The Lone Inn

H' COPYR.GMTtP ifa94 Br THE AuTHQF CHAPTER I. Il ï'jsre beaupht in presontiments, I was tvcll warned by tli.it first glimpse of tüe inn. The monstrons bulk of gablés, sloprng roofs and lean cliimneys hunebed .üinst the sky would have scared a bolder spirit than mine. All day I bad walked ander bino sky, between green In dgerows, with light heart and vvhistling lip. Confrontad in the twilight by ro sinister a scène, I feit qualmish. Ra rged clouda dropped their fringes over sullen western red, arouud spread the salt marshes, evil in their desolation, aud I, with chilled blood, stared at th lonely mansión domfñatíng the outlook. Here, thought I, an adventure awaits rne. The hour, the house, the scène, hint at romance, and that of the strangest. So much were my spirits dashed by these ominous environments that it was in my mind to walk the farther 10 miles and shelter for the night at Marshruiuster. Yet some f ate compelled ïny unwilling feet toward that inhospitable door, and almost before I kuew my own mind I was knocking loudly. It opened while my hand was still raised for the final rap, and a handsome woman presen ted horself to my astonished eyes. What beauty did among the tombs I know not, yet there she smiled. Though handsome, she was not a lady and lackod the undefmable stamp of birth. At the same time she was above the commouality. Kot a lady, not. a servant, but something betweeu the two. lier appearauce couürmed the promise of romance. "I havewalked from Exstbury, " said 1, cap in hand, "and wish to put up iiere for the night. ' ' "Marshminster ia only 10 miles -away, " answei-ed she, in nowise disposed to admit me. "Aud for that reason I want a bed here. Twenty and more miles walking nader a hot san has wearied me consid■erably. " "I am sorry we cc.anot accommodate you, sir. ' ' "'This is an inn," I said, glancing at the sign. "The Fen inn, sir," she replied, ptill emiling, "and fullof guests for the time being. " "Full of guests in this locality ! You rnust then entertain waterfowl, for I have seen no human being for the last 12 miles. " She made no direct answer, but shook her hoad and prepared to close the door. Piqued by the discourtesy and still more by the mystery of this reception, I was about to insist npon admissiou when my attention was attracted to a face at the near window. I recognized it as that of a college friend and waved my stick in greeting. "Helio, Briarfield!" I shouted lustily. "Come and help me to a night's lodgings. " The girl was surprised by my remark, aud, as I tnought, changed color. She stepped aside to let Briarfleld pass and exhibited further astonishent at the urbanity of our greeting. "What wind blows you here, Denham?" asked. Briarfield, shaking my hand. "I am on a walking tour," I swered, "and hoped to have reached Marshminster tonight, but as it is 10 miles away and I feel weary I wish to sleep here. This young lady, however, says the inn is full of guests and" "Full of guests!" interrrupted Briarfield, looking at the girl. "Nonsense, Rose. I am the only guest here!" "We expect others, sir," said Rose ! obstinately. "You cau't expect a sufficient j ber to fill the house, ' ' he retorted. "Surely Mr. Denham can have a bed?" "I shall ask my father, sir!" When she disappeared, BriarfiM turned to me with a smile and askt. j strauge question. "Now, I'll be bound, " said he, "that you don 't know my flrst name!" "Felix. " "Nol You are wrong. I am not the rich Felix, but the poor Francis. " "You see the result of being one of twins, " said I impatiently. "If at college I could not distinguish between you, how can you expect me to do so iiow? I haven't seen either you or your brother for at least two years. Where is Felix?" "At Marshminster." "And what are you doing here?" "Ah, that's a long story! If you" "Please to walk in, sir," interrupted Rose at this moment. "My father desires to speak with you. " "I have, theu, to submit myself tothe approval of the landlord, " said I and forthwith entered the house, followed by Francis Briarfield. Tho landlord, a lean, saturnine man above the common height, saluted me with a sour smile. In appearance and ilemeanor he was quite in keepiug with that dreary inn. About him lurked a Puritanic flavor not ill suited to his somber attire and uuctuous speech. He was less like au innkeeper than a smug valet. I mistrusted the man at ftrst sight. '1 can give yoa supper and a bed, sir, " said he, bending his body and rubbing his hands, ' 'ueither, I regret to say, of the first quality. " "Never mind," I answered, unstrapping my knapsack. "I am too tired aud hungry to be particular. ' ' "We have only