A STRANGE QUEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 33, 10 February 1890, Page 3

A STRANGE QUEST.

By Mansfield Tract Walwokth, Author of "Warwick," "Hotspur," "Beverly," "Lulu," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XXIV. (Continued.)

Nicholas Rudd placed a small mirror to her mouth and nostrils. Not the faintest breath dimmed ever so faintly the glass. He put his hand upon her heart. It was utterly still. Then with a look of unutterable agony he turned away, and poor Sam saw that his worst apprehensions were realised. Was not a remorseless fate ever pursuing him to deal its deadliest blows in his moments of lui'tiest exultation ?

' She is dead '. She is dead !'

How that tenible truth flew through the household. The only woman who had ever gained access there was dead. She had gained admittance that the adopted son might be contented and happy. For long and weary years no voice ot woman had echoed along those halls. The tirst sounds of a female voice there had greeted the ears of Nicholas Rudd in the darkness of a stormwrapped night. 'And this is my father,' she said to the aged banker in the hall upon entering. The voice was melodious and charmed his ear. Then he saw that she was of surpassing loveliness, this daughter sent him by destiny. Hβ had kissed her upon the forehead as eho went to her room, because she was Sam's wife, and he intended to Jove all that was near to his heir's heart. But now, without a warning note, the spirit had vacated its exquisite tenement, and his son's life was dark. The venerable banker bowed his head in grief, while the eon watched, with unutterable agony, the serene face of the dead darling.

' Go, go,' he said at length to a servant, • and summon my father's physician. No ! no! Thi3 cannot be death. Ib is too peaceful, too heavenly. It is my Bessie in a trance, and she will return to me and tell me what she is seeing in Heaven.'

Away sped the messenger, and the momenta, the terrible moments, seemed houre to the young man, while hope was struggling in him with despair. The physician came, looked, wondered and applied medical tests. ' She is dead,' said the scientific man, as he turned sadly away. ' I have known others to die of joy, , he continued. 'Excessive emotion in some people produces insanity. In other instances it causes death. She sleeps the last sleep peacefully as an infant. .

Then the medical man passed out and left Sam alone with his dead. Nicholas Rudd, unable to witness the agony of his son, had gone to his own room. All now was vanity to the young banker. Wealth, position, power, all seemed valueless. He had lived, toiled and ascended the ladder of success with the hope ever present to him that he was doing it all for the lost Bessie, to share it with him in the beautiful future. That bright future had come with the suddenness of a star and was instantly extinguished, and now life stretched away before him like a barren wilderness. Such a wilderness as Nicholas lludd had been gazing upon for so many years. At last, as the day went on, Sam left his dead bride, and stealing , into his father's private room, saw that the venerable man was seated in his arm-chair and motionless in some mental distress, He crept to his side, and with a cry of mortal agony put both arms around the old man's neck and laid his cheek to his. He craved the touch and word of sympathy. The act bound the heart of Nicholas lludd to his son "closer than any words could have done. JTrom that hour they were to each other as if bono of bone and flesh of flesh, real father and son, and not stranger blood.

As they eat in silence at the close of the day, the street-bell rang, and a servant brought a note to Sam. Ib was from his friend and instructor,. Riiffini, and ran thus:

' I have hinted to you that lam more in the world than a sti'ollinpr musician. I have employed my violin for many yeare in a search ■which haa been fruitless. I now desire to continue my secret purpose in anpther character. I was educated a physician, andhave had much experience in that profession. 1 shall now assume the character and disguise of a very aged doctor. I must train access to the higher classes of society in this city. Yoar new and fortunate position give 3 you facilities to further my purpose. I know I shall not solicit your assistance in vain. I need introduction to the best families as a practitioner. I know you will keep my secret and further my purpose. Let me hear from you soon. I shall cling to my old name. liuiwmi. .

The young banker read the note beside the corpse of his wife, which undertakers wero laying out preparatory to the funeral.

He immediately wenb to his father's room and solicited the privilege of inviting an aged doctor, his friend, to view the body before it was buried.

Several physicians had been admitted to view the corpse, which was still warm and life-like as when Sam discovered his irreparable loss. Nicholas Rudd readily assented, although he had refused admittance to several women who were anxious to look upon the marvel. The young man ab once despatched a messenger to the Italian, eaying in the accompanying note :

• Come instantly, and in your assumed character, for my long-lost Bessie is lying dead in my father's house, and several doctors have been viewing the body as a curiosity, so life-like and warm is.it even in death. Come, to me, for my heart is breaking in my agony.'

After a delay of two hours Ruffini arrived, and Sam was unable to recognise him. Lie was so aged, so changed in feature and voice, and so disguised by his immense beard, that he was forced covGrfcly to address the young man in the old familiar tones, to satisfy him that the Italian violinist really was before him.

Nicholas Rudd had gone out to make some purchases for the funeral, so there was uninterrupted intercourse between tlfe two friends that evening. He detailed to the Italian the circumstances rewarding his bargain with Old Hawk to obtain possession of the long-lost Bessie. He was utterly ignorant, however, of thenaiiieof the family from which the bride had been taken away on the bridal night. Old Hawk was shrewd enough to make obscurity regarding: the adopted parents a condition of his delivery of the bride to Sam. He was to take the girl in marriage and ask no questions.

After this preliminary interview with 1 Doctor Ruffini' in the drawing-room below, the young banker conducted the Italian up-stairs to the bridal chamber, now the chamber of death. The beautiful dead seemed etill to be sleeping as at first. They had laid her out upon a'table covered with white velvet, and she was still in her bridal robes. Her flesh was still warm, and the delicate rose-flush on her cheeks was as lovely as when life throbbed within her.

Doctor Ruffini drew near and gazed upon the marvel. He touched her cloaed eyes, her lipS, lifer neck, her heart, with his lon<'' delicate fingers. He directed his companion to close the door of the room and shut out; the servants till he had made a thorough investigation of the condition of the corpse. 'Sara,' ha said, as soon as the door reaa locked, ' I am going to give Bessie back to your arms. She is not dead, my dear boy. She is not dead !'

The young husband stood gazing at the mysterious physician, who was smiling over a corpse.

(To be Continued.)