

"What a contrast to her companion! She all life and light, he alldarkness and death. "

"It looks, as they walk side by side, as if she had burned him up andconsumed him to a skeleton of charred bones, " said another. 

"Horrible! Hush!" imperatively commanded a young lady, whose will, if itdid not enforce silence, modified expression. 

Meanwhile Fire and Death went three times around the room. Then Firepaused near a little corner _tête-à-tête_ sofa, on which a young girl, dressed as Janet Foster the little Puritan, was seated quite alone; andturning to her escort, she said:

"I am tired and thirsty. I will take this vacant seat for a while andtrouble you to go and fetch me a glass of lemonade. "

"With pleasure!" gallantly assented Death, starting off promptly andzealously to execute her commands. 

Sybil seated herself beside the young girl on the sofa, and laying herhand upon her shoulder, whispered:

"Trix. "

"There!" exclaimed the girl, starting. "Every one knows me, even you. "

"Well, everybody knows me also, even you, " said Sybil. 

"It is very provoking. "

"Very. "

"When I had taken so much pains to disguise myself too. "

"Yes, and I also. "

"_You?_ Why you took the very means to reveal your self, wearing a dressso perfectly adapted to your nature. Anybody might have known you, "pouted Trix. 

"Yes, anybody _might_ have known me; but I do not think that anybody_would_ have done so, if it had not been for a certain 'expert' who, detecting the 'correspondences, ' as he calls them, divulged the secretto the whole room, " explained Sybil. 

"Well, somebody found you out, and did it by the fitness of your costumetoo. But as for me, nothing could be more opposite in character thanJanet Foster the Puritan maiden, and Beatrix Pendleton the wildhuntress. We are about as much alike as sage tea and sparkling hock. Why, see here, Sybil; in order to throw every one off the track of me, Itook a character as unlike mine as it was possible to find, and yet Ihave not succeeded in concealing my identity. And this has provoked meto such an extent that I have left the dance. "

"And so I find you sulking here. Well, Trix, I will tell you how theyfound you out. You and I are known to be the two smallest women in thewhole neighborhood. After having found me out, through the divination ofa magician, it was easy to see that the other small woman must be you. "

"Oh, I see; but it is perfectly exasperating!"

"So it is; but you may get some fun out of it yet, Trix, by turning thetables upon them all. "

"How? Tell me! I'll do anything to get the better of them. "

"I cannot tell you now, for here comes my escort with my lemonade, andthis matter must remain a secret between you and me. But listen: infifteen minutes from this time slip away and go to my bedroom. You knowthe way, and you will find it empty. I will join you there, and tell youmy plan, " said Sybil, in a very low tone. 

At that moment her escort arrived with the glass of lemonade. 

Sybil received it from him with many thanks, and having offered it firstto her companion, who politely declined it, she drank it, sat the emptyglass upon the corner of the mantle-piece and then said:

"I will trouble you now, if you please, to take me back to my formerseat. "

Death bowed and offered his arm. Fire arose, nodded to the littlePuritan on the sofa, took the arm of her escort, and walked away. 

When she reached her old seat she dismissed her escort, and in a fewminutes, finding herself for the instant unobserved, she quietly slippedaway to her bed-chamber, where she found Beatrix Pendleton alreadyawaiting her. 

First of all Sybil locked the door, to insure herself and her companionfrom interruption. Then she went to the glass and took off her crown offlame and her mask of gold gauze, and drew a long breath of relief asshe turned towards her companion, who started violently, exclaiming:

"Good Heaven, Sybil! how ghastly pale you look! You are ill!"

"Oh, no; only very weary, " sighed Sybil, adding then, in explanation, "You know these affairs are very fatiguing. "

"Yes, I know, but not to that extent, when you have a house full oftrained servants to do everything. Why Sybil, you look as if your fierydress had burned you to a form of ashes, leaving only a shape that mightbe blown away with a breath. "

"Like another Creusa, " answered Sybil, coldly. Then changing her tone, she said, with assumed lightness, "Come, Trix, you want to see some fun, and you shall see it. You and I are of about one size. We will thereforeexchange dresses. You shall be the Fire Queen and I will be the Puritanmaid. You can sustain the part you will take admirably, and uponoccasion can disguise your own voice or imitate mine. I shall do my bestto enact the little Puritan. But with all we can do to support thecharacters, we shall puzzle people to the end of their wits. They willnot feel quite so sure now as they were an hour ago that I am the FireQueen, or you the Puritan maid. But they will not know who we are. Come, what have you to say to this?"

"Why, that it is enchanting. I agree to your plan at once. "

"All right, then. We have no time to lose. It is half-past ten o'clocknow. At twelve supper will be served, when all the guests will lay asidetheir masks. So you see that we have but an hour and a half to effectour change of dress and hoax our wise companions. Just before supper wemust slip up here again and change back, so that we may unmask at supperin our proper disguises. "

"All right!" exclaimed Trix, delighted with the plan. 

"And there is one more caution I must give you. Keep out of the way ofmy husband. He knows my character of Fire Queen, and if he should seeyou near him in that dress, he would be sure to speak to you for me; andif you should attempt to reply, no matter how well you might imitate myvoice, your speech would certainly betray you. "

"All right! I will keep away from your husband, if I can; but how shallI know him?"

"He is dressed as Harold the last of the Saxon Kings!"

"Oh! is _that_ Mr. Berners? And I never suspected it! I thought _that_was some single man, desperately smitten with the charms of Edith theFair, " continued Beatrix. 

"Oh, yes, I dare say you thought, but you were mistaken. Edith the Fairis our guest, Mrs. Blondelle. And she took the character of Edith tosupport Mr. Berners in Harold, and to be true to these characters theymust act as they do; for Harold and Edith were lovers in history, "explained Sybil, speaking calmly, though every word uttered by hercompanion had seemed like a separate stab to her already deeply woundedbosom. 

"'Lovers in history' were they? I should take them to be lovers inmystery now, if I did not know them to be Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle, " persisted Beatrix, all unconscious of the blows she wasraining upon Sybil's overburdened heart. "However, " she added, "I shallkeep out of the way of both, for if _he_ knew your disguise, be surethat _she_ knew it also; and of course both, in daily intercourse withyou, know your voice equally well. And if either of them should take mefor you and speak to me for you, and I should attempt to reply, I shouldbe sure to betray myself. So I will keep away from both, if I can. Ifnot, if they should come suddenly upon me and speak to me, I shall notanswer, but shall turn around and walk silently away as if I wereoffended with them. "

"Yes, do that; that will be excellent, " assented Sybil. 

"And now, how are you going to support my character, or rather mydisguise?" inquired Beatrix. 

"By being very silent and demure as Janet Foster; or, if need should be, by carrying on your mood of sullenness as Beatrix Pendleton, masked. "

"That will do, " agreed Beatrix, with a smile. 

All the while they had been speaking, they had also been taking offtheir fancy dresses. No time was lost, and the exchange of costume wasquickly effected. 

"Now, " said Sybil, "another favor. "

"Name it. "

"Let me go down first. Then do you wait ten minutes here before youfollow me. And when you enter the room keep away from me, as well asfrom my husband and my guest. "

"Very well. I will do so. Anything else?"

"Nothing now, thank you, " said Sybil, kissing her hand as she left theroom. 

And Sybil, dressed now in the plain, close-fitting camlet gown and primwhite linen cap, cuffs, and collar of the Puritan maid, and with a pale, young looking mask on her face, reëntered the saloon to try herexperiment. 

She looked around, and soon saw her husband and her rival sittingside-by-side, on the little retired sofa in the corner. They wereabsorbed in each other's attractions, and did not see her. She glidedcautiously into a seat near them. 

They were sitting very close together, talking in a very low tone. Herhand rested in his. At length, Sybil heard her inquire:

"Where is your wife? I have not seen her for some time. "

"She has left the room, I believe, " answered Mr. Berners. 

"Oh, that is such a relief! Do you know that I am really afraid of her?"

"Afraid of her! why? With me you are always perfectly safe. Safe!" herepeated, with a light laugh--"why, of course you are! Besides, whatcould harm you? Of whom are you afraid? Your friend, my wife, Sybil? Sheis your friend, and would do you only good. "

Rosa Blondelle slowly shook her head, murmuring:

"No, Lyon, your wife is not my friend--she is my deadly enemy. She isfiercely jealous of your affection for me, though it is the onlyhappiness of my unhappy life. And she will make you throw me off yet. "

"Never! no one, not even my wife, shall ever do that! I swear it by allmy hopes of--"

"Hush! do not swear, for she will make you break your oath. She is yourwife. She will make you forsake me, or--she will do me a fatal mischief. Oh, I shiver whenever she comes near me. Ah, if you had seen her eyesas I saw them through her mask to-night. They were lambent flames! Howthey glared on me, those terrible eyes!"

"It was your fancy, dear Rosa; no more than that. Come, shake off allthis gloom and terror from your spirit, and be your lovely and sprightlyself!"

"But I cannot! oh, I cannot! I feel the burning of her terrible eyesupon me now. "

"But she is not even in the room. "

(Here Sybil slipped away to a short distance, and joined a group ofmasks as if she belonged to them. )

"But I shiver as if she were near me now. "

Lyon Berners suddenly looked around and then laughed, saying:

"But there is no one near you, dear Rosa, except Death. "

"Death!" she echoed with a start and a shudder. 

"Why, how excessively nervous you are, dear Rosa, " said Lyon Bernerslaying his hand soothingly upon her shoulder. 

"Oh, but just reflect what you have just said to me. 'No one near me butDeath!' Death near me!" she repeated, trembling. 

"Poor child, are you superstitious as well as nervous? It was the mask Imeant. The mask that was Sybil's partner in the quadrille which wedanced with them, " laughed Lyon Berners. 

"Oh, yes, I know. And they stood opposite to us. So that we danced withthem more than with any one else! And my own hand turned cold every timeit had to touch his. What a ghastly mask!"

"Yes, indeed. I wonder any man should choose such a one, " added Lyon. 

"Who is he? Who is that mask?"

"Indeed I do not know. Some one among our invited guests, of course. But he maintains his incognito so successfully, that even I, who havediscovered most people in the room, have not been able to detect hisidentity. However, at supper all will unmask, and we shall see who heis. "

"Look, is he still near me?" inquired Rosa, shaking as if with an ague. 

Mr. Berners turned his head, and then answered:

"Yes, just to your left. "

"Oh! please ask him to go away! I freeze and burn, all in one minute, while he is near!"

That was enough for Lyon Berners. He arose and went to Death, and said:

"Excuse me, friend. No offence is meant; but your rather ghastly costumeis too much for the nerves of the lady who is with me. I do not ask youto withdraw to some other part of the room; but I ask you whether youwill do so, or whether I shall take the lady away from herresting-place?"

"Oh! I will withdraw! I know that my presence is not ever welcome, though I am not always so easily got rid of!" answered Death as, with alow inclination of his head, he went away. 

"Oh! I breathe again! I live again!" murmured Rosa, with a sigh ofrelief. 

"And now you are sufficiently rested, the music is striking up for alively quadrille, and so, if you please, we will join the dancers anddance away dull care!" said Lyon Berners, rising and offering his arm toRosa Blondelle. 

She arose and took his arm. 

(Sybil, in her little Puritan's dress moved after them. )

He led her to the head of a set that was about to be formed. 

"Oh! there she is!" suddenly exclaimed Rosa. 

"Who?"

"Sybil. "

"Where?"

"There!"

And Rosa pointed to one of the doors, at which Beatrix Pendleton, inSybil's disguise, was just entering the room. 

"No matter! See! she has taken another direction from this, and will notbe near you, dear child; so be at rest, " said Lyon Berners soothingly. 

"Oh! I am so glad! You don't know how I fear that woman, " replied Rosa. 

"But you did not use to do so!"

"No! not until to-night! To-night when I met her terrible eyes, " saidRosa. 

"Come, come, dear! Cheer up, " smiled Mr. Berners, encouragingly, as hetook her hand and led her to the order--"Forward four!"

The dance began, and Sybil heard no more; but she had heard enough toconvince her, if she had not been convinced before, of her guest'streachery and her husband's enthrallment. 

She went and sat down quietly in a remote corner, and "bided her time. "And waltz succeeded quadrille, and quadrille waltz. At the beginning ofevery new dance, some one would come up and ask for the honor of herhand, which she always politely refused--taking good care to speak in alow tone, and disguised voice. At length Captain Pendleton came up, andmistaking her for his sister, said:

"Sulking still, Trix?"

Not venturing to speak to him, lest he should discover his mistake, sheshrugged her shoulders and turned away. 

"All right! sulk as long as you please. It hurts no one but yourself, mydear, " exclaimed the Captain, sauntering off. 

She saw Beatrix Pendleton, in her dress, moving merrily through thequadrille, or floating around in the waltz. She heard a gentleman nearher say:

"I thought that lady never waltzed. I know she refused me and severalothers upon the plea that she never did. "

And she heard the other lightly answer:

"Oh, well, ladies are privileged to change their minds. "

The waltz of which they were speaking came now to an end. Sybil sawBeatrix led to a seat near her own. She also saw her partner bow andleave her. She seized the opportunity and glided up to Beatrix, andwhispered:

"There will be but one more quadrille, and then supper will be served. Iam going to my room. Do not dance in the next quadrille, but follow me, that we may change our dresses again. We have to be ready to unmask atsupper, you know. "

"Very well! I will be punctual. I really have enjoyed myself in yourdress. And you?"

"As much as I expected to. I am satisfied. "

At this moment the music for the quadrille struck up, and gentlemenbegan to select their partners. Two or three were coming towards Sybiland Beatrix. So with a parting caution to Beatrix to be careful, Sybilleft the saloon. 

She glided up to her chamber, where she was soon joined by Beatrix. 

They began rapidly to take off their dresses, to exchange them. 

"Oh, I have had so much amusement!" exclaimed Beatrix, laughing. "Everybody took me for you. And oh, I have received so many flatteringcompliments intended for you; and I have heard so much wholesome abuseof myself! That I was fast; that I was eccentric; that I was more thanhalf-crazy; that I had a dreadful temper. And you?"

"I also received some sweet flattery intended for the pretty littlePuritan maiden, and learned some bitter truths about myself, " answeredSybil. 

"How hollow your voice is, Sybil! Bosh! who cares for suchdouble-dealing wretches, who flatter us before our faces and abuse usbehind our backs?" exclaimed Beatrix, as she quickly finished herPuritan toilet, and announced herself ready. 

Sybil was also dressed, and they went down stairs and entered thedrawing-room together. 

The last quadrille before supper was over, the supper-rooms were thrownopen, and the company were marching in. 

Captain Pendleton hastened to meet Sybil, and another gentleman offeredhis arm to Beatrix, and thus escorted, they fell in the line of marchwith others. 

As each couple passed into the supper-room, they took off their masks, and handed them to attendants, placed for that purpose, to the right andleft of the door. Thus, when the company filled the rooms, every facewas shown. 

There were the usual surprises, the usual gay recognitions. 

Among the rest, "Harold the Saxon" and "Edith the Fair" stood confessedas Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle, and much silent surprise as well asmuch whispered suspicion was the result. 

"Is it possible?" muttered one. "I took them for a pair of lovers, theywere so much together. "

"I thought they were a newly married pair, who took advantage of theirmasks to be more together than etiquette allows, " murmured a second. 

"I think it was very improper; don't you?" inquired a third. 

"Improper! It was disgraceful, " indignantly answered a fourth, who wasno other than Beatrix Pendleton, who now completely understood why itwas that Sybil Berners wished to change dresses with her, and also howit was that Sybil's voice was so hollow, as she spoke in thebed-chamber. "She wished to put on my dress that she might watch themunsuspected, and she was right. She detected them in their sinfultrifling, and she was wretched, " said Beatrix to herself. And she lookedaround to catch a glimpse of Sybil's face. Sybil was sitting too nearher to be seen. Sybil was on the same side with herself, and only two orthree seats off. But Beatrix saw Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle sittingimmediately opposite to herself, and with a recklessness that savored offatuity, still carrying on their sentimental flirtation. 

Yes! Rosa was still throwing up her eyes to his eyes, and cooing "softnonsense" in his ears; and Lyon was still dwelling on her glances andher tones with lover-like devotion. Suddenly assuming a gay tone, sheasked him:

"Where is our ghastly friend, Death! I do not see him anywhere in theroom, and I was _so_ anxious to see him unmasked, that I might find outwho he is. Where is he? Do you see him anywhere?"

"No; he is not here yet; but doubtless he will make his appearancepresently, " answered Mr. Berners. 

"Do you really not know who he is?"

"Not in the least; nor does any one else here know, " replied Mr. Berners. 

Suddenly Rosa looked up, started, and with a suppressed cry, muttered:

"Good heavens! Look at Sybil!"

Mr. Berners followed the direction of her gaze across the table, andeven he started at the sight of Sybil's face. 

That face wore a look of anguish, despair, and desperation that seemedfixed there forever; for in all its agony of passion that tortured andwrithen face was as still, cold, hard, and lifeless as marble, exceptthat from its eyes streamed glances as from orbs of fire. 

Mr. Berners suddenly turned his eyes from her, and looked up and downthe table. Fortunately now every one was too busily engaged in eating, drinking, laughing, talking, flirting, and gossiping to attend to thelooks of their hostess. 

"I must go and speak to her, " said Lyon Berners in extreme anxiety anddispleasure, as he left Rosa's side, and made his way around the table, until he stood immediately behind his wife. He touched her on hershoulder to attract her attention. She started as if an adder had stungher, but she never looked around. 

"Sybil, my dearest, you are ill. What is the matter?" he whispered, trying to avoid being overheard by others. 

"Do NOT touch me! _Do not_ speak to me, unless you wish to see me dropdead or go mad before you!" she answered in tones so full of suppressedenergy, that he impulsively drew back. 

He waited for a moment in dire dread lest the assembled company shouldsee the state of his wife, and then he ventured to renew his efforts. 

"Sybil, my darling, you are really not well. Let me lead you out of thiscrowded room, " he whispered, very gently, laying his hand upon hershoulder. 

She dashed it off as if it had been some venomous reptile, and turnedupon him a look flaming with fiery wrath. 

"Sybil you will certainly draw the attention of our guests, " hepersisted, with much less gentleness than he had before spoken. 

"If you touch me, or speak to me but once more--if you do not leave meon the instant, I _will_ draw the attention of our guests, and draw itwith a vengeance too!" she fiercely retorted, never once removing fromhim her flaming eyes. 

 CHAPTER XVIII. 

 LYING IN WAIT. 

 "He is with her; and they know that I know Where they are, and what they do; they believe my tears flow While they laugh, laugh at me, at me left in the drear Empty hall to lament in, for them!--I am here. "--BROWNING. 

"You are a lunatic, and fit only for a lunatic asylum!" was the angrycomment of Lyon Berners, as he turned upon his heel and left his wife. 

It was the first time in his life that he had ever spoken angrily toSybil, or even felt angry with her. 

Hitherto he had borne her fierce outbursts of jealousy with "a greatpatience, " feeling, perhaps, that they flamed up from the depths of herburning love for him; feeling, also, that his own thoughtless conducthad caused them. 

Now, however, he was thoroughly incensed by the deportment of his wife, and deeply mortified at the effect it might have upon their company. 

He went around to the opposite side of the table. He did not again joinRosa, for he dreaded a scene, and even a catastrophe; but he mingledwith the crowd, and stood where he could see Sybil, without being seenby her. 

Her face remained the same--awful in the marble-like stillness of heragonized features; terrible in the fierceness of her flaming eyes!

This was at length observed by some of the guests, who whispered theircomments or enquiries to others. And the hum of voices and the burden oftheir low-toned talk at length reached the ears or excited thesuspicions of Lyon Berners. The ordeal of the supper-table was afrightful trial to him. He longed for it to be over. 

At length the longing was gratified--the torture was over. The guests, by twos and by fours, by small groups and large parties, left thesupper-room for the saloon, where the musicians struck up a grand march, and the greater portion of the company formed into a leisurely promenadeas a gentle exercise after eating, and a prudent prelude to moredancing. 

Some among the guests, however, preferred to seat themselves on thesofas that lined the walls, and to rest. 

Among these last was Rosa Blondelle, who sat on a corner sofa, andsulked and looked sad and sentimental because Lyon Berners had notspoken to her, or even approached her since he had seen that look onSybil's face. To the vain and shallow coquette, it was gall andbitterness to perceive that Sybil had still the power, of whatever sort, to keep her own husband and _her_ admirer from her side. So Rosa sat andsorrowed, or seemed to sorrow, on the corner sofa, from which nobodyinvited her to rise, for there was a very general feeling ofdisapprobation against the beautiful blonde. 

Sybil also sank upon a side seat, where she sat with that same look ofagony turned to marble, on her face. Some one came up and invited her tojoin in the promenade. Scarcely recognizing the speaker, orcomprehending what he said, she arose, more like an automaton than aliving woman, and let herself be led away to join the march. 

But her looks had now attracted very general attention, and occasionedmuch comment. More than one indiscreet friend or acquaintance hadremarked to Mr. Berners:

"Mrs. Berners looks quite ill. I fear the fatigue of this masquerade hasbeen too much for her, " or words to that effect. 

"Yes, " Lyon Berners invariably replied, "she is quite indisposed thisevening, suffering indeed; and I have begged her to retire, but I cannotinduce her to do so. "

"She is too unselfish; she exerts herself too much for the entertainmentof her guests, " suggested another. 

And so the rumor went around the room that Mrs. Berners was sufferingfrom severe illness. And this explanation of her appearance was verygenerally received; for the outward and silent manifestations of mentalanguish are not unlike those of physical agony. 

And so, after another quadrille and another waltz, and the finalVirginia reel, the company, in consideration of their hostess, began tobreak up and depart. Some few intimate friends of the family, who hadcome from a distance to the ball, were to stay all night at Black Hall. These upon their first arrival had been shown to the chambers they wereto occupy, and now they knew where to find them. And so, when the lastof the departing guests had taken leave of their hostess, and had goneaway, these also bade her good-night and retired. 

And Sybil remained alone in the deserted drawing-room. 

It is sometimes interesting and curious to consider the relativeposition of the parties concerned, just before the enactment of someterrible tragedy. 

The situation at Black Hall was this: The guests were in their chambers, preparing to retire to bed. The servants were engaged in fastening upthe house and putting out the lights, only they refrained frominterfering with three rooms, where three members of the family stilllingered. 

In the first of these was the mistress of the house, who, as I said, remained alone in the deserted drawing-room. Sybil stood as if turned tostone, and fixed to the spot--motionless in form and face, except thather lips moved and a hollow monotone issued from them, more like themoan of a lost soul, than the voice of a living woman. 

"So all is lost, and nothing left but these--REVENGE and DEATH!" shemuttered. 

The awful spirit of her race overshadowed her and possessed her. Shefelt that, to destroy the destroyer of her peace, she would be willingto meet and suffer all that man could inflict upon her body, or devildo to her soul! And so she brooded, until suddenly out of thistrance-like state she started, as if a serpent had stung her. 

"I linger here, " she cried, "while they--Where are they, the traitor andhis temptress? I will seek them through the house; I will tear themasunder, and confront them in their treachery. "

Meanwhile where were they, the false friend and the fascinated husband?

Lyon Berners, much relieved from anxiety by the departure of the lastguests, but still deeply displeased with his wife, had retired to thelittle morning parlor to collect himself. He stood now upon the rug, with his back to the smouldering fire, absorbed in sombre thought. Heloved his wife, bitterly angry as he had been with her this evening, andprone as he was to fall under the spell of the fair siren who was nowhis temptress. He loved his wife, and he wished to insure her peace. Heresolved to break off, at once and forever, the foolish flirtation witha shallow coquette which his deep-hearted Sybil had taken so earnestly. How to do this, occupied his thoughts now. He knew that it would bedifficult, or impossible to do it, as long as Rosa Blondelle remained inthe same house with himself. He felt that he could not ask her to go andfind another home; for to do so would be rude, inhospitable, and evencruel to the homeless and friendless young stranger. 

What should he do, then?

It occurred to him that he might make some fair excuse to take Sybil tothe city, and spend the ensuing winter there with her, leaving RosaBlondelle in full possession of Black Hall until she should choose tomake arrangements to return to her own country. This or something elsemust be done, for the flirtation with Rosa must never be resumed. In themidst of these good resolutions he was interrupted. 

Meanwhile, Rosa Blondelle had been as deeply mortified and enraged bythe sudden desertion and continued coolness of Lyon Berners, as it wasin her shallow nature to be. She went to her own room, but she could notremain there. She came out into the long narrow passage leading to thefront hall, and she paced up and down with the angry restlessness of aruffled cat, muttering to herself:

"She shall not take him from me, even if he is her husband! I _will_ notbe outrivalled by another woman, even if she is his wife!"

Over and over again she ground these words through her teeth, or otherwords of the same sort. Suddenly she passed out of the narrow passageinto the broad ball, where she noticed that the parlor door was ajar, alight burning within the room, and the shadow of a man thrown across thecarpet. She stole to the door, peeped in, and saw Lyon Berners stillstanding on the rug with his back to the smouldering fire, absorbed insombre thought. 

She slipped in, and dropped her head upon his shoulder and sobbed. 

Startled and very much annoyed, he gently tried to raise her head andput her away. 

But she only clung the closer, and sobbed the more. 

"Rosa! don't! don't, child! Let us have no more of this! It is sinfuland dangerous! For your own sake, Rosa, retire to your room!" he gentlyexpostulated. 

"Oh! you love me no longer! You love me no longer!" vehemently exclaimedthe siren. "That cruel woman has compelled you to forsake me! I told youshe would do it, and now she has done it. "

"'That woman, ' Rosa, is my beloved wife, entitled to my whole faith; yetnot even for her will I forsake you; but I will continue to care foryou, as a brother for a sister. But, Rosa, this must cease, " he gravelyadded. 

"Oh, do not say that! do not! do not fling off the poor lonely heartthat you have once gathered to your own!" and she clung to him asclosely and wept as wildly as if she had been in earnest. 

"Rosa! Rosa!" he whispered eagerly, and in great embarrassment, "mychild! be reasonable! Reflect! you have a husband!"

"Ah! name him not! He robbed and left me, and I hate him, " she cried. 

"And I have a dear and honored wife whose happiness I must guard. Thusyou see we can be nothing to each other but brother and sister. Abrother's love and care is all that I can offer you, or that you shouldbe willing to accept from me, " he continued, as he gently smoothed herfair hair. 

"Then give me a brother's kiss, " she sighed. "That is not much to ask, and I have no one to kiss me now! So give me a brother's kiss, and letme go!" she pleaded, plaintively. 

He hesitated for a moment, and then bending over her, he said:

"It is the _first_, and for your own sake it must be the _last_, Rosa!"he pressed his lips to hers. 

It _was_ the last as well as the first; for at the meeting of theirlips, they were stricken asunder as by the fall of a thunderbolt!

And Sybil, blazing with wrath, like a spirit from the Lake of Fire, stood between them!

Yes! for she looked not human--with her ashen cheeks, and darkened brow, and flaming eyes--with her whole face and form heaving, palpitating, flashing forth the lightnings of anger!

"SYBIL!" exclaimed her husband, thunderstruck, appalled. 

She waved her hand towards him, as if to implore or command silence. 

"I have nothing to say to you, " she muttered, in low and husky tones, as if ashes were in her throat. "But to YOU!" she said, and her voicerose clear and strong as she turned and stretched out her arm towardsRosa, who was leaning in a fainting condition against the wall--"TO YOU, viper, who has stung to death the bosom that warmed you to life--TO YOU, traitress, who has come between the true husband and his wife--TO YOU, thief! who has stolen from your benefactress the sole treasure of herlife--TO YOU I have this to say: I will not drive you forth in dishonorfrom my door this night, nor will I publish your infamy to the worldto-morrow, though you have deserved nothing less than these from myhands; but in the morning you must leave the house you have desecrated!for if you do not, or if ever I find your false face here again, I willtread down and crush out your life with less remorse than ever I setheel upon a spider! I will, as I am a Berners! And now, begone, andnever let me see your form again!"

Rosa Blondelle, who had stood spell-bound by the terrible gaze andoverwhelming words of Sybil, the wronged wife, now suddenly threw up herhands, and with a low cry, fled from the room. 

And Sybil dropped her arm and her voice at the same instant, and stooddumb and motionless. 

And now, at length, Lyon Berners spoke again. 

"Sybil! you have uttered words that nothing on the part of that poorlady should have provoked from you--words that I fear may never beforgotten or forgiven! But--I know that she has a gentle and easynature. When you are cooler and more rational, I wish you to go to herand be reconciled with her. "

"With _her_! I am a Berners!" answered Sybil, haughtily. 

"But you bitterly wrong that lady in your thoughts!"

"Bah! I caught her in your arms! on your breast! her lips clinging toyours!"

"The first and last kiss! I swear it by all my hopes of Heaven, Sybil--a brother's kiss!"

Sybil made a gesture of scorn and disgust. 

"If I were not past laughing, I should have to laugh now, " she said. 

"And you will not believe this?"

She shook her head. 

"And you will not be reconciled to this injured young stranger?"

"I! I am a lady--'or long have dreamed so, '" answered Sybil, haughtily. "At least the daughter of an honest mother. And I will not even permitsuch a woman as that to live under the same roof with me another day. She leaves in the morning. "

"The house is yours! You must do as you please! But this I tell you:that in the same hour which sees that poor and friendless young creaturedriven from the shelter of this roof, I leave it too, and leave it forever. "

If Lyon Berners really meant this, or thought to bring his fiery-heartedwife to terms by the threat, he was mistaken in her character. 

"Oh, go!" she answered bitterly--"go! I _will_ not harbor _her_. And whyshould I seek to detain you? Your heart has left me already; why shouldI wish to retain its empty case? Go as soon as you like, Lyon Berners. Good-night, and--good-bye, " she said, and with a wave of her hand shepassed from the room. 

He was mad to have spoken as he did; madder still to let her leave himso! how mad, he was soon to learn. 

 CHAPTER XIX. 

 SWOOPING DOWN. 

 Twice it called, so loudly called With horrid strength beyond the pitch of nature; And murder! murder! was the dreadful cry. A third time it returned with feeble strength, But o' the sudden ceased; as though the words Were smothered rudely in the grappled throat. And all was still again, save the wild blast Which at a distance growled-- Oh, it will never from the heart depart! That dreadful cry all in the instant stilled. --BAILLIE. 

Lyon Berners remained walking up and down the room some time longer. Thelights were all out, and the servants gone to bed. Yet still hecontinued to pace up and down the parlor floor, until suddenly piercingshrieks smote his ear. 

In great terror he started forward and instinctively rushed towardsRosa's room, when the door was suddenly thrown open by Rosa herself, pale, bleeding from a wound in her breast. 

"Great Heaven! What is this?" he cried, as, aghast with amazement andsorrow, he supported the ghastly and dying form, and laid it on thesofa, and then sunk on his knees beside it. 

"Who, who has done this?" he wildly demanded, as, almost paralyzed withhorror, he knelt beside her, and tried to stanch the gushing wound fromwhich her life-blood was fast welling. 

"Who, who has done this fiendish deed?" he reiterated in anguish, as hegazed upon her. 

She raised her beautiful violet eyes, now fading in death; she openedher bloodless lips, now paling in death, and she gasped forth the words:

"She--Sybil--your wife. I told you she would do it, and she has done it. Sybil Berners has murdered me, " she whispered. Then raising herselfwith a last dying effort, she cried aloud, "Hear, all! Sybil Berners hasmurdered me. " And with this charge upon her lips, she fell back DEAD. 

Even in that supreme moment Lyon Berners' first thought, almost his onlythought, was for his wife. He looked up to see who was there--who hadheard this awful, this fatal charge. 

_All_ were there! guests and servants, men and women, drawn there by thedreadful shrieks. All had heard the horrible accusation. 

And all stood panic-stricken, as they shrank away from one who stood intheir midst. 

It was she, Sybil, the accused, whose very aspect accused her moreloudly than the dying woman had done; for she stood there, still in herfiery masquerade dress, her face pallid, her eyes blazing, her wildblack hair loose and streaming, her crimsoned hand raised and grasping abloodstained dagger. 

"Oh, wretched woman! most wretched woman! What is this that you havedone?" groaned Lyon Berners, in unutterable agony--agony not for thedead beauty before him, but for the living wife, whom he felt that hehad driven to this deed of desperation. "Oh, Sybil! Sybil! what have youdone?" he cried, grinding his hands together. 

"I? I have done nothing!" faltered his wife, with pale and tremulouslips. 

"Oh, Sybil! Sybil! would to Heaven you had died before this night! Orthat I could now give my life for this life that you have madly taken!"moaned Lyon. 

"I have taken no life! What do you mean? This is horrible!" exclaimedSybil, dropping the dagger, and looking around upon her husband andfriends, who all shrank from her. "I have taken no life! I am noassassin! Who dares to accuse me?" she demanded, standing up pale andhaughty among them. 

And then she saw that every lowered eye, every compressed lip, everyshuddering and shrinking form, silently accused her. 

Mr. Berners had turned again to the dead woman. His hand was eagerlysearching for some pulsation at the heart. Soon he ceased his efforts, and arose. 

"Vain! vain!" he said, "all is still and lifeless, and growing cold andstiff in death. Oh! my wretched wife!"

"The lady may not be dead! This may be a swoon from loss of blood. Insuch a swoon she would be pulseless and breathless, or seem so! let metry! I have seen many a swoon from loss of blood, as well as many adeath from the same cause, in my military experience, " said CaptainPendleton, pushing forward and kneeling by the sofa, and beginning histests, guided by experience. 

His words and actions unbound the spell of horror that had till thenheld the assembled company still and mute, and now all pressed forwardtowards the sofa, and bent over the little group there. 

"Air! air! friends, if you please! Stand farther off. And some one opena window!" exclaimed Captain Pendleton, peremptorily. 

And he was immediately obeyed by the falling off of the crowd, one ofwhom threw open a window. 

"Some one should fetch a physician!" suggested Beatrix Pendleton, whosepalsied tongue was now at length unloosed. 

And half a dozen gentlemen immediately started for the stables todispatch a messenger for the village doctor from Blackville. 

"And while they are fetching the physician, they should summon thecoroner also, " suggested a voice from the crowd. 

"No! no! not until we have ascertained that life is actually extinct, "exclaimed Captain Pendleton, hastily; at the same time seeking andmeeting the eyes of Mr. Berners, with a meaning gaze said:

"If we cannot restore the dead woman to life, we must at least try tosave the living woman from unspeakable horrors!"

Mr. Berners turned away his head, with a deep groan. 

And Captain Pendleton continued his seeming efforts to restoreconsciousness to the prostrate form before him, until he heard thegalloping of the horse that took the messenger away for the doctor, andfelt sure that the man could not now receive orders to fetch the coroneralso. 

Then Captain Pendleton arose and beckoned Miss Tabby Winterose to cometowards him. That lady came forward, whimpering as usual, but with animmeasurably greater cause than she had ever possessed before. 

"Close her eyes, straighten her limbs, arrange her dress. She is quitedead, " said the Captain. 

Miss Tabby's voice was lifted up in weeping. 

But wilder yet arose the sound of wailing, as the Scotch girl, with thechild in her arms, broke through the crowd and cast herself down besideher dead mistress, crying:

"Oh! and is it gone ye are, my bonny leddy? Dead and gone fra us, a' saesuddenly! Oh, bairnie! look down on your puir mither, wham they havemurthered--the born deevils. "

The poor child, frightened as much by the wild wailing of the nurse asby the sight of his mother's ghastly form, began to scream and to hidehis head on Janet's bosom. 

"Woman, this is barbarous. Take the boy away from this sight, " exclaimedCaptain Pendleton, imperatively. 

But Janet kept her ground, and continued to weep and wail andapostrophize the dead mother, or appeal to the orphan child. And all thewomen in the crowd whose tongues had hitherto been paralyzed withhorror, now broke forth in tears and sobs, and cries of sympathy andcompassion, and--

"Oh, poor murdered young mother! Oh, poor orphaned babe!" orlamentations to the same effect, broke forth on all sides. 

"Mr. Berners, you are master of the house. I earnestly exhort you toclear the room of all here, except Miss Winterose and ourselves, " saidCaptain Pendleton in an almost commanding tone. 

"Friends and neighbors, " cried Lyon Berners, lifting up his voice, sothat it could be heard all over the room, "I implore you to withdraw toyour own apartments. Your presence here only serves to distressyourselves and embarrass us. And we have a duty to do to the dead. "

The crowd began to disperse and move toward the doors when suddenlySybil Berners lifted her hand on high and called, in a commanding tone:

"STOP!"

And all stopped and turned their eyes on her. 

She was still very pale, but now also very calm; the most self-collectedone in that room of death. 

"I have somewhat to say to you, " she continued. "You all heard the dyingwords of that poor dead woman, in which she accused me of havingmurdered her; and your own averted eyes accuse me quite as strongly, andmy own aspect, perhaps, more strongly than either. "

She paused and glanced at her crimsoned hand, and then looked around andsaw that her nearest neighbors and oldest friends, who had known herlongest and loved her best, now turned away their heads, or droppedtheir eyes. She resumed:

"The dead woman was mistaken; you are misled; and my very appearance isdeceptive. I will not deny that the woman was my enemy. Driven todesperation, and in boiling blood, I might have been capable of doingher a deadly mischief, but bravely and openly, as the sons and daughtersof my fiery race have done such things before this. But to go to herchamber in the dead of night, and in darkness and secrecy--! No! I couldnot have done that, if she had been ten times the enemy she was. Isthere one here who believes that the daughter of Bertram Berners couldbe guilty of that or any other base deed?" she demanded, as her proudglance swept around upon the faces of her assembled friends andneighbors. 

But their averted eyes too sorrowfully answered her question. 

Then she turned to her husband and lowered her voice to an almostimploring tone as she inquired:

"Lyon Berners, do YOU believe me guilty?"

He looked up, and their eyes met. If he had really believed her guiltyhe did not now. He answered briefly and firmly:

"No, Sybil! Heaven knows that I do not. But oh! my dear wife! explain, if you can, how that dagger came into your possession, how that bloodcame upon your hands; and, above all, why this most unhappy lady shouldhave charged you with having murdered her. "

"At your desire, and for the satisfaction of the few dear old friendswhom I see among this unbelieving crowd, the friends who would deeplygrieve if I should either do or suffer wrong, _I will_ speak. But if itwere not for you and for them, I would die before I would deign todefend myself from a charge that is at once so atrocious and sopreposterous--so monstrous, " said Sybil, turning a gaze full of haughtydefiance upon those who stood there before her face, and dared tobelieve her guilty. 

