A WOMAN IN THE CASE

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 17, 21 January 1898, Page 6

A WOMAN IN THE CASE

, By MRS E. BURKE COLLINS

Author of 'Married for Gold,' Bonnie Jean,' 'A Terrible Penalty,' etc., etc.

CHAPTER 111.

THE HEIRESS OP CHADWICKE

HALL,

Biirtoti Chadwicke's body had been laid away in the tomb of his ancestors, and the day appointed for tne reading- of the will had arrived. There was a group of interested people in the library; the beautiful young widow. Max Iluthven, who was a distant connection by marriage, together with the old servants ot the bouse. , Lurline was very, very pale, and there was a strange glitter m her beautiful dark eyes as she swept into the lofty apartment, regal in her crape and bombazine, and sank into a satin covered easy chair, its crimson cushions bringing- our her stately beauty in fair relief. Presently the door opened, and Lawyer Ureyson appeared with Lesley Dinsmore. pale and fragile, leaning on his arm. A stir of surprise went around the group. Mrs Charlwieke beckoned languidly to her solicitor. Mi-Surface. 'Who are those people, and why are they here?' she questioned. •the gentleman is Mr Greyson, n well-known lawyer, madam,' replied Mr Surface, in a perplexed tone; 'but the lady is a perfect stranger to me. However, Mr Greyson knows what he is about. lam confident.' So Barton Chadwicke's last will and testament was produced, and read aloud in the presence of those assembled; the widow holding- her blackbordered handkerchief to her eyes, but behind its soft folds the dark, lustrous orbs were suspiciously bright and dry. The' will after bestowing a few small legacies upon his nearest friends and the old servants, went on to. state that all the property of the deceased, both real estate and personal, was bequeathed without, further reserve to hi* beloved wife, Lurline Chadwicke.

A silence followed the reading''of the document broken only by the suppressed sobbing1 of the young widow. Then lawyer Greyson arose and cleared his throat with a preliminary 'ahem.'

'Ladies and gentlemen.' he said, 'before the will just read by our good friend, Mr Surface, goes to probate, I have a little revelation to make. Yon are all, possibly, aware that the great Chadwicke fortune descended from old Eben Chadwicke a century ago. and was entailed upon lii.« lineal descendants,'

'Very true, sir,' interrupted Lawyer Surface, glibly; 'but we all know that Barton Chadwicke was the last of his race and name, and, therefore, had the privilege of bestowing his fortune, tipoh whomsoever he saw fit. And what more appropriate than for him to leave all to his desolate young wife?'

'Very right and proper,1 quoth Lawyer Greyson, 'always provided that Bart6n Cbadwicke had a lawful right to" will away the property at all. P>ut I object to your assertion that ne" wfis" f tlj[e last of his race, fay, their wWe two living descendants of the Cbadwiekes at the time this will was made: but. of course, quite unknown to Mr Barton Chadwicke, who Was not the man to wilfully wrong any person. Let me explain.' And the man's keen eyes wandered to the bowed head of .tlie widow, her slender figure shaking- visibly with violent emotion, or angry wrath, it was difficult to ascertain which.

'First,' went on the old lawyer. Slowly and deliberately, 'Eben Chadvvicke left a great - grandchild, but ■whether male or female has never yet been established, nor the whereabout."? of that person, who, if living, would be probably twenty-five years olvt. It is, therefore, presumable that he or she is dead ; but, were this person living, he or she would be the rig-htful heir, .as next of kin. But ihere was also a cousin of the family, Lesley Chadwicke by name, who married one Ralph Dinsmore. and •went to England. It was believed that they were both drowned in the passage over, as the vessel was Wrecked ; but it was not true. They Reached England, and in the course of time a daughter was born to them. A few years after Ralph Dinsmore died, and his widow, being poor, took her child, then about ten years of age, and came home to America, intending to claim her share of the Chadwicke fortune. But. she had scarcely arrived in this country when she died—rdied so suddenly that she had not time to explain her identity; and but for a strange accident. T myself would never have learned the truth, though she has been dead eight, long years, and her daughter is, consequently, eighteen years of age.

