A Wonderful Woman.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 285, 30 November 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Wonderful Woman.

$s MAS" ARISES !ET____M_E_»,. I foffias: ofi ""<K*ny jßh>nfanaj_rf_r___ Wrifcy,"' «*.&. | j^oiftfeS-JnJß*,"' "<l_i__J-ft-_-__i,aWcH_iiDaca) n I

CMMTEa____i ____Wi

aarar ffly \w_a_a_a__! anvsr <___v tsanxzll

JjjEKE Wfffi <S_J-dl f_i_ij___l___.. JAR ©yis jjjjJ 'Jtntr a& fsass;; :M a_____s are uHm (cmres gßding lormraid.'.. I'-ffi-mamit^, iimjHaaanr^. • j^^^,^i-e_b^vra_-^l__i-I__2_tg^-—w__xafc-w3Ba_i_l tosh,? ; Jji $"hD-_ TOleaS inloras. -sirs t___m_E-_'iteaain»-! JbrwardrJ**!" 11"1? 'hiM__ha_______i—-whiter tium \ j]jß -.rsbs iho rw__r©--«v'.liitiEi, <o_3___l„ .-craiha. lm :; jjjberii® tfaiis siill hail jokkbi- TBsthrnjneill' J.OBB j^njsJ-So enK-tii__m—rasr.w ra. ttiio) suigiTatrro>;' ' 'X^ait-ihsxlSi. J-__.ri|}»ibifl\G!_;wasasemotian.-Wj© tthou^h (carded thu __%xxis_. < ]ghs icame _i___a_igi__j- '**$> taa Sh-.JTaaicn sand jjooksii Km ihfl ihutihss iao_© -wiitii ~hsi- largs?,, solemn .oyee. •*J[jK_.ia!'b«Een'_j__Br_) simrs fc_rm__ in"—l jgjie.pointed ts> ihe 'Cnrtained xeaießu, .fad.'-. iJier -rahs. had tnerther faLtei- nacu- iiaarnat:. ■•AndlJawa. hsa£& isSßiy tw_ard.. _____ it all. tcrteS' He tenadl ygmrs "h-m--_-mrm&<mmm__T__-i_ fa® wJfiii __bb_ Seb_q_lh T_.__i__i is. _aoiS) uai' _iry 'i_sm:. 1 ■*_<_. it ___]_, ten-..' aba _ra[pj_si_i__ii-1,, _s__otx%'„ jphrfril^:;. "H -WBrtfc 15) iknow ajh__ ■w.am):." l'iTJ^;3_lßac^B;lffi'}jfl-j__!_-!! Ye^.ilL'-.Jai.iiin^, fJasSi tras—sali—f__U;' ' rfj^ll.«n__n^^m'rda_^i_fcßr_:' i *IX_mi_-o_B :nt_t!! '©ii any Baffin?;;, fartprs' • jna. 3SI ihxwl lowed "Jbbb I Tm'^itti Jhaxs. jß^.Sßurags^te^elQjra'n Sh® teß-Bii." ' JSer feas lh»ll aB-wer (dlnittgad foam Ifes ia_ln\, __)»-• _2-_e-_5„ dEth____Sl asjgsai -Bssvai--3btt_wß. "Anil tfilifa-iih- Ith__ ssmret ifiida -woman 'has' Jb^<Kw_ff3BmfKS) Mi^g;; rfih«.-aeora(tl .boggedjtealeteU,, (atriljam w_at_l_il__i_a_>-*_____bJ .am' *i&;iis.i! (__.a__B'J_aa_;ei __sugai\.© ms^, _En_sla>-( •.;.#___!!' Bhs 2i_Ml Sib. -wmcn, Allien _h_____d__n_hD_li_a : 'Hua' rtwrao s__oll ilcKtHad irt. ; :-'llS-aia-(__tm._b_fl_n^ 3^d«i ! anil am}, -jptpa. T oanly jjeafiss _oow .how axutd-jSiecw® 3««__ —_h_*w jhrfihdiely renodycua : few® !be_a_» *» .me. Sam Una® daeen ibsttei' *te» i&llhar levaar-was ts> -atiiiild b&--/s<_CEj..an_lli£—'how have J_repaidyoa_. But J^hl_bad_know_«--—i Trash J had koowi... TSSs jl-i-itfteQß-^— *_x__ iinnned tw 'liica istr i-hs jrdi--io_-e,; invths. firi_t.li_nß_i__Bl_a'ara.Tr!Die© ialteras^Swiißdj Itasss gtan is> :Bay io .all

A. ,;,T__a_.l_biK_s'Joc__s_i (_tece_rved„" _Mr iDstribrro answere-1,, JEttih-y Ma etbamy eyes ■jKithaullen.-anjrsi-;; ''-grmsEry idsiximal Iraird -____tt»_b«it.''

