BERYL'S HUSBAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 145, 20 June 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

BERYL'S HUSBAND.

By AIMS. HARRIET .LEWIS.

CHAPTER XLV. IN THE SICK-ROOM,

The earl lay back and closed his eyes. Beryl hasbened to bring the carafe of wate r# Her movements were so expeditious that ehe was in time to see Oclavia slip a tiny phial back in her pocket, a phial which Beryl had not before seen, and which had no counterpart on the cabinet. A horrible suspicion came into the girl's mind. She rejected it on the instant Ifc seamed too monstrous for belief. She knew, as well as if she bad seen the act, that Octavia had dropped into the medicine, destined for the earl, some potion from the mysterious little phial now in Mrs Conyers' p6cket, and yet she dared not acknowledge her conviction even to herself in that moment of horror and bewilderment. •Give him that,' said Octavia, pstentatiouely dropping a spoonful of water into the mixture. Boryl hesitated. Then, telling herself that she was foolish, and that her suspicions were unfounded, and a shame to the mind that had conceived them, she crossed the room with the goblet and placed it in Lord Hawkhurst's hands. Hβ drained the glass at a draught. ' I do hope the medicine will do you good, my Lord,' said Octavia, sympathetically, approaching the earl. ' You were looking most miserable when I entered the room. I pray that you will not have another of those dreadful paroxysms tonight. ' The earl did not answer. Octavia remained in the library only a few minutes longer, going away to her own room. She" had scarcely departed when a terrible paroxysm of pain seized upon the earl, and he groaned in his utter anguish. The cold sweat poured off his distorted features. Beryl brought him cold water to allay the burning sensation in his stomach, and placed sal volatile ab his nostrils and wiped his face with a eofb handkerchief, and held his hands in her own. His unconscious grip upon her hands was like the pressure of iron clamps, bub she made no, outcry nor complaint. The spasm of pain and weakness was nob prolonged. The earl began to revive after a little and be himself again. 'That was bbie worst attack I have had,' he eaid, feebly. 'I think each attack ia worse than those that preceded. . He looked at Beryl's red and bruised hands and stammered out an apology. ' You must think me a porfecb bear, Mrs Park,'he exclaimed. 'I beg your pardon, You aro a brave woman. Why did you not run for help, or set up a screaming V ' You needed me to wait upon you, , replied Beryl, with a faint smile, the first ha had seen on her'lips.' I couldn't! be spared

to indulge in hysterics. Do you really think, sir, that every paroxysm ie worse than the one before it ?'

'I do. I think my disease is becoming eerious, but the pig-headed doctor does not understand my case at all. His medicines do not agree with me: lam constantly growing worse. , 'I think you will begin to mend now,'said Beryl. 'I am sure you will be restored to health in a week. 1

She epoke with such confidence and assurance that Lord Hawkhursb was cheered and encouraged in spite of his gloomy forebodinge. A few minutes later, Lord Hawkhursb s valeb came in, bearing a small silver tray laden with delicacies. Beryl excused herself and descended to the housekeeper's room.

Miss Cavanagh was gone. Mrs Dominick had prepared a tempting luncheon for • Mrs Park, , and was about to go up to the library for her when Beryl appeared. The two lunched together. Beryl said nothing of what eho had seen, or whab she Buspected, bub made herself so agroeable that Mrs Dominick was charmed with her. After the luncheon, tho housekeeper conducted the girl to tho room she was to occupy. It waa on an upper floor, bub nob in the topmoab storey where the servants were lodged. Ib was a largo pleasanb chamber, well furnished.

' I vrill have a firo made before you come up thia evening, Mrs Park,'said the good housekeeper. 'If you want anything at any time, let me know. One of the housemaids has orders to wait on you. You can lie down in my room when you feel tired during the day, instead of coming clear up here.' Beryl expressed her thanks, gave a glance at her reflection in the mirror, and the two descended again to the housekeeper's room. *My lord will ring for you when he wants you,' said Mrs Dominick. 'Sib down by the fire, Mrs Park, and make yourself comfortable. It'e but little past three now.'

