THE TRAGEDY OF REDMOUNT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 284, 30 November 1896, Page 6

THE TRAGEDY OF REDMOUNT.

BY MRS E. M. H§LMES.

Author of ' A Woman's Love,' ■ Her Fatal

Sis,' Etc., Bto.'

CHAPTER XXXIII.

The little village beyond Alien' 3 Bay lay flooded in bha goldon B low of the afternoon •nn, when, for the first) time since her Hlneea, Eunice was able to creep languidly sbonS in tfco open air. Sho left the cottage doorway slowiy, lor she was still rery weak, and turned her d«licft*a face from the glittering sea. Watching her from the lattice window, the fiiherman'B wife saw her stairer from the liound of the rushing waves. She leaned forward and called oub to her in a cheery voice. • ~-7i Eunice turned instanbly. and smiled. nußhisß back the short curls the breeze had blown inta her large and wistful eyes, •Pen'figo fur,' the goad woman entreated. 11 ehall pet uneasy if I loso sight of yon. Whenerer i can.watch a minute I shall iun to hava a look sb you.' The girl nodded her head and passed oh through the eunlighti, in which aha seemed to flit, a slight figure, thafmighb almost be blown into naught. She shuddered, recalling that ntghfe of horror a few hours before they had found her guardian dead. For the paat few weaks her own life seemed to her strange arid unreal, like a feverish dream. She had been nursed by these heneat people, ar?d cared for, but sho could not remain with thorn forever. {She had walked some distance, aad felt the need of a few minuCos' rest. She saw juab before her a cool, inviting patch of green, shadowed by a eianb tree ; .she moved to the place and sank down, wondering at tbe wearine3B that made her limbs seem feeble; and her hears grew suddenly fainb with disappointment!. She had been sitting thus for some time whop there came a heavy, shuffling step ■ear to where she reclined. She heard ib vaguely ab first, thon distinctly. Ib seemed to approach her. She opened her eyes and glanced up listlessly. She saw what looked like a rough ploughman adTancing, evidently with some purpeso, in her direction. He was dressed in the ordinary costume of a toiler of the field. A loose smock hung devrn te his knees ; hia shapoless, weather--beaten hab shrouded a face that was villainOasly repulsive. Eunice became a llbtlo startled as the awkward, powerful form drew near; bub yrhen the man deliberately stopped before her, she shrank back trembling, with her heart full of fear.

Casting a searching glance round, to assure himself thab they were alone, tha man began in a whining tone to plead for Charity. '1 am 'ard up,' he told her, in the usual way—' I've been out of work for the last eighb week*, and tha wife ill at 'ome, with All the children starving* Tor God's sake, giro me 'elp. 11 know'd you was a lady directly I clapped eyes on yar !' the man Trent; on, intending to be complimentary, and becoming offensively inselont in the attempt. 'Ib'e only a trifle I'm askin' of yer—jusb bo get a morsel of bread for the little, starving ones at 'ome.'

Eunice steadied her shaking voice, and, looking him full in the face, with a courage that was forced and painful, said : *I am sorry I cannob help you. I have come oufe without my purse. I havo nothing to give you.' lagfeantly the mask of pretended humility left) the man'? face. He moved a atep nearer to whore ebe still sat, and bio voice was hoarae and repulsive when he again ■poka : 'You've gob nothing to give me ! _ A likely elory with that ornament a-glitfeoring on yar arm.' Eunice followed his dark glance, rejnisded of a gold bangle that she had always worn eince Vivian had placad it on Jer arm. Ifea strong clasp held ib together $lmpal) like a lock, and through all her astrangemont with the artist she had never thought; oi taking ib off. A cold dread rendered her speechless. She tried to appear indifferent and unconecioua of his menacing attitude.

But now ho stepped towards har, nnd hie Toipe sunk into a harsh whisper, while ho peered into her frightened facet. •If you havea'b anyfchiug ciee, 1 don't mind taking that, jusb to save tho little one?. You'll never miss it, lady.'

