GRAZIA'S MISTAKE

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1894, Page 6

GRAZIA'S MISTAKE

0T MBS QEORGIE SHELDON.

Author of 'Faithful Shirley,' Brownie's Wviamph,' 'The Forsaken Bride,' 'Geoffrey's Victory,' etc

CHAPTER XXXVIU,

$B VENTNOB FINDS A STRANGE VISITOR IN ' ' THB HOUSE. Mr Ventnob's f nee paled to the hue of his ehirbboaom at Grazia's startling shriek, and with one bound, was within the house. In another moment) ho stood inside the room Whither she had gone for the ball of worsted. » He found bia wife standing in the middle of the floor, her hands rigidly clasped upon her bosom, her face as colourleas as the immaculate dress she wore,- and the look almostof a maniac in her eyes, which were fixed upon the .corner of the room behind her husband. •Mj darling, what is the matter V Mr Ventpor inquired, in a voice of concern, as be went to her Bide and tried to take her hand in his.

Put they Were so rigid he could not move them, while her eyes were still fastened, as with horrible fascination, upon the corner. He turned to see what was there, and just at that instant Misa Nelson walked into the room, and he heard her Bterniy exlaim :

' »Well, sir! What does this intrusion mean? 1 Then Raymond Ventnor saw that there was a strange man in the corner, which was somewhab in shadow from the half;open door. - ' He had a sullen face and sorb of hangdog air ab having been thus discovered. His hat was partially drawn down over his eyes sb thab bhe whole of his face was jiob visible. Ho was poorly clad, his shoes were old and rusty, and he seemed very much like a thief or a tramp.

Raymond Ventnor, having been so intent upon his wife, had passed him without observing him, bub Paula had espied him the moment she entered the room, and she now stood confronting the intruder with naughty mem and stern, accusing face. The man was trying to edge his way toward the door, evidently with the intention of making good his escape. Raymond Ventnor strode toward him and laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder. « Whab do you mean, sir, by stealing into Misß Nelson's house like a thief in the night?' he demanded, in a threatening tone. 'What do you want, you rascal ?' The man pushed back his hat from his face at this and gave vent to a light, mocking laugh that caused Grazia to utter a shuddering moan and Paula to send forth a cry of dismay. * Answer me ! What do you want hore ? reiterated Mr Ventnor.

The villain snatched his bat from his head, and, defiantly facing him, shouted: 11 want my wife, sir !' > 'Your wife!' repeated Raymond Ventnor, whose mind instantly reverted to Anna Ham, supposing that this must be William Ham, and that something might have caused them to miss each other, and he had therefore imagined she had nob kept faith with him, and so came back to seek her thoro.

' If&ufi wife.? Idd nob know where she is. Who are you?' 1 The v m an took a etep forward, and, glaring fiendishly in his face, replied in a voice of malignant) exultation: ' * 1 am Lloyd Langham P Raymond Ventwor reeled suddenly back bb if he had been dealt a ponderous blow.

' No!' he breathed hoarsely, the veins •welling out full and hard upon his brow, a terrible shock going through him, as the terrible meaning of this assertion flashed upon him. 1 No, no !' he repeated with white lips, ' it cannot be!'

» My wife-will confirm my statement,' was the taunting retort, with another exulting laugh and a significant gesture towards Grazia.

'Your wife! Great Heaven !' cried the wretched man, throwing out hia hands with a movement of mingled agony and repulsion.

Lloyd Langbaro—for he indeed it was— seemed to gather composure as he witneseed tber consternation of those around him, and now turned to approach Grazia. ■••Gram, my dear,' he said, mockingly, •tell Mr Ventnor that you recognise me — that yon recognised me immediately upon entering the room.' He put out his band with the intention of laying it upon her arm ; but she sprang •way from him with a.cry of horror and loathing. 1 Ray ! Ray ! Oh ! save me from him !' she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms and hiding her face upon his breast, while shudder after shudder shook her from bead to foot.

Instinctively Mr Ventnor drew her closer to him and laid one hand caressingly npon her head, an act which made Lloyd Langham frown and gnanh his teeth with anger, for, in spite of everything, he had always loved the girl as well as he was capable of loving any one besides himself. 'It seems to me, Mrs Langham, that such an attitude is not becoming a respectable woman, especially in tho presence of her busbsnH,' Lloyd tauntingly resumed. • And as for Mr Ventnor saving you from me, be will have to be more powerful than the law in order to do ho.'

•Cease your railing, sir, 5 sternly commanded Mr Ventnor. ' Hueh, love !' he added, in a lower tone, as Grazia gave a gasp of horror ; ' ho may not be the man he pretends to be after all, but some one pereoontina him in order to get money.' ' No, Ray, it is he—l knew him instantly. What shall we do? I believe I Bhall go mad !' Grazia breathed, while her whole frame trembled convulsively.