lately taken up this house, sir," he continued, still bowing, "and things are a trifle disordered. " I glanced around. Despito the cheerj ful blaze of a flre, the room had a mildfewed look, as though longnninhabifed. Traces of hasty cleanaing were visible in . all corners, and in thé dim light filtered J through dnsty panes the apartment had a singularly unidviting aspect. Again that premonition of misfortune carne over me. "I wonder you took up the house at all," said I. "You wón't inake your I fortune in this locality. " The landlord madeno reply, bnt ïmittering somöthing about supper left the room. His danghter had already cleparted, presumably in the direction of tho kitchen, and I found niyself alone with Prancis Briarfield. He was absently looking out at the window and started when 1 addressed him directly. I augured mystery therefrom. "What's the rneaning of these mysteries?" I asked abruptly. The horror of the place was already influencing my spirits. "What mysteries?" demanded Briarfield in a listless manner. "This inu has been uninhabited for some considerable period. A suspicious looking rascal and his pretty danghter have taken up their abode here with no possible chance of getting customers. I stumble ou this castle grim in the twilight and flnd you here - you of all men - whom I believed to be in South America. Don't you cali these mysteries? "If you put it that way, I admit the mysteries, replied Francis, coming toward the fire. "I know little about the inn, still less about the landlord and his daughter. As to myself, I am here by appointmeut to meet my brother Felix. Came from London to Starby and rode f rom thence to this inn. " "Why meet him in this murderous looking house?' "He named the place of meeting himself. " "And you?" "I ouly arrived this month in England from South America. I wrote him from London, asking to see him. He appointed this inn as neutral ground for us to meet, so here I am. " "Why neutral ground? Have you quarreled?" "Bitterly. " "You did so at college, " said I, looking steadily at hirn. "Strange that such ill blood should exist between twin brothers. ' ' "The inevitable woman, " said Francis in a barsh tone, quite at variauce with his usual soft speech. "Oh! And her name?" "Olivia Belliu!" "I know her. Do you mean to say, Briarfield, that" "Hush!" he said, rapidly indicating the door, and there stood the girl Rose listening to our conversation. Her face was pale, and it was evident that the mention of the name had powerfully affected her. Seeing our eye3 were on her, she apologized in a low, nervous voice. "Your pardon, gentlemen, " she said, placing a tray on the table. "I did not intend to interrupt your conversation. Allow me to lay the table for supper. " "First show me my room, " said I, picking up my knapsack. "I am dusty and wish to give myself a brush up. " Rose nodded and preceded me out of the apartment. I glanced back and saw that Francis had returned to hisold post by the wiudow. Evideatly he was watching for the arrival of his brother. "When does Mr. Feiix Briarfield arrive?" I asked Rose as we ascended the stairs. "I dou't know the name, sir, " she said, with an obvious effort. "You dou't know the name?" 1 repeated, seeing she wn lyug, "yet Mr. Francis Briarfield is here to meet his brother. " "It may ba so, sir. But I kuow uothing about it. Mr. Briarfield is a strauger to me, like yourself. " "It is to be hoped you received hitn more willingly than you did me. " My words feil on the empty air, for af ter her last remark she hastily departed. I mechanically attended to my wants and woudered what could be the meaning of the girl's attitude. "She knows Miss Bellin and Felix Briarfield," I thought, "perhaps not personally, but at least their names. She is also aware of the intended visit of Felix to this place. I must find out from Francis the reason of that visit, and it may throw some light on the demeanor of Rose. I am glad 1 came here tonight, for that landlord is scarcely a persou to bc trusted. Certaiuly my pre3entiment of romance is coming true. " When I descended to the diuing room, I found snpper laid and Fraucis inipatiently awaiting my arrival. A lamp was lightad, and for the first time I saw his face plainly. The alteration in his looks and demeanor siuce our college flays was astonishing. Felix had always been the graver of the twins, and it was the distinguiihiug mark betweet; them. Now the liveiier spirits of Fr.vncis had calmed down to a subdued gravity whieh made the resemblauce bctweeá Éhein still greater. We seated ourselves at tha table in siltsnce, and ha colored as he caught my earnest look. "You flnd me