A stern voice spoke up from that crowd. 

"Mr. Lyon Berners, attend to this. A lady lies murdered in your house. By whom she has been so murdered we do not know. But I tell you thatevery moment in which you delay in sending for the officers of justiceto investigate this affair, compromises you and me and all who stand byand silently submit to this delay, as accessories, after the fact. "

Lyon Berners turned towards the speaker, a grave and stern old man ofnearly eighty years, a retired judge, who had come to the mask ballescorting his grand-daughters. 

"An instant, Judge Basham. Pardon us, if in this dismay some things areforgotten. The coroner shall be summoned immediately. Captain Pendleton, will you oblige me by despatching a messenger to Coroner Taylor atBlackville?" he then inquired, turning to the only friend upon whosediscretion he felt he could rely. 

Captain Pendleton nodded acquiescence and intelligence, and left theroom, as if for the purpose specified. 

"Now, dear Sybil, with Judge Basham's permission, give our friends theexplanation that you have promised them, " said Lyon Bernersaffectionately, and confidingly taking her hand and placing himselfbeside her. 

For all his anger as well as all her jealousy had been swept away in theterrible tornado of this evening's events. 

"The explanation that I promised _you_, and those who wish me well, " shesaid emphatically. And then her voice arose clear, firm, and distinct, as she continued:

"I was in my chamber, which is immediately above that occupied by Mrs. Blondelle. My chamber is approached by two ways, first by the frontpassage and stairs, and secondly by a narrow staircase running up fromMrs. Blondelle's room. And the door leading from her room up thisstaircase and into mine, she has been in the habit of leaving open. To-night, as I said, I was sitting in my chamber; from causes notnecessary to explain now and here, I was too much disturbed in mind tothink of retiring to rest, or even of undressing. I do not know how longI had sat there, when I heard a piercing shriek from some one in theroom below. Instinctively I rushed down the communicating stairs andinto Mrs. Blondelle's room, and up to her bed, where I saw by the lightof the taper she was lying. Her eyes were closed, and I thought at firstthat she had fainted from some fright until, almost at the same instant, I saw this dagger--" here Sybil stooped and picked up the dagger thatshe had dropped a few minutes before--"driven to its haft in her chest. I drew it out. Instantly the blood from the opened wound spirted up, covering my hand and sleeve with the accusing stains you see! With theflowing of the blood her eyes flew wildly open! She gazed affrightedlyat me for an instant, and then with the last effort of her life, forwhich terror lent her strength, she started up and fled shrieking tothis room. I, still holding the dagger that I had drawn from her bosom, followed her here. And--you know the rest, " said Sybil; and overcomewith excitement, she sank upon the nearest chair to rest. 

Lyon Berners still held her hand. 

Her story had evidently made a very great impression upon the companypresent. But Lyon Berners suddenly exclaimed:

"Good Heavens! that lady's mistaken charge has put us all off the scent, and allowed the murderer to escape. But it may not yet be too late! Someclue may be left in her room by which we may trace the criminal! Come, neighbors, and let us search the premises. "

And Lyon Berners, leaving the shuddering women of the party in the roomwith Sybil and the dead, and followed by all the men, went to search thehouse and ground for traces of the assassin. 

 CHAPTER XX. 

 THE SEARCH. 

 My friends, I care not, (so much I am happy Above a number, ) if my actions Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them, Envy and base opinion set against them, To know my life so even. --SHAKSPEARE. 

And first they went to Mrs. Blondelle's room, and carefully examinedevery part of it, especially the fastenings of the doors and windows. They all seemed to be right. 

"I have a theory of this murder now!" said Mr. Berners, standing in themiddle of the room and speaking to the men who were with him. 

"Humph! what is it?" coldly inquired old Judge Basham. 

"It is this; that as Mrs. Blondelle was known to have possessed jewelsof great value, some miscreant came here with the intention to rob herof them. "

"Well, and what then?" asked the Judge. 

"That this miscreant entered either by the outer door, or by one ofthese windows, approached the bed of his victim, who, being awake andseeing him, shrieked, either before or at the moment of receiving thedeath wound, and then fainted. "

"Humph! what next?" grunted the Judge. 

"That first shriek brought my wife running to the rescue. At the soundof her approach, of course the murderer turned and fled, escapingthrough the outer door or window. "

"An ingenious story, and a plausible explanation, Mr. Berners; but one, I fear, that will never convince a jury, or satisfy the public, "remarked Judge Basham. 

"Nay, and it will na satisfy mysel' neither! It'll na do, gentlemen! Themurderer didna come through the outer door, nor the windows either! Formysel' fastened them a' before I went to my bed! And yesel's found themfastened when ye cam!" said the Scotch girl Janet, who had now enteredthe room with the child in her arms. 

"But he may have come through the door, my good girl, " suggested Mr. Berners, whose very blood seemed to freeze at this testimony of themaid. 

"Nay, nay, laird! that will na do either. The murderer could na hae comeby the outer door, for mysel' bolted it before I went to bed! And it wasstill bolted when my puir leddy--Oh, my puir bonny leddy! oh! my puirdear murdered mistress!" broke forth from the girl in sudden and violentlamentations. 

"Compose yourself, and tell us all about the bolted door, " said JudgeBasham. 

"Aweel, sir, the door was bolted by mysel', and bolted it stayed untilthat puir leddy started out of her bed and tore the bolt back, and fledaway from before the face of her murderer! too late! oh, too late! forshe carried her death wound with her. "

"So you see, Mr. Berners, your theory of the murder falls to pieces. This girl's testimony proves that the murderer could not have enteredthe room, from this floor, " said Judge Basham. 

"Then he _must_ have been concealed in the room, " exclaimed Lyon, desperately. 

"Nay, nay! that will na do either, laird. Na mon was hid in the room. Mysel' looked into all the closets, and under the bed, and up thechimney, as I always do before I go to sleep. I could na sleep else. Nay, nay, laird! The murderer came in neither by outer door nor window, nor yet lay hidden in the room; for mysel' had fastened the outer doorand window, and searched the room before I slept. Nay, nay, laird! Themurderer cam by the only way left open--left open because we thought itwas safe--the way leading from Mistress Berners' room down to thelittle stairs, and through this door which was not bolted, " persistedthe Scotch girl. 

Lyon Berners' heart seemed turned to ice by these last words. Nevertheless he summoned fortitude to say:

"We must examine and see if there has been a robbery committed. If there_has_ been one, then, of course, in the face of all this woman'sevidence, it will prove that the robber has done this foul deed. "

"I do not see clearly that it will, " objected Judge Basham. "However, wewill make the examination. "

"Your honors need na tak the trouble. Mysel' saw to that too. See, thebureau drawers and wardrobes are all fast locked as me leddy saw me lockthem hersel'. And the keys are safe in the pocket of my gown. Nay, nay, lairds, naething is stolen, " said Janet. 

Nevertheless, Mr. Berners insisted on making the examination. So Janetproduced the keys and opened all the bureau drawers, boxes, wardrobes, etc. All things were found in order. In the upper bureau drawer, casketsof jewels, boxes of laces, rolls of bank-notes and other valuables werefound untouched. Nothing was missing. 

In a word, no clue was found to the supposed murderer and robber; but, on the other hand, every circumstance combined to fix the deed on Sybil. 

Lyon Berners felt a faintness like death coming over him, and subduingall his manhood. Unblenchingly, in his own person, he would have bravedany fate. But that his wife--his pure, high-toned, magnanimous Sybil, should be caught up and ground to pieces by this horrible machinery ofcircumstance and destiny! Was this a nightmare? His brain was reeling. He felt that he might go mad. Like the drowning man, he caught atstraws. Turning to the Scotch girl, he demanded somewhat sternly:

"And where were you when your mistress was being murdered? where wereyou, that you did not hasten to her assistance? You could not have beenfar off--you must in fact have been in that little adjoining nursery. "

"And sae I was, laird; and her first screech waked me up and garred megrew sae till I couldna move, and didna move till I heard her screechagain and again, and saw her rin acrass the floor, and tear back thebolt and flecht fra the room, followed close behind by Mistress Berners. And thin mysel' sprang up wi' the bairn in me arms and rin after them, thinking the de'il was behind me. Oh, me puir leddy! oh, me puir, bonnyleddy! oh! oh! oh!" wept and wailed the girl, dropping down on the floorand throwing her apron over her head. 

But the cries of the child from the adjoining nursery caused her tostart up, and run in there to comfort him. 

The searchers left that room, and pursued their investigationselsewhere. They went all through the house without finding any clue tothe mystery. They attempted to search the grounds, but the night waspitch-dark, and the rain was falling fast. Finally, they returned to theroom of death. 

All the ladies and all the servants had gone away. No one remained in itbut Sybil and Miss Tabby, watching the dead. 

Sybil sat near the head of the body, and Miss Tabby near the feet. 

At the sight of his doomed young wife, Lyon Berners senses reeled again. 

"She is so inexperienced in all the ways of the world, so ignorant ofthe ways of the law! Oh, does she know--does she even dream of the awfulposition, the deadly danger in which she stands? No; she is unconsciousof all peril. She evidently believes that the explanation she gave ushere, and which satisfies her friends, will convince all others. Oh, Sybil! Sybil! an hour ago so safe in your domestic sanctity, andnow--now momentarily exposed to--Heaven! I cannot bear it!" he groaned, as he struggled for self-command and went towards her. 

She was sitting with her hands clasped, as in prayer, and her eyes, fullof the deepest regret and pity, fixed upon the face of the dead. Therewas sorrow, sympathy, awe--anything but fear or distrust in hercountenance. At the approach of her husband, she turned and whisperedgravely:

"She was my rival where I could least bear rivalry; and I thought shehad been a successful one. I do not think so now; and now I have nofeeling towards her but one of the deepest compassion. Oh, Lyon, we mustadopt her poor child, and rear it for our own. Oh! who has done thisdeed? Some one whose aim was robbery, no doubt. Has any trace beendiscovered of the murderer?" she inquired. 

"None, Sybil, " he answered, with difficulty. 

"Oh, Lyon, such awful thoughts have visited me since I have sat here andforced myself to look upon this sight! For I see in it that which Imight have done, had my madness become frenzy; but even then, not asthis was done. Oh, no, no, no! May God forgive me and change my heart, for I have been standing on the edge of an abyss!"

Mr. Berners could not speak. He was suffocating with the feeling thatshe now stood upon the brink of ruin yawning to receive her. 

"Heaven help you, Sybil!" was the silent prayer of his spirit as hegazed on his unconscious wife. 

Miss Tabby, who sat whimpering at the feet of the dead, now spoke up:

"I think, " she said, wiping the tear-drop from the end of her nose, "I_do_ think as we ought not to leave it a-lying here, cramped up ontothis sofy, where we can't stretch it straight. We ought to have it takento her room and laid out on her bed, decent and in order. "

"It is true; but oh, in a shock like this, how much is forgotten!" saidMr. Berners. Then turning to old Judge Basham, who had sank into aneasy-chair to rest, but seemed to consider himself still on the bench, since he assumed so much authority, Lyon inquired, "Do you see anyobjection to the body being removed to a bedroom before the coroner'sarrival?"

"Certainly not. This is not the scene of the murder. You had best takeit back to the bed on which she received her death, " answered the oldJudge. 

"Friends, " said Mr. Berners, turning to the gentlemen, who had allsolemnly and silently seated themselves as at a funeral, "will one ofyou assist me in this?"

Captain Pendleton, who had just reëntered the room, came promptly up. 

"By the way, did you send for the coroner, sir?" demanded the old Judge, intercepting him. 

"Yes, sir, I did, " curtly answered the Captain. 

"Then I shall sit here until his arrival, " observed the Judge settlinghimself for a nap in his easy-chair. 

"That old fellow is in his dotage!" growled Captain Pendleton tohimself, as he tenderly lifted the head and shoulders of all thatremained of poor Rosa Blondelle. But at the touch of her cold form, thesight of her still face, tears of pity sprang into the young soldier'seyes. Rosa had been a fine woman, and her body was now no light weight. It took the united strength of Captain Pendleton and Mr. Berners to bearit properly from the parlor to the chamber, where they laid it on thebed, and left it to the care of Sybil and Miss Tabby, who had followedthem. 

Mr. Berners then pulled the Captain into an empty room and whisperedhoarsely:

"Did I understand you to tell the Judge that you had sent a messengerfor the coroner?"

"Yes; but mind, I sent an old man on an old mule. It will be many hoursbefore he reaches Blackville; many more before the coroner gets here. Good Heaven! Berners, I _had_ to do that! Don't you see the awful dangerof your innocent wife?" exclaimed Captain Pendleton, in an agitatedvoice. 

"_Don't_ I see it? I am not mad, or blind. But you, in the face of thisoverwhelming evidence--you believe her to be innocent?" demanded LyonBerners, in a tone of agonized entreaty. 

"I _know_ her to be innocent! I have known her from her infancy. Shemight have flown at a rival, and torn her to pieces, in a frenzy ofpassion; but she could never have struck a secret blow, " answeredCaptain Pendleton, emphatically. 

"Thanks! Oh, thanks for your faith in her!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, earnestly. 

"But now! _Do_ you not see what is to be done? She must be got out ofthe house before the coroner or any officer of justice arrives, " saidCaptain Pendleton, earnestly. 

"Oh, this is so sudden and terrible! It is an avalanche--an earthquake!It crushes me. It deprives me of reason!" groaned Lyon Berners, sinkinginto a chair, and covering his face with his hands. 

"Lyon, my friend, arouse yourself! Rise above this agony of despair, ifyou would save your imperilled wife! She must fly from this house withinan hour, and you must accompany her, " urged Captain Pendleton. 

"I know it! I know it! But oh, Heaven! the anguish of my heart! thechaos of my thoughts! Pendleton, think for me; act for me; tell me whatto do!" cried the strong man, utterly overwhelmed and powerless. 

Captain Pendleton hurried into the supper-room, the scene of the laterevels, and brought from there a glass of brandy, which he forced hisfriend to swallow. 

"Now listen to me, Berners. Go and call your wife, take her to yourmutual room, tell her the necessity of instant flight. She is strong, and will be equal to the occasion. Then, quickly as you can collect allyour money and jewels, and conceal them about your person. Dressyourself, and tell her to dress in plain stout weather-proofriding-habits. Do this at once. Meanwhile, I will go myself to thestables, and saddle two of the swiftest horses, and bring them around tothe back door, so that no servant need to be taken into our confidenceto-night. When I meet you with the horses, I will direct you to atemporary retreat where you will be perfectly safe for the present;afterwards we can think of a permanent place of security. Now, then, courage, and hurry!"

"My friend in need!" fervently exclaimed Lyon Berners, as they parted. 

"I have further suggestions to make when we meet again. I have thoughtof everything, " Captain Pendleton called after him. 

Lyon Berners went in search of Sybil, to the chamber of death, which wasnow restored to order, and dimly lighted. 

 CHAPTER XXI. 

 SYBIL'S FLIGHT. 

 'Tis well--my soul shakes off its load of care; 'Tis only the obscure is terrible; Imagination frames events unknown, In wild, fantastic shapes of hideous ruin, And what its fears creates. --HANNAH MORE. 

Upon the snow-white bed the form of Rosa Blondelle, wrapped in purewhite raiment, was laid out. Very peaceful and beautiful she looked, herfair face, framed in its pale gold hair, wearing no sign of the violentdeath by which she died. 

At her head sat Sybil, looking very pale, and shedding silent tears. 

At her feet sat Miss Tabby, whimpering and muttering. 

Within the little nursery, beyond the chamber, the Scotch girl sat, crying and sobbing. 

Lyon Berners softly approached the bed, and whispered to Sybil. 

"Dearest, come out, I wish to speak to you. "

She silently arose and followed him. He was silent until they hadreached their own room. 

"Sit down, Sybil, " he then said, as calmly as he could force himself tospeak. 

She sank into a seat and looked at him inquiringly, but fearlessly. 

He stood before her unable to proceed. It was terrible to him to witnessher utter unconsciousness of her own position--more terrible still to beobliged to arouse her from it. 

She continued to regard him with curiosity, but without anxiety, waitingsilently for what he should say to her. 

"Sybil, " he said at length, as soon as he was able to speak--"Sybil, youare a brave and strong spirit! You can meet a sudden calamity withoutsinking under it. "

"What is it?" inquired his wife, in a low tone. 

"Sybil, dearest Sybil! there is no time to break the bad news to you;brace yourself to hear it abruptly. "

"Yes! tell me. "

"Sybil, listen, and comprehend. The circumstances that surround thismysterious murder are of a character to compromise you so seriously, that you may only find safety in immediate flight. "

"Me!--flight!" exclaimed Mrs. Berners, dilating her dark eyes inamazement. 

Mr. Berners groaned in the spirit, as he replied:

"Yes, Sybil, yes! Oh! my dearest, attend and understand, and be strong!Sybil, hear. The quarrel you were known to have had with this poorwoman; the threats you used on that occasion; the dagger in your hand;the blood oh your wrist, and above all the words of the dying womancharging you with her death. All these form a chain of circumstantialand even direct evidence that will drag you down--I cannot say it!"burst forth Lyon in an accession of agony. 

Sybil's dark eyes opened wider and wider in amazement, but still withoutthe least alarm. 

"It is enough, oh, Sybil, to repeat to you that your only safety is ininstant flight, " he exclaimed, dropping his face upon his hands. 

"Flight!" echoed Sybil, staring at him. "Why should I take refuge inflight? I have done nothing criminal, nor will I do anything soignominious as to fly from my home, Lyon, " she added, proudly. 

"But, Sybil--Oh, Sybil! the circumstantial evidence--. "

"Why, I explained all that!" replied Mrs. Berners naïvely. "I told youall how it was: that when I heard her scream, I ran to see what was thematter and I drew the dagger from her bosom, and then the blood spirtedup and sprinkled me! It was terrible enough to see and bear that, without having to hear and endure such a preposterous suspicion! And itis all easy enough for any honest mind to understand my explanation. "

"Oh, Sybil! Sybil! that indeed--I mean your presence at her death, withall its concurrent circumstances might be explained away! But the dyingwoman's last solemn declaration, charging you as her murderess, that wasthe most direct testimony! Oh, Heaven, Sybil! Sybil! prepare for yourflight; for in that is your only hope of safety! Prepare at once, forthere is not an instant to be lost!"

"Stop!" said Sybil, suddenly and solemnly--"Lyon Berners, do _you_believe that dying declaration to have been true?"

"No! as the Lord hears me, I do not, Sybil! I know you were incapableof doing the deed she charged upon you! No! I am sure she spoke in thedelirium of sudden death and terror, " said Lyon Berners earnestly. 

"Nor will any one else who knows me, believe it! So be tranquil. I amnot guilty, nor will I run away like a guilty one. I will stay here andtell the truth, " said Sybil composedly. 

"But, oh, good Heavens! telling the truth will not help you! The lawdeals with _facts_, not _truths_! and judges of facts as if they weretruths. And oh! my dear Sybil! the lying facts of this case involve youin such a net of circumstantial evidence and direct testimony as rendersyou liable to arrest--nay, certain to be arrested and imprisoned uponthe charge of murder! Oh, my dear, most innocent wife! my free, wild, high-spirited Sybil! even the sense of innocence could not save you fromimprisonment, or support you during its degrading tortures! _You_ couldnot bear--_I_ could not bear for you, such loss of liberty and honor forone hour--even if nothing worse should follow! But, Sybil, worse may, worse _must_ follow! Yes, the _very worst_! Your only safety is inflight--instant flight! And oh! Heaven! how the time is speeding away!"exclaimed the husband, beside himself with distress. 

During the latter part of his speech the wife had started to her feet, and now she stood staring at him, amazed, incredulous, yet firm andbrave. 

"Rouse yourself to the occasion, Sybil! Oh! for my sake, for Heaven'ssake, collect your faculties and prepare for flight, " he passionatelyurged. 

"I am innocent, and yet I must fly like the guilty! Lyon, for your sake, and only for yours, I will do it, " she answered gravely, and sadly. 

"We must not call assistance, nor stop to compliment each other. Packquickly up what you will most need for yourself, in a travelling bag, and I will do the same for myself, " explained Lyon Berners, suiting theaction to the word by shoving into his valise some valuable papers, money, razors, a few articles of clothing, etc. 

Sybil showed more promptitude and presence of mind than might have beenexpected of her. She quickly collected her costly jewels and readymoney, a change of under clothing, combs, and brushes, and packed themin a small travelling bag. 

"We go on horseback, " quickly explained Lyon Berners, as he locked hisvalise. 

Swiftly and silently Sybil threw off her masquerading dress, that shehad unconsciously worn until now, and dropped it on the floor, where itlay glowing like a smouldering bonfire. She then put on a water-proofriding habit, and announced herself ready. 

"Come, then, " said Lyon Berners, taking up both bags, and beckoning herto follow him silently. 

They slipped down the dark stairs and through the deserted halls, andreached the back door, where, under the shelter of a large hemlock-tree, Captain Pendleton held the horses. It was dark as pitch, and drizzlingrain. They could see nothing, they could only know the whereabouts oftheir "friend in need, " and their horses, by hearing Captain Pendleton'svoice speaking through the mist in cautious tones, and whispering:

"Lock the door after you, Berners, so as to secure us from intrusionfrom within. And then stop there under the porch until I come and talkto you. "

Mr. Berners did as he was requested to do, and then stood waiting forhis friend, who soon came up. 

"You have got all you will need on your journey, have you not?" inquiredthe Captain. 

Mr. Berners replied by telling his friend exactly what he had brought. 

"All that is very well, but people require to eat and drink once in awhile. So I have put some sandwiches, and a bottle of wine from thesupper-table, into your saddle-bags. And now, in the hurry, have youdecided upon your route?"

"Yes; we shall endeavor to reach the nearest seaport, Norfolk probably, and embark for some foreign country, no matter what, for in no place butin a foreign country can my unhappy wife hope for safety, " mournfullyreplied Lyon Berners. 

"Endeavor to reach Norfolk! That will never succeed. You will be sure tobe overtaken and brought back before you go a score of miles on thatroad, " declared Captain Pendleton, shaking his head. 

"Then, in the name of Heaven, what _will_ do?" demanded Mr. Berners, ina tone of desperation. 

"You must find a place of concealment, and then take time to disguiseyourself and your wife, so that neither of you can be recognized, beforeyou venture upon the road to Norfolk. You see, Lyon, you are the betterlawyer, but I am the better strategist! I graduated among the warpathsand the ambushes of the Redskins on the frontier. "

"But where shall I find such a place of concealment?"

"I have thought of that. "

"You think of everything. "

"Ah! it is easy to show presence of mind in other people's confusion!Almost as easy at it is to bear other people's troubles!" said theCaptain, attempting a jest, only to raise his friend's drooping spirits. "But now to the point, for we must be quick. You know the 'HauntedChapel?'"

"The old ruined church in the cleft on the other side of the BlackMountain?"

"Yes; that is the place. Its deep solitude and total abandonment, withits ghostly reputation, will be sure to secure your safety. Go there;conceal yourselves and your horses as well as you can. In the course ofto-morrow, or to-morrow night, I will come to you with such news andsuch help as I may be able to bring. "

"Thank you. Oh, thank you. But what are words? You are a man of deeds. Your presence of mind has saved us both!" said Lyon Berners earnestly. 

"And now to horse, " said Captain Pendleton, taking Mrs. Berners underhis guidance, while Mr. Berners brought on the valise and travellingbag. 

Captain Pendleton placed Sybil in her saddle, whispering encouragingly, "Be strong and hopeful. This necessary flight is a temporary evil, intended to save you from a permanent, and even perhaps a fatal wrong. Be patient, and time shall vindicate you and bring you back. "

"But oh! to leave my home, and the home of my fathers! to leave it likea criminal, when I am innocent! to leave it in haste, and not to know ifI may ever return, " cried Sybil, in a voice of anguish. 

"It is a fearful trial. I will not mock you by denying that it is. Yes, it is a terrible ordeal! but one, Mrs. Berners, that you have heroismenough to bear, " replied Captain Pendleton, as he bowed over herextended hand and gave her the reins. 

Lyon Berners was also mounted. They were ready to start. With a mutual"God bless you, " the friends parted. 

Lyon and Sybil took the dark road. 

Captain Pendleton unlocked the door that had been locked by Mr. Berners, but as he pushed to open it he felt an obstruction, and instantlyafterwards heard some one run away. 

"A listener, " he thought, in dismay as he pursued the fugitive. But heonly caught a glimpse of a figure disappearing through the front doorand into the darkness without, in which it was lost. 

"An eavesdropper!" he exclaimed, in despair. "An eavesdropper! Who nowcan be assured of her safety? Oh, Sybil! you rejected my hand, and verynearly ruined my life. But this night I would die to save you, " hesighed, as he went and joined the gentlemen who were sitting upwatching, or rather dozing, in the parlor, while waiting for thephysician's or the coroner's arrival. 

"Where is Mrs. Berners?" inquired the old Judge, rousing himself up. 

"She retired to her chamber about an hour ago, " answered CaptainPendleton, telling the truth, but not the whole truth, as you willperceive. 

"Hum, ha, yes; well, and where is her husband?"

"He followed her there, " answered the Captain, shortly. 

"Ha, hum, yes, well. The coroner is long in coming, " grumbled the Judge. 

"It is some distance to Blackville, sir, and the roads are rough and thenight is dark, " observed the Captain. 

"Well, yes, true, " agreed the old man, subsiding into his chair and intohis doze. 

Captain Pendleton threw himself into a seat, but had not sat long beforethe parlor door opened, and his sister appeared at it and called to himin a low voice. 

He arose, and went to her. 

"Come out into the hall here; I want to speak to you, Clement, " saidMiss Pendleton. 

He went out. 

Then his sister inquired, in a voice full of anxious entreaty:

"Clement, _where_ is Sybil?"

"She went to her room a little more than an hour ago, " answered thebrother, giving his sister the same answer that he had given the Judge. 

"Clement, I must go to her, and throw my arms around her neck and kissher. I must not tell her in so many words that I know she is innocent, for to do that would be to affront her almost as much as if I shouldaccuse her of being guilty; for she will rightly enough think that herinnocence should not be called into question, but should be taken forgranted. So I must not say a word on that subject, but I _must_ find herand embrace her, and make her feel that I know she is innocent. Who iswith her?"

"Her husband is with her, Beatrix, and so you can not of course go toher now. "

"Oh, but I am so anxious to do so. Look here, Clement. I stood thereamong the crowd this evening, gazing upon that bleeding and dying woman, until the sight of her ghastly form and face seemed to affect me as theMedusa's head was said to have affected the beholder, and turn me intostone. Clement, I was so petrified that I could not move or speak, evenwhen she appealed to us all to know whether any among us could believeher to be capable of such an act. I could not speak; I could not move. She must have thought that I too condemned her, and I cannot bear torest under that suspicion of hers. I must go to her now, Clement. "

"Indeed you must not, Trix. Wait till she makes her appearance: thatwill be time enough, " answered her brother. 

"Oh, this is a horrible night; I wish it were over. I cannot go to bed;nobody can. The ladies are all sitting huddled together in thedressing-room, although the fire has gone out; and the servants are allgathered in the kitchen, too panic-stricken to do anything. Oh, an awfulnight! I wish it were morning. "

"It will soon be daylight now, dear Beatrix. You had better go andrejoin your companions. "

And so the brother and sister separated for the night; Beatrix going tosit and shudder with the other ladies in the dressing-room, and Clementreturning to the parlor to lounge and doze among the gentlemen. 

Only his anxiety for Sybil's safety so much disturbed his repose, thatif he did but drop into an instant's slumber he started from it in avague fright. So the small hours of the morning wore on and brought thedull, drizzly, wintry daylight. 

Meanwhile Lyon and Sybil Berners rode on through mist and rain. 

 CHAPTER XXII. 

 THE HAUNTED CHAPEL. 

 "The chapel was a ruin old, That stood so low, in lonely glen. The gothic windows high and dark Were hung with ivy, brier, and yew. "

The Haunted Chapel to which Mr. And Mrs. Berners were going was in adark and lonely gorge on the other side of the mountain across BlackRiver, but near its rise in the Black Torrent. To reach the chapel, theywould have to ride three miles up the shore and ford the river, and thenpass over the opposite mountain. The road was as difficult and dangerousas it was lonely and unfrequented. 

Lyon and Sybil rode on together in silence, bending their heads beforethe driving mist, and keeping close to the banks of the river until theyshould reach the fording place. 

At length Sybil's anguish broke forth in words. 

"Oh! Lyon, is this nightmare? Or is it true that I am so suddenly castdown from my secure place, as to become in one hour a fugitive from myhome, a fugitive from justice! Oh! Lyon, speak to me. Break the spellthat binds my senses. Wake me up. Wake me up, " she wildly exclaimed. 

"Dear Sybil, be patient, calm, and firm. This is a terrible calamity. But to meet calamity bravely, is the test of a true high soul. You arecompelled to seek safety in flight, to conceal yourself for the present, to avoid a train of unmerited humiliations that even the consciousnessof innocence would not enable you to bear. But you have only to bepatient, and a few days or weeks must bring the truth to light, andrestore you to your home. "

"But flight itself looks like guilt; will be taken as additionalevidence of guilt, " groaned Sybil. 

"Not so. Not when it is understood that the overwhelming weight ofdeceptive circumstantial evidence and deceptive direct testimony had socompromised you as to render flight your only means of salvation. Bebrave, my own Sybil. And now, here we are at the ford. Take care ofyourself. Let me lead your horse. "

"No, no; that would embarrass you, without helping me. Go on before, andI will follow. "

Lyon Berners plunged into the stream. Sybil drew up her long skirts anddashed in after him. And they were both soon splashing through the BlackRiver, blacker now than ever with the double darkness of night and mist. A few minutes of brave effort on the part of horses and riders broughtthem all in safety to the opposite bank, up which they successfullystruggled, and found themselves upon firm ground. 

"The worst part of the journey is over, dear Sybil. Now I will ride inadvance and find the pass, and do you keep close behind me, " said LyonBerners, riding slowly along the foot of the mountain until he came to adark opening, which he entered, calling Sybil to follow him. 

It was one of those fearful passes so frequently to be found in theAllegheny Mountains, and which I have described so often that I may beexcused from describing this. They went in, cautiously picking their waythrough this deeper darkness, and trusting much to the instinct of theirmountain-trained steeds to take them safely through. An hour's slow, careful, breathless riding brought them out upon the other side of themountain. 

As they emerged from the dark labyrinth, Lyon Berners pulled up hishorse to breathe, and to look about him. Sybil followed his example. 

Day was now dawning over the broken and precipitous country. 

"Where is that chapel of which you speak? I have heard of it all mylife, but I have never seen it; and beyond the fact that it is on thisside of the mountain, and not far from the Black Torrent, I know nothingabout it, " said Sybil. 

"It is near the Black Torrent; almost under the bed of the cascade, infact. And we shall have to turn our horses' heads up stream again toreach it, " answered Lyon Berners. 

"You know exactly where it is; you have been there, perhaps?" inquiredSybil. 

"I have seen it but once in my life. But I can easily find it. It is nota frequented place of resort, dear Sybil. But that makes it all thesafer as a place of concealment for you, " said Lyon Berners, as hestarted his horse and rode on. 

Sybil followed him closely. 

Day was broadening over the mountains, and bringing out a thousandprismatic colors from the autumn foliage of the trees, gemmed now withthe rain drops that had fallen during the night. 

"It will be quite clear when the sun rises, " said Lyon, encouragingly toSybil, as they went on. 

He was right. Sunrise in the mountains is sometimes almost as sudden inits effects as sunrise at sea. The eastern horizon had been ruddy forsometime, but when the sun suddenly came up from behind the mountain, the mist lifted itself, rolled into soft white wreaths and crowned thesummits, while all the land below broke out into an effulgence of light, color, and glory. 

But people who are flying for life do not pause to enjoy scenery, evenof the finest. Lyon and Sybil rode on towards the upper banks of theBlack River, hearing at every step the thunder of the Black Torrent, asit leaped from rock to rock in its passionate descent to the valley. 

At length they came to a narrow opening in the side of the mountain. 

"Here is a path I know, " said Mr. Berners, "though its entrance is soconcealed by undergrowth as to be almost impossible to discover. "

Lyon Berners dismounted, and began to grope for the entrance in athicket of wild-rose bushes, that were now closely covered with scarletseed-pods that glowed, and raindrops that sparkled, in the rays of themorning sun. 

At length he found the path, and then he returned to his wife, and said:

"We cannot take our horses through the thicket, dear Sybil. You willhave to dismount and remain concealed in here until I lead them backacross the river, where I will turn them loose. There will be a greatadvantage gained by that move. Our horses being found on the other side, will mislead our pursuers on a false scent. "

While Lyon Berners spoke, he assisted his wife to alight from hersaddle, and guided her to the entrance of the thicket. 

"This path has not been trodden for a score of years, I can wellbelieve. Just go far enough to be out of sight of any chance spy, andthere remain until I return. I shall not be absent over half an hour, "said Mr. Berners, as he took leave of Sybil. 

She sank wearily down upon a fragment of a rock, and prepared to awaithis return. 

He mounted his own horse, and led hers, and so went his way down thestream to the fording place. 

He successfully accomplished the difficult task of taking both horsesover the river to the opposite bank, where he turned them loose. 

Next with a strong pocket jack-knife he cut a leaping pole from asapling near, and went still farther up the stream to the rapids, where, by a skilful use of his pole and dexterous leaping from rock to rock, hewas enabled to recross the river almost dry-shod. 

He rejoined Sybil, whom he found just where he had left her. 

She was sitting on a piece of rock, with her head bowed upon her hands. 

"Have I been gone long? Were you anxious or lonely, dearest?" heinquired, as he gave her his hand to assist her in rising. 

"Oh, no! I take no note of time! But oh! Lyon, _when shall I wake?_" sheexclaimed in wild despair. 

"What is it you say, dear Sybil?" he gently asked. 

"When shall I wake--wake from this ghastly nightmare, in which I seem tomyself to be a fugitive from justice! an exile from my home! ahouseless, hunted stranger in the land! It _is_ a nightmare! It can_not_ be real, you know! Oh, that I could wake!"

"Dear Sybil, collect your faculties. Do not let despair drive you todistraction. Be mistress of yourself in this trying situation, " saidLyon Berners, gravely. 

"But oh, Heaven! the crushing weight and stunning suddenness of thisblow! It is like death! like perdition!" exclaimed Sybil, pressing herhands to her head. 

Lyon Berners could only gaze on her with infinite compassion, expressedin every lineament of his eloquent countenance. 

She observed this, and quickly, with a great effort, from a strongresolution, throwing her hands apart like one who disperses a cloud, andcasts off a weight, she said:

"It is over! I will not be nervous or hysterical again. I have broughttrouble on you as well as on myself, dear Lyon; but I will show you thatI can bear it. I will look this calamity firmly in the face, and comewhat may, I will not drag you down by sinking under it. "

And so saying, she gave him her hand, and arose and followed him as hepushed on before, breaking down or bearing aside the branches thatoverhung and obstructed the path. 

Half an hour of this difficult and tedious travelling brought them downinto a deep dark dell, in the midst of which stood the "Haunted Chapel. "

It was an old colonial church, a monument of the earliest settlement inthe valley. It was now a wild and beautiful ruin, with its surroundingsall glowing with color and sparkling with light. In itself it was asmall Gothic edifice, built of the dark iron-grey rock dug from themountain quarries. Its walls, window-frames, and roof were all stillstanding, and were almost entirely covered by creepers, among which thewild rose vine, now full of scarlet berries, was conspicuous. 

A broken stonewall overgrown with brambles enclosed the old church-yard, where a few fallen and mouldering gravestones, half sunk among the deadleaves, still remained. 

All around the church, on the bottom of the dell, and up the sides ofthe steeps, were thickly clustered forest-trees, now glowing refulgentin their gorgeous autumn livery of crimson and gold, scarlet and purple. 

A little rill, an offspring of the Black Torrent, tumbled down the sideof the mountain behind the church, and ran frolicking irreverentlythrough the old graveyard. The great cascade was out of sight, thoughvery near for its thunder filled the air. 

"See, " said Sybil, pointing to the little singing rill; "Nature isunsympathetic. She can laugh and frolic over the dead, and, besides, thesuffering. "

"It would seem, then, that Nature is wiser as well as gladder than weare; since she, who is transitory, rejoices while we, who are immortal, pine, " answered Lyon Berners, pleased that any thought should win herfrom the contemplation of her misfortune. 

He then led the way into the old ruined church through the door frames, from which the doors had long been lost. The stone floor, and the stonealtar still remained; all else within the building was gone. 

Lyon Berners looked all around, up and down the interior, from thearched ceiling to the side-walls with their window spaces and theflagstone floor with its mouldy seams. The wild creeping vines nearlyfilled the window spaces, and shaded the interior more beautifully thancarved shutters, velvet curtains, or even stained glass could have done. The flagstone floor was strewn with fallen leaves that had drifted in. Up and down, in every nook and corner of the roof and windows, lastyear's empty birds nests perched. And here and there along the walls, the humble "mason's" little clay house stuck. 

But there seemed no resting place for the weary travellers, until Sybil, with a serious smile, went up to the altar and sank upon the loweststep, and beckoned Lyon to join her, saying:

"At the foot of the altar, dear Lyon, there was sanctuary in the oldentimes. We seem to realize the idea now. "

"You are cold. Your clothes are all damp. Stop! I must try to raise afire. But you, in the meantime, must walk briskly up and down, to keepfrom being chilled to death, " answered Lyon Berners very practically, ashe proceeded to gather dry leaves and twigs that had drifted into theinterior of the old church. 

He piled them up in the centre of the floor, just under the break inthe roof, and then he went out and gathered sticks and brushwood, andbuilt up a little mound. Lastly he took a box of matches from his pocketand struck a light, and kindled the fire. 

The dried leaves and twigs crackled and blazed, and the smoke ascendedin a straight column to the hole in the roof through which it escaped. 

"Come, dear Sybil, and walk around the fire until your clothes are dry, and then sit down by it. This fire, with its smoke ascending andescaping through that aperture, is just such a fire as our forefathersin the old, old times enjoyed, as the best thing of the kind they knewanything about. Kings had no better, " said Lyon Berners, cheerfully. 

Sybil approached the fire, but instead of walking around it, she satdown on the flagstones before it. She looked very weary, thoroughlyprostrated in body, soul, and spirit. 

"What are we waiting for, in this horrible pause?" she inquired atlength. 

"We are waiting for Pendleton. He is to bring us news, as soon as he canslip away and steal to us without fear of detection, " answered LyonBerners. 

