Part 36 (2/2)

”Yes; that is the place. Its deep solitude and total abandonment, with its ghostly reputation, will be sure to secure your safety. Go there; conceal yourselves and your horses as well as you can. In the course of to-morrow, or to-morrow night, I will come to you with such news and such help as I may be able to bring.”

”Thank you. Oh, thank you. But what are words? You are a man of deeds.

Your presence of mind has saved us both!” said Lyon Berners earnestly.

”And now to horse,” said Captain Pendleton, taking Mrs. Berners under his guidance, while Mr. Berners brought on the valise and travelling bag.

Captain Pendleton placed Sybil in her saddle, whispering encouragingly,

”Be strong and hopeful. This necessary flight is a temporary evil, intended to save you from a permanent, and even perhaps a fatal wrong.

Be patient, and time shall vindicate you and bring you back.”

”But oh! to leave my home, and the home of my fathers! to leave it like a criminal, when I am innocent! to leave it in haste, and not to know if I may ever return,” cried Sybil, in a voice of anguish.

”It is a fearful trial. I will not mock you by denying that it is. Yes, it is a terrible ordeal! but one, Mrs. Berners, that you have heroism enough to bear,” replied Captain Pendleton, as he bowed over her extended hand and gave her the reins.

Lyon Berners was also mounted. They were ready to start. With a mutual ”G.o.d bless you,” the friends parted.

Lyon and Sybil took the dark road.

Captain Pendleton unlocked the door that had been locked by Mr. Berners, but as he pushed to open it he felt an obstruction, and instantly afterwards heard some one run away.

”A listener,” he thought, in dismay as he pursued the fugitive. But he only caught a glimpse of a figure disappearing through the front door and into the darkness without, in which it was lost.

”An eavesdropper!” he exclaimed, in despair. ”An eavesdropper! Who now can be a.s.sured of her safety? Oh, Sybil! you rejected my hand, and very nearly ruined my life. But this night I would die to save you,” he sighed, as he went and joined the gentlemen who were sitting up watching, or rather dozing, in the parlor, while waiting for the physician's or the coroner's arrival.

”Where is Mrs. Berners?” inquired the old Judge, rousing himself up.

”She retired to her chamber about an hour ago,” answered Captain Pendleton, telling the truth, but not the whole truth, as you will perceive.

”Hum, ha, yes; well, and where is her husband?”

”He followed her there,” answered the Captain, shortly.

”Ha, hum, yes, well. The coroner is long in coming,” grumbled the Judge.

”It is some distance to Blackville, sir, and the roads are rough and the night is dark,” observed the Captain.

”Well, yes, true,” agreed the old man, subsiding into his chair and into his doze.

Captain Pendleton threw himself into a seat, but had not sat long before the parlor door opened, and his sister appeared at it and called to him in a low voice.

He arose, and went to her.

”Come out into the hall here; I want to speak to you, Clement,” said Miss Pendleton.

He went out.

Then his sister inquired, in a voice full of anxious entreaty:

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