altered?" he asked, with manifest discomposure. "Very much alteied and mure like Felix than ever. " "I haven 'tseen him for overayear, " said Briarfield abruptly, "so I don't know if the resemblance is still strong. " "It is stronger, " I answered ically. "i aw Félix two inontha ago, nnd nov 1 look at you tonigbt I can Bcarcely beheve it is Francis and not Felix saated before me. " "We are alike tooutward view, Denham, but I hope our natures are different. " "What do you mean?" "Felix," said he, with marked deliberation, "is a thief, a liar and a dishonorable man. ' ' "You speak strongly. " "I have reason to. " "The before nientioned reasou, Briarfield, " said I, alludiug to the feinimne elemont. "Yes. By the way, " he added feverishly, "you said Miss Bellin was known to you. " "ín a casual way only. Slie is a society beauty, and I have met her once or twice; also lier very silly motlier. The latter is as lemarkable for folly as the fomier is for beauty. Well, Briarfield, and what about Miss Belhn?" "I was engaged to her. " "Yon are engaged to her?" "1 said 'was,' " he replied, with emphasis. "Now she is engaged to niy bi-other. " "Of her own tree will?" "I don 't know, " said Briarleld. "I really dou't know. When I went to Chile, I was her affianced lover. Now I return and learn that she is to marry my brother. ' ' "What explanatiou does he make?" "None as yet. Touight or tomorrow rnorning he comes here to explain. " "But why here, of all places?" "Miss Bellin is in Marshminster. Felix is staving there also, and in his letter asked me to see him at the Feu inn, as he wished to explain bis conduce fully before 1 met Olive again. " "And you agreed?" "As you see." "In your place, " said I meditatively, "I should have gone at once to Marshminster and confronted both. There is some trickyry about this. " "You think so?" "1 am by nature suspicious, " I answered. "Perhaps toomuch so. Yes, 1 think there is some trickery. ' ' Francis frowned and glanced at his watch. "It is now 8 o'clock, " he said, replacing it in his pocket, "too late to go to Marshmiuster. " "Besides which," I added, "our worthy landlord has doubtless neither trap nor norse. ' ' By this time we had finished supper, and Rose carne in to clear away. Thoughtfully rilling my pipe, Iwatched her closely. Undeuiably she was a very beantiful woman and ill suited to her present occupation. Why a girl so handsome should bnry herself in this lonely inn was a mystery to me. I feit sure that there was a purpose connected with her presence here, and that inimical to Briarfield. The landlord did not make his appearance, which wasto me a matter of somo relief. I disliked thefellow greatly. Francis, smoking hard, sat staring at the fire and took no heed of Rose. Once or twice she glanced in his direction and looked as though about to address him. Catching my eye, she bit her lip and desisted. Finally she disappeared froin the room, with manifest anger at not having accomplished her design. "Strange, " said I, lighting my pipe. "What is straage?" asked Briarfield, looking up. "That girl knows your brother. " "It's not impossible, " he answered carelessly. "Felix always had an eye for pretty faces, and as he appointed this inn as a meeting place he has probably been here before. Rose Strent no doubt draws him hither by her beauty. " "That is not a compliment to Miss Bellin." "I know it. Felix is a profligate scamp and will make her a bad husband. He shall not marry her, ' ' added Briarfield angrily. "I say he shall not marry her and make her life miserable. I'll kill him first. " "Man, man, think of what you are say ing - your own brother!" "My own brother - my twin brother, " scoffed Francis, "is that any reason why he should take away from me the woman I love?" "She is not worth regretting if she forgets you so soon. " "She has uot forgotten me," he said earnestly. "I assnre you, Denham, she loves me stilL The last letter I received from her gave no hint that she wearied of me. As you say, there is some trickery about it. 111 have an explanation from Felix, " continued he, strikiug the table with his fist, "or, by heaven, I'll kill him!" "Where did you meet her?" I asked, ignoring this last remark, which was but idle. "In town over a year ago, " he replied, calming down. "She is, as you know, very beautiful, and her mother wished her to make a great match. I am comfortably off, bnt have not a title; therefore Mrs. Bellin would not sanction the engagement. Then I had to go to South America on business connected with my property. Before I left she promised to become my wife aud swore that iiothing should part us or render her false to me. See, here