•'Bfffc nob Toy t__c«. _0b) _ia -_ft__ea___. fbai, ■|_i_or7H__ti_os. Aujll msKW " —ehe nikrwty 'drew I .ueaiKr to him —" how its at 1® 'be 7? "%m\ -smmi® j Zjon in .cd ims>, a-nd msa .alsmE. IStmr is tibs j Siass ±0 pnme your ttrrttfih." He trbTKi-l *id_dly ssitenaHi, j^KSfcTng reway, MfHmWi, tram Iks ;g_Ecss> iifli' l<hrc>sß wr/Wnn,

A Th* «pe__ta_l_____B-_o_-ik__sl ran— _____ Vavasor :_Mi a facß _$ tritmiji_iH___A,__Ha__!_____aro //Jeter 3_h_nga___ffi(l_l InXl oaf -m3__tg_=_t__l exxdtaEpOfflg .and .ths (abfl harsmefc -wibh «yeu .beginWMJig to flaeii on__biT-.-rs_y.. Tire .Hirer ;id_i__i__g figure <o_: tha) hrids stead on the Sltearbb.rnjr„ .the idnll :rb<3 glow tsd tit® lehtttera ijjjligbt'hig he. liniidly acp^ _Esir lier "faleß .l»vs_"s nnKrwf m. B ZJit&MTOi&bicawsi;) sfiiza: i&2& nan® Heeftrng !s_«__»___;, Jhb ss{_a_aii_g (-__agg__ dly tnto the :fre.

Z_ Htttn .•_cT_BWßr_-_l,r _K___J_____T_b_3 said 3 * and aEtfifej. warnings'.! TEEeryed wetb right.. I ~tjWift'h3-_V3_ kno-w.a it;; I-was .a fool, and I fflpfitf reaping a ■j__^'i. reward- lb was jli&heffesß ni' Scarawood yom -wanteds the t'eiehfc .t___ou__a__.il aa year yon loved—-not plain 1 M____re__ttte Thtngerfisld.. _Ta_ke yonr ring, ?_& _Dantree„ sand thank Hearon—as I do— 'ifcrfi-brntfa Irass cnmE Ins fight am Ihonr before ■ AainHxragsim^ Talks' :ymTE_%, and sga> f . K.'-Hoa drew ifc iD-% _a___dl '__h____3. iS __>i_ J _. t©|

A. fie s_____r_je_l inp «b S S® iofey. * Qjxmbs iba sing if ____. exisliiline-l, f eroei.""«__flys 'fknvm ifc into th® fir© if yon like. ll dsmft wanit aaryfchim-g;- to iE__nind ins of this viigWiß w(o__k_. I say -tgain/ ndHing his tafaKi.'"! hay® Tbbeb shnnc-efnlly trii-ked and Tin __. giood deal miira thankfnl tiasi ysaa caa p©B__iMy Its ths* __h_s trolih has 7«n_B ©at in tirrtft. Aiid nsffxr, as I suppose «T___y_J____-g hss ibeem safi_J thalfc i__ is necessary /otaaay, I may feuke amy deparfcare at oneet, ;i»dl__.__lL''

