MR. PERKINS Of New Jersey, OR, THE STOLEN BONDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 155, 2 July 1888, Page 6

MR. PERKINS Of New Jersey, OR, THE STOLEN BONDS.

CHAPTER XXI (Continued).

Ethel slept soundly and awoke the next morning, bewildered ; and it was so'ne time before she could remember where she was. At first she Was much distressed, till sho thought 'God will protect me,: then she said her simple prayer and was comforted. By the help of a common little glass she made her toilet, arranging her hair as best she could ; she had hardly finished when Jeffreys knocked and entered. 'You arc awake,' he said. 'You were fast asleep when I came in before. Weren't you afraid to sleep ?' he asked. • Afraid of what'r she said. Ife was silent for a moment; at last he said, ' Yon are not afraid of me?'

'Afraid of you! Why should I be? Nothing can hurt me when tied watches over inc.'

Jeffreys was silent. Ho took his leave, looking*the door at the end of the little hall, so that she was securely imprisoned. After awhile he returned, with, a little covered basket, and took thence a plate of toas\j and a small pot of coffee. 'Here is your breakfast,' he said, and then he left her.

She spent the day alone. The window in the hall looked down into a deserted court or backyard. But even if anyone had been there, her cries could hardly reach them, she was so high above. Her prison •was very hot and close, her fare was of the most meagre, and she was really hungry when night came and the painful thought of being alone in a deserted house fell on her.

All that day she had cried a great deal, for herself, for Marlow, when she thought of his distress, and for Sarah ; she wondered who found her, if she stayed in that dreadful fix till Marlow's return.

She was very Mann, she was very hungry ns the day wore on, and when darkness tell on her in the lonely deserted house, she was full of a nameless terror. She was really relieved when she heard Jeffreys'* step on the stairs coming up, and wits glad to hear his voice, for she could not see- him. ' What! In the dark ?' he said.

' There arc iio matches.'

' Oli, 1 forgot that necessity .of your prison house. Here is your dinner. Are you hungry ?' ' Yes; very. He laughed at tier candour. ' Well, here it is.'"'

But she soon pushed it away. _ 'I can't ieat; the very thought make's me sick. My liead ac'hesj it is so hot and close.' ' Yoii have no one but yourself to thank. Marry me, and you shall go into the handsomest house in town.1 She made no reply, but sat with her head resting on her hand • Will you ?' 'No.' ' Do you still hate me ''.' 'No, I loathe you.' 4 You shall alter your tune before I am done with you.' ' Are you going to kill hie V ' No, lam going to break your will.' ■ ' Why would you marry a person who detested you ?' she asked.

' I will not. You will cease to detest me when I turn you out of here. Listen to me, Ethel. Let us. not quarrel. Marry mo, and we will go away together. You will have all that heart could wish.'

'No, no,' said the, simply, 'that is not so. I would have nothing that my heart would wish, neither papa nor Alex.' Jeffreys rose, full of fury. ' Don't mention his name to me ! I could kill you when I hear you speak it.' ' Then let me out, and I won't speak to

you ever..' Jeffreys cast upon her a look of fury. Afraid to trust himself, he abruptly departed. For a week this battle waged, and neither would give way. Ethel's appetite failed from the confinement, and her head ached from the heat, but she stubbornly refused all his offers and calmly defied hini. Jeffreys had not dreamed of the character and strength the gentle creature had, and viewed her with respect and admiration.

Bub ivliile sho bold'y facod him, she cried bitterly during the long, hot, lonely days. Oil, must she die in this dark hole ? Whydid not MarloVv come? Surely he was searching for her ! Where was the detective that had helped him find his mother again ? Ah, if her father only know, how would he Hy to the rescue of his girl! Jeffreys tried to threaten and bribe her by turns, but she laughed him to scorn, lie had nothing she wanted, and as to his threats about herself, she neither feared nor understood him, so that her very ignorance and purity awed him. Then he tried to move her throrgh her affections ; he knew where her father was ; lie could not come to her, for he was in great trouble, but he, Jeffreys, would help him out if she would marry him, Ethel was ab first much troubled, but after thinking it over, concluded it was a made-up iale. for what trouble could her father be in that Jeffreys could help him out of? And it was fortunate for her that she took such views for while Jeffreys made all these otters of marriage he really did not intend carrying them out. He had long had an evil eye on Ethel, ever since her father had disappeared, as Marlow had seen, and for that purpose he had escorted her about to all sorts of places in a pretended search of her father ; but the girl's invincible purity and childish ignorance had kept her uncolltaminated.

Even now, though a helpless prisoner, Ethel's childlike innocence and faith made for her a defence that held him at bay. So he thought that a mock marriage would be the most convenient way of carrying out his fell designs. But the girl positively refused to consent, and no threats moved her.

