THE EVIL GENIUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 96, 24 April 1889, Page 7

THE EVIL GENIUS.

BY ELIZA A. DUPUY,

Author of "The White Terror," « Warning

Voice," "Tho Secret Chamber," Sec, &c.

CHAPTER LIV.

nina's desperation,

At this crisis Nina Gordon arrived in Natchez, and went with Mr Matson to his charming house in the vicinity of the town. She was there presented to his family, and ■won from them golden opinioiia by her beauty and brightness. She made every effort to please, and Mrs Matson, a cheerful, motherly woman, declared her to be one of the most charming young g i r i s she had ever met. ISina was soon on the best terms with the younsj people in tho house, and no ono who had seen her there at the does of the first day would havo imagined that she was but a waif recently cast amon^

them. A messenger was despatcheajto Silvermere announcing her arrival, and on the next morning Mr Matson informed her that Mr Hastings would corno in himself.to conduct her to his house. In the evening some guests came in, and after discussing other topics ono of the ladies asked :

1 Have you heard of the grand wedding that is about to come off, Mrs Matson? The greatest heiress in the State is to be married, and 1 am told that a trousseau lit for a princess has been ordered tor her.' Mr Matson good-huraourediy said: ' There must be a mistake in one respect, Mrs Glenn, for Mr Hastings^ daughter ia supposedtobe the richest girl in Mississippi, and I am sure she is not the bride elect.'

' What makes you so sure, pray ? Opal Hastings is the very person I am speakinoof ; she is to be married to young Fenton in a few weeks.'

He uttered an exclamation of surprise, and turning toward Nina, asked : 'Bo you "hear that, Miss Gordon? "Ofchello's occupation's gone," so far as yo ur intended pupil is concerned, for she is on the eve of marriage. Shabby treatment it is to you, I must say ; but I suppose so liberal a man as Hastings will make it all right in some way.' Nina had heard every word spoken by Mrs Glenn, though she was apparently attending to what young Mafcson was saying to her, and the spasm of rage and surprise that convulsed her heart almost overcame her self-control. But by the time her host addressed her she had gained the command of her emotions, arid she turned her face towards him with an inquiring look, and asked :

' What is that about Othello's occupation, sir ? I was listening to your son, and missed what was said. 3

' I told you a bad piece of news, Miss Nina. Your intended pupil has abjured the restraints of the school-room to put on the heavier yoke oi matrimony. She. is about to be married.''

' Married ! Miss Hastings married 1 I thought she was little more than a child.' 'A very grown-up child she is, then,' said Mrs Glenn, ' and I know she was sixteen her last birthday. Southern aids often marry younger than that.'

' So much the worse for them,' said Mrs Matson. ' I thought her father had more judgment than to allow his beautiful daughter to marry at so early an age. Opal ha 3 seen nothing of society; she has enjoyed few of the pleasures oi: girlhood ; and hero they are settling her in life. With her fortune, she should have been allowed a few years of freedom at least!'

■*' She would never have been a belle, Mrs Matson, if that is what .you mean by the pleasures of youth, for it has been understood from her childhood that she was to marry Godfrey Fenton. I met him on the street yesterday, and I must saythat he is the most; elegant and dis-tinguished-looking young man that 1 have ever seen. Of course, Opal is over head and ears in love with him, for snch a suitor must bo irresistible to so young a girl.'

' ' Do you really think so, Mrs Glenn?' asked iSlina, with a curl of her ruby lip. 'I knew Mr Fenton when I was bufc little older than Mis? Hastings, and I did not find him so irresistible, though he flattered me by such devotion as he is in the habit of offering to overy attractive girl he meets.'

Mrs Glenn looked at her in surprise, and blurted out:

' I heard that lie was a great flirt bhat there was some sort of entanglement at the Norfch that caused his mother to hurry on the match. Bufc pray excuse me, Miss Gordon, I may be touching on dangerous ground.'