:A. Sa i__h_-A Ms te-ti, and strode towaid the' 7%-C Biit.l-astaH, s_s____3__i_-ly figure of ihe, ;: -aroma; ______e_rt3Q-_e_L ' 'Stop", __a f he iik_m-hsrsS. ___»i-ha± ringing; 7*o___s that hail ©ftem chfiared ______ mem toj .j^ahxaft ha!&H_, - " all has «_* been said thai j S;il: is-BsoEBSMy to say, Xtoyon mean that; Vi flra revdaJion shall prevent; £be marriage ? j _&b4 in __, word, yon refuse, to marry my j -ftkptxd danghter, becanss she is not the |i_a_»sß of Scarawcod ? ; Gasuom Dantaree met &eoldsoldie_r'a fiery, ■Jashiijg glance with snllen definnca ' Piß-asely, Sir John ; I refuse to marry joar adopted daughter either to-night or at ;i«_y fntrtre time. It was the heiress of if&armrood I wanted, not the plain young ■ lady, who, if she yrffl pardon my saying it, ttada such very-hard running upon me "Hob-' „"•••'■ .- '_ *■ 7He never finished tha sentence. With v^ cry and spring of a tiger the Indian officer was nppb him—all the strength of ia yeath back hi hia rage. / Coward! liar ! villain!' he thnndered, Jtasjnng hia by the throat. 'Cor! thab .•_'::* were slander to call man. lie there ? Hegrasped him by the throat, lifting the 7.Vm, light form as though ib were a child C three years, flung open the door— .»*_rged him out on the landing, and with jfl the fary and might of madness, hurled «&i crashing down tho oaken stair?. , Mra Vavasor's shrieks rang through the ■ ipUße—Peter Dangerfield rushed headlong °°*n the stairs. With a dull thnd bad to near, Dantree had fallen on the oaken ■:- %°r» and lay a bloody, mutilated heap Sow. ' The uproar had roused tho house; servants, bridesmaids, all came *!**% wildly oufc into the hall. Pete* Igngerfield had lifted the head of the pronto man to his knee, and was gazing totothc death-like face, almost as deaths™e himself. 'Is he dead?' ' Captain De Vere asked the question, E^ing impetuously through the throng. «° ono in that supreme hour asked what SSgJjappened; instinctively all seemed to f'KJwhe had refused afc the last moment to «Wy,Katherino Dangerfield. A «e dark head moved a little, a faint ™oan of pain came from the livid lips. It Vaß a terrible sighb. From a tremendous jl™ .above the temple the bright blood .Bashed over, face, and bosom, and hands. . Wot dead,' Peter Dangerfield answered, Zt Ary Bubdued voice. 'De Vere, Graves '-!£ j *is are here somewhere, are they nofc 1 ?^a them along like a good fellow, and ."? and disperse fchis crowd, in Heaven's '"*?». They may as well go—yon. see ■Ppnob going to have a wedding to- . Captain De Vere turned to obey—then X UB(ia. There was a shrill woman's cry above—in whose voice no one knew.' v. Send for the doctor ! -Quick ! quick ! '•^ni-'inafit!' J: hf c was the sound of a heavy fall—of a _ * lelI el* roan in ono of the upper rooms l_t .e.criea of frantic women, the rapid "'^nying 0 f excited feefc. Peter DangerHP^ his eyes from the gastly, gory ■HWaiaknee, and glanced darkly up.

Jjwj f^A 1, 1 asa twites- ©aa^feeMd bo-! too®. wtUy a taaa <ai liwe a<_<eown^ | Wlbssa Jt&a Bnl: w» <o$- (tho tf«* Yea*]) I saay ba tih% 3s<e&es& bswiifloii mil

OoJs «3_: it_l__s&tr%lii-j©a-©(_. ititooa^ <sl v;edda.,g Siesta itwa ta-ga na»d3- theii- vta^—Dft,: 'G'ratptgsi, ©I C-j-slttofotrd,, aiacJl im cfewsc assist--1 ant, Ml- BLenry Otis. " Xffltct irad best go o;psit_aitt__,, &-.. (Srav^ jl acnr_l ssee to £&• ,J«hii„" Sas. «eph<_v»-1 I "fiaiel,, w3_3__ ■gtnaTFCsoithca&y.. h. tl .is crisis ol his life he seemed ta zincs vn& tltm ©Geaafca a_nd iak-i!) iu^ placo naitora% «_3. «©xfc. ia; -rapimßßHil, "^>xa^ Hj_u__k a* »M.i pow fe.lw.if. j vrMM I s^, ao^ii Jjefyj JD© V^i^ to fisaedl t_h*esi_ i jtsis^-L) to !tik_) aa^t a-teuafc." j JSknaew-hera ittußata- ®aa«»ffirSsiM!'3; msunn.. w j toad!„ tiuton't., !tca-_xis|p&{*ed hairetof oit<_?,, raesi.! imstffl iieea a,wa.y. He waa gfcaS; oa ■ *'_i_rji aafig&ifc, He ;gwi t&e excited, alsursaed, ■and dainLO__aJ__KS--R jflkarih «_. \?w.-l - dros^sd : "roniffihig;- to&othfir' in Ute spaciosis I <_fc__cwx_rg-jpOT_-___i-,, aassdl ____£&__ terecsa __. g_ata

