Jenifer's Prayer, Part III [pp. 318-334]

Jenifer's Prayer.
came back." He paused, and collected his thoughts once more, in order to
go on with his story.
"We went to seek for him. IHe
was found at last, aP the deer-pond,
surrounded by the evidences of a hard
struggle having taken place there,
a struggle in which he had only
just escaped with his life. He has
been ill-treated in a way that it
is horrible to contemplate. He is
lying now in danger of death. And
this morning I have assisted in the
capture of James O'Keefe, whom I
found by Mrs. Mlorier's kitchen fire,
for this possible murder. I should
tell you that Mr. Erskine is just as
likely to die as to live."
"Mr. Brewer," said Eleanor, rising up and taking no notice of Lady
Greystock's death-like face,-"l Mir.
Brewer, is there any truth in a
report that has reached me from a
man who was in the elder Mr. Erskine's service in Scotland-a report
to the effect that Mr. Horace Erskine
wished to propose marriage, or had
proposed marriage, to Miss Lorimer?"
"There is truth in that report,"
said Mr. Brewer.
" Then I must see that man,"
said Mrs. Evelyn. "Before this
terrible affair can proceed, I must
see Horace Erskine. If indeed it
be true that he has received this
terrible punishment, I can supply a
motive for James O'Keefe's conduct
that any jury ought to take into
consideration."
"But O'Keefe denies having ever
seen him," said Mr. Brewer. "He
does not deny having inquired about
him. He even said words before me
that would make me suppose that he
had come into this neighborhood
on purpose to see him, and to take
some vengeance upon him. Mr. Erskine is found with the marks of the
severest ill-usage about him, and
you say you can supply a motive for
such a deed. O'Keefe, however, denies all but the will to work evil;
he confesses to the will to do the
deed, but denies having done it."
"I must see Mr. Erskine," was
all that Eleanor answered. "I must
'see Mr. Erskine. Whether he sees
me or not, Imust see him."
The young woman was standing
up-her face quite changed by the
expression of anxious earnestness
that animated it.
"I must see Mr. Erskine. Mr.
Brewer, you must so manage it that
I must see Mr. Erskine without
delay."
"But you would do no good,"
said Mr. Brewer, in a very stern
tone and with an utter absence of all
his natural sympathy. "The man
is so injured that his own mother
could not identify him."
"Then may God have mercy on
us!" cried Eleanor, sinking into a
chair. "If I could only have seen
that man before this woe came
upon us!"
And then that wornan burst into
one of those uncontrollable fits of
tears that are the offspring of despair.
Lady Greystock looked at her for a
moment, and then rose from her
chair. "Victories half won are neither useful nor honorable," she said.
"Wait, Eleanor, I will show you
what that man was."
She opened a large metal-bound
desk, curiously inlaid, and with a
look of wondrous workmanship. She
said, looking at her father, "I left
this at Beremouth, never intending
to see it again, But it got sent here
a few years ago. It has never been
opened since I locked it before my
wedding day." She opened it, and
took out several packets and small
parcels. Then she opened one
-it was a miniature case which
matched that one of herself which
had been so cruelly sent to good,
kind Sir Geoffrey-she opened it.
"Who is that, Eleanor?" It was
curious to see how the eyes, blinded
by tears, fastened on it. "My husband-my husband-Henry Evelyn.
My husband, Mr. Brewer. Oh,
Lady Greystock, thank God that at
any cost he did not run his soul still
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