Nina laughed with silvery sweetness : ' Nob at all, Mrs Glenn." Do not fancy that / was the heroine of that romance. I know the lady you refer to, and her beauty was of that Oriental type which men of Mr Fenton's temperament prefer. He was desperately enamoured of her, and I own that I am surprised at the precipitation with which his marriage has been hurried on. But as Miss Lopez lost her fortune, I suppose he thought it best to return to the old love.'

Mrs Glenn was a gossip, and loved news dearly, so she made an efforb to draw from Nina all the details of Fenfcon's inconstancy, hub she would tell nothing more. The guests soon after took leave, and Mr Matson returned to tho parlour, to find Nina leaning against a window, the blind of ■which had been left unclosed, looking vaguely out into the night. He felt sorry for her and annoyed at what he had lately heard; but as he approached her she turned a smiling face toward him, and gayly sata:

' I shall have to sot my cap for Johnny and become your daughter, after all Mr Matson, even if he is younger than I.' ' * He is more than half in love with you now. Miss Nina, and I only wish that be was something more than a hobbledehoy that he might stand siomo chance with you But we will nob take trouble by the forelock, for Mr Hastings will be sure to make some suitable arrangement for you, even if he cannot employ you as a' daughter's governess.

' That would not suit me at all,' she abruptly replied. ' I came hither to reside in tho family of Mr Hastings, and I shall not permit myself to be transferred to any other. If he declines to receive mo, I shall return whence I came.'

' That will be nonsense, child. You can get aa high a salary as Hastings offered you in some other wealthy family, and I intend to do my best to secure a "situation for you.'

'I entreat-^I insist that jou shall do nothing of the kind. I assure you that if I do not go to Silvermere, I shall return to the Norfchas soon as possible, and resume my position as music teacher in New Haven. It is useless to discuss this subieet further now. Mr Hastings will come in tomorrow and explain tho position of affairs • 1 shall then be able to judge what it will be expedient for me to do. If you will excuse me, I will retire now, for my head aches and I tee! very tired.' When Nina was alone in her own room and the door fastened behind the sable handmaiden who had assisted her to undress she gave vent to the passion of rage and disappointment swelling in her breast She clenched her hands, threw them above her head and uttered such anathemas as would have made Godfrey Fenton shiver if ho could have heard them. To swoop down on him as a dire Nemesis was her first thought, and at all hazards

break off tlais precipitate marriage; but she gradually became calmer, and concluded to (iefer settling on any plan of action till she nad seen and talked with Mr Hastinfis, Nina finally threw herself in bed," and after many hours of restless tossing to fro she sank into a sound and refreshing sleep which lasted till a late hour of the morning.

CHAPTER LV.

ON" THE TRACK OF THE SECRET.

While Nina was making her toilet a note rom Mr Hastings was brought up to her> briefly informing her that he would call for her at eleven o'clock, and hoped to find her in readiness to accompany him to Silvermere.

The early morning hours passed away till eleven o'clock arrived.

A few moments later a carriage drew up in front of the house, from which descended a stately, grey-haired man, who appeared more agitated than a meeting with the new governess 3eemed to warrant.

Mr Hastings was actually trembling with emotion, and vvhile a servant went to inform Miss Gordon of his arrival, he stood leaning against the frame of an open window trying to regain his composure before she appeared.

Suddenly a sweet voice, that sent an electric shock through every nerve of his frame, spoke near him :

' I have the pleasure of seeing Mr Has tings, I believe ?'

Every shade of colour retreated from his face, and slowly turning toward her he held out his hand, with a vain eflorfc to appear composed. His voice sounded strange to himself as he said :

* Yes, lam Mr Hastings; and I have come to take you to Silvermere. I have something to explain to you, but that can best be done when we are in the carriage, and on our way there.'

' I believe that I already know what you have to tell me, sir. I have been told since 1 came hither of the approaching marriage of your daughter, and, of course, I suppose you will have no desire for me to remain in your family under such changed circumstances.'