"Oh, Heaven! what words have crept into our conversation about ourselvesand friends too! 'Steal, ' 'fear, ' 'detection!' Oh, Lyon!--But there, Iwill say no more. I will _not_ revert to the horror and degradation ofthis position again, if I can help it, " groaned Sybil. 

"My wife, you are very faint. Try to take some nourishment, " urged Lyon, as he began to open the small parcel of refreshments thoughtfullyprovided by Captain Pendleton. 

"No, no, I cannot swallow a morsel. My throat is parched andconstricted, " she answered. 

"If I only had a little coffee for you, " said Lyon. 

"If we only had liberty to go home again, " sighed Sybil, "then weshould have all things. But there; indeed I will not backslide into weakcomplaints again, " she added, compunctuously. 

"Modify your grief, dear Sybil, but do not attempt entirely to suppressit. Nature is not to be so restrained, " said Lyon Berners, kindly. 

There was silence between them for a little while, during which Sybilstill sat down upon the flagstones, with her elbows resting on herknees, and her head bowed upon the palms of her hands; and Lyon stood upnear her with an attitude and expression of grave and sad reflection andself-control. 

At length Sybil spoke:

"Oh, Lyon! who could have murdered that poor woman, and brought us intosuch a horrible position?"

"My theory of the tragedy is this, dear Sybil: that some robber, duringthe confusion of the fancy ball, found an opportunity of entering andconcealing himself in Mrs. Blondelle's room; that his first purposemight have been simple robbery, but that, being discovered by Mrs. Blondelle, and being alarmed lest her shrieks should bring the houseupon him and occasion his capture, he impulsively sought to stop hercries by death; and then that, hearing your swift approach down thestairs leading into her room, he made his escape through the window. "

"But then the windows were all found, as they had been left, fastened, "objected Sybil. 

"But, dearest, you must remember that these windows, having springbolts, may be fastened by being pushed to from the outside. It is quitepossible for a robber, escaping through them, to close them in thismanner to conceal his flight. "

"That must have been the case in this instance. Everybody must see nowthat that was the manner in which the miscreant escaped. Oh, Lyon! Ithink we were wrong to have left home. "

"No, dear Sybil, we were not. Our only hope is in the discovery of thereal murderer, and that may be a work of time; meanwhile we wish to befree, even at the price of being called fugitives from justice. "

"Lyon, that poor child! If we ever go home again, we must adopt andeducate him. "

"We will do so, Sybil. "

"For, oh! Lyon, although I am entirely innocent of that most heinouscrime, and entirely incapable of it, yet, when I remember how my rageburned against that poor woman only an hour before her death, I feel--Ifeel as if I were half guilty of it! as if--Heaven pardon me!--I might, in some moment of madness, have been wholly guilty of it! Lyon, Ishudder at myself!" cried Sybil, growing very pale. 

"You should thank Heaven that you have been saved from such mortal sin, dear wife, and also pray Heaven always to save you from your own fiercepassions, " said Mr. Berners, very gravely. 

"I have breathed that thanksgiving and that prayer with every breath Ihave drawn. And I will continue to do so. But, oh! Lyon, all mypassions, all my sufferings grew out of my great love for you. "

"I can well believe it, dear wife. And I myself have not been free fromblame; though in reality your jealousy was very causeless, Sybil. "

"I know that now, " said Sybil, sadly. 

"And now, dearest, I would like to make 'a clean breast of it, ' as thesinners say, and tell you all--the whole 'head and front of myoffending' with that poor dead woman, " said Mr. Berners, seating himselfon the floor beside his wife. 

Sybil did not repel his offered confidence, for though her jealousy haddied a violent death, she was still very much interested in hearing hisconfession. 

Then Lyon Berners told her everything, up to the very last moment whenshe had surprised them in the first and last kiss that had ever passedbetween them. 

"But in all, and through all, my heart, dear wife, was loyal in its loveto you, " he concluded. 

"I know that, dearest Lyon--I know that well, " replied Sybil. 

And with that tenderness towards the faults of the dead, which allmagnanimous natures share, she forbore to say, or even to think, howutterly unprincipled had been the course of Rosa Blondelle from thefirst to the last of their acquaintance with that vain and frivolouscoquette. 

Sybil was now almost sinking with weariness. Lyon perceived hercondition, and said:

"Remain here, dear Sybil, while I go and try to collect some boughs andleaves to make you a couch. The sun must have dried up the moisture bythis time. "

And he went out and soon returned with his arms full of boughs, which hespread upon the flagstones. Then he took off his own overcoat andcovered them with it. 

"Now, dear Sybil, " he said, "if you will divest yourself of your longriding skirt, you may turn that into a blanket to cover with, and sosleep quite comfortably. "

With a grave smile Sybil followed his advice, and then she laid herselfdown on the rude couch he had spread for her. No sooner had her headtouched it, than she sank into that deep sleep of prostration which ismore like a swoon than a slumber. 

Lyon Berners covered her carefully with the long riding skirt, and stoodwatching her for some minutes. But she neither spoke nor stirred;indeed, she scarcely breathed. 

Then, after still more carefully tucking the covering around her, heleft her, and walked out to explore the surroundings of the chapel. 

 CHAPTER XXIII. 

 THE SOLITUDE IS INVADED. 

 Oh, might we here In solitude live savage, in some glade Obscured, where highest woods impenetrable To star, or sunlight, spread their umbrage broad And brown as evening; cover us, ye pines Ye cedars with innumerable boughs Hide us where we may ne'er be seen again. --BYRON. 

Nothing could be more lonely and desolate than this place. It wasabandoned to Nature and Nature's wild children. Of the birds thatperched so near his hand; of the squirrels that peeped at him from theirholes under the gravestones, he might have said with Alexander Selkirkon Juan Fernandez, "Their tameness is shocking to me. "

There was a great consolation to be derived from these circumstances, however; for they proved how completely deserted by human beings, andhow perfectly safe for the refugees, was this old "Haunted Chapel. "

Too deeply troubled in mind to take any repose of body; Lyon Bernerscontinued to ramble about among the gravestones, which were now so wornwith age that no vestige of their original inscriptions remained togratify the curiosity of a chance inspector. 

Above him was the glorious autumn sky, now hazy with the golden mist ofIndian summer. Around him lay a vast wilderness of hill and dell coveredwith luxuriant forests, now gorgeous with the glowing autumn colors oftheir foliage. 

But his thoughts were not with this magnificent landscape. Theywandered to the past days of peace and joy before the coming of thecoquette had "made confusion" with the wedded pair. They wandered to thefuture, trying to penetrate the gloom and horror of its shadows. Theyflew to Black Hall, picturing the people, prevising the possibilitiesthere. 

How he longed for, yet dreaded the arrival of Captain Pendleton! Wouldthere be danger in his coming through the open daylight? What news wouldhe bring?

The verdict of the coroners jury? Against whom must this verdict begiven? Lyon Berners shuddered away from answering this question. But itwas also possible that before this the murderer might have beendiscovered and arrested. Should this surmise prove to be a fact, oh, what relief from anguish, what a happy return home for Sybil! If not--ifthe verdict should be rendered against _her_, --nothing but flight andexile remained to them. 

While Lyon Berners wandered up and down like a restless ghost among thegravestones, his attention was suddenly arrested by the sound of acrackling tread breaking through the bushes. He turned quickly, expecting to see Captain Pendleton, but he saw his own servant instead. 

"Joe!" he exclaimed, in a tone of surprise. 

"Marser!" responded the man, in a voice of grief. 

"You come from Captain Pendleton? What message does he send? How is itat the house? Has the coroner come? And oh! has any clue been found tothe murderer?" anxiously inquired Mr. Berners. 

"No, marser, no clue an't been found to no murderer. But the house upthere is full of crowners and constables, as if it was the county courthouse, and Cappin Pendulum managing everything. "

"He sent you to me?"

"No, marser, nor likewise knowed I come. "

"Joe! _who_ has sent you here?" inquired Mr. Berners. 

"No one hasn't, marser, " answered Joe, dashing the tears from his eyes, and then proceeding to unstrap a large hamper that he carried upon hisshoulders. 

"No one! Then how came you here?" demanded Mr. Berners, uneasily. 

Now, instead of answering his master's question, Joe sat down upon hishamper, and wept aloud. 

"What is the matter with you?" inquired Mr. Berners. 

"You axed me how I comed here, " sobbed Joe, "just as if I could keepaway when she and you was here in trouble, and a-wanting some one tolook arter you. "

"But how did you know we were here?" anxiously questioned Mr. Berners. 

"I wa'n't a listening at key-holes, nor likewise a-eaves-dropping, whichI considers beneath a gentleman to do; but I was a-looking to the backshutters, to see as they was all safe arter the fright we got, and Ihearn somebody a-talking, which I was sure was more bugglers; so I madefree to wait and hear what they said. "

"It was Captain Pendleton and myself, I suppose, " said Mr. Berners, muchannoyed. 

"Jes so, sir; it wer Capping Pendulum and yourself, which it hurt me tothe heart as you should have trusted into Capping Pendulum and not intome--a old and valleyed servant of the family. "

"And so, Joe, you overheard the whole matter?"

"Which I did, sir, and shocked I was to think as any false chargesshould cause my dear young missus to run away from home in thenight-time, like a fusible slave. And hurt I was to think you didn'ttrust into me instead of into he. "

"Well, Joe, it appears to me that you were resolved to take our trust, if we did not give it to you. What brought you here this morning?"

"Coffee, sir, " gravely answered Joe, getting up off the hamper andbeginning to untie its fastenings. 

"_What?_" demanded Mr. Berners, gathering his brows into a frown. 

"COFFEE!" reiterated Joe, as he took from the hamper a small silvercoffee-pot, a pair of cups and saucers, spoons, plates, and knives andforks, a bottle of cream, and several small packets containing all thatwas needful for breakfast. 

"Joe! this was very kind and thoughtful of you; but was it quite safefor you to come here with a hamper on your back in open day?" inquiredMr. Berners. 

"Lord bless you, sir! safe as safe! I took by-paths, and didn't see acreetur, not one! Why, lord, sir, you had better a-trusted into me fromthe beginning, than into Capping Pendulum. Bress your soul, marser, there an't that white man going, nor yet that red injun, that can aiquala colored gentleman into hiding and seeking!"

"I can well believe that. "

"Why, marser!--but you don't 'member that time I got mad long o' oldMarse Bertram Berners, 'bout blaming of me for the sorrell horse fallinglame; and I run away?"

"No. "

"Well, I was gone three months, and not five miles from home all thattime! And all the constables looking arter me for law and order; and allthe poor white trash, hunting of me for the reward; and not one of 'emall ever struck upon my trail, and me so nigh home all the while!"

"Well, but you were found at last, " suggested Mr. Berners. 

"Who, _me_? No, _sir_! And I don't think as I should a-been found yet;'cause it was a funny kind of life, that run-a-way life, a dodging ofthe man-hunters; but you see, marser, I sort o' pined arter thechild--meaning Miss Sybil, who was then about four years old. And, moreover, it was fotch to me by a secret friend o' mine, as the childwas likewise a pining arter me. So I up and went straight home, andwalked right up before old marse, and took off my hat and told him ashow _I_ was willin' to forgive and forget, and let by-gones be by-goneslike a Christian gentleman, if he would do the same. "

"And of course your master at once accepted such magnanimous terms. "

"Who, _he_? Why, Marse Lyon! he looked jes as if he'd a-knocked me down!Only, you see, the child--meaning Miss Sybil--was a sitting on his knee, which, soon as ever she saw me, she ran to me, and clasped me round oneleg, and tried to climb up in my arms; which I took her up at once; andold marster, he couldn't knock me down then, if it had been to havesaved his life. "

"So peace was ratified. "

"Yes, Marse Lyon! which I telled you all this here nonsense jes to letyou know how good I was at hiding and seeking. And, Marse! the horsescome home all right. "

"They did! I am glad of that. "

"This was the way of it being all right, sir! You see I knowed, when Iheard you were going to ride to this old church, as you couldn't get thehorses through this thicket, but would have to turn them loose, to findtheir way home. And I knowed how if any other eyes 'cept mine saw them, it would set people to axing questions. So I goes out to the road, andwatches till I sees 'em coming; when I takes charge of 'em, and gets 'eminto the stable quiet, and no one the wiser. "

"Well done, Joe! But tell me, my good man, are we missed yet? Has anyone inquired for us?"

"Plenty has axed arter you both, Marse! But as no one but me and CappingPendulum knowed where you was gone, and as I locked your door, and tookthe key, most of the folks still think as how Miss Sybil has gone tobed, overcome by the ewents of the night, and as how you is a watchingby her, and a taking care of her. "

"That also is well. "

"But, Marse, how is Miss Sybil, and where is she?" inquired the faithfulservant, looking about himself. 

"She is very much prostrated by fatigue and excitement, and is nowsleeping in the church. "

"Thanks be to the Divine Marster as she _can_ sleep, " said Joe, reverently. 

"And now, " he continued, as he replaced it on his head, "I will kindle afire and make the coffee, and may be she may wake up by the time it isready. "

"Kindle a fire out here, Joe! Will not the smoke be seen, and lead toour discovery?" inquired Lyon Berners, glancing at the slender column ofsmoke from the fire in the church, that he himself had kindled, and nowfor the first time struck with the sense of the danger of discovery towhich it might have exposed Sybil. 

"Lord, Marse!" replied Joe, showing his teeth, "we are too far off fromany human being for any eye to see our smoke. And even if it wasn't so, bless you, there are so many mists rising from the valley this morning, that one smoke more or less wouldn't be noticed. "

"That is true, " admitted Mr. Berners. 

Meanwhile Joe busied himself with lighting a fire. When it was burningfreely, he took the kettle and filled it from the little stream thatflowed through the church-yard. 

"Now, Marse Lyon, in about ten minutes I will set you down to as good abreakfast, almost, as you could have got at home, " said Joe, as heraised three cross-sticks over the fire, and hung the kettle over theblaze, gipsy fashion. 

While Joe was at work, Mr. Berners went into the church to look afterSybil. 

She was still sleeping the heavy sleep of utter mental and bodilyprostration. For a few minutes he stood contemplating her with anexpression of countenance full of love and pity, and then afteradjusting the covering over her, and collecting together the brands ofthe expiring fire to light up again, he left the church. 

On going outside, he found that Joe had spread a cloth and arranged arude sort of picnic breakfast upon the ground. 

"The coffee is ready, Marse Lyon; but how about the Missis?" inquiredthe man, as he stirred down the grounds from the top of the pot. 

"She is still sleeping, and must not be disturbed, " answered Mr. Berners. 

"Well, Marse Lyon, I reckon as how you can relish a cup of coffee aswell as she; so please to let me wait on you, sir. "

Mr. Berners thanked Joe, and threw himself down upon the ground, andmade such a breakfast as a hungry man _can_ make, even under the mostdeplorable circumstances. 

"Now you know, sir, when the Missus wakes up, be it longer or shorter, Ican make fresh coffee for her in ten minutes, " said Joe, cheerfully. 

"But you cannot stay here very long. You'll be missed from the house, "objected Mr. Berners. 

"Please, sir, I have so well provided for all that, that I can stay tillnight. Bless you, sir, I told my fellow-servants as I was going to takesome corn to the mill to be ground, and was agoin' to wait all day tofetch it home; and so I really did take the corn, and told the miller Ishould come arter it this evening, and so I shall, and take it home allright, accordin' to my word. "

"That was a very politic proceeding, Joe; but how could you account tothem for the hamper you brought away, and which must have excitedsuspicion, if not inquiry?"

"Bless you, sir, I wasn't fool enough to let them see the hamper. Allthey saw was the two bags of corn as I rode out of the gate with. I hadfilled the hamper on the sly, and hid it in the bushes by the road, until I went by and picked it up. "

"Still better, Joe! But your horse? what horse did you ride, and whathave you done with him?"

"I rode Dick, which I have tied him fast in the deep woods on the otherside of the river. I crossed over the rapids with the help of a pole, "explained Joe. 

While they were speaking, a step was heard crushing through the driedbrushwood, and in another moment Captain Pendleton, pale, sad, andweary, stood before them. 

 CHAPTER XXIV. 

 THE VERDICT AND THE VISITOR. 

 Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer cloud Without our special wonder?--Shakespeare. 

"Pendleton! oh! Heaven, Pendleton! What news?" exclaimed Lyon Berners, starting up to greet him. 

"Good heaven! Berners! How is this? Another--a servant taken into yourconfidence, and trusted with the secret of your retreat!" cried CaptainPendleton in dismay. 

"He is trustworthy! I will vouch for his fidelity! But oh! Pendleton!What news? what news?" exclaimed Lyon Berners in an agony of impatience. 

"The worst that you can anticipate!" cried Captain Pendleton in a voicefull of sorrow. 

"Oh! my unhappy wife! The coroner's jury have found their verdict then?"groaned Lyon. 

Captain Pendleton bowed his head. He was unable to reply in words. 

"And that verdict is--Oh! speak I let me hear the worst!--that verdictis--"

"Wilful Murder!" muttered Pendleton in a hoarse and choking voice. 

"Against--against--whom?" gasped Lyon Berners white as death. 

"Oh Heaven! _You know!_ Do not ask me to sully her name with the words!"cried Captain Pendleton, utterly overcome by his emotions. 

"Oh, my unhappy wife! Oh, my lost Sybil!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, reeling under the blow, half-expected though it might have been. 

There was silence for a few minutes. Pendleton was the first to recoverhimself. He went up to his friend, touched him on the shoulder, andsaid:

"Berners, rouse yourself; the position requires the exertion of yourutmost powers of mind and body. Calm yourself, and collect all yourfaculties. Come now let us sit down here and talk over the situation. "

Lyon permitted the captain to draw him away to a little distance, wherethey both sat down side by side, on a fallen tombstone. 

"In the first place, how is your wife, and how does she sustain herselfunder this overwhelming disaster?" inquired Captain Pendleton, forcinghimself to speak composedly. 

"I do not think my dear innocent Sybil was able fully to appreciate thedanger of her position, even as she stood before the rendering of thatfalse and fatal verdict, she was so strong in her sense of innocence. She seemed to suffer most from the lesser evils involved in her exilefrom home. "

"Where is she, then?"

"Sleeping heavily in the church there; sleeping very heavily, from theunited effects of mental and bodily fatigue and excitement. "

"Heaven grant that she may sleep long and well. And now, Berners, to ourplans. You must know that I kept a horse saddled and tied in the woodsdown by the river, and as soon as that lying verdict was rendered, Ihurried off, leaped into my saddle and galloped here. I forded theriver, and have left my horse just below here, at the entrance of thisthicket. I must soon mount and away again on your service. "

"Oh, my dear Pendleton, how shall I ever repay you?"

"By keeping up a stout heart until this storm-cloud blows over, as itmust, in a few days or weeks. But now to business. How came this man Joehere?"

Mr. Berners explained how Joe had overheard all their conversation whilethey were making their arrangements, and taken pains to co-operate withthem, and had followed them here with some necessary provisions. And he, Mr. Berners, closed with a eulogy on Joe's fidelity and discretion. 

"I am very glad to hear what you tell me, for it relieves my mind of avery great weight. I knew that there had been a listener to ourconversation, for I almost ran against him as I went into the house; butas he made his escape before I could identify him, I was very anxious onthe subject. So you may judge what a burden is lifted from my mind bythe discovery that he was no other than honest Joe, whom Providence sentin the way. But why he ran from me, I cannot imagine. 

"He was a little jealous, a little sulky, and somewhat fearful of beingblamed, I suppose. But tell me, Pendleton, has our flight beendiscovered yet?" inquired Mr. Berners, anxiously. 

"No, nor even suspected; at least, not up to the time that I left BlackHall. Mrs. Berners was supposed to be in her chamber. I warned all themen, and requested my sister to caution all the women, against knockingat her door. "

"And I, who must have been expected to be on the spot?" asked Lyon. 

"You were often asked for. Fortunately for you, there is a well-knownweakness in human nature to pretend to know all about everything thatmay be inquired into. And so, every time you chanced to be inquired forby one party, you were accounted for by another. Some said you were withMrs. Berners; others that you had gone to Blackville on pressingbusiness connected with the tragedy. And these last authorities came tobe believed; so that when I slipped away I left the people momentarilyexpecting your return. "

"Whom did you leave there?"

"Everybody--the coroner's jury and all the guests of the house, who hadbeen detained as witnesses. "

"Then all our friends heard the fatal verdict?"

"All. "

"Was there--a warrant issued?" gasped Lyon Berners, scarcely able toutter the words. 

"Ah, yes; the issue of the warrant was the first intimation I had of thefatal nature of the verdict. It was put in the hands of an officer, withorders to be on the watch and serve it as soon as Mrs. Berners shouldcome out of her chamber, but not to knock at the door, or molest herwhile she remained in it. "

Lyon Berners groaned deeply, and buried his face in his hands. 

"Come, come! bear up, that you may sustain _her_!" said CaptainPendleton. "And now listen: Your flight, as I told you, was notsuspected up to the time I left Black Hall. It will not be discoveredprobably until late this evening, when it will be too late for theauthorities to take any immediate measures of pursuit. We have, therefore, this afternoon and to-night to perfect our plans. Only youneed to bring steady nerves and a clear head to the task. "

"What do you suggest, Pendleton?"

"First of all, that during this night, which is ours, all necessaryconveniences be brought here to support your life for a few days, foryou must not leave this safe refuge immediately--to do so would be tofall into the hands of the law. "

"I see that, " sighed Mr. Berners. 

"I, then, with the help of this faithful Joe, will bring to you hereto-night such things as you and Mrs. Berners will actually need, for thefew days that you must remain. As to all your affairs at the Hall, Icounsel you to give me a written authority to act for you in yourabsence. I have brought writing materials for the purpose; and when youhave written it, I will myself take it and drop it secretly into thepost-office at Blackville, so that it may reach me regularly through themail, and help to mislead everybody to whom I shall show it, into theidea that you have gone away through Blackville. Will you write it now?"inquired Captain Pendleton, drawing from his pocket a rolledwriting-case, containing all that was requisite for the work. 

"A thousand thanks, Pendleton. I do not see how in the name of Heaven wecould have managed without you, " replied Berners, as he took the case, unrolled it on his knee, and proceeded to write the required "power ofattorney. "

"And now, " said the Captain, when he received the document, "now we mustbe getting back. The sun is quite low, and we have much to do. Come, Joe, are you ready?"

"Yes, Massa Capping; ready and waitin' on you too. I ought to be at themill now, 'fore the miller shuts it up. "

Captain Pendleton then shook hands with Mr. Berners, and Joe pulled hisfront lock of wool by way of a deferential adieu, and both left the spotand disappeared in the thicket. 

But it was not until the last sound of their retreating steps, crashingthrough the dried bushes, had died away, that Lyon Berners turned andwent into the church. 

As he entered, a singular phenomenon, almost enough to confirm thereputation of the place as "haunted ground, " met his view. 

All in one instant his eyes took in these things: First, Sybil coveredover with the dark riding skirt, and still sleeping by the smoulderingfire; but sleeping uneasily, and muttering in her sleep. Secondly, thefour prints of the western windows laid in sunshine on the floor. Thirdly, a _shadow_ that slipped swiftly athwart this sunshine, anddisappeared as if it had sunk into the floor on the right of the altar. And in the same moment Sybil, with a half-suppressed shriek, started up, and stared wildly around, exclaiming:

"Oh! what is this? Where am I? Who was she?" Lyon Berners hastened tohis wife, saying soothingly:

"Sybil, wake up, darling; you have been dreaming. "

"But what does all this mean? Where are we? What strange place is this?"she cried, throwing back her long dark hair, and shading her eyes withher hands, as she gazed around. 

"Dearest wife, take time to compose yourself, and you will remember all. A sudden and terrible catastrophe has driven us from our home. You havehad a heavy sleep since that, and you find it difficult to awake to thetruth, " said Lyon Berners tenderly, as he sat down by her side, andsought to soothe her. 

"Oh! I know now! I remember all now! my fatal fancy ball! RosaBlondelle's mysterious murder! Our sudden flight! All! O! Heavens, all!"cried Sybil, dropping her face upon her hands. 

Lyon Berners put his arm around her, and drew her to his bosom. But hedid not speak; he thought it better to leave her to collect herself insilence. 

After a few moments, she looked up again, and looked all around thechurch, and then gazed into her husband's eyes, and inquired:

"But Lyon, who was _she_? and where has she gone?"

"Who was who, dear Sybil? I don't understand, " answered Mr. Berners, insurprise. 

"That gipsy-like girl in the red cloak; who was bending over me, andstaring into my face, just as you came in?"

"There was no such girl near you, or even in the church, my dear, " saidMr. Berners. 

"But indeed there was; she started away just as I woke up. "

"My dearest Sybil, you have been dreaming. "

"Indeed no; I saw her as plainly as I see you now: a girl in a redcloak, with such an elfin face I shall never forget it; such smallpiercing black eyes; such black eyebrows, depressed towards the nose, and raised high towards the temples, giving such an eldritch, mischievous, even dangerous expression to the whole dark countenance;and such wild black hair streaming around her shoulders. "

"A very vivid dream you have had, dear wife, and that is all. "

"I tell you no! she was bending over me; looking at me; and she fledaway just as I woke up. "

"My darling, I will convince you out of your own mouth. She ran away, you say, just as you woke up; therefore you did not see her after youwere awake, but only while you slept, in your dreams. Besides, dear, Iwas here when you woke up, and I saw no one near you, or even in thebuilding, " persisted Lyon Berners--though at that moment he did recallto mind _the shadow_ that he had seen slip past all the sunshine on thefloor, and disappear as if it had sunk under the slabs on the right sideof the altar. 

"Lyon, " said Sybil, solemnly, "I do not like to contradict you, but as Ihope to be saved, I saw that girl, not in a dream, but in reality; andsince you do not know anything about her, I begin to think theapparition mysterious and alarming. Let me tell you all about it. "

"Well, tell me, dear, if to do so will do you any good, " said Mr. Berners indulgently, but incredulously. 

"Listen, then. I was in a _dead sleep_, oh, such a deep dead sleep, that I seemed to be away down in the bottom of some deep cave, when Ifelt a heavy breathing or panting over my face, and was conscious ofsomebody leaning over me, and looking at me. I tried to wake, but couldnot, I could not lift myself up out of that deep dark cave of sleep. Butat last I felt a hand near my throat, trying to unfasten this goldenlocket that contains your miniature. Then I struggled, and succeeded inthrowing off the spell and waking up. As soon as I opened my eyes I sawthe wild eldritch face, with its keen bright black eyes and queereyebrows, and snake-like black locks, running down over the red cloak. The instant I saw this, I cried out, and the girl fled, and you hurriedup. Now call that a dream if you can, for I tell you I saw that figurestart up and run away from me as plainly as I saw you come up. One eventwas as real as the other, " concluded Sybil. 

Lyon Berners did not at once reply, for he thought again of the flitting_shadow_ he had seen cross the sunshine, and disappear as if it had sunkinto the flagstones on the right side of the altar. And he mentallyadmitted the bare possibility that some intruder had entered the churchand looked upon Sybil in her sleep, and fled at her awakening. But fledwhither? The windows were very high, the wall was smooth beneath them;no one could have climbed to them, for there was no foothold or handholdto assist one in the ascent, and there was but the one door by which hehimself had entered, at the same moment the strange visitor was said tohave fled, and he was quite sure that no one had passed him. Besides, the shadow that he had seen vanished beside the altar, at the upper endof the church. Lyon Berners knew not what to think of all that he hadseen and heard within the last quarter of an hour. But one thing wasquite certain, that it was absolutely necessary to Sybil's safety toascertain whether any stranger had really entered the church, or evencome upon the premises. 

"Well, " inquired Sybil, seeing that he still remained silent, "what doyou think now, Lyon?"

"I think, " he answered promptly, "that I will search the church. "

"There is not a hiding-place for anything bigger than a rat or a bird, "said his wife, glancing around upon the bare walls, floor, and ceiling. 

Nevertheless Lyon Berners walked up to the side of the altar where hehad seen the shadow disappear. Sybil followed close behind him. Heexamined the altar all around. It was built of stonework like thechurch; that was the reason it had stood so long. But he experienced agreat surprise when he looked at the side where the shadow had vanished;for there he found a small iron-grated door, through which he dimlydiscerned the head of a flight of stone steps, the continuation of whichwas lost in the darkness below. Glancing over the top of the door, heread, in iron letters, the inscription:

"DUBARRY. 1650. "

"What is it, dear Lyon?" inquired Sybil, anxiously looking over hisshoulder. 

"Good Heaven! It is the family vault of the wicked old Dubarrys, whoonce owned all the land hereabouts, except the Black Valley Manor, andwho built this chapel for their sins; for of them it might not be saidwith truth, that 'all their sons were true, and all their daughterspure, ' but just exactly the reverse. However, they are well forgottennow!"

"And this is their family vault?"

"Yes; but I had almost forgotten its existence here. "

"Lyon, can my mysterious visitor have hidden herself in that vault?"

"I can search it, at any rate, " answered Mr. Berners, wrenching away atthe grated door. 

But it resisted all his efforts, as if its iron bars had been bedded inthe solid masonry. 

"No, " he answered; "your visitor, if you had one, could not possiblyhave entered here. See how fast the door is. "

"Lyon, " whispered Sybil, in a deep and solemn voice, "Lyon, could shepossibly have come out from there?"

"Nonsense, dear! Are you thinking of ghosts?"

"This is the 'Haunted Chapel, ' you know, " whispered Sybil. 

"Bosh, my dear; you are not silly enough to believe that!"

"But my strange visitor?"

"You had no visitor, dear Sybil; you had a dream, and your dream hadevery feature of nightmare in it--the deep, death-like, yethalf-conscious and much disturbed sleep; the sense of heavy oppression;the apparition hanging over you; the inability to awake; even thegrappling at your throat, and the swift disappearance of the visionimmediately upon your full awakening--all well-known features ofincubus, " replied Mr. Berners. But again he thought of the shadow he hadseen; now, however, only to dismiss the subject as an optical illusion. 

Sybil sighed deeply. 

"It is hard, " she said, "that you won't trust to my senses in thisaffair. "

"Sweet wife, I would rather convince you how completely your senses havedeceived you. Your imagination has been excited while your nerves weredepressed. You have heard the legend of the Haunted Chapel, and whilesleeping within it you conjured up the heroine of the story in yourdream where she immediately took the form of incubus. "

"I!--the legend! What are you talking of, Lyon? I have heard the churchcalled the Haunted Chapel indeed, but I never even knew that there wasany story connected with it, " exclaimed Sybil, in surprise. 

"Really? Never heard the legend of 'Dubarry's Fall'?" inquired Mr. Berners, with equal surprise. 

"Never, upon my word. "

"Well, it is an old tradition; forgotten like the family with whom itwas connected. I heard it in my childhood; but it had slipped my memoryuntil your graphic description of the gipsy girl in the red cloakrecalled it to my mind, and led me to believe that your knowledge of thelegend had so impressed your imagination as to make it conjure up theheroine of the legend. "

"What is the legend? Do tell me, Lyon. "

"Not now, dearest. You must first have some coffee, which a faithfulfriend has provided for us. "

"Captain Pendleton?" eagerly inquired Sybil. 

"No, dear, our servant Joe. I do not expect to see Captain Pendletonuntil nightfall, " added Lyon Berners, for he tried to anticipate andprevent any troublesome questions that Sybil might ask, as he wished tosave her from needless additional pain as long as he possibly could. 

"And Joe is here with us?" inquired Sybil, cheerfully. 

"No, dear; he has returned home; but will come again to-night. "

"But what news did he bring?"

"None. We will hear from Captain Pendleton to-night. Now you must havesome coffee; and then I will tell you the 'Legend of the HauntedChapel'; for that legend, Sybil, may well account for your vision, whether we look on it from my point of view or from yours--as illusionor reality, " said Lyon Berners. 

"Or, stay, " he added, reflectively; "it is too cold for you to sup inthe open air. I will bring the things in here. "

"Well, let me go with you, to help to bring them in, at least, " pleadedSybil. 

"What! are you really afraid to stay here alone?" inquired Lyon, smiling, with an attempt at pleasantry. 

"No, indeed; but all smells mouldy inside this old church. At least itdoes since the sun set, and I would like to go out and get a breath offresh air, " replied Sybil, quite seriously. 

"Come, then, " said Lyon. 

They went out together. 

The fire that had been built by Joe was now burnt down to embers; butthe coffee-pot sat upon these embers, and the coffee was hot. 

Lyon Berners took it up, while Sybil loaded herself with crockery wareand cutlery. 

They had turned to go back to the church, when Sybil uttered ahalf-suppressed cry, and nearly dropped her burden. 

"What's the matter?" cried Mr. Berners. 

"Look!" exclaimed Sybil. 

"Where?"

"At the east window. "

Mr. Berners raised his eyes just in time to see a weird young face, withwild black hair, and a bright red mantle, flash downward from thewindow, as if it had dropped to the floor. 

There was no dream now; not even an optical illusion. The reality of thevision was unquestionable. 

"This is most strange, " exclaimed Mr. Berners. 

"It is the same face that bent over me, and woke me up, " answered Sybil, with a shudder. 

"It is some one who is concealed in the church, and whom we shall besure to discover, for there is but one exit, by the front door; and ifshe comes out of that, we shall see her; or if she remains in thebuilding, we shall be sure to find her there. Since I saw the face dropfrom the window, I have carefully watched the door. Do you also watchit, my dear Sybil; so that the creature, whatever it is, may not passus, " said Mr. Berners, as he strode on rapidly towards the church, followed by his wife. 

They entered together, and looked eagerly around. 

Though the sun had set some ten minutes before, yet the "after glow"shone in through the six tall gothic window spaces, and revealed clearlyevery nook and corner of the interior. Their strange inmate or visitor, whichever she might be, was nowhere to be seen. 

With an impatient gesture, Mr. Berners set down the coffee-pot, andhurried towards the door of the vault, and looked through the irongrating. But he could see nothing but the top of those stairs, thebottom of which disappeared in the darkness. 

He then shook the door; but it firmly resisted all his strength. Thebars appeared to be built into the solid masonry. 

"This is really confounding to all one's intelligence, " exclaimed LyonBerners, gazing around in perplexity. 

"It is, indeed. But it is well that you have seen this mystery with yourown eyes, for if you had not done so, you never would have believed init, " said Sybil, gravely shaking her head. 

"Nor do I believe in it, now that I have seen it. "

"Then you will not trust the united evidence of your own eyes and mine. "

"No, Sybil; not for a prodigy so out of nature as that would be, "replied Lyon Berners, firmly. 

"Well, then, tell me the legend of the Haunted Chapel, for you hintedthat that legend must have some connection with this apparition. "

"A seeming connection, at the very least; but I cannot tell it to younow--not until you take something to eat and drink, for you have notbroken your fast since morning. "

"Nor have I hungered since morning, " replied Sybil, with a sigh. 

Mr. Berners went up to the smouldering embers of the fire that he hadlighted in the morning on the stone floor of the church; and he drewtogether the dying brands, put fresh fuel on them, and soon rekindledthe flame. 

And the husband and wife sat down beside it; and while Sybil ate anddrank with what appetite she could bring to the repast, Lyon Berners, topass off the heavy time, related to her the legend of the HauntedChapel. 

 CHAPTER XXV. 

 THE FALL OF THE DUBARRYS. 

 But, soft! behold, lo, where it comes again! I'll cross it, though it blast me. --Stay, illusion! If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, Speak to me!--SHAKESPEARE. 

"The Dubarrys, " he began, "were a French Roman Catholic family ofdistinction. A cadet of that family came over to Virginia among theearliest English settlers of the colony. 

"As in the case of the more important among his anglican comrades, heobtained a very large tract of land by Royal patent. He built his hutand fixed his abode here, not a hundred yards from the spot where thischurch now stands. 

"He took an Indian girl for a wife, and continued to live a wildhuntsman sort of life in the wilderness; only breaking it sometimes bygoing down to Jamestown, twice a year, to buy such necessaries ofcivilized life as the wilderness could not furnish, and to hear newsfrom any ship that might have come in from the old country; and aboveall, to take a holiday among civilized pleasure-seekers--for suchexisted even in the primitive settlement of Jamestown. 

"In due course of time, a family of half-breed sons and daughters grewup around him, and the little primitive hut gave place to a substantialstone lodge. 

"And the country around was becoming settled. The Berners had got agrant of the Black Valley, and had built the first part of Black Hall, which has since been added to in every generation, until it has grown toits present dimensions. 

"About this time also, Charles Dubarry was inspired with a certainambition for his eldest son, a densely ignorant, half-Indian youth ofnineteen; and hearing that the two young sons of Richard Berners ofBlack Hall were to be sent to England to be educated, he proposed thathis own 'black boy, ' as he called his handsome dark-eyed heir, should gowith them. And as the three lads had been forest companions for someyears, the proposal of old Dubarry was gladly accepted, and the threeyoung men sailed in company for England. 

"They spent ten years in the old world, and returned, as as they had setout, together. It was after their return that the close friendship of ayoung lifetime was turned to the deadliest enmity. It happened in thismanner:

"The country, during their absence, had grown a great deal inpopulation. Every rich valley among these mountains had its whiteproprietor. In the Valley of the Roses--so named, because at the time itwas taken possession of by its first proprietor, it was fairly carpetedand festooned all around and about with the wild-rose vine--dwelt oneGabriel Mayo, a gentleman of fortune, taste, and culture. He had afamily of fair daughters, of whom old Charles Dubarry, with his nationalgallantry and proneness to exaggeration, had said, that 'they were allthe most beautiful girls in the world, and each one more beautiful thanall the others. '

"Be that as it may, it is certain that there were five lovely maidens, ranging from fifteen years to twenty-one, to choose from. Yet who canaccount for human caprice, especially in such matters? The three youngmen--Louis Dubarry, and John and William Berners--all fixed theiraffections upon Florette Mayo, the youngest beauty. 

"Fierce and bitter was the rivalry between the lovers. But the younggirl returned the love of John Berners, and married him, and became yourancestress, as you know, Sybil. 

"And from that time to the time of the extinction of the American branchof the Dubarry family, a feud, as fierce and bitter, if not as warlike, as any that ever raged between rival barons of the middle ages, prevailed between the Berners and the Dubarrys. 

"I come now to the period just before the breaking out of the Old FrenchWar, when the first rude stone lodges in these valleys had given placeto handsome and spacious manor houses, and when the then proprietor ofthe Dubarry estate had erected a magnificent dwelling on the site of hisfirst rough cottage. He called the mansion the Chateau Dubarry, a namewhich the country people quickly changed into Shut-up Dubarry. 

