Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4310, 15 March 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

By CHARLES T. MANNERS, AUTHOR OF

"ThoLora of Lyle," "Ootavia's Pride," "The Blenkarne Emeralds." "The Flaw in the Diamond," "Draggling Him Down," " A SUver Brand," Sic, &c. «,

CHAPTER XVII.

" THE BRIDEGROOM MDST BE CHESTER HABRIS." Eakly the next day Chester Harris was at Mrs Inchbald's apartments inquiring for Miss Yerrington. Hartmann himself Ushered him into the little private parlour appropriated to the party, and 'while he waited for Helena's appearance, entertained him most politely with a pleasant description of the route of their proposed journey throughout Great Britain and the Continent.

" I think Miss Yerrington will enjoy it very much," he said, presently, and added, with an air of the utmost artlessness, " So you knew our young lady in America ? I do not remember to have heard her mention your name." " Quite likely. I am well aware that I can only recall the most unpleasant memories," returned Harris. "I am connected in her mind solely with this unfortunate affair." Hartmann hazarded a prompt reply : " Ah, yes. I should like to hear the whole story from you. Of course one cannot press Miss Yerrington for explanations of painful reminiscences. I should like to hear your version exceedingly. Perhaps you will tell it to me after you have talked with her '!" " I am none too fond of the recital myself. I am getting sore and vexed on my own account," roplied Chester Harris, in an impatient tone ; " but of course lam willing to answer your questions, that is, if Miss Yerrington does not object." " Certainly she will not do that ; but don't let me be intrusive. And here she comes. I wish she would not keep so sad and grave. An rcvoir." And Hartmann dextrously bowel himself from one door as Helena entered at the other. Thsir conversation wm nothing particularly significant. Helena could only reiterate her belief in Kourade Earl's separate identity. Nothing Harris could say shook her profound confidence in Conwav Searle, and lie roso to take his leave, chagrined, and it is possible a little startled by a vague but dawning belief in the truth of her convictions. " It is the most perplexing, unsatisfactory affair I ever meddled with," he said, discontentedly, as he drew on his gloves. "If it had not been for Sir Frederic I should have thrown up everything before this. He is quite jubilant to-day, and hap, I really think, good foundation for his hope of winning the Lady Hortense. I shall fix the time for my return in another fortnight, at all events. And I very much fear that I shall go back without any more definite proof than I have already found. And what are your plans, Miss Yerrington ?" " They trouble ma sorely. My heart ia yearning toward America. I should be vory glad to accept your escort and occompany you on the next steamer. Bat Mrg Inchbald'e wisheH rauat be considered, and I ought not to leave her except she finds another companion. Sometimes I think, since I am here, I had best remain until at least she is ready to act out for the Continent. When I have decided I will lot you hear from me." "I am going to take a little trip into Wales as cheaply as possible. An odd errand, and as futile probably as the other urges wo : but I mean to satisfy myself. Your cuurier would be just the man to set me straight, I suppose ?" " Undoubtedly. Shall I call him to confer with you !" she answered, courteously, and rang the bell. And so, when Hartmann came, and was only too ready to be of service, Helena left him with Chester Harris. And the latter all unconsciously balanced accounts of indebtedness by disclosing Helena's whole story to the wily Frenchman, who managed so adroitly that he never suspected the man heard it for the first time. " I am afraid it won't bo any use to wish you a pleasont journey," said Hartmann, shrugging his shoulders in a Frenchman's significant way. "It is a dirty, smoky, cli -agreeable place, according to my way of thinking, only interesting to geologists and miners. I would get out of it as soon as possible if I were you." ' 'It is precisely the coal mines that interest me. I have an old deed of a small tract of Welch land which was willed to my mother by an nld discharged soldier for whom she cared benevolently in sickness. We sent once to inquire about it, and were told it was a worthless tract. But, seeing that I Am so near, I promised father to look after it my.self. No matter how small a sum it ■brings, I come prepared to sell it to the first bidder. Thanks for your information. And now good-day. Look after Miss Yerrington's welfare, I beseech you." "A!or,o and friendless!" chuckled Hartmann. "AU the cards then play into my hand. We will see who wins." Cheater Harris went to his lodgings, and found the American mail in, and his letters waiting for him. He seized upon the one which bore Mary's precioug chirography, murmuring : " This is fortunate. lam low in spirit, -and there is nobody like Mary to comfort one. lam so thankful for one of her loving letters to cheer me up." And, with a smile on his lips,.he broke open the letter. But ho had scarcely read a line, when a cloud dropped suddenly upon his forehead, and scared away the smile with a wild look of amazement and consternation. Twice he laid down the letter and brushed his hand across his eyes as if some uncanny mist there gave false vision. Then a deep groan escaped him, and he read on fiercely, sternly, and ended with the low, despairing cry : ■'Oh, my Mary !my patient, self-sacrific-ing, noblivhearted Mary ! How have they tortured «nd persecuted you to bring you to this. Give you up to that cold, calculating brute ! Never, never !" And he paced the little room with fierce, impatient steps, his cheeks burning hot with anger, his eyes flashing with indignation. " I uhnll go homo at once. I will not have an hour's delay," he muttered, hotly, ■hurriedly seizing upon a steamer advertisement ana examining its dates. "I will go tack at once and show them that this jewel is not to be snatched away from me." And then a second thought brought a hot flush to his forehead. "But what can I say? Good heavens, •what can I urge ? Hero is a man, rich and unincumbered with drawbacks. He can save her mother's life, he can give them both a home of ease aud comfort. What have I

to offer to outweigh his pretensions ? A true love, an honest heart, willing butempty hands, and years and years it may be : of poverty and privation. Oh, Mary, Mary, am lan honourable man to hinder you ?" < Two hours of bitter humiliation and i anguish found him still fighting a battle with himself, and undecided what was his honourable duty in this woeful strait. " I am a selfish wretch ! but I cannot loso Mary's love and the bright hope of my life," he muttered, drearily. " I will hasten home at once. I will follow after no more will-o'-the-wisps. It -.vould be folly to wa3te a single penny upon the journey to Wales. Three days more and I will be on the homeward voyage. I must see Mary. I must talk with her before I give her up. Poor hapless child, do I not know how much it will cost her likewise to break with me ? My darling, my darling, if it were only for you that I must fight single-handed, what heroic efforts I would make ! But there is the sick mother, and my bed-ridden father, and little sister! Heaven pity me ! Life never looked quite so dreary a battle before. I wonder what Sir Frederic Mildmay or this aristocratic young Earle would say to this alternative that presents itself to me? Truly we know little enough of one another's trials." The resolution to leave by the first steamer did something toward calming hi 3 perturbation. He sat down and wrote several letters that were necessary ; even began packing up the articles of wearing apparel lying carelessly about the bedroom, and finally threw himself upon the bed, only meaning to rest his aching head for a few minutes before going out to make known to Sir Frederic his change of purpose. He fell asleep, however, and scarcely stirred for nearly two hours, when he woke, with a low cry, out of a startling dream, his forehead beaded with perspiration, his hands trembling, his whole frame quivering with excitement. For a moment or two Harris stared around him, bewilderedly ; but when his faculties returned to him he drew one long breath, and exclaimed aloud, with a new energy in his look and voice : " What a dream ! I will take it as Heaven sent, I will go to Wales." For he had seen the old soldier in his dream with vivid distinctness that had hardly been possible for him to portray previously. He had come to him with a sad, solemn smile, and said : "You will go to Wales and get your mother's legacy. Be sure you go to Wales." Chester Harris was not given to superstition, but something now impressed him deeply. He went to his desk, and took out the yellow, time-worn paper which gave Thomas Macdonald his claim to onetwentieth of a certain tract of land situated thus, and bounded so and so. Then he looked over attentively the shorter document, in straggling writing, which made poor old Tom's last will find testament devise and bequeath the only shred of possessions standing to his name to one Margaret, wife of James Harris, of a named town and State, of the United States of America. And still another paper proved hi 3 own right to Margaret Harris's mythical mine in Wales, about which she had so many times jested lightly. Then he took up his Bradshaw, and finding the hour of doparture for an express train, quietly settled hi 3 portmanteau to be in readiness therefor. He wrote also two letters, both very brief, but since he know not whither the new will-o'-the-wisp would lead, nor how long detain him, he meant te prepare for a prolonged absence. One was to Sir Frederic Mildmay. The other to Mary Converse. And it is only the latter