The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 357: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JAh *YouP” said Teabella. hear eeeP Tell me quickly.--No, no! my poor, woman, I am wrong thus to excite you! Take your leisure :—forgive my impatience!” “This is how it happened, Miss. I had been down to the Manor on some message ftom my husband to the steward ; aud instead of returning by the regular peth through the grove, I took a shorter cut to bring me to the bridge. I was within the shade of the tress: but just as I was about to step forth upon the bridge, I caught sight of the young Karl and the Countess standing together on the very middle of the plank. I thought there was something eo affeetionate in their manuer to each other, as well as in their looks, that I was struck with a suspicion all was not right, and that they were not just upon tho terms which a nephew and an aunt-especially as she herself was so young—ought to observe to- wards each other. Ab, Miss! I was seized with woman's curiosity: so I remained bill in thé grove “Yes, yes,” said’ Isabella; “I understand! Your fault wes venial enough. ? “Well, Miss,” continued the woman, “I heard his lordship say that it wee in the middle of the bridge where the event of the happened, ecourding to the tale afterwards told by the young ship who witnessed it. And then her lady- said—I remember her words as well as pos- sible—‘ Here they fell oves, the girl's arms clasped tight round the neck ef him who had ruined hor happiness.’--His lordship answered, ‘ Yes, it was here :’— and then both he and her ladyship looked over the bridge down into the stream underneath. women 3 and so strong a con- vulsive spasm shes through her, thas the bed shook under her. Horror was in her countenance; and she fixed ber eyes with a kjudred expression upon “ Proceed !”” said the lady, catching the infection of the same shuddering Sooeeri for she eaw that the mystery of her deceased relatives’ fate was about to be fearfully eluctlated. “ All of a sudden, Miss,” continued the invalid women, in a low and solemn voice, “the Countess cried, ‘ Forgive me, Adolphus! dh, abe was thinking of the legend—and she wes imitdting it frightfully |” * Good heavens!” murmured Isabella, ker blood ranning cold. c “'Yes—ehe imitated it!” proceeded the woman. “She flung her arms round the Earl’s neck; and down they went together! O God! never shall I forget the wild, wild ory that rang forth from the lips of the young Earl! But no cry came from those of the Countess! There was an awful splash --and I fell back in a dead swoon in the grove.” “Just heaven!” murmured ‘Isabella, “what a tragedy!—how fall of a wild and terrible romance! And now the mystery is cleared up! It was not an accideat—it was nit even a double suicide: it was p suicide and a murder! How horrible!” “When I recovered my senses,” continued the womén, “I hastened home to the cottage in eftright. I felt as if I waa going mad: the cry of tha Bari in my ears and seemed to pierve my brein. I.told my husband what hed hap- pened; and he implored me to keep the thing a “But what did you; secret. He said that we should both be punished for my curiosity, by the loss of his situation. 6c you see, Miss, I was afraid to come forward when the Coroner’s Inquest took place; and of course, having kept back then, I have held my tongue ever since. It aaa preyed upon me; and I do really believe it is this that has made me ill. Several times, when T have received kindnasess from your steward—who is a most etnd excellent man —I have been geing to tell him what I saw end heard on that dreadfal day: but I have been frightened tp do so—I was a0 afraid he would scold me for having watched and listened. And then too, as my husband Says, since the Cozpner’s In- quest made it all look*as if it was an accident, where was the good of giving a worse colour to it before the world? But when you came in just now, Miss, and spoke so kind to me, I could not resist the opportunity of telling you ; apd my mind is relieved. But I hope you are not angry f” “Tam not angry—I have no right to be!” in- ferrupted Isabella. “ After all, it is fortunate that you have kept the secret ; for you have saved tng, honouref my two relatives |” he woman fully understood Isabeila’s meaning: she saw that the young Jady alluded not merely to the disgrace that would affix iteelf to the memory of the late Countess if it were revealed to the world that by the same aot’she had rendered her- self a murderess and a suicide—but that Miss Vincent’s remark likewise pointed to the unques- tionable fact that a criminel intimacy must have — between that suicide murderess and her victim. “IT am glad that your mind is easier,” continued Teabella; “‘and I hope that now it is lightened of its Joad you will soon get well. Do not vex your- self any more upon the subject: keep the seal of silence etill upon your lips. You need not even mention to your husband that you have made this revelation to me.” ¢ The poor woman thanked Miss Vincent for her kindness; and the young lady took her departure from the cottage, attended by the steward. The latter saw by the countenance of his mistress that something had ocourred to horrify and sadden ber: but be dared not put a question. The Maidens Bridge was reached: Ishbella traversed it quiqkly, with but one shuddering look into the foxtning, eddying, water below; and when the opposite side of the ravine was gained, she said’to the steward, ima low voice that was full of a so: lemon awe,—"“ The myatery exists no longer !--it is cleared up! But it was neither an accident nor a double suicide.” She then proceeded ¢o relate all that she had heard from the lips of the invalid peasant-woman ; and the steward listened with a dismayed interest. Isabella thought that she was bound thus to make him a confidant in respect to the fate of her rela- tives, after the generosity he had displayed in en- deavouring to save the honour of the family name to the utmogt of hia power. She proceeded to the village-church where the remains ef those hapless and guilty lovers lay en- tombed; and she felt the tears stealing down her cheeks as she thought of the sad‘and terrible doom they had encountered. Before she departed from Bloomfield, the new was commenced across the ravine; and the invalid peasaut-woman, | ECOMRniclacae A SS (CO)