BROWNIE’S STRANGE VISITOR
Had an earthquake shaken the house at that moment greater consternation
could not have prevailed than at this announcement.
“Adrian, surely you are crazy!” almost shrieked Lady Randal, at last.
“You make such a _mésalliance_ as that!”
“Call it whatever you choose, madam, but please remember when you speak
of Miss Douglas in the future, that you are speaking of the future Lady
of Dunforth,” he said, coldly, but proudly.
Surely a nobler specimen of manhood never braved the world’s scorn than
Adrian Dredmond at that moment; and poor Brownie, although in “durance
vile” above them, might well look hopefully into the future, which
should be passed by the side of such a noble defender as this.
Turning to Sir Charles, he made a signal for him to follow him, and
then, with a haughty bow to the assembled company, he withdrew.
“Charles,” he exclaimed, seizing his friend’s hand when they were alone
in the hall, “will you lend me your aid in this trouble? Something is
wrong,” he went on speaking, in tones of anxiety; “she was expecting me
to come to her, and I know she would never have gone away of her own
accord.”
“I am constrained to take that view of it now, after what you have told
me; although I must confess, before you came, I was inclined to believe
the very worst of her. I hope,” he added, with some uneasiness, “that
you have not been deceived in Miss Douglas.”
Adrian’s lips curled again.
He knew what he had reference to. Sir Charles believed that something
must be wrong or Mrs. Coolidge would not have spoken as she had done.
“The future will disclose whether I have or not,” he replied, coldly.
“You may depend upon me, Adrian, to do all in my power to unravel this
mystery. Miss Douglas certainly appeared like a very lovely person, and
until to-night I admired her very much, although I have rarely met her.
Believe me, you have my sympathy,” and he meant it in more senses than
one.
“Thank you, but I am wild in trying to think what has become of the poor
child. I am almost tempted to believe——”
He checked himself suddenly.
He was upon the point of saying he feared treachery on the part of the
Coolidges; but, remembering that it would not do to speak of them thus
in Sir Charles’ presence, he stopped.
“What?” Sir Charles demanded, with a curious look.
“I do not know what to believe,” Adrian said; then added, suddenly: “You
may think what you choose concerning what I have told you to-night, and
the world may say what it will, but Miss Douglas is of unexceptional
parentage, and I shall marry her just as soon as I am fortunate enough
to find her.”
After a few more minutes spent in consultation as to the best means of
seeking for the lost one Adrian departed, his heart filled well-nigh to
bursting with grief, insulted affection, and anxiety.
* * * * *
“Mamma, did you ever hear anything like it?” demanded Isabel of her
mother as soon as they could excuse themselves from the drawing-room and
retire to their own rooms.
“No; things are getting terribly mixed up, it seems to me. How, when,
where did he meet her again, I wonder?”
“I have it,” said Isabel. “Lady Ruxley attended the dinner at Dunforth
Castle; of course, her companion accompanied her, and they met there. It
must have been quite recent, I judge.”
“Well, he won’t find her again for a while, that is sure,” returned Mrs.
Coolidge, with a savage glitter in her eyes.
“Oh, mamma, you look almost as though you would like to kill her!”
Isabel exclaimed, in a frightened whisper.
“I believe I wish she had died before she ever saw Adrian Dredmond,” she
answered, vindictively. “To think that she should win him, while you
will only be a baronet’s wife!”
Isabel flushed angrily.
“Let us go and see how it fares with her now; methinks the proud beauty
will be somewhat humbled by this time. But, humbled or not, she will
have to stay there until after your marriage, for if Mr. Dredmond should
find her now, there would be an end to all your fine plans,” said Mrs.
Coolidge, moving toward the draped door.
She shoved the heavy bolt, and the two women entered Brownie’s prison.
They found her sitting upon the floor, looking pale and wan.
The light which they bore blinded her eyes at first so that she could
scarcely see, but she arose as they entered and stood in haughty silence
before them and, holding the precious casket tightly clasped in her
hands behind her.
“Well, how do you like your place of retirement? Quiet, isn’t it?”
sneered Isabel, while she began to walk about the place as if to examine
it.
The insulted girl deigned her no reply.
“Miss Douglas, I have come to make one more appeal to you. Are you
willing to accede to my terms?”
“No, madam!”
“Will nothing move you? Cannot I persuade you, under any circumstances,
to let Isabel retain those jewels a while longer, and you keep silent
about them?”
“You cannot, madam; there is a limit to human endurance, I have reached
that limit.”
But scarce were the words spoken when she uttered a cry of pain and
dismay.
Isabel had glided stealthily around behind her, and with one powerful
blow had dashed the casket from her hands.
The next instant, and before Brownie could turn to prevent her, she had
captured it, and with a low, mocking laugh, glided from the place.
With all her spirit roused to battle, Brownie sprang to follow the
artful girl, but Mrs. Coolidge barred the way.
“No, no, miss, you cannot leave this place to-night; you are in too
dangerous a mood,” she said.
“What do you mean by detaining me here?” Brownie demanded, almost
passionately.
