LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 3 February 1894, Page 6

LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

Mr A CELEW4*%S AUTHOR.

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER XXXI

,i .OKAN<;E BLOSSOMS.

L.AWTER Bpix starts for Lor/don by an early train,' the next, morning, apd though the death of'Captain'Kuporfc has depressed him, he "carries a 'light and happy heart. Vale'rip's kiakw arp" still warm. upon, his lips ; "the prOHSu'ro oT her soft arms iie can feel about Jiiß.nfi.ck and shoujdors, and the ewWfr words-s^ehaaspofceii ring in his ears }'iWseolfr»n music; Alia 'b'tajnesa is urgent. Ho has calculated to a day, how 'long ib will bo until he sees bis darlim^ agaij). Ho bears pleasant neV? for Sic Jaroma EJliston. Ho carries proofs of Gorald'H iruvjeence—proofs that cajnnpt for cue moment bo doubled. Sir Jfttexm will pnrd.7.;j hia nephew, will take back his beautiful nieco, who has clung to her brother "tHrough" good and evil report, and then? M r Bell smiles. Why, he must claim hi 3 -bride? .Hovioes.njit forgot the promise that Sir Jeroipa.m^do him. He makes the journey trt London without a break, and arrives at his hotel, thoroughly tired and worn put.. Ho decides to rest, and to sleep before "continuing his work, although ]& }8 bub midday. It/will not do to break dosyri.' 'There is too much ab stake. He writes a short latter to Valorie, and, after a cold bath, rotires to bod. He sleeps for 'fcwelyfi hours, and fiaos next morning like a refreshed giant. There is a telegram for him. lie toars it open, and reads :- • Gof hmtali sKfo. ~ Him in a Paris theatre. 'Up to date. Going home. Tom Huttox.' Mr Bell nmiles. Hi> has quite expected thin}-and he. hasn't fin atom of pity for F/eJdioHdgkins. ■ ~--- . 'Ab£ighbr/clock. he drives to Sir Jercme Ejjlisfcon'a mansion. Xhis js an oarly hour for- Londoners, and he. knows that Sir Jeromo will not bo up. Ho '-low not intend to gir,e him a chance to gp out until his busine"ss is Baado known. ; Us orders bjs ,cabmar. .to wait, and is ÜBh^rod,by,,tho saru,e sombre servant that Jhe has seonthero once hefore, into the same ebmbr.e reception-room, and-je informed that Sit Jeromei'never..rises Jfl) Jtj.inp o'clock. ' And" what biio.o dpoa Jio breakfast ?' asks Belt V. ■, '. ■ J At tej).' ■ 'Thon I n'iU&b wait until about elpvec , b'gfore I can see linn ?', . :.*y J Qs.,' : s-if.'' ~., '.■".*■ ~• ; : •. \ ; ?,{bfia»'t .ho dynej? says 8,e11,. decisively. .. ■"-'■ 'Give ujca sheet of note-paper; will you, ap^lap ;e,nvplppq ''■■ I tmist send him a mes> '■■.:;■:• Hbfte;':1 .'• ■. •.•/•. ■■■' ■■ « Hih valet will not .disturb'hia,' tho foot- ■, • man replies. . 'Nousense. -It is a'caso of Hfo and deaWi"!'•' : .The-faotman ie.sci impressed that ho r hands Mr 8.911 &y Hi'kstaivJ.'fi quire of notepaper, and a dflzen peij,?. [ ... ■•Th^.D'k you.: pat th'^m 00 fr\e table/ The iua» 'oboy.s, and La\Vyer 801 l drasvj . • forward buciiair and write!: ~,.-.. • Sir"J-KiMfMiß EtwsniN ■:. . • - ' t*. jDoar Sir, —I. am writifjg this, in your 1 boo^o, ■and inwstaee you at once. ■ I have found Gerald, and being proof oi his inno- . cancel "Th^' warra.tit, charginij hiw with «incWctab.ic* offencea,' w>u»b bo withdrawn topj»y., a,ih9iis ,conii"ng lionie-. He muse stffler the disgraceful indignity of being arrwted,- : 4 Sjoe ,I^3 iipinediut.ely and I will • > . copvinco you- of.-. lv.d inuo,cei»co iv itvyo ."h m ( ujutes. ,-, ,/ • '.;..... ■ . 4 Yoursaineorely, . ...... . • j^awyicr Bell fkom Boston.' ..•■Ben'encloses this, ifa an envelope, nddralsea it,' nuil p\i.tis in tjio corner: • Lo.fo • ' and Death UrtVe.ncy.' .■•■'. "'"'"TlritMl w.a'ko hip. a little earlier than ÜBual,1 jho^thinks^, and tella.tho,.foo.tnian not to Jpf1 9t\vy graqs;gri(),w; urider hia f«ot. The footman is -atartlcrl, and trots for tho lirat time in 1 forty years. -It is B«J)'s turn to bs-aR-tonished next, for tri'less.tha'n ton tniuutes Sir.-lorome appears Before May .habitod simply iv bia dressinggoyr.n.., ■ - : •■-..- ■: ' ■. -■ • , j_ . • Good-morning/.he says, austorely. 'I bay tbor.r-eciipieno of a somewhat iyßtericfll iacHPag.c. "What doas it moan?' /■ His■'tonga aro anxious, and Bell goes 'Straight ,tc tslis .paint. Jt !vas beon agreed ifcwtAnreen him ;and Gerald that tho admiral «iv»ll bo implicated -ip i«8 son' 3 as little as possible.. ,JJe doos not deserve the fain/befit cor,B.id?rajiQf,, bub whero is the , .waedom of witling to tho. family djssonsions —of wideaiuer tho.'brfiaci'. still further! Sin and wrong-doint; ato a Nemesis in ' th'etnsolvep, They follow one upon the otfh'nr as cerfcaio a» TAfrhti fallows day. ,!.y^ii.i---w.F(>n{jod . nephovv, (lera,ld Greiy L, UlHsto.n, is waiMijjf for, you to, call' him j '"BoTtfo. ' fonr 'Rupert,' w,no' die.3 two days pvueer W'l .wl'Oßa !,>ady ( !?y tiiiia time is on ■ . ike wry In^ngiaVj, .was. the guilty man,; v" and hag cVnfWflCi ovory'thing in writin<r, in tl:e.prcceiico oi cfo.ciiblo witnesses. He near-A confeVserl^h ki.i'rteathbocl boforo a r'--i nuitbsr of r<os)#e/ ..''