"The last name was not inappropriate, for a more morose, solitary, andmisanthropical man never lived than Henry Dubarry, the builder of thathouse. He neither visited nor received visits, but remained selfishly'shut-up' in the paradise of art and letters that he had created withinhis dwelling. 

"He had a wife, a son, and two daughters, all of whom suffered more orless from this isolation from their fellow-beings. So it was a greatrelief to the son when he was sent, first to the William and MaryCollege of Williamsburg for five years, and afterwards to Oxford forfive more. 

"After the departure of the son and brother, the mother and sisterssuffered more and more seriously from the gloom and horror of theirisolation, and in the course of years utterly succumbed to it. First themother died, then the elder sister; and then the younger sister, leftalone with her recluse father in that awful house, became a maniac. 

"Under these circumstances, the father wrote to his son to come home. But selfishness, not love, ruled that young man, as it had ruled hisfathers. He had graduated with honors, and won a 'fellowship' at theUniversity, and he was about to start for the fashionable European tour. He wrote home to this effect, and went on his farther way. 

"He remained abroad until summoned home by two events--the deaths of hisfather and sister, and the necessity of raising money for himself. 

"He came home, but not alone. He brought with him a gipsy girl ofsingular beauty, who seemed to be passionately attached to him, and whomhe loved as much as it was in his selfish nature to love anything. 

"He placed her at the head of his household, and his simple servantsobeyed her as their mistress; and his sociable neighbors, willing toforgive old rebuffs, called upon the young pair. 

"But their visits were not kindly received, and not in any casereturned. And the report went around the neighborhood, that PhilipDubarry was as morose and selfish as his father had been before him. Andso the house was abandoned, as it had been in the days of the old manand the idiot girl. 

"But by and by other rumors, darker and more dishonorable to the masterand mistress of Shut-up Dubarry, crept out among the people. Theserumors were started by the Dubarry servants, in their gossipping withother family servants in the chance meeting in church or village. Theywere to the effect that Philip Dubarry often quarrelled fiercely withhis gipsy wife, and even threatened to send her back to her nativecounty, and that Gentiliska, or Iska, as she was more commonly called, wept and raved and tore her black hair by turns. 

"It is the old sad tale, dear Sybil. At length the cultivated scholarand unprincipled villain grew tired of his beautiful but ignorant gipsywife, who was a wife only in justice and not in law. He frequently lefthome for long absences. He spent his winters in the cities, and hissummers in a round of visits to hospitable country houses, leaving herat all seasons to pine and weep, or rage and tear her hair in the gloomysolitude of Shut-up Dubarry. But for all this, whenever he didcondescend to visit his home, she received him with an eagerness ofwelcome--a perfect self-abandonment to joy, that knew no bounds. Andwhen he left her again, her despair was but the deeper, her anguish thefiercer. And all this was duly reported by that indefatigable corps ofreporters, the domestics of the house. 

"At last came the crisis. Philip Dubarry sent down an agent who openedthe doors of Shut-up Dubarry, and brought into it an army of workmen, torepair, refurnish and decorate the mansion-house. In vain Gentiliskaasked questions; the workmen either could not or would not give her anysatisfaction. 'It was the master's orders, ' they said, and nothing more. To no one in the world were 'the master's' orders more sacred than tohis loyal gipsy wife. She bowed in submission, and let the workmen dotheir will. All the summer season was occupied with the work. But by thefirst of October the house was thoroughly renewed, within and without, so that it seemed like a palace in the midst of Paradise; and the gipsywife wandered through the house and grounds in a delight that was onlydamped by the long-continued absence of her husband. 

"At length, near the middle of the month, at the height of the huntingseason, Philip Dubarry arrived. But the eager welcome of his wife wasmet with coldness and petulance, that wounded and enraged her. She gaveway to a storm of grief and fury. She wept and raved and tore her hair, as was her way when fiercely excited. But now he had not the leastpatience with her, or the least mercy on her. He had ceased to love herand to want her, and so, in acting out his selfish and demoniac nature, he did not hesitate to treat her with cruel scorn and ignominy. He toldher that she was not his wife, and never had been so. He called her illnames, and bade her pack up and go, he cared not where, so it was out ofhis sight, for he hated her; and out of his house also, for shedishonored it; and that, after being repaired and refurnished, it mustalso be purified of _her_ presence, before he could bring into it thefair maiden whom he was about to make his wife. 

"Then all her fury suddenly subsided, and she became calm and resoluteunto death. She assured him that she never would leave the house; thatshe was his wife, and the house's mistress; and she had the right toremain, and would remain. Whereupon he broke out into furious oaths, swearing that if she did not go, he would put her out by force. Then sheanswered, in these memorable words, that have come down to us intradition:

"'My body you may thrust forth from my home, but my spirit never! Livingor dead, in the flesh or the spirit, I will stay in this house as longas its walls shall stand! Nay, though you were to pull this house downto eject me, in the flesh or the spirit, I would enter in and possessthe next house you should build! And should you venture to bring here, or there, a bride to supplant me, in the flesh or the spirit I willblast and destroy her. So help me the gods of my people. '

"For a moment the ruthless and dauntless man stood appalled by the awfulspirit he had raised in that slight form. But when he did recoverhimself it was to fall into a transport of fury, in which he seized thegirl and hurled her violently through the open window. Fortunately theywere on the ground floor, so the fall was not great, and she was, besides, light in form and agile as a cat. She fell on her hands andfeet upon a thick carpet of the dead leaves that strewed the lawn. 

"For a moment she lay where she had fallen, breathless from the shock;then she lifted herself slowly up. One arm hung useless by her side; itwas dislocated at the shoulder joint; but the other was raised toheaven, and she muttered some words in her native tongue, and thenturned and walked away until she disappeared in the woods. 

"'I hope she'll drown herself according to rule, and there will be anend, ' the fiendish wretch was heard to mutter. No one was allowed tofollow her. She probably _did_ drown herself, but that was by no meansthe end. Well, the gipsy girl is said to have kept her word. 

"The third day thereafter, as a boy in search of eagle's eggs wasclimbing the highest fastnesses of the Black Mountain, his eyes wereattracted by the glow of something scarlet lying on a ledge of rocksabout half way down the course of the Black Torrent. Agile as anychamois hunter of the Alps, the boy let himself down, from point topoint, until he reached the ledge, upon which the dead body of the gipsygirl was found. It was crushed by the fall, and sodden by the white foamof the cascade that continually rolled over it. 

"The boy hastened away to spread the news. With the greatest difficultythe body was recovered, and conveyed to Shut-up Dubarry. The inquestthat sat upon it rendered the simple verdict, 'Found Dead'; for whetherthe death were accidental or suicidal, or whether it resulted from thefall upon the rocks, or from the waters of the cascade, the Dogberriesof that jury could not decide. 

"The gipsy girl was buried; and her brutal protector coarsely professedhimself to be greatly relieved by her death. And he assembled all hisservants before him, and forbade them, under the penalty of his heaviestdispleasure, ever to mention the name of Gentiliska to the lady he wasabout to bring home as his wife. These slaves knew their master, and ingreat fear and trembling they each and all solemnly promised to obeyhim. Then he left home for the eastern part of the State from which hewas to bring his bride. On this occasion he was gone a month. 

"It was in the middle of the month of November that he returned toShut-up Dubarry, bringing with him his fair young bride. She was aFairfax, from the county that was named after her family. She wasunquestionably a lady of the highest and purest order, and theneighboring gentry, ever pleased to welcome such an one among them, called on her, invited her to their houses, and gave dinner or supperparties in her honor. 

"Philip Dubarry, who had recently fretted at the galling 'ban' underwhich, for the transient love of the gipsy girl, he had voluntarilyplaced himself, now rejoiced at being delivered from it, and enteredwith all the zest of novelty into the social pleasures of the place. Heloved his beautiful and high-born wife with both passion and pride, andshe loved some imaginary hero in his form, and was happy in theillusion. Thus all went merry as a marriage bell until one dark anddismal day in December, when the rain fell in floods and the wind ravedaround the house, and the state of the weather kept the newly marriedcouple closely confined within doors, his bride turned to him, andinquired quietly:

"'Who is that little dark-haired girl with the piercing black eyes, andin the short red cloak, that I see so often around the house?'

"'What did you say?' inquired Philip Dubarry, in a quavering voice. 

"'Who is that little girl in the red cloak, who seems so much at home inthe house? Is she deaf and dumb? I speak to her, but she never answersme; generally indeed, she goes away as soon as she perceives that Inotice her. Who is she, Phil?' and the young wife looked at her husbandfor an answer. But his face was that of a corpse, and his form wasshaking with an ague fit, for the guilty are ever cowardly. 

"But his wife mistook the cause of his agitation. Forgotten in aninstant was the question she had asked, and upon which, she had placedno sort of importance; and she went to her husband and took his hand, and gazed into his face, and asked him, for Heaven's sake, to tell herwhat was the matter. 

"He told her a lie. He faltered out between his chattering teeth, thathe feared he was struck with a congestive chill; that the sudden andsevere change in the weather had affected him;--and more to the sameeffect. 

"She hurried out and prepared a hot drink of brandy, boiling water, andspices, and she brought it to him and made him drink it. 

"Under this powerful stimulant he revived. But she had, in the fear andexcitement of the hour, utterly forgotten the inquiry she had put tohim, and no more would have been said of it, had not he, in fearfulinterest, resumed the subject. 

"'You were asking me about--one of the servants, were you not?' heinquired. 

"'Oh, yes. But never mind! sit still, and keep your feet to the fireuntil you get warm. Never mind about gratifying my foolish curiositynow, ' she answered, thoughtfully. 

"'My chill is already gone, thanks to your skilful nursing! What chillcould resist your warm draughts? But now about your question. What wasit?'

"'Oh, nothing much! I only asked you who was the little girl with thered cloak, who is so silent and shy that she never answers me when Ispeak to her, and always shrinks away whenever she finds herselfobserved. '

"The trembling wretch was ready with his falsehood. He answered:

"'Oh! she is the child of a poor couple on the mountain, and comes tothe house for cold victuals; but she is as you have observed, very shy;so I think you had better leave her to herself. '

"'Yes, but are you sure she is to be trusted? For shy as she is inother matters, she is bold enough to intrude into the most private partsof the house, and at the most untimely hours of the night, ' remarked thelady. 

"'Indeed!' muttered the guilty man, in a sepulchral tone. 

"'Indeed and indeed! Why, only last night, when we came home atmidnight, from Mrs. Judge Mayo's ball, when you lingered below stairs tospeak to the butler, and I ran up into my own room alone, I saw thisstrange looking little creature, with the streaming black hair and thered cloak, standing before my dressing-glass! Now what do you think ofthat?'

"'She--she--she has been a sort of a pet of the family, and has had therun of the house, coming in and out of all the rooms at all hours, likeany little dog, ' answered the conscious criminal, in a quavering voice. 

"'_That_ must be reformed at once!' said the Fairfax bride, drawingherself up with much dignity, and also perhaps with some jealoussuspicion. 

"'It shall, by my soul! I will give orders to that effect, ' quaveredPhilip Dubarry. 

"'Nay, do not take that trouble. It is _my_ prerogative to order myhousehold, and I shall do it, ' proudly answered the lady. 

"And here the matter might have ended, but for that interest PhilipDubarry felt in the subject. He remembered the most awful threat of hisbetrayed gipsy wife: 'In the flesh or in the spirit, to dwell in thehouse as long as its walls should stand! In the flesh or in the spirit, to blast and destroy the bride he should bring there to take her place. 'Up to this time he had never had any reason to suppose that the gipsygirl had kept her word. He had never seen nor heard of anything unusualabout the house. But now when his wife spoke of this silent inmate inthe red cloak, he recognized the portrait all but too well, and hisguilty soul quaked with fear. And yet he was not superstitious. He was ason of the eighteenth century, which was much more incredulous of thesupernatural than the nineteenth, with all its mysterious spiritualmanifestations, can be. He was a scientific and practical man. Yet heshuddered with awe as he listened to the description given by hisunconscious wife of this strange visitant. And he could not forbear toquestion her. 

"'Did you speak to the girl when you found her in your room atmidnight?' he inquired. 

"'Yes, certainly; I asked her how she came to be there so late. Butinstead of answering my question, she glided silently away. '

"'Have you spoken to any of the servants of this girl's intrusion intoparts of the house where she has no business to come?'

"'No, not until this morning; for I never really felt interest enough inthe little creature that I only casually met in the passages of thehouse, until I found her in my bedroom at midnight. So this morning Idescribed her to the housekeeper, and asked who she was, and who gaveher liberty to intrude into my bedroom so late. And what do you thinkold Monica answered?'

"'I'm sure I don't know. '

"'She crossed herself, and cried out, 'Lord have mercy on all our souls!You have seen her!' I inquired, 'Seen who?' But she answered, 'Nothing. Nobody. I don't know what I'm talking about. My head's wool-gathering, I believe. ' Nor could any further questioning of mine draw from her anymore satisfactory answer. And so I came to you for an explanation. Andyou tell me that she is Milly Jones, the child of poor parents, livingon the mountain, and that she comes here for broken victuals and oldclothes. Very well. In future I shall pension the poor family on themountain, for I would not have any fellow-creature in my reach to sufferwant; but I shall do it on condition that Miss Milly Jones stays home, and helps her mother with the family cooking and washing, instead oflosing her time by day and her sleep by night in wandering through allthe rooms of a gentleman's house, and taking possession of a lady'sbed-chamber. '

"You see this bride never imagined a ghost, but strongly suspected asweetheart, and so she was a little surprised when her husband answered:

"'Do so, my dear; and may Heaven grant that you may get rid of thisunpleasant visitor at once and forever. '

"And as he said this, Philip Dubarry arose and went into his library andrung the bell, and to the servant who answered it, he said:

"'Send Monica the housekeeper here. '

"In a few minutes Monica entered the room. 

"'Did I not order you, on pain of my heaviest displeasure, never toannoy Mrs. Dubarry by so much as the mention of the gipsy girl's name toher?' sternly demanded Philip Dubarry. 

"The old woman fell down upon her knees, and lifted up both her hands, and exclaimed:

"'And no more I haven't, master, not once! But that don't do no good, for _she walks_!'

"'Who walks, you old fool?'

"'_She_, the gipsy girl, master. _She walks_, and the missis sees her aswell as we do!'

"'We? Whom do you call "we, " you insupportable idiot?'

"'Me and Ben the man-servant, and Betty the chambermaid, and Peggy theparlormaid. All sees her, master. We never, none of us, see her beforethe missis was brought home; but ever since that, we sees her every day;we sees just as much of her as we used to see when she was alive!'answered the woman, grovelling and weeping. 

"'_Where_ do you see her, or fancy you see her, lunatic?' fiercelydemanded Philip Dubarry. 

"'Everywhere, master! We meets her on the stairs; we sees her sitting atthe head of the table, as soon as the meal is ready, and before themistress comes to take the place; and we sees her lying in the unmadebeds of a morning; but always, as soon as we screams, as scream we must, at such an object, master, she vanishes away!' answered the housekeeper. 

"Philip Dubarry was awed and almost silenced, --_almost_, but not quite, for he was the very sort of hero to browbeat others the most fiercelywhen he was himself the most frightened. He rallied himself. 

"'Look you here!' he furiously exclaimed; 'all this that you have justtold me is the most wicked and abominable falsehood and absurdity! Andnow take notice! IF EVER I hear of one more word being uttered on thissubject in this house, or out of it, by any one of you, under anycircumstances whatever, by my blood, I will make you all wish that youhad never been born! Repeat this to your fellow-servants', and orderthem from me to govern their tongues accordingly. Now go!' he thunderedat the poor old woman, who hastily picked herself up, and hurried out ofthe room. "

 CHAPTER XXVI. 

 THE SPECTRE. 

 It was about to speak And then it started like a guilty thing. Upon a fearful summons. --SHAKESPEARE. 

"Philip Dubarry remained walking up and down the door, foaming withimpotent rage, as well as trembling with a vague and awful terror. Hehad a practical and scientific mind, and could understand everythingthat might be governed by known laws. But he could not understand thisunwelcome visitant, that had appeared to every one else in the house buthimself. He was an arbitrary and despotic man who enforced his will uponall connected with him, and ruled all flesh with a rod of iron. But hecould not rule the spirit, and he knew it. He could not lay this ghostof his guilt. 

"There was one grain of truth in the ton of falsehood that he had toldto his unconscious wife, to account for the apparition seen by her. There really was a Milly Jones, the daughter of a poor family on themountains, and she really did come occasionally to the house to ask forbroken victuals and old clothes; but instead of being a beautifulblack-eyed and black-haired little gipsy, in the picturesque red cloak, she was a pale-faced, light-haired, poor-spirited looking creature, in afaded calico frock, and an old plaid shawl; and instead of being thefamily pet, with the run of the house, she was the family nuisance, strictly prohibited from passing the bounds of the servants' hall. 

"So when that day, being a rainy day, and therefore highly favorable forattention to domestic matters, Mistress Alicia Dubarry called thehouse-steward to her presence, and ordered him to send a small pensionof two dollars a week to the Jones family, with an intimation that MissMilly need not come to collect it, the order was promptly executed, tothe satisfaction of all the domestics; and poor Milly, glad to berelieved from her fatiguing journey and degrading mendicity, was seen nomore at Shut-up Dubarry. 

"But Mrs. Dubarry did not therefore get rid of her visitor. Not morethan three days had elapsed since the issuing of her order, when, oneevening between the lights, she entered her own bedroom, and saw thegirl in the red cloak sitting quietly in the easy-chair beside the fire. 

"'How dare you come here, after the message I sent you? Get up andbegone, and let me never catch you here again, ' angrily demanded thelady. 

"The apparition melted into air; but as it disappeared, the words came, like a sigh borne upon the breeze:

"'_I wait. _'

"The lady was about to dress for an evening party, and so she paid noattention to any chance sound. 

"But the next morning she met the girl in the hall, and the next eveningin the parlor; again she passed the figure on the stairs, or encounteredit in the drawing-room. The lady lost patience, and sent for thehouse-steward in her presence. 

"'Did I not command that that girl should not come here again?' shesternly demanded. 

"'Yes, my lady, ' respectfully answered the man. 

"'Then how is it that she comes here as much as ever?'

"'My dear lady, she have never entered the house since your ladyshipgave the order that she was not so to do. '

"'But she has. I have seen her here at least a half a dozen times. '

"'Dear lady, I dare not contradict you; but poor Milly Jones has beendown with the pleurisy for these two weeks past, and could not have gotout of her bed, even if your ladyship had ordered her to come. '

"'Isaac, is this true?'

"'True as truth, your ladyship, which you can find it out for yourselfby riding up to the hut and seeing the poor girl, which it would be acharity so to do. '

"'And you say she has not been here for a fortnight?'

"'No, madam. '

"'Then, in the name of Heaven, _who_ is it that I meet so often?' slowlyand sternly demanded Mrs. Dubarry. 

"Old Isaac solemnly shook his gray head, and answered never a word. 

"'What do you mean by that? Speak! I will have an answer. Who is thissilent girl in the red cloak, I ask?' repeated the lady. 

"'Madam, I don't know. And that is what I meant when I shook my head, 'replied the old man, trembling. 

"'You don't know! do you dare to mock me?'

"'Far from it, my lady; but goodness knows I don't know. '

"'But you have seen her?'

"'Dear, my lady, I don't know who she is, nor dare I speak of her; themaster has forbidden us so to do. Dear madam, ask the master; but oh, for pity sake, do not ask me further, ' pleaded the old man, very humbly. 

"The lady turned white with jealousy. There was but one interpretationshe could put upon this mystery. 

"'Go and say to your master that I would feel much obliged if he wouldcome to me here, ' she said, grimly seating herself. 

"The trembling old man went to the kennels, where Mr. Dubarry was busydoctoring a favorite setter, and delivered his message. Dubarry wasstill enough in love with his three months wife to come quickly at hercall. 

"'Philip!' exclaimed the lady, as soon as she saw him enter the room, 'once for all, I wish to know who is this girl in the red cloak; and whyI am daily insulted with her presence in this house?'

"Dubarry went pale, as usual at the mention of the apparition; but hefaltered out with what composure he could command:

"'I--I told you who she is--Milly Jones. '

"'No; begging your pardon, she is _not_ Milly Jones. Milly Jones hasbeen ill with pleurisy, at home on the mountain, for the last two weeks;and I have sent her a pension of two dollars a week. No; this is noMilly Jones, and I insist on knowing who she is!'

"'Then, if she is not Milly Jones, she is a creature of your ownimagination, for no other living girl comes to the house, ' answeredDubarry doggedly. 

"'You will not tell me who she is? Very well. When next I see her, _she_shall tell me, silent as she is, ' said the lady grimly setting herteeth. 

"Dubarry arose with a sigh, and went back to his ailing setter; but histhoughts brooded over the subject of the apparition. 

"The lady kept her word at a fearful cost. For the remainder of the day, her conduct towards her husband was so cold and repelling as to woundand offend him. So it happened that when the hour for retiring came thatnight, she went up to her chamber alone. She had but time to reach theroom, when all the household was startled by a piercing shriek and aheavy fall. 

"Mr. Dubarry, soon followed by all the servants, rushed up stairs toMrs. Dubarry's bedroom. They found the lady extended on the floor, in adeep swoon. She was raised and laid upon the bed, and proper means takento revive her. When at length she opened her eyes, and recognized herhusband, she signed for every one else to leave the room; and when theyhad done so, she turned and took his hand and kissed it, and fixed herwild and frightened eyes upon him and whispered in an awe-struck tone:

"'Phil, dear, I wronged you. I took that creature in the red cloak to bea sweetheart of yours, Phil, but it was not; it was--_a spectre_!'

"There was silence between them for a minute, during which she nevertook her scared eyes from his pale face. He was the first to speak. Summoning up as much resolution as he could muster, he affected a lightlaugh, and answered:

"'Spectre! My sweet wife, there is no such thing. '

"'Ah, but--but--if you could have seen what I saw, _felt what I felt_!'

"'Nonsense, dear one. You were the subject of an optical illusion. '

"'No, I was not. Hush! Let me tell you what happened. I came up intothis room. It was warm and ruddy with the fire light and the lamp light;and in the glow I saw the girl standing between the hearth and the bed. I spoke to her, asking her how she dared intrude into my most sacredprivacy; and then she silently glided from the spot. But I told her sheshould not leave the room until she had given some account of herself. And I put forth my hand to stop her, but the moment I did so I receiveda shock as from some powerful galvanic battery! a tremendous shock thatthrew me down upon my face. I knew no more until I came to my senses andfound myself here, with you watching over me. Now, Philip, tell me thatwas an optical illusion, if you dare, ' said the lady, solemnly. 

"'Yes, love, I dare. I tell you that what you saw _was_ an opticalillusion. '

"'--But what I felt?'

"'--Was a slight--a very slight attack of catalepsy. Both the vision andthe fit, dear, took their rise in some abnormal state of the nervoussystem, ' said Philip Dubarry; and feeling almost pleased with his ownexplanation of the mystery, he tried to persuade himself that it was thetrue one. "

"But his wife turned her face to the wall, saying, however. 

"'Well, at any rate, I am glad that the girl in the red cloak is notflesh and blood, Phil. I would rather she should be an 'opticalillusion' or a fit of 'catalepsy, ' or even a 'spectre, ' than asweetheart of yours, as I first took, her to be. 

"'Be not afraid. You have no living rival, Alicia, ' answered her husband. 

"And the reconciliation between the husband and the wife was completefrom that time forth. 

"But somehow the condition of the lady was worse than before. 

"_She was haunted_. 

"She knew herself to be haunted; but whether by a spectral illusion or areal spectre, she could not know. In the glow of the fire light, in theshadow of the bed-curtains in the illuminated drawing-room, on the darkstaircase, wherever and whenever she found herself alone, the vision ofthe girl in the red cloak crossed her path. She did not speak to it, ortry to stop it again. She did not wish to risk another such an electricshock as should 'cast her shuddering on her face. ' But her health wastedunder the trial. Her nerves failed. She grew fearful of being left alonefor an instant; nothing would induce her to go into any room in thehouse without an attendant. She contracted a habit of looking fearfullyover her shoulder, and sometimes suddenly screaming. 

"Nor was the mistress of the house the only sufferer from this 'abnormalstate of the nervous system, ' as the master of the house preferred tocall the mystery. The servants grew so much afraid to move about thebuilding alone, that their usefulness was much impaired. And at lengthone after another ran away, and took to the woods and mountain caves, preferring to starve or beg rather than live in luxury in the hauntedhouse. New servants were procured to supply the places of the old ones, until the latter could be brought back; but none of them stayed long;nothing could induce them to remain in the 'haunted house. ' The story ofthe gipsy girl's ghost got around in the neighborhood. Not all thedespotic power of Mr. Dubarry could prevent this. The house came to bepointed out and avoided by the ignorant and superstitious, as a hauntedand accursed spot. Even the more intelligent and enlightened portion ofthe community gradually forsook it; for it was not very agreeable tovisit a family where the mistress was so full of 'flaws and starts'that, even at the head of her own table, she would often startle thewhole company by suddenly looking over her right shoulder and uttering apiercing scream. 

"And so the house was abandoned by high and low, rich and poor alike. And the worthy gossips of the neighborhood wisely nodded over theirtea-cups, and declared that the deserted condition of the house was buta just retribution for the sins of its master. 

"And in the meantime the health of the mistress grew worse and worse. The most serious fears were entertained for her life and reason, deathor insanity seeming to be the most probable issue of her malady. Medicaladvice was called in. The doctor, either in complaisance or sincerity, agreed with Mr. Dubarry's theory of the patient's condition, ascribingher illness to an 'abnormal state of the nervous system, ' and he advisedchange of air and scene, and he held forth good hopes that within a veryfew months, when the young wife should become a mother, her health mightbe perfectly reëstablished. 

"Under these circumstances, early in the new year, Mr. Dubarry took hiswife to Williamsburg, to spend the winter among the gayeties of thecolonial Governor's court. 

"The haunted house was shut up, and left to itself. Not a man or womancould be found to live in it, for love or money. 

"In the glories of the colonial capital, Mrs. Dubarry completelyrecovered from her nervous malady. She was visited by no more 'opticalillusions' or 'cataleptic' fits. She even grew to regard her formervisitations in the same way in which her husband pretended to viewthem--as mere nervous phenomena. And as the fashionable season atWilliamsburg closed, and as the spring opened, Mrs. Dubarry expressed anardent desire to return to 'Shut-up Dubarry' for her confinement. 'Theheir of the manor should be born on the manor, ' she said. 

"Mr. Dubarry had great doubts about the safety of this measure, andattempted to dissuade his wife from it; but she was firm in her purpose, and so she carried it. 

"It was early in the royal month of June that the young wife was takenback to her country home. Shut-up Dubarry looked as little like a'haunted house' as any house could look: waving woods, sparkling waters, blossoming trees, blooming flowers, singing birds--all the richness, beauty and splendor of summer turned it into a paradise. Besides, Mrs. Dubarry brought down half a dozen young cousins of both sexes with her, and they filled the house with youthful life. Under these circumstances, the old servants were tempted back. And all went on very well until oneday one of the young girls suddenly spoke out at the fullbreakfast-table, and asked:

"'Alicia, who is that strange, silent girl, in the red cloak, that isalways following you about?'

"Mrs. Dubarry grew deadly pale, sat down the cup that she had held inher hand, but she did not attempt to speak. 

"'Have I said anything wrong? I did not mean to do so. I am sure I begpardon, if I have, ' faltered the young cousin, looking from the paleface of Mrs. Dubarry to the troubled countenance of Mr. Dubarry. 

"'I am very sorry if I have said anything wrong, ' repeated the littlecousin, in dismay. 

"'No, no, you have said nothing amiss; but it is a very painful subject;let us drop it, ' replied Mr. Dubarry rather inconsistently. And everyone around the table silently wondered what the matter could be. 

"When breakfast was over, and the husband and wife found themselvesalone together, Mrs. Dubarry seized his arm, and whispered:

"'Oh, Philip! the spectre has not gone!'

"'My dearest Alicia! you have not fancied that you have seen itlately?'

"'No, no; but _she_ has seen it! Kitty has seen it _always followingme_! She took it for a real girl, as I did at first!'

"What could Philip Dubarry say to all this? Only one thing:

"'My darling, I cannot have your nerves shaken in this manner. You hadno such visitations as these while we stayed at Williamsburg. And so toWilliamsburg we will return immediately. Tell your maid to pack up thisafternoon, and we will set out to-morrow. No objections, Alicia! for Itell you we must go. '

"She saw that his resolution was fixed, and she made no opposition toit. She rang for her maid, and gave the necessary directions. And then, feeling very unwell, she sent down an excuse to her company, and retiredto bed. 

"At twelve o'clock that night, while the young people were enjoyingthemselves in some round game in the drawing-room, and Mr. Dubarry wasdoing all that he could to promote their entertainment, the whole partywas startled by a terrific cry coming from Mrs. Dubarry's chamber. Allpaused for a breathless instant, and then rushed tumultuously up thestairs. At the door of the bed-chamber, Mr. Dubarry turned around andwaved them all back. Then he entered the chamber alone. All seemed quietthere then. The moonlight came flickering through the vine leaves on theoutside of the open window, and fell fitfully upon the face and form ofAlicia Dubarry, who was sitting up in bed, staring straight before her. 

"Mr. Dubarry locked the door before he approached the bed. 

"'Alicia, ' he said, 'my dear Alicia, what is the matter?'

"'It is doom! It is doom!' she answered in an awful voice, withoutremoving her eyes from some object between the foot of the bed and themoonlit window. 

"'Compose yourself, dear wife, and tell me what has happened. '

"'Look! Look! for yourself!' she cried, her finger extended, andfollowing the direction of her eyes. 

"'My sweet Alicia, there is nothing there but the tremulous shadow ofthe vine leaves cast by the moonlight, ' said Mr. Dubarry, persuasively, as he went and drew the curtain before the window, and then struck amatch and lighted a lamp. 

"But her eyes were never removed from the spot where she had gazed. 

"'It is there yet!' she cried. 

"'What is there, good Alicia? there is nothing there, indeed!'

"'Yes, the dead woman and dead child! Do you not see them?'

"'See! no! you are in one of your nervous attacks; but to-morrow we willleave this place, and you will have no more of them. '

"'Hush! No! I shall never leave this place again. '

"'You shall start by sunrise to-morrow. '

"'Hush! listen! I will tell you what happened. I was sleeping well, verywell, when suddenly I was awakened with a tremendous shock. I started upin bed and saw _her_--the terrible girl! She was standing at the foot ofthe bed looking at me, and pointing to something that lay upon thefloor. I looked and saw--there it is yet!--the dead woman, with the deadbabe on her bosom! I shrieked aloud, for I knew the woman was myself, and the babe was my own! And as I shrieked, she vanished, as she alwaysdoes; but the dead woman and child remained! And there they are yet! Oh!cover them over, Philip! cover them over! Cover them from my sight, forI have no power to withdraw my eyes from them, ' she exclaimed in wildexcitement. 

"Almost beside himself with distress, Philip Dubarry seized a largetable cover and threw it down over the spot upon which her eyes werefixed. 

"'Ah! it is of no use! it is of no use! I see them still! they riseabove the covering! they lie upon it!' she cried, in terrific emotion, shaking as if with an ague fit. 

"'Lie down, ' said Philip Dubarry, compelling himself to be calm, for thesake of trying to calm her. And he took her and laid her back upon thepillow. But still she raved, like one in high fever and delirium. 

"'I have received my sentence! I am doomed! I am doomed! I have seen myown corpse, and the corpse of my child!' she cried. And then a violentconvulsion seized her. 

"Nearly maddened by terror and despair, Philip Dubarry rushed from theroom and loudly called for assistance. The chamber was soon filled withthe members of the household, not one of whom knew what to do, until theentrance of the old housekeeper, who sent everybody out, and requestedMr. Dubarry to dispatch a carriage for the family physician. 

"Before morning the doctor arrived. But the convulsions and the deliriumof the lady increased in violence until just at the dawn of day, whenshe gave birth to an infant boy, who breathed and died. 

"Then, just before her own death, she recovered her senses and grew verycalm. She asked to see her child. When the nurse brought it, she kissedits cold face, and bade her lay it by her side. Then the lady called herhusband, and whispered so faintly that he had to lean his ear to herlips to hear her words. She said:

"'The vision is realized in the dead mother and the dead babe! But, Philip! _for whose sin do we die?_'

"Before he could make a reply, if any reply had been possible, she wasgone. 

"The mother and babe were buried together. The company at Shut-upDubarry broke up in the greatest consternation. The story of the vision, real or imaginary, that had caused the lady's death, got out. All theneighborhood talked of it, and connected it with the fate of the hardlyused gipsy girl, whose spirit was said to haunt the house. 

"Mr. Dubarry became a prey to the most poignant grief and remorse. Heshut himself up in his desolate house, where he was abandoned by all hisneighbors, and by all his servants, with the exception of the oldhousekeeper and house-steward, whose devotion to the family they hadserved so long, retained them still in the service of its last and mostunhappy representative. 

"But awful stories crept out from that house of gloom. 'Twas said thatthe master was always followed by the spectre of the gipsy girl--that hecould be heard in the dead of night walking up and down the hall outsideof his chamber door, raving in frenzy, or expostulating with someunknown and unseen being, who was said to be the spectre that hauntedthe house. 

"At length, unable to endure the misery of solitude and superstitiousterrors, Mr. Dubarry took an aged Catholic priest to share his home. Under the influence of Father Ingleman, Philip Dubarry became a penitentand a devotee. At that time this church was but a rude chapel, erectedover the old family vault. But now, by the advice of the old priest, Mr. Dubarry rebuilt and enlarged the chapel, for the accommodation of allthe Catholics in the neighborhood. He also added a priest's house. AndFather Ingleman said mass every Sunday, while waiting for another priestto be appointed to the charge. 

"This rebuilding and remodelling amused the miserable master of themanor, during the latter part of the summer and the autumn following hiswife's death. But with the coming of the winter, returned all his gloomand horror. And the good old priest, so far from being able to help hispatron, was himself so much affected in health and spirits by thiscondition of the house, that he begged and obtained leave to retire tothe little dwelling beside the church. 

"The awful winter passed away. 

"But on one stormy night in March, the mansion house took fire. It wassaid that the haunted master of the house, in a fit of desperation, actually set it on fire, with the purpose of burning out the ghost. Atall events, it seems certain that he would permit nothing to be done tostop the flames. 

"The house was burned to the ground. The houseless master took refugewith Father Ingleman, in the priest's dwelling by the church. But therealso the spectre followed him, nor could all the exorcisms of FatherIngleman with 'candle, bell, and book, ' avail to lay the disturbedspirit. 

"Philip Dubarry, half a maniac by this time, sent away the priest, pulled down the priest's house, and took up his abode in the body of thechurch itself, which was thenceforward deserted by all others. But herealso the spectre was supposed to have followed him. At length hedisappeared. No one knew whither he went. Some said that he had gatheredtogether his money and departed for a foreign country; others, that hehad drowned himself in the Black River, though his body never was found. Some said that he had cast himself down headlong from some mountaincrest, and his bones were bleaching in some inaccessible ravine; whileothers, again, did not hesitate to say that the devil had flown awaywith him bodily. 

"The fate of the last of the Dubarrys is unknown. The estate, unclaimed, is held in abeyance. The house, burned to the ground, has never beenrestored. The church, thereafter known as the Haunted Chapel, hascrumbled into the ruin that you see. And such, dear Sybil, is the storyof the 'Fall of the Dubarrys. '"

 CHAPTER XXVII. 

 FEARFUL WAITING. 

 Still the wood is dim and lonely, Still the plashing fountains play, But the past with all its beauty, Whither has it fled away? Hark! the mournful echoes say, Fled away!--A. A. PROCTOR. 

"And the apparition that we both saw was like that of the gipsy girl inthe ghostly legend, " said Sybil, musingly. 

"Yes; in the matter of the red cloak--a very common garment, dear Sybil. Such a resemblance reminds us of Paganini's portrait which the childsaid was like him, 'about the fiddle, '" replied Lyon Berners, with aneffort towards pleasantry, which was very far indeed from his heart; forhe was oppressed with grief and dread. He was anxiously looking forwardto the arrival of Captain Pendleton; and fearing for the effect hisdisclosures must have upon his beloved Sybil, who seemed still soutterly unable to realize her position. She seemed almost satisfied now, so that Lyon was near her, and she was the only object of his care. Sodisengaged was her mind, at this hour, from all real appreciation of hersituation, that she had leisure to feel interested in the tale that Lyonhad told her. She again reverted to it. 

"But the likeness was not only in the red cloak, it was in the wholegipsy style. I spoke of that, even before you had told me anything aboutthe gipsy girl, " persisted Sybil. 

Before Lyon could answer her, steps were heard approaching. 

"There is Pendleton, " exclaimed Mr. Berners, and he arose and hurriedforward to meet the visitor. 

"Hush! come out here a moment, " he whispered, drawing Captain Pendletonoutside the chapel. "Sybil knows nothing of that verdict as yet. I wishto keep it from her knowledge as long as possible--for ever, ifpossible. So if you have any more bad news to tell, tell it now, andhere, to me, " he added. 

"Berners, " began the Captain--but then he paused in pity. 

"Go on, " said Lyon. 

"My friend, the flight of your wife and yourself if not absolutelyascertained, is strongly suspected. An officer watches your closedchamber door. Two others have been dispatched to Blackville, to watchthe ferry. By to-morrow morning the flight, so strongly suspected now, will be fully discovered. This is all I have to say in private. And now, perhaps we had better not linger any longer here, lest Mrs. Berners maysuspect something, if possible, even more alarming than the truth, " saidCaptain Pendleton. 

"You are quite right, " admitted Lyon Berners, and they entered thechapel together. 

Sybil sprang up to meet them. 

"What news, Captain? Is the murderer discovered? May we return home?"she eagerly inquired. 

"No, madam; the murderer has not yet been discovered, nor do I think itwould be prudent in you yet to return home, " replied the Captain, feeling relieved that her questions had taken forms that enabled him toreply truly to them without divulging the alarming intelligence of theverdict of the coroner's jury. 

He unstrapped a portmanteau from his shoulders and threw it down nearthe fire, and seated himself upon it. Then turning to Mr. Berners, hesaid:

"I have made arrangements with your faithful Joe to bring certainnecessaries to this place to-night. They cannot, you know, be brought tothis spot by the same direct route that we took in coming here. But assoon as the moon goes down, which will be about one o'clock, Joe willlaunch a boat just below Black Hall and come across the river with allthat is most needed. There he will find a cart and horse waiting forhim. He will load the cart and drive it up here to the entrance of thethicket. "

"But that cart, Pendleton?"