is the ring she gave me," he added, stretching out his hand, "this pearl ring. I was to be back in six months, and oor engagement was to be made public. I am back in bíi monta and the first thing I hear ! is that she u to marry Felix. " "Did she write aud teil you so?" , "No. 13ut Felix did aud asked me to meet him here bef ore seeing her." "Now, I wonder if this apparent treachery of Miss Bellin haa anything to do with your trwinship?" "What do yon mean?" asked Briarfield, startiug np. "You are so like in appearance, " said I, "that no one oould teil yon apart. You have lived constantly together save for the last sis nionths and know every action of each other's lives. It may be that Felix has passed himself off toiliss Bellin as you. " "Impossible! She would rietect the deception. " "1 doubt it, save by iutuition. 1 aSsure you, Brlarfield, that the i blance between you is most parplexing There is uot the slightest difference Yon dress the same; you have the same gestares; yon almost tbink the same It is scarce possible to teil which is which veheu apart, 1 thoughc touight that you were Felix. " "It cannot be; it cannot be, " he muttered fevenshly "Herowu heart would teil her the truth. ;' "Did you teil Felix of your engagement?" 1 asked abrupt ly. "Yes. I told him all." "And wheu did you hear last f rom Miss Bellin:-" "Some three inonths ago. It was because she did not reply to my letters that I carne back so soon. ' ' "To whom were your letters sent?" "To her, of course. " "Care of Felix?" said 1, with instinctive suspicion. "Why, yes," he said, with a sudden frown. "I did not want Mrs. Bellin to know of our engagement, so did not dare to write opeuly. Felix undertook to deliver the letters. " "He may have undertaken to do so, but, " I added forcibly, "he did not. " "T)enham!" "The whole case is as clear as day, " said I. "Felix was in love with Miss Bellin and wished to marry her. Knowing she was in love with you, he was well aware he had no chance, so resorted to trickery. When you left for Chile, he gave her your letters for three months, then, saying he was going abroad, ostensibly left England, but really staid and presented himself as you. ' ' "As me?" " Yes. He has traded on the marvelous resemblance between you. He knows all your Ufe, all your love affairs, and I have no doubt that Miss Bellin believea that he is Francis Briarfield, her lover, returned from South America in three months instead of six. " "If I thought so, " muttered Francis, biting hisfingers, "if I thought so" "I am sure it is so. Now yousee why it is imperativo that he should interview you before you meet Miss Bellin. He wishes to reveal the deception and throw himself on your mercy. " "He'll get no mercy from me if this is so, " said Briarfield in a somber tone. "Oh, fooi that Iwas uot to write direct to Olivia when I cameback toEnglaud! Bnt it is not too late. When he comes here, I '11 learn the truth and denounce him to Olivia. Then our troubles will be over. ' ' "A mau capable of such a trick is capable of worse, " said I sententiously. "I ad vise you to be on your guard against Felix. " "Do you think he'll kill me?" "I don 't go as f ar as that, " I replied cautiously, "but your meeting will be - productivo of trouble. Just now you expressed a wish to kill him. " "And I shall if he has tricked me as you say. " "Nonsense, Briarfield, you talk wildly. This matter can surely be settled in a less melodramatic fashion. I am glad I am here, as perhaps you will permit me to be present at the interview. " "Willingly. I know how clever you are, Denham. You may assist me to unmask Felix. " "Do you think he'll come tonight?" said I, going to the window. "His letter said tonight or tomorrow. ' ' "Then it will be tomorrow. Felix wouldn't risk meeting you at night if he had thns betrayed you. Let us go to bed and tomorrow settle the matter. ' ' At first Francis was unwilling to retire, but whan the landlord came to lock np for the night and laughed at the idea of any one coming there from Marshminster he feil in with my desire. Together we went up stairs and parted on the threshold of his room. It was five or six doors away from mine. "Lock your door, " said I as we parted. "What, do you thiuk 111 be murdered in my sleep?" "No, but I don't like the inu, and I dislike the face of Streut, the landlord. Besides, ' ' I continued, tapping Briarfield 's breast, "that girl Rose." "What about her?" "She knows Miss Bellin. Good night." With that I departed, notwithstanding his desire for an explanation of my last words. So wearied was I that deBpite my suspicious of the inn I speedily feil asleep. (Tobe continued.)