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in; every now and then in the street, as if ex-
pcctiiig snnie one. . I
He had looked up expectantly as they on-
tered, but seeing who they were, he turned away
his head again with a strange, disappointed
look upon his features. .
He kept conliiiually mumbling something
about " the captain,” lint so indi.<.tinctly that
they were unable to distinguish the words, and
paid no more attention to their presence than
if they were not in the room.
They made several attempts to establish in
his mind some recollection of their faces; to all
their questions he would simply answer:
“I doii’t-know you,”. and turn again to the
conternplatioii of the passcrs-by.
Their efforts were useless, and seeing them
so, they at last gave up the attempt and with-
drew, and returned to the lady’s boarding-
housc. . I .
For a long time they sat talking. and en-
(leavoring to solve the difficulties, but they
could see no way out of them. ‘ -
Tired and weary from his exertions, the old
gcutlcinan finally departed. Promising that he
woiilil do all he could, and that if anything
new occurred, he would let her know of it
as soon as possible, he bid her good-bye and
started for his home. '
It was a. plain, nupretending house, situated
in “fest Tliiry first Street, with a simple plate
on the door with his name inscribed thereon. I
llaving no pressing business on hand at pres-
out, he sat. down by the window to read. .
lie had not been long engaged in the book
. when the bell rang, and a gentleman inquired
it" :1 clcrgyinan lived there. -
lie was informed there was, and was ushered
into the room where Mr. Hawkins was seated.
“ I have come.” said the gentleman, taking
the seat that was offered to him, “ on a some-
what singular errand.
"I wish to secure your services for it. friend
of mine who is about to be married. .
" In some fit of eccentricity, this friend con-
ceived the idea of being married in a mask,
anal also that all the parties at the ceremony
shall he disguised in like iiiaiiiicr.
“ I can assure you that everything is right
and proper. and for reference I can refer you
.’-logger ‘ '
He mentioned several (ll'SIl1lglllSll(3(.I‘I1lCll of
the city, of whom, it is needless to say, he knew
nothing, and had perhaps never seen them.
" I will further state,” continued he, “that
you will be well paid for your trouble. Can I
depend upon you?,”
" Did your friend send you to me?" asked
Mr Hawkins. W
“ No,” was the reply; “ he mentioned no one
in particular-merely telling me to get a min-
ister." ' ’
The old gentleman reflected for a moment.
Should he consent and go to thehouse, mean-
while giving information to the police, in order
that if wrong was intended he might be able to
frustrate it. or, would it he. better that he re-
fuse to have anything to do with it at all?
“ But,” he reasoned, " in case I refuse, per-
haps they will not stop at that, but will provide
some one without authority to perform the cere-
niony.” I -
If wrong was intended, they would not stop‘
for such a small obstacle. and the result might
. be much worse than if he had consented.
. “ On the whole," be thought, “ I guess Iliad
better go:" and turning to his visitor, he said:
“ I will accept tlic‘clir.rge " . g H
"Very well,"said the stranger, rising, ‘I’
shall call for-you to-marrow at seven o clock;
and with it how he retired. .
The afternoon passetl away, and '1!) due
course of time the night and the following day.
Punctual to his appointment, the stranger ap-
peared with a carriage '
Mr. Hawkins was ready, and no time was
consumed in wai'iug; and seating liiinself by
the side of his companion, tlit-ydrove rapidly
1L“'3.'f. ,
Why it was that thoughts of the time when
Port’ had trapped him would come into his-
mini , he could not tell; but, do what he woiilrl,
the recollection of that time would continually
i recur to him. and several times he felt as if ini-
pelled to open the carriage door and spring out
and once his hand even sought the knob with
that intention, but something within seemed to
restrain him, and be determined to see the
matter through at all liazzirrls. .
.. It Wm be necessary,” said tliestrangcr,
I “that vou put on this mask nf>W." Dl"0d“Cl“.‘-3
one ,-zgfhc spoke, and putting it on the clergy-
I
man. “ And that you may not know where
the house is located. I must bandage your eyes
for the present; but I assure that no.harin is
meant to your own person." I
Mr. Islawkins at first objected, but finally-
consented to the arrangement, and his coin-
paiiion blindfolded him. ,
’l‘lie stranger was expert at his business, and
did not leave the least aperture tliroughgwliich
the minister might see. There was not the
faintest chance for him to use his eyes. . .