" JLiai__:_'._i aai-Il ■_n_nll!_-__n_!S-_, firl-Oida and i_EgfM_._jiii.r_-," }____• _D__ngrerfiel'd ba-gaa„ in hi? I ptpr-iw l_i±_tt_3_ mice s *<di,e_ullul and uiiospeeteiil 3_3T«-_____aoj__i hav_- come to light to* M-^^iiix. Jlr Ibixi.tre® io the basest manner lina. Tnfa-isd to fulfil hia cot; tract—has :abs__lcr____3j irafasssiil to -marry—Miss Ban-: :eroT&__J.." Tin. _j__3___lfc_. irefiMa and dolyrht \ -\vd__ii ]Kbjs upeafcesr said t_hi__ was "___i__-wraicm%to_draß-__i. "J caliber AlissDan'gEi__i__l_!&___,, •tdiilram^'hshs. has, ___m_ly norigh % ; irs) ±"i____i. :na-mc_- W® haTts .ill .b_3_ia dooeived- , »_^3_Bin_c_ib,S_r.J(ohja"'-idj_;u^hfK"_ ify_&os_w_i«l_o ■ _s____o-a_n nnoa3____in_ __i___m ywm do.. It was hssrfor- j ini__s)iiios'_B_t__i(___r_r_yad-MO-if-dskt iro__a Louis-, sana .Bon^iicfc ; -whoiii teiciaa^iiikaX.i'oiiaitoii he TBrjosad in -_____B_s__mßoh___\t _a_ngt___g__ to marry ■ Ura-:. ,Shr .fciko titeraw hiim 'd©WTt i"aa stair?. JII ih3 5s ___lll_2_! W ife oanly -sssrs-ss hica right. .'Sri' uJaalo- liimßiali is hu a fe -oi apopiiary. TD_o___ar titesm mai «_i_p_si____-s____iw-e' I re_iily •rsiniit >bEg «n±" yum to IsaT© üb. S^rswoad, imm at SoawMD nro TS'seddiDS j_j* ims becoios a | ihsuaai. <s__ _n__a_tniin3g;. I____i-!to us, rmy friends I —St 5b aOH y_c_a >en.ai <d_n _.___:• cib jsotst."

LUb: lOtargHrSmM jauft hia haandfejcsncJaiei to "inn «yE3. hu (e/bcqfDEatfc fFlesef.. And, awed ,und .t__a___i__ra__ w iihu. bracbi! a_____pß__ay <*iis--f-ereed:: easily Sqf.oiiss 'Talbj-S' and. his sister, smd __h_B _ez_4_tt_sfiim oi' __bs 'JPSnngcra Pnrpla JihrgreiTßill in\ tiha hasase..

__La_bh6__hu3> iD*_mg^Ei _&dld weit Kaiiffiiino Dan gjßrfreMl I!—"amabacily imposed nfxcsoi bhem, tb_ \ _reE___s_iX :gem__ry •od' ths ■csssn.kry _ Some thing: «ai" iina£i»a'tsaia mingled with libs aimaxc and .fasnerar >e<i 't_vs> x6g}x_?B -tragedy as fchcsai good I pFeapVfe) i&aiwaa home rawier trhe inly 7-, mid- ; _a'__sS__* «.ty„ Aaid if Gaist-ora I>_a____ref_ died,' they •WJ_t_id_an_x.„ mnaM i&HS law really hang j a_ .bja-oiMSft '?

