“Nothing is hard that I do for you, Miss Margaret,” replied Forrest.
“Listen then—to-night, after you are sure that all the family are retired, and there is no possibility of your being observed, take my horse from the stable, and ride, as for your life, to Belleview, and put this carefully in the post office,” she said, drawing the letter from her bosom and placing it in the hand of Forrest.
The old man looked at her wistfully, uneasily, drew a deep sigh, bowed reverently, put the letter in his pocket, and, at a sign from his mistress, left the room.
But that night at eleven o’clock, Nellie, watching from her window, saw Miss Helmstedt’s messenger ride away over the hills through the moonlight.
CHAPTER XI.
THE MYSTERIOUS CORRESPONDENT.
“You, sir! I want to see you! Come hither!” said Mrs. Houston, as she stood upon the back piazza, early the next morning, and beckoned Forrest to her presence.
The old man bowed in his deferential manner, advanced and stood hat in hand before the little lady.
“Where did you go last night after we had all retired?”
Forrest bowed again, humbly and deprecatingly, but remained silent.
“Did you hear me speak to you?” inquired Mrs. Houston, impatiently.