Ib was beyond the scope of Jeffreys's understanding to comprehend the horror with which he inspired her ever since the unfortunate Jenny had 'given her one glimpse into the evil world in which he lived.

This frightful revelation had stricken her with terror ; he had been transformed from an angel of lio-lit into a devil. The very thought of him" gave her shuddering iits of horror.

So now death was not as terrible to her as the thought of being his wife, and of anything worse that could befall her.she knew nothing.

CHAPTER XXIT.

In terror at being alone, especially at nights, for Jeffreys did not come in till late, and in shuddering horror at being with him, a week passed, and at its close the poor girl felt sick from confinement, insufficient food, and, worse than all, hope deferred. Would Alex never come ? Had he left her to die in that dreadful place? She spent her days in tears, and Jeffreys saw with dismay the havoc that sorrow and confinement were making in her beauty. He had no idea sue would have proved so obdurate. Away from Matlow's influence he thought to have found her as plastic as formerly, and he had gone so far now that he was afraid to retreat. The police now were giving him great trouble. He had braved it out quite successfully at first, but he was smart enough

to know that discovery must come sooner or later, and with it ruin to himself, unless ijjb>. he could beguile her into a mock marriage B|| or get her out of town.

Although he had been so plausible in clearing himself of suspicion* tie had a feeling that he was sit.il! -badowed. He had taken the room at Mrs Brown's for several reasons; among others her daughter's beauty had attracted him, and now that he felt.Uneasy, hi: concluded to take his meals there rather than ul a fa-^ .liablerestaurant or his club, whole the iinliee could better watch and follow hie uvci • movement.

From the first he had taken great.trouble to evade the police, goiuy home every night, and then sallying forth ta.lt; to visit his prisoner, and leaving by t.imes the next morning. It was for this reason ha had bought oheaji meals at a neighbouring restaurant that he might not be noticed taking them to the empty house which he had temporarily rented from v house agent who was a friend of his.

He had hardly gone to his room at Mrs Brown's when her daughter's warning sent him out of it and back to his prisoner before the toils closed around him. He was a man •who thought rapidly, and as he went he laid his plans. He hurried up the many flights of stairs and into Ethel's presence before she knew he was there. The girl Sat iii one of the hard chairs, her face binned in her hands, weeping. As lie entered, she hastily wiped her eyes as he lit the gas.

'Ethel,' snii.l lie abruptly, 'would you like to see your father?'

' Why do yon ask ?'

'Never mind ; answer me, yes or no. 'Certainly I would.' 1 Then I will take you to him, if yor promise to go quietly.' ' Are-you telling me the truth ?' ' I am.'

She rose and stood before him • Swear it.'

'I swear.' He drew from his pocket a silk travelling cap that he happened to nave there, and put ifc on her head. ' Now, then, come. Remember, no fuss. If you make any, you shall not see him.' Ho turned off the gas, caught her hand and hurriedly led the way down the dark stairs into the street, helped her into the hack and gave the driver the order : 'Double faro if we reach the depot in time to catch the eight o'clock train.'

1 All right, sir.' The driver put whip to his horse and hurried oil. They barely caught the train. Away through the dark they sped. After her close confinement Ethel enjoyed the ride ', she thrust her head out of the car window and drank in the fresh air. At a way station Jeffreys bought her a nice little meal of bread and fruit and a cup of coffee, so that she was quite refreshed. By midnight they reached Alburn. A comfortable bed at the hotel, and a nice breakfast the next morning did much towurds reviving Ethel's drooping strength, so she felt quite well when she got into the carriage in wa'ting and drove off. The September sunshine was delicious to her after her week of close confinement. And as they drove out towards the suburbs, the tree 3 and grass and the pure air that spoke of the country pet her young blood to coursing through her veins, and gave a colour to her cheeks and a light to her eyes that they had not known for some time. Yes, she was lovely ! Jeffreys recognised this, and was more determined than ever not to give her up. , The carriage stopped before a pair of massive gates, and in answer to the driver's ring a man opened them, and they proceeded up a lovely avenue of spreading elms that almost met overhead. The avenue wound through a beautiful park with lovely flowers and fountains near the house, which was a splendid structure. Many ladies and gentlemen were strolling through the pane or seated under the trees.

' What place is this ?' Ethel asked

'Ib is Alburn Springs,' said Jeffreys, gravely, ' and here your father has been some time for his health,' and he bit his lip to keep from laughing. ' Is papa very ill V ' Oh, no ; he is better now.' ' But I am not tit to go to such a fine place.' 'Your father can send for your clothes.' Jeffreys rang at the door and they were shown into the handsome parlour. 'I wish to see Dr. Felder,' said Jeffreys to the servant —' in his office,' ho added in a whisper, as the man passed him. The servant nodded intelligently ; he had taken many such messages. 'But papa!' cried JJlhel, impatiently, ' where is papa ?' ' All in good time. Dr. Folder will send for him.'