that interests us. "Dear Mary: " You must not consider yourself released until you hear from me again. lam coming home in the first steamer that leaves after my return from Wales, which I trust will be the very next, the same that takes this mail, only not being sure of it, I write this, to stay any further proceedings in case of my non-arrival. I have not given you up yet, Mary, my darling, that is all I say now. "Ever yours, Chester." He folded and mailed the letters, still looking very grave and sad, but there was a fluttering hope in his heart that he scarcely dared acknowledge, but which kept him from despair. Midnight saw him steaming along in the train, making the best he might of his thirdclass accommodations. Another day, and he stood in the limits of the designated hamlet, and was surprised to find an enterprising village where he was led to look for an uninhabited waste. He hazarded but one more inquiry after his first question had been answered. " Was thore a mine in such a vicinity ?" " Lord bless you, sir, yes, indeed, and one of the richest in these parts. The company began working five years ago, and it has built up this whole village since then." Chester Harris grew a little paler, and it was a husky voice which presently said : " Will you tell me where I can find the president, or its board of directors." And when the answer was given, staggering like a drunken man, he went out into the black, sooty street, and threaded his way to the tall, dingy building pointed out to him, and panting and breathless, eyes wild, and face haggard and ashy, ho suddenly presented himself before the desk, where a grave, sedate gentleman was casting up accounts, startling that wondering functionary by the tragic beseeching of his voice, as he announced : " I come here, sir, with the claim of Thomas Macdonald, who owned onetwentieth of this tract of land." '' Bless my soul!" ejaculated the president, pushing up his glasses, and staring over them at Chester Harris, " What did you say ?" The latter had just voice enough to repeat his former words. This time it was understood. " Hare Thompson, Ferguson, Wylie, come here all of you !" shouted out the president. " The Macdonald claimant has turned up at last." Upon which a bevy of gentlemen who were gathered around a long table littered with papers-came rushing up to the desk, with _ a dozen different ejaculations of astonishment, but not one of anger or annoyance. " There, didn't I tell you so ?" " It only wanted a little time to be noised abroad." "Just as I expected." " Well, it's good news for tho company. Now wo can feel our feet." And all the gentlemen stared at Chester Harris as if he were some natural curiosity. "You knew of the claim, then? You acknowledge it?" stammered ho, seeing that something further was expected ol him. " Knew of the Macdonald claim ! Of course wo did. We've advertised |it all over the United Kingdom, artd Australia too, for three yoars. You've brought papers, of couree." Chester's hands went fumbling over hia pockets. It required all his strength of will to appear rational, with his head in such a whirl. " What is a guess at the worth of the claim, if you please?" he said. " I see I am with gentlemen, and may ask honourable treatment." The president glanced askance at tho directors, and they cyod each other, but tho former answered, readily:

" You might set it down safely at I £20,000, young man. Why, what in tho , name of folly " And here he stopped abruptly, for the questioner made a sudden clutch at the desk, and missing it, reeled backward, and then slipped down in a helpless heap upon the floor. It was well they were honourable gentlemen, as he had said, for the claimant and his proofs were completely at their mercy. They lifted him up, untied his cravat, splashed water into his face, and forced a little brandy into his throat. When ho sat up again, very pale, but smiling, and happier than any sovereign in all Europe, he was quite himself, and said, apologetically: " Don't think I am quite an idiot, gentlemen ; but, indeed, I have been through sore suspense and trial, and the assurance of happiness and safety was too much for me. As I said before, I see that you are honourable gentlemen, and I will tell you my story." It was a story to appeal to the sympathy and touch the sensibility of the generous, warm-hearted men before him. When it was done they all grasped hi 3 hand in friendly warmth. "We congratulate you as much as we congratulate the company, who have been long enough annoyed by the suspense and uncertainty of so large an owner's appearance. You shall have the easiest time possible in settlement, believe us." And that night, from the little Welsh village, there went out another letter, quite as brief, and, for Mary, even more inexplicable than the other : " Mary, my darling—the man has not money enough to outbid my claim. We will have the wedding, but the bridegroom must be " Chestek Harris."

