How Mills succeeded with Mr. De Vere is known and when the former’s accomplice endeavored to secure the title to “Old Ulster,” he learned that the mine was already in the hands of a new company.
Mills secretly regretted having consigned the document so hastily to the flames; and could he have seen it, as Dr. Herschel, the next occupant of that room in the hotel at Kingston, drew it from the stove, every letter distinct, he would have known that in that asbestos-like sheet was a rarer treasure than money or jewels.
CHAPTER VIII
THE last week in April had arrived and in a few days came Celeste’s wedding. Hernando was returning from town after a call at his uncle’s where his cousin Mary Genung was convalescing from typhoid fever. Eletheer De Vere had been with her and bravely nursed her through. Everything seemed strangely quiet, only the sound of the crushers breaking the stillness, and he strolled along so deeply absorbed in thought that he did not hear a light footstep behind him, and almost started when his arm was clasped by slim white fingers and a merry voice said playfully: “There, you naughty boy, I’m completely out of breath trying to catch up with you.”
It was Celeste, and she raised her glowing face to his with an expression of mock severity.
“I certainly did not hear you, Celeste,” he replied honestly.
Her hands were full of trailing arbutus which filled the air with its delicious fragrance.
“Then I will forgive you,” she said, pinning a cluster of deep pink blossoms on his coat.
“What are these beautiful flowers?” he said, smelling of them.