'Therefore, since the great-grand-child (tvhether man or woman I ennrtot say) of Eben Chadwtcker is still missing-, though advertised for extensively, I maintain that the daughter of Lesley Chatlwickfe Dinsmore is the real heir to this great fortune, and that Barton Chadwicke, the late lamented deceased, had no riijht to dispose df the estate. I have nothingliirther fo communicate, only that fHis ydrihg lady is Miss Lesley Dinsiiibre : her identity has been legally established, and -til necessary forms t'omplied with, and she has corhe here tb takepossession.' And Lawyer Creyson sank into the deafest seat, and wiped his spectacles reflectively.

A low moan of agony broke the silence which fell upon the room. Mrs (Jhadwicke had fainted.

Lesley, forgetting everything in her sympathy with the bereaved woman, flew to her side, to offer assistance•; but Mrs Perry, the old housekeeper, quietly bore her mistress to her chamber, and set about restoring her to consciousness.

After a time. Lesley, standing alone, gnzing out of the library Winclow, heard a footfall on the floor at her side, and turning-, beheld the handsome face of Max Iluthven. He held out his haiid.

'MaY We not be friends. Miss Dinsmore ?' he queried, in his low, even, musical voice.

Lesley blushed as she laid her hand in hia.

'We are almost relatives,' he continued, 'and shall probably see a great deal of each other."

There was a soft, persuasive tone to his voice, and his handsome eyes were bent upon the girl's drooping face. A alight exclamation made him start guiltily. Lurline stood near him. pallid as a spectre, in her clingingl black robe.

'Leave us, Max!' she said imperatively. 'I wish to speak to Miss Dinsmore alone.'

He obeyed her, leaving- the room at once.

Lurline darted forward then, and caught Lesley's white wrist with a grip of iron ; one would not believe that the white fingers could be so strong.

'Listen to me," she panted breathlessly, her great dark eyes fixed basi-lisk-like upon Lesley's pallid face. 'Yon have usurped my rights ! You are an interloper here, and not satisfied with that, you—yon would win Max Ruthven's heart, i suppose ! Beware, young Woman, you may go a step too far '. \ hate you ! f hate you !'

She ground the words out between her white clinched teeth.

'So help me. heaven, I will be even with you for all thnt you have done ; for daring to come between me" and my happiness !'

She caught her breath convulsively; but Lesley wrenched her wrist from the woman's grasp, and turning with quiet scorn, walked indignantly from the room. Liu-line Chadwiekc* Hutched her jewelled hands ma<il\ together. 'Oh, misery .' misery 'A she groaned, in bitter agony ; " ■wive sinned in vain ! What have I done '.' What have I done '?—and—all—for naught!' Up and down the long room she paced like a mad creature. Hour after hour passed ; night threw its sable curtain over all things, and the silvery moon arose ; still she never wearied in her nervous pacing to and t'ro.

Meantime, in the handsome, chamber assigned her, Lesley slept the sleep of the innocent. And in her dreams, pursuing" her like a phnntom, a face haunted her —the face of a man, and one that she never beheld in her waking moments.

A noble, handsome face ; clear-cut and refined features, with blue eyes and gold-brown hair, and heavy silken moustache shading the haughty upper lip. His eyes, deep and wondrously beautiful, were fixed upon her face with a sad look, whose meaning she could not fathom. A wild thrill shot, through her heart, anil shuddering violently, .she awoke.

The moonlight, pearly and perfect, was flooding the large room with silvery radiance, making all things as bright as day. With a strange nervousness Lesley arose, and donning a blue cashmere wrapper, sat down at the window. With her pale, statuesque face, and her long gold hair all afloat, she looked like a spirit, as she leaned her head against the azure cushions of her chair, and gazed listlessly from the window. Suddenly she started, with a strange thrill at her heart. Had her vision come to pass?

For there, below her open window, leaning against a huge acacia tree, stood the graceful figure of a man, his face uplifted in the radiant moonlight, his glance fixed upon her casement ; and as the moon's rays glinted : upon the handsome, clear-cut features. .'-bringing them out in bold relief like a cameo, Lesley saw that it was the 1 very face of her dream.

(To be Continued.)