A MATTER OF MILLIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 276, 22 November 1890, Page 6

A MATTER OF MILLIONS.

BY ANNA KATHAEINE'GREEN,

Author of ' Tho Leavenworth Caee,' ' The Forsaken Inn,' Etc., Etc.

BOOK SECOND.—THE RIVALS.

CHAPTER XXX.

A GREAT HEIRESS.

It was tbe hour ab which lawn tenmis or croqueb was naually in progress in iUiss Aepinwall's grounds. Bub no games occupied the guests this morning. The great excitements and broken re'sb of the nighb before had prevented ear.ly rising on their part, and not one of th c doors opening on the wide hall had ycb swung back under the watchful eye of JMiJ Gryce, who sab like a statue in front of the room occupied by the signorina. Ten j o'clock and even Mies Aspinwall herself was not to be seen ! Bub before another half-hour had passed, more than ono bright figure had stepped into the hall, and in this recess or that of • the great house, small groupe were gather- ; ing, ready to resume the talk which had nob been exhausted by hours of eecret whispering from pillow to pillow. At a ■ quarter to eleven,*one door only remained shut, the door upon which all eyes rested, , for through it they expected presently to appear the heroine of the preceding eve, a heroine around whom this frustrated attempt at murder had woven such an atmosphere of romance and mystery that the coming of a girl with a bray of breakfast caused quite a shock of disappointment to pass through the throng, heroines being supposed to bo above such mundane wants, or at leesb to ignore them ab certain periods of peculiar interest or excitement. But this touch of sentimental feeling in the young men and women of the house was soon lost in the surprise they felt ab seeing Mr Gryce suddenly rouse from his apathy, take the tray from tha girl's hand, and, after surveying its contents with caro, cjirry ib in himself to the eignorinn. Nor was this astonishment in any wise diminished when, a minute later, ho re-ap-peared with the tray, and, handing it back to the girl) remarked : • Miss Rogers cares for nothing bub eggs this morning. A couple of boiled eggs, if you please.' • An interference so minute must mean something. What? Curiosity grow rampant, and it was a sorry disappointment to the eager watchers when the breakfast-bell rapß, summoning them all to the diningroom. Another Bell rang about this_ time; it was the one connected with the front door. As its echoes ceased, oao or two of the young men who still lingered in the hall beheld the door of her room open and the signorina appear. Ah, how fresh she looked, notwithstanding her night's adventures ! Or were her blushes the sign of some cominjii; evenb not disconnected with the aummoiiH they had just heard ? They would wait a minute ; and they did, noting -with a certain sort of stupefaction how the detective bowed as she passed him, and with what a look he followed her down tho hall to the top of the staircase. W~a3 the old fellow smitten ? No, bub he was impressed by tho sight of this young girl going to an interview from which she would return the mistress of a fortune large enough to make her a queen among her follows. Ab the head of the staircase she met j ' Mr Degraw, of Cleveland, is bailing for you in the library,'' thab lady ; ; anaflunaod. * Ho is nob alone ; did you expect to see him alone?' The signorina drew back. ■ : • Who is with him ?' she aaked. 'I leave you to find out, 1 returned the other, mischievously, ' Only I thought I would warn you to expeeb more than one caller. Ah, how lovely you look in white !' pursued Hilary, with a short sigh. 'No one would think you had hob siept a wink all night.' Tho signorina smiled and took the other's arm. • How kind you are !' said she, and looked so child-like with her quivering lips half parted that tho stronger woman's hearb warmed with a sweet compassion aa she drew her down to the library door. • I must go to my other guests,' remarked Hilary, * buo my heart will remain with you.' ' And though she could nob know and could nob gueae what thia visit portended, she went with evidently reluctant feet toward the- dining-room, looking back more than once upon the slight, white-clad figure standing doubtfully before the library door, as if in dread of an interview which might have a determining influence upon the future fate of more than one in this great house. When the signorina. finally summoned courage sufficiently to open tho door and pass in, she waa starcled to observe three gentlemen present, and was groatly con- ■ fused, notwithstanding the warning she had received, when ehe perceived that one of them was the artist. Surely thia was nob the interview she had expocted when j Mr Degraw, of Cleveland, had set this) hour for saying something to her of special importance. 'Do you wiah to see we? , waa consequently the auestiion with which Bhe met the greeting she received. ' Wβ do,' was ■ Mr Degraw's earnest reply; * not only tor express our pleasure at your providential escape, bub for another purpose which, if unexpected to you, will, I hope, relieve you from all further danger of any such scenes as startled you and the rest of this house laeb nighb. You have never been able to conjecture', I dare say, why you and others of your name have been subjected to perils and distresses of no ordinary nature ?' 'No, , she rejoined, glancing askance ab the artist. *1 have recognised the fact, bub nob attempted to account; for it. Can it be thai you can tell me ?' 'I certainly can, Miss Rogers. Ib is because a wicked woman and a still more wicked man have banded together to prevent the consummation of a certain act by which a great property is to be handed over to the youne girl who is fortunate enough to fulfil in hor own person certain definite conditions. One of these conditions is thab she shall have been christened by the name o| " Jenny Rogers." ' \ ' Ah V she exclaimed, shrinking back in ( surprise and possible dismay. "A'hati is my name ; bub you do not mean—you cannob mean—' . i • : He interrupted her with a smile. ■ ' 1 Pardon me,' said he, * bub I do. ;i When I told you thab you need nof) con- ; aider yourself in any further danger of per- ! sonal violence from these persons, I meant thab you were the chosen one among these girls, and thab you are no longer sinapl'y a possible heiress to this money, but its ' real possessor. There is, therefore, nb longer any motive remaining for inflicting; : injury upon you, since your death would no longer benefit) these conspirators, but your heirs. Do you understand me, Miss Rogers?' ■ ; 'Understand?' she murmured. 'You j overwhelm me. I the possessor of money ! I "Whose money? And what have I done to | earn it, and what is expected of me in re- < turn for it? , •Nothing is expected of you, , gravely returned Mr Degraw. 'Ib .is yours only through the whim of a man now dead. .Will y oh hear his story? Ib may help yon