With difficulty Eunico Htrngcled to her £eeb, and stood before the man, nor fragile figure and delicate refined face full of outward dignity, while she hid her terror from him.

• I have told yon-that I cannot; help you. Such persistence 13 annoying ; ib is not; th 9 way to gain sympathy. If you are really in trouble, I will help you bokio ofcher time.' ' "A bird in the 'and—" You know the rest, my lady.' Her lips vvonb pale ; she saw him drawing closer, felt his coaraa hand on her wist, heard his muttered curses against her. She reeled sJighCly, and feer eyes widened with & recoiling disgust; she tried to wrench her arm from his hold. 'Be quieb !' he hissed. ' I moan to tsko Boy children bread—this will buy a loaf or two. Does it hurt; yar tio part with a bib oF senseless gold that'll save the little onoa from starving. You're a hard sorb, for all your angel losks !' Ho was showing Lia teath, and trying to tear tho solid clasp asunder, but it woald not. yield to hia brutal touch. j

Eunice, shuddering from head to foot, gave a shrill, wild cry that rang uooxpectedly through the solitude. A minute after, some ono sprang lightly from the other side of tho road, and with one sbraight blow aimed ab tho threatening figure, foiled ib instantly to the ground. White and shaking in all hor limbs, Eunice turned with a faint na-iila to thank her deliverer. The Benbonce faltered on her lips, her eyes disbanded with a wo:idroa« Burprise, while a deep flush struggled wifeb the pale hue of her faco.

1 Eunice 1 Thank God !'

Chill shiverings seized her again, and yet there flashed from her sensitive face a look of greab, deep joy, and her heart bounded in sudden gladness.

Sb. Clare stood before hor. Bis was the voice thai jfare forth that; passi'onatclyutfcered thanksgiving, his the hand that had saved her from tho danjreroua bally who would have stolen bbc gift that ho himself had given her.

She gazed for an instant almost rapturously at him and tho look drew him towards her ; he stretched out his hands with n passionate gesture. She put hers into them. They did nob apeak just then. The dark months of their SBtrangement seemed to roll away, and leave them as they wore before that fabal bewitchment came to dazzle her senses,

His oagar glance took in all the changes in her; her pitiful thinness and shrinking, weary grace. Her pale drooped face seemed to have shrunk ; but tho liquid eyes wore like tv/o glowing latnpa in tho delight at seoing him again. ' I nsvor dreamt that I could find you in this way !' he said at last. 'I did nob know that youra waa the voice calling out for help. 1 think i 6 would have maddened me had I guessed ! What did the villain want? Did he hurt you ?' St. Clare aeked, still holding her hands in a close clasp. • Ho wanted meney, and I had noae to give. I told him that, and ib made him furious ; he tried to steal my bracelet), and, oh, I believe he would have killed ma if you had not coino.'

Sb. Ciaro shuddered, and drew her gently away from tbe spot. Tho man had been scarcely stunned by the fall, and was already trying to move ; tha artist felt that he would want! to kaock him dowa again if ho waited there.

' Why have you been so craol to us, causing aucli misery ab borne? Eunice, you musk explain and mako things cloar. Much iiaa happened during tho last few weeks. But toll 'me, first of all, why did you run avray from Redraoußt?' ' I was afraid of Duke,' she answered in a low tono ; ' I folb that I could nob marry him. His temper often terrified mo, awd the day hs forced mo to go oubinfcathe boat with him I made up my mind to go away arm hide where ho could not find me. I was sorry for Sidney. I could not boar to leave him, but 1 could Mob stay. I was too miserable,'

Vivian asked many quaationp. and presently heard the story of that drear wight pansod ia the wild, dark sea. I-Ja caught; his breath bard ab Eunice racounfced all that ehe could romombnr, and hia haggard counbonance exproswed swift fury for the villain who had gone to his accounfc, passionate pain for feho suffering ehs had endured.

