pray Heaven for fortitude?"

"I have fortitude for anything but suspense. Oh, Heaven, Miss Thornton,
relieve this suspense, or I shall suffocate!"

"Edith! Edith!" said the lady, going up and putting her arms around the
fragile form of the young widow, as to shield and support her. "Oh,
Edith! I heard a report this morning--and it may be but a report--I pray
Heaven, that it is no more--"

"Oh, go on! what was it?"

"That, that last evening on the beach during the storm, Marian
Mayfield--" Miss Thornton's voice choked.

"Oh, speak; for mercy speak! What of Marian?"

"That Marian Mayfield had been waylaid, and--"

"Murdered! Oh, God!" cried Edith, as her over-strained nerves relaxed,
and she sank in the arms of Miss Thornton.

A child's wild, frenzied shriek resounded through the house. It was the
voice of Miriam.

* * * * *

At Luckenough that morning, the remains of the unfortunate Dr. Grimshaw
were laid out preparatory to burial. Jacquelina, in a bewildered stupor
of remorse, wandered vaguely from room to room, seeking rest and finding
none. "I have caused a fellow creature's death!" That was the envenomed
thought that corroded her heart's centre. From her bosom, too, peace had
fled. It was near noon when the news of Marian's fate reached
Luckenough, and overwhelmed the family with consternation and grief.

But Jacquelina! the effect of the tragic tale on her was nearly fatal.
She understood the catastrophe, as no one else could! She knew who
struck the fatal blow, and when and why, and under what mistake it was
struck! She felt that another crime, another death lay heavy on her
soul! It was too much! oh! it was too much! No human heart nor brain
could sustain the crushing burden, and the poor lost elf fell into
convulsions that threatened soon to terminate in death. There was no
raving, no talking; in all her frenzy, the fatal secret weighing on her
bosom did not then transpire.

* * * * *

Before the day was out the whole county was in an uproar. Never had any
event of the neighborhood created so high an excitement or so profound a
sympathy. Great horror and amazement filled every bosom. A county
meeting spontaneously convened, and handbills were printed, large
rewards offered, and every means taken to secure the discovery of the
criminal. In the deep, absorbing sympathy for Marian's fate, the sudden
death of Professor Grimshaw, and the re