The carriage at length stopped, and the
stranger led Mr. Hawkins into the house and
removed the bandage from his eyes.
The mask remained on. ‘ - .
He cmild see that he was in a large, elegant-
ly furnished parlor. , I . I
From here they were conducted into a smaller
apartment, (limly lighted, in which room the
ceremony was to take place.
“ Who have ‘you get?" asked the voice of
the grnoiii to the other in.a whisper, but which
Hawkins overheard. -
“ I have forgotten the name,” said the other
in the same low tone. '3 Are you all ready‘.””
“ Yes.” I
The old clergyman felt strangely uncomforta-
ble as the black, sparkling eyes were fixed upon
his. ‘
involuntarily he compared him in his mind
to a hideous siiake, and the light form of the
female beside him to some gentle dove that had
been charmed with his baneful influence.
He felt decidedly averse to the whole pro-
ceeding, and those black eyes looking in his
own seemed to compel him to go on in spite of
himself. - ,
He proceeded with the ceremony.
The man's voice was strong and full in the
responses, and it seemed to the minister that he
had at some time in the past lieaid it before.
But the more he attempted to recall it to his
memory, the more vague it seemed to him and
uiisatisfactory; so he gave it up, thinking me
had been mistaken. ’
Old man, have not lIl0S:.- eyes twice before
looked into your own, and do you still fail to
recogu‘i7.e them because a mask ‘covers them?
Does not the dread influence stealing over you
warn you that -they are the eyes of your mortal
enciny? .
Turning from the bridegroom, he addressed
the bride: ‘ -.
“ Do you take this-man to be your wedded
husband, to -”
“ No!” was the answer. clear, distinct, and
firm; “never, as God is my witness!” ,
The bridegroom started forward with a fierce
exclamation on his lips. .
As he did so, the mask dropped off, and reveal-
ed to the astonished eyes of Mr. Hawkins the
scowling face of Perry, distorted with passion.
The discovery nearly overpowered him, it
came so unexpectedly: but like a flash it entered
his mind that everything now depended on his
coolness, and by a”‘pmrerful effort be recovered
his usual composure, and glanced the other way,
as if he had not noticed the falling of the mask.
Perry had instantly replaced it, and” glanced
sharply at him as if suspicions that he had seen
ltlie movement; but apparently reassured, he said
iglitl -': . .
“ Pjerhaps the lady is alittle indisposed. ‘I do
not know but that it would be well to postpone
this matter for a few days, until 1 have had a
chance to repair the difficulty.”
The lady in question cast a quick, angry glance
upon him, butsaid nothing; she evidently feared
him, from her manner. '
Perry muttered something under his breath
about something “ was not strong enougli,” and
turning to Mr. Hawkins, said laugliingly:
“ She has contrary tits at times, but she will
be all right. again in a few (lays, and I shall send
for you again. For the present,‘ take this, and
after the ali'air is concluded I will make it
more;” and he pressed a crisp baiik-note into his
hand. ’
His Companion again subjected him to the
blindfolding process, and conducted him to his
carriage. and he was again driven back to his
home, to cogitatc upon the extraordinar ' mamicr
in which he had been put upon the track of what
flit) had so anxiously been seeking for the last few
( ays t ' ’
CHAPTER XXX-
WILSON LEAl’.'SS THE mews.
The next dayafter Wilson's arrival and inter-
view with his employers, he started forth with
andhidden.
li
:a
the captain on avisit to Mr. Templeton anti’
Mattie. - ‘ ‘ , " ,.
He found‘ the household in a state of the at-
most confusion, and Mr. Teinpleton in a state
bordering upon distraction. V - ‘
warmly, and endeavored to tell him everytlii.. .
at once, but his feelings were so strong, that he
could not make liimsclftlioroiiglily understood-
oiily that there was something the matter, and
- that hiattie had some part in it. V -A . t e .
