UNKNOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 288, 6 December 1890, Page 6

UNKNOWN.

forsaken 1»«,' Btc, B^ $

BOOK THIRD. -A MpHIAL STRUGGLE.

THE WHKRI. IiWSOMES * B*R X - Jejott Roaans did not allow herfSitafcion to keep her lon- inactive. Rnppfck down the steps, nho bade tho coachman to follow the carriage before him to tho Westminster Hotel, and jumping into her own, took her seat at; the side of Mrs Dafctan, crying ■. • Do not upeak to me ! * maysoem rudo, but you would not think so ii yon*new. And Mrs Dutfcon lookinp >n--iie«- face, took a new rievv ot Li.o ai: uation, and h« ? * n ■to feel very nervous hereali eriO/tftblnk that the .horses vyent too slowiy. J β-they rode fast, and were soon in ftigU' l Oi trie Westminster. Isut nob before Mr carriage had driven avvuy iiom beta* the hotel seeps. , '.'.,. • Hβ baa p-ont? there ; he baa pons bo hia room. Whabahall wo do? call noon him V cried oVjtiy • _ 51 will call him. I ati «. oii laaS, said Mrs Dutton sym.pathCtJavliy. I| not for her interest to have tuis engujpnieub

broken oiT. ' Oh, if you will ! fcitop him bg.'ore he reads my lottcr. £J:iy 10 him tlitj| Mies Rogers regrets the sanding of it, |nd requests to have it back unopened.' m '1 will do ail I ca.ii,' the elderly lady assured her; and though she could not hasten her movements vury much, being both fieshy and phlegmatic, bho made an appearance of doing so, which at laaEb snowed her goodwill. ■- She alighted and went in, and Jenny safe counting the minutes oa they passed. ;■ They wore interminable, and her almost to anguish. Ivor was sho rainved ■when she at !a.-;t saw Airs Dutton reappear. For ti x ie expression upon fchowidoflra far-q was oi.\e of failure, and Jenny was nos|at all Surprised to hear in another minute :

' They kapb me waiting an unconscionable length oi : tin:o in the parlour. And when-Mr Degraw did at last couae''sdoi7i], I saw that ho had read your letter.' Jenny leaned back in her carriage, fain b and sick. 'Drive, I don't care whither !' Wβ cried, closing her oy'cs to the world an| all that was in it. But: tho ;;ex - b mirmtoslfe ftarted up.' *I mnsb t-cc him,' were her words. 'I cannnob <;0 homo without knowing. You havo not toK'i r»o what ho fluid," sho Buddeniy cried. ' What did ho say ? 'My dear, ho dM not say anyb&inw, lor ■when I saw he had road fche letfei, 1 was seized with a panic, atfid slipped out.' ,

1 Jenny started up in anjjer. 'Oh, why am I ao ftelpleaa J" she cried. ■I caftnob do anything, 1 dare not do anything,"and yet I Khali di.s if 1 cannot have a h?.lf-dozen words with hi.w.' ' They would nob bo ploasanfc,' suggested Mcs Dutton. " tl'.s. kicq marie nseafratd, and J think it would you.' ' Was he *o — to •' demanded Jenny. , •X thinlc so, bub 1 did nob state 'long enough to tee, I ia;iy bo a cjv/.'irof blit; I never could face a 3) an who was n-rt in an jwciable mood.' Wisfi Roger?, quaking, settled herself in the corner of her.carriago and said lyj.'Hiore, only that now and t?K.i:i a charfi cry r'?caped her lips,-than sounded SiKo the raitijrate;! expression: ' 1 musb soo him ! him!'- And go they rode, on iind*£.rHiliy camo to her honso. WLen sho wenb'i'ti, ' 'sho •saw news in Clairebte's eager fuce.. ) ' What is it?' she asked. * A gentleman in tho parlour,' was fchs cautious reply. j § Hardly daring to hope, Jenny wonfrco tho parlour door and stepped in. The ma.il whom she moab wanted to e>o9 in all tho ■world stood bo lore her. Immediately sbo was seized by 6 great trepidation, and v.hen Mr Degraw, peeing this, came forward aud offered her a eiiah-, sha found if; difticuib to recover luiiself. Bub she did so at lasc, being forced to it by Iris silence ; and, having nsrved herrelf to Jook up, did so with v. certain resolution. Bntshehad nosbonerseen hiseyes.thVitjher own fell ajjain. Ib was not the teproach in them tiuib affected her, but tho j grief. There were tears , on his cheeks, aod he seemed wholly unconscious of them. 3|Such a sight she had never looked npow bafore. 'Shall I kneel for pardon? , s!ie faintly murmured, holding her two arms orifoproad an an attitude of.profound 'I feel that it is tha only iifcfclntr position for me tcy take toward one whom 1 have wronged profoundly. 1 % Hβ took a quick efcep forward. -4 tr . 'On the contrary,' ho ' ] feel indebted to ycu for your net of CO.araffljtßad yovi left me in ignorance of the truth, only to have it revealed to me hereafter in some unforeseen way, you would thenlfhava wronged me irreparably. As 1% ie ? S may griavo over a vanished '.'ream and bewail fi fallen idol, but 1 cannot meet. biams or load yon with reproaches,' , .,'; s