"Yes! you will wonder how I got it there without exciting suspicion. Itwas done in this way. I ordered Joe to bring it boldly up in front ofthe house, and to put in it the boxes containing my own and my sister'smasquerade dresses, and to take them over to our place. Joe understoodand obeyed me, and drove the cart to Blackville, and crossed the riverat the ferry, under the very eyes of the constable stationed there towatch. He brought the cart down this bank, and left it concealed in aclearing of the wood. He will watch his opportunity, as soon as it isdark enough to swim across the river, and launch the boat and fill itwith the necessaries that he will secretly obtain from Black Hall. It isa business that will require considerable tact and discretion; or atleast, great secretiveness and cautiousness, " added Captain Pendleton. 

"And these, Joe, like all his race, possesses in excess, " observed LyonBerners. 

"Are the guests all gone away from the house?" inquired Sybil. 

"Nearly all. My sister remains there for the present to watch yourinterests, Mrs. Berners. The old Judge also, to superintend legalprocesses; but even he will go away in the morning, I think. "

While they spoke, a loud sneeze and then a cough was heard outside, andthen Joe walked in, with a doubled up mattress on his head. 

"This here is moving under difficulties, Master, " he panted, as he laidthe mattress down on the stone floor. 

"How ever did you get that along the narrow path through the thicket, Joe?" inquired Sybil. 

"You may well ax that, Missis. I had to lay it down endways, and dragit. Howsever, I has got all the things through the worst part of the waynow, and they's all out in the church-yard, " answered Joe, recoveringhis breath, and starting for the remaining goods. 

He soon returned, bringing in a small assortment of bedding, clothing, and so forth. And in another trip he brought in a small supply of foodand a few cooking utensils. 

"That's all. And now, Miss Sybil, if you would only let me live herealong o' you and Marse Lyon, and wait on to you bofe, I could makemyself very much satisfied into my own mind, " he said, as he laid downthe last articles, and stood to rest himself. 

"But you know, Joe, that you can serve us better by remaining at BlackHall, " said Sybil, kindly. 

"Now, Marser Capping Pendulum, I hope them there fineries in the boxes, as you told me to bring away, for a blind from our place, won't take noharm along of being left out in the woods all night, for it was thereunderneaf of a pile of leaves and bushes as I was obligated for to leavethem. "

"They'll not take cold, at all events, Joe, " said Captain Pendleton, good-naturedly. 

By this time, the fire on the stone floor had become so low that it wasquite dark in the chapel. But among the little necessities of lifebrought by Joe, was a small silver candlestick and a few slim waxcandles. One of these was lighted, and gleamed faintly around, strikingstrangely upon the faces of the group gathered near the smoulderingfire. 

The friends sat and talked together, and arranged as far as they couldtheir plans for future movements. It was not until near day that CaptainPendleton arose to depart, saying:

"Well, Berners, I do dislike to leave you and Mrs. Berners here aloneagain, especially as I fear that you will not go to sleep, as you oughtto do. I see that Mrs. Berners' eyes are still wide open--"

"I slept so long in the afternoon, " put in Sybil. 

"But, at all events, I am forced to leave you before light. It is notquite safe now to be seen in open daylight, travelling this road sooften. To-night I will come again, and bring you further news, andperhaps more comfort. Come, Joe. "

Joe, who had fallen asleep over the fire, now slowly woke up and liftedhimself from the floor. 

The Captain shook hands with his friends, and followed by Joe, left theChapel. 

Sybil then went and spread out the mattress, and put the pillows andcovering upon it, and persuaded Lyon to lie down and try to sleep, as hehad not slept for two nights past. She said that she herself could notsleep, but that she would sit close by him, so as to be ready to arousehim, on the slightest indication of danger. 

Very reluctantly he yielded to her pleadings, and stretched himself uponthe mattress. She went and gathered the smouldering coals and brandstogether, so that the fire might not go entirely out, and then shereturned and sat down beside her husband. 

He took her hand in his, and clasping it protectingly, he closed hiseyes and fell asleep. 

She sat watching the little fire, and brooding almost to insanity overthe strange revolution that a few hours had made in her life, drivingher so suddenly from her own hereditary manor-house, her home of wealthand honor and safety, out into the perilous wilderness, a fugitive fromthe law. 

Yet not once did Sybil's imagination take in the extreme horror of herposition. She thought that she had been brought away by her husband tobe saved from the affront of an arrest, and the humiliation of a fewdays imprisonment. That anything worse than this could happen to her, she never even dreamed. But even this to the pure, proud Sybil wouldhave been almost insupportable mortification and misery. To escape allthis she was almost willing to incur the charge of having fled fromjustice, and to endure the hardships of a fugitive's life. 

And oh! through all there was one consolation so great, that it wasenough to compensate for all the wretchedness of her position. She wasassured of her husband's love, beyond all possibility of future doubt. He was by her side, never to leave her more!

This was enough! She closed her hand around the beloved hand that heldhers, and felt a strange peace and joy, even in the midst of her exileand danger. 

Perhaps in this stillness she slumbered a while, for when she lifted herhead, the chapel, that had been dark before, but for the gleaming of thelittle fire, was now dimly filled with the gray light of dawn. 

She saw the shapes of the pointed windows against the background ofheavy shadows and pale lights, and she knew that day was coming. She didnot stir from the spot, lest she should wake her husband, whose handheld hers. All was still in the chapel, so still that even the faintsweet sounds of wakening nature could be heard--the stirring of thepartridge in her cover, the creeping of the squirrel from her hole, themurmur of the little brook, the rustle of the leaves, and, farther off, the deep thunder of the cascade, and the detonating echoes of themountains. 

Sybil sat motionless, and almost breathless, lest she should disturb herbeloved sleeper. But the next moment she could scarcely forbearscreaming aloud; for there passed along the wall before her a figurethat, even in the dim light, she recognized as the strange visitant ofthe preceding day. It came from the direction of the altar, and glidedpast each of the four windows and vanished through the door. When Sybilhad repressed her first impulse to scream, self-control was easy, so shesat quietly holding her husband's hand, though much amazed by what shehad again seen. 

Day broadened, and soon the rays of the rising sun, striking through theeast windows, and lighting on the face of the sleeper, awoke him. 

He looked into the face of his wife, and then along the walls of thechapel, with a bewildered expression of countenance. This had been hisfirst sleep for two nights, and it had been so deep that he had utterlyforgotten the terrible drama of the two last preceding days, and couldnot at once remember what had happened, or where he was. But as he againturned and looked into Sybil's face, full memory of all flashed backupon him. But he did not allude to the past; he merely said to Sybil:

"You have not slept, love. "

"I have not wished to do so, " she answered. 

"This is a very primitive sort of life we are living, love, " he said, with a smile, as he arose from the mattress. 

"But it is not at all an unhappy one, " answered Sybil; "for, oh, sinceyou are with me, I do not care much about anything else. Destiny may dowhat she pleases, so that she does not part us. I can bear exile, hunger, cold, fatigue, pain--anything but parting, Lyon!"

"Do not fear that, love; we will never part for a single day, if I canhelp it. "

"Then let anything else come. I can bear it cheerfully, " smiled Sybil. While they talked they were working also. Sybil was folding up thebedclothes, and Lyon was looking about for a bucket, to fetch water fromthe fountain. He soon found one, and went upon his errand. 

Sybil followed him with two towels. They washed their hands and facesin the stream, and dried them on the towels. And then they went higherup the glen, and caught a bucketful of delightful water from the crystalspring that issued from the rocks. 

They returned to the chapel, and together they made the fire andprepared the breakfast. 

It was not until they were seated at their primitively arrangedbreakfast, which was laid upon the flagstones of the chapel floor--itwas not, in fact, until they had nearly finished their simple meal, thatSybil told Lyon of the apparition she had seen in the early dawn, tocome up as if from the floor to the right of the altar, and glide alongthe east wall of the chapel, past the four gothic windows, and disappearthrough the door. 

"It was a morning dream, dear Sybil; nothing more, " said Lyon, sententiously; for in the broad daylight he believed in nothingsupernatural, even upon the evidence of his own senses. 

"If that were a morning dream, then the sight that we saw togetheryesterday was but a dream, and you are but a dream, and life itself isbut a dream, " replied Sybil, earnestly. 

"Well, at all events, what we have both, either separately or together, seen and experienced, must be something perfectly natural andcommonplace, although we may not either of us be able to understand orexplain it. My private opinion and worse misgiving is, that there issome woman concealed about the place. If ever I find myself in arm'slength of that little gipsy, I shall intercept her, even at the risk ofreceiving such a spiritual-shock as that which struck Mrs. AliciaDubarry to the ground, " said Lyon, facetiously; for he might well make ajest of this lighter affair of the chapel mystery to veil the deepanxiety he felt in the heavy matter of their affliction. 

The husband and wife passed this second day of hiding tediously enough. She made the little housekeeping corner of the chapel tidy, by foldingup and putting aside all their bedclothes and garments, and by washingand arranging their few cooking utensils. He brought in wood and brush, which he broke up and piled in another corner, to have it near at handto replenish the fire. Also, he brought water from the spring; and thenwith no other instrument than his pocket-knife, he made a trap and setit to catch rabbits. 

Then they rambled together through the wilderness around the chapel, andthe better they grew acquainted with the wild neighborhood, the surerthey felt of their safety in its profound solitude. 

Their only anxiety connected with their security in this place, was uponthe subject of the mysterious visitant. It was incomprehensible by anyknown law of nature. 

They talked of this mystery. They reverted to all the so-called"authenticated ghost stories" that they had ever read or heard, and thatthey had hitherto set down to be either impostures or delusions. 

But now here was a fact in their own experience that utterly confoundedtheir judgment, and the end of their discussion on the subject left themjust where they had been at its commencement. They resolved, however, todivulge the whole matter to Captain Pendleton, to whom they had not yeteven hinted it, and to ask his counsel; and they looked forward withimpatience to the evening visit of this devoted friend. 

As it was growing cold towards the setting of the sun they turned theirsteps again towards the chapel. It was quite dark when they reached it. Their fire had nearly gone out, but he replenished it, and she began toprepare the evening meal. 

While she was still engaged in this work, the sound of approachingfootsteps warned them that Captain Pendleton was near. Lyon Berners wentout to meet him. 

 CHAPTER XXVIII. 

 A GHASTLY PROCESSION. 

 If charnel-houses and our graves must send Those that we bury back, our monuments Shall be the maws of kites. --SHAKESPEARE. 

"Well?" exclaimed Mr. Berners, eagerly. 

"Well, the flight is now discovered beyond all doubt. Search-warrantshave been issued. My house is to be searched among the rest, " repliedCaptain Pendleton. 

"What else?"

"Arrangements are being made for the funeral of the dead woman. Theywill bury her the day after to-morrow in the church-yard at Blackville. "

"And what else?"

"Nothing, but that I would not permit Joe to accompany me to-night. Moreprecaution is now necessary to insure your safety. "

"And that is all?"

"Yes. "

"Then come in and see Sybil. "

They went in together, where Mrs. Berners greeted Captain Pendleton withher usual courtesy, and then immediately repeated her anxious questions. 

"Has the murderer been discovered? May we go home?"

"Not yet, dear Madam!" answered Pendleton to both questions, as he satdown by the fire. 

"I have something to tell you, Pendleton, and to ask your advice about, "began Lyon Berners. And he related the mysterious vision that had thricecrossed their path. 

"Oh! it is a form of flesh and blood! We don't believe in apparitions atthis age of the world! But this indeed must be looked to! If you haveseen her here three times, of course she has seen you, " said CaptainPendleton in much anxiety. 

"Most certainly she knows of our presence here, if she knows nothingelse about us, " replied Mr. Berners. 

"Then it is useless to attempt to conceal yourselves from her. She mustbe laid hold of, talked with, and won or bribed to keep our secret--tohelp us if possible. We must find out whether she will serve ourpurpose. If she will, it will be all quite right, and you may remainhere until it is safe to depart; but if she will not, it will be allentirely wrong, and you must leave this place at all hazards, " concludedCaptain Pendleton. 

"Yes, it is very well for you to talk of intercepting her, but you hadjust as well try to intercept a shadow as it glides past you, " put inSybil, with a wise nod. 

"The attempt shall be made, at all events, " determined Mr. Berners. 

Sybil was in the act of putting the supper--not on the table, for tablethere was none in the chapel--but on the cloth spread upon theflagstones, when Captain Pendleton, to give a lighter turn to theirtalk, said:

"You may put a plate for me also, Mrs. Berners! I have not yet supped, and I'm glad I have got here in time to join you. "

"I am glad too! We are getting quite comfortably to housekeeping here, Captain. And Lyon has set his traps, and we shall soon have game tooffer you when you come to visit us, " replied Sybil quickly, respondingto his gayety. 

"If I had only a gun, and could venture to use it, it would be a greatrelief, and we should be very well supplied, " smiled Lyon. 

"Yes! if you had a gun, and should venture to use it, you would soonbring a _posse comitatus_ down upon you; We will have no reverberationsof that sort, if you please, Lyon, " recommended the Captain. 

And then they all sat down around the table-cloth, and Sybil poured outand served the coffee. 

Now, whether they were very thirsty, or whether the coffee was unusuallygood, or whether both these causes combined to tempt them to excess, isnot known; but it is certain that the two gentlemen were intemperate intheir abuse of this fragrant beverage; which proves that people can beintemperate in other drinks, as well as in alcoholic liquors. Thiscoffee also got into their heads. Their spirits rose; they grew gay, talkative, inspired, brilliant. Even Sybil, who took but one cup ofcoffee, caught the infection, and laughed and talked and enjoyed herselfas if she were at a picnic, instead of being in hiding for her life orliberty. 

In a word, some strange exhilaration, some wonderful intoxicationpervaded the little party; but the most marvellous symptom of their casewas, that they talked no nonsense--that while, under their adverse andperilous circumstances, such gayety was unnatural and irrational, yettheir minds were clear and their utterances brilliant. And this abnormalexaltation of intellect and elevation of spirit continued for severalhours, long into the night. 

Then the great reaction came. First Sybil grew very quiet, though not inthe least degree sad; then Lyon Berners evinced a disposition rather tolisten than to talk; and finally Captain Pendleton arose, and sayingthat this had been one of the strangest and pleasantest evenings he hadever passed in his, life, took leave of his friends and departed. 

Sybil was very sleepy, and as soon as their guest was gone she askedLyon to help her with the mattress: that she was so drowsy she couldscarcely move. He begged her to sit still, for that he himself would doall that was necessary. And with much good-will, but also muchawkwardness, he spread the couch, and then went to tell Sybil it wasready. But he found her with her head upon her knees, apparently fastasleep. He lifted her gently in his arms, and carried her and laid heron the mattress. And then, feeling overcome with drowsiness, he threwhimself down beside her, and fell into a profound sleep. 

But Sybil, as she afterwards told, did not sleep so deeply. It seemed, indeed, less sleep than stupor that overcame her. She was conscious whenher husband raised her up in his arms and laid her on the bed; but shewas too utterly oppressed with stupor and weariness to lift her eyes tolook, or open her lips to speak, or, even after he had laid her down, tomove a limb from the position into which it fell. 

So she lay like one dead, except in being clearly conscious of all thatwas going on around her. She knew when Lyon laid down, and when he wentto sleep. And still she lay in that heavy state, which was at once aprofound repose and a clear consciousness, for perhaps an hour longer, when suddenly the stillness of the scene was stirred by a sound soslight that it could only have been heard by one whose senses were, likehers at that time, preternaturally acute. The sound was of the slow, cautious turning of a door upon its hinges!

Without moving hand or foot, she just languidly lifted her eyelids, andlooked around upon the dim darkness. 

There was a faint glow from the smouldering fire on the flagstone floor, and there was a faint light from the starlit night coming through thewindows. By the aid of these she saw, as in a dream, the door of thevault wide open!

In her profound state of conscious repose there was no fear of danger, and no wish to move. So, still as in a dream, she witnessed whatfollowed. 

First a dark, shrouded figure issued from the vault, and turned aroundand bent down towards it, as if speaking to some one within. But no wordwas heard. Then the figure backed a pace, drawing up from the steps ofthe vault what seemed to be a long narrow box. As this box came up, itwas followed by another dark, shrouded figure, who supported its otherend. And as the two mysterious apparitions now stood beside the altar, Sybil saw that the box that they held between them was a coffin!

Nor was that all. While they moved a little down the side wall, theywere followed by two other strange figures, issuing from the vault inthe same order, and bearing between them, in the same manner, a secondcoffin; and as they, in their turn, filed down the side wall, they alsowere followed by still two others coming up out of the vault, andbringing with them a third coffin!

And then a ghastly procession formed against the side wall. Three longshadowy coffins borne by six dark shrouded figures, filed past thegothic windows, and disappeared through the open chapel door. 

Sybil clearly saw all this, as in a nightmare from which she could notescape; she still lay motionless, speechless, and helpless, until shequite lost consciousness in a profound and dreamless sleep. So deep andheavy was this sleep, that she had no sense of existence for many hours. When at length she did awake, it seemed almost to a new life, soutterly, for a time, was all that had recently past forgotten. But asshe arose and looked around, and collected her faculties, and rememberedher position, she was astonished to see by the shining of the sun intothe western windows, that it was late in the afternoon, and that theyhad slept nearly all day, for her husband was still sleeping heavily. 

Then she remembered the horrible vision of the night, and she lookedanxiously towards the door of the vault. It seemed fast as ever. She gotup and went to look at it. It _was_ fast, the bars firmly bedded in thesolid masonry, as they had been before. 

What then had been the vision? She shuddered to think of it. Her firstimpulse was now to arouse her husband and tell him what had happened. But her tenderness for him pleaded with her to forbear. 

"He sleeps well, poor Lyon! let him sleep, " she said, and she threw ashawl around her shoulders, and went out of the chapel to get a breathof the fresh morning air. 

She had to pass among the gray old gravestones lying deep in thebright-colored dew-spangled brushwood. As she picked her way past them, she suddenly stopped and screamed. 

Captain Pendleton was lying prostrate, like a dead man at the foot of anold tree!

With a strong effort of the will, she controlled herself sufficiently toenable her to approach and examine him. He was not dead, as she had atfirst supposed; but he was in a very death-like sleep. 

She arose to her feet, and clasped her forehead with both hands whileshe tried to think. What could these things mean? The unnaturalexhilaration of their little party on the previous evening; the powerfulreaction that prostrated them all in heavy stupor or dreamless sleep, that had lasted some fifteen hours; the ghastly procession she had seenissue from the open door of the old vault, and march slowly down theeast wall of the church, past all the gothic windows, and disappearthrough the front door; the spell that had so deeply bound her ownfaculties, that she had neither the power nor the will to call out;their visitor overtaken by sleep while on his way to mount his horse, and now lying prostrate among the gravestones? What could all thesethings mean?

She could not imagine. 

However much she might have wished to spare her husband's rest up tothis moment, she felt that she must arouse him now. She hurried backinto the church, and went up to the little couch and looked at Lyon. 

He was moving restlessly, and muttering sadly in his sleep. And now shefelt less reluctance to wake him from his troubled dream. She shook himgently, and called him. 

He opened his eyes, gazed at her, arose up in a sitting posture, andstared around for a moment, and then seeing his wife, exclaimed:

"Oh! is it you, Sybil? What is this? the chapel seems to be turnedaround. " And he gazed again at the western windows, where the sun wasshining, and which he mistook for the eastern, supposing the time to bemorning. 

"The chapel has not turned around, Lyon; but the sun has. It is late inthe afternoon, and that is the declining and not the rising sun that yousee. "

"Good gracious, Sybil! Have I slept so late as this? Why did you letme?"

"Because I slept myself; we all slept; even to Captain Pendleton, whomust have been overpowered by sleep on his way to his horse; for I havejust found him lying among the gravestones. "

"What? Who? Pendleton asleep among the gravestones? Say that again. Idon't understand. "

Sybil briefly repeated her statement. 

Lyon started up, shook himself as if to arouse all his faculties, andthen went and douched his head and face with cold water, and finally, ashe dried them, he turned to Sybil and said:

"What is all this that you tell me? Where is Pendleton? Come and showme. "

Sybil led the way to the spot where their friend lay in his heavy sleep. 

"Good Heaven! He must have fallen down, or sunk down here, within threeminutes of leaving the church!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, gazing on thesleeper. 

"Something must have happened to us all, dear Lyon. Do you remember howunreasonably gay we all were at supper last evening? We, too, who hadevery reason to be very grave and even sad? And do you remember thereaction? When we all grew so drowsy that we could hardly keep our eyesopen? And then there was something else, which I will tell you of by andby. And now we have all slept fifteen or sixteen hours. Somethingstrange has happened to us, Lyon, " said Sybil, slowly. 

"Something has, indeed. But now we must arouse Pendleton. Good Heaven!he may have caught his death by sleeping out all night, " exclaimed Mr. Berners, as he stooped down and shook the sleeper. 

But it was not without difficulty that Lyon succeeded in arousingCaptain Pendleton, who, when he was fairly upon his feet, reeled like adrunken man. 

"Pendleton, Pendleton, wake up! What, man! what has happened to you?"exclaimed Lyon, trying to steady the other upon his feet. 

"Too late for roll-call. Bad example to the rank and file, " murmured theCaptain, with some remnant of a camp-dream lingering in his mind. 

Mr. Berners shook him roughly, while Sybil dipped up a double handful ofwater from a little spring at their feet, and threw it up into his face. 

This fairly aroused him. 

"Whew-ew! Phiz! What's that for? What the demon's all this? What's thematter?" he exclaimed, sneezing, coughing, and sputtering through thewater that Sybil had flung into his face. 

"What's all this?" exclaimed Lyon Berners, echoing his question. "It isthat we are all robbed and murdered, and carried into captivity, for allI know, " he added, smiling, as he could not fail to do, at the drollfigure cut by his friend. 

"How the deuce came I here?" demanded Pendleton, glaring around with hismouth and eyes wide open. "Is this enchantment?"

"Something very like it, Pendleton. But come, man, this is no laughingmatter. It is very serious. Therefore rouse yourself and collect yourfaculties. You will need them all, I assure you, " gravely replied LyonBerners. 

"But--how in thunder, came I here?" again demanded the Captain, shivering and staring around him. 

"We can not tell. My wife found you here about half an hour ago. You aresupposed to have been overcome by drowsiness, while on your way to yourhorse, and to have sunk down here and slept from that time to this--somesixteen hours. "

"Good--! I remember taking leave of you both, after our lively supper oflast evening, and starting for the thicket, and giving way just here toan irresistible feeling of drowsiness, and sinking down with the dreamyidea that I would not go to sleep, but would soon arise and pursue myjourney. And I have lain here all night!" he exclaimed in astonishment. 

"Yes, and all day!" added Lyon, solemnly. 

"How is it that I was not awakened before?" demanded the Captain, withan injured look. 

"Because we ourselves were in the same condition. It is not more thanfifteen minutes since my wife awakened me. "

"In the name of heaven, then, what has befallen us all?" demanded theCaptain in amazement. 

"That is what we must try to find out. You must help us. I have beenthinking rapidly while standing here, and the result is, that I judge wehave all been drugged with opium; but whether by accident or withdesign, or if with design, by whom, or with what purpose, I cannot evenimagine; though I do vaguely connect the fact with the mysteriousvisitant of the chapel, " replied Mr. Berners. 

While he spoke they all turned their steps towards the chapel. And withhis concluding words, they entered it in company. 

The "housekeeping corner" of the chapel was in a state of confusion verymuch at variance with the young housekeeper's fastidiously tidy habits. 

The supper dishes lay upon the table-cloth on the floor, where they hadbeen uncared for by the drugged and drowsy pair. And the little bedremained unmade, as it had been left by them when they ran out to lookafter Captain Pendleton. 

Sybil saw all this at a glance, and with a flush; and forgetting for amoment everything else, she bade her husband and his guest stop wherethey were until she had put her "house" in order. 

In this limited manner of domestic economy, it took Sybil but tenminutes to make the bed and wash the dishes. And, meanwhile, LyonBerners made up the fire, and Clement Pendleton brought a pail of freshwater from the fountain. 

Sybil began to prepare the breakfast, but none of the party felt likeeating it. 

"And that is another sign of opium! We have no appetite, " observed LyonBerners, as they sat down around the table-cloth; and instead ofdiscussing the viands before them, they discussed the events of thepreceding day and night. 

Lyon Berners remembered that Sybil and himself had spent nearly thewhole of the preceding afternoon in rambling through the woods; and hesuggested as the only solution of the mystery that, during their absencesome one had entered the chapel, and put opium in their food and drink. 

"'Some one;' but whom?" inquired Captain Pendleton, incredulously. 

"Most probably the girl whom we have seen here, " answered Mr. Berners. 

"But for what purpose do you think she drugged your drink?"

"To throw us into a deep sleep for many hours, which would enable her tocome and go, to and from the chapel, undiscovered and unmolested. "

"But why should she wish to come back and forth to such a dreary, emptyold place as this?"

"Ah! that I cannot tell; at that point conjecture is utterly baffled, "answered Lyon. 

"Yes; because conjecture has been pursuing a phantom--a phantom thatvanishes upon being nearly approached. I cannot accept your theory ofthe mystery, Berners; and what is worse, I cannot substitute one of myown, " said Captain Pendleton, shaking his head. 

"And now I have something to reveal, " said Sybil, solemnly. 

"Another morning dream?" inquired Lyon, while Pendleton looked up withinterest. 

"No; a reality--a ghastly, horrible reality, " she answered. 

And while both looked at her with strange, deep interest and curiosity, she related her sepulchral experiences of the night. When with palecheeks and shuddering frame she described the six dark, shrouded formsthat had come up out of the vault, bearing long shadowy coffins, whichthey carried in a slow procession down along the east wall, past theGothic windows and out at the front door, her two listeners looked ather, and then at each other, in amazement and incredulity. 

"It was an opium dream, " said Mr. Berners, in a positive manner. 

"It would be useless, dear Lyon, for me to tell you that I was ratherwider awake then than I am now, yet I really was, " said Sybil, withequal assurance. 

"And yet you did not lift hand or voice to call my attention to what wasgoing on. "

"I did not wish to do it; my will seemed palsied. I could only gaze atthe awful procession and think how ghastly it was, and thinking so, Isank into a dreamless sleep, and knew no more until I woke up thisafternoon. "

"Meanwhile let us go and look at the door of the vault. You say thedoor was wide open?" inquired Captain Pendleton. 

"Of course it was wide open: that is, wide open last night when thosehorrible forms came up out of the vault; but this morning it was fastenough, " answered Sybil. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Berners. 

"I know what that 'oh!' means, Lyon. But I hope before we leave thischapel that you will find out that I can distinguish a dream from adreadful reality, " observed his wife. 

Meanwhile they had reached the iron door of the vault. It was fast. Pendleton took hold of the iron bars and tried to shake it; but the barswere bedded in solid stone, and the door was immovable. Then he lookedthrough the grating down into the depths below, but he only saw the topof the staircase, the bottom of which disappeared in the darkness. 

"My dear Mrs. Berners, " he then said, turning to Sybil, "I do not liketo differ with a lady in a matter of her 'own experience'; but as we arein search of the truth, and the truth happens to be of the most vitalimportance to our safety, I feel constrained to assure you that thisdoor, from its very appearance, assures us that it can not have beenopened within half a century, and that consequently your 'ownexperience' of the last night cannot have been a reality, but must havebeen a dream. "

"I wish you could dream such a one, and then you would know somethingabout it, " answered Sybil. 

"I think you will have to come to my theory about the opium, " put in Mr. Berners, "especially as I have pursued my 'phantom' one stage farther inher flight, and am able to assign a possible motive for her secretvisits to the chapel. "

"Ah! do that, and we will think about agreeing with your views. Now thenthe motive, " exclaimed Pendleton. 

"A lover. "

"Oh!"

"Yes, a lover. She comes here to meet him; and not liking eye-witnessesto the courtship, she drugged us, " said Mr. Berners, triumphantly. 

"That is the most violent and far-fetched theory of the mystery. Nothingbut our desperate need of an elucidation could excuse its being putforward, " said Captain Pendleton, drily. Then he spoke more earnestly:"Berners, whatever may be the true explanation of all that we haveexperienced here, one thing seems certain: that your retreat here isknown to at least one person, who may or may not be inimical to yourinterests. Now my advice to you is still the same. Stop this girl thefirst time you see her again, and compel her to give an account ofherself. Conceal your names and stations from her, if possible, and inany case bribe her to silence upon the subject of your abode here. If itwere prudent, I should counsel you to leave this chapel for some otherplace of concealment; but really there seems now more danger in movingthan in keeping still. So I reiterate my advice, that you shall enlistthis strange girl in your interests. "

"But before cooking your hare, you must catch it, " said Sybil. "We maysee this visitant a dozen times more, but we will never be able to stopher. She appears and vanishes! Is seen and gone in an instant! But, Captain Pendleton, I will tell you what I wish you to do for me. "

"I will do anything in the world that you wish, except believe inghosts. "

"Then you will bring me a crowbar, or whatever the tool or tools may bewith which strong doors may be forced. I want that grated iron doorforced open, that we may go down into that vault and see what it holds. "

"Good Heavens Mrs. Berners!" he exclaimed, striking a theatricalattitude. 

 "'Would'st bid me burst The loathsome charnel-house, and Spread a pestilence?'"

"I want to see what is in it; and I _will_, " persisted Sybil. 

"Bring the tools when you come again, Pendleton, and we will open thedoor, and examine the vault, " added Mr. Berners. 

"Ugh! you will find it full of coffins and skeletons--

 "'And mair o' horrible and awfu' Whilk e'en to name wad be unlawfu'. '"

"You are in a poetical mood, Pendleton. "

"And you are in a sepulchral one. Both effects of the opium, I suppose. "

While they talked the sun went down. 

Captain Pendleton remained with his friends until the twilight deepenedinto darkness; and then, promising to return the next night, andwondering where he should find his horse, or how he should get home, hetook leave and departed. 

The strange life of the refugees in the Haunted Chapel seriouslyinterfered with their hitherto regular and healthful habits. They hadslept nearly all day, when they should have been awake. And now theyintended to watch all night, partly because it was impossible for themto sleep any more then, and partly because they wished to stop theirmysterious visitant, in the event of her reappearance. 

But the girl in the red cloak came not that night, no, nor even the nextday; nor did any other mysterious visitor or unusual event disturb theirrepose, or excite their curiosity. 

Late that night their faithful friend returned, according to hispromise. He told them that he had found his poor horse still in thethicket where he had left him, with water and grass in his reach. Thathe had got home in safety, where his absence had not excited anyanxiety, because his sister had supposed him to be at Black Hall. 

He then described the funeral of Rosa Blondelle, which had taken placethat day, and which had been attended not only by all the county gentry, who had gathered to show their respect and sympathy for the dead, butalso by crowds of all sorts of people, who came in curiosity to thescene. 

And then, taking advantage of a few minutes during which Sybil wasengaged in her housekeeping corner of the chapel, he told Mr. Bernersthat the search-warrants having failed to find the fugitives, a rumorhad been spread that they had certainly left the neighborhood on themorning of the murder, and that they had been seen at Alexandria, by agentleman who had just come from that city. 

"This story, " added Captain Pendleton, "is so confidently reported andbelieved, that an officer with a warrant has been this day dispatched toAnnapolis. "

"Oh! good Heaven! How zealously her old neighbors do hunt my poorguiltless Sybil, " groaned Mr. Berners. 

"Take courage! This rumor, together with the journey of the officer toAnnapolis, opens a way for your immediate escape. So I propose that youprepare to leave this place to-morrow night, and take a bee line toNorfolk. There you must take the first outward bound ship for Europe, and remain abroad until you can with safety return home. "

At this moment Sybil came up. 

Without mentioning to her the existence of the warrants which were outagainst her, and which was the only part of Captain Pendleton'scommunication that it was expedient to conceal from her, Lyon Berners, with a smile of encouragement, told her that they were to leave theHaunted Chapel the next night, to go to Norfolk. 

"And we cannot even yet go home?" sighed Sybil. 

"No, dear wife; it would scarcely yet be prudent to do so. But we can goto Europe, and travel over the Continent, and see the wonders of theOld World, leaving our friend here with a power of attorney to manageour estate and collect our revenues, and remit us money as we requireit. We can stay abroad and enjoy ourselves until such time as justiceshall be done, and we can return to our home, not only with safety, butin triumph, " replied Lyon Berners, cheerfully. 

Sybil too caught the infection of his cheerful manner, whether that werereal or assumed, and she too brightened up. 

The friends then discussed the details of the projected flight. 

"In the first place, " began Captain Pendleton, "you must both be so welldisguised as to seem the opposite of yourself in rank, age, and personalappearance. You, Lyon, must shave off your auburn beard, and cut closeyour auburn hair, and you must put on a gray wig and a gray beard--thoseworn by your old Peter, in his character of Polonius at your mask ball, will, with a little trimming, serve your purpose. Then you must wear apair of spectacles and a broad-brimmed hat and an old man's loosefitting, shabby travelling suit. I can procure both the spectacles andthe clothes from the wardrobe of my deceased father. Mrs. Berners, too, should cut her hair short, and wear a red wig and a plain dress. The wigyou wore as Harold the Saxon will suit very well, with a littlearrangement. Then I can procure the dress from my sister. You musttravel as a poor old farmer, and your wife must go as your red-headedilliterate daughter. You are both excellent actors, and can sustain yourparts very well. "

"Dear me!" said Sybil, half crying, half smiling; "I have been warnedthat it is never well to begin any enterprise of which one does not knowthe end. And I'm sure when I undertook to give a mask ball and take acharacter in it, I had not the slightest idea that the masquerade wouldlast longer than a night, or that I should have to continue to act acharacter. "

"Never mind, darling; it is but for a season. Go on, Pendleton. You seemto have settled everything in your own mind for us. Let us hear the restof your plan, " said Mr. Berners. 

"It is this, " continued the Captain. "I will bring these disguises toyou to-morrow night. I will also have a covered cart, loaded withturnips, potatoes, apples, and so forth; I will have this cart driven byyour faithful Joe down to the Blackville ferry-boat, in which of coursehe can cross the river with his load of produce unsuspected andunquestioned. "

"Or even if some inquisitive gossip should ask him where he might begoing, Joe would be ready with his safe answer. He can beat us inbaffling inquiry, " put in Sybil. 

"Like all his race, " laughed Lyon. 

"The chance you have mentioned is provided for. Joe is instructed toanswer any haphazard questioner, that he is bringing the load to me, which will be the truth. "

"But proceed, dear Pendleton. Develop your whole plan, " urged Mr. Berners. 

"Well, then, once safe on this side of the river, Joe will drive thecart to some convenient spot, to which I myself will guide you. "

"Ah, how much trouble you take for us, Pendleton!" sighed Lyon. 

"Not at all. As far as I am concerned, it is a piquant adventure. Try tolook at it in that light. Well, to our subject. When you reach the cartyou can put your wife inside, and then mount the driver's seat, andstart upon your journey like a plain old farmer going to market to sellhis produce. As you will have but the one pair of horses for the wholejourney, you will see the necessity of making very short stages, inorder to enable them to complete it. "

"Certainly. "

"And now listen! Because you must make these short stages and frequentstoppages, and because you must avoid the most travelled roads, it willbe necessary for you to take a map of the State, and follow the mostdirect route to Norfolk. "

"Which is not the turnpike road used by the mail stagecoaches, for thatdiverges frequently five or ten miles to the right or left of the line, to take in the populous villages, " put in Lyon Berners. 

"Yes; I see you comprehended me! Well, I should farther advise you, whenyou reach Norfolk, to put up at some obscure inn near the wharves, andto embark in the very first ship that sails for Europe, even if itshould set sail within an hour after your arrival. "

"You may rest assured that we shall not loiter in Norfolk, " said Mr. Berners. 

"As for the draught horses and cart, if you have time, you can sellthem. If not, you can leave them at the livery stable, and on the day ofsailing post me a letter containing an order to receive them. "

"You think of everything, dear Pendleton. "

"I can't think of anything else just now, " replied Captain Pendleton. 

"Well, then, we will have some supper, " said Sybil rising to prepare it. 

"I declare, I never in all my life supped out so frequently as I havedone since you two have been housekeeping in this old Haunted Chapel!And by the way, talking of that, have you seen any more apparitions? anymore spectral gipsy girls? or shrouded forms? or shadowy coffins? oropen vaults? eh, Mrs. Berners?" laughingly inquired Captain Pendleton. 

"No, nothing unusual has disturbed us, either last night or to-day. Butnow, talking of open vaults, have you brought the crowbar to force thedoor, sir?" said Sybil, turning sharply to the Captain. 

"Yes, dear Mrs. Berners; since I promised to bring it, I felt bound todo so; though I hope you will not really have it put to use. "

"Just as soon as supper is over, I will have that door forced open. Iwill see what that mysterious vault holds, " said Sybil, firmly. 

And she almost kept her word. 

As soon as they had finished the evening meal, she arose and called uponthe gentlemen to go with her and force the door of the vault. 

And they went and inserted the crowbar between the grating and thestonework, and wrenched with all their united strength; but theirefforts availed nothing, even to move the door. 

They gave over their exertions to recover their breath, and when theyhad got it they began again with renewed vigor; but with no bettersuccess. Again they stopped to breathe, and again they re-commenced thetask with all their might; but after working as hard as they could forfifteen minutes longer, they again ceased from sheer exhaustion, leavingthe door as fast as they had found it. 

"It is of no use to try longer, Sybil. We cannot force it, " said Mr. Berners. 

"I see that you cannot. The vault keeps its secrets well, " she answered, solemnly. 

And then they returned to their seats near the fire, and sat and talkedover the projected journey until it was time for Captain Pendleton togo. 

When the husband and wife were left alone, they felt themselves tiredenough to go to rest, with a prospect of getting a good night's sleep. 

"This is the last night that we shall spend in this place, dear Sybil, "said Lyon Berners, as he put the smouldering brands together to keep thefire up till morning. 

Sybil replied with a deep yawn. 

And in a few minutes they laid down to rest, and in a very few more theyfell asleep. 

How long they had slept Sybil had no means of knowing, when she wasawakened by an impression that some cold damp creature had laid down onthe front of the mattress close beside her. She opened her eyes andstrained them around in a vague dread, but the inside of the chapel wasdark as pitch. The fire had gone entirely out; she could not even seethe outlines of the Gothic windows; all was black as Tartarus. Butstill--oh, horror!--she felt the cold damp form pressing close besideher. 

A speechless, breathless awe possessed her. She could not scream, butshe cautiously put out her hand to make sure whether she was dreaming, when--horror upon horror!--it touched a clammy face!

