The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 November 1867, Page 289

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

jrA-'.SEALE OP'iEIJG-LAro);v&^ATJSTIIALIA k j r f J ,-y * '.*?] fxtxaai .hawker jsay . weekly jjnnoft.

CHAPTER XXIII.

HE day-before ilie one ,appointed;:-for ■ •fif Wilmington’s appearance at "Whit- ; morevChasejOTalters asttinished his , _£• erapjoyer. by appearing at the office in a’pewjsuit.pf black; looking so.; ’’ ; respecthble tlmt tHe. attorney could dpremirking' upon the ! Change; J ghat’s-in;the wind he entpiired. “Have -youtfiome in-for. a legacy,’to tempt .you.- to this unusuaVextravagance P”. e , , retur^^d.^Wlalters,. ‘f one I na-ye bpea waiting .for a‘ long-time i . furtjier par-ticulars'to-morrow. But never'ihind'-that .-how: here’s'a telegram 'just'come for'you.” ' ' opened the envelope, 1 and found'a-mes-sage' from Beeeham to the- following' effect Come" down at'once;: my father is: dying; >arid'l want you .on; the spot.-i ■ -Bring -your.- clerk wifli you.” “. You will have to gowithmeto Westmorland to-night,” said_Grabbe to his, clerk.-. .“We start by ,tlie 2.30 train; you.cah.get ready by. then: I suppose?” . ! j.' ’ “All right” returned shall-hot remain away long? ” > • , “ I can’t say;” was thereply,“ the old man may prove as obstinate this tims as lie.did- before,, and : live to spite us; :-,Ypu- know as much' as l dohbf the matter”, . , j 1 •' “And a little more, too, I think,” muttered Walters., It would • have been strange; if lie! did. i not, considering that the telegram -was in- reality not from Beeeham;; but sent by an agent despatched to . Westmorland by Walters for that purpose: :: .'; * - 1 Grrahbe.seemed in unusually good spirits during ' the journey.,,. Although he-had. -been. unsuccessful . in what,he had promised Beeeham. to accomplish , with respect to- Miss Robartes, he still hoped .’.to ■ receive a'reward for liis share in .sending'"Philip ! frb'Hi'Engl'and.' * ; i .. It was tWmohthof December, and the country 1 through whichthey passed”bore the usually drear : aspect peculiar to - that time of the year. ”The leafless trees stood opt against the leaden sky-i like ■ grim skeletons of-the past, . and, a heavy fall; 6f ; snow.had..wlutoned the surrounding landscape, i.' l Gold ivehther, this/’ remarked Crrabhertoxms ! clerk, * “ take apullkt^this,”' offering him' ii flask. ; ' W'Mfers. declined.'thSjpffer;-.remarking ’‘‘i doii’t feehthe cold;-and,%hat’s“more, I won’t drink-Bnjr thm ! g.ste6nger than-water until Breturn'-ito i 'doi»’’u^i'i:,■, r - /~3g. ingly. ,‘ c Well, - as you please,” and : after .taking : toll for its; passage, he replaced the flask, in liis pocket! - " ‘ -- -Ifc/waS too date, when they - arrived;- to' call at the Chase that'hight ;Grabbe and his clerk therefore '.stopped at , one of the ;■ two. inns the village boasted. . The latter waited; until, his employer had .and.did not retnrp time. _ When he.pame back,- his features wore as much of a' smile;as,they were capable of assuming*j ! ' something had evidently. 6ccurred safisfalctSry to Kim. '• ? " • . "Grabbe and-'Walters miide "their appearaiice at Whitmore Ghasothe next morning, and; the for-' men surprised to find thatOßeeeham knew.nothing of the’telegram.r ; 'vjv-i”;' -.; : ■ ’■ -“^at.can he the meaning of,this ?”;exclaimed astonishment...' '*?Allow-; mo; to ' explain,’.’ V said"' Walters• ' “ 1 causedthe be sent:”/ 4 tJ V'. " ' ; !-'*/^iy!haye'y,quVadea-f6bl^fineih : this ; mahner ? ,?J exclaihfed Grabb'e-indignantly! s t,m * 1 '-■-‘WtJuldtybu-haveicome'if youhadibfeeifcsatisfied that:the-proprietor of Whitmore Chase required tp^- ; yoU?tfj:asked''Waltegs i a <*.-: j! - r| “Patience,”,.interrupted'WMSsrs,‘-“iyiiays,-nqt fiaished;‘ : ,.. j miaye here f a db,cumehc ? yvhi’ckMst bp'read int' !of Sir and bne or two others : who willlbe*hereipr6sentlyJ”{y U' y;J d'. v '-r-: '/ j ?-> iGrabbe;stortofl,! and looked linealsily at his clerk-, vyhadidhotihoticer^m,;-hut .cbntinued.:> *As.i :I willed .my muclirsesprijlcd for jnpr s ;employer!7r-fqrj his .service be S W; rl^ipSj^l’ inveiitedrithe pleasV ing:Kliilufictibutb,'get him'lfere.”.'. : jl I slionld^e!to ( ‘knb‘w , '{lfd iinesiping of said : ”Beediain;. %,oßhgiTffo& i bn& f to the 1 other! What ; pbssible;j^dsbn l caa f you Have-' for Wishing tblsee'myxfsitheS?’; ,t--; -ei-n.i.-ri --in,is >:“. iMhM ci;M®^ibne>;:; pnd :as I .anpu' in - the hiouto -r.you I in disdpsute :.to make .which:. you ; will; :S^^^,to''%pffil|BW.tcr.flieywpr]a: ;> ‘tHeirel; foreTLdffrise yotftb’lose nbtime 1 in'bringingine ' hefore.S&Bryan:?f^ ;'Beecham.cphsiiitod-witH' Grabhe'for some ‘ c «Wiflyou-fi^ : ns some information as to' .the: naturer; of; .yo nr inif^n^^:^Ptosdto^;ifl.only^ufseipnlK.,tplßatisfy;-: Mr * ;>>l^poSj%re>3^ab3fe,”>replied!W!aH®fs;,•-.‘‘.’i'lpin : a fifee'ri'aunowy -andrcah enioy the luxury of falkl ! 3 > Mrßeeehamj \ XiWkSep'iSirSßryih'; 5 " : cterk^fithafelpM^'^tmdr'dli^pbuifc i pmeimw mSM lf [

