BEYOND PARDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6787, 18 August 1883, Page 3

BEYOND PARDON.

■■ ■ BY BERTHA.' M. CLAY. | CHAPTER LXVni. ■ - AN IMPORTANT LETTER. It was a warm, bright day in August when a cab drew up at the door of Mr. Wilson's office, and a tall, bronzed, handsome man sprang from it as though he had not one moment to Spare. He. was so hurried, he looked so little to the right or the left, that, he nearly knonked down every porter and every clerk who attempted to stop his progress, " I want Mr. Wilson," he cried. " Mr. Wilson is in his office," replied, an injured clerk, who had narrowly escaped being knocked over, stool and all; " but. why," he added to himself, "people should rush about like, mad bears because they want to see Mr. Wilson is more than I can imagine." Evidently tho gentleman knew Mr. Wilson's, office well, He made straight for the door, and stood before that astonished gectlemau, his. bronzed face quivering with emotion. " Do yon not know me?" he cried. " I dp pot/' replied Mr. Wilson, looking up in wonder at the agitated face. " You must know me ! I am Sir Lionel Rydal— 'you must know me!" And Mr. Wilson sprang from his seat. "Sir Lionel! Heaven bless me! Why, of course I know you ; but you are bronzed and bearded, you are changed. Welcome home !" Then his enthusiasm died suddenly away; how qould he feel pleased to see a man who had done as Sir Lionel had done. Sir Lionel Was quick to notice the change. " I have taken you by surprise, Wilson," he said, " but for Heaven's sake do not give me the cold shoulder, or look as if you. were not pleased to see me." " Nothiog of the kind, Sir Lionel, " cried 'the lawyer, trying to infuse a little more warmth into-his -manner ;"I was merely surprised."

"You had, not time to prepare yonrself," said Sir Lionel. '' I thought you were still in Egypt, Sir Lionel." " No; I had an illness on the way that has detained me, or J should haveTjeen here en dayssioee." '' Welcome home, Sir Lionel," said Mir, Wilson, but the baronet missed some heartiness from his Voice. Then Sir Lionel drew a chair to the table and sat down. "Tell me everything," he said, quickly, " everything that has happened since I went. First tell me where is my wife ?" "Lady Rydal is with her children, th« squire and his wife in the south of France," replied Mr. Wilson ; and then he told all he knew about them, all that the: world had said about them, all that the world had said about him. He did not spare him,, and the bronze face burned as the baronet writhed under the lash of the lawyer's words. Mr. Wilson had always hoped one day to speak his mind* and he was delighted now to have the opportunity of doing it. Sir Lionel bore it well; it did not hurt him as the same, words had done_ from the lips of his dear old comrade, Willie Nicholl. It Was to be part of his peiiance, and he would take it as such. When the old lawyer had finished, he held out his hand to him. "Thank you, Wilson," he said, "you have spoken like an honest man ; I have acted like a fool. Write fool and coward against my name, but write also that I am a repentant man. "Wilson," he continued, looking at the lawyer's keen, shrewd face, " tell me what you think has become of Lady Lynn. I will tell you the whole truth of the matter. I shall want some one to help me find her! lam quite determined to find her." And then he told the astonished lawyer what had happened. "1 have never heard such an extraordinary story in my life!" he cried, " DnlesS you had told me yourself, 1 would not have believed it." " Every word is true," said Sir Lionel. Heaven bless us 1 What strange mortals there aro in this world. To think that a man should fling away his life for so little, and that a woman should ruin hers for less.

" I cannot understand it!" he cried. "She gave up one of the finest positions in England for yon-—left her husband for you— yet would not go with you when she found you were married." "That is just what happened," replied Sir Lionel. " Well, I have never understood women, and I never shall do so," said Mr. Wilson, " so that it is useless for me to waste my time in trying to think what Bhe could mean-L-it us come to something practical, Sir Lionel. You wish that she should befound; that every means should he taken to trace her?" "Yes, Wilson. You are a shrewd man of the world. Tell me, what do you think has become of her ?" "I could not tell. I might judge of an ordinary woman, I could not judge of her. Some women, under tho3e circumstances, would have killed themselves at once, would have faced death father than life; some would have gone straight to the bad, without loss of time ; but this woman seems, strange to say, to have had a fine sense Of honour, I should think it quite impossible to guess even what she has done ; but I would undertake to say it is something J.oble." " How well you understand her!" cried Sir Lionel. " There are some patents of nobility tli3t are to be seen by every, one," said the lawyer, slowly. "It seems to me that your countess carries one." " She is not my countess," replied Sir Lionel, gravely, and Mr. Wilson felt sorry that he had uttered the words. " May I ask what your plans are, Sir Lionel!" said the lawyer, after a pause.. " I have none that are settled, yet," he replied. "I shall remain ia London for some time, and go the round of the clubs ; then I must think. " "I hop 9 you intend to go back to Lady Rydal, Sir Lionel ? I have seen many sad sights in my life, but nothing like her anguish when I went down tp Duowold." "Do not Bpeak of it," cried Sir Lionel, his face paling underneath the brOnze. " I cannot hear of it," he cried, with trembling lips. "I cannot, indeed. I will: call in again, Mr. Wilson, and we will talk over matters ; I am not strong yet."