Still she did not cry out, for some potent spell seemed to bind herwhich at once tied her tongue and moved her hand; for that hand passeddown over the slender form and straight limbs, and then up again, untilit reached the still bosom, when--climax of horror!--it was caught andclasped in the clay-cold hand of the--WHAT?

 CHAPTER XXIX. 

 GHOSTLY AND MYSTERIOUS

 On horror's head Horrors accumulate. --Thompson. 

An icy sweat of terror bathed Sybil's form. She tried to cry out, anddid utter a low half-stifled scream. But the cold fingers of the ghastlycreature closed tightly upon hers, and a thin, hollow voice murmured:

"Hush; don't you make a noise; don't be frightened. I can't hurt you. I'm chilled almost to death. And you were so warm. I crept to your sideto tell you something. You are in hiding here, and so--_Ah-h-h_!"

The reed-like murmur ended in a terrific shriek. There was a silentmovement, and Sybil felt the clammy form snatched up from her side andborne away in the darkness. 

And then the spell that had bound her faculties was unloosed, and sheuttered scream after scream as she shook and awakened her husband. 

"In the name of Heaven, Sybil, what now?" he exclaimed, as he started upinto a sitting posture. 

"Oh, Lyon! for the love of mercy, get up! Get a light! I shall go mad inthis horrible place!" she cried in a perfect frenzy of terror. 

"Calm yourself, Sybil. There is nothing to fear. I am here with you. Iwill strike a light, " answered Lyon Berners quietly, as he got up andgroped about in the darkness for the tinder-box. 

Striking a light in those days was not the quick and easy matter that itis now. When the tinder-box was at length found, the flint and steel hadto be struck together until a spark was elicited to set fire to thetinder. So it was full five minutes from the time Lyon was awakened, tothe moment that he lit the candle and looked upon the pale andhorror-stricken face of his wife. 

"Now then, Sybil, what is it?" he inquired. 

"Oh, what is it! This place is full of devils!" she cried, shaking aswith an ague fit. 

"My dear wife!" he said, in surprise and concern to see her shudder sofearfully, to hear her speak so wildly. 

"It _is_, I tell you, full of devils, Lyon!" she repeated withchattering teeth. 

There chanced to be a little wine in their stores. He went and pouredsome into a glass and brought it to her, made her drink it. 

"Now then, tell me what has thrown you into this state? What hashappened to terrify you so much? another dream, vision, apparition?what?" he inquired, as he took from her hand the empty glass. 

"Oh, no, no, no! no dream, no vision, nothing of that sort. It was toodark to see anything, you know; but oh! it was something so ghastly andhorrible that I shall never, never get over it!" she exclaimed, whileshudder after shudder shook her frame. 

"Tell me, " he said soothingly. 

"Oh, it was a damp girl!" she cried. 

"A damp girl!" he echoed in amazement and alarm; for he almost fearedhis dear wife was going crazy. 

"Oh yes, a damp girl! A clay-cold, clammy, corpse-like form of a girl!"

"Where? when? what about her?"

"Oh, I woke up and felt her lying by my side! so close that she chilledand oppressed me! I put out my hand, and she caught it in her deathlyfingers! I screamed, but she spoke to me! She was about to tell mesomething, when she was suddenly snatched up and torn away!"

"My dear Sybil, this was nightmare again!"

"Oh, no, no, no! I have had nightmare, and know what it is! It is notlike this! All this was real, as real as you and I! This place is fullof devils!"

"My darling wife, have you lost your senses?"

"Oh, no; but I shall lose them if I stay in this demon-haunted place aday longer!"

"Thank Heaven! we will not have to stay here a day longer. We leave, this coming evening. And see! the morning is dawning, Sybil; and withthe coming of the light, all these shadows of darkness and phantoms offear will flee away, " said Lyon with a smile. 

"Oh, you don't believe me. You never do believe me. But oh! let me tellyou all about this ghastly thing, and then perhaps you will see that itis real, " said Sybil. 

And still in much agitation of spirits, she told him all theparticulars of her strange visitation. 

He still believed in his soul that she had been the victim of incubus, but he would not vex her by persisting in saying so. He only repeatedthat the morning was at hand, when all the terrors of the night would bedispersed; and added that they would not have to pass another night inthe "demon-peopled place, " as this would be the very last day of theirstay. 

As soon as it was light enough, they dressed themselves, and set abouttheir simple daily work. He made the fire, and brought the water; andshe cleared up their housekeeping corner, and prepared the breakfast. 

When the sun arose and streamed in at the east windows, lighting upevery nook about the interior of the old chapel, they saw thateverything remained in the same condition in which they had left it whenthey had gone to rest on the evening previous. 

Lyon Berners felt more than ever convinced that his dear Sybil had beenthe victim of repeated nightmares; that all the seemingly supernaturalphenomena of the Haunted Chapel had been only the creation of her ownmorbid imagination; that nothing connected with the mystery had beenreal, with the exception of the appearance of the girl in the red cloak, whom Mr. Berners decided to be an ordinary human habitué of the place. 

But the idea of this visitor made him only the more anxious for Sybil'ssake, to get away. 

This last day of their sojourn in the Haunted Chapel was passed by therefugees in great impatience, but without any event worth recording. 

With the night came their untiring friend Captain Pendleton, attended byJoe, who bore upon his broad back a large pack containing the disguises. 

After the usual greetings, and while Sybil, with a woman's curiosity, was examining the contents of the pack which Joe opened and displayedbefore her, Pendleton found an opportunity of whispering to LyonBerners:

"The false rumor is as rife as false rumors usually are. Every onereports with confidence, and every one else believes with assurance, that you are both in Annapolis, and will certainly be found by theofficers within a few days. This is good, as it will lead off allpursuit from your road to Norfolk. "

Lyon Berners nodded in reply. And Sybil came up to make somepreparations for supper. 

"Well, Mrs. Berners, " spoke the Captain, gayly, "any more supernaturalphenomena?"

"Oh, I wish you had not asked that question!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, while Sybil grew deadly pale, and shivered from head to foot. 

"Why, what's the matter now?" demanded the Captain, lifting his eyebrowsin surprise. 

"Oh, the damp girl!" exclaimed Sybil, shuddering. 

"The damp girl!" echoed the Captain, in growing wonder. 

Lyon Berners shrugged his shoulders, while Sybil, in agitated tones, recounted her strange visitation of the night before. 

"As clearly defined a case of incubus as ever I heard in my life, " wasthe prompt decision of Captain Pendleton. 

Sybil grew angry. 

"I only wish, " she sharply answered, "that you would once experience thelike, for then you could know that it could not be nightmare. "

"Then, my dear Mrs. Berners, if this was not incubus, what do yousuppose it to have been?"

"A _real_ visitation; but whether a natural or supernatural one, ofcourse I can not tell, " she answered. 

Sybil got the supper ready, and they all sat down to partake of thatmeal together, for the last time in the Haunted Chapel. 

After supper the final preparations for their departure were made. 

Sybil felt all the reluctance of a beauty to part with her splendidblack hair. But on trying the experiment, she found that she couldeffectually conceal it, without cutting it off. She combed it straightback from her forehead, and let it hang down her shoulders under hersack. Then she covered her head and neck with the flowing red locks ofHarold's wig. 

Lyon cut close his auburn hair, shaved off his moustache, and donned agray wig and a gray beard, without the slightest remorse. 

A very few minutes sufficed to complete their disguise, and they stoodforth--Lyon and Sybil transformed into a gray old farmer and ashock-headed country girl. 

"And now, about these housekeeping articles that we must leave here?They are of very little value in themselves; but they _may_ be found, and if so, may lead to our discovery, " suggested Mr. Berners, uneasily. 

"Never you mind _them_, Master. I'll ondertake to get them away, onbeknowst to any body, sar, " promised Joe. 

"And I will see that this is done, " added Captain Pendleton in a lowvoice, for he did not wish to wound poor Joe's sensitive self-love. 

"And now, my dear Sybil, are you sure you have got all that you need inyour bag?" inquired Mr. Berners. 

"All that I shall need until we get to Norfolk, Lyon. There, indeed, wemust get a supply of necessary clothing, " she answered. 

"That of course. And by the way, have you the money and jewels safe?"

"All secure. "

"Oh Lyon! I brought this for you, and I had better give it to you atonce, lest I should forget it, " put in Captain Pendleton, passing overto Mr. Berners a large roll of gold coins. 

"But my dear Pendleton--"

"Oh, nonsense! take them. I can reimburse myself from the revenues ofBlack Hall. Am I not to have the freedom of that fine estate?"

"Very true, " answered Mr. Berners, pocketing the money. 

"And now, are we ready?" inquired the Captain. 

"Quite, " answered Mr. And Mrs. Berners at once. 

"Then let us start at once, " advised the Captain, setting the example bytaking up Sybil's large travelling bag. 

Lyon Berners carried his portmanteau on one arm, while he gave his otherto his wife. 

Joe loaded himself with a great basket filled with provisions for thejourney. 

And together they all set forth from the Haunted Chapel. It was a clear, cold, starlight night. The gravestones in the old church-yard glimmeredgray among the brushwood, as the fugitives picked their way through it. 

When they reached the narrow path leading through the thicket, they hadto walk in single file until they emerged from the wood and foundthemselves upon the old road running along the river bank. Here thewagon with a pair of draught horses was waiting them. 

Their luggage was put in on top of bags of potatoes, turnips, etc. , withwhich the back part of the wagon was loaded. Then Captain Pendletonassisted Sybil to mount to a seat made by a low-backed chair with awoolen counterpane thrown over it. Lyon Berners got up into the driver'splace. All being now ready for the start, Captain Pendleton and Joe comeup to the side of the wagon to bid farewell to the travellers. 

"Heaven bless you, Pendleton, for your faithful friendship and zealouslabors in our behalf, " said Mr. Berners, warmly shaking the Captain'shand. 

"Amen, and Amen! We shall never forget, and never cease to thank andbless you, dear friend, " added Sybil, with tears in her eyes, as shegave him her hand. 

"May the Lord grant you a safe journey and a quick return, " said ClementPendleton, as he pressed the lady's hand and relinquished it. 

"And I sez Amen to that! Oh, Marser! Oh, Missus! come back to your poorold Joe soon! His heart will snap into ten thousand flinders, if youdon't!" sobbed the poor negro, as he shook hands with his young masterand mistress. 

Then with a mutual "God be with you, " the four friends parted. 

Captain Pendleton, sighing, and Joe, weeping, bent their steps up thebanks of the river towards the fording place, where they would have tocross to find their horses on the other side. 

Lyon Berners cracked his long wagoner's whip, and started on the roadleading away from the river towards the east. 

It was yet early in the autumn night, and but for the cause of thejourney, the young pair would have enjoyed it very much. 

"It is a very pleasant evening for the season, " said Lyon, cheerfullylooking up at the clear, blue-black, star-spangled sky. 

"Yes, indeed, " answered Sybil briskly. 

"Are you quite comfortable, darling?"

"Very! Captain Pendleton, dear Captain Pendleton, arranged my seat sonicely. It is so soft and easy. I could go to sleep here, if I weresleepy. "

"You may have to sleep there, dear. We must travel all night, in orderto get a good distance from this neighborhood before morning. "

"I can bear that very well, as comfortably as I am placed. But you, dear Lyon, you who are driving, you will be tired to death. "

"Not at all. My work to-night will not be more than many men frequentlyundertake for mere amusement. "

"And the horses?"

"Strong draught horses like these can work eight or ten hours at astretch, if they are well fed and rested between times. "

"Oh! I'm so glad I have got away from the Haunted Chapel and theghosts!" suddenly exclaimed Sybil. 

"And especially from the 'damp girl, '" laughed Lyon Berners. 

"Oh, don't mention her!" shuddered Sybil. 

They were now entering one of those frequent mountain passes thatdiversified their road, and the care of driving required all Lyon'sattention. 

They travelled all night as nearly in a direct line towards the fardistant city as the nature of the ground would permit. At daylight theyfound themselves in the midst of a deep forest, some twenty miles eastof Blackville. Here, as the road was naturally broad and the trees talland sparse, and especially as a clear stream of water ran along on oneside, the travellers decided to stop and rest, and refresh themselvesand their horses until noon. 

Lyon Berners got out and, followed by Sybil, went a little way into thewoods, where they found a small opening and a spring of clear water. 

Here Lyon gathered brushwood and made a fire, while Sybil returned tothe wagon and brought back a basket of provisions. Among them was abottle of coffee already made, and which she turned into a small tincoffee-pot, and set on the fire to be warmed. 

And while Lyon went back to the wagon to attend to the wants of hishorses, Sybil spread a very good breakfast of coffee, bread, and ham, upon the ground near the fire. 

When they had given their horses time enough to rest they resumed theirjourney, still travelling towards the east. 

Lyon consulted his map and his pocket compass, and found that directlyin their line lay the small village of Oakville, nestled in anunfrequented pass of the mountains. 

"We can reach the place at about ten o'clock this evening, and there wecan get a regular supper and good sleep, " he said to his wife. 

And they travelled all the remainder of that day, and at about half-pastnine they arrived at Oakville. The village was off the public road, andconsisted only of a sleepy old tavern, to which the neighboring farmerscame to drink, smoke, and gossip; a post-office, to which the mail wasbrought once a week by a boy on horseback; and a blacksmith shop, patronized by the sparse population of the immediate neighborhood. 

Up before the stable of this old tavern Lyon Berners drove his wagon;and here he alighted, handed out Sybil, and led her over to the houseand into the public parlor. 

A fat and lazy-looking hostess came to look at them. 

"I want accommodations for myself, my girl here, and my horses andwagon, which I left in the stable yard, " said Mr. Berners, speakingcoarsely, with two lumps of liquorice in his mouth, which he had takento disguise his voice. 

"And what might your name be, farmer?" inquired the landlady. 

"My name's Howe, " answered Lyon, truly, giving his own patronymic, nowhis middle name. 

"Well, farmer, I reckon we can accommodate you. Going to market?"

"Yes, we're on our way to market. "

"You come from far?"

"From the other side of the mountain. "

"Well, I reckon we can accommodate you. You must excuse me asking youso many questions; but the truth is you're a perfect stranger to me, andit is very late for you to come here, you know; which I wouldn't thinkso much of that nyther, only since that horrid murder at Black Hall Ihave mistrusted every stranger I see. "

Sybil's heart gave a bound, and then sank like lead in her bosom, athearing this allusion. Lyon also felt an increased uneasiness. Luckilythey were sitting with their backs to the light, so that the gossipinglandlady could not read the expression of their faces, which indeed shewas too much absorbed in her subject to attempt to do. So she wentstraight on without stopping to take breath:

"Not that I mistrust you now, sir, which I see exactly what you are; andwhich likewise your having of your darter with you is a rickymindation;for men don't go about a taking of their darters with them when they areup to robbery and murder, do they now, sir?"

"I should judge not, though I am not familiar enough with the habits ofsuch gentry to give a decided opinion, " said farmer Howe. 

"You'll excuse me, sir; but I'm a lone widow living here, and not usedto seeing much of anybody but my old neighbors, which come occasionallyto enjoy of themselves; and I do mistrust most strangers--though notyou, sir, with your darter, as I said before--but most other strangers, because they _do_ say hereabouts that it was a stranger to the place, ared-headed man, as put up at the inn at Blackville that night, and neverwas seen afterwards, as did that murder at Black Hall. "

"Ah! do they say that? I thought they laid it on a lady, " observedfarmer Howe. 

"La, sir! the idee of a lady doing such a thing! and a rale high-bornlady of quality like Mrs. Burns, or whatever her name was, and doing ofit to one she had took in for charity too; 'tan't likely, sir. "

"But you know, I suppose, that they did accuse a lady?"

"Oh, yes; I know they did, and that the poor lady had to ran away and goto Annapolis. But that was that Blackville set, that an't got no sense;but as for us, over this side, _we_ believe it was that red-headedstranger as did it. "

"There's no doubt of it in the world, " said farmer Howe, recklessly, feeling that he was expected to say something. 

And at this moment he looked towards Sybil, and saw that she could notendure the subject of discussion for one moment longer, so he turned tothe landlady, and said:

"We have travelled some distance, and feel very tired and hungry. Wouldyou oblige us with supper as soon as possible? We do not need much, onlylet it be nice and warm. "

"Surely, sir, it is late; but we will do the best we can for you, " saidthe landlady, hurrying away. 

Mr. Berners stooped to whisper to his wife. 

"Sybil, darling, I hail this woman's faith as a good omen. Keep up yourcourage, and--remain in that shady corner until I come back. I am goingout to the stable to see that our horses are properly attended to. "

And then Lyon left the room. 

By the time he returned a table was set in that parlor, and a goodsupper spread for the travellers. 

When it was over, the landlady showed them to a couple of communicatingrooms up stairs, where they passed a very comfortable night. 

At daybreak the next morning they arose and breakfasted, and resumedtheir journey. 

Lyon Berners again consulted his map of the State and his pocketcompass, and laid out his road. It lay for all that day up and down, inand out, among the wildest passes of the Allegheny Mountains. At noonthey stopped for an hour, to rest and refresh themselves and theirhorses, and then again went forward. At night they reached anotherhamlet at the foot of the mountain range. They put up at this hamlet, which was called Dunville, and which boasted one tavern kept by an oldRevolutionary pensioner called Purley. 

Here also Lyon Berners gave his name as Howe, and here again he and hiswife were destined to be told all about the murder. 

"You see, sir, a little below us there, on the other side of themountain, they do say as the murder was done by the woman's husband, asshe had run away from; but they are a set of poor ignorant folks outthere! Now it stand to reason, sir, it couldn't have been done by him, and it must have been done by some member of that band of burglars thatthey say is lurking somewhere there-a-way by Black Hall. "

"Band of burglars!" echoed Farmer Howe, in astonishment. And he wasalmost about to betray himself by saying that there could be no suchband there, when he recollected his position, and held his tongue. 

Farmer Howe and his daughter spent a refreshing night at old Purley'stavern at Dunville, and at daybreak next morning, after a very earlybreakfast, they resumed their journey. 

And again, as usual, Lyon Berners consulted his map and his compass. Henow found that his most direct route lay through a thick forest, betweentwo mountain ridges. 

They travelled all the morning, and as usual stopped at noon for restand food for themselves and their four-footed friends. In the afternoonthey set forth again, and travelled until they reached Iceville, aconsiderable village situated high upon one of the table-lands of theBlue Ridge. In this town there were three taverns. Farmer Howe and hisdaughter put up at the most humble of the trio. And here too the talk ofthe hour was the homicide at Black Hall. 

"They say about here that it was one of the lady's admirers who killedher in a fit of desperation from love and jealousy; for the lady waswell beknown to be a great coquette, " said one village authority toanother, in the presence of Farmer Howe. 

When our travellers found themselves alone that night, in one of the twosmall adjoining rooms that had been assigned to them, Lyon Bernersturned to Sybil, and said;

"You see, my dear Sybil, how it is: 'A prophet hath honor except in hisown city. ' No one out of the Black Valley thinks of accusing you. "

"All the world might accuse me, so that my own old friends and neighborswould justify me, " said Sybil, sadly. 

They passed another night in peace, and the next morning, at daybreak asusual, they breakfasted, and then set out on their fourth and last day'sjourney. 

Again the map and the pocket compass was called into requisition, andMr. Berners laid out their route for the day. 

Their way lay all that forenoon through the beautifully undulating, heavily wooded, and well-watered country lying east of the Blue Ridge. 

As before, they broke their journey by an hour's repose at noon, andthen re-commenced it. And at twelve, midnight, they arrived safely atNorfolk. 

 CHAPTER XXX

 FLIGHT AND PURSUIT. 

 Oh, death were welcome!--COLERIDGE. 

On reaching Norfolk, Lyon Berners drove at once to an obscure taverndown by the wharves, and near the market. Here he found good stablingfor his horses and wagon, and decent accommodation for himself and wife. 

"Come to market, I reckon, father?" suggested the landlord, taking thestump of an old pipe from his mouth for the purpose. 

"Yes, " answered Lyon Berners, as "farmer Howe, " taking off hisbroad-brimmed hat, handing it to Sybil, and then sinking slowly andheavily into a chair, like a very weary old man. 

"Your daughter, I reckon, farmer?" continued the landlord, pointing toSybil with the stem of his pipe. 

"My only girl, " answered Lyon Berners, evasively. 

"And no boys?" inquired the landlord. 

"No boys, " replied Lyon. 

"That's a pity; on a farm too. But you must try to get a good husbandfor the girl, and that will be all one as a boy of your own! Never hadany children but this, farmer, or did you have the misfortune to lose'em?"

"I never had but this one girl, " answered Lyon Berners still evasively. 

"Then you must be very fond of that girl, I reckon. "

"She is all the world to me, " said Lyon, truly. 

"Then he ought to be all the world to you, honey. "

"And so I am, " said Lyon, answering for Sybil, whom he could not yettrust to act a part; though he saw, the instant he glanced at her, thathe might have done so; for Sybil, as soon as she saw attention drawn toherself, began to turn her head down upon one shoulder and simper shylylike an awkward rustic. 

"You must excuse _me_ for asking so many questions, farmer; but when Isee a father and daughter together, like you and your girl, I think ofmyself, for I have an only daughter of my own. All the rest of mychildren--and I had a whole passel of boys and girls--are with theirdear mother in heaven. So you see, farmer, I am a widower, with one gallike yourself--for I reckon, from what you said, you are a widower?"

"My girl's mother has been dead many years, " answered Lyon, with a drawland a sigh. 

"Pappy, I'm so hungry and so sleepy I don't know what to do, " saidSybil, in a low, fretful tone, frowning and pouting. 

"Yes, yes, honey; I reckon you are sure enough. So landlord, if you havegot a couple of little rooms joining onto each other, I wish you'd letus have 'em. And we'd like a bit of supper besides, " said Lyon Berners, with a sigh and a grunt. 

"To be sure. I'll go and call my girl directly, and she'll walk up toyour rooms while I have the supper got ready. Where would you like tohave it? down here, or in your room?" inquired the landlord. 

"In your room, Pappy. I hate a place like this a-smellin' of liquor andinyuns and things, and men coming in and out, " said Sybil, digging herelbow into her "Pappy's" ribs, and turning up her nose at the littletavern sitting-room. 

"Well, then, honey, we'll have it up there. Up there, landlord, if itwon't be putting of you to too much trouble. "

"Oh, not at all, farmer; it's all one to me. Now I'll go and callRachel. "

And the inquisitive and communicative host went out, and soon returnedwith a young woman of about Sybil's own age. 

"This is my daughter, my Rachel, as I was telling you about, farmer. Rachel, honey, you just go long of the farmer and his daughter and showthem where they've got to sleep, that's a good girl. Put 'em in the twolittle rooms over the bar, you know. "

"Yes, father. Come, sir; come, miss, " said the landlord's daughter, leading the way from the smoky parlor. 

Lyon and Sybil followed her. Lyon walking slowly like a weary old man, and pausing at the head of the stairs, as if to recover his wind. 

"Pappy, you look tired to death, " said Sybil, in a rough sympatheticvoice. 

"Ay, ay; it is weary work for an old man to get up-stairs, " grunted Lyon. 

"The stairs are very steep, but here you are, " said the landlord'sdaughter, opening the door leading into two little communicating rooms. 

She entered, followed by Sybil and Lyon. She set the candle down on thetop of the old chest of drawers, and turned around. And then thetravellers noticed, for the first time, how beautiful the daughter oftheir host was. 

Rachel's face was of the purest type of beauty, combining the physical, intellectual, and spiritual. Her form was of medium height and perfectgrace; her head was finely shaped, and covered with dark brown hair, parted in the middle and carried over the temples, and arranged in aknot behind; her forehead broad and full; her eyebrows were gentlyarched, her eyes dark luminous gray, with drooping lids and longfringes; her nose small and straight, her lips full, small, and plump, and her chin was round and well set. There were some flaws in thisotherwise perfect beauty and grace of form and face; for her complexionwas very pale, her expression pensive, and her walk slightly limping. 

While Sybil was observing her with both admiration and pity, andwondering whether she did not suffer from some hereditary malady thathad carried off her mother and all her sisters and brothers, Rachelspoke:

"I think you have everything here that you require; but if you shouldneed anything else, please call, and I will come and attend to yourwants. "

"Thanks!" answered Sybil, sweetly, forgetting her assumed character, andbeginning to speak in her natural voice, for it seemed so difficult toact a part in the presence of this girl. 

But Lyon set his coarse boot upon Sybil's foot, and pressed it as awarning, and then answered for both, saying:

"Thank y', honey, but I don't reckon we'll want anything but our supper, and the old man said how he'd send that up here himself. "

"Then I will leave you. Good night. I hope you will have a good sleep, "answered Rachel, bending her head. 

"What a fine face that girl has, " said Lyon Berners, as she withdrew. 

"Yes; and what a sweet voice!" answered Sybil. 

"But she is very pale, and she limps as she walks; did you notice?"

"Yes; I suppose she has ill health--probably the same malady thatcarried off her mother, and all her sisters and brothers. "

"Very likely. "

"Consumption?" suggested Sybil. 

"Scrofula, " sententiously replied Lyon. 

"Oh, what a pity!" said Sybil, when their conversation was cut short bythe entrance of the landlord, bringing a waiter with the plain supperservice and a folded table-cloth, and followed by a young man bearinganother waiter piled up with materials for a supper more substantialthan delicate. 

The little table was quickly set, and the meal arranged and then thelandlord, after asking if anything more was wanted, and being told therewas not, left the room, followed by his attendant. 

Lyon and Sybil made a good supper, and then, as there were no bells inthat primitive house of entertainment, he put his head out of the doorand called for some one to come and take away the service. 

When the waiter had cleared the table, and the travellers were againleft alone, Lyon said to Sybil:

"I must leave you here, dear, while I go down to the water-side andinquire what ships are about to sail for Europe. You will not be afraidto stay here by yourself?"

"Oh, no indeed! this is not the Haunted Chapel, thank Heaven!" answeredhis wife. 

"Nor Rachel, the damp girl, " added Lyon. 

"No, poor child; but she may very soon become one, " sighed Sybil. 

And Lyon put on his broad-brimmed hat and went out. 

Sybil locked the door, took off her red wig, and her coarse outergarment, and took from her travelling bag a soft woolen wrapper and apair of slippers and put them on, and sat down before the fire to makeherself comfortable. At first the sense of relief and rest and warmthwas enough to satisfy her; but after an hour's waiting in idleness, thetime hung heavily on her hands, and she grew homesick and lonesome. Shethought of the well-stocked library of Black Hall; of her brightdrawing-room, her birds, her flowers, her piano, her easel, herembroidery frame, her Skie terrier, her tortoise shell cat and kittens, her fond and faithful servant, the many grand rooms in the old hall; thenegroes' cabins, the ancient trees, the river, the cascade, themountains--the thousand means of occupation, amusement, and interest, within and around her patrimonial home, the ten thousand ties ofassociation and affection that bound her to her old place, and sherealized her exile as she had never done before. Her spirit grew verydesolate, and her heart very heavy. 

But Sybil really was not a woman to give way to any weakness without aneffort. She got up and tried to engage herself by examining the twolittle rooms that were to be her dwelling place for a day or a week, aschance might direct. 

There was not much to interest her. The furniture was poor and old, butneat and clean, as anything under the care of pale Rachel was sure tobe. Then Sybil looked about to try to find some stray pamphlet or book, that she might read. But she found nothing but a treatise on tanning andan old almanac until, happening to look behind the glass on the chest ofdrawers in the inner room, she discovered a small volume which she tookto be the New Testament. She drew it from its hiding-place and sat downto read it. But when she opened the book, she found it tobe--"Celebrated Criminal Trials. "

At once it seemed to have a fearful interest for her, and this interestwas terribly augmented when, on further examination, she discovered thata portion of the work was devoted to the "Fatal Errors of CircumstantialEvidence. "

To this part of the book she turned at once, and her attention soonbecame absorbed in its subject. Here she read the cases of JonathanBradford, Henry Jennings, and many others tried for murder, convictedunder an overwhelming weight of circumstantial evidence, executed, andlong afterwards discovered to be entirely innocent of the crimes forwhich they had been put to death. Sybil read on hour after hour. And asthis evening, while sitting in solitude and idleness and thinking of herhome and all its charms, she had first realized the bitterness of herexile, so now, in reading these instances of the fatal effects ofcircumstantial evidence upon guiltless parties, she also first realizedthe horrors of her own position. 

She closed the book and fell upon her knees, and weeping, prayed forpardon of those fierce outbursts of hereditary passion, that had sooften tempted her to deeds of violence, and that now subjected her tothe dread charge of crime. Yes, she prayed for forgiveness of this sinand deliverance from this sinfulness, even before she ventured to prayfor a safe issue out of all her troubles. 

Relieved, as every one feels who approaches our Father in simplicity andfaith, she arose from her knees, and sat down again before the fire towait for the return of her husband. 

He came at length, looking really tired now, but speaking cheerfully ashe entered the room. 

"I have been gone from you a long time, dear Sybil, but I could not helpit. I had to go to Portsmouth in search of our ship, " he said, as he puthis hat on the floor, and sat down at the fire. 

"Then you found a ship?" she inquired, with so much more than usualanxiety in her expression, that he looked up in painful surprise as hereplied to her question. 

"Yes, dear; I have found a ship that will suit us. It is the'Enterprise, ' Captain Wright, bound for Liverpool within a few days. "

"Oh! I wish it were to-morrow, " sighed Sybil. 

"Why, love, what is the matter?" tenderly inquired her husband, takingher hand, and looking into her face. 

"_That_ is the matter, " replied Sybil, with a shudder, as she took thevolume she had been reading from the chimney piece and put it in hishands. 

It was a work with which Lyon Berners, as a law student, had been veryfamiliar. 

"Why, where did you get this?" he inquired in a tone of annoyance, forhe felt at once what its effect upon Sybil's mind must be. 

"Oh, I found it behind the looking-glass in the other room. "

"Left by some traveller, I suppose. I am sorry, Sybil, that you havechanced upon this work; but you must not let its subject influence youto despondency. "

"Oh, Lyon! how can I help it? I was so strong and cheerful in my senseof innocence, I had no idea how guiltless people could be convicted andexecuted as criminals. "

"My darling Sybil, all these cases that you have read were tried in thelast century, a period of judicial barbarism. Courts of justice are moreenlightened and humane now, in our times. They do not sacrifice sacredlife upon slight grounds. Come, take courage! be cheerful! trust in God, and all will be well. "

"I do trust in the Lord, and I know all will be well; but oh! I wish itwere to-morrow that ship is to sail?" answered Sybil. 

"It will sail very soon, dear. And now we had better go to rest, and tryto get some sleep. In my character of market farmer, I have to be upvery early in the morning to attend to my business, you know, " said Lyonwith a smile. 

Sybil acquiesced, and the fugitive couple retired for the night. 

Bodily fatigue so much overcame mental anxiety, that they sleptprofoundly, and continued to sleep until near daylight, when they wereboth aroused by a loud knocking at the door. 

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, who is that?" gasped Sybil, starting up inaffright, for every knock now, scared her with the thought of sheriff'sofficers armed with a warrant for her arrest, and excited a whole trainof prospective horrors. 

"Hush, darling, hush; it is only one of the men about the place wakingme up, according to orders, to be in time for the market. We must keepup our assumed characters, my dear Sybil, " said Mr. Berners, as theknocking was repeated, accompanied by the calls of, "Farmer! farmer!"

"Aye, aye! I hear you. You needn't batter down the doors. I'm a-going toget up, though it's very early, and I an't as young as I used to betwenty years ago, nyther, " grumbled the "farmer, " as with many a gruntand sigh, as of an old and weary man, he got up and began to dresshimself. 

"Sybil, " he whispered to his wife before leaving the room, "I shall haveto take my breakfast at a stall in the market-house, and I shall not beback until the market is out, which will be about twelve o'clock. Youcan have your breakfast brought up here. And mind, my darling, don'tforget to put on your wig, and keep up your character. "

"I shall be very careful, dear Lyon, " she answered, as he kissed andleft her. 

Lyon Berners went down stairs, where he found the landlord, who was an"early bird, " waiting for him. 

"Morning, farmer. What is it that you've brought to market, anyways?"he said, greeting his guest. 

"Mostly garden truck, " answered Lyon. 

"No poultry, eggs, nor butter?"

"No. "

"'Cause, if you had, I might deal with you myself. "

"Well, you see, landlord, them kind of produce is ill convenient tobring a long ways in a wagon. And I came from a good ways down thecountry, " explained Lyon, as he took his long leathern whip from thecorner where he had left it, and went out to look after his team. 

He found it all right, and he mounted the seat and drove to the marketspace, and took a stand, and began to offer his produce as zealously asany farmer on the ground--taking care, in the mean time, to wear hisspectacles and broad-brimmed hat, and to keep up his character in voiceand manner; and, as the morning advanced, he began to drive a briskbusiness. 

Meantime Sybil, left alone in her poor room at the little inn, aroseand locked the door after Lyon, to prevent intrusion before she shouldeffect her disguise, and when she had thus insured her privacy, shebegan to dress. 

As soon as she had transformed herself, she opened the door and calledfor Rachel. 

The landlord's daughter entered, giving her guest good-morning, andkindly inquiring how she had slept. 

"I slept like a top! But I'm not well this morning neither. So I'd justlike to have my victuals sent up here, " answered Sybil. 

"Very well; what would you like?"

"Fried fish, and pork-steaks, and bri'led chickings, and grilled bacon, and--let me see! Have you any oysters?"

"Yes, very fine ones. "

"Well, then, I'll take some stewed oysters too, and some poached eggs, and preserved quinces, and fried potatoes, and corn pone, and hot rolls, and buckwheat cakes, and cold bread and butter, and some coffee, andbuttermilk and sweet milk. And that's all, I believe; for, you see, Ian't well, and I haven't come to my stomach yet; but if I can think ofanything else, I will let you know. 

"Is your father going to eat his breakfast with you?"

"Who? pappy? No; he's gone to market, and will get his victuals at theeating stall. Wouldn't it be good fun to keep a eating stall in amarket?"

"I don't think so. "

"Well, never mind whether you do, or not. Hurry up with my victuals. "

"Yes; but I'm afraid we haven't got all the things you want; but I willbring you up what we have, " said the girl, who had opened her eyeswidely at the bill of fare ordered by her sickly guest. 

"Well, go do it then, and don't stop to talk, " said Sybil, shortly. 

Rachel went out, and in due time returned with a waiter containingSybil's breakfast. 

"Why, there an't half--no, not a quarter of the things I told you tofetch me, " said Sybil, turning up her nose at the waiter that Rachelplaced upon the table. 

"I have brought you some of everything that we have cooked. I should beglad if I could bring you all you wish, " replied Rachel. 

"Then I s'pose I must be half-starved in this poor place. And me soweakly, too! I'll tell pappy as soon as ever he comes. I want to gohome--I do. We've got as much as ever we can eat at home, " grumbledSybil, doing her best to act her part, and perhaps overdoing it. 

But Rachel was not suspicious. She again apologized for not being ableto fill her guest's order in its utmost extent, and she remained in theroom and waited on Sybil until the breakfast was finished, and then shetook away the service, wondering how little her guest had eaten, afterhaving ordered such a vast amount of food. 

Again Rachel came back to the room, and made everything tidy in eachchamber, and then finally left her guest alone. 

Sybil walked about and took up and put down every small object that layabout her humble apartments, and then looked out of each window upon thenarrow crowded and noisy street below; and finally, she took the volumeof "Celebrated Criminal Trials" that had a terrible attraction for her, in her present circumstances, and she sat down and read until herhusband's return. 

Lyon Berners drove his empty wagon into the stable yard, at noon. He hadsold out all his produce, and pretended to be in great glee at hissuccess. The landlord congratulated him, and some chance loungers in thebar-room suggested that, under such circumstances, it would be the rightthing for him to treat the company. Lyon thought so too; and in hischaracter of farmer, he ordered pipes and glasses all around. And thenhe made his escape, and went up stairs to see Sybil. 

"Still moping over that depressing book. Put it away, Sybil, and get onyour bonnet, and throw a thick veil over it, and come out with me for awalk; we have to buy something for our voyage, you know, " said Lyon, cheerfully. 

Sybil with a sigh given to her fears, did as he requested her to do; andthe two went down stairs together. 

"Going out for a walk, I reckon, farmer?" inquired the landlord, whostood at the bar-room door with a pipe in his mouth. 

"Aye, aye. You know these girls--when they find out that their pappieshave made a little bit of money, there is no peace till it's spent. Mygirl is taking me out shopping, to buy gimcracks and things! I'll beglad when I get her home again, " grumbled Lyon. 

"Well, well, she's your onliest one, and you mustn't be hard on her. MyRachel gets all she wants, and deserves it too. Dinner at two o'clock, sharp, farmer. "

"Aye, aye! I know. Men o' my age never forget their dinners, " said Lyon, as he drew Sybil's arm within his own and led her out into the streets. 

They went only into the back streets, and the poor shops, and theybought only what was strictly necessary for their voyage; and havingconcluded their purchases, they returned to the inn in time for dinner. 

Sybil was very much depressed. She could not rally from the effect thereading of that book had had upon her mind. She frequently repeated herfervent aspiration:

"Oh! that the ship would sail to-day!"

Lyon encouraged her as much as he possibly could, but he had his ownprivate subject of anxiety. He had not of course told any one of hisintention to go abroad. Every one believed that, having sold out hisload, he would return home; but he was obliged to stay in the cityuntil the sailing of the ship, and he wanted a fair excuse to do so. 

That evening the weather changed, and the sky clouded over, and the nextmorning it rained, and it continued to rain for three days. 

"This here will make them there roads so bad that we shan't be able totravel for a week, even if it does clear up soon, " grumbled and growledthe self-styled farmer, feeling glad all the while of an excuse to stayuntil the ship should sail. 

"No, that you won't, " echoed his friend the landlord, glad to retain aguest with whom he was pleased. 

On the third day of the rain, the sky showing signs of clearing, LyonBerners went over to Portsmouth to hear at what precise time theEnterprise would sail for Liverpool. When he returned he had good newsfor Sybil. 

"The Ship will sail on Saturday! That is the day after to-morrow, dearSybil. And we may go on board to-morrow night. "

"Oh! I am so glad!" exclaimed Sybil, clapping her hands for joy. And shebegan to pack up immediately. 

"Moreover, I have sold my wagon and horses to a party at Portsmouth. Andso we can put our luggage into it and drive off as if we were goinghome; but we can go down to the river instead, and take it across in theferry-boat. Then I can have our effects put upon shipboard, and thendeliver the team to its purchaser and receive the price, " added Lyon. 