- '(Gfeat'TTtiavenf! Can blvisibo bnt'&V The bar.emet ds ashy, palei. 'Itujs I Aftvp all -fcho dopuinor.ts here-' ....... -—■.-,•«• ■-'Mypoor boy 1 I pucpectod something of this, bub-wHy did 'ho run nway'. Yes,, yea, I see. lie always was Rupert's scapegoab.' Tbo/b^fxmsb. *Si'...'Teoply agitated •Mr Ball,' lie cojifcinuflsi, 'I owe to you a debt fclwU can vievcr.he repaid.' ' Yea, ib cnn •'■guyjc? BftOr ' When I dodared thub I would lint! Gerald and bring liifoi'-^o yW'^aiißios*, '"ycvi pfomif&tl nic ahyfchincr'l ,iJii^l>ti ,^ro f to nsk fur wotbin reapon.' • ■ 'I did,' say* Sir '.J«ro.i»oy ''and I will kee|v,m_y w^Hj J Jiari ,p,o faith ir. your promise, navo j^Jjfrteat'fafftod v' •fYe?, bat J" shall. Jt>a willing to have a cup of,tea or coff&e,' replies folio American, briskly. ' I Tuibw' Sbfit you have not ■forenk-fafiteM-;.-et T ir«3 Sf. wisli to tailk fc'; you; No timp i§ to.bfj ]pst- . \Ve .iptm., ririvo.to tho bank in Oxfcir'd-s^rec.b ajid'fQß Mr Anrirew Blair. FruKV tiior^totho most able lawyer you know of, w.Ko cnn,com!r.»inrl. the best counsel nt tho Bar. Tho proceedings must be qnapb^L ~ *.; ■■ ' You arc i>i'. encr^'ptip fellow,' Pinilos thp baronet. * I now unaprstand fonethinc; of a gO-alicad'Acncricau. You \vi 1 rnalio your t»av.' /■, •_ ; \ ■■■-'■■ ' ' . They are at the breakfast-fable now. rFliavo ina(Te'rt,"' llu^Ur Vott:' 'lam twent.yeif,'!it years of age ■ I am ab the top of my profession. I Save retired and intend .retting-nifirfied »r,' - •Extraordinary youDjr man,' thinks Sir Jerome. «. Tbett aloud. 'Of course you ' havo mob .Miss. IJllj^tou^jny niece?' <JOn6o or"twice.", ' 3Uo is in good health V 'In porfoct health, ami'*pgaged to b&> aoAffcifid, I.beUovc'. w . ~. M?, .-ell looks demure, and SirU'ierome eiglfW J.)rfffou^ty?' \Vhabnglrf h&s ho to intotiMonp'r,*.. U<i ha^ turned 'her >nd h«r trolhaf from hia dnoi".,, ~; •• >. • H'ni ! li^o yon e?oii her lovor ? lam . naturaMy 'u,ru<'k*Ctel i '-b\n< Bell, and regret that T Anvq j.tntffe! d'p^iMon tlmt hn.« (Joblirrod py noico'froin'CDnifclting with v&o uporl bo tnomcnfccus a step.'