" Come and ding with me this evening, Sir Lionel," said, the lawyer, sorry for his client at last. " Thank yon. No, I am not fit for society yet. I must get Stronger. I will see you before I leave London." But much happened before those two met again. From there Sir Lionel went to his hotel. The very sight of London was painful to him ; it brought back all the pain and misery to him. He would not go.near the West End or anyplace where he had been with Vivian ; be avoided every spot where he had met her. He spent a miserable day at his hotel; then on the morning following he. resolved upon going to his bankers. He knew that there must be $ large, accumulation of money lying there, he had drawn, so little. He was recognised at once. Messrs. Brown & Son, of the famous old bank, would be very slow to forget a customer like Sir Lionel Rydal. It may be that they did not think they had any right to judge of his private affairs, for their greeting was warm enough and kind enpugh. Sir. Lionel was. asked into Mr. Brown's office, his hand warmly Shaken, and the famous brown sherry produced that was only brought out for most important customers. '' A remarkable coincidence that y.ou should, call upon us to-day," Sir Lionel, said Mr. Brown* " We received this morning a letter from Lady B,ydal, inclosing one for you, and asking us to do our best to forward it to you at oncC. It is marked important." !' "I shall be glad to see it," said Sir Lionel. He tried to speak calmly, but the breath, camo in hot gaspa oil his lips, and he took it with trembling hands. "I hope it; contains no bad. news,"'said Mr. Brown, courteously. *' You Will perhaps like to read it alone," and with a. courteous 1 bow the. Benior.partner vanished. Sir Lionel did not wait long ; he tore, the letter open with trembling .fingers. Ah* yes, it was the familiar Writing that he had always loved so much. What wis the matter? Gordon dangerously ill and pining, for him—.longing for him. Oh, Heaven, what a coward and villain he had been !— what a. miserable coward !—what a guilty, pitiful wretch! His little non lay dangerqusly ill and longing for him. How plainly he could see the little, fellow ; the proud little figure with its pretty pink limbs and childish grace, the beeutiful, loving, little face; how. the boy would run to him ; he could feel the claop of the childish arms, ronnd his ncok now, and the' touch of the warm little lips on his face. ' He fell on his. knees- this man who had broken this lawa of Q ocl and man—with a

bitter cry, and 1 , he shed snch te?,rß as had xiever fallen from his eyes before., ■ He . had, inflicted much suffering on others, he had suffered much himself, but that his child should should be dying, and perhaps calling for him in vain, was a thing that broke his heart. ■

"It is bad news," he said to Mr. Brown, ten. minutes afterwards, " very bad. My little son is exceedingly ill. I must go to him at once. Where is. this town of St. Louis 2" Air. Brown; gave him full directions to get there quicklj. "I hope you will find him better Sir Lionel," said the banker, heartily. "It is a sad thing, butchildren have nine lives I am ■ sure." Sir Lionel set his teeth.. "It will go hard with me," he said, "if anything happens to the boy, I shall want money. Brown give me what yon can." The banker proceeded to. obey him. " Send for a cab now at once." said Sir LiOnfel. "I shall be in time to start by the mid-day trains Send to my hotel for me here is the card—gay the rooms are. to be secured until my return. Oh, my little son, please Heaven I may find you living and well." lii less than three hours he was. steaming once more across the channel; this time he had bitter regret and remorse for his conduct together with an awful dread as to how hes might find his child. It was a .terrible journey for him, but he reached the little tcvn of St. Louis at last and wondered why his wife had chosen a place so entirely out of the world. Then he had to make enquiries as' to where the villa lay ; and he was horror-stricken to hear of the terrible effects of the fever, How nearly he had.lost wife and children— hpw dreadful the danger had been and they were saved, so the. people of St. Louis told him, by the skill and the devotion of the good sisters. Ha bad gone at once to the best hotel is the place, L'Hotel de l'lmperatrice, and had taken rooms there. He became very friendly with the landlord, who was delighted to have an English milord Under his roof to fleece at his pleasure ; and from him Sir Lionel learnt that the squire and Mrs. Gordon; With, my lsdy'3 little daughter were Stay iqg in St. Louis Vvhile my lady, her3elf, and her little son, were both lying very ill at the villa. " I will go there first," said the baronet to himself," and see the squire afterwards—that will not be the most pleasant of interviews.' And so saying he set off for the villa.