"Oh, but I am so delighted with the bare fact of our getting away sosoon, that all things else seem of no account to me!" joyously exclaimedSybil, going on with her packing. 

The next morning Lyon went out alone to make a few more purchases fortheir voyage. While he was going around, he also bought all the dailypapers that he could get hold of. He returned to Sybil at an early hourof the forenoon. He found her sitting down in idleness. 

"Got entirely through packing, my darling?" he inquired cheerfully. 

"Oh, yes, and I have nothing on earth to do now. How long this last daywill seem! At what hour may we go on board, this evening?"

"At sundown. "

"Oh, that it were now sundown! How shall we contrive to pass the timeuntil then?"

"This will help us to pass the day, dear wife, " he answered, laying thepile of newspapers on the table between them. 

Each took up a paper and began to look over it. 

Lyon was deep in a political article, when a cry from Sybil startledhim. 

"What is the matter?" he inquired, in alarm. 

She did not answer. Her face was pale as ashes, and her eyes werestrained upon the paper. 

"What do you see there?" again inquired her husband. 

"Oh, Lyon! Lyon! we are lost! we are lost!" she cried in a voice ofagony. 

In great anxiety he took the paper from her hand, and read the paragraphto which she pointed. It ran thus:

"It is now certain that Sybil Berners, accused of the murder of RosaBlondelle, is not in Annapolis, as was falsely reported; but that shehas escaped in disguise, accompanied by her husband, who is also indisguise; and that both are in the city of Norfolk. "

Now it was Lyon's turn to grow pallid with fear, not for himself, butfor one dearer to him than his own life. Still he tried to control hisemotions, or at least to conceal them from her. He compelled himself toanswer calmly:

"Take courage, my darling! We are before them. In a few more hours weshall be on board the ship. "

Her hands were clasped tightly together; her eyes were fixed steadilyupon his face; her own face was white as marble. 

"Oh, Lyon! save me! Oh, my husband, save me! You _know_ that I amguiltless!" she prayed. 

"Dearest wife, I will lay down my life for you, if necessary! Becomforted! See! it is now two o'clock! In two more hours we may be onshipboard!" he said. 

"Let us go now! Let us go now!" she prayed, clasping her hands closely, gazing in his eyes beseechingly. 

"Very well, we will go at once, " he answered; and he took up his hat andhurried down stairs. 

He told the landlord that, as the weather was now good, he thought hewould risk the roads, and try to make a half-day's journey thatafternoon, at least. And then, without waiting to hear the host'sexpostulations, he just told him to make out the bill, and then he wentto the stables to put the horses to the wagon. 

In half an hour all was ready for their departure--the bill paid, thewagon at the door, and the luggage piled into it. And Sybil and Lyontook leave of their temporary acquaintances; and Lyon handed Sybil upinto her seat, climbed up after her, and started the horses at a brisktrot for the ferry-boat. 

They reached Portsmouth in safety. Lyon drove down at once to the wharf, engaged a rowboat, put Sybil and all their effects into it, and rowedher across the water to where the Enterprise lay at anchor. 

"Now I'm safe!" exclaimed Sybil, with a sigh of infinite relief, as shestepped upon the deck. 

The captain did not expect his passengers so soon, and he was busy; buthe came forward and welcomed them, and showed them into the cabin, apologizing for its unready condition, consequent upon the bustle oftheir preparations for sailing. 

Lyon left his wife in the Captain's care, and went back to the shore tocomplete the sale of his wagon and horses. 

He was gone for nearly two hours, and when he returned he explained hislong absence by saying that, after all, the hoped-for purchaser hadrefused to purchase, and that he had to leave his wagon and horses at astable in Portsmouth, and to retire to a restaurant and write a letterto Captain Pendleton, and enclose an order for him to receive theproperty on paying the livery. 

Sybil was satisfied--nay, she was delighted. In company with Lyon shewalked up and down the deck, looking so joyous that the men about theplace could but remark upon it as they gossipped with each other. 

The new voyagers took supper in the Captain's cabin, and afterwardsreturned to the deck and remained on it until the sun set and the starscame out. 

"Oh, this sense of release from danger! Oh, this delightful sense offreedom! And the heavenly starlit sky, and the beautiful water, and thedelicious breeze. Oh, the world is so lovely! Oh, life and liberty is sosweet, so sweet! Oh, dear Lyon, I am so happy! And I love you so much!"she exclaimed, almost delirious with joy at her great deliverance. 

It was very late before Lyon could persuade her to leave the deck. 

"I am too happy to sleep, " she continually answered. 

At length, however, he coaxed her to let him lead her to theirstate-room. 

There, in the darkness and silence, she grew more composed, though notless happy. And in a few minutes after she had laid down, she fellasleep. 

She slept very soundly until morning, when she was awakened by thecheerful chants of the sailors getting ready to make sail. 

She lay a little while enjoying the joyous sounds that spoke to her sohappily of liberty, and then she arose and dressed herself, and went upon deck, leaving Lyon still asleep. 

The sun was just rising, and the harbor was beautiful. She walked about, talking now to the captain, and now to one of the men, and excitingwonder among them all, at her happiness. 

At length she was joined by her husband, who had waked up the moment shehad left him, and got up immediately, and dressed and followed her. 

"Oh, Lyon! is not this a beautiful morning? And the Captain says thewind is fair, and we shall sail in half an hour!" was her greeting. 

And Lyon pressed her hand in silence. A great weight of anxiety lay uponhis heart; _he_ knew, if she did not, that she was not safe, even onshipboard, until the ship should really sail. And now his eyes werefixed upon a large rowboat that was rapidly crossing the water from theshore to the ship. 

"Do you expect any more passengers?" he inquired of the Captain. 

"Oh, lots!" answered the latter. 

"Are those some of your passengers coming in the boat?"

The Captain threw a hasty glance at the approaching object and answeredcarelessly:

"Of course they are! Don't you see they are making right for the ship?"

The boat was very near. It was at the side of the ship. The oars weredrawn in. The passengers were climbing up to the deck. 

"They look like nice people! I am sure they will make it stillpleasanter for us on the voyage, " said Sybil, who in her happy mood wasinclined to be delighted with every event. 

The Captain went to meet the new-comers. 

Two gentlemen of the party spoke for a moment with him, and thenadvanced towards the spot where the husband and wife were standing. 

"They _are_ nice people, " repeated Sybil, positively; but Lyon saidnothing; he was pale as ashes. The two gentlemen came up and stoodbefore Lyon and Sybil. The elder of the two took off his hat, and bowinggravely, said to Sybil:

"You are Mrs. Sybil Berners of Black Hall?"

Then all at once an agony of terror took possession of her; her heartsank, her brain reeled, her limbs tottered. 

"You are Mrs. Sybil Berners of Black Hall?" repeated the stranger, drawing from his pocket a folded paper. 

"Yes, " faltered Sybil, in a dying voice. 

"Then, Madam, I have a most painful duty to perform. Sybil Berners, youare my prisoner, " he said, and he laid his hand upon her shoulder. 

With an agonizing shriek she sprang from under his hand, and threwherself into the arms of her husband, wildly crying:

"Save me, Lyon! Oh! don't let them force me away! Save me, my husband!Save me!"

 CHAPTER XXXI. 

 THE ARREST. 

 Had it pleased Heaven To try me with affliction; had He rained All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head; Steeped me in poverty to the very lips; I could have found in some part of my soul A drop of patience; but alas, to make me A fixed figure for the time of scorn To point his slow, unmoving finger at!--SHAKESPEARE. 

"Save me! Oh, save me!" she continued to cry, clinging wildly to herhusband's bosom. "Save me from this deep degradation! This degradationworse than death!"

And it is certain that if the immediate sacrifice of his own life couldhave saved her, Lyon Berners would have willingly died for Sybil; oreven if the drowning of that law officer could have delivered her, hewould have incontinently pitched the man overboard; but as neither ofthese violent-means could possibly have served her, he could only claspher closer to his heart, and consider what was to be done. 

At length he looked up at the sheriff's officer, and said:

"I wish to have a word alone with my wife, if you will permit me. "

The man hesitated. 

"You can do it with perfect safety. We cannot possibly escape from thisship, you know; and besides, you can keep us in sight, " he added. 

Still the man hesitated, and at length inquired:

"Why do you wish to speak with her alone?"

"To try to soothe her spirits. I know it would be quite useless to tellyou how entirely innocent this lady is of the heinous crime imputed toher; for even if you should believe her to be so, you would have to doyour duty all the same. "

"Yes, certainly; and a most distressing duty, " put in the officer. 

"This arrest has come upon her so suddenly, and when she is so utterlyunprepared to meet it, that it has quite overcome her, as you see; butleave her alone with me for a few minutes, and I will try to calm hermind, and induce her to yield quietly to this necessity, " added Lyon. 

"Well, sir, I am indeed very willing to do all in my power to make thissad affair as little distressing to the lady as possible, " answered theofficer as he touched his companion on the shoulder, and they bothwalked off to some little distance. 

As their retreating steps sounded upon the deck, Sybil raised her headfrom Lyon's breast and looked around with an expression half-frightened, half-relieved, and murmured:

"They are gone! They are gone!"

Then clasping her husband suddenly around the neck, and gazing wildlyinto his eyes, she exclaimed:

"You can save me, Lyon, you can save me from this deep dishonor that noBerners ever suffered before! There is but one way, Lyon, and there isbut one moment. You have a small penknife; but it is enough. Open it, and strike it _here_, Lyon. One blow will be enough, if it is firmlystruck! Here--Lyon! here, strike here!" And she placed her hand on herthroat, under her ear, and gazed wildly, prayerfully in his face. 

"_Oh, Sybil!_" he groaned, in an agony of despairing love. 

"Quick! quick! Lyon! We have but this moment! Strike here now--now, thisinstant! Strike first, and then kiss me! kiss me as I die!"

"Sybil! Sybil, darling you wring my heart. "

"I am not afraid of death, Lyon; I am only afraid of shame. Kill me, tosave me, Lyon! Be a Roman husband. Slay your wife, to save her fromshame!" she cried, gazing on him with great bright dilated eyes, wherethe fires of frenzy, if not of insanity, blazed. 

"My best beloved! my only beloved! there can be no shame where there isno sin. I will save you, Sybil; I swear it by all my hopes of Heaven! Ido not yet see clearly how; but I will do it, " he said, solemnly, andpressing her again to his heart. 

"Do it this way! do it this way!" she wildly entreated, never removingher frenzied eyes from his face. 

"No, not that way, Sybil. But listen: there are safe means--sinlessmeans that we may use for your deliverance. The journey back will be along one, broken up by many stoppages at small hamlets and roadsideinns. Escape from these will be comparatively easy. I have also aboutme, in money and notes, some five thousand dollars. With those I canpurchase connivance or assistance. Besides, to farther our views, Ishall offer our wagon and horses, which luckily were not sold, butremain at the livery-stable at Portsmouth--I shall offer them, I say, tothe officer for his use, and try to persuade him to take us down toBlackville by that conveyance, which will be easier even for him, thanby the public stage coach. Take courage, dear Sybil, and take patience;and above all, do not think of using any desperate means to escape thistrouble. But trust in Divine Providence. And now, dear Sybil, we mustnot try the temper of these officers longer, especially as we have gotto leave the ship before it sails. "

And so saying, Lyon Berners beckoned the bailiffs to approach. 

"I hope the lady feels better, " said the elder one. 

"She is more composed, and will go quietly, " answered Mr. Berners. 

"Then the captain says we must be in a hurry. So if there is anythingyou wish to have removed, you had better attend to it at once, " said theman. 

"I do not wish to leave the side of my wife for an instant; so if youwould be so kind as to speak to the captain and ask him to have ourluggage removed from our state-room and put upon the boat, I should feelmuch obliged. "

Leaving his companion in charge of the prisoner, the senior officer wentforward and gave his message. And the captain, with a seaman-likepromptness, immediately executed the order. 

Then Sybil's hat and cloak were brought her from the cabin, and she putthem on and suffered herself to be led by her husband, and helped downto the boat. The Sheriff's officers followed, and when all were seated, the two boatmen laid to their oars, and the boat was rowed swiftlytowards shore. 

The husband and the wife sat side by side in the stern of the boat. Hisarm was wound around her waist, and her head was resting on hisshoulder. No word was spoken between them in the presence of thesestrangers; but he was silently giving her all the support in his power, and she was really needing it all, for she was utterly overcome; not bythe terrors of imprisonment or death, but by something infinitely worse, the horror of degradation. 

All this time too Lyon Berners was maturing in his own mind a plan forher deliverance, which he was determined to begin to carry out as soonas they should reach the shore. 

In a few minutes more the boat touched the wharf, and the party landed. 

"I must trouble you to take my arm, Mrs. Berners, " said the Sheriff'sofficer, drawing Sybil's hand under his elbow. 

She would have shrunk back, but Lyon looked at her significantly, andshe submitted. 

"Where do you mean to take us first?" inquired Mr. Berners, in a lowtone. 

"I wish to make this matter as little painful to this lady as thecircumstances will permit. So I shall take her for the present to ahotel, where she must of course be carefully guarded. To-night we shallstart by the night coach for Staunton, en route for Blackville, "answered the elder officer, as with Sybil on his arm he led the way intothe town. Mr. Berners walked on the other side of his wife, and thesecond officer followed close behind. 

"We thank you for your consideration, Mr. --Mr. --" began Lyon. 

"Purley, " continued the elder officer. "My name is Purley. "

"I do not remember you among the officers of the Sheriff's staff, however. "

"No; I am a new appointment. I must tell you, sir, that so strong wasthe feeling of sympathy for this lady, that not one of the bailiffscould be induced to serve the warrant; they resigned one after another. "

"They all knew Sybil from her childhood up. I thank them, and will takecare that they shall lose nothing in resigning their positions for hersake, " said Lyon Berners with much warmth, while Sybil's heavy heartswelled with gratitude. 

"And to tell the whole truth, had I known this lady, I should have feltthe same reluctance to serving this warrant that was experienced by mypredecessors in office. "

"I can well believe you, " answered Mr. Berners, gravely. 

"Now, however, having undertaken the painful duty, I must discharge itfaithfully, " added the officer. 

"Yes, Mr. Purley, but gently and considerately, I know. You will inflictas little of unmerited mortification as may be consistent with yourduty. "

"Heaven knows I will. "

"Then I have a plan to propose, and a favor to ask of you. "

"If I can gratify you with safety to the custody of my charge, I will doso; but here we are at the hotel now, and you had better wait until weget into a private sitting-room. The people of the place need not knowthat we are officers in charge of an accused party; but may be left tosuppose that we are ordinary travellers. "

"Oh, I thank you for that!" exclaimed Mr. Berners, warmly. 

They entered the hotel, a second-class house in a cross street, wherethe elder officer asked for a private sitting-room, to which they wereimmediately shown. 

As soon as the four were seated, Mr. Berners turned to the elder officerand broached his plan. 

"You spoke of taking the night coach for Staunton. Now, if anotherconveyance could be found--a private conveyance that would be morecomfortable for all parties, and would also be entirely under your owncontrol--would you not be willing that we should travel by it?"

"Oh! if you are able and willing to furnish a private conveyance for thejourney, and place it as you say at my own exclusive orders, I shall behappy to take the lady down that way, rather than expose her in a publicstage coach. "

"Thanks. I have a wagon and horses here at livery. They can be put touse at a few minutes' notice. So, if you prefer, you can start at onceupon this journey, and make some twenty-five or thirty miles beforenight. "

"Let us see the team first, and then we shall be able to judge, " saidthe officer. 

And after a few minutes' conversation it was arranged that Sybil shouldbe left in charge of the second officer, and that Mr. Purley should gowith Mr. Berners to the livery stable to look at the horses and wagon. These two went out together, and Purley took the precaution to lock thedoor and put the key in his pocket. 

"Why have you done that?" inquired Lyon, reproachfully. 

"Because women are irrational and impulsive. I have always found themso! She might suddenly cut and run; and although it wouldn't be a bitof use, you know, because she would be sure to be retaken in an hour orless time; yet, you see, it would cause a fuss, and be very unpleasantto me and you and her and everybody. "

"I see, " said Mr. Berners, with a sigh, acknowledging the truth of theposition. 

Meanwhile Sybil sat, absorbed in despair, and guarded by the secondofficer. Suddenly she heard her name softly murmured, and she looked up. The young bailiff stood before her. He was a sturdy looking youngfellow, swarthy skinned, black haired, and black bearded. 

"Miss Sybil, don't you know me? I beg your pardon! Mrs. Berners, don'tyou know me?" he inquired in a low tone, as if fearful of being heard. 

Sybil looked at him in surprise, and answered hesitatingly:

"N-no. 

"You forget people that you have been good to; but they don't forgetyou. Try to recollect me, Miss Sybil--Mrs. Berners. "

"Your face seems familiar; but--"

"But you don't recollect it? Well, may be you may remember names betterthan faces. Have you any memory of a poor boy you used to help, namedBob Munson?"

"Bob Munson--oh, is it you? I know you now. But it has been so longsince I saw you!" eagerly exclaimed Sybil. 

"Eight years, Mrs. Berners; and I have been fighting the Indians on thefrontier all that time. But I got my discharge, and came back withCaptain Pendleton. You know it was him as I went out with, when he was athird lieutenant in the infantry. I 'listed out of liking for him, andwe was together from one fort to another all these years, until CaptainPendleton got a long leave, and come home. I couldn't get leave, but theCaptain got my discharge. And when he goes back to his regiment, I meanto enlist again and go with him. "

"But how came you to be a sheriff's officer? and oh, above all, how_could_ you come to take _me?_" reproachfully inquired Sybil. 

"Oh, Miss--I mean, Madam, --can't you guess in your heart? When all thebailiffs throwed up their places rather than serve a warrant on you, andMr. Purley, who was a stranger, got an appointment and kept it, theywanted another man. And then my captain said to me, 'Munson, apply forthe place; I will back you. And then if you get it, you will have anopportunity of serving, and perhaps freeing, Mrs. Berners. ' And a greatdeal more he said, to the same purpose, Ma'am; and so I did apply forthe situation, and got it. And now, Madam, I am here to help you with mylife, if necessary, " added the young man, ardently. 

"Give me your hand. God bless you, Bob! Help me all you can. I _ought_to be helped, for I am innocent, " said Sybil, earnestly. 

"Don't I know it? Don't everybody with any sense know it? Don't even oldPurley know it, ever since he first clapped eyes on your face?"

"Heaven grant that all may soon!" prayed Sybil. 

"They will be sure to, Miss--I mean Madam. "

"Bob tell me: how was it that we were found out?"

"Well, you see, Miss--Ma'am--when you were at Dunville, where you wassaid to have staid all night, there was a fellow there who had a habitfor which he ought to be hung--of looking through the key-holes andwatching ladies when they thought themselves unseen. And this fellow sawyou take off your red wig. "

"And so discovered and denounced me?"

"No, he didn't, Ma'am; he didn't even suspect who you was. He took youfor a circus woman. And as for reporting what he had seen to anybody inthat house, it would have been as much as his life was worth. OldColonel Purley--he's a uncle of our bailiff--old Colonel Purley wouldhave peeled the skin offen his body, if he had a-known he had done sucha mean thing in his tavern. "

"Then how--"

"I'll tell you, Ma'am. It was this way. That fellow which, his name wasBatkin, was on his way to Blackville. And all along the road he kepttelling the yarn about the beautiful black-haired young lady he hadseen, and who had disfigured herself by wearing of a red wig; and ofcourse he raised suspicions there. And when he was questioned farther, he described the wagon and horses, and the man and the woman, soaccurately that the authorities thought it worth while to take thedescription down; and old Purley has it in his pocket along with thewarrant. And then, as I told you, the bailiffs all resigned rather thango after you; and old Purley had to be appointed. And I applied, and gotappointed too, only to help you!"

"Heaven reward you for the kind thought! But, Bob, there were some ofthe old set found who were willing to take me; for they went toAnnapolis after me, armed with warrant for my arrest. "

"Yes; them two: Smith and Jones! Sink 'em! I've swore a oath to thrash'em both within an inch of their lives the first time I set eyes onthem! Well, they didn't find you, Satan burn 'em! that's one comfort. "

"How was it that you found us?"

"Oh, Miss Sybil--Mrs. Berners, I should say--we did it easy when we oncehad got the clue. We went first to Dunville to inquire after thegray-bearded man and his red-headed daughter, and we learned the roadyou had taken, and followed you from stage to stage until we got toNorfolk. There we inquired in the neighborhood of the market, and foundwhere you had put up. Then, at the 'Farmers' Hotel, ' we were told, youhad left for home that afternoon. Of course we knew _that_ was a ruse. We knew that if you had left, it was for the deck of some outward boundship. So we inquired, and found out that the Enterprise was to sail inthe morning. And we staid at this house all night, and boarded the shipthis morning as you saw. "

"Oh, Bob! if you could have delayed for a half hour, the ship would havesailed, and I should have been free!" sighed Sybil. 

"I did all I could to make a delay. I put laudanum in his coffee lastnight. I was afraid to put in too much for fear of killing him, so Isuppose I didn't put in enough, for he laid wide awake all night. "

"Ah, yes! that would be the effect of an under-dose of laudanum. "

"Well then, Ma'am, I put back our watches a whole hour. But, bless you, he didn't go by the watches, he went by the sun; and as soon as it waslight he was up, and he sent me down to order an early breakfast. Andthen I got a chance to put laudanum in his coffee again, and this time Ioverdid it and put in too much, for he tasted something wrong, and hesaid it was vile stuff, and he wouldn't drink it! No, Miss--Ma'am, Ididn't neglect no means to let you get clean off. But you see it was nogo this time; and I had to help old Purley to arrest you. I'm glad youdidn't know me, hows'ever. And I would advise you not to know me at allwhenever old Purley is about. Keep dark, Miss Sybil, and I'll find a wayto get you off. I haven't been hiding and seeking and hunting among thered-skins these eight years for nothing. Hish-sh! Here they come, "whispered Bob Munson, creeping away to the other end of the room, andputting himself on guard. 

The elder officer unlocked the door, and entered, followed by Mr. Berners. He announced that the wagon was at the door, and that theywere ready to start on the return journey. And then Purley gave his armto Sybil, and led her to the wagon, and placed her on the back seat, while Mr. Berners and Bob Munson lingered behind, the former to gatherup Sybil's little personal effects, and the latter to settle the hotelbill. But there was no opportunity, among the crowd of guests andservants, for Munson to make his friendly intentions known to Mr. Berners by any other means than a significant look and a pressure of thehand, which Lyon Berners could not more than half understand. He felt, however, that in his younger officer he and his unhappy wife had afriend. They went out together, followed closely by the hostler, whowanted his own fee; but both Mr. Berners and Bob Munson were too muchannoyed by his presence to feel like rewarding his attendance. 

Lyon Berners mounted to the seat beside his wife, and Bob Munson to thatbeside Purley, who held the reins. And in this manner they set out ontheir return journey. 

They crossed the ferry without attracting particular attention. 

 CHAPTER XXXII. 

 A DESPERATE VENTURE

 I have set my life upon a cast. And I will stand the hazard of the die. --SHAKESPEARE. 

It was yet so early in the morning that they drove ten miles out to asmall village on the road before they thought of breakfast. There Mr. Berners reminded the officer in charge that Sybil had not yet broken herfast. Whereupon Purley drew up before the one little tavern of theplace, alighted, and assisted his charge to alight, and then keepingfast hold of her arm, led her into the house, and ordered breakfast. 

While the meal was being got ready he kept his party of four welltogether in the sitting-room where they waited. And as soon as breakfastwas over, they all reëntered the wagon and resumed their journey. Theytravelled twenty miles before stopping to dine at a lonely roadsidetavern, where again Purley watched his charge with such vigilance thatshe had no opportunity to speak privately either to her husband or theirfriend. Still she hoped this opportunity would be afforded when theyshould stop for the night. After an hour's rest they went on again, travelling with moderate haste all the afternoon. They made fifteen moremiles before sunset, and then, having driven forty-five miles that day, and finding their horses very tired, they determined to put up for thenight at a small hamlet, whose comfortable little hotel promised restand refreshment. 

Still Purley kept close to his charge. They all had supper in a privatesitting-room. And when that meal was over and the hour for retirementarrived, Purley himself accompanied Mr. And Mrs. Berners to theirbedroom to see that it was secure. It was a front chamber, on the upperfloor, with two front windows overlooking the village street, and butone door, which opened upon the passage. 

"That is all safe, " said Purley, casting a glance around. "So I mayleave you two alone here together, where no doubt, you are glad enoughto be. But I'm sorry to say I must turn the key on you; not that I haveany right to lock you up, sir, without your consent; but of course you_will_ consent to that, for the sake of staying with your wife. "

"Of course I will; and thank you for the privilege, " answered Mr. Berners. 

"All right then. Good-night to you both, " said Purley, closing andlocking the door, and withdrawing the key. 

And then he took a farther precaution for the security of his charge, byordering a mattress to be brought and laid down before that chamberdoor. And there he and his companion stretched themselves to rest like apair of watch dogs. 

As soon as Sybil found herself alone with her husband, she beckoned himto that end of the room which was farthest from the door, and when hewas close beside her she whispered in the lowest tone:

"Did you observe anything peculiar in the manner of that youngerbailiff?"

"I observed that he tried to attract my particular attention whenever wehappened to be unnoticed for a moment. But as we were so very closelywatched I had no opportunity of asking, or he of telling, what hemeant, " said Lyon Berners. 

"Then I will tell you all about it. When Mr. Purley went away with you, and left that young man guarding me, the first thing he did was to makehimself known to me, and to place himself at my service even to thedeath!"

"Who was he?"

"Robert Munson; a boy that I was so fortunate as to be kind to in hischildhood and mine. Afterwards he was a private soldier in CaptainPendleton's company, and served under him for eight years, fighting theIndians on the frontier. At Captain Pendleton's suggestion, and with hisown hearty free will, he volunteered for this service of pursuing me, only that he might more effectually try to free me. "

"Sybil, what are you saying? Have we a friend in one of our captors?"exclaimed Lyon, in astonishment. 

"Yes; a friend who will serve us to the death! Listen, dear Lyon, and Iwill tell you all about it, " answered Sybil. 

And she commenced, and related all the circumstances of her acquaintancewith Robert Munson; of his motives for entering upon his presentavocation, and of his discovery of himself to her in the hotel atPortsmouth. 

"Now may heaven grant that some day I may have an opportunity ofrewarding that good fellow for his willing service, whether it everavail us or not, " said Lyon Berners, earnestly. 

"But dear Lyon, we must be very careful not to betray by any word orlook that we have any acquaintance, much less understanding, withMunson, for to do so would be to ruin our only chance of escape, " saidSybil. 

"Of course! of course! I understand that perfectly well!"

"But watch your opportunity, and when you feel it to be perfectly safe, communicate with Robert Munson. 

"I understand, dear Sybil, and I shall be very prudent and veryvigilant, " answered Mr. Berners. 

And then they retired to rest. 

Very early the next morning they were aroused by their keeper who neverleft his post at their door until he saw them come out of their room. And then he drew Mrs. Berner's arm within his own and led her down tobreakfast. 

After breakfast they resumed their journey. 

This first day and night on the road was a type of all that followed. The bailiff Purley never lost sight of his charge except at night, andthen he first assured himself that her room was a secure prison, fromwhich it would be impossible for her to escape; and then, to makeassurance doubly sure, he always locked the door on the outside, put thekey into his pocket, and stretched himself on a mattress across thethreshold. 

There was no opportunity afforded to Sybil, Lyon and their new friend tospeak together in private; and as day followed day and night succeedednight in this hopeless manner, their spirits fell from despondency evento despair. 

But as it is said to be darkest just before dawn, and that when thingsare at their worst they are sure to mend, so it proved in their case. 

On the evening of the fourth day of their tedious journey, they stoppedto sup and sleep at a lonely farm-house, where for "a consideration, "the poor farmer consented, whenever he got the chance, to entertaintravellers. 

Here their wagon and horses were comfortably stabled, and themselveswere lodged and feasted. 

Here, as usual after supper, Mr. Purley accompanied his charge to herbedroom, which, to his perplexity, he found to have two doors; the oneopening upon the upper hall, and the other communicating with anadjoining vacant chamber. 

After some consideration, he solved the difficulty of guarding hisprisoner by saying to his assistant:

"Well, Munson, all that can be done is this: one of us will have tosleep across one door, and the other across the other. And as I hav'n'tslept in a room for three nights, I reckon I'll take the vacant room, and you may take the hall. But mind, don't forget to draw the key out ofthe door when you lock it, and put it into your pocket. And mind also, to be sure to pull your mattress quite up to the door and lay directlyacross it, so that if the lock should be picked, no one can pass withoutgoing right over your own body; and, last of all, mind to sleep onlywith one eye open, or all the other precautions will be of no use atall. "

"I will be very careful, sir, " answered young Bailiff Munson, touchinghis hat to his superior officer in military style. 

"And now, as your legs are younger than mine, I wish you would run downstairs and ask the farmer to send me up a mug of that home-brewed bitterbeer he was talking about. "

"Yes, sir, " answered the young bailiff starting off with alacrity, whilethe elder remained on guard at the door of his charge. 

In five minutes or less time, Munson returned with a quart measure ofthe "home-brewed, " which he handed to Purley. 

"Souls and bodies! but it is bitter, sure enough! I have heard of bitterbeer, but this beats all for bitterness that ever I tasted! However, thebitterer the better, I suppose; and this is really refreshing, " saidPurley, as he drained the mug, and handed it empty to a negro boy, whohad just brought in and laid down the mattress upon which Munson was tosleep. 

Munson smiled to himself. 

Then Purley reiterated all his cautions for the careful guarding of hischarge, and at length bade his comrade good-night, and retired to thevacant chamber, to guard the door on that side. 

Munson drew his mattress across the hall-door as he had been directed todo, and laid himself down in all his clothes--not to sleep, but tolisten and watch until the house should grow quiet; for on this night hewas resolved to effect the deliverance of Sybil, or perish in theattempt. 

Meanwhile Mr. And Mrs. Berners had retired to their chamber--not torest, but to wait for events; for on this night a sure presentimentinformed them that Robert Munson, on guard there at their outer door, would be sure to use his opportunities for attempting a rescue. So theyquietly coöperated with what they divined to be his intentions. 

First Sybil went and hung a towel over the knob of the lock, so as todarken the key-hole of the door guarded by Purley. Then she slipped thebolt, saying:

"He may guard us if he must, but he shall neither look in upon us, norintrude upon us, if I can help it. "

And then, instead of undressing for bed, they did the opposite thing, and quietly dressed for an escape. And lastly, they concealed theirmoney and jewels about their persons, and threw a few of the mostnecessary articles for their journey into one travelling bag, and thensat down to listen and watch on the inside, as their friend waslistening and watching on the outside. 

Then they heard Purley arranging and re-arranging his bed against hisdoor, and tumbling down upon it, like a man utterly overcome by fatigueand drowsiness; after which all was silent, until the stertorousbreathing of the bailiff assured them of the depth of his sleep. Afterthat, not a sound was heard in the house. Lyon looked at his watch. Itwas but nine o'clock, though the whole house was at rest. In theseremote country places, people go to roost with the fowls, or very soonafter. 

Still for another hour of silent, breathless suspense they waited; andthen they heard a faint tapping on the door that was guarded by Munson. 

Mr. Berners went up, and tapped gently in response. 

"Hist!" breathed the voice from without, through the key-hole. 

"Well!" murmured Lyon, through the same channel. 

"Take some of the melted tallow on the top of your candle, and greasethe key-hole as well as you can, and then I will come in and talk toyou, if you will let me. "

"Thanks; yes. "

And Mr. Berners did as he was requested to do, and Munson slipped hiskey into the lubricated key-hole, and silently unlocked the door. 

"Oh, our deliverer!" fervently exclaimed Sybil, as he softly entered theroom and closed the door behind him, holding up his finger in warning tothem to be silent. 

"And now sit close for a few minutes, while I tell you what I have doneand am going to do, " said Munson, drawing a stool and sitting himselfupon it, before Mr. And Mrs. Berners. 

"Go on, " muttered Lyon, fervently pressing the hand of his friend. 

"Oh, yes, go on, dear Bob!" eagerly whispered Sybil. 

"First I put nearly half an ounce of laudanum in old Purley's bitterbeer, which made him think it so uncommon prime and bitter, that hedrank the whole quart. "

"Good heaven! Munson, you have killed the man!" said Lyon, in dismay. 

"No, I have only doubled the dose I gave him before, which took noeffect on him, so this will only put him to sleep for twelve hours orso. Lord, listen how he snores! A thunderstorm wouldn't wake him. "

"Well?"

"Next, as soon as he was asleep, I went into his room in mystocking-feet, and closed all the solid wooden shutters, to make himbelieve it is still night when he does awake and feel drowsy, as he willbe sure to feel, so that he shall go to sleep again, and sleep untilevening, and that will give you nearly twenty-four hours start of him. "

"Right! Quite right, " said Mr. Berners. 

"Well, well; but go on, dear Bob, " impatiently murmured Sybil. 

"I locked his door on the outside, and took away the key, to make thefarmer or any of the family, if they should go into his room to see whyhe slept so long, think that he had locked himself in. For the rest Ishall stay here and pretend to sleep very late myself. In fact I shallsleep until they wake me up, and then I shall be very angry, and tellthem they had better not play that game on Mr. Purley, as he would be ina fury if his rest should be broken. And so I will guard these two roomsfrom intrusion, and your escape from being discovered, as long as Ipossibly can. "

"But when it shall be discovered, my poor fellow, will you not getyourself into trouble?" inquired Lyon. 

"Even if I should, what will my trouble be to this lady's? But at worstI shall only be cussed by old Purley, and turned out of my place by thesheriff; and as I'm used to being cussed, and don't like my place, itdon't matter. "

"And in any case, you shall be well rewarded, dear Bob. Not that such aservice as you are about to render us _can_ ever be adequately rewarded;but, as far as--"

"Oh, dear Madam, don't speak of reward! I owe you a debt of gratitude, which I am glad to pay. I have told you what I _have_ done, and what Ishall do, to relieve you of anxiety; and now we had better quietly leavethe house. Are you ready?" inquired Munson. 

"We have been quite ready for these two hours, in anticipation of yourhelp. "

"Come, then; but come very silently, though there is not the slightestdanger, either, of our being heard. The farmer is a beer swiller, andsleeps heavily, and his women folks all sleep up in the garret. I sawthem all go up myself; they passed with their candle, as I lay on thepallet, " whispered Munson, as he quietly led the way out into the halland softly closed and locked the door, and withdrew the key. 

"It is just as well to do this, to guard against the chance of any oneopening the door while I am gone, " he added, as he softly preceded theparty down the stairs. 

He silently opened the front door, and they passed out into the freeair. 

A watch-dog that lay upon the mat outside got up and wagged his tail, and laid down again, as if to express his willingness that any inmatemight leave the house who wished to do so, though no stranger shouldenter it except over his dead body. 

"Sensible dog!" said Munson, as with more precaution he closed andlocked the outer door, and took that key also with him. 

"You must not attempt to escape with your wagon; but must ride yourhorses, which will be much more efficacious both for swiftness and fortheir ability to go through places where you could not take a wagon, "said Munson, as they walked across the farm-yard. 

But when they drew near the stable, they were set upon by a couple ofwatch-dogs, who, barking furiously, barred their farther progress. 

"There is no other way!" exclaimed Munson, and drawing a doublebarrelled pistol from his pocket, he shot one dog dead, while the otherran howling away. 

Then with some difficulty they forced the door, and while Lyon remainedon the outside with Sybil, young Munson entered the stable and led outtheir two horses. 

"Here are several bridles, and here is one side-saddle, which will suitMrs. Berners, if you have no scruple about borrowing them, " suggestedMunson. 

"I should have no scruple about borrowing anything from anybody to aidmy wife's escape. Besides, there is my wagon more than double the valueof the things that we require; I will leave that in pledge, " said Mr. Berners. 

"Just so, " assented Munson. 

And all this time he had been arranging the side-saddle and bridle uponSybil's horse. As soon as it was ready Mr. Berners came around to lifthis wife into her seat. 

"One moment, dear Lyon, " said Sybil, pausing to adjust her dress. 

While she did so, Munson again spoke to Mr. Berners. 

"You have your pocket compass?"

"Yes. "

"Then I advise you to use it as soon as it is light, to direct yourcourse. And do not go toward the east, for old Purley will pursue you inthat direction, under the impression that you will try to reach anotherseaport town, and get off in a ship. But make for the interior, for theWest, and get away as fast and as far as you can. Be careful to keep asmuch as possible in the woods, even though your progress should beslower through them than it would be in the open country. And now excusemy presuming to give you so much counsel; but you know I have been uponthe war path, out among the red-skins, and am up to hunting andflying. "

"I thank you--we both thank you from the depths of our souls. And wepray that the day may come when we shall be able to prove ourgratitude, " said Lyon, earnestly. 

"Never mind that! But put madam into her seat. She is ready now; and, indeed, the sooner you are off the better, " answered Munson. 

Mr. Berners advanced towards Sybil, when the whole party was stopped bya terrible event. 

"No you don't, you infernal villain! I have caught you, have I? Stand!"exclaimed a voice of thunder, and the stout farmer stood before them, atthe head of all his negroes, and with a loaded musket in his hand!

Like lightning young Munson threw himself before Sybil, drew a pistolfrom his breast, and levelled it straight at the heart of theiropponent, exclaiming:

"Out of the way, you devil! and let her pass. Out of the way thisinstant, or, by my life, I will kill you! I will! I will kill you, andhang for her sake!"

The man raised his musket, and aimed it at the head of him whose handpointed the pistol to his own heart. And thus, like two duellists, theystood fatally eyeing each other!

 CHAPTER XXXIII. 

 A FATAL CRISIS. 

 Each at the life Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands No second stroke intended. --MILTON. 

"Hold! on your lives!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, rushing between theopponents, and with swift hands striking up the pistol of Robert Munson, and turning aside the musket of Farmer Nye. "Would you shed eachother's blood so recklessly? Here is some mistake. Farmer, whom did youtake us for?"

"Who did I take you for, is it? For that cornsarned band of robbers ashave been mislesting the country for miles round this month past. "

"Robbers?"

"Yes, robbers! as has been tarryfying the whole country side ever sinceHollow Eve!"

"I never heard of them. "

"May be you didn't, but I took you for them all the same. "

"And aimed your musket at that lady! And might have shot her dead, hadnot this brave man thrown himself before her, with a loaded pistol inhis hand, levelled at your heart. "

"How did I know it was a lady? How could I see in this dim light? I tookher for one of you, and I took you all for robbers, " said the farmer, sulkily. 

