Agatha Webb Read Online Free PDF

undesirable adjunct to any gentleman's
family."
    Frederick paled. Something in these words had caused him a great
shock. Mr. Sutherland was fond enough to believe that it was the
news of this extraordinary woman's death. But his son's words, as
soon as lie could find any, showed that his mind was running on
Amabel, whom he perhaps had found it difficult to connect even in
the remotest way with crime.
    "She at this place of death? How could that be? Who would take a
young girl there?"
    The father, experiencing, perhaps, more compassion for this soon-
to-be-disillusioned lover than he thought it incumbent upon him to
show, answered shortly, but without any compromise of the unhappy
truth:
    "She went; she was not taken. No one, not even myself, could keep
her back after she had heard that a murder had been committed in
the town. She even intruded into the house; and when ordered out
of the room of death took up her stand in the yard in front, where
she remained until she had the opportunity of pointing out to us a
stain of blood on the grass, which might otherwise have escaped
our attention."
    "Impossible!" Frederick's eye was staring; he looked like a man
struck dumb by surprise or fear. "Amabel do this? You are mocking
me, sir, or I may be dreaming, which may the good God grant."
    His father, who had not looked for so much emotion, eyed his son
in surprise, which rapidly changed to alarm as the young man
faltered and fell back against the wall.
    "You are ill, Frederick; you are really ill. Let me call down Mrs.
Harcourt. But no, I cannot summon her. She is this girl's aunt."
    Frederick made an effort and stood up.
    "Do not call anybody," he entreated. "I expect to suffer some in
casting this fascinating girl out of my heart. Ultimately I will
conquer the weakness; indeed I will. As for her interest in Mrs.
Webb's death"—how low his voice sank and how he trembled!" she
may have been better friends with her than we had any reason to
suppose. I can think of no other motive for her conduct.
Admiration for Mrs. Webb and horror—"
    "Breakfast is served, gentlemen!" cried a thrilling voice behind
them. Amabel Page stood smiling in the doorway.

VII - "Marry Me"
*
    "Wait a moment, I must speak to you." It was Amabel who was
holding Frederick back. She had caught him by the arm as he was
about leaving the room with his father, and he felt himself
obliged to stop and listen.
    "I start for Springfield to-day," she announced. "I have another
relative there living at the house. When shall I have the pleasure
of seeing you in my new home?"
    "Never." It was said regretfully, and yet with a certain
brusqueness, occasioned perhaps by over-excited feeling. "Hard as
it is for me to say it, Amabel, it is but just for me to tell you
that after our parting here to-day we will meet only as strangers.
Friendship between us would be mockery, and any closer
relationship has become impossible."
    It had cost him an immense effort to say these words, and he
expected, fondly expected, I must admit, to see her colour change
and her head droop. But instead of this she looked at him steadily
for a moment, then slipped her hand down his arm till she reached
his palm, which she pressed with sudden warmth, drawing him into
the room as she did so, and shutting the door behind them. He was
speechless, for she never had looked so handsome or so glowing.
Instead of showing depression or humiliation even, she confronted
him with a smile more dangerous than any display of grief, for it
contained what it had hitherto lacked, positive and irresistible
admiration. Her words were equally dangerous.
    "I kiss your hand, as the Spaniards say." And she almost did so,
with a bend of her head, which just allowed him to catch a glimpse
of two startling dimples.
    He was astounded. He thought he knew this woman well, but at this
moment she was as incomprehensible to him as if he had never made
a study of her caprices and sought an explanation for her ever-
shifting