An expression of keen agony swepb over Mr Ventnor's face, as ho alone caught heij words, while he was really afraid that this terrible shock would throw her into convulsions. . Leading her to Panla, he said : •Take her away and try to quiet her.' Then ho added in a swiffc whisper:_ 'And Bend one of the servants for a policeman instantly.' Paula turned to obey him, when Lloyd Langham's voice restrained her. '1 object) to Mrs Langham leaving the room,' he said, authoritatively. t\ir Ventnor'flushed angrily, but after a moment of thonght, he haughtily returned: 1 Ib shall be aa Grozia herself desires. De«r,'turning to her, 'you shall act your own pleasure. Will you tjo or stay, while I deal with this man and get to the bottom of this muder ?'

She lifted a despairing look to his face. *I will stay—l cannot leave you,' she said.

He drew an easy-chair forward and tenderly seated her in it, 1 Will you kindly get her a glass of wine, Mies Nelson!'he asked, at the same time giving* her a significant look, whereupon ehe immediately left the room,

•Now,' said Mr Ventnor, folding his armß tiffbbly across hia cheab and confronting their unwelcome visitor, ' J will bear what you have to say for yourself. You were reported in the newspapers to be dead.' * Yet; that is true,' Lloyd assented, with A mocking curl of his lips; • but I suppose you know that newspapers sometimes lie.' ' You knew that each a report appeared iattaaf

• Yes. 1 • Then why did yon nob have it immediately contradicted V ' Because I did not care to take the trouble to do so.' 1 Did you really make the ascension in the balloon with Professor Archer ?' 'Yes; that statement was correct.' ' And the balloon was wrecked ?' ' Totally ; and both my companions were drowned, as narrated,' Lloyd replied. 'I do not mind giving you the history of that tragic adventure,' he went on, coolly seating himself in a comfortable chair, while Mr Ventnor remained standing beside I Grazia. ' After we had reached a certain 1 height, we were suddenly enveloped in a heavy cloud. We hoped to penetrate it and ride safely above it; but we were imprisoned within it, and the balloon rocked so violently that we feared dei traction. To add to our troubles we suffered intensely from the cold. Great icicles formed on the network incasing the balloon, and some of these penetrating it, the gas escaped, causing it to collapse. W hen we had finally sunk below the cloud, we had no control over the air-ship, and ifa dropped into the sea. The professor and Mr Wellington both tried to save themselves by jumping from the car, as it neared the water, but they became entangled in the rigging and were dashed to death upon the rocks. I clung to the car until it reached the sea, then divesting myself of all unnecessary clothing, I let go and swam to the shore, landing at least twenty miles away from Sb. Augustine.' ♦Why did you not report yourself as living?' Mr Ventnor inquired, regarding the man with an accusing glance. 'I was, of course, completely exhausted upon reaching land,1 Lloyd replied, ' and I was a Song distance from any town. A negro took me into his hub, fed me, and gave mo a bed, and I remained with him for several days, too ill to attempt) to geb back to St. Augustine. When at lasb I Bet out upon my return I boughb a paper in the first town I entered, and there read an account of the balloon accident and the supposed death of all three men who had ascended. "SoI am dead, am I?" I said to myself, with a somewhat novel sensation. " Well, so be ib—it will give me a nice little opportunity to be revenged upon my pretty wife, who scorned me and refused to have anything to say to me only a short time previous."' • Well!' said Mr Ventnor, with sternly compressed lips, as the man paused, while Grazia shrank farther into her chair and covered her face with her hands.

At this moment Paula returned with a glasß of wine, but Grazia put it away from her with a gesture of disguat; it seemed to her as if she could not swallow it withoub choking to death. ' Drink it, dear,' said Mr Vestnor, taking it from Paula and holding it to her lips. * To please me, love,' he whispered, as she still would have refused it, and she immediately obeyed him. ' It does not sound very well, I admit,' Lloyd Langham resumed, 'to talk of revenge in connection with one's own wife ; bub I knew she would never consent to come back to me; she had carried such a high and haughty head when I last met her—she had refused to share with me the good luck thab came to her—and I was almost desperate for the want of money—so I vowed I would be even with her. I knew you two loved each other—l felb sure you would be only too eager to marry if I waa well out of the way, consequently I conceived the little plob of playing dead, for a while, and then walk in upon you unexpectedly sometime just) 88 I have today.' ' What a fiend in human form you are ; what a diabolical plob to originate in the brain of a wretch who deems himself a man, Mr Ventnor exclaimed, with bitter sarcasm, a sensation of horror creeping over him. 1 Hard words do not amount to anything,' waa the sullen retort; ' they will not alter the fact thab I am nob dead but living; that I waa legally married to Grazia Kingsley—thab she is my wife and nob yours—and that, unless 3he will acknowledge the tie aud renounce you at once and forever, I can have her arrested for— bigamy V I Oh !' moaned Grazia, lifting a despairing glance to the dear face above her. 'Silence !' thundered Raymond Ventnor; ' you shall nob use such language in her presence ! Your claim upon her may be legal, as you have said; bub you muab ab least prove it before it can be admitted.' I 1 can prove it,' briefly returned Lloyd Langham. Can you prove ib now ?' 'I can.'