Beryl had a delicious little season ot bodily reeb, but her brain was more than usually active. Mrs Dominick would have liked to talk with the little supposed widow aboub her deceased ' curate,' and compare notes in regard to the length of their respective states of widowhood, bub Miss Cavanagh had warned her cousin that 'Mrs Park' could nob bear any allusion to her private affaire, and ehe wisely refrained. Beryl asked for a gobleb like bhat in the library, and obtained it readily, without exciting suspicion. At about half-pasb three, the earl's bell rang. • Thab is for you, Mrs Park, , eaid the housekeeper. Beryl obeyed the summons, taking bhe green glass goblet with her. She found Lord Hawkhurst alone and very restless, walking the floor. ' I want you to answer some letters for me, , he said. ' The physician has been hero, but I would nob have you eummoned. I knew how tired you must be. He has not changed the medicines, and he thinks I am doing as well as he could expect.' Beryl wrote the required letters from his lordship's dictation. He approved her penmanship, and the letters were sealed with red wax and sent out to bo posted.

They were hardly disposed of when Mrs Conyers again made her appearance. 'It is four o'clock, and I am as punctual as time itself,' she said, lightly. 'I am come to give you the medicine, my Lord. By the way, Mrs Park, you were nob at your posb when the doctor was here. He was obliged to leave his directions with ma. Bring me the carafe of water, please.' Beryl brought the carafe. Mrs Conyers bueied beroaU in measuring out the medicine as before. Beryl saw no secret phial upon this occasion, bub none the less ehe knew that its contents had been employed. ' Pub in about a teaspoonful of water, 1 said Mrs Conyers, moving away from the cabinet, with the evident intention of compelling ' Mrs Park ' to bear tho reputation of mixing the medicine. 'Bβ very particular. I think, dear Lord Hawkhursb, that you are looking better this evening. Rollyn is greatly distressed about you, and is coming in to see you. Poor Rollyn ! He has grown to love you with a filial affection.'

Octavia's back was turned to the new attendant. Beryl poured a sufficient quantity of water in the goblet she had broughb to the library, concealing that in which was the medicine within a nook of the cabinet, and broughb the clear and harmless liquid to tbe earl. He drank ib as he had drunk the medicine, and did nob remark upon the difference in taste from his usual draught. ' Shall I read to you, my Lord V ■ asked Octavia, sweetly. ' No,' he answered. 'I am tired.,. Leave me alone.'

Octavia obeyed the injunction and re tired.

The shadows of the early winter twilighb were filling the library, the long red lances of firelight alone relieved the gloom, tho earl lay back on his couch silent, and Beryl was sitting in the shadows when Dane Conyers finally came in. He did nob see Beryl's dusky figure, buc she knew his step and shrank back farther into the depths of her easy-chair. • Are you here, my Lord ?' asked Conyers, peering about him. ' Why is there no light ?' 'Yes, lam here,' said the earl. ' You've wakened me up out of a eound sleep, the most refreshing sleep I've had for a week. I wish you'd not como in here till I send for you.' ' But is no one with you ?'

'Mrs Park is here,' said the earl. 'At least she was whon I dropped off to sleep.'

' And are you no better to-night, sir ?' asked Conyers, anxiously.

• You speak as if you expected to find me worse. I've had a bad day. Let me rest. I'll see you in the morning, Conyers. Go now.'

Conyers went out as softly aa possible.

The earl arose from hia couch and crossed the floor several times, hie face more cheerful than the girl had yet seen it.

' I feel better,' he announced. 'I believe lam going to get well, after all. I'll have my valet in to stay with me awhile, so go and rest, Mrs Park. I'll call you when I want you.'

' Yes, my Lord,' said Beryl, rising. * Bub will you promise to summon me before it is time to take more medicine ? Will you promise to take no medicine trom any hand but mine?'

The earl started a little, but gave the required promise. Beryl arranged the two green glass goblets to her satisfaction, keeping one bidden within the open cabinet, and having rung for the valet and awaited his appearance, again retired to the housekeeper's room.

'He is better,' she thought. 'My suspicions of that woman are confirmed. If I had nob come she would have destroyed his life. What will she do next, when she discovers that I have balked her?. I will wait and see.'

CHAPTEK/XLVI. A REVEALING-OF TRUTH, It was the morning succeeding y Beryl's advent ab Hawkhureb House. The earl reclined in a Turkish lounging-chair before the fire in the library. He was fully dressed, as he had been every day throughout his singular illness. His malady had lelb its traces upon him, but he felt stronger, better and mere cheerful on this morning than he had felt during the past week, Beryl was copying papers ab-ft- deskr near the bay-window. HesTOnecnoe in the-room

was very pleasant to;the earl. Hβ had been watching her while she wrote. Now the longing to hear her sweeb voice, bo like the voice of one he had loved and lost, came upon him, and he said : • I ieel better this morning, Mrs Park. I feel now that I am going to get well. And if I do, ib is you, and nob the physician, who will hare saved my life.' •I, ray Lord?' said Beryl. ' Ifc is but little I can do, and bub little I have done. .