CHAPTER XVIII. THE LIGHT-HOrSK VISITOR. The broad rays of noonday were stealing in through the narrow window when Lighthouse Dick roused out oi his stupor, and staring around him bewilderingly, found himself lying upon the floor of hislittle room. The fallen letters upon the floor, the overturned chair, and the sickly glare of the still burning lamp at op.cc revealed to him what had occurred. " How incomprehensible," muttered he, as he slowly raised his stiffened limbs from their hard bed. I must have fallen asleep in my chair. I remember something of being strangely drowsy. I must have fallen asleep, and slipping out of the chair, have lain on the floor all night." At this movement there was a hasty and continued knocking at his door, and Duke's voice was saying there : " I will try once more, arid if I cannot wake him I must break open the door. I am afraid something is the matter." " I am all right now,"answered Dick, but his limbs wavered as lie crossed the room, and his head was .still dizzy and contused, though he managed to shoot back the bolt and open the door. "Ah, I am much relieved," exclaimed Duke, heartily. "1 don't know what I feared, but I was quite frightened about you. I've knocked here half a dozen times since daybreak." "I've been strangely asleep and have just roused up. I don't think my head 13 quite clear yet ,"said Light-house Dick, dropping into a chair and rubbing 1113 hands across his forehead. "You are paler certainly than usual," returned Duke, promptly, and putting his head down the stair-way, he called : " Here, Si, bring me a cup of strong coffee." And Dick heard some one come up the stairs and meet Duke, who brought him in the coffee and held it for him while he drank with eager, feverish thirst the reviving beverage. The colour came back to his lips, and the nausea and dizziness vanished almost as soon as he had swallowed the coffee. "Now I am all right, I think," he declared, presently. " I only need a little fresh air. I'll go up to the balcony walk." Duke gave him the most assiduous attention, and watched him anxiously as he paced to and fro along the railed walk, when they had mounted the stairs, and he said, presently, with an air of great relief : "You are improviny fast. You begin to look like yourself. Now I think a good breakfast will complete the cure." "It is all very queer," leturned Dick. " I don't remember ever having such experience before. I must see a physician when I go ashore." "A little physical disturbance, nothing more serious I imagine," said Duke, carelessly, and added lightly, " I'll run down and tell Si to have your breakfast on the table. You may come down as soon as you please." And when Light-house Dick descendod, he found the kitchen table set out for him. Si was evidently in the pantry, for he could hear a bustling about there and the movement of dishes. Presently Duke called him, and Light-house Dick did not turn around, when he heard him come out and pass behind his chair and go stumbling up the stairs in Si'a awkward fashion. " I ought to keep double watch to-night," said Dick, when Duke came down again and looked into the kitchen. " I'm sure IVo slept enough to last me a couple of days. And I'll go ashore pretty soon I think. I want to see how Jack is getting on. I wish he might be able to come back at once—l —" and here Dick stepped, hesitated a moment, then added, decisively: "I think of taking a vacation. It is quite evident that I need a change of scene for physical reasons. lam confident I shall be mentally improved by an escape from this monotonous life. I may leave you and Jack in possession here for a few months." Duke's face showed no great surprise. " It's quite natural to expect, I m sure," he replied. " There's a tolerably smooth pea and a tair wind, if you want the boat. But are you sure that you are quite recovered." • "I'm waiting to see. Perhaps it would be more prudent to wait till to-morrow and start fresh in the morning. And, besides, you ought to have a rest. I forgot that. " Don't consider me. I'm all right." "I'll wait till tomorrow," he decided, after a moment's reflection. " Then I'll turn in awhile," was Duke's rojoinder. And ho went down to his room, whistling gaily as he descended the stairs. " What a light heart the fellow carries," thought Lighthouse Dick, looking after him enviously. " Woe is me, that I should hide so heavy a one in my breast!" He romainod alone until supper time, and then again responded to Duke's call. He did not give the circumstance any significance in his thought, though he remarked that Silas seemed to have plenty of occupation in the pantry, nor did he realise that he had not seen him all day, because he heard him talking to Dick, or supposed ho did several times. The next morning at breakfast time Dick called him, remarking at the same timq that he had sent Silas upstairs to watch for a signal, in answer to one ho had set, and so the two men took thoir simple meal together. And when it came time to lower the boat the light-house keeper waa in his room,