"Well, you see who we are now?"

"Yes; I see as you are my new lodgers. Though why you should be out hereat the stables after your beasts at this hour of the night, and wake meup with a row; or should take my darter's side-saddle, and kill mywatch-dog, blame you, I _don't_ see!" growled the farmer. 

"Come, walk aside with me for a few minutes, and I will show you why, "said Mr. Berners, soothingly laying his hand on the farmer's shoulder. 

"Hands off, if you please! No! I don't think as I _will_ walk aside withyou. You might do me a mischief. "

"Bosh! you are armed, and I am unarmed. How can I harm you? Come, and Iwill tell you something to your advantage, " coaxed Mr. Berners. 

Partly urged by curiosity and partly by interest, Farmer Nye reluctantlyconsented to follow where Mr. Berners led him. When they had passed outof hearing of the negroes Mr. Berners stopped, and turned to his host, and said:

"You know who we are?"

"I know you are my new lodgers--that's all I know about you. "

"Yet you must have observed something out of the common about ourparty?"

"Yes; I took notice as you and your wife must have been dreadful 'fraidof being robbed and murdered on your journey, when you kept two men totravel with you, and guard you all day long, and sleep outside of yourdoors like watch-dogs all night long. Which me and my darter made it outbetween us as you must have lots of money with you to make you socautious. And which, if we had known you was going to be so mistrustfulof _us_, we'd have seen you farther before we'd have took you in. "

"And so that is the way in which _you_ accounted for matters and thingsthat you couldn't understand?"

"To be sure it was; and very natural too. "

"Shall I tell him the whole truth?" inquired Lyon Berners of himself. "Iwill sound him first, " he concluded. Then speaking up, he said:

"Well, you cannot blame people for being cautious, after that horriblemurder at Black Hall. "

"That's so too, " admitted the farmer. 

"And yet, " added Mr. Berners, "they _do_ say that it was no robber thatdid that murder, but the lady of the house who did it. "

"The lady of the house!" indignantly echoed the farmer, to Lyon's greatastonishment. "Don't you go to say that; for if you do, devil burn me ifI don't knock you down with the butt end of my gun!"

"I do not say it. I only tell you what other people say. "

"They lie! the hounds! And I wish I could meet any of them venomousbackbiters face to face. Satan fly away with me if I wouldn't teartheir false tongues out of their throats, and throw them to the dogs!_You_ don't mean to say you believe she did it?" fiercely demandedSybil's rough champion. 

"No; Heaven knows I do not! I believe her to be as guiltless as anangel. "

"I'm glad to hear you say that! I don't want to pitch into an unarmedman, but I should a' been strongly tempted to 'a done it if you'd saidanything else. "

"You know this injured lady, then?"

"Yes; I have knowed her ever since she was a little gal. Not as ever Imet her face to face in my life, but I know her as every poor man andpoor child and poor brute in the whole country knows her: as thekindest, gentlest, tenderest-hearted lady in the whole world--she whohas been known to take the fur cloak off her own back, and lay it overthe form of a sick beggar, while she went home in the cold to send herwarm blankets. Yes, and known to have done scores of deeds as good andself-sacrificing as that. _She_ do the thing they accuse her of! Why, sir, she no more did it than I, or you, or your own sweet wife did it!And Satan burn _me_! when I hear of any man accusing her of it, if Idon't feel just like knocking his dull brains out, and taking theconsequences--that I do!" swore the farmer. 

"I will trust him, " said Lyon Berners to himself. 

--"And to think that men who call themselves law officers, not to sayChristians, should hunt that lovely lady through the country as if shewas some wild beast or highway robber! I wish one of them hunters was tocome my way. I'm blowed to flinders if I wouldn't set my whole pack ofdogs on 'em till they would be torn to pieces. I'd give 'em hunting! Butexcuse _me_, Mr. --Mr. --What's-your-name; I've gone away from the pint, which I always do fly off at a tangent and lose my bearings whenever Ihear that lady accused. Now, sir, what had you to tell me to myadvantage?" inquired the farmer, drawing a handkerchief from his pocketand wiping his heated face. 

"I will tell him all, " said Lyon Berners to himself; and then he spokeup:

"First, good friend, let me assure you that you have not wandered ahair's breadth from the point at issue between us. "

"Oh yes, I have; for I have been raving about Mrs. Berners; but Icouldn't help it. "

"Mrs. Berners is the lady who is with me, " said Mr. Berners. 

Farmer Nye jumped three feet from the ground and came down again like aman that was shot, and then stood with open mouth and eyes staring atthe speaker. 

"I am her husband, and the men who are guarding us are the officers whohave her in custody. "

"WHAT? Say that again!" uttered the farmer, panting for breath. 

Mr. Berners repeated all that he had said, adding:

"I had got her away from this neighborhood, and on shipboard. And shewas rejoicing in her supposed safety and freedom, for the ship waswithin a half hour of sailing, when these officers came on board with awarrant and arrested her. "

"THEY DID! Wait till I get my niggers together. The boys will want nobetter fun than to tar and feather them devils, and set them afire andturn 'em loose. And blame me if I don't give the best feather-bed in myhouse to the service. Come along, " exclaimed the farmer, starting off tocommence the work. 

"Stop!" said Lyon Berners, laying his hand soothingly upon the shoulderof the excited man. "Above all, you wish to serve my unhappy wife, do younot!"

"Yes! with my 'life, and fortune, and sacred honor' as the Declarationof Independence says. "

"Then you can not serve her by any violence done to the officers, whoare only doing their duty. "

"Doing their duty! Duty! That's a matter of opinion! I consider I shouldbe doing of _my_ duty if I was to order my niggers to take 'em out andtar and feather 'em. Yes, and set 'em afire afterwards--burn 'em!"

"Yes; but that would be doing a great injustice to them, and also agreat injury to Mrs. Berners. If you really wish to serve my dear wife, you can do so by helping her to escape. "

"I'll help her to escape, with all my heart and soul! And with all myheart and soul I'll shoot down anybody that dares to start from here inpursuit of her!" emphatically declared the farmer. 

"That is not necessary. You can cover our retreat by more peaceablemeans. And now I must advise you that both these officers have used uswith the greatest kindness and consideration, concealing our identityand shielding us from the curiosity and intrusion of strangers, wheneverthey could do so, as is proved by your own experience, for you had nosuspicion as to who we might be. "

"No, that I hadn't! And a good thing I hadn't too! for if I'd a knownthat lady had a been kept a prisoner here in my house, I'd a pitched herjailers neck and heels out o' the windows, and then set the dogs on'em!"

"But that would have been very unjust to them, and injurious to the ladyyou wish to befriend. And especially it would have been the verygreatest injustice to the younger officer, who has been our partisanfrom the first. "

"Eh! what? One of them jailers your partisan?"

"Yes; let me explain, " said Mr. Berners. And he commenced and detailedall the circumstances of their acquaintance and relations with RobertMunson. 

"And so, out of gratitude for the kindness this lady showed him in hischildhood, he got himself put on this service o' purpose to watch hisopportunity of reskying her. "

"Just so. "

"Well, he's an honest fellow, that he is!" said the farmer, approvingly. 

"Now, Mr. Nye, all you have to do, if you wish to help us, is just tolet us go free. When we are gone, keep the house quiet, and let theelder officer sleep as long as possible, for the longer he sleeps thefarther we shall get away from pursuit. "

"I'll lock him up and keep him prisoner for a month, if necessary. "

"But it is not necessary. A day's start is all that we shall need, andthat, I think, you can secure to us, by simply letting the man sleep aslong as he will. And furthermore, I may ask you to be cautious and notto betray our friend Robert Munson's agency in our escape. "

"I'll protect Robert Munson with my life. "

"A thousand thanks! And now, as we understand each other, let us go onto my wife, who is anxiously waiting the issue of this interview, " saidLyon Berners, turning and leading the way towards the stables. 

"Now, squire, you may rely upon me, and rest easy in your mind. Yousha'n't be followed in less than twenty-four hours, " said the farmer, asthey went along. 

"Again I thank you from my heart. And now I have something else to sayto you, " began Lyon Berners

Then he paused, as finding a real difficulty in saying what he wished;for the truth is, that when Mr. Berners had called Mr. Nye aside for aprivate interview, he had intended to offer him a heavy bribe to conniveat the escape of Sybil. 

Now, however, he found the farmer not exactly the sort of man to affrontwith the proffer of a bribe, or even scarcely of a reward; and yet hewas a poor man who evidently needed money, and would probably alwaysneed it; for Farmer Nye, as has been shown in his championship of Sybil, was a man of impetuous emotions, hasty judgments, and reckless actions, and was always sure to be in troubles, social, domestic, and pecuniary. 

So Mr. Berners, while wishing to reward his services, felt a difficultyas to the manner of doing so. 

At length, however, he continued:

"Mr. Nye, I said at the beginning of our talk, that I could tell yousomething to your advantage. "

"Well, and, bless my soul alive, haven't you done it? I wonder if Icould hear of anything more to my advantage than the chance of helpingto resky that lady as I have felt for so much?" warmly inquired thefarmer. 

"You have a generous and noble nature to look upon it in that light. "

"No, I haven't; but I'm a man, I reckon, and not a beast nor a devil, and that's all about it. "

"Well, farmer, I confess that when I first spoke to you, I thought ofoffering you a heavy bribe to allow us to go free, and that was what Imeant when I said I had something to propose to your advantage. "

"Then I'm glad you didn't do it--that's all. "

"I am glad too, for now I know your magnanimous heart would have led youto serve us without reward, and even at great loss. "

"Yes, that it would, " naively assented the farmer. 

"And even so we accept and shall ever be grateful for your services, "added Lyon Berners, gravely. And all the while he was slily examiningthe contents of his pocketbook. At length he drew a five hundred dollarnote from the compartment in which he knew he kept notes of thatdenomination, and he slipped it into a blank envelope, and held it readyin his hand. 

In another moment they were at the stable door, before which Sybilstood, leaning on the bowed neck of her own horse, while Robert Munsonheld the other horse. 

Before Lyon Berners could speak, Farmer Nye impetuously pushed past him, and rushed up to Sybil, pulled off his hat and put out his hand, exclaiming:

"Give me your hand, lady. I beg your pardon ten thousand times over forall I said and did to affront you, not knowing who you was. But now, lady, here is a man who don't _believe_ you to be innocent, because he_knows_ that you are so, and who will fight for you as long as he hasgot a whole bone left in his body, and shed his blood for you as long ashe has got a drop left in his veins. "

Overcome by this ardent testimonial to her innocence, Sybil burst intotears, and took the rough hand that had been held out to her, and weptover it, and pressed it warmly to her lips, and then to her heart. 

"Yes, that I will. I'll die before a hair of your head shall be hurt, "exclaimed the farmer, utterly overwhelmed and blubbering. 

Meanwhile Lyon Berners was explaining to Robert Munson that they hadfound a friend and helper in Farmer Nye; but advising Munson to try toinfuse enough of discretion into the impetuous mind of Nye to modify hisreckless actions. 

"And now, dear boy, " added Mr. Berners, "I will not speak to you ofreward for this great service; but this I _will_ say, that henceforthyou shall be to me as a younger brother, and I shall take charge of yourfuture fortunes even as though you were the son of my mother. "

"You are too generous, sir; and indeed I want no recompense whatever, "answered Robert Munson, sincerely. 

Then Mr. Berners went over to his wife and lifted her into her saddle;and when he had settled her comfortably in her seat, he mounted his ownhorse, and once more called Robert Munson to him. 

"Good-bye, and God bless you, Robert, " he said, warmly shaking handswith the young man. 

"And you too, sir! and you too, sir!" feelingly responded Munson. 

And then Sybil called him. 

"Good-bye, dear Bob. I will remember you and love you as long as I livefor this, " she said. 

"And so will I you, ma'am, " he answered, and turned away to hide histears. 

Lastly Lyon Berners rode up to where Farmer Nye stood apart. 

"Farewell, Farmer Nye! And may you indeed fare as well as your greatheart deserves all your life, " said Lyon. 

"The same to you and your dear wife, sir, with all my soul in theprayer!" responded the farmer. 

"And here, Mr. Nye, is a testimonial--I mean a memorandum--that is tosay, something I wish you to take for my sake. "

"A keepsake, sir?"

"If you choose to consider it so, yes. "

"What might it be sir?" inquired the farmer, receiving from Mr. Bernersthe small envelope containing the large note. 

"It _might_ be a lock of my wife's hair, or it might be my miniature;but whatever it is, hold it tight, and do not look at it until you getback to the house. "

"All right, sir; but you have raised my curiosity, " replied the farmer, as he carefully deposited his unsuspected little fortune into the pocketof his waistcoat. 

"Now direct me as to how I shall find the best and most private roadwestward, " said Lyon, gathering the reins in his hands. 

"You are facing east now. Ride straight on for about a hundred yards, till you come to the cross-roads, then take the road to your left, andfollow it for about an eighth of a mile until you come to another roadstill on your left; take that and follow it as far as you please, for itleads straight west. "

"Thank you again and again! We shall do very well now. Good-bye, all;and God bless you forever!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, waiving his hat inadieus to the friends he was leaving behind. 

Then, the husband and wife rode forth in the night together. 

Before we follow them, we will see how it fared with the faithfulfriends who had risked so much in their service. 

 CHAPTER XXXIV. 

 THE PURSUIT. 

 Horse! horse! * * * * and chase!--MARNION. 

Farmer Nye and Robert Munson remained standing with their headsuncovered, looking after the fugitives until the sound of their horses'hoofs died away in the distance, and then they turned towards each otherand impulsively grasped each the other's hand, and shook hands ascomrades. 

Next Farmer Nye turned to the negroes who were squatting about thestable-yard, wondering, no doubt, at all they had seen and heard; and hetold them to disperse to their quarters, and keep still tongues in theirheads, if they wished to keep their heads on their shoulders. 

"And now we'll go back to the house and get a drop of home-brewed, andgo to bed, " said the farmer, starting off at a brisk trot, and beckoninghis young companion to follow him. 

"I mean to manage so as Old Purley shall be made to believe as theprisoner escaped through _his_ door, " said Munson, as he came up. 

"That'll be bully!" said the farmer. 

They went back to the house, consulted the tall old-fashioned clock inthe corner of the hall, found it was just eleven, and they took theirdrop of "home-brewed, " and went to rest. 

Robert Munson, with design, threw himself down upon the mattress outsidethe carefully locked door of the chamber, from which he had helped hisprisoners to escape. And being very much fatigued, he fell asleep, andslept long and late. 

The first persons up in the house were the farmer's daughter Kitty, andher old maiden aunt Molly. 

They came down from their attic chambers and walked on tiptoes past thesleeping Munson, so as not to wake him. They went down stairs and hadbreakfast got ready, but had to wait very long before either the farmeror the young man appeared. When they did come down, however, andapologized for their tardiness, the women inquired for the other guests, and were told that they must not be disturbed. 

The day passed slowly. 

It was late in the afternoon before old Purley awoke and finding theroom quite dark, and feeling himself still very drowsy, he merely turnedover and went to sleep again. And still overpowered by the combinedaction of the laudanum and the beer-opium and hops, he slept on until avery late hour of the night, when at length he awoke; but perceivingthat all was quite dark and still, he lay quietly in bed, thinking thiswas about the longest night he had ever spent in his life. At last hegot up, and opened the blinds to see if it was near day. And perceivingby a faint light streak along the horizon that the morning was at hand, he opened the other blinds, and began to dress himself as well as hecould in the semi-darkness. 

By the time he had got on all his clothes, the day was a little lighter, and he went into the passage to see after the safety of his prisoner. 

He found young Munson stretched upon the mattress immediately beforethe door. 

"Quite correct, " he thought; but he resolved to go up to the door tomake a closer examination. First he saw that the key had been taken outof the lock. 

"All right, " he said to himself. "Munson has obeyed orders, and put thekey in his pocket. "

And then still farther to assure himself of the safety of his charge, hebent over the sleeping form of Munson and tried the lock, and found itfast. 

"Quite correct! Nothing has been neglected. He is a careful officer, andshall be well reported at head-quarters, " he muttered, with muchsatisfaction. 

But to reach the lock at all, he had been obliged to bend so far overthe sleeping body, that now, in trying to recover his perpendicular, helost his balance, and fell heavily, nearly crushing and quite wakingMunson, who, in struggling to throw off the burden, recognized oldPurley, but pretending to mistake him for Mr. Berners, grappled him bythe throat, exclaiming:

"No you don't you villain! You don't get her out of this room exceptover my dead body!" And he shook him furiously. 

"It's me--me--me, Bob! Do-do-don't choke me to death!" gasped oldPurley, as he struggled and freed his throat for an instant from thegrasp of Robert's hands. 

But Munson throttled and shook him more furiously than before, singingout:

"Help! murder! arson! Here's this man reskying of my prisoner!" And heshook him until his teeth rattled in his head. 

"Oh, my good lord! I shall be strangled with the best of intention, "sputtered the terrified and half-suffocated victim, as for an anotherinstant he freed his throat from his assailant's clasp, and breathedagain. 

"Help! murder! fire!" yelled Munson, renewing the attack. 

"Bob! Bob! It's me, I tell you!--Purley! Wake up and look at me! You'reasleep yet! And oh, my lord! the man will murder me by mistake before Ican make him know, " panted the poor wretch, desperately striving to keepoff the strangling hands of his assailant, and growing weak in thestruggle. 

And meanwhile the household, aroused by the outcry, had hurried on theirclothes, and now came pouring into the passage--the women down thegarret stairs, and the men up the lower back stairs. 

"Now I've got you!" exclaimed Munson, triumphantly, as he knocked thefeet from under Purley, and threw him down upon the floor. Then stoopingto gaze at the fallen foe, he condescended at length to recognize him. 

"Oh! is it you, Mr. Purley? I really thought it was Mr. Berner, reskyingof his wife!" said Munson, with provoking coolness. 

"Then I wish you would make surer another time, you stupid donkey!You've all but killed me!" panted the victim, wiping the perspirationfrom his face. 

"What is the matter?"

"What's all this?"

"Is anybody hurt?"

Such were the hasty questions put by old Farmer Nye and his family, asthey gathered around the scene of action. 

"Yes! I'm choked and shaken nearly to death!" gasped old Purley, in afury. 

"It was done for the best, " said Munson, soothingly. 

"Oh, for the best, indeed! Set fire to you, would you murder an innocentman out of kindness?" fiercely demanded Parley. 

"You see, he fell upon me, and woke me up. It was so dark here, withthe window shutters closed, that I could not see well, so I mistook himfor Mr. Berners broke loose and trying to carry off his wife, " explainedRobert Munson. 

"Oh! well, I reckon you're not hurt much; only startled and shaken abit! Come and take a glass of morning bitters. That will set you upagain, and give you an appetite for your breakfast besides, " said thefarmer, kindly. 

"Thank you. I'll take the bitters, if you will send them up here! Imustn't leave this floor until I see my charge out. And it's time forthem to get up too!" replied Purley, rising and knocking loudly at thechamber door. 

Of course there was no response. 

He knocked again and again, more loudly than before, and he called tothem in a high tone. 

But still there was no answer. 

"Good Lord, how sound they sleep! I will go around to the other door andrap there. It is near the head of their bed, and they will be sure tohear me. "

And so saying, old Purley went to the adjoining chamber, where he hadslept, dragged his mattress away from the door, and drew the key fromhis pocket, when, to his astonishment and terror, he found the doorunlocked!

Without waiting an instant, from any scruples of politeness, he rushedinto the room. 

To his horror and amazement, he found it empty!

"They've gone! they've fled!" frantically exclaimed Purley, rushing backinto the passage, where he found the other bailiff still on guard beforethe fast door, and the farmer waiting with the glass of bitters in hishand. 

"Fled!" echoed Munson. "How can that be? This door as fast as it is?"

"Blast 'em! they've had the impudence to escape right through my door!and right over my body!" panted Purley. 

"Then you can't blame _me_!" naively put in Munson. 

"Who says I can?" angrily demanded Purley. "I can't blame anybody! Andhow the demon they managed to pick the lock and open the door, and climbover me, _I_ don't know! Nor have we time to inquire!"

"Take your bitters, Mr. Purley, " said the host, offering the glass. 

The bailiff quaffed the offered restorative at a draught, and then said:

"Farmer, saddle a couple of horses for us, directly! We must pursue themwithout loss of time! They can not have got very far ahead of us inthese few hours!" he added, being totally unconscious of the length oftime he had slept, and the whole day he had lost. 

"My--my horses will be busy all day hauling wood, " replied the farmer. 

"Don't care! I order you in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, tosaddle those horses, and place them at our disposal to pursue ourprisoner, " said Purley, in a peremptory tone. 

The farmer was quite uncertain whether or not that was an order he wasbound to obey; and besides, he was very unwilling that his horses shouldbe taken off their work at all, and especially for the purpose ofpursuing Sybil Berners. But still he felt that it would be safer forher, if not for himself, if he should yield to the demand of thesheriff's officer; he could put him on the wrong track, by counsellinghim to ride towards the east, while he knew that Sybil was far on herroute to the west. 

So without further demur, he went out to execute the order. 

"And, farmer, when you have seen to that matter, I want you to gatherall your men and maids into the breakfast room, that I may question themwhile I eat my breakfast, so as not now to lose a moment, " he calledafter his retreating host. 

All this was done as he directed. And when the family and the houseservants were assembled in the breakfast room, and Purley examined andcross-examined them as to whether they had seen or heard anything of theprisoner or her husband during the night, they could all answer withperfect truth, that they had not. So old Purley got no satisfaction fromthem. 

The bailiff hastily dispatched his breakfast, and the horses beingready, he called to his young assistant to follow him, and he went outand got into his saddle. 

"Where the deuce am I to go after them, when there are so many roads tochoose from?" groaned old Purley, in sore perplexity of spirit. 

"Would they not be likely to make straight for the east and a seaport?"inquired farmer Nye suggestively. 

"To be sure they would, " exclaimed Mr. Purley. "So now, Munson, we willgo right back upon the road we came last night, " he added, being stillin ignorance as to the lost day. 

"And as the stable boy told me, they had taken the wagon horses to ride, and those horses were then fairly knocked up with fatigue, while oursare now quite fresh, we may very soon overtake them, " put in Munson, artfully. 

And waving their hats in adieux to the farmer and his family, they rodeoff at full speed in pursuit of the fugitives. But they had not riddenmore than a hundred yards, and had but just reached the fourcross-roads, when they were both startled by a shrill--

"Whist!"

They drew their reins, and looked around just as the head of a negro boyemerged from the bushes, exclaiming

"Hallo, Marster!"

"Who are you? What do you want?" demanded Purley. 

"I'm Bill, and I don't want nothing. But I know what _you_ want!"

"What do I want?"

"To know which way the run-a-way lady and gemplan went. "

"I do know, they went this way, " said Purley, pointing straight beforehim. 

"No, they didn't neyther! they was too sharp for that, they said how youwould be sure to search for 'em on that road, just as you are a doing ofnow; so they would take another road. "

"That was likely too! Boy, do you know which road they took?"

"Yes, sir_ree_. "

"Then tell me. "

"I will if you'll give me a quarter, " was the moderate conditions ofthis treaty. 

"Here, take it!" exclaimed Mr. Parley, pitching the boy the silver coinin question. 

"Thanky, Marster, " grinned the lad, picking up the treasure. 

"Now tell me. "

"Well, Marster, they went along that left han' road till they got to thenext turning, and then they turned to the left ag'in and kept on thattact towards that gap in the mountain where you see the sun set in thearternoon. "

"How did you know all this, boy?"

"I was out coon-hunting when I heerd them talking, and I listened andheerd all about it. And as I couldn't find any coons, I follyed arterthem; and their horses was _tired_, as they kept on complainin' to eachother. And so they went slow and I could keep up long of 'em. "

"How far did you follow them?"

"Well, Marster! I couldn't help it! I follyed of 'em all night. "

"And they never discovered you?"

"No, sar, they never did. I was barefooted and didn't make no noise, and keeped nigh the bushes on the roadside, and so they never found meout. "

"And where did you part from them?"

"Well, Marster, I didn't part from 'em till I seed whar they stopped. And if you'll take me up behind you, I'll show you the way to the placewhere they are hiding. It an't fur from here, not so very fur, I mean. "

"Oh! ho! that is good! So, so, my run-a-ways! I shall nab you, shall I?"exclaimed Purley in triumph, as he beckoned the negro imp to jump upbehind him. 

"But stop!" said Robert Munson, in an agony of terror for the safety ofSybil Berners. "Stop! What are you about to do? You are about to abductFarmer Nye's slave!"

"Do you belong to Farmer Nye, boy? Though it don't matter a bit who youbelong to. I'll take anybody I can lay hold of to guide me to thehiding-place of my prisoner--in the name of the Commonwealth ofVirginia, " said this new bailiff, who seemed to think that formula ofwords, like an absolute monarch's signet ring, was warranty for everysort of proceeding. 

"But I don't belong to nobody. I's fee, and so's mammy. We an't got nomaster, and I an't got no daddy to lord it over me!" put in the boy. 

"That's right, jump up behind, " said the elder bailiff. And as soon aslittle Bill was safely perched up in the rear of his patron, the latterput spurs to his horse and gallopped off at full speed. 

They went down the left hand, or south fork of the cross-roads, andgallopped on until they reached the branch road leading west. Theyturned into that road and pursued it mile after mile, through field andforest, mountain pass and valley plain, until, late in the afternoon, they reached another mountain range, and heard the roaring of a greattorrent. They entered the black gap, and slowly and cautiously madetheir way through it. By the time they had emerged from the pass, thenight was pitch dark. 

"How shall we ever find our way?" inquired Purley who, fatigued and halffamished, was ready to sink with exhaustion. 

"Do you see that then gabble ind stickin' up through the trees?"inquired the boy. 

"Yes, I see it!"

"Well, him and her is in there?"

"Are you sure?" inquired Purley, anxiously. 

"Here I is, Marster! If him and her ar'n't in there, here I is in yourpower, and you may skin me alive!"

"All right!" exclaimed Purley, and dismounting from his horse, headvanced towards the thicket, followed by Munson and the negro boy. 

 CHAPTER XXXV. 

 THE FUGITIVES. 

 They may not set a foot within their fields, They may not pull a sapling from their hills, They may not enter their fair mansion house. --HOWITT. 

Lyon and Sybil had ridden on through the darkness, over that wildcountry road. Their horses had had a very hard day's work in the wagonharness, and had not recovered from their fatigue. They were still verytired, and all unaccustomed to the saddle. The road was also very rough, and the night very dark. Their progress was therefore difficult andslow. 

Unconscious of being followed and overheard, they talked freely of theirplans. Their prospects of final escape were not now nearly so hopeful asthey had been on their two former attempts. They were now undisguised, and unprovided for the journey, except with money and a change ofclothing. For necessary food they would have to stop at houses, and thusincur some degree of danger. All this they discussed as their horsesslowly toiled along the rugged road up hill and down, through woods andfields, until they came near that mountain pass that they had been dimlyseeing before them all night long and that looked like a grey cleft in ablack wall. 

"It must be near morning now. But I have not a very clear idea where weare. I shall be glad when it is light if it is only to consult my mapand compass, " said Lyon, uneasily. 

"I never was on this side of the mountain before, but it does seem to methat that must be a spur of the Black Ridge which we see before us, "suggested Sybil. 

"I was thinking the very same thing, " added Lyon. "But if that is so, wemust have wandered far out of our way. "

"And hush! Don't you hear something?" inquired Sybil, when they hadridden a little farther on. 

"No; what is it?"

"Listen! I want to know if you recognize it, " she said. 

"I hear a faint, distant roaring, as of a water-fall, " he answered, stopping his horse to hear the better. 

"It is our Black Torrent!" exclaimed Sybil. 

"Good Heaven! Then we have wandered out of our way with a vengeance. However, there is no help for it now! We must go on, or stop here untilit is light enough to consult the compass. "

"And at any rate, Lyon, no one will think of looking for us so nearhome, " she added. 

"That is true, " he admitted. 

And they rode on slowly, looking about as well as they could throughthe darkness, for a convenient place on which to dismount from the jadedsteeds. 

Their path now lay through that deep mountain pass. Steep precipicesarose on either side. They picked their way slowly and carefully throughit, until they entered a crooked path leading down the side of a thicklywooded hill. Here they rode on, a little more at their ease, until theyreached the bottom of the hill and the edge of the wood, and came outupon an old forsaken road, running along the shores of a deep and rapidriver, with another mountain range behind. 

"Well, Heaven bless us! here we are!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, reining uphis horse and looking around himself in a ludicrous state of mind, madeup of surprise, dismay, and resignation. 

"Yes; on the shores of the Black River, at the head of our own BlackValley, " chimed in Sybil, in a tone of voice in which there was more ofsatisfaction than of disappointment. Poor Sybil was sentimental andillogical, like all her sex. 

"But at a point at which, I may venture to say, that even you, itsowner, never reached before, " added Lyon, as he touched up his horse andled the way up the road, still looking about as well as he could throughthe darkness, for a place in which to stop and rest their horses. 

Suddenly, as they rode slowly onward, they heard approaching them fromthe opposite direction the sound of a wagon and horse, accompanied by ahuman voice, singing:

 "Brothers and sisters there will meet, Brothers and sisters there will meet, Brothers and sisters there will meet-- Will meet, to part no more!"

"Yes, bress de Lord! so dey will. And all departed friends will meet, and meet to part no more! GLORY!" rang out the voice of the singer, whoseemed to be working himself up into enthusiasm. 

"It is only some negro with his team, " said Lyon Berners, to soothe thespirits of Sybil, which always took the alarm at the approach of anystranger. 

"Yes; but what an hour for a negro, or for any one else but fugitiveslike ourselves, to be out, " said Sybil, doubtingly. 

"Oh, he is making an early start for market perhaps. It _must_ be nearmorning. "

 "Oh, there will be glory-- Glory! glory! glory!-- Oh, there will be glory Around the throne of God!"

sang the unseen singer, making the mountain caves and glens ring withhis melody. 

"Yes; bress Marster! there _will_ be Glories and Hallelujahs all throughheaven, " he added; "for--

 "Saints and angels there will meet, Saints and angels there will meet, Saints and angels there will meet-- Will meet, to part no more. "

"And me and my young missis there will meet! And meet to part no more!GLORY!" added the singer, with a sudden shout. 

"Lyon, that's our Joe!" exclaimed Sybil, in joyful surprise. 

The cart and horses now loomed dimly through the darkness, being almostupon them. 

"Joe!" called out Sybil, in a gleeful voice--"Joe!"

"Who dar?" answered the man, in affright. 

"It is I! Sybil, Joe!"

"Oh, my good gracious Lord in heaven! it's her spirit as is calling me, and she must be dead!" gasped the man, in a quavering voice. 

By this time the two horses were beside the cart, upon the seat ofwhich the driver sat in an extremity of terror. 

"Joe, don't be alarmed! It is Mrs. Berners herself who speaks to you, and I am with her, " said Mr. Berners, soothingly. 

"Oh, Marse Lyon! Is it ralely and truly her herself and you yourself?"inquired the man, very doubtingly. 

"Really and truly Sybil and myself, Joe. "

"Oh! Lord! how you did scare me!"

"Compose yourself, Joe, and tell me what you are doing here at this timeof the morning. "

"Oh, Marse Lyon, sir, I came arter the housekeeping truck as you lefthere, which I couldn't get a chance to fetch it before, 'cause I wasafraid o' 'citin' 'spicion. "

"And have you the things in that cart?"

"Yes, Marse. "

"Then hold on for a moment, and spread the mattress on the bottom of thecart for your young mistress to lie down upon and rest, while you and Ihave a little talk. "

Joe promptly obeyed this order; and when the rude bed was ready, Lyonlifted Sybil from her seat and laid her upon it. The tired horses werethen relieved from their saddles and turned loose for a while. And thenMr. Berners and Joe sat down by the roadside to consult. 

"And first I want you to tell me, Joe, whether our sojourn at theHaunted Chapel ever was found out, " said Mr. Berners. 

"Lor, no, sir! it never were even suspicioned! quite contrary wise, indeed. "

"How so?"

"Why, it was 'ported 'round as you was bofe at Marster CappingPendulum's all the time, which when himself was taxed with it, he neverlet on as you wasn't there; quite contrary wise, as I said afore. "

"But how now?"

"Well, he up and 'fied 'em all, and said his house was his cassil, which he would shelter any one he pleased, and specially a noble andinjured lady. "

"High heart! I thank him!" exclaimed Mr. Berners. 

"Which 'fiance you see, sir, confarmed everybody in the faith that youwas bofe hid in his house, so artfully as even the sarch-warranters aswent there couldn't find you. And so, sir, nobody, from first to last, has once said 'Haunted Chapel. '"

"Joe, how far are we from the Haunted Chapel?"

"Not more 'n a mile, sir, from the little path that leads up to it. "

"Well, I think we had better go there again and rest to-day, and resumeour journey to-night. There can be no safer place. "

"No whar in all the world, sir. "

"Then we will go at once. Throw the saddles into the cart, at yourmistress' feet, so as not to crowd her. I will then drive the cart, andyou may lead the two riding horses after us, " said Mr. Berners, going atonce to the side of the rude vehicle where Sybil lay in so deep a sleepthat she did not wake, even when he mounted the seat and started thespringless cart jolting along the rough road. 

Joe led the saddle horses close behind, and so they went on. 

"Joe, " said Mr. Berners, "I hope that all things go on well at home. "

"As well as can be, sir, marser and missus being away. Capping Pendulum, he shows his powerful 'torney, and tends to the 'state. And MissusWinterose and her darters minds the house. Only they's in constantterrors all along o' that band o' bugglers. "

"Band of burglars, Joe?"

"Yes, sir, and highway robbers as well. "

"Indeed! Joe, I have twice lately heard this band spoken of. Does sucha one really exist?"

"Well, sir, it _do_. The neighborhood never was so mislested withrobbers since a neighborhood it has been. Why, sir, Mr. Morgan's newstore, at Blackville was broke open and robbed of about twelve hundreddollars' worth of goods in one night. "

"And none of it recovered!"

"No, sir. And, sir, Capping Pendulum's own house was entered and robbedof jewelry and plate to the tune of about two thousand dollars. "

"I am very sorry for that! And no clue to the robbers?"

"Not the leastest in the world, sir! And no later'n last night, JudgeBeresford was riding home from the village, where he had been at thetavern, playing cards with a lot of gentlemen, and had won a deal ofmoney, which he had about him, when, in the middle of the long woodsbelow his own house, he was stopped by two men; one who seized hisbridle, and one who pinted a pistol at his head, and gave him his choiceof his money or his life. The Judge he choose his life, and handed overhis winnins. "

"I'm not sorry for him! A man who gains money in that way deserves tolose it. But I _am_ astounded at all that you have told me. "

"Yes, sir! and the old ladies in charge of Black Hall is more 'stoundedthan you are, sir; being 'stounded to that degree that they sleep withthe dogs in the room; long of 'em. "

"This should be seen to. There should be a vigilance committee. But herewe are at the path, Joe, and my wife is still in a deep sleep; and I donot wish to wake her; nor can we drive the cart through the thicket. Hold! I'll tell you what we can do. We can take the mattress by its fourcorners, and carry her on it to the chapel. If we are careful, we neednot even wake her, " said Mr. Berners, as he stopped the cart and gotdown from his seat. 

Joe tied the two saddle horses to one of the trees, and came around tothe cart to help his master. 

Between them they cautiously lifted the mattress, and bore it alongtowards the opening of the path. 

On first being moved, Sybil sighed once and turned over and then shefell into a still deeper sleep, from which she did not again awake evenwhen they bore her into the dreadful Haunted Chapel, and laid her down, still on the mattress, in the old place, to the right of the altar. 

"Poor child! She was so tired, so worn out in body and mind, that shecould scarcely sit her horse. Yet she never once complained, nor shouldI have even surmised the extent of her prostration, were it not for thiscoma-like sleep. She will not wake now. We may safely leave her alonewhile we go back and bring our saddle horses here, for we must bringthem in order to hide them to-day and use them to-night. And you, Joe, after you have helped me to bring the horses through the thicket, mustgo to Blackville and buy food and bring it to us to-night before weresume our journey. "

"Yes, sir; and meantimes, there is some crackers and cheese andsweetmeats, and likewise a bottle of port wine, in the cart, as you leftin the chapel when you went away. "

"Oh, indeed! that will be a godsend, Joe! We must bring that back to thechapel with us when we come, " said Mr. Berners, as with his servant hebent his steps back to the thicket path. 

Sybil, left alone in the interior of the haunted chapel, slept onsoundly for some little time. She had not really been quite unconsciousof her removal thither. She had half waked on being taken from the cart, but had immediately fallen asleep again; though she was still vaguelyconscious of being borne along to some place of safety and repose, andthat her devoted husband and her faithful servant were herbearers--vaguely conscious also of being laid down upon some level placeof perfect rest, with a roof above her head; but beyond this she knewnothing, cared nothing, being too utterly prostrated in mind and body torouse herself to any utterances, or even to save herself from sinking tosleep. 

How long she had slept she never could tell, when at length she wassuddenly and fearfully aroused--aroused to a degree of wakefulness thatneither the noisy jolting over the rocky road, nor the painful draggingthrough the thorny thicket had been able to effect. 

And yet it was but by a touch--the touch of an ice-cold little handpassing lightly over her face. 

She started up in a panic and glared around. All seemed black as pitch, and at first she could see nothing; but as she strained her eyes, shedimly discerned the shapes of the gothic windows, with the dark nightsky and the ghostly trees beyond; and she recognized the Haunted Chapel!

They had brought her here while she was sleeping; and now, "in the deadwaste and middle of the night, " she had waked up, alone in thisdemon-peopled place. 

She tried to cry out in her fear; but her voice died in her throat, andshe sank back upon her mattress and closed her eyes, lest some shape ofhorror should blast them. 

Then again she felt hands at work about her person. They were creepingunder her shoulders and under her limbs; they were lifting her from hermattress. Her eyes flared open in wild affright, and she saw two blackshrouded forms, the one at her head the other at her feet. 

She tried to cry out in her agony of terror; but again her voice diedaway in her bosom, and all her powers seemed palsied. They raised her upand bore her on--great heaven! whither?

To the open door of the vault, from whose haunted depths a spectrallight gleamed!

They bore her down the dreadful steps, and laid her on the deadly floor!

The iron door clanged loudly to, resounding through the dismal arches. 

"We have her now!" muttered a hoarse voice. A hollow laugh responded. 

And Sybil swooned with horror!

Sybil's further adventures will be related in the sequel to this work, to be immediately published, under the title of "Tried for Her Life. "

 The End.