The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 39, 30 September 1867, Page 239

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

A ,TALE OF ENGLAND 8c AUSTRALIA.

By R. E. Lee, Author of “A Tangled Skein.”

WBITTEN JOB THE HAWKS’S BAX WEEKXT TIKES,

The right of translation is resorted by ihe author .

CHAPTER XVI. WARREN STARTS ON HIS MISSION.

had some difficultyin recon.XSWjßjlffl - ciling l,is female relatives to his pro©i 5 jected journey; they thought less of yty-'yy t^e promised wealth than of the aproaching separation; and it was not I * I!U * explained to them his en(l gagement to Miss Robartes that they \'. reluctantly yielded. His mother had been I an . invalid for years; she had sacrificed every-* Vthing for her children, and the same sense of duty at length led her to consent to the proposed arrangement. Miss Robartes received her guests with a cordial air which soon made them fast friends, and when taking his leave, Warren had the satisfaction of knowing that he left behind the only beings dear to him united in their prayers for his safe and speedy return. The parting was at last over, and Warren took his way to Richmond, where the custodian of his grandfather’s will resided. Mr Haynes, the individual in question, occupied a snug villa, overlooking the Thames, which at this part presents none of those repulsive features which it assumes below Putney. From his little experience of lawyers, Warren was prepared to meet “ a thing of tape and parchment,” and was therefore agreeably surprised, upon sending in his card, at being shown into a room where a rosy-faced, pleasant-looking old gentleman was seated.

“Mr Warren, I believe?” said the latter, glancing at the card. Warren bowed. “I have called in consequence of some information I have received respecting a will ”

The lawyer started, and scrutinized Warren intently.

“ Which I believe you hold,” continued the young man, “ and as lam one of the legatees, lam de° sirous of coming to some understanding on the matter. I have brought with me proofs of my identity,” and lie laid a packet of papers on the table.

“ May I enquire from whom yon obtained this information ?” asked Mr Haynes, after carefully perusing the documents.

“I have no objection to inform you,” replied Warren, “ but before doing so I wish to know whether I am correct in my supposition.” Haynes remained silent for some time ; at length he said, “I do not know. thatX ought to answer your question; what proof have I that you have not obtained these documents surreptitiously ?” Warren started up indignantly, and. was about to make some hasty reply, when the lawyer interposed : “ Come, come, keep your temper ; I don’t say that you have done so; but lam bound to be cautious. I admit that the documents you have produced are favorable to vour statement, and I will concede the tact that I do hold suck a will; but before telling you more I must hear what you have to say.” Warren related what' had transpired at his interview with Grabbe; and stated his intention of proceeding to Australia in search of Neill. His air of truthfulness evidently made a favorable impression the attorney, who said: “I do not doubt the fact of your being the persou vou represent yourself to be; and I think the determination you have come to is a wise one under the circumstances. As matters stand, however, I can do little to assist you, as I am ignorant of Mr Neill’s address. Let me explain to yon the exact manner in which I became possessed of the will, and the conditions attached to it; you will then be able to bring the matter to a successful termination in the event of your being able to trace him. As you are already uware, your grandfather left his fortune, which amounted to forty thousand pounds, to be divided equally between Mr Neill’s eldest son and yourself; but he expressly stipulated that I was to retain the document until I received, an application from one or both heirs. I have frequently endeavored to trace yon, but in vain; and I have been equally unfortunate in my inquiries respecting NeiU, who appears to have left New South Wales suddenly after the death of his wife, leaving no clue as to his destination. Should you succeed in your search it will be necessary for you to return with your co-legatee, or, in the event of his non-existence, with satisfactory proof as to your right to the whole amount. I have been less eager in my inquiries from the fact that you are not entitled to inherit until you are twenty-one. and some time has yet to elapse before you attain that age, I believe?” “ Sixteen months,” replied Warren. Haynes made a rapid .calculation with his pencil, and nodded. “ That is about the timeT thought,” he said. “It was my intention when the proper time approached to have taken more vigorous steps. There is a provision in the codicil that either legatee may inherit his share ou attaining the requisite age, which is fortunate for you, inasmuch as from what I have been able to gather, I Relieve Mr Neill did not marry for some years after leaving England; therefore Iris sons, if there are any, must be much younger than yourself. And now let me give you a word of advice ; you are young and inexperienced—do not trust too much to Grabbe. No doubt you imagine yourself indebted to him for the discovery of your future prospects, and in some manner you are, but I am much.mistaken in him if he does not purpose to make a rich harvest out of the.affair. Tell him that you have seen me; that I have confirmed his statement; and.leave me to take any necessary step which your interest requires. I wish you success, and in the event of your stay being prolonged, do not write to: Grabbe for money; 1 will advance it. You .may: think this advice proceeds from professional jealousy; but I must tell you that Grabbe and his partner do not bear the best of characters, and I should not like you to fall into their clutches.’’ ' Warren thanked the lawyer for his friendly speech, and hastened to' Grabbe, to whom he gave a brief’account of . his interview , with Haynes. The attorney was of course delighted at finding his statements corroborated ; and went with Warden to secure a passage. ' „ , , “I suppose you "have parted ,with your relatives,” asked Grabbe, afterthey had: taken a cabin in the Darlinghnrst, which, was to saul in two days from that 1 time; S,* - * ‘ •