making his few preparations for shore, and heard fc>i Green's shuffling steps go down the stairs again, still without any question of its identity. So he pushed off from the light-house under the positive impression that he had left Silas Green at work thero in its kitchen. And he answered unhesitatingly when he was hailed by a small sailboat, with a sharp, knowing-looking lad at the helm. " Hallo, there !Be you just from the light-house over there? Mebbe you can tell me if there's a foller there named Silas Green ?" "Certainly there is." "■'Can I go up into the light-house and see him?" " To be sure, if you'll mount the ladder." " All right; much obliged," was shouted back, cheerily. And the two boats sped away upon their diverging courses. Duke, from his watch at the light-house, had seen the approaching boat, and thero was a slight frown upon his forehead when he perceived the lad push boldly for the shaft. " What ill wind blows an intruder here to hinder me to-day ?" he muttered, and his tone was not very gracious as he answered the lad's halloo. " Who are you ? What do you want !" The lad gave him a saucy nod. "I'm a citizen of the United States of America, and I'm out inspecting my property. I've come to look after things, and see if you keep everything snug here." "Oh, ho ! then you need no courtesy of mine. You're able to take care of yourself," returned Duke, laughing in spite of himself at the odd air of mixed bravado and nonchalance which pervaded every movement of the lad, while he carefully anchored his boat, and then came scrambling up the ladder, vaulting lightly to Duko'3 side with the exclamation : "Shiver my timbers ! butthi3 ere is what I call the top notch. It's a high old place to live in, now ain't it ? I wouldn't ask any better fun !" " Humph ! that's as your disposition goes. My impresion is, young man, that you are used to rather more stirring times than we enjoy here, and that you'd get precious sick of it in a week. However, that's nothing to do with the business in hand. You want to ■ ace the lantern, of course. Being one of the owners, you'll be glad to see it in good condition. Just step up those stair 3, and I'll follow to give the explanation? duo to your claim,''said Duke, the twinkle in his eye betraying his amusement at the lad's free and easy manner. "By the way, you haven't told me your name, but when you write it on the visitor's book, I shall prob- j ably find it familiar. Secretary or assist-ant-.secretary at the least." " It's Tom, at your service." And the soiled cap was pulled off from the unkempt hair, and a most excruciatingly polite bow took the shaggy head nearly to the tioor. '■Thomas. Ah, yes, very lucid indeed. Several great names have had such a prefix. Not Thomas A. Kerupis, I judge—more likely Tom Taylor," pursued Duke ; " for I presume you have a second name." "I hain't found no trouble ii; getting along with plain Tom, but if anybody has been anxious for two they've called me Limber Tom, at your service, sir, if you need any more help at the light-house," responded Tom, in no whit abashed at this badinage. "My eye '. but them are lamps, now ain't they? It must be jolly work to light 'em up, and ,?ee the water grow bright all around you. I've watched 'em lots of times lately, and wondered how Si was getting on." "Si !" exclaimed Duke, losing his playful smile instantly. " Who do you mean ?" "Si Green, of course. I've come off to see him. Ye didn't s'pose I wheedled the boat out of old Monk jist to come on a lark, did yer?" Duke was tapping one foot impatiently, but in a moment he said, in an indifferent tone: " You chose the wrong day then ; for Si Green isn't our cook to-day. You'll have to come another time." "Si Green not here? Now, look here, you mustn't think I'm green too, mister: for I happen to know he « here," responded Limber Tom, setting both arms akimbo, and looking up at Duke, aggressively. "And what's more, I'm going to see him, that's what I come for." "All right, youngster. If you know more than I do about it, go ahead—proceed," quoth Duke, calmly. "If he is here, let me see you rind