“I mean just what I said, that you are too dangerous to be let loose
to-night, unless you will solemnly promise not to make any trouble for
us.”
“You are very much mistaken if you think you can make any such terms
with me, Mrs. Coolidge. I do not fear you in the least, and unless you
restore my jewels, and let me go at once, I shall make such trouble that
you will rue it until your dying day.”
“You do not fear me, and I have power to keep you here indefinitely?”
she retorted, flushing angrily.
“That may be, but there will come a day of reckoning sooner or later,”
Brownie replied, dauntlessly. “You do not suppose,” she added,
scornfully, “that in this nineteenth century you can keep me concealed
for any length of time. I shall be missed, if I am not already, and the
whole house searched for me.”
“You have been missed by the whole house and grounds have been
thoroughly searched for you, but no one has thought of looking here for
you, Miss Douglas,” Mrs. Coolidge replied, with a malicious gleam in her
eyes.
Brownie’s heart sank, and she grew whiter about the mouth at these
words, but she would give no outward sign of the growing fear in her
heart.
“May I ask how long you intend to keep me in solitary confinement? You
are aware, perhaps, that people cannot live very long shut up in a dark
place like this,” she said, thinking to frighten her into letting her
go.
The woman started. She had not thought of its being solitary confinement
before, and it was a good while before the grand wedding would come off.
She meditated a moment before replying, then she said:
“I will endeavor to see that you do not suffer, Miss Douglas, but I must
keep you here for the present. Undoubtedly you know that Isabel is to
marry Sir Charles Randal very shortly, and I am resolved that nothing
shall interfere with that match. If I should let you go now, you would
raise such a breeze for us that everything would be upset. There is only
one condition upon which I would release you,” she concluded, with a
searching look into the young girl’s face, and really feeling anxious to
let her go, if she would only keep silence.
“What is that?” demanded Brownie, quickly.
“That you would go quietly away from Vallingham Hall and conceal
yourself from everybody until after the wedding; then, I promise you, we
will return the jewels to you.”
The delicate lips curled, and the lovely eyes flashed ominously.
“Will you?” asked her enemy.
“No! I will not yield to you in a single point!” was the haughty reply.
“Very well, there is nothing more to be said, then. I will arrange a
good bed for you, give you plenty of books and papers to read, and bring
you food three times a day. You shall have plenty of candles, too, so
that I imagine you will manage to exist quite comfortably for a few
weeks,” and she left the room as she spoke.
Mrs. Coolidge soon returned, and Isabel with her, bringing a mattress,
bedclothes, and a tray containing a dainty supper, the former having
taken care to provide it, knowing that her prisoner had been long
without food. They also brought her a chair, and left her a candle, and
then retired, leaving her somewhat anxious for the future, but by no
means subdued.
Left to herself, Brownie’s first work was to eat her supper, for she was
really very hungry, and the inner man thus strengthened she felt
somewhat more cheerful.
She arranged her bed for she was weary with sitting for so many hours
upon that stone floor, and then retired, feeling rather lonely and sad,
but confident that the Lord, her shepherd, would care for her there as
tenderly as in her own room; and ere long she was sleeping soundly.
She never knew how long she had been sleeping, for her rest had been
unbroken and dreamless, but she was suddenly awakened by a cold clasp
upon her hand!
In an instant every sense was unlocked, and she was broad awake, with
that instinctive consciousness of a horrible presence, which people
sometimes have when danger lurks near.
The candle still burned, and lighted the place with a reddish glare, for
she had not extinguished it, feeling that the darkness would have been
too horrible, and by its light she could distinguish a strange-looking
object kneeling by her side.
With a cry of terror she started up to find herself face to face with a
form so misshapen, so frightful, so weird and uncanny, that the sound
suddenly died upon her lips, and left her paralyzed with fear.
The creature immediately arose and moved away from her a pace or two at
seeing her so terrified.
“Have I frightened you? I am so sorry, and yet I might have known. But,
do not fear, I would be the last person in the world to harm you,” were
the words which greeted her ears, in tones so soft and gentle that
Brownie involuntarily raised her eyes, and was at once reassured, though
still so weak and trembling from her first fright that she could not
speak.
His head was very large for the rest of his body, and rested forward
upon his breast, while his shoulders came up so high that he seemed to
have no neck at all; one hand hung limp, withered, and helpless by his
side, while one foot and leg were twisted entirely out of place, the
heel being where the toe should be.
Ah! he was a sad-looking object, but Brownie felt no fear of him now.
He had a true, good face, full of intelligence and mental power, and
while she looked into it, a great pity came into her eyes, and the tears
involuntarily started.
He was quick to read her sympathy, for he said, with his sad smile:
“Thank you; I see you don’t fear me any longer.”
“Oh, no,” she answered, gently; “but I did not think any one could get
in here, and I was startled at first.”
“I ought to have been more careful, but I did not like to speak loud
enough to wake you, lest I should be heard,” and he glanced toward the
door.
Then he added:
“Can you trust me sufficiently to let me take you out of this miserable
place? I came to release you.”