She gave him an eloquent lookj she uttered a grateful cry, and tho handsy/ hicb had been stretched out in utter abardonznenb, camo together and clasped //them- I geivea upon ber hrenxfe. ' This is mercy,' e-'A'l sho, nnd a happy smile rose on her Lii-, before whichj bis eyes fell. ' Twice have you been my'ftecofacior !' she exclaimed, 'and this tiftfe you am a greater one than before." He bowffij, hut made no reply. .iThisi interview was n trying one to him. • W : ' And my letter V she ventured,.tii&ly. * Shall b<; regained by me amongal my most) secret-papere. ' • Regained !' 'She fcnrned palo and skipped forward. 'I had iiopud '— i-'io xfcamtnired. •I BUI ready fio pray that you vaii give it back to me, or .at least destroy whabw&n.bQ of no further benefit to y.ou. 1 Bub ho gave her no encouragement io this direction. M ' Ifc is all I have to show that thigWeab property has returned to mo tbroughfi/our voluntary act,' ho objected. ' 1 tfajjj; nob part with your letters, Miss ROgcraffiut I will not. use ifc except: I am driven to.il; ' ' Mr Degraw, you arc generous ; ydjfhavo shown ib iv every act of your life, D|iiot, then, deny tiio this boon, upon the grafting , of which my whole future depends, jl—l mnjntendinp to be immediately raaeied ; you know to whom. Ib is my only rffioge, sny only hope. Bub how canl ask H|m to fulfil hia promise, when I know theft ia a svvord hanging over ray head, ready t|, fall at any moment.' ■ ' £ou cunnob, Miss Rogers; I ttaiiso this as well aa yoa do yourself.' From.being pr»!e, ehe turned livid. |Her lips opened and her eyes etared at hiti like those of a culprit hearing sentence of Unexpected doom.- ■.■.rl 'And you would destroy m<s. u|wly?' she murmured. ' You would , c to doatruction or to my own remorse, ji hioh is tho same thing. You cannot it, Mr Degraw t •I grieve —ib tsars my heart—2 Miss Eoi»i?re,_ bub I cannot see my. duty in any other light. Remember that, this Eα mey xausti go bo another, thafc I shall lia; j to explain to her, if nob to tho world, b iw I cama to receive it buck from one wfibf had publicity held It for three month"?.? ' 1 .• If—if • you. will give ib to; tho Ifctle Bchool-teachor —Ehe already knows,'pleVfjed Jenny. "Fliab is,' she added, as she I saw his look «ef astonishment, 'eho kiows ipDOUga jjalwfied, .• I told her thai the