Thea ho told her of tfao strange things bhnt had occurred in her absence —of Raoul'a deception, and tbo gipsy's rarengo ; of the real Duke, and lastly, of Raoul's suddon death.

She listened witli a curious stillneSß upon her—a eort of dazod bewilderment —and thai? sharp shivers ran through her, and ber libk'J, loaned frem Vivian's clasp, etolo to ber filde.

•Does it pair, you so much to know of this ?' ha asked, a littlo bitterly, seeing the deep anguish in hor downbent face. •It pains mo to know what I have loved !' she answered lew in her breabh. 'How could they have been bo blindly deceived V

'It seems impossible. Bub they were his dupes ; and, worst of all, Sir Richard believed in him.1

The fair taca beside him blanched. Ska. walked falteringly, scarcely kaowisig how sho mored, her limbs had growsi so heavy and her heart fo cold.

What ho told her Eeomad, somehow, to correspond with her strange instinct, concerainp llaoul, and yet she had never dreamed of him as tha monstrously evil adventuror fit. Clare had described.

'I know now why I have haunted this p'aco so persistontly tins last weok,' Vivian said, after a misute's silence. ' Sotao instinct rnado ma dream thab I might; find you. Are you not glad, Eunice —glad that we havo met;';'

His earnestness appealed bo her heart, Shs turned her averted face, and met his look with one that aatisfied him.

1 Yon have been ill,' he broke out, euddonly.

' Yes; bhab night i had a fever. I have nob baon out since, until to-day.'

He TTeaa paler than she ; his eyes glowed with passionate reproach.

'And you sorer aenb for anyone—you would have disd amongst sbrangora without our knowiag.'

•I should nub have known eithor,1 alia said, evcsivoly. lJa=t before you camel thought I would send for Si'iwey. Ia he well ! Has lie misled me mucSs ?'

' You de not auk if I have missed you,' St. Glare retorted, jealousy.

| A faiab «!ow crept isito the girl's cheeks. 'She was trerablistr, and her faltering reply could scarcely bo hoard :

'I have no rights to expect thab you would think of me at all.'

Ho did nob answer, bub took her hand, and drew ib through iiis arm, loading her gravely toward the cottage. The simple, contrite words were all that he desired —they gave him hope.

A year, find nearly another besides—it seerna a long while, but that space of time soon psiesos.

Agaia summer—again tho glowing hilla at Redmount wore satin outlined vividly in isho variable lights of tho departing noon. Tho woodlands, with their branches spread densely out ia Mio exceseivo hoa'o, seemed painted with tho sacno huo. The ivy on the walls of a well-known house shone with the sarao dazzle that rested en lha littlo flaxen head of a child.

She was Bitting on tha lawn near ono of tho cool fountains, a dainty mito, with bare shoulders and dimpled arm?, nestled ia sofb, snowy laco, decked with pale ribbsna. At her side crouched a hups mastiff, on her lap iay a bijr doll, whoso waxen transparent fnca sho cotuUanUy patted with her tiuy h;md.

Her nurse was nob far off, sitting with a novel under ono of the trees; bub the child appeared to bo alone with ths dog and tho doll, with whom she hold mysterious* discourse, dividing he attention between each.

At ramo sound closo by, she lifted her lovely baby fact, although iior largo lonp lashed eyoa sparkled, while eiio lisped out come unintelligible words, letting the doll slip clown with a piuldon jerk. Duko came sauntering acroes the terraco ; he had been smoking, and throw tlio end of his cig-'ir away as ho approached the child who stretcfcsd out her arm?, laughing with delk'ht.

' Whaii, am I to scop with you, ladybird V Duke said, and stoopiag down he lifted her in his strong arms, crushing tho delieiiio laca drodfi &;:d rich ribbons rotncrsolessly within his impetuous claap.

' Dui;e, Duke ! fake caro ; sho will nob be fit to be soew : and I have jusb had her dressed for llil^» !'