;3heclf some 'time;' ?sd:f I cdriiply mtli'-your. wish,.will 1 -yPu-gharantee jthat:what:yomareAbbut t'6'jdb 4s ; nbkrinimical. to 1 myi;-iiffcerests;?(• >A-uArf ../4-h^Kti. : lA'i -oplb make hp pledge epl jed 4 Wal-' tors;. 1 , £bu(^-I wll-tell this,"that4f ;you forcb me .tAdp>;ikt t;.liiiye threafeaeil.it will place you in L';f w '-.T UlrW-’-' C.-- ;' ‘ “Be 1 it sail' ‘lqadnig. the' fwajj ‘‘ What to - say cah’make »but,litt]e'- i differ-‘ ehce.”- "-.'/-'-.v.'.ir.s'i.sto ; b«-

|i'/- e GrabhA;” / :said:Walters; “you will.-be': wanted.’?;.-Mo; -.-:;a /-.'Ail SA i-'v.’t:<<■ i .Sir Bryaid seated in.an qasy chair.-. Hh.yvas; evidently but the;- wreck.'bf-hiAformer self. ~v . ;,, “ Here is an ihdividiiaVwhp washes, to. haye. ;aii interviewyyith you, sir,” liis son observed. ', . The'barohet languidly glahded' at Walters,’; who said;-: « hfe one or 'two. persons whose; presehce’will'he necessary; ‘T- you'tp wait hall-aAhour-or 'so; while'lHetcWthem.?’ ”■ Beecham and Grahbe passed.the time Walters was absent jh ; ,anxious,: consultation.as -for Sir Bryan, he manifested -a lethargic indifference to eyerything around idm. ~ , - - ' Suddenly the door opened, Walters j*esenfed himself.'"' l ; ’ ! “Allow;'me''td : introduce'bnA6r*two : fresh arrivals,” ;he' said ;; then' in a crescendo ;tpne: he" announced: ,“ Mr Haynes, Mr Herbert’ Warren, Captain Wilmington, Mr Philip Whitmore ! ” . Sir Bryan almost leaped from : liis' cliair as the latter name was pronounced—as he saw -his son, whom he had deemed, dead and buried, alive, , and with the glow of health.upon liis snn-burnt features. All estrangement was forgotten, natural 'ties-as-serted their supremacy, aud. extending his anus; Philip was immediately clasped in Ida.embrace.