man 1 expected to marry exacted the Riviiio-up ol u'ii.i fortune." ' it, ia not enough. , ' VVhyV Why? ' Tho world is bitter, exacting, over reedy to atSi-iiute wront ractivee to a man. If i receive buck this) money—a great amount, you nnisc constantly rocollecS— Hooi.ety will iiat.uraily decide against my honesty, iind tise purity of my intentions. It; will say that 1 made tbo yift to you upon the condition Ihcit you married me. and that my taking , ib bnck is in consequence of your failing to keep your oiiysiffoinent. For that on,'iaj;eiiient, short a3 it was, is known. Contrary to uiy usual habile of reticence, 1 Rpoke of it yesterday to your dearest friend, iiiu; was overheard by Mr Bodwell, who uiisk!; have told fifty others in tho iew hours thai havo since elapsed. If honour is dear to woiann, it is equuliy dear to man. My future h(ippincs'3 and high standing are trembling in the balance, and the moment is as Bcrioua for me ts for you.' ' But i will writo another letter. I will pay that I entreat your re-acceptance of tbia which I find entails too many dutisj upon me for my peace of mind. And.this you can show tho world; and when .1 am BQurried, people will uudcretand.' ' Miss Rogors ' —his tone was tender, filmo v patunml—' do you think you ought, under any cucurnstuuot-s,. to many Air Deyraw?' Sho arose, she dro'w up her exquisite iorro, sho panted and flung back, in her desperation, thia answer. ' i love him ! I give up a preab fortune for him. i needed not have given it up if I. bud nob been pleased to do »o. H all fchia does r.ot make me worthy of him, then fchcie is no snch thing as rspeutanot), and is b n;ovv) word. , ' \ gu are iio murmured ; ' but if he knew-—' ' But ho never will know, if you give mo back my lottar. For his sake, whoaa life will bu ruined if any whisper of all this jCGiiifc.-: to iris cars, have companion upon me, .1 1 . , Dojjfiiw. You know by whab I huve writ!i.i> you bbab I am nob a tad wotnun. If I l'carry the man who trusts vnc ? I will Le a good one. Though I have wronged you, humiliated you, and taken from you eoßio oi: the confidence you liad in my Hex, do not visit my faults upon mo by I, revenge so deep as to tho retaining of this letter. Indeed, indeed, it is not necessary, No one will question your honour whon they kco with wbab rovcroucol regard you.' She was going to say more, but something in his manner stopped her. Toara — tho n'l'sb sho had shed—rose to her eyes, uud she turned slowly away, us if profoundly humiliated. ' Aii ! you think 1 am not worthy oven to do you reverence,' she murmured. The piteous action and the still more pitoone words, coming from one so dainty and exquisitely beautiful, touched him ac nothing e!so in all this painful interview hnu done. Coming close to iier side, ho took her languid hand, and calmly, lor his passion had all lefti him, said with affectionate fervour : Hiod forbid that I should visib any revenge upon a head that humbles itself co low. it any such feeling has hithorto actuated my words—and who can say it has not? 1 herewith discard it as unworthy of me or my cause. That I loved you is true ; that I havo Buffered in my faith and in my pride is also true ; but I would not- thoreby ran!) myself above you, since, if you havo sini.ed, 1 am not also without my faults,

as your presenfc attitude shows. Miss Rogers, I will givo you back your lettor ; bub leb mo say before doing so, that you will never be bles.sort in your marriage with Mr Degraw, or ever soo an hour of perlect felicity in hia presence, unlesa yon allow him to know ita contents before you to tha altar.' 'No! no!' her looka seemed to cry, bub

she said nothing with her lips, unless the hurnbio and heartfelt kisa eho pressed upon his hand might be said to speak.

'And now, , he suggested, 'write mo the letter you proposed. I will take it and immediately return α-ith tho other. Afterward my lawyer will visit you and all shall bo completed loyally and with as much celerity and secrecy as the matter will permit.'

' Ah 1' eho exclaimed, 'with what life you infovm mo. And I cannot even express my yrabiimdo or the thoughts thab fill my mind. . And she bounded to a desk—the dssk.ab which sho had written her tirsb letter, and which was in a second parlour, tit tha back—and rapidly, as if moved by a governing hand, indited her second epistle. While ,-iho waa doing this, he stood deeply musing, lie had yielded to hex- prayers, and so cleared her future ab the expense of his (ivn, For he saw—never more clearly thas ho must always sufl'er from the suspicion of having influenced this acb of hers, if in the course of events ho should ever come to profit by it, in the way suggested by Mr Delancy's last expreseed wishes. If, therefore, lie wished fcq prtsorve his reputation for probity, ho must refrain from over bettering his own fortunes by marrying the girl to whom this property musfe now go ; and, though this prospect did nob look SO dismal ab"presenb, while his heart was yet eovo with the disappointment of losing his first love, chore might come a time when it would cause serious complications, nob only to himself, but to the libfcle school-mistress. And yeO so pjnerous was his nature, and go kind his heart, thab he had no wish to recall his promise, whatever ib might cost him. If suffering lay boforo him, he was surely stronger to bear ib than this delicate woman, already racked by so many and various emotions. Better bear tho blessing: of this erring and repentant one, than tha weigbfc of her destruction, even if through bhis destruction there came to him a temporary peace. Life waa nob co easy to bear under any circumstances, thab one could afford to weight ib with unnecessary regrets. Ho had done what his _ mercy suggested, and be would abide by ifc ; but the-ordeal had been pharp and he had almost succumbed to it. Tina he must always romemher to hia everlasting chagrin. When Jenny returned with her lot;ter and bade him read ifc, he did so dispassionately and with evident approval. ' Thie wiil .answer very well. I will now return to my hotel for the other,' he declared, and left her with a low bow, in which she felt a certain respecb expressed that was like balm to her cruahed and bleeding heart. Ten minutes, fifteen, twenty eiapsed. A half-hour passed, and Jenny looked for hia return. Though tha minutes had lagged, they were not heavy. Hope had beamed attain above tho horizon and her heart was already revivifying under its influence. Three-quarters of an hour, and no rumble of his carriage was heard. But then, a friend might have been waiting in his room?, or some other detention, equally difficult to avoid, happened to prolong his etay. Ho would come before the hour was over ; she knew it by her throbbing hearb and caser pulse?, and he did. Just as the clock was on the point of striking the hour, his carriage drove up, and he bounded to the Walk, ran up the steps, and was let in by the waiting Clairette. Jenny stood in the parlourready to receive him. ' What is it ?' she cried ; for he saw ab a glance that ho was greatly distressed. '• Tho letter ie gone ! Id has been stolen ! I cannot find ib among; the documents you reburned to me! You. have an enemy somewhere, and that enemy haeyour honour in bis hand,'

