The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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844 “You?” said Isabella. “But what did you hear and seef Tell me quickly.—No, no! my poor woman, I em 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 from my husband to the steward ; and instead of returning by the regular path through the grove, I took a shorter cut to bring me to the bridge. I was within the shade of the trees: but just as I was about to step forth upon the bridge, I caught sight of the young Earl and the Countess standing together on the very middle of the plank. I thought there was eomething so affectionate in their manner to each other, as well as in their looks, thet I was struck with a suspicion all was not right, and that they were not just upon the terms which a nephew and an aunt—especially as she herself was eo youpg—ought to observe to- wards each other. Ab, Miss! I was seized with woman’s curiosity: so I remained hid in the grove to watch and to listen.” “Yea, yes,” said Isabella; “I understand! Your fault was venial enough. Proceed.” “Well, Miss,” continued the woman, “I heard his lordship say that it was in the middle of the bridge where the event of the legend happened, according to the tale afterwards told by the young shepherd who witnessed it. And then her ledy- ship said—I remember her words as well as pos- sible—‘ Here they fell over, the girl’s arme clasped tight round the neck of him who had rumed her happiness.’— His lordship answered, ‘ Yes, it was here :’"— and then both he and her ladyship looked over the bridge down into the stream underneath. Oh! Miss——” The woman stopped short; and so strong a con- vulsive spasm shot through her, that the bed shook under her. Horror was in her countenance; and she fixed her eyea with a kindred expression upon Isabella. * Proceed!’ said the young lady, catching the infection of the same shuddering horror: for she saw that the mystery of her deceased relatives fate was about to be fearfully elucidated. “ All of a sudden, Miss,” continued the invalid woman, in a low and eclemn voice, “the Countess cried, ‘Forge me, Adolphus! Ah, she was thinking of the legend—and she was imitating it frightfully !” “ Good heavens {” murmured Isabella, ber blood running cold. “'Yose—she imitated it!” proceeded the woman. “She flung her arms round the Karl’s neck; and down they went together! © 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 full of a wild and terrible romance ! And now the mystery is cleared up! It was not an accident—it was not even a double suicide: it was & suicide and a murder! How horrible !” “When I recovered my senses,” continued the woman, “I hastened home to the cottage ia affright. I felt as if I was going mad: the cry of the Earl rang in my cers and seemed to my brain. I told my husband what pened; and he implored me to keep the thing a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. secret. He said that we should both be punished for my curiosity, by the loss of his situation. So 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 evee since. It has preyed upon me; and I do really believe it is this that has made me ill. Several times, when I have received kindnesses from your steward—who is a most worthy and excellent man -—I have been going to tell him what I saw and heard on that dreadfal dsy: bat I have been frightened to do so--I was so afraid he would scold me for having watched and listened. And then too, as my husband says, since the Coroner’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 eould not resist the ity of telling you; and my mind is relieved. But I hope you ere not angry ?” “Iam not angry—I have no right to be!” in- terrupted Isabella. “After all, it is fortunate that you have kept the secret ; for you have saved the honour of my two relatives !” The woman fully understood Isabella’s meaning : she caw that the young lady alluded not merely to the di that would affix itself to the memory of the late Countess if it were revealed to the world that by the same act 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 criminal intimacy must have subsisted between that suicide murderess and her Victim. “I am glad that your mind is easier,” continued Teabella; “and I hope tbat now it is lightened of its load you will soon get well. Do not vex self any more upon the subject: keep the eeal of silence still 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 bee 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 occurred to horrify and seadden her: but he dared nots put a questi Maiden’s Bridge was reached : opposite side of the ravine was gained, she said to the steward, in a low voice that was fall of a so- lemn awe,—“ The mystery exists no longer !—it is cleared up! But it was neither an accident aor a double suicide.” | She then proceeded to relate al] that she hed heard from the lips of the invalid peasant-women 5 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 utmost of his power. She proceeded to the village-churoh 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 ead and terrible doom they had encountered. fore she ceparted | from Bloomfield, the new bridge was across the ravine; and the invalid peasant- woman, COMIC DOG UN atm =e on en (CO