Peter JJffini^iifeM Issxg^rssl. in ilia dmlngxnaun mital ths Wi «ani*g-a rolled away. Jbid thmi ipi.____i; _____ awful silence fell upon t_DTD greaS hnmse.. Flowers bloomed cvery•whrem, l en_n__*Js-3! wasliglafa flashed upon -.thaa feriZlianS sniaos—a temporary altar, all roses _____ jßEHraunrav a'twod m tho centre of ■tins xnsjnn, anal <sna t_m painted windows fcho \ Ktoodiy Ha_3__ fomcrad into the glass, •g3i_a_.m_._l _.adly ceS. in fcho dazaling light. And raps't-sSra fcfe kurd of all this grandeur rand Jhuxßjy lay dying,, perhaps—and he was the -nest ,«f kin _ Peter Dangcrfield strode 3ia«Ctaly to tih©f»r3ax>d b&oqiiefciiisj-roo'm whero lib© TSE-Mxag, feast was spread. Massive «/Lil mhrtT, all "bearing ths 3>anger£e]_i caresfe sand mato, weighed ifc down, crystal glittered in ra-mhaw isaes,, -Sbwera were here and •creay-is'heire. * AtmS to-Taouxrsr-" ho thought, with secret exultation, *' all this may bo mine.' *He ponred ©ni a glass of wine and drank IL As his rap-bieed it a cold hand -was la-Sill napon _hia—a lot.' vmce spoko in his «ar_ * m tats anctber,, ii yon please ; my nervea are horribly shaken. I saw Gaston ~Dmii_rß_f& ■ face.'' Sho shuddered as sho eaid ib. * Good Heavens _ whab a night this has bee D.* Ho tarried and saw Mrs Vavasor. * Y'tsa. here. still I" ho said, in no very gracasiiß tone., She bad done him good service, but tho service was done, and like all of his Jkind, he was ready to fling her aside. * I shonldn'fc think yon would want lo slay nnder this roof any longer than you «2__ii help--yon of all people.. If these two mem die to-night, 1 wonder if their ghosts -will harmS yon.. You talk aboufc nerves, fDr_sD©-_-_ _ Here, drink this and go. Scarswood's no pises for yon.' 'Grateixd, my Peter,' murmured Mr 3 Vavasorr, aa sho took the glass ; ' bufc I scarcely expected anything better. I can dispense even with your gratitude while I hold yonr promho to pay ten thousand down, remember, the very day thab makes yon Sir Peter.' •Yon shall havo ifc. Go, in Heaven's name 3 Don't lefc that girl—Kabherine, yon know —ccc yon, or I believo we'll hare a second tragedy before fche nighb is ovor. ' He lefb her as he spoke. On bhe threshold he turned fco say a lasb -word. «Drive the trap back to your quarters in Castleford. Til see you to-morrow, lefc things end which way they will. I'm going to Sir John now. Go at once—goodnight !' He ascended to the baronet's room. Dr. Graves waa there, Katherino and Miss Talbot. Tho stricken soldier had been laid npon his bed, undressed, and everything done for him that ifc was possible to do. Ho lay rigid and stark, his heavy breathing the only sign of life. ' Well t Peter Dangerfield said the word in a strained, tense sorb of voice, and looked with eager, .burning eyes ab the medical man.

'I can give no definite answer as yet, Mr Dangerfield,' Dr. Graves answered coldly, and turning his back upon. bim. Peter Dangerfield draw a long breath. Death was written on every line of that ghastly bloodless face.- After a brief five months' reign,. Sir John lay dying-dying childless, and he was heir-at-law ! Ho looked furtively ab Katherine. She was standing motionless.at tho foot of the bed, gazing on that rigid form. She had removed nothing — not a flower —not a jewel—not even her gloves — veil, laces, and silk still floated aboub her. Her face kepb its changeless calm—her eyes their still, frozen look. Ib was horrible—ib was fearful! He burned away with a shiver, and sofbly quibbed the room. ' Of all the ways in which I thought she would take it, I never thoughb of this,' he said to himself. ' Are all women like her, or is she unlike all women ? I never understood her—to-night I understand her least of all.' , ' „ , lb was midmghb now. He paused a momenb ab bhe oriel window to look out at the nighb. The sborm had expended its fury the rain and sleet had csased. A wild north wind was blowing; it-was turning bitterly cold. Up above, the storm drifts wore scudding beforo the gale, a few frosty stars glimmered, and a wan moon lifted^ts pallid face out of the distant sea. The New Year gave promise of .dawning brilliant and " A#d this was to have been her wedding day and the bridegroom lies dying downstairs I would not spare her one pang if I could, but I musb own ibs hard on her-' He wenb Bofbly down che long stairway and into the lower room^ where they had borne Gasfcon Dantree. Mr Obis was with him still, and Talbot and De Ve 'r is be dead V Mr Dangerfield destoked like it. They had washed away the blood, and bound up the wound. He lay with his eyes closed and breathing fafntiy Tbut, dea& and in his coffin, G_*ton Dantree would never look more awfully corpse-like than now. Mr Otic lifted his quiet eyes. 'Nob dead, Mr Dangerfield-not even likely to die, po far au I cap ccc. Wbat is