to realise why I should be the chosen medium of his generosity.' ' I should be glad,' she responded, • but everything swims before me. I have never had anything pleasant happen to me before ; and this is pleasant, isn't it ?' Her child-like look, her utter amaze and winning helplessness told upon two hearts there with almost equal power; but the i artist sat silent, though he could nob forbear letting his heart speak through his eyes. The other spoke, but Ma tone was studiously friendly rather than lover-like. * Yes,' lie replied, • it is pleasant, because, though I have the honour to hand you this deed, by means of which, the moment it is signed, you will bo made the owner of three million dollars' worth of property, there is nothing in this bequest, nor in your acceptance of ib, which should caueo a blush to rise to your cheek or to mine, lb is simply a gift made by a childless man to the woman Who bears the namo and possesses some of the characteristics of the being he most loved. , ' Oh,' she cried, with a flushing cheok, ' will not some one call Hilary ? I do nob know how to bear such good fortune alone. Three millions ! Why, it i 3 incredible ! I almost refuse to believe it.' ' Perhaps this gentleman will help you to do so,' ho smiled, indicating the stranger who had accompanied him. ' This ia Mr Walden, Mins Rogers. Hβ is a lawyer, and will explain to you the technicalities of thin matter.' She bowod abstractedly. Sho was looktug at the deed which had been handed to her, and scarcely seemed to hear this introduction. 'Bub this immense gift is made oub in your name,'sho declared. 'How is that? You (ire nob the donor of this vast amount Of money.' He smiled reassuringly, bat to his rival's Watchful eye thoro was sadness in his tin lie, us thero were evidences of growing discouragement in his whole manner. 'Nα,' he assured her, 'I am not the donor ; the RifS is made through me, but not by me. Let me tell you my story before we go any furthor. Miss Aspinwall can hoar ib later ; you alone are concerned in it now.' And drawing her to a seat, ho took his place by her side end began his relation, in language similar to that which ho kid employed in making his disclosures to the detective the night before. Sho listened with wide-open eyes, that ever and anon filled with tears, of which she Beomed unconscious; and when he had finished, her he.*d sank' in thoughtful reverie on her breasb and remained in this position so long tli 6t Mr Degraw made a gesture to tho lawyer, which caused him to quietly leave the roonj. As soon as tho door had closed upon biro, the former ventured to take her hand ano\ say, with visible emotion : ' I sought you out in tho first place, Miss Rogors, solely for tho purpose which is revealed by this story I. have just related. But in studying your character 1 have learnod to love you, and only refrain from making you the proposals which lie near to my heart, from an instinct of honour which forbids me to uharo Cho fortune which vaa intrusted to me to place where my judgment directed.' Startlod and touched in her deepest Sensibilities, sho cast one wild look behind her. YO3, the arfet had not loft with the lawyer ; he was standing where she hud last scon him, in the deep recess of the window. * Of) !' sllO remonstrated, ' we are not alone.' Eut this Mr llegraw knew as well as sno did. ' . . ' I know it,' he calmly rejoined. ' I urged Mr Degraw to accompany me, because I wiehad him to be » witness to your decision. My devotion and this money cannot go together, Miss Rogers; bub if you tell me to tear up this deed—' His voice sank, his largo and strong frame ti-embled. Tho artist saw ib and tromblod too. AVould she be proof against such passion ? Would his own lovo or even this great amount of money serve to blind her to the noble and elevated qualities of this man ? Yea for the-«6BhffiSid'h which overwhelms her is nob thab of appreciation, and when, she spoakss it is wibha cob of fear and dopre:ation. 