CHAPTER XLI. • I OAUKOT fcteliovo ifc t , wag Jenny's exclamation./ub this extraordinary- revelation, ' Who could do such a thing ? Who , would ? I have nofc an enemy left in.tbo world, unIgbs—' (3h<3 thought) of Mr Byrd, bub immediately dismissed the idea &§ ridiculous.

1 What do you think about it, Air Degraw'!' ' i do not know whab to think, -Miss Rogors. 1 locked 'the papers 1:1 what i supposed to he a place of grn.i:.. veourity. As i could noc know wli&'u would '03 the result of our interview, I did not have thorn pue ia the hotel safe as 1 should, have done, thinking they would be safe in my trunk tiil I should return. But they have been handled, incredible as it seems, and the letter taken out; why the letter and none of lue other papers, i. must leave you to conjecture, since J. hu\ o no means oi. judging of tde matter mysolf.' 'lain sure it is all a dreadful mystery to me, , declared the poor girl, who was as ignorant of the ways of the world aa most children of genius. 'Did you speak about it to anybody? Did you tell them you had io;-fc anything?' ' Most; certainly. 1" did not say what it was, bub 1 announced that ;i very important paper was misshi<* from my trunk. That is why 1 was detained .'so lorij*. We wore making inquiries.' ' And—' 'They led to nothing. Ko one bub ray washerwoman has been admitted to my rooms, nor has (my one elao been.seen to. enter thorn. Tho thief must have fceen oxpert in liih art, and known exactly what ho was for. JJut why should it have been your letter?' •I don't know; I don't know. Perhaps because Heaven wished to punish me tor my sins. 1 see no other reason.' ' Miss Rogers, shall I pub this matter in the hands of a detoetivo ?' She shuddered, and placed her hand over her heart, as it tho word had pierced her. ' 3510,' was her quick reply. 'If it was not stolon by a detwctivo, i. ebull bo surprised.' ' What do you mean ?' lio asked. '1 am told that detectives nro sly and pcorot. That they resort not only to hoiseab but even t,o dUthooest means for finding out what they wish fu know. It Mr Byrd has any roal roasonu for distrusting rao (and that ho dooa distrust me is evident), be may have thought himself justified in stealing this letter. Though how ho could havo known anything about it, I cannot imtig-ine, since you and I alono wuro acquainted even with its oxiatonco.

'Mr Byi'd is tbo detective who saved your life in Great Barrington '!' She bowed, flushing painfully ab memories nob yeb forgotten sufficiently for hor pen ca. ' A fino fellow-, seonilnyly,' remarked Mr Degraw. ' I do not think ho would eugage in any such underhanded business as this.' 'Ho might think ib his duty to tho othor Mr Degraw, whoso friond ho i=, , i-ho ventured, with painful hesitation. Her visitor looked serious, but hastily shook his head. ' Unworthy of such a man !' he mattered — ' unworthy. An honest fellow, such as Mr Byrd appear*, would not lend himself to any schema which involved tho rilling of a respectable citizen's privato clients. I would sooner FUppect my washerwoman ; . and yeb that is ridiculous !' Jenny's head, which had fallen in dejection on her breast, rose, suddenly, but immediately dropped ajrnin, ' Yes, that io ridiculous, , sho echoed. 'Had it been money,' ho remarked, 'I should certainly have suspected this woman, for sho is known to have been lonj? enough in my room, while I was hero, to have gone through my trunks ; bub a letter and such a lottor ! What could it bo to her?' ' Nothing nothing,' acquiesced Jenny, totally unnerved and disheartened by fchia last misadventure—'unless,' plio suddenly cried, ' sho was acting for tho dotCCtivos.' Mr Dograw looked startled, * I halo to think it," Raid he, * Sho has washed tor me yyveral weeks, and has boon more than oneo alone in my rooms. Yet in this way only can I nccounfi for the trunk being opened, searched and locked again in the short space of time in which 1 v;'M absenb. She was provided with keys. , ' But how could sho have known of my letter—of —of its beinjj thoio V

