"This, Paul," she said, mournfully, "was found in the pocket of the
dress Marian wore at Luckenough, but changed at home before she went out
to walk the evening of her death. Mother always believed that she went
out to meet the appointment made in that note."
Paul took the paper with eager curiosity to examine it. He looked at
it, started slightly, turned pale, shuddered, passed his hand once or
twice across his eyes, as if to clear his vision, looked again, and then
his cheeks blanched, his lips gradually whitened and separated, his eyes
started, and his whole countenance betrayed consternation and horror.
Miriam gazed upon him in a sort of hushed terror--then exclaimed:
"Paul! Paul! what is the matter? You look as if you had been turned to
stone by gazing on the Gorgon's head; Paul! Paul!"
"Miriam, did your mother know this handwriting?" he asked, in a husky,
almost inaudible voice.
"No!"
"Did she suspect it?"
"No!"
"Did you know or suspect it?"
"No! I was a child when I received it, remember. I have never seen it
since."
"Not when you put it in my hand, just now?"
"No, I never looked at the writing?"
"That was most strange that you should not have glanced at the
handwriting when you handed it to me.
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