te fes d<o..e with h_«_ K& stopped aed S,^3_ledi jfef iufea their ink.^ «, wi.-fce tfgure iilW-gdv and sfecaighi. Up to the w...iaded ___&&_ X was iLathe--j™* Everywhere she wss^ tfeafe eldning) ij buds*ll_k<__ figure: seemed to feootradtet'tho i idea, oi death. H« eyes had a fixed sight-ds* met. &1 __fear©»=*Ul_d the eyas oi ft 8-leep--.w*&_k 5 het f&ce was the feue of $»*w. Sfoteetess, Bundles-, life© a spirit j i «_a\_ ia_s>;«'_ ,ft» hat white robes, ua fell* she -.iteod be4dfc tUs actaa she h_vd lsvsd, look* I tug- d^wm upaa hi«tt a_s he lay-. !| Tha maa sh«a had laved ? He had ifcreafc©?. her br«fca__y--wt.rso than man over treated woman before, bufc there was uo j augw ia hce *Vx_ &_ heart. There was : »«!- wr«, (there was woe even pity— j »_1 Iseelh.** sse^nwed numb and dead within | her. She only sfessod and looked at him :re it!, a $_»■& y_ weary wonder. Three hours j*,{g<o ___.<_ bad been so MLoflU'e, of youth, ' ot si-i-ca^th of beauty, and now he lav moro helpless tha*. a new-born child. What & narrow step divided death from life. Tha fear men stood silent, awe-stricken, She. neither seemed to heed nor see them. Mi- Otis summoned courage at last to approach nnd speak. "Idisa Dangertield,' ho saitt, with grave respect, "yoo should not h* here. This ia no siyhi. for you. Lab Mr Dango_\Seld leai you back to your father. 1 She lif.ee! her heavy eyes, and seemed to sco him for the first time. «WHJ he die!' CI hope not—l trust not. But you must not, bs here when ho recovers Consciousness.' ' What do you mean to dc with him ? sho asked, in ths saaao low monotone. 'He caanofe stay here. Will you take him assTiy V He looked at hor doubtfully. ' Take him—where'_ To the hospital, do yon mean _' 'No, nofc to tbe hospital. I should, rather yon did not take him there. Can ho be removed without much danger t * Weil—ye-3; if ho is removed ab once.' 'Then—Mr Otis, will you do mo a favour _' * Anything in my power, Miss DangerEeld."

Then take him to your own houso. lb is a great, favour I ask, but you will do ir I kiioi.'. The expense shall be mine. I don't want him to die. 5 A slight shudder passed over her ns she Eaid ib ; ' and thero is no one eh-s I can ask. Will you do this i-jT me?

She l_dd her hand on his arm, and looked at him. A great compassion filled his hears for thia girl, co cruelly bereaved through no fault of her own. He could not refuse.

'It shall be done. I will have him removed in.mediately, and if he dies it will bono fault, of mine'

' I knew I might trust you. If it is possible, I will go there and see him. He must nofc die, Mr Obis—...! must not.' A sudden gleam came into her dead eyes. 'He must recover, and he must leave here. Take him afc once, and thank you very much.'

Then fche tall white figure flitted away and was gone, and the four men stood confounded and looked blankly into each other* startled eves.

' What does she mean? De Vere asked. ' What does she wanb fche scoundrel to recover for ? Ejjad ! the ouly creditable t-dng he has ever done in tho world will be his leaving it.' ' It is for her father's sake, doubtless,' jsugjreated Squire Talbot. 'Nothing of the sort,' interrupted Peter Daagerfield. 'She wants Dantree to recover for her own. If she has entirely done with him Fm greatly mistaken. I wouldn'b stand in Danbree's shoes when he recovers for the crown of England. She is in an unnatural state jusb now—she'll awake after a little and be all fche more corrabla for her present calm. Whafc will your mother say, Otis, whon you turn her house into a private hospital ?' ' Whatever I do is good and admirable in my mother's eyes. I will trouble you, Mr Dansjerfield, to order the carriage, and the quietest horse in the stable. Every moment we lose now is of vital importance.'