• Ob, yes I knew him very well. One of the finest fellows in the world. Good-look-ing, as good looks go, and an American.* Sir Jerome ia not over-pleased. niece-ought to have married a coronet. Still, he thinks that it ia not toe late, perhaps, to assert bis authority. Ho inquires if the admiral is satisfied ■with'the young1 lady's choice, and frownsVseverely when he hears that the adjniraUs noi« .-.---■ By half-pasfc nine they are closeted with the Oxford-street bankeiv—Gerald's former employer. The forged documents -have-all passed through Andrew BJair's bank/and !ha bas suffered considerable loss as<well as Sir Jerome. He is glad to hear of Gerald's jnnocence, however. Eminent lawyers &re consulted, and ab the end of two days. Bell joyfully eenda the following telegram to Gerald : 'Come home at once, to be in time for funeral. AH is settled". Entire party to accompany you. Come to Hotel Metropolo first. | will bo on hand to. meet you.. Upon reading, the various documents and aifidavits tho Treasury have withdrawn all proceedings. , joins'G. Bell.'' . By•• this -time- Admiral Otto Elliston has reachoil London. Ho is but a shadow of his former self, and avoids Sell studiously. Ho would never have faced his brother "again," Ifac!" he nob" received" a" positive aHsurance that his infamous conduct would bo glossed over. Ho wants to see his son buriod'in the family vault. Whoß this-is .evor ho will leave the country, and live it. sotno quiet, out-of-the-way place, on hi 3 pension. Ho knows of a village ia Francs whore none will condemn or pity him. Gerald promptly obeys the telegram. The whole party arrive at the Hote! Motropolo tho next evening, but Gerald and Valorio do not gc on to Sir Jerome's house until next morning.' They have provided themselves with mourning in Naples, and i Captain Rupert is quietly taken to his last ' resting place. Lawyer Bell .being ajnong the sincerest of mourners. There is one constantly recurring thought in his mind. Ib is this : ' Ho died forme.' The excitement and mysterious conduct of the admiral are a little too much for Sir Jerome. He has a fortnight's illness, and is carefully nursed by Valeric. . Her goodness and beauty only add to the remorse which periodically assails him, and be sends for his lawyer to draw up a fresh will. In this he leaves all his wealth, excepting a few small legacies, unconditionally to blB nephew, Gerald Elliston, and his niece, Valeric Elliston, in two equal parts. In sotno measure this atones f6r his erueftyand hardneas toward them. ■''■■' Meanwhile, Gerald'has been having a pleasant time with Evelyn, and Lawyer Bell ha 3 discovered that' he is extremely useful to Sir Jerome Elliston. Sir Jerome has refused to put his name to his lasb will and testament until approved by the American lawyer. Still, Sir Jerome is not quite happy. Ho has been hoping that his niece'will tejl him something of her lover. He wonders if he has any right to question her." He" feels that it is his duty to do so, bat he shrinks from the task;" It is nearly three weeks before he is convalescent. His chair is drawn to the open window, where tho fragrant? June- air and warm June sunshine aro grateful to his senses. ■■•■■• •■•,.•■ Re hears Valeric singing happily and he knows what it is that makes her so happy, and he sighs. She is not the Valeric of old. Love's transformations are wondrous, He hoars Lawyer ; Bell's voice, and feels relieved. The youug Ameriqan has become a necessity to him—intellectually, socially —in every way. There is a tap at the door, and Bell pops in his head. '.Good/morning, Sir Jerome. You aro •looking first-class.' He come 3 into the room, and continues: 'My people are e»joying themselves wonderfully now, and. don't be astonished: Gerald has engaged himself to my sister. "You've seen her once. Thoy liavo been in love with each other for six months.. Ho will bo here today to tell you' all about it.' Sir Jerome is pleased at the news. ■ He has heard that) the Bells have money, arid ho ia sure that they must bo people of some social standing, for they are moving in the best society. • •