He turned and paw a swoob viaian—tho blondo hoar! of Mana, and her musing happy race peering above tho thick mass of blossom thab docked tho balcony.

A Hfjhb laugh rang from his lips ab aighb of her dismay.

' Why don't you come ?' he called oub. She moved as she meb hie glance, and flitted to t.ha stepa that led down to the garden! There she stopped an instant, so that ho had timo to admire tho slender figure in its dolicato, tan-hned drapery, relieved with duehea of rich carnation.

1 You can aao mo jusfc as well at a distance. You don't want) me particularly, do you?' cho qnosfcioned, merely for the sako of hearing him declare that he could not manage to exisb without her companionship another instank. Then bliq ;joined him, and they walked together through fehe cool paths of the garden, its with little A-lona still in his arms.

The child was like himself; ib had the bluo-groy JJjirevoux eyes, and, for such a mite, perfect features ; bub its mother's changeful radiance of expression already lurked about the dimpled, innocent face.

Duko looked from one to the other, and felfe his heart filled with a groat gratitude when he compared the past with the present. • Kie3 me, wifo, 1 ho said, stopping abruptly aad looking down ab her with fathomless tenderness.

She lifted her faco instantly, winding her anna about him with a fond, close elaap.

'Duke, our happiness ia ao cotnpleto that ib aoraetimea eeemo too good to last,' Bbc whiepered tremblingly.

•My darling, have we nob had our share of trouble? And ahould mere come, wo have now the right to share it together.' She kissed him again and they sauntered 08, paßsiag under a leafy archway. Then, as they neared the hugo gates of bronze, they met Hilda and her kuabaad, the once dsspised Dick Varden.

She did not soem ashamed of him now as phe introduced him with hor calm pmila. She had found oub the true worth of a man whom she had hitherto judged upon tho surface.

She waa learning to like him sincerely, and the once passionate love for Duka had long ceased to troublo her.

St. Glare had waited patiently for Eunice to get over the old infatuation ; ho had never utbored one werd of lova to her siraca she bad returned. Ho now sought her out and took hor quite by storm.

She was alone, sidtiafc by ona of the wide French-windows, idly watching tha light left in the track of tke sinking sub.

Pale and resolute, trembling with intensity of feeling, St. Glare appeared before her, and said with a sudden burst of impetuous vehemciica : ' I can't) keep silent aaobVier day ! Answer mo, Eunice. You know 1 have waited a loag while for your love. Is it mine aa much as is was whan first we knew and liked each other? I dou'b wanb you without your heart. 1 Sho seemed nob ab all surprised at this eccentric moda of courtship; sho glanced up at him with as arch smile, and tobo reply Ccime softly from her red lips : 'I have been waiting, too. I thought you never meant to speak. I waa beginning to despair ; but if you wish to, reully, Vivian, you may take me altogether.1 In aa itißtaut he waa on his knees, paesianacoly kissing the horn of her dress.

1 Eunice, 1 am half crazy with happiness. Do you mean it? Do you lovo ma ?'

Sl»o placed hor white hands on each of kis fcbfiuldcrs, aad sho looked with her beautiful eyes full into lii?.

1 Yo9, Vivian ; 1 think ib would kill mo to yiro you up to any other woman—i.o loso your lovo. Does noii t bat show liow desperately in earnest I am in my fooling towards you?' ehe adiied with a sudden ioyous laugh. Still kneeling, ho folded hor to his heart and uttered word is of rapfcurouo nonsoiiEfi. It was precisely ac thia momonb 'that Sidney entered whoro they wero. Ho halted on tho thraebold and wliiebled loudly. Sb. Claro Btaitetl to his feofc and rushed towards him, grasping hisi hand. ' Eunice has coHsewtod —has promised to bo my wife !' 1)8 said, triumphantly. SiJnoy glanced from one to the other with a rnidchievoi'a light in liia eyos; 'So I ehoald imagine,' ho renponded dryly. ' And I cr.n only soy, old follow, fchafc 1 am awfully glad.' THK END.