' You have given me my medicines.' Beryl fancied that) there was a singular significance in his tone, and gave him a keen, quick glance, but he was lookineinto the fire, and his face was as expressionless as a mask. She fancied that she had been mistaken and resumed her task. Bub her perceptions had nob deceived her. There had been a peculiar significance in the earl's tone and manner. When she had begged him, on the preceding day, to take no medicine whatever in her absence, she had startled him and aroused within him strange suspicions, which he had since been keen enough to verify. Bub as yob ib was his purpose to keep his discovery to himself. 'Write a noto for me to Mr Sherwald, Mrs Park, please,' said Lord Hawkhurst, presently. 'He is my solicitor. Ask him to come to me at his earliest convenience— immediately, in fact.' •Mr Sherwald called yesterday, and was exbremely anxious to see you, my Lord ; but Mrs Conyers refused him admittance.' Lord Hawkhursb frowned darkly. • I will see that he is admibted to-day,' he said. • Why, I wee better yestorday, and wanted to soe him. Mrs Conyers assumes tha airs of mistress here quite too early.' Beryl wrote [the letter as commanded, and it was despatched by private messenger. The hall porter was then summoned to the library, and ordered to admit) all visitors during the day who should especially desire to see his lordship. Mrs Conyers had come in regularly during the preceding evening and on this morning to measure oub the earl's medicino, and as regularly had lofb to Beryl the task of administering the dose. Ib had not been difficult, therefore, for' Beryl to effect a secret exchange of goblets and to give to the earl a draught of pure water. The medicines had been regularly thrown away as prepared. As the hour of twelve approached, the earl lay down upon his couch, drew a laprobe over him, and was very quiet. It seemed as if he wished to appear more ill than he wae. The physician had been in to see him and reported favourably. Mrs Conyers had failed to see the doctor as was her wont, and had therefore nob obtained his opinion of the condition of her ' dear Lord Hawkhursb.' A little before noon Octavia entered the library. • How ill he looks, Mrs Park,' said she in a low voice. ' Has the doctor been here V 'Yes, madam.' ' Why was I nofc summoned to see him!' • I don't know, madam,' replied Beryl, respectfully. 'It is not my duty feo summon you. My place is here.' 'It won't be here long, let me tell you that.'cried Octavia angrily. 'The earl is sinking fasb, Ido nob believe that he will live the day out. This gastric fever is very often fatal, and when disease gets hold of a constitution, like his it is more often fatal than with less robust persons. His lordship must be taken to his bedroom. This is no place for him to die.' 'He will nob go to his bedroom, madam,' said Beryl. 'He slept therelaso night as usual, bub was in the library at daybreak. As long as ho remains in this favourite haunt he finds ib easy to persuade himself that he is not dangerously ill. He will nob give up and take to his bed.' ' The poor dear earl cannot possibly survive this day. He must be taken to his room and pub to bed directly." She moved toward the bell-pull. Lord Hawkhureb opened his eyes. Octavia halted, and, changing her course, returned to him. 'How do'you feel now, sir?' she asked sweetly. ' Oh, I have been so distressed about you, my Lord. I did not sleep last night. You should have let Eollyn watch by you during the night, bub he said that you would have no one but you?: valet. Are you in much pain ?' 'No, I am growing better,' replied the earl, briefly. ' I shall soon be abou* again.' He flung off the rug that covered him and walked to the easy-chair. There was a great deal of vigour still in that splendid physique, as Octavia marked with a changing colour. She had thought him weak unto'death, bub there was power and elasticity in his ringing tread. He was not bowed by illness, but walked erect and without the support even of the stick he had used upon the previous day. Mrs Conyers could nofc understand it.

'Ib still lacks ten minutes to twelve,' she eaid with a glance at the clock. ' I will go up to my room a moment and return in time to give you your medicine, my Lord.'

She glided from the room. The green glass goblet stood "upon the cabinet ready for use. Its counterpart was hidden wibhin the open cabinet, within easy reach, and similarly empty. ' Shall I not give you your medicine now, my Lord ?' asked Beryl. ' No,' eaid the earl. 'It is not yet time.'