' Another bit of news : The Honourable Augustus Playfair and Lady Claradale aro soon to bo married, and I am to give the bride away. Evie and Viil—ahum ! Miss Elii^ton —are invited to be bridesmaids. I cion't think that Rupert's death oughb to interfere with Valerie's—l mean Miss Eljiaton's—little pleasures.' • Sir Jerome does not express any opinion. 'You will stay in London during the summer?' ho asks, presently. * I intend doing so,', says Bell ■ 'I should be sorry to Jose yo-a ; still, if your sister is coming into my family, we shall be something more than lnerefrieade.' Tie bas. something elso on his mind, and so lian Bell, therefore Bell speaks first. ' You made me a promise some time ago, Sir Jerome,' he says .quickly. He is not at all nervous, and there is mischief in his eye.

Sir Jeronie looks disappointed, He does nob wish to talk business jaefe now. ' Yes,'ho replies. .'I have comAk claim'my reward,' continues Bell. ' I am sure that I have worked very hard.' ' You havo sent in no bill of cbsfs—l beg pardon—Jawyora rarely do. They like r fco draw on account; as long as a man has anything lefb at his banker's.' Sir Jer.otne is..arailing.. He has forgotten ; that ho was inbon.diug to question Bell re-yarding-the man'« position who has captivated the heart of .Lia-lovely niece... . 'That won'k da. for me,' declares the AtaoriCan; '1 want payment in full to-' day!' ; . .'Oh !' Sir ■Torome frowns, ' Namo th*> amount you ponsjder .d.uaJo y.ouJ . ■.'.;... ' Your neice !' ' My- niece?' Tlvo • barouet efcares afc him. ~: ...... ... ' Yos.' ■ ■ 'Bub you—you *vouM not be dishonourable toward tho Wend you told me about— the capital, good-lookinff follow ?' •<— • ' Not for worlds, Sir Jeromo. *I am the' capital, follow.' | . ■' o. h !',Sir Jeroaia cannot- resietra-laugh and a. now.licrlifc breaks in uponjiirn. .? • Well, sir,' he pays. 'Ijdon'b suppose that my opinion will h.ave much weight eitherway. But—er-r-j3xcuso •the question—«*jbat aro your prcspocts ?■' / • ■ ■ • 'Excellent!' declare^ Mr BeH1,, 'She kiwd me ihre.p lime Is on.tlia doorstep npfhalf an hour time /' ■■-•-■- ' Ch, Jack !' screarag a voice not bnro pace? behind b.im, and Y<alerje steps up and boxes his ears. , „ . i. Sir Jerome sighs. He feels.thafc he 19 bub a feather in a stale of wind. He looks reproachfully a.t .Beli* and Bell .continues. 'Fardon my levity sir; it is Valerie's fault. She iinsists on an early marriage—' •Jack!' _The tonos_are, awful.,.aji.d Bell' goes on • ' I shall be able to take,care of her, for I am. Jblessocl...i\'ith plenty of this--world's goods,. !,efr> me by a ; godinothor whom I destested. In all, about sixty thousand dollars a year.',... , Sir Jerome takes his hand, and wi&bes them h&ppinesH.

The following- summer, -the -London ' Morning Posib' contain* this interesting bib of news :

'It was beautiful weather for the draw-ing-room hold. by Her Majesty, QueenVictoria, to-day. Aboubahundred persons had the honour of presentation to Her Majesty. , All the mom bora of the American Legation were there, Among the American iladies presontcd were Mrs John George Ball .and Mrs Gerald Groy Elliston. **rs Belli wore v dress of delicate pink brocade, the train lined with palo blue satin, adoirned with English point lace and

pearls. Mrs Elliston's dross wa3 of white satin," triaimed .with . silver and, point d'Alencoa. The ladias are sisters-in-law, and 'their beaujby'.cre.aterl qUit.e a sensation. Mrs Bell is the wife qf Lawyer Bell from Boston.' . ' ' • ; • -. ■ ' [the end.]