“Certainly,” replied Warren. “I thought it better not to have them to see me off, although I should have liked it; my -mother, is in a very delicate state of'health, and I imagined it better to get the separation over at once.” Grabbe chuckled as he saw the vessel being toured from the dock into the stream. He wrote to Beecham that night, detailing his proceedings m removing Warren ; but he concealed the fact of the legacy, and made it appear that he had bribed the youngjnan to leave England. The rage of Captain Wilmington, when he heard that his uncle had sanctioned Miss Robartes’ engagement, may be imagined. Since his interview with Grabbe he had closely watched Warren, and found ample proof of the truth of the lawyer’s statements. Determined to bring the matter to some issue, he sought his uncle, and after plainly telling him of his own rejection, related what he termed Warren’s presumptuousness in aspiring to the hand of Miss Robartes.

The General was indignant, though not from the motive Wilmington supposed. True, the collapse of ins Castle in the air respecting his daughter and the Captain grieved the old gentleman; but bis principal feeling, was anger at what be deemed Warren’s duplicity in the matter. He felt that the only course for an honourable man would have been to absent himself from the house, and frankly state his reasons for doing so ; and although he aid not attach such importance as Wilmington fancied to Warren’s comparative poverty, he could not be blind to the disparity in s the relative positions of the lovers.

Wilmington left the house anticipating a stormy scene between the General and Warren ; he was therefore thunderstruck when he called on the former at his club, and received the news of the engagement.

“ Bear it like a man, Frank,” said General Robartes, grasping liis nephew’s hand, “ you must know yon had my good wishes in the matter ; but Agnes has chosen for herself, and I must say deserves credit for her choice. You must not cherish any ill-feeling towards Warren on account of this affair, promise me that.” Thus addressed, Wilmington assumed an air of candour, and said, “ Were I to tell you that Ixlo not feel the blow deeply, you would not credit me; but my first wish is for my cousin’s happiness; and I can assure you I bear no ill-will to Warren for his good fortune.” “ Spoken like a man! ” said the GenerrJ.. “ And now let me ask you a question. I fancy you have been rather wild, lately; perhaps this matter has had something to do with it. However, if such is the case, I trust you will take my advice, and reflect upon your folly ere it is too late. You will before long be entitled to a good income; and if you have got into the gripe of those rascally money-lenders, give me a list of your liabilities, and I will put you straight.” Wilmington appeared confused. “I will not deny that I have been raising money lately,” he said, but I am not prepared at present to go into the subject; my disappointment has rendered me unfit for dry business matters. Perhaps in a few days I may feel more inclined to do so.” “ Well, well,” replied the General, “I will not press yon, now. Whenever you are ready, I shall be happy to go over the items with you; bufc above all tilings, incur no fresh liabilities; I wil. supply you with what money you may requirel Do you intend to remain in Loudon ? ”

“ No; ” replied Wilmington, moodily, “ I have lost the only attraction which bound me to it; I shall apply for leave of absence from my regiment, and run over to Baden.”

•*' The General shook his head. “I sincerely trust you do not indulge in that fatal practice, gambling ?” he said.

Wilmington hastily replied in the negative. “ The fact is,” he replied, “ I only thought of Baden as being the most likely place to get rid of my unpleasant thoughts; I feel a waut of some excitement to banish reflection.”

“ A dangerous mood in which to approach the rouge-et-noir tables,” returned his uncle; “ still, I trust your good sense will keep you from falling into the snare.”

Wilmington left General Robartes, and hurried to Grabbe, who administered some consolation by informing him of Warren’s approaching departure, which tbe General had not mentioned. A long conversation ensued between Wilmington and the attorney; the former’s chagrin at Warren’s success rendering him less reserved than formerly. He frankly owned the exact position of matters, and confessed his inability to devise a remedy, though he trusted to the attorney’s experience' for assistance iu the matter. Grabbe did not make any immediate answer; a part of Wilmington’s intelligence had now occupied his mind. He was very much annoyed to hear of the engagement existing between Miss Robartes and Warren; but with more calculation than Wilmingtonjpossessed, he trusted to the many changes time produces to find some means of breaking it. He pointed this out to Wilmington, and his specious reasoning rendered the laitcr somewhat more hopeful of the result.

“ It is of no use miucing matters now, Grabbe,” he suddenly exclaimed, “ this marriage must nottake place. You have undertaken to prevent it— I will double the promised sum if you keep your word.”

(c “ R shall be done,” replied the attorney. “ Trust to me, I will find some way of breaking it off;” and with this assurance from Grabbe, Wilmington took his leave.

Grabbe was now in a position demanding the exercise of all his craft, great as it was. He was for the moment undecided as to what. course would redound to his greatest profit. To use an expressive sporting phrase, it remained to be seen “ with which horse he would declare to win.”

fTo he continued.)