Mr Dangerfield obeyed. The carriage was brought round, the wounded man, carefully covered from the cold, raw, night air, carried oufc, and laid among the cushions. Squire Talbofc, wifch little love for the stricken man, yeb accompanied tho assistant into Castleford. Gat>ton Dantree had been his guest, and though, after his base and dastardly conduct to-night, he could never again cross bhe threshold of Morecambe, ho still felt bound to sec him safely to his destination.

Captain Do Vere remained behind afc Scarswood, afc the solicitation of Mr Dangerfield. He could cot return to his lodgings while things were in this uncertain state, neither could he remain alone. How would this nighfc end? Would Sir John recover again, or would the New Year morning, breaking already, see him lord of fchis noble domain ?

And upstairs, in the sick chamber, the dim nighb lamp flickered, and only bhe ticking of bhe clock sounded in the dead hush. Sir John lay motionless, Dr. Graves sat beside him, his wrist between hisfingers, counting the beating of thafc sinking pulse. An-eminent physician had been telegraphed for to London, but ib was more than doubtful if he would find fche baronet alive upon his arrival. And if Gasfcon Dantree died, would ib nob be as well so ?

Beside him, afc the foot of the bed, looking like the ghost of some dead bride in thafc spectral light, Katherine sat. She sab quibe motionless, ber eyes rarely leaving fche face upon the pillow, her hands clasped on her lap, her face like marble. ' At one fell swoop ' she had losb all—all ! home, friends, fortune, lover, father, name, and yet it is doubtful if in these hours she suffered much. Sho could nofc Realise ib yeb —the suddenness and horror of the blow had stun ned her; hysterics and tearsand woman's ufcfcermosb agony mighb come hereafter —now she sat still and palm. Her hearfc lay like a stone in her bosom, a dull heavy pain throbbed ceaselessly in her head, but her misery was tearless and dumb. Dr. Graves, watching her uneasily and furtively, wondered what manner of woman this girl was. So unlike all others he had ever knowrf, sitting here without one complaint, one sob, one cry of pain, with her bridegroom lost fco her on her bridal nighfc, the father who had adored her dying before her eyes. And while the night light flickered, and the two pale watchers sat mutely there, fche bright wintry sun arose—fche happy New Year had begun. As ifcs first rays stole in between the closed curtains, the sick man's eyes opened, and he rallied a lifcfcle. His glance fell upon Katherine, a swift gleam of intelligence life his eyes, his lips moved, and a few incoherent words came forth. In an instant she was bending over him, her ear to his lips. ' Darling papa ! Yes, whafc Is it ?' He strove hard to speak, but again only that muttered incoherent sound. But the girl's quick ear had caught three words : 'Indian cabinet—will.' His thickening voice failed, his dim eyes looked with piteous, speechless agony up in hers. 'A will in the Indian cabinet —is thab ib, He nodded eagerly—a flash of lighb crossing his deabh-like face. * And you wanb me to get it for you . He nodded again. 'Quick!' he said huskily, and she arose and left the room. The Indian cabinet was in the library. There the lights still burned brightly, and there on the hearthrug her lover had stood —the lover for whom she had been ready bo give up tho world and all Its glory—and who mercilessly cast her off. Sho looked darkly thab way once. * He will live,' she said to herself under her breath. * And I will remember it.' Then she crossed to the tall cabinet, opened one drawer after another, and searched among the papers

there for the paper she wanted. She found is wibhoub much trouble, closed and reloeked the cabhieb, and returned to the sick roou__ Sir John still lay, breathing laboriously) with a hungry, eager light) in lug gleaming eyos. ' Shall I read it, papa=d_. thafc whab you mean T

He nodded onoe more. She opened tho papers-lb wag very slior_~-and read olearly and distinctly its contents. Ib bequeathed to his beloved adopted daughter Kabherine the sum of three thousand pounds—bhe portion of hia lato wife, and was unsigned. She understood instantly what ib was he wished.

k You wnnfe to sign thia, d 0 y oa no t f Aoothor' eager nod, another husky 1 ctuiek 1'

She laid the document upon too blotting hoc.!- before him on the bed, and placed the pen in his hand. Dr. Graves hastily summoned Captain Do Yore, and the Wo men stood by aa witnesses whilo the stricken man essayed to sign. Essayed—and iv vain ! The pen dropped useless from his fingers. Again Kathorina lifted, and placed it in his hand—again 'he strove. The effort was futile— ib fell from bis lingers, and with a low moan of agony his nerveless arm dropped by his side.