'Oh !' she cries, ' in whab a position you iave placed mo!' Tho hand which held hers softly opened. •No,' was the kindly rejoinder. 'A jvord from mo will summon back Mr WaiJen I expected to have to utter it. I jnly wißhod to be perfectly frank with you, md to make one attempt to cain the hsCppiacsa which it is every man's right to enjoy. [ have not benefited by my effort, but 1 hopo I have nob lost your esteem. , 'Oh, no,' she criad, breaking down, if I oflly folt—ae—as—' • I understand,' he assured her. Do not fliatress yourself. See ! I have summoned bbc lawyer ; he is coming back.' And almost before her bears were dry or her trembling ceased. Mr Walden was in the room, and the papers were duly signed tt nd the Signorina Valdi, who a moment before had owned nothing save whab was contained in her email trunk, stood up before these three men, tho undisputed possessor of millions. Then, indeed, a marked change passed over her. From impressing the beholder with her delicacy, she seemed suddenly to "eve acquired breadth and height. Even her beauty took on dignity, and her step character. She was not lees admirable thus, but she lost aonio of the touching grace which had won her the love of these two strong hearts. . , The artist, who was watching her with bated breath, now came .forward with us congratulations. She received him with a emile that saemed to tell her heart c story ; but the next moment ft certain air oicoqueebieh independence took the place of her first "α-er delight, and the elight made him withdraw "again and tako his stand by Mr De 'ffirvl Who will tell Hilary?' the Hgnorina now cried. • A sight of her dear face might persuade me that this is not all a dream.' , .., Instantly, the Cleveland gentleman, with rare tact and generosity, tieclared that) he would go for Miss Aspinwall, and taking bhe lawyer by the arm, drew him out, leaving the field bo his rival. The artist ab onco sprang forward, and clasped the new-made heiress by the hand. • Sicnorina !' he exclaimed, • one word before , your prosperity is known to the ivorld. I love you; you know that; and [ have already laid my heart at your feet. But you were not the mistress of millions bhen, and knew no more than I of the good Fortune which awaited you. So do not [eel that I hold you as bound to me in the slightest degree, because of any expression if regard thab may have escaped you. Love that might have moved you then may nob move you now, and though I prize you always, and over the same, ivhether you be rich or whether you be DOOr, I feel thab it is only honourable in me to await a reply to my suit until you lave become accustomed to your wealth, iDd learned tha necessities of your nonposition. If in six months from now you itill remember the artieb, Hamilton Dβ- " 'Ah!' she interrupted, with a. naivete charmingly in keeping with her blushes, ■I cannot wait six months. I nave no home, no adviser, no protector. _ I should make a thousand mistakes. Besides, why not be altogether happy, ; since Fate has irivon us the opportunity ?' Was it possible ? Whab man could ro3 irt such an appeal ? He gazed upon her with rapbure, he covered her hands with kisses, he all but took her in his. arms, bub did not accept tho troth she profiered b, ™l cannot, , he cried. 'It would be lite taking advantage of your inexperi3 nce. Wait three months, darling, and if bh TCh7 entrance of Miss Aepinwall inter-

rupted him. Ho drew back, bub his face betrayed a joy winch tho noble woman who entered could nob mistake. ' Pardon me,' she exclaimed, and would have withdrawn, but the signorina held out her arms. ' No,'she whispered ; ' since Mr Degraw refuses to take me in his charjje, I must look to you foe thab guidauCß which my new difficulties imperatively demand. See here, Hilary,' and ehe placed before her the documents which had made such a change in her position. ( To be conlinmd.)