, “My-son” exclaimed the, old man,.tremulously, “ tliey told irierthat you were dead;. but ’my .heart refused.fo. own it,;' hitferly' have'-1. paid for my treatment of you, but all shall be'forgiyen and forgotten. ' Henceforth' yoiir place is here; ’ by my side,'and'iriaster when I'am gone.” ’ ; / ’ “ Before : then, T. think,” exclaimed Walters,' with a malicious'grin,.producing a document from his pocket as he :s This is the time I' have long waitekfor; but ‘ long, tlireatening; comes .at last.’ Now,: my ; estimable.,friend-;Jacob Grabbe; of Grabbe & Kohler,, attorneys-at-law and; thieves in general, .allow me to astofiish your weak nerves a trifle; : jlet us proceed in;, order! . First, as. to Mr'Warren! It will'no .doubt' give you sincere pleasurAto know that Mr Haynes will relieve you' of ali further trouble in that gentleman’s: affairs'— clincher number one. - With reference toGaptain Wilmington, T-am sure yon will believe, me ;when I-tell you that old who held, his [.bills -for you, has bolted in.consequence of my threatening him with proceedings respecting- some transactions in, which -you were both engaged, and which I discovered by a careful inspection of the safe, ’ one night when yoiir ;.partner was .so forgetful as' to leave his keys behind him: Strange to say, old Isaacs believes you have split on him to save your-self,—-I wonder who could have told him-so—and has in consequence.destroyed Captain Wilmington’s bills and a- few.other.s besides, in revenge, before lie .went—clincher number two.!’ It;is rather a derogatory circumstance to record respecting.such;an‘;estimable...member of a learned i^roFession ; aa Mr Grabbe, il>utr-the ; truth is that - like: a curse., ettuggled;- from : liis : : Beechard ; ' sat immoveable.-'during 'tliis'7;address of Walters’. : The sudden appearance of His brother had deprived him of ali power of action. a kinds of dogged: despair lie, waited for the end! : “ And now to administer the final clincher; and smasli-up in general,”presumed Waters;. “Mr Philip Whitmore, I have, in conjunction with Mr Haynes, watched for your return, and brought you here, to hear a revelation,, but ypu are as yet ignorant of its nature. . Bead this” and he handed the document to Philip. “I'found it in ah-old cabinet one night when I slept here.” ■’- - Philip perused it, -and-handed it to liis father. • ; • “HaUo 1 ” exclaimed Walters, •“ that won’t suit ray bdok atlali! . With all- due- respect, fpr.fthe venerable indivjdjaai,. I, would suggest .that you are placing youriSf again in his power by putting him in possession of the document.”' . ! . . .“Such is iny intentioii,” said'Philip, “fear not for; yoiir reward; your --motive • has t ■ been - praiseworthy;-’ aud' shtdl nbt be ; forgotten.' "As to you! Beecham, I hoped that—base as has been, to me—some faint sign . of. remorse would ha.ve ; ,manifested itself; need -I say I. am. disappointed?; ; However, at A time like tliis .I can be generous • von have my forgiveness . but know tliaf'-X am'no lohgef!''tlie feeble, . irresolute dupe who ‘ forlherly yielded so easily to ‘your, persaiasions.” ' ■ ‘;

t.'Beecham -made no answer, though he-.cast a lphk of suppressed.passion' at Grabbe and his.clerk. .f:Sir Bryan had: beemireadmg ithe paper -handed toj.him ; by;hishson. {He.now; spoked, “ I understand ■ your -motive .* in. giving ,me ~this document, tPhilipi'jbut 'it cannot' be.! Severe ‘as the, been'to mer lwelcome' it'jabw’’ as. a punishment for :my overbearing pride.' .Gentleirien,- tl»r^’ ? J i poiuting , . , to|« Philip; “ stands the-rightfdl : ;owner:bf TWbStmore-Chase ! ” , ’ k |'!Sirxßryan*.klpwed .no for; - the! general astonishment,',of those notvinvtlie secret find veut,pbnt ; :cpntinned : 1; intended} to deal! my spn.has fallea ( onim.e. ;;; It iajirnL mAby reiuling this aloiid j ” he said, handing it tp ( Hayn’es: : ' ■ d ' v -‘ <! - ..’'V,'V.!?’ ’ - ,I'The''; dSculhent was’ the last' will; made by the jtKe; bar6ne£’s r fatheH stating \that; in' consequence pf']ltis %otf ;beyonflfred6m{)tioii;:he attaining-thecage'pftwenty-one:., t - ; y v ; ”. 1;; > 1 . &sked. Philip pfkis;pkr^,;;.; »> “.Not thesam'e as. yours, my;dear boy,’ replied Sirr3?S^!laaii^''npoaf^w^^ .^flh^'tiS(e'-ccriii^n<|-'i ahdiiViyotedxaCcof ding* l . to ! - m y i P 0 d science;; but hwty^lirTkdppdßei^d.e’:thi?^U-immed^ mtp^^uti^his^atlVsdirecflyffoUowgdiiiyjaefeCj-; i naka,^A?toad r qi!aetijf;f J i-mattelf: at my .dearTafter, 1 1- wantettjfpr Aifew^pursp^mdV’V^ltors!;. 4pr._. '.Psppham #^®m^m^6tonedlto‘tß®^hhrii;:4f^idkrossed . t;:

:; yJeecUafti:* ass'ep.^ea,-ar((l ;; tKe’resf of thVpartyvleftr' fhis two sona~irf' nvy- : >“1 iboy,”‘;Baid\Waltersi : going upvtot jslap -ou-ilje iback; V,“;hovy.,do you; feel now ? %? J owe you.spraa .compensation fotj jtl;e jfcrick'j J served yoii': jcpine, yon may keep what,yon. owe me; fbr and.cry..quits!'”'. ;. v ‘". 4 }■',-‘te^yon>” exclaimed''Grabbed ftiiriouslyf “ I you wTiere'yoa standi’v 1 ' 5 «» ! ‘‘ it,” mo’ckingly'-retorted *WaUerß j take iny&dyice, investj;in;a rope, and! save ? the hangpnaima^dbjx'Yoii> ought to .congratulate "me on "my scientific clincher.” ; •' ‘y ’fir continued.) ’: ’’jtW.