CHAPTER LXIX. "thank heaves, you have coke."

He thanked Heaven as he walked along the beautiful high road that led from St. Louis to the villa, that the child was still living. They spoke of him as very ill, as wasting after a terrible fever,: but not, thank Heaven, as dying. How beautiful the weather was. The distant roll of the blue waters, the magnificent height of the great mountains, the groves of orange and lemon, the vines that grew wild, the thousands of fair flowers that filled the air with song. Then he realized that he was going to see his wife, Elinor. How would she receive him?—what would she say to could he meet her and look into those true, dear eyes again? Would to Heaven the meeting were, over! It was not that he feared she would reproach him—that she Would refuse to forgive him;, he knew her gentleness of heart and lpviug pity too well to fear that; but he was ashamed. And When 3 man, big, brave, and strong, owns to himself that he is ashamed, there is a great deal admitted and a great deal gained. He was brave enough in the physical, sense of the word ; he had never known fear, he would face death courageously as any man ; but when he saw the grey turrets of the villa his heart gave way.

How should he face her? Oh, Heaven, how should he look in that face again ? He drew nearer, hp. saw the pretty terrace, with the white marble vases and the crimson flowers, he saw the pretty garden seat under the drooping vines,, he saw the beautiful old fashioned garden with its wreath of roses and myrtles, he saw the grand groups of statuary, and the fountains that threw their white spray into the scented air. Yet over all of it there was a silence that chilled his heart; it was unbroken save by the fall of the water and the song of the birds, unbfokeri by the voice of a child, a snatch of song,, and that silence terrified him. He saw all the lopg vrindows of the house thrown open to let in the suushice, the fresh air, and the scent of roses. His heart gave a great bound of relief. When, he noted that . there could be no one lying dead in those grand old walls; At the back of the house were the great gates and the stone court" yard, where the orange trees in their green railings stood, but there was no sign of any living creature. Sir Lionel felt nervous and awkward. He could not well mount the terrace steps and ringing the bell, ask for his wife ; he did not know how to enter the house.

Suddenly in the distance, coming slowly from the lawn to the court-yard, he saw a face and figure familiar to him. " It is Bennett," lie cried. " Now Heaven be praised, I shall have some one to help me," A3 he drew nearer he saw that the old man carried a little open basket ia his hand, and tbat the basket held aojne bottle of medicine. Beiinet's faqe was grave and sad, and Sir Lionel noted that bis hair had grown from silvery grey to white. He hastened to meet him, but when his shadow fell over the white stone, and Bennett looked up to see who it was, he did not. recognise his old master in the bronzed, bearded man Who spoke to him. "He does not know me," thought Sir Lionel, as he said : " Good-morning." " Sood-maiming, sir," replied Bennett, as he wondered who he could be, "You have a little child very ill here," he said. " How ia he ?" Ths old man shook his head gravely. '* They say he is better—the doctor, the squire, and the sisters, bat I don't. I see no improvement in him, nor do I think he will ever get well." "But why?" asked Sir Lionel. "Why will he not 1" '' He wants what he will never get," replied the old man, "and he Will not get well without it." ' " What is that ?" asked Sir Lionel, knowing full well that he meant his father; but Bennett did not answer him; he Seemed absorbed iti Ms own. thoughts. '' There is a lady ill also,, is there not ?" asked Sir Lionel, after a time. " Yes, my lady is very ill, " said, the old servant, regretfully; bnt they pay she has taken the turn, and will get well." " What has caused the fever?" asbed Sir Lionel.. " Does any one know ?" "No; no one knows. They say that in these countries fever lurks eVen in. the rosebuds. "But," continued, the old nian, suddenly awake to t',ie fact that .'he was talking to a and that that stranger wanted something, " I beg your pardon, sir; yon want to see some one ?" Then Sir Lionel looked straight into the. old man's face. " Bepnett," he said, " do you not know me? Look at me. Of all the people in the world you ought to know me." The old man fell back. with.a low cry. ""Great Heaven -1" he said,. " it'fj Sir Lionel —my old master, Sir Lionel," Atid even then, in the first moment of their meeting, Sir Lionel read disapproval in the face of his old servant. "I never thought to see you again in this world, sir," he said, " nevt-r again. Thank Heaven you have come; now the young master, will; get well again." " Is he so very ill ?" asked' Sir Lionel. " Why, sir, it yvould have melted a heart of iron, to see how that, poor child has lain there crying for his papa, no One .could.comfort him, not even, my lady herself." " Bennett," said his master," come with me; I must talk to you; I must, be cautious how I see my lady and the child. Oh, Bennett! dear old fellow, I have been a miserable focil, but I hope, to do better," and thoae-words brought tears to the old servant's eyes. " Come with me," said Sir .Lionel, "where no .one cati hear us speak, and tell 1 : ine all about it." They went away together; and if Sister Marie wondered why the old man did not return punctually v/:th the medicine, she little dreamed of the reason why. Bennett traced the. whole .story back' tor the beginning when he had. taken that fatal letter to the garden until; how, but JSe dwelt ; at greatest length upon the sister... "If my lady lives," he said, 'Mt will be owing entirely to the care that has been taken ! of her.: ; She has' been' tended . more ■ carefully than I can tell. That lady—and mind you Sir Lionel, although I don't' hold with any of her ways and forma—although she: wears that queer dress and has no name in particular to be called by, yet she* is a lady—a