'My daughter is soon to be married, but that does not materially alter my intentions toward you, Miss Gordon. I have a proposal to make to you that I think you will accede to, but there is time enough for that when I have you all to myself.'

Mrs Matson came in smiling and friendly, and while Nina went to her room to prepare for departure Mr Hastings briefly explained to the elder lady what were his intentions with regard to her.

Nina cave downstairs a few moments later, received the adieux of the hospitable family, and promising to visit them when she came to Natchez, entered the carriage with her new protector, and was driven rapidly away.

A small, open waggon, loaded with her trunks, followed them more slowly ; and her heart bounded with triumph as she realised that she was on her way to the theatre of action she had so ardently desired to gain. Her companion sat perfectly silent till they were more than a mile from the town, but Nina was conscious that he v/as attentively observing her. When she had borne this scrutiny as long aa she felt it to bo endurable, she spoke herself : ' I probably remind you of someone you have known, Mr Hastings. You look at me with a half-puzzled air, as if trying to recall the features of someone you have known. I believe that I am thought to resemble your daughter.' He started at the-sound of her voice, and hurriedly said : ' Excuse me ; I was dreaming over tho past. You do remind me of Opal, and also of somebody else I knew in my youth ; ycb you can be no relation of the person I refer to. We are fairly on the road now, and I can develop my plans for you without interruption. I trust that you will oii'er no objection to them.' ' I will hear them first if you please.'

' Of course ; that is neceraary, as 1 do not wish you to pledge yourself to anything in the dark. You have heard of my daughter's approaching marriage, and of course the governess scheme is at an end. But I have another which is quite as good, to which Mrs Hastings ha 3 eagerly consented. Opal goes to Europe immediately after her marriage, and it is my desire, and that of my wife, that you shall remain at Silvermere as Mrs Hastings's companion, receiving from me the same salary that was offered you as governess to my daughter. ' Allow me to become the guardian of your future, and I pledge you my word that it shall be a bright and a happy one. You may think this'interestin you strange, Miss Gordon, and I had not intended to tell you why I wish you to become an inmate of my family ; but this touching confidence has changed my purpose. The uncle, who educatecf you was ray intimate friend. I--I was deeply attached to him. He is dead now, and' he had nothing to bequeath to you at his decease ; so he left me the charge of providing for you in some way. I could do so in no other manner than that I have adopted, and I hope I shall be able to render your new home a pleasant one to Ninft listened to him with vivid interest. She eagerly said: 'You knew my uncle ! Who, then, was he? Where did he live, and, above all, why did he SO perseveringly conceal from me everything concerning himself? I only know bis name. 1 ' What Mr Fairlie's reasons were I can scarcely explain. He was surrounded by difficult circumstances, and he endured many trials, bub he 'was sincerely attached to you. I know that by the earnestness w ifch which he implored me to take an interest in your fate and assist you in every W ay I could.' , . In tremulous tones Nina exclaimed : < How kind of you it was to accept so annoying a trust as a giddy young girl might orove ! But I promise to do my best to give you as little trouble as possible, I only hone that you will be as well satisfied with your ward as I am sure I shall be with my gUWith impulsive grace, Nina lifted bis hand to her'lips and warmly kissed it. He hastily drew it away as he said : 'You must learn to curb your sensibility, Miss Gordon ; and let me forewarn you that my wife is of that jealous temperament which would certainly lead her £o:ni3infcerPre(;such demonstrations, however innocent they may be. bince you X re f 0 live with us, and become one of our- ' i-es, I must prepare you for the peculiarities of temper in Mrs Hastings with which you will have to deal. Sne i 8 crenerous and aflectionate-so devoted, in Ipfc that yon will soon understand for yourself the line of conduct it will be i™sf, for yoa to pursue toward me. 1 wish w to like and appreciate you; but to ' :„ her to do this, you must show no preference forme above herself. I hope you nnmotehend tho ground of this unusual confidence in one I have so lately met? (To be Continued.)