'Produce your proofs, then, I want to see them,' said Mr Ventnor, coldly.

, Lloyd Langham put his hand in his coatpockec, hesitated, changed colour, and then, with a shrug of bin shoulders, replied : 'I don't know that I am under any obligations to show them to you.' 'Very well. I grant that,'was the cool response ; * but I do not know that I am bound to admit your claim unless I can see the proof of it. Grazia,' turning to the stricken figure in the chair, * did you ever have a certificate of your marriage to Mr Langham ?' • No,' she faltered. ' There was one, but he took it after the clergyman filled it out, and neglected to give it to me upon our return home.'

'Is not that proof enough for you ?' sneered Lloyd. ' No; I never shall be fully satisfied that everything is as it should be until Isee your certificate,' Mr Ventnor returned.

•Suppose I sdl it to you,' said the villain, coming a step nearer his rival, an eager look on his evil face.

• Sell your marriage certificate to me V Mr Ventnor exclaimed in undisguised astonishment. • What do you mean ?' . 'I mean just this,' the man said earnestly. 11 am decidedly hard up and i want So get out of the country. As long as Grazia appears to loathe the sight of me as if I was some vile reptile, I imagine it wouldn't be remarkably pleasanb living with her, even if she would consent to acknowledge me as her husband. I know that you two are fond of each other, and perhaps you wouldn't mind giving a good round sum for the sake of living together unmolested. I will sell you this little document which I have in my pocket, for tho sum of five thousand dollars, then I will clear out and never trouble you again. You can easily secure a divorce for her, have your own marriage secretly performed again, and no one will be the wiser.'

Raymond Ventnor regarded the man before him with mingled amazement and diegußt, and for a moment could not find words to answer him.

11 wonder how yon ever dared to come to me with such a vile proposition as this !' he exclaimed at last. • A man will dare a great deal when he does not know whero his next dollar is coming from,' was the sullen retort. ' And did you imagine for a moment that I would purchase dishonour, for myself, or for the woman who ia more to me than my own life V Mr Ventnor demanded.

' I did not imagine much about ib any way,' said Lloyd Langbam, coolly. 'I must secure money in some way; I have made you aa offer, you can accept or reject it as you choose; but if you do nob accede to my terms, I warmyou, I will have this woman, " who is more to you than your life," arrested for bigamy, make her suffer to the extent of the law, figure in another court scene, and the whole country shall ring with .her name and yours !' It was with difficulty that Raymond Ventnor could keep from daßhing ab the villain and felling him to the floor, as he listened to this insulting speech ; bub, controlling himself by a great effort, he thought a moment, and finally remarked : ' £ could not for a moment think of acceding to your terms without first examin-

ing your proofs.' • I must have the money down—— Lloyd Langham began. • Money would be of no account to me in. a matter of this nature,' Mr Veatnor interposed. A greedy light came into the eyes of the. other, and he regretted that he had nob doubled his price ; bub he muttered, sarcastically: ' It must be a very comfortable feeling to be so Hush as that.' • Are you going to show me your proofs ?' demanded Mr Ventnor, without deigning to notice his observation. Again the man's hand went up to his pockeb, then he hesitated as before, and bis arm dropped heavily to his side. His companion watched him curiously and began to have some doubt about the certificate being in his possession ab all. Bub he meanb to keep the man there, if possible until the arrival of a policeman, then give him into custody for having entered the house like a thief; and that was why he parleyed with him about the paper, for he would have scorned to have purchased ib of him or to make termi with him at any price. ' I begin to think, air, thab you are acting a parti,' he remarked, contemptuously. ' I do nob believe you have any marriage certificate in your possession.' The man flushed angrily. 'I have,' he said, and, with an air of desperation, drew a folded document from the breast-pocket of his coafc. Mr Ventnor held out his hand for it. • • You will play me no trick ; yon will return ib to me if you do nob buy it V said Lloyd Langham, suspiciously. ' I have always tried to conduct myself as an honourable gentleman should, sir,' his companion remarked with dignity. 'If you do nob choose to allow me to examine the paper, you can take yourself and be out of the house instantly.' Lloyd Langham immediately passed it to him; but Mr Ventnor eyed it with a look of scorn, for it was sadly soiled and stained. • What has happened to it ?' he asked, pointing to three or four large dark spots upon it. 'I—l laid ib with some other papers on the table when I was at breakfast one morning, and tipped a cup of chocolate over them,' the man responded, but flushing a deep crimson as he made the explanation. 'To me the stains look more like blood than chocolate,' said Mr Ventnor. {To be Continued.)