' Only in ono way, Mis 3 Rogers. I did nob tell you all I learned about her stay in my room, becauso I could eeo no reason why this woman should bo interested in this or any other letter of mine. But if she is in tho detective's employ, the baking of this letter is the very thing sho would bo likely to bo interested in ; for it eoems that she was in my bedroom while I was opening and reading your communication in the adjoining apartment, and from my ejaculations she must have gathered an idea of its importance. Now, if she had keys, and was a police spy, she would nataralty take means for procuring this letter, and, as I was called out before she lefo, she had ample opportunity for unlocking my trunk and searching among my documents.'

' Sho did it! She did it! Mr Eyrd now has thab letter. Was not thia woman a bright, Frenchy-looking girl?' •On the contrary, she is a dried-up and unpleasant looking old woman. If the Forbugueso were not dead—' Jenny started. ' Oh, it isn't she,' Mr Degraw soothingly continued. ' The etory or her death ia no doubt true. I only meant to give you aoino idea oE her appearance.' Jonny shook her head with a slow, despairing movement. • ' Whoever ib is,' said sJ;o, ' my letfcor will soon be in the hands of tho ono man I most droad to have soo it.'

Her visitor did uob gainsay this. * Mr Degraw will never marry mo if he reads that letter,' sho declared.

And still the gentleman before bor made no reply.

A moment of silonco followed, then he kindly observed :

' Had I solace to offer, I should not hesitate ao lonfj in speaking; bub I coincide with you in thinking that thia letter has beon taken by an enemy oi' yours, and taken with tho purpose of thwarting; your marriage with Mr Degraw. If, therefore, you would make this attempt innocuous, find merit) the confidence of your lover and the admiration of your Monde, you will go at onco to Mr Degraw and tell him what was in this letter, before it can have a chance to reach him.'

For the first time she looked ab her visitor with a gleam of suspicion ; but it soon vanished before his unswerving gaze.

' I thought,' she said, with a sort of yearning hesitation. ' thab you might hcvvo planned thia story of loss to drive me to an act from which I shrink, but I see no such good news in your eyes.'

Ho did nob think it worth while to answer this insinuation. On bhe contrary, he remarked :

llf you agree with me that this is your one and only course, 1 will so far forget my former relations with you as to accompany you to Mr Degraw's studio. If he sees that 1 am there to uphold and sustain you, he may think taore lightly of your fault. Ab all events, you will nob be alono, for if he rejects and despises you, I will take you into my brotherly keeping, and see thab you never suffer for a home whila I live.'

' O, what goodness!' she exclaimed. ' Bub I cannot accept ib. I havu nofc the courage.' And she indeed looked like a trembling child told to lay down her head to the axe's stroke. ' I had rather beg starve, die !' she murmured. ' I have been hungry, in the old days, and I can be co again. Ifc is not that I fear, taut one of hia averted looks. , Mr Degraw's face filled with compassion. Hβ could not help ifc in Flight of bo much misery and beauty. Yeb he did nob think of retracting his advice ; indeed, he propurod to become more'persuasive. But she gave him no oncouragemenb to persist. Instead, she showed him a face so weary that he took the hint) and turned toward the door, • I perceive thafe you nead rest, 1 said ha.

'Ii you wish to see me later, send a note to that effect to the Westminster. Meanwhile, consider what I have said, and command me for any dutyl can.conscientiously perform.' ' I need no sorvices !' she cried. 'If Mr Desraw marries me, I shall soon have a protector. If he does not, I shall not need one; yefc I thank you all the same,' she added, with a touch of her old sweetness, that so wrung his heart anew. 'And Miss Rogers, !cb mo urgo you to listen to this : Remember that you have leased this house ; that you paid for ib in advance, and that it is your home to the end of tho year. Aa fur your other bills— , * Don't!' she pleaded, holding out her hands in deprecation before her. ' Any humiliation but this. If the rental of this houss is mine 1 make a gift of ib to you from to-morrow morning on. 1 havo spent enough of Mr Delancy : 3 money an it! is, without charging hia estate with my further maintenance. I can einjj. Doepair has robbed mo of timidity, or rather despair will soon do so, if I am called upon to despair. But I may not be. MrDegraio has not yet Keen that letter.' And soiiikinf* him a low courtesy, in which fcbe grace of the erring child mingled strangely with the dignity of a greatnatuved woman, sho disappeared out of hot own door and vanished upstairs, while lie stood troubled and more nearly at tho point of adoring- her than lie bad ever done before in his lito. (Ti he, Continued.)