Beryl was tempted to tell him her suspicions, bub she believed that he loved and trusted. Octavia and would hear nothing to her detriment. Beryl realised thab she should have carefully retained the draughts prepared by Octavia, and thab she should have sudmitted them to the inspection of the doctor. She had kept her suspicions to herself for twenty-four hours, uob knowing what she ought to do. She felt that she could nob communicato them to Lord Hawkhursb, and now resolved to declare them to the physician upon the occasion of his nexb visit.

Mrs Conyers was nob absent above five minutes. She returned with a flushed countenance and walked directly to the cabinet and began to measure oub the medicine. The earl watched her furtively through his half-shut eyes. He was in the shadow and seemed to be dozing.

' The water, please, Mrs Park,' said Ocbavia, hoarsely. Beryl brought the carafe, which waa, as usual, on the table.

While the girl was executing her command Octavia drew a tiny phial from her pocket, unstopped ib, and dropped its contents swiftly into the goblet. The phial was pushed back into her pocket, the entire movement being too quick even for Beryl to observe it. But the earl saw ib.

Octavia dropped in the water and stirred the compound with a, tiny glass medicinespoon. She was so engaged when the door opened and Conyers and Mr Callender came in.

The two gentlemen hastened to pay their respects to the earl, who received them with grave courtesy. ' I am very eorry to see you bo ill, my Lord,' said Mr Callender. ' I trust that you will soon be about again.' 'I trust so, too, , said Conyers. 'But ought you not to be in bed, my Lord ? Do allow Uβ to assist you to your room. .

' 1 prefer to remain here,' said the earl, shortly. 'I am master here yet, Conyers, and I intend to be until I die !'

'Of course, of cour3e,' said Conyers, somewhat nervously. ' I don't understand you, my Lord. Did my suggestion offend you?'

The earl did not reply. The uneasiness of Conyers communicated itself to Callender and Ootavia.

•Conyers roeanb well, my dear Lord;' eaid Callendar, deproe&fefngly, * Ha is so devotedly atteohed to you thab he yem turee to take the liberties with yea which your own eon might; take, Ypu &yp very ill t 7ery ill indeed!':j but if you prefer

to remain here your will must be law, even to these devoted young friends of yours.' 'Humph !' said Lord Hawkbursfc, ' Mr 3 Park, has no answer come from Sherwald yeb ? Has the messenger returned V Conyers and Callender turned their gaze upon the little seemingly elderly woman. Beryl was in a shadow. She answered, in a voice she endeavoured to disguise :

' The messenger has roturned, my Lord. Mr Sherwald had not yet come down to his office, but his clerk will send him here directly he arrives. ' Conyers aud Callender ajrain exchanged glances of alarm. Even Octavia looked around inquiringly. What could this demand for his lordship's solicitor mean 2 Ib certainly boded uo good to them. Conyers glanced significantly at the gobleb. Octavia took ib up in her hand, but ad bhab momonb was hsard a stir ab the housedoor and steps upon the marble-paved corridor, library. Octavia sob down the gobleb instinctively, and burned her face "toward the door. It was only a servant who entered, bearing a small silver tray, upon which lay a yellow envelope. 'A telegram for Mr 3 Conyers,' he said. Ocbavia took up the envelope, and the servant departed. ' A telegram ?' said Conyers. From whom can it be?'

