THE MIDNIGHT PROPHECY; OR, THE KEIR OF STRATHSPEY TOWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 177, 28 July 1888, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE MIDNIGHT PROPHECY; OR, THE KEIR OF STRATHSPEY TOWERS.

MeMagamisoxjones, i t i, firc'afc Wrong,' 'A Southern Author of Ar^Te.Tiblo Crime,' 'Tho '"""iinsn*,1*-

CHAPTER XXXIII.

AT THE I'-U' r'

' , ~n nt mansion on the sunny side o: *** •" Squa« was one blaze of light, f/rprlnoolydmvvinfi-rooms, with then 1 Tt.nßtott ami wax lights, and rot iStoi blooms, wore rapidly flUln R S BO"3, Sof London. 1 h!!r chamber overhead, the dowager I"£ JSrSoßptaJt "I> nud down' and poon^/f * n »inhiKh anger. t!in,gll^cami " bfiio tteue, with the In If &WB:»i! i»nid llCl' snnny Mort^ihorfeir bwomand dimpled **i ""W y Marguerite, waiting to be ? rmSlf Ito the man who was to bo her .preaonted "J^,,,, s | mror of her untold H?h and ho did not come. ■ tfC\ Mko the insolent bogjrar,' stormed .Jostlko tn? tja wfcnt x nli ,_,, lt havoex . tto wun ?• „' But never mind, my dear,' 1^ 'nevermind I'll **& h«tfoir'aml you slia ;V° cat tne "°f* m .« os3 mu l choose yourself n WBSBSK fith A beauty hasband ii' h . lvo yom . |)1(;k of •, n dyourdo>vi yo belicvo I am Come, we'll aot ;^ rk h arut mrrn^£F brocade, and i % Sne Preparatory to descending, wheels was > lt£nnd almost in the nmo breath '•iji^ri Crompton, your hlghiuw,' Si rattled her cane. F SV«iblo,' sl>o cried. ' Why, - • klmot stands upon ceromony. Ivo V^Ttofiend him back. But we'll ■^(SdShim.*) the library, bowed and withdrew and the into turned to Lady Marguerite. M?°Kow mydear," she said, ' let us go and look atthi.f fellow who is. to be your huaXt Twir little girl was trembling like iff D&e'elle^dia dodger drew heralong, with an amuaed laupth. ' A taU^Bwre came forward to meet them Mthev entered the library. '. Sirßaya^ Crompton?' questioned the coi, regarding him keenly above her ;gTh^'cntleraan' bowed; arid extended his . tod A tall and stately gentleman ho ™ well dressed, with a-fair, handsome fo, and an unmistakable air of grace and 6°t!m every'happy to meet your ladyship again,'he began, but the countess cut hiraiborfc. , , , ■ 'Ob. yes,' she sneored, 'youre wondwiMlyhappy.iiodoubt! Whj havon't you wmsin sight of mo these years, if J Ik fifed Bowed lmnibly. 'Mydeariiountese, l'v.o. been roving all m theviwd, yoii Know,' he, ftSa'rljf '"a il(w,musical voice, 'and besides, I m not Iheman, begging your ladyship's pardon, to km'around my rich relations.' 'You're not, eh? Too proud to ask for what,you covet! Standing off, and praying tally for my death.' ' 'My dear wu/itess, you do mo great inVustico.'' .'Ob, fiddles!icks! I know you! But never mind, Irt's come to tho point in question. Tot. have como at my bidding, Siprd BrwjJton. Have you como to obey 'fflfli*. " Sir Bayard tamed, and bowed low before Uk trembling girl who olnng to the arm of fio countess

'If MMyounjladyistheone in question,' ■he said, with flattering emphasis, ' I am rcaly to obey.' Tho old dowajrer smiled grimly, as she led I/wly Margnonte fonvjr i, 'fhU young lady is the one,' she said. 'Lady Marguerite Strathspey, Countess of Jlortlake, I present you to Sir Bayard Bmmpton, your future husband,1

Lady Marguerite, blushing like a rose, 'Mended her hand to his. The baronet c'asped it, and raised it gallantly to his lipv 'My c"oar coun'ess;1 he s.id, ' I oantidt eiprefc ray gratitude, but I bog leave—ffiighb I nrfk if Lady Marguerite is entirely Btiafled? Would it not bo bettor, bsfore .My ■formal engagement is announced, to let us get a little better acquainted ? , Do you find any fault with Lady Mar({nerite. Sir Bayard?' asked the countess, ropjfi ,'« I- yOilr IligliniMsV Bi-nlloct thd fwiljlti his dtre's lightinrt With admiration: ipnly 'oar sho indy liad fault tfith iiic:' :If she doesn't it, will be a wonder,' flapped the ddvr'asor:' but she's promised iJtakoyod; Mils and all. Ndw, I vrarit lilt*™' dd a?ftd proposal 1 . ittedthere's1 riotKW.rfloro..to bb' said. Mere, Mamierite, take Bayard's ami, und wellgo down at once. You can settle «p your wedding-day at yonr leisure.' ■MMj Pearl, in her gleaming ball"ess with the wondrous Mortlako diaMd> tuardioc her glrliah brow liko a S" llffhtl accepted the baronot'e arm, 3™ n appeara?cein the flyes of *« Qtawrld,* couiiEess and a plighted