' Itisofnouse —all vital power is gone. He never wili sign his dame again,' Dr. Graves said ; ' he is exciting himself dangerously and uselessly.'

The dying man heard, and understood. His eyes turned ou Katherine'with a speechless anguish terrible to see. ' Too" lato ! too late !' they heard him groan.

' Oh, my God ! too late 1' Katherine's arms encircled him—she pressed her cold faco close to his. 'Papa, darling,' she said, softly and sweetly, 'I don't want you to grieve for me —to think of me oven. You aro very, very ill—very ill, papa, and—had we not better send for a clergyman ?' He made a feeble motion of assent. She looked at Captain De Vere. 4 You- will go ?' she said. He went at once. Then she bent close bo him again, wkisperinggently and'soothingly into his ear. But it is doubtful if he heard her. A stupor—which precedes death— was gathering over him ; his dull eye 3 closed, his pale lips muttered, he moaned ceaselessly— thegreat, lastchange v. as very near. The sun was high in the blue January sky now,the whole world jubilant with the glad sunlight of the New Year. And in the town of Castleford people talked with bated breath of the strange, dread tragedy at Scarswood, and of nothing else. In a little cottage in the remotest suburbs of the town, Gaston Dantreelay, senseless still, while life and death fought their sharp battle above his pillow. And in that stately and spacious chamber at Scarswood its lord lay dying, while clergyman and physicians stood by, useless and in vain.

She never left him—she neither slept nor afce. As she had been from the first —tearless and noiseless—so she was to the last. The perfumed laces—the dead white silk of her trailing robe—still swept their richness over the carpet; on arms and neck large pearls still shone, on her head the orange wreath and veil still remained. She bad removed nothing bub her gloves—whafc did ib rnabber whab she wore now ? She sat beside the dying man, while the slow ghostly hours dragged on—an awful si^ht it seemed to the men who mutely watched her. Her wedding day ! and she sat here bereaved more cruelly, more bitterly, than ever widow in the world before.

Morning came and passed* The short January afternoon wore on". The .sun dropped low, the blue twilight shadows were gathering once more. That celebrated physician from London had arrived, bub all the physicians in the great Babylon were of little avail now. Lower and lower tbe red wintry sun dropped, flushing earth and sky with rose-light, and, as its last red ray faded away and died amid the trees of Scarswood Park, Sir John Dangerfield passed from Scarswood and all earthly possessions forever. Without sign or struggle fche shadow that goes before crept up, and shut oufc the light of life' in one quiet instant from all the face. Up and down, up and down in the crimson of that New Year sunset, Sir Dangerfield paced under fche leafless trees. And this was fco have been-her wedding day ! No pang of piby—no touch of remorse camo to him—ifc was not in his nature to feel either. He only waited in a fever of impatience for the ond. It came. As he stood for an instant, his eyes fixed on thafc red radiance in the west, thinking how fair and stately Scarswood looked beneath its light, Dr. Graves approached him. One look at his face was enough ! His heart gave a greafc leap. Afc last! afc last !—his hour had come.

' Sir Peter Dangerfield,' the physician gravely said, ' your uncle is dead.' The late Sir John had been his friend ; bufc a live dog is better than a dead lion. Sir John Was dead, and Sir Peter reigned. It could do no harm to be the first to pay court to the new sovereign; ' Sir Peter !' He turned faint and giddy for a moment; wibh greab joy, and leaned speechlessly against a tree. Then he started up, his face flushing dark red, and made hastily for the houso. -/ Never before had the old baronial hall looked half so noble, half so grand; never'before had bhe fair domain spread around him seemed half so stately an inheritance as now when he stood there in this first; January sunseb, masber of Scarswood.

(To be continued on Saturday next.)