Octavia tore it open, and read its contents. Then she sank down in the nearest! chair, as if suddenly strengthless. ' What is it?' demanded the earl. 'Read it aloud. Is anyone ill or dead V Conyers strode toward hi 3 wife, picked up the fallen document, and scanned ib hurriedly. He hesitated a moment, tempted to conceal the contents of the telegram, but Lord Hawkhursb was waiting expectantly, a look of suspicion gathering on his face. Conyers looked ab him, gave a glance ab the waiting gobleb, and then exclaimed : • It's very singular, bub the telegram is dated Liverpool, and purports to be from Octavia's 'uncle, William Windsor, whom we all believed dead. Hβ says : ' " Mrs Octavia Conyers : Will arrive in London this evening. Safe passage out. Go to Cragthorpe tomorrow.' ' That is all, except his name. But) ifc can'b be possible that ib is Octavia's uncle !' ' The telegram reads as if he supposed his niece to be aware of the fact that he still lives,' said the earl. 'Did you know it, Ocbavia?' •I ? No, my Lord.' ' Do you think this telegram is really from your uncle V 'It is, my Lord, , said Mr Callender, smoothly. ' Windsor is alive. He's been out in Canada for years. I have known for some time that he lived, but I have nob told Octav>a nor Conyers. My poor niece believed herself owner of Cragthorpe, and I could nob bear to tell her thab she had no claim there. I know your favourite project of uniting the Windsor estate to those of Hawkhurst, and regret your disappointment, sir, bub such a union would, in any case, be impossible. Windsor is coming homo to marry and settle down.' ' How long have you known that Windsor is alive ?' asked the earl. ' I have known ib since the last of October, or first of November, my Lord,' said Mr Callender, coolly. ' I received the news upon the morning of the day on which you first brought Conyers to Cragthorpe. , The earl's face darkened. ' Why did you not tell me ?' he asked. ' Ib would have made no difference in my regard for my old friend's daughter, and ill would have been only honourable to have told me. You hurried up Conyers' marriage wibh your niece, did you not? I remember you were presenb ab the wedding. You were in haste to have them married before Windsor should return or I should discover the truth. Is it nob so?' Mr Callender smiled and did nob deny the charge. 'By Heaven, I have been your dupa throughout!' exclaimed the earl, fiercely. ' 1 believe now that Octavia was a party to your schemes, thab she knew also that her uncle was alive, and thab, as she know she was to lose Cragthorpe, she seb to work deliberately to secure Hawks' Cliff. , He questioned Octavia if it were hot so. She uttered a feeble denial, bub her face contradicted her words. 'I have been very cleverly duped, , exclaimed the earl, bitterly. ' Ib is nob the loss of Cragbhorpe I mourn for. I'm glad Windsor is alive; but to know Octavia as a liar, a schemer, a ' He paused, controlling himself sternly. 'My Lord,'said Mr Callender, 'Octavie is your old friend's daughter, and the same woman whether owner of Cragthorpe or nob. She ■will make a fibting mistress for Hawks' Cliff Casble—' Lord Hawkhurst?s lip curled. • Yes ; a fitting mistress, is she not ?' he said, Bneeringly. ' A fitting wife for Conyers, perhaps, bub nob the woman to preside over the house where my mother lived. Do nob feel too sure, Mr Callender, thab your niece will have the spending of the Hawkhursb income. Mrs Park, it is singular Sherwald doesn't come. Send a second messenger for him.' Beryl oboyed. She had already foujid opportunity during the reading of the telegram to secretly exchange ,the goblets. The one now on the cabinet contained pure water. Octavia arose and took up the goblet from the cabinet. 'It is pasb twelve,' she said, huskily. ' You should have taken your medicino long ago, my Lord. Take ib now.' Beryl stepped forward. *I will give ib to him myself, , said Octavia, distrustfully. 'My Lord, you have condemned me wrongfully. I am .not a liar nor a schemer; only (i an innocent woman who loves her father's old friend, and who would rather have his truet aad affection than a thousand Hawks' Cliffs. My Lord, my heart is almost broken under your suspicions of me. Say thab you trash me still; say thab you believe me honest and true.' She glided to his side, gobleb in hand. She paused a moment, waiting for the assurance that he did nob make. Then she stooped and pressed a Judas kiss on his forehead, and uttered a half-stifled sob or two, and meekly presented the draught. He took the gobleb from her hand, and looked at her with steady, flaming eyes. She involuntarily retreated a few paces. 'Is it safe for me to drink this ?' asked the earl, holding bhe glass up towards the light. ' Safe !' stammered Octavia, turning pale. ' The doctor left it, my Lord. It is tha medicine.' 'Shall I drink it?' he asked, etill with that steady flaming glance burning hia face. Conyers uttered an exclamation. Callender half arose from hie chair. Both were in a state of great excitement, the manifestation of which they could scarcely suppress. But Octavia, paler than before, and with a cruel smile on her treacherous lips.jaid, calmly : ' Yes, my Lord, drink it. , The earl silenbly raised the gobleb to hie lips and drained its contents. The glass fell back from his hands to thefloor. Hia head fell back upon his pillow. Through hie half-closed eyes he could se9 the swift and sudden exaultation lighting up Octavia's dark face, as she flew to hia eide. Octavia and Conyers hurried toward him. ' He is dead !' said Octavia. '1 knew he'd go off suddenly at last,' said Conyers. ' He—he Is nob dead !' eaid Calleader, in a tone of gurpriee, The earl locked up into the three facee bending over him and smiled oddly* (To be-ConfimcedJ