1 CHAFER XXXIV. | H »B*Rj)» 1J^ LE , mg OLD PR , ENBSf 1 Xt "iw iffih" 1* a strau3B *alt". 1 ■\Srj3l cm Danubfl.' nnd Lady 1 ■ tM|'»SM Bayard's embrace, was , 1 K|i.il * of ligllt> down tho ' KtliS'o^.thß beaufciful young { RK*^admirati°n'»»d her lather , ■N^ftSt °vul! looked on, well satisfied i ItiS'.HT*l men ' who had i ■SI k " the ball for an intr°- 1 ■ k»iJh«»i'i j 8 dau Khtcr> watched ■ »«ShL A .™- ay t0 the rhythmic ' «ii«bift m,W gambling spitefully , I mm $"*■¥"«* « pretty creaturi ■wail totore'llfl had a sight of the 1 Illfi^^jng handsome that she ! I*" S„* *P' aui Ev<Tßharo, a hand- 1 ■towXi. hw fortune bya bril- « ajfegl^^ the baronet?' J W,Sn'! aKh«w, on Irish peef, %*f *r* lntimat<> «'ith Sir , ■jAtjul? a fortunate one he j *'!iw4!slfe n.-f'le is waltzing with V .i* 4Ws kCn!J' 0u staro s° * Didn't ilN'Mfiif T, room on his arm? . B? k6l?aHrf,. t, Collnfcess in their 'PWBit & hat dinmonds Lady liwiloll they'ro fnirfy dazzling, I- '^fflHWnßlll- 11"11' 0' 50-' ■ lliif*iiwJtfr yai'cl Bl"ompton ?' ooni^f^Wiff- ■I ' -you a« sure of it, |||Pf hd about to look at his i ftsySjfem t '•'he r?P Ufld! * what's ' W %ll>2jKm, being Sir Bayard " 1 I Tl** <i^ r i? yard> f d if that's he, Ron SyhuSl?ll1 !' he "*», ' »et aW 11;^I'^ th?, 0 him' a"d got pKstrength of mV M S countess, gp ™f Ola- acquaintanceHte'8 Sno\ e ha Unc c ' o 8fn^ led. «*« captain, ■«? a slip ... twK mDg her •' W>a? a te -you, Sir B* va &l< *H TeIpWilM?**o l k cllea!c»- 'Well-i----!Xtiff7 ■ ?6Ve yoxi il!lve fcDe aclvanl fe<!'h "If 1 the Wdiiiian, breaking* laugh, 'do you pretend to cay you've!

forgotten me ? Don't you remember me, Sir Bayard Brompton, your sworn friend, Roderic Hughes, of Dunkirk Castle ?'

' Why, to be sure,' replied Sir Bayard, but with increasing embarrassment; ' hour etupid of me to lot your name slip. lam glad to meet yoin Lord Roderic. Allow me,' ho continued, turning, and bowing to Lady Marguerito, ' to present you to one of my old friends —Lady Margaret Strathspoy, I have the honour of making you acquainted with Lord Rodoric Hughe?.'

Lady Marguerite bowed in the most lady-like manner, and expressed herself very much pleased to mako the peer's acquaintance ; and then Captain Eversham was duly presented. And, being a tritle bold, as military men are apt to be, ho begged the honour of her ladyship's hand in the ensuing dance. And while they whiiled away down tho glitter'ng hall, tlio two old friends strolled otf, arm in arm, chatting of departed days.

' I tell you, Evorsham,' said Lord R.'deric, meeting with tho captain an hour or so later, ' if that man is Sir Bayard Brompton, as you assert, there's something awfully wrong with him. He's a knave, or a lunatic, I can't determine which. Not a whib liko the Sir Bayard of live years ago. I used to bo fond of Brompton, but I don't fancy thi3 fellow with his oily tongue and restless eyes. lam afraid the earl has mado a poor choice for his pretty daughter !'

' What'a pity her lover was lost at sea,' sighed Maggie ; ' it always pains mo to sco that mournful look on her face Poor Judith !'

[To be Continued on Walmidai/.)