Wilson saw tiiatthe 0l(l-g'(3Illl(’IIla1'l=Vt'Otil(I be
unable to tell him anytliiitg clearly while in that
state, so he set himself to work to compose him,
and succeeded so well, that he finally understood
that. Mattie had been on a visit to her cousin
Green’s,‘ in llhode. Island,‘ and that she had
mysteriously disappeared from there. and that
they had no clew whatever as to what had become
of her, and he feared she had been murdered
“ What efforts have you made to trace her?’’
said the young man, repressing his feelings as
ther’s anxiety.
itself to my mind. I’ I have put detectives upon
the track, and have spent money plciitifiilly, but
so farl have nothad the least clew. My brain is
almost crazed. I have had the woods ‘around
Cousin Green’s searched, and have had the creek
dragged, but no trace have I yet found; Every-
thing lias been done that money could do. 'lVhat
shall I do-what shall I do?” , -
W'ilson wasdeeply afl'ected, but he calmed
Mr. 'l‘cmplcton’s mind as well as he was , able,
and talked to him in a more hopeful strain.
The idea had already "fixed itself in his mind
him first. ,
In the course of conversation he Ctlslltill" asked‘
if he had seen Perry lately. I’
“ Yes,” replied Mr. Templeton; “ he Vt...-""78
yesterday to tcondole with me, and offer 111-! as-
he is a feeling young man.” ,
-‘f He is a hypocrite!” hissed Yililson, but not
loud enough for Mr. Templeton to hear. “ l’ll
feel for him if he ever comes within my re" chi”
At first he was tempted to tell him of all he
knew about Perry, but he thought that he would
only add to his grief. .
and said earnestly:
“ llihatever happens, you may rely upon me.
I am going to sift. this matter ilioroughly," he
said in a voice of deep feeling.
“ Tlianl<s," said Mattie’s father,‘ in a voice of
emotion- “ I have just begun to appreciate you
correctly. Perry, with all his sympathy, has
made no effort to find my chilt .”
“ :No WOIl(lC.l',” thought Wilson; but he said
nothing, and bidding him an affectionate fare-
well, they started out again, the captain to at-
tend to some matter of his own, and the young
man to go to the police headquarters, and give
them his information and suspicions.
.‘.Vhei.i he got there and stated the nature of
his business, hefvas informed that the detective
who was working up the case was out of the
and that; it would be the best plan for him to call
in when he could see him, as he had full power
in the case. - I
So, in spite of all his impatience andlanxiety,
the young man was compelled to wait another
day in idleness. , -
He ‘walked back to the hotel, where he found
Captain btiitlleyr busily engaged in writing, and
not wishing to disturb him, he again started out,
and went down to his employers’ oflice. ’
N either of the firm was in when he rmcileti the
ofiice, and Wilson employed hiinsclf meanwhile
by looking out into South Street with its ever-
0h=mt-ring SCCIIC of activity--tlie forests of masts
shutting off the view of the river, the busy trucks
and toiling sailors loading the uiercliandise that
was to go to every quarter of‘ the globe, the
newly arrived ships, with their precious ciirgcits
of teas and spices from the ladies, the hustle
and activity everywhere. .
lie was recalled from this scene by the opeiiin g
of the ofllce door, and Mr Jones entered.
He was very glad to see Wil.-on, and after
shaking hands, he sat down beside him.
I They spoke for some time upon business sub-
jects and other matters, and at last the conversa-
tion tiiriied upon the late SIllp“'I‘l'Ck,
Wilson referred to the strange manner in
which Mr. Jones had acted when it was fn-5;
related to him, and asked the cause, and also
Upon seeing lVilson he grasped liis-liai"l
far as possible, that he might not add tovthe fa-' l
“ l have made every effort that has suggested
tliat.Peirywas in some way implicated in the ‘
affziir, and that the best thing to do was to find,
sistance; he seemed to feel very sadly about it; ,
VVilsou took the old 'man’s hand at parting, -
city, and would not return until the next day,-
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