"Well?" asked the colonel, though he could guess what was coming."Why, I haven't drawn a book from the library here for a long time,"went on Viola."I did once or twice, but that was when the library was first opened, some years ago.This postal is dated a week ago, but the maid just gave it to me.""Very likely it was mislaid."
"That's what I supposed.But I went at once to the library, and I found that the book had been taken out on my card.And, oh, Colonel Ashley, it is a book on - poisons!""I know it, my dear."
"You know it!And did you think - "
"Now don't get excited.Come, I'll show you the very book.It's been here for some time, and I've known all about it.In fact I have a copy of it that I got from New York.There isn't anything to be worried about.""But a book on poisons - poisonous plants it is, as I found out at thelibrary - and poor father was killed by some mysterious poison!Oh - "She was rapidly verging on an attack of hysterics, and the colonel led her gently to the dining room whence, in a little while, she emerged, pale, but otherwise self-possessed.
"Then you really want Aunt Mary and me to go away?" she asked."Yes, for a day or so.Make it appear that the house is closed for theseason.You dismissed Forette, didn't you, as I suggested?""Yes, and paid him in full.I never want to see him again.He's been so insolent of late - he'd hardly do a thing I asked him.And he looked at me in such a queer, leering, impudent way.""Don't worry about that, my dear.Everything will soon be all right." "And will - will Harry be cleared?"The colonel did not have time to answer, for Miss Mary Carwell appeared just then, lamenting the many matters that must be attended to on the closing of the house for even a short time.The colonel left her and Viola to talk it over by themselves.
On slowly moving pinions, a lone osprey beat its way against a quartering south-east wind to the dead tree where the little birds waited impatiently in the nest, giving vent to curious, whistling sounds.Slowly the osprey flew, for it had played in great luck that day, and had swooped down on a fish that would make a meal for him and his mate and the little ones.The fish was not yet dead, but every now and then would contort its length in an effort to escape from the talons which were thrust deeper and deeper into it, making bright spots of blood on the scaly sides.
And a man, walking through the sand, looked up, and in the last rays of the setting sun saw the drops of blood on the sides of the fish.
"A good kill, old man! A good kill!" he said aloud, and as though the osprey could hear him."A mighty good kill!"When it was dark a procession of figures began to wend its way over the lonely moor and among the sand dunes to where a tiny cottage nestled in a lonely spot on the beach.From the cottage a cheerful light shone, and now and then a pretty girl went to the door to look out.Seeing nothing, she went back and sat beside a table, on which gleamed a lamp.
By the light of it a woman was knitting, her needles flying in and outof the wool.The girl took up some sewing, but laid it down again and again, to go to the door and peer out.
"He is not coming yet, Mazi?" asked the woman in French.
"No, mamma, but he will.He said he would.Oh, I am so happy with him!I love him so! He is all life to me!""May you ever feel like that!" murmured the older woman.
Soon after that, the first of the figures in the procession reached the little cottage.The girl flew to the door, crying:
"Jean!Jean!What made you so late?"
"I could not help it, sweetheart.I but waited to get the last of my wages.Now I am paid, and we shall go on our honeymoon!""Oh, Jean!I am so happy!"
"And I, too, Mazi !" and the man drew the girl to him, a strange light shining in his eyes.
They sat down just outside the little cottage, where the gleam from the lamp would not reflect on them too strongly, and talked of many things.Of old things that are ever new, and of new things that are destined to be old.
The second figure of the procession that seemed to make the lonely cottage on the moor a rendezvous that evening, was not far behind that of the lover.It was a figure of a man in a natty blue serge suit.A panama hat of expensive make sat jauntily on top of his head on which curled close, heavy black hair.
"I wonder if the colonel is coming?" mused Jack Young, as he stopped to let Jean Forette hurry on a little in advance.Then a backward lance told him that two other figures were joining the procession.These last two- a man and a woman - walked more slowly, and they did not talk, except now and then to pass a few words.
"Then the marriage was legal, after all?" the woman asked.