Soon the servant returned. ' Step this

way, sir.' ' Wait a moment, love,' said he, gently, ' and I will send your father to you.'

Ethel was so provoked at the endearing epithet, as he knew she would be, that she drew hastily back, and Jeffreys hurried out and followed the servant to the doctors private office. 'My name is Hawley,' said Jeffreys introducing himself, ' JeiiVey Hawley.' 'Glad to meet you, Mr Hawley. Think I have had that pleasure before.'

' Yes, I came here with a friend or. a painful business, and I was so pleased then with what I saw of your management that I have come to you new that I am in trouble.'

1 Yes,' paid the doctor, as Jcffreysstopped.

'My wife,' Jeffreys continued, ' has been greatly eflliciod lately. She has sustained a terrible grief in tho death of her lather, and it has unsettled her mind.' Jeffreys paused and wiped his eyes. 'It often does,' said the doctor, sympathetically, ' especially with delicate organisations. Is it melancholia she is threatened with V

' Far worse. She insists that he is not dead, but has mysteriously disappeared, and she constantly besets tho police to look for him.'

'Ah ! that is very sad,' said the doctor, who saw so much of this hallucination that it ceased to move him now.

4 She was an only child,'continued Jeffreys, ' and was much caressed and wrapped up in her father, and so terrific was the blow that both her mind and memory gave way. We had'only been married two months and she seemed to have forgotten all about ifc. She declares she is not my wife and seems to detest me.'

Here Jeffreys broke down and sobbed bitterly. ' That is dreadful,'' said the doctor, ' bub I will say for your comfort that that is a very common form of mental delusion.' ' Yes V Jeffreys wiped his eyes. ' Then you can give me somo hope that she can be restored ?'

"Oh ! certainly. Tbere is not much trouble if It be taken in hand in time. How long has she been affected ?' 4 Six weeks. Evsr since her father's death.'

' I wish I could have had her from the very first; it could have been much easier managed then.1 ' I could nob bear the thought,' said Jeffreys, sobbing afresh. ' Your feeling was very natural, my dear sir, but it was cruel kindness to your wife.' ' 'Tis hard enough to bear at best,' said Jeffreys, wiping his eyes, 'but when it takes die form of aversion it makes it unendnrable. Not only does poor Nelly insi-t ibafc she is not my wife, and refuses to be called by my name, but she declares she is not Ellen Doyle (her maiden name), bufccalls herself Ethel Dorset. This name made a powerful impression on her mind in consequence of its.being the name of the heroine of thelast novel she everreadbeforehermind gave way. It seems to have taken hold of her fancy, and to no other name will she answer. I've been forced to give in and call her Ethel, for she ignores Ellen entirely, and it throws her into a transport of rage to be called my wife. I tell you all this to give you some idea of the case.' ' And very properly. Mr Uawley, I only wisli all the friends of my patients Were as thoughtful and intelligent; it

would be a great assistance to us,' said the doctor, who saw nothing strange in all this, a* he had patients who declared themselves angels, the sun, moon and stars, and a menagerie of animals besides, so he was quite ready to credit Jeflreys's simple statement.

'Now, having given you this hint, will you come and see my wife? Please excuse her dress, I entrapped her into coming in whatever she had on ; did not stop even for her bonnet. She thinks this is a wateringplace and her father is here for his health.'

'Certainly,' said the doctor, *I under stand.'

And he accompanied him to the parlour

(To be Continued.)

The genuine Waterbury Watch is sold by the agents, Messrs E. PorterandCo., Queenstreet, Auckland, and branches, at 13s 6d each, and buyers will do well to purchase from them direct, in order to secure themselves from annoyance and imposition. There is only one Waterbury, and it htu only one price, 13s 6d. Many watches are sold daily, at from 7s 6d to lls, as Waterburys, which are simply cheap and rubbishy imitations made in Switzerland and on the Continent. These will neither keep time, nor can they be repaired, as no watchmaker has any proper material.

IMPOR TA NT NO TICE.

The Waterbury Watch Company have corttracted with a leading Queen-street Jeweller to repair any W aterburys sold by their agents, E. Porter and Co., at a price, ranging from, sixpence to halj-a-crown, and to* supply them soldi/ with material for the purpose. Should any Waterbury need repairing or adjusting, take it at once to the agent. If you take, it to any olhc: jeweller, Or attempt to open and adjust it yourself, you cannot succeed, and in this case, should you seek to have it set right by the agents, a uniform charge of FIVE SHILLINGS will be made. On no account Will any cheap imitation watches be. repaired. In consequence of many owners opening their watches for experimental purposes, we, haxt resolved to double the charge for repairing all such, because a great many parts are. neces sarily strained and broken through imperfect, knowledge in (he operation.