him, that's all." " But 'tother feller told me he was. You hain't drowned poor Si the minute his back was turned, I reckon." And raising his voice, Tom gave a powerful shout. " Hillo, Si Green, tumble up. Here's Limber Tom come to see you ! S-i-1-a-s Gr-e-e-n, hillo !" No answer came. Only the steady splash of the waves against the stone 3of the foundation, and the shrill cry of a. couple of sea-fowl soaring near. A scornful, satirical smile stirred Duke's face from its look of placid indifference. " Perhaps you had better try it again. Satisfy yourself by all means, Master Limber Tom. If your limbs are as powerful as your voice, you deserve your name." "I'll take a look all round. It's mighty queer the other fellow should tell me he was here," muttered Tom, in a tone of indecision ; and its queer, too, that Si didn't send the word he promised. Y rou've no objection to my speering about a bit, eh !" "None at all, only I must go with you. We haven't many valuables here, but such as they are we're responsible for them, and —you —are—not—precisely the most re-liable-looking individual I have met in the course of my life, Master Limber Tom, and I can't be sure your fingers do not partake of the nature of your name." Tom snapped his fingers with a derisive gesture, and proceeded, to descend the stairs, making as much noise as possible. He laid his hand upon the lock of Dick's door, and finding it fastened, called lu6tily: " Silas Green ! just say the word if your* in there, and Limber Tom will find a way to get in, lock or no look." ' " You are a young braggadocio, Master Limber Tom," said Duke, not without his amusement over the lad's odd ways. " You talk as if you were master here, when yon know very well if I choose I may toss you out of the place like a bale of discarded goods, to float or drown, as the case may be." " I ain't afraid of yer, and I reckon you'd find me a tougher subject than you think," responded the undaunted Tom. " But I'm free to own I'm kinder bamboozled over this. What a ninny Si Green must be to leave such a snug berth as this I And why in the world didn't he let mo know ? And what in thunder'd the other cova say he was here for?" And here Tom scratched his shaggy pate again, and looked up into Duke's face with a queer mixture of suspicion and confidence. The latter laughed out. " Well, this is the other cove's room, and ho has the key of it' in his pocket. However, if you say so, break it open, unless indeed youT calls satisfy you that he isn't here. " It's mighty queer anyhow!" quoth Tom. "When did you say Si Green went away ?" "I didn't say. You insisted that he was here, you know, and it isn't polite to con-

tradict visitors too decidedly. Will you go below to the kitchen ?" Tom descended the stairs, looking very much nonplussed, and rather rueful. But, once in the kitchen, he suddenly darted forward, exclaiming, excitedly : " Look a-here, mister, tho gum-game won't answer any further. You can't pull no wool over Limber Tom's eyes, for here's Si Green's old hat! I'd ha' kuowed it if I seed it in a stew-kettle. He's never gone away from here by fair means without that hat, 'cause I happen to know all about him, and lie hain't got no other. This ib the very one he come down South in." He shook the poor old battered hat in Duke's face. The latter was for the moment discomposed. "What?" stammered he; "did you come with him from the North 1 You know all about him then ?" "Of course I do—and about Franky. Now, where's Si ? I toll ye, mister, I ain't a going to bo fooled any longer." The discomposure and uncertainty on Duke's face suddenly cleared away. However it might havo come about, he had suddenly mado up his mind to some particular course. " Oh, then, it alters the case, if you are an old friend of Green's," he said. " Come this way with me, my man." And ho led tho way across the narrow entry to his own door, which he unlocked and opened wide, stepping back to give Tom the precedence of entrance. The latter hesitated an instant with that sharp, shrewd look of his sweeping all around them, but something within the room which caught his vision mude him forget the caution taught in the hard knocking about the world which his forlorn experiences had hitherto given him, and, with a sharp ejaculation, ho strode forward across the threshold. Duke swung the door back to its place with one swift, energetic movc.r.ent and locked it on the outside. " You'll wait my movements to bo let out, Master Limber Tom," ho said, authoritatively, and inarched up again to his post of observation. [To he continued.)