Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: Google Books https://books.google.com/books?id=77gXAAAAYAAJ (Harvard University) THE RAINBOW FEATHER BY FERGUS HUME _Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "Claude Duval of Ninety-Five" etc_. NEW YORK: G. W. DILLINGHAM CO., PUBLISHERS. LONDON: DIGBY, LONG & CO. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. DILLINGHAM CO. [_All rights reserved_.] _The Rainbow Feather_. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. A Terrible Prophecy II. Poverty Villa III. The Sermon IV. What Happened on Sunday Night V. Paul Mexton, Journalist VI. Eliza's Evidence VII. At the Vicarage VIII. In the Winding Lane IX. The Inquest at Herne Arms X. The Prophecy Again XI. Brent Speaks Out XII. A Startling Piece of Evidence XIII. The Defence of Miss Clyde XIV. Dust to Dust XV. Dr. Lester Tells a Story XVI. Catinka XVII. The Society of The Rainbow Feather XVIII. Iris Confesses XIX. Who Mr. Lovel was XX. Gran Jimboy XXI. The Return of Herne XXII. A Denial XXIII. Drek's Opinions XXIV. The Trial XXV. The Truth at Last XXVI. "All's Well that Ends Well." THE RAINBOW FEATHER. CHAPTER I. A TERRIBLE PROPHECY. "'The lef' han', dearie, an' gowld for th' charm. Aye! a bewtiful han' for a bewtiful maid. I 'udn't rade false for--eh, dear life, what is't? Th' lines goo criss an' crass. Duvel! I be mortal feared to tell 'ee. Take tha han'. Gran hes nought to spake for sich a mayden." As she said the last word, a startled look came into the glazed eyes of the old gipsy; and with a quick gesture she flung back the hand she had been holding. The pretty, fair-haired girl who was having her fortune told laughed nervously, and shot an anxious glance at the young man who stood near her. He was tall and dark and masterful; also he was in love with the girl, as could be seen from the tenderness in his eyes and the smile on his lips. But as the sibyl spoke, as the girl started, he changed the smile to a frown, and caught the woman roughly by the arm. She was on the point of hobbling away; but, on feeling the man's grip, she turned doggedly to face him. With her rags and wrinkles, red cloak, and Oriental countenance, she looked like the Witch of Endor--at bay. "Not so fast, gran!" said the young man, severely. "Miss Lester has given you a shilling, so you must earn it by telling her fortune--if you can," he added, in a scoffing tone, which savoured of scepticism. "Ef I can!" repeated gran, looking contemptuously from under bushy gray eyebrows. "Eh, young gentl'man, that han' be asy raidin' tu I. But fur all this," she waved her stick round the gorse-besprinkled common upon which they were standing--"for all that"--she pointed towards the blue arch of the July sky--"I w'uldn't freeze th' blood o' this gude maid."