“Can you? will you?” she exclaimed, eagerly. “Oh, yes, I can trust you
fully!”
“But how did you get in here?” she asked, the next instant.
“I have been here many times, and yet I never entered by that door,” he
answered, pointing to the door by which Brownie had come in, and
speaking somewhat bitterly.
“But how did you know I was here?” and she looked perplexed, for she
could not detect so much as a rathole anywhere.
“I overheard all that passed between you and those women,” he answered,
with a nod in the direction of Isabel’s room.
She looked more astonished than ever.
“Come this way and I will explain it all to you,” he said.
He stooped and picked up the candle, and then moved with difficulty to
the opposite end of the cell.
Holding the light close to the floor, he continued:
“Do you see that semi-circular block of stone about a foot and a half in
diameter?”
“Yes.”
“And what looks like a huge iron bolt set close to that small round
shaft of stone which runs clear to the ceiling?”
“Yes.”
“If you will step upon that block, and press your foot firmly upon that
bolt, you will find that this stone pillar will begin to slide slowly
down. When you have descended about four feet you will see a short
flight of stone steps; step upon these and this shaft will return to its
place. Follow the stone steps and they will lead you to a comfortable
room; I left the door open, and there is a light within, so that you
will have no difficulty in finding the way.”
“But you—you will have to return here,” Brownie said, hesitatingly.
It all seemed so wonderful and mysterious to her, that for a moment she
could scarcely comprehend it.
“As soon as the shaft returns to its place, I will join you; only one
can go at a time, because the platform is so narrow,” he replied.
Brownie lifted her clear eyes once more and searched his face.
It was a noble countenance, and full of marks of pain and patient
suffering, and while she looked it seemed suddenly to grow strangely
like some other face which she had seen, but whose she could not at that
moment recall.
“Yes, I will go,” she said, and stepped upon that semi-circular block of
stone.
“You will only be alone for a moment,” he said, “for I shall follow you
immediately; now lean close against the shaft. There! now plant your
foot upon the bolt—so. Now you are all right.”
Brownie obeyed his directions without a fear, for she saw that he was
only intent upon serving her, and she felt herself going slowly and
smoothly downward.
A moment more and she found herself in another dark closet, or passage,
from which a short flight of stone steps led up to an open door, through
which a light shone, dimly lighting the place.
She stepped from the platform upon the stairs, and the shaft instantly
began to ascend again.
Following the stairs, she soon found herself, as she had been told, in a
large, airy, and comfortable room.
The walls were hung with ancient and faded tapestry, but the floor was
carpeted with bright, warm colors, and the room was quite tastefully
furnished.
It was lighted by two tall wax candles in silver candlesticks, and a
cheerful fire burned in the grate. There were several bookcases well
filled with nicely bound volumes, and a few fine engravings, with some
beautiful drawings, hung upon the walls.
She had not time for a more minute survey of the apartment, for she was
rejoined by her strange companion.
He smiled at her look of wonder and curiosity, and after shutting and
locking the door, and dropping the tapestry over it, said:
“Now, I will explain how I happened to know that you were in trouble and
needed assistance.”
He moved a few steps further up the room, thrust aside another portion
of the hangings, and Brownie saw the same shaft or pillar of stone that
she had seen in the cell. At the right of it she also saw that a portion
of the stone wall had been hammered or chiseled away, until only a very
thin surface divided the two rooms, and this had been punctured full of
tiny holes, through which could be seen the light of the candle which
they had left behind; and yet from the room they had just left nothing
of this could be detected.
“Ah! I see,” Brownie said.
“Yes,” the young man replied, while a look of infinite pain swept over
his features, “it is always very quiet here, and to-night while reading
I was startled by the sound of voices and a low, mocking laugh coming
from this direction. Much astonished, for nothing like it has ever
happened before, I threw down my book, crept to this spot, and listened.
Although I could not see very distinctly, I could hear, and soon
discovered that some one had been forced into yonder cell to cover up
some dark deed or other. I learned that your name was Miss Douglas, and
that you possess a very brave spirit, for you refused to yield to your
tormentors, when most young ladies would have begged and prayed to be
let out upon any terms.”
He concluded with another glance of admiration.
Her lips curled in a little mischievous smile, as she wondered how
Isabel and her mother would feel the next time they unbolted that door,
and found their bird flown!
“But I don’t see how you got the shaft down those stairs,” she said, in
perplexity. Her spirits were rising every moment.
“It works in the same way from this room that it does from the other;
only when it got down, I moved around to the opposite side without
stepping off, and then, not pressing upon the bolt, it arose to its
place again. I thought it best for you, however, to come up by the
stairs, fearing you might fall from the platform if you moved,” the
young man explained.
“How came these holes punctured here, and this stone cut away so?” she
asked, feeling deeply interested in the strange piece of machinery and
that riddled wall.
“There is a sad story connected with that, Miss Douglas, which I fear it
would do no good to relate,” was the pained reply, while the white face
flushed a sudden, vivid crimson.