duchess; I call her, , and I am a good judge of women, Sir Lionel—she has saved my lady's life, and the young ma iter's. When she came here she tad a colour in her face and light in her eyes, new they have worn away—she is very thin and very .pale.. She has given all her strength to them, Sir Lionel j yon have her to thank, after Heaven, for the lives of those you love." But Sir .Lionel did not seem to be impressed with Bennett's views of the sister; he was anxious about my lady and Gorden. He a hundred questions'.to aak~he wanted'to know every particular of the illness. 'Do you think they will mesee her, Bennett?" he asked, impatiently. . ''I should think not yet," was the old man's answer. '.'My lady is better, Sir Lioqel, but she is still so ill yon would hardly know her ; her hands are quite transparent, and her face is jasit like the face of an angel, Ido not think great of snddea joy ever kills, but you will have to wait I am sure, sir, until the doctor has given permission." At least," cried Sir. Lionel, impatiently. " I may see my child ?" " Yes, lam sure of that; there can be no doubt about that. It will be new life to the little master to see you." .... .. " Who is with the child, .Bennett ?" asked Sir Lionel " Those, sisters take .their turns,., sir. I went in this morning to see what was wanted froni St. Louis, and the yonng mastcr looked at me and cried out, ' Bennett, bring papa home for me !" I don't think, Sir Lionel, that I ha.ve entered that child's room that he has not sent me for his papa. Heeeemed tothiak if every one else failed to bring yon I ought not. Many a time, sir, I would have laid down my life for the power to have, taken you to him. This morning it was one. called sister Marie that was with him, and I think she is with him now." " She would not mind iny going in, Bennett ? It could not matter to her," said Sir Lionel, eagerly;. "No. she would not mind it; aho would be glad, I have seen her at her wits' end ac times to know how to pacify him." But Sir Lionel never thought of the sister, his heart was beating at the though! of seeing his boy.

" I will risk it, and go in to him, " said Sic Lionel, suddenly. "I am sure it will not hurt the child, although it might injure mywife. I will go and see him, Bsnuett, and you will show me the way." He saw that the old. man trembled with apprehension—that he was altogether unnerved, " Are yon afraid ?" he askctl. "No," Sir Lionel;. "but. to iae it seems as though some one had risen from the dead !" "It is only three years since I went away,'* interrupted Sir Lionel; "Only, three," repeated the old man;. " but it Seems like thirty years to :us, Sir Lionel, who have waited for you." " Did you think I should come back .?*'* asked Sir Lionel of the old servants " I did, sir. I said always : ' Trust in Heaven; the master will come home again,' " "Did—did— my lady—my wife think so?" he agked, quickly. fehe did n.ot, -Sir Lionel. I am guitc Sure that my lady never expected to see yoa m this world again." [To be continued.]