Carlie's Sacrifice;

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 272, 15 November 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

Carlie's Sacrifice;

CHAPTER XXXI,

A BOLD DEFIANCE.

The hand was Blacksleys. In the

'j- jet of ascending the doorsteps he i tad turned about, reaching Lemuel as the latter fell. "You are elastic, sir,' he laughed. S «'I hope you are not hurt?" Lemuel took no notice of him. "So," he thought, in mingled rage, ! astonishment, and relicf —"so, it's Ross she's after. What does she expect to make off him?" Edward Ross turned his haughty, colourless face upon him at the mo- ; jnent, saying, curtly: "Stand back, if you please. The \ lady wishes to alight." "Ah!" exclaimed Blacksley, ap- ; proaching as Lemuel involuntarily i obeyed, "the ride has, I feared, proved too'niueh for you, Miss Ingham." "I wonder you allowed it!" broke in Lemuel, recovering his assurance, and making a movement to offer his • arm. iSut Miss Ingham hastily seized upon Blacksley's, and, between him and Edward Ross, ascended the steps. Seeing that Haigh had followed, i Blaeksley said, quietly, allowing •Miss Ingham to enter with Ross: "I would advise you to deifer your call, Mr Haigh." "You must, Lemuel," added Miss Ingham, Lpntly, turning her ghastly j face upon him. "I am not equal to seeing you this morning." "But you are equal to seeing Ned } Dunganl" sneered Lemuel, being in : the plot to. pass Edward Ross off for Dungan. Edward Ross hastily transferred [Miss Ingham to the landlady's care. But as he turned, Lemuel, warned by what he read in the handsome face, beat a quick retreat. "After all," he muttered, as the door was rather violently closed by the landlady, "why should I harass myself in this direction? I've found out it's some Ross scheme that's afoot, and one, judging from her looks, that's fizzled into nothing. But, something or nothing, they may settle the Ross question among themselves. I'll back to Lambeth, and set Jim to the safer and more useful business of looking- up JDet>. Ah! Deb " His face grew haggard and pale again with that thought, and then brightened as quickly. "In a little more than twenty-four hours I shall have Carlie, and be safe. Meanwhile, I have work enough without conjuring up wild fancies.'* Blacksley waited till the house door nvas shut upon Lemuel, and then hastily followed Ross and Miss Ingham into the latter's drawing-room. 1 Hastily addressing Edward, he cried: "Pardon me. Am I to understand that you are the claimant to the Boss-Laurel estate?" "No. I claim only my own name," returned Edward, proudly. "It is Edward Rose," said Miss Ingiham, too much distressed to understand fully his reply. "I ought to have introduced you. Horace Rawlings the great London detective, Edward." "But at present," smiled the detective, "Thomas Blacksley, surgeon. I am glad to meet you here, as it saves valuable time." "Time!" echoed Miss Ingham, in anguished tones. "We have but iorty-eight hours. A failure —an utter failure! The man is made of ironl" "Not quite a failure, I hope!" exclaimed Ross, with mingled eagerness and anxiety. "Mr Sylvester's son George is one of the two gentlemen Upon whom I depend to establish my identity. He is the idol of his father's heart —an only child.'* "And I called a curse upon him!" breathed Miss Ingham to herself, 'and—and—'cursas come home to roost!'" Neither Edwara nor Blacksley noticing Miss Ingham's increased agitation, the latter continued: "If anyone can move Mr Sylvester 5t is George Sylvester; but, unhappily, he has been touring for three years, and " "Away from home!" burst in Elacksley, desperately. "But expected home every day," interposed Edward, with eagerness. "Expected! He may be delayed o week. Even three days would be fatal. On the third day Mr Beauelerc rcvould be disgraced forever." He strode from Koss, ran his fingers fiercely through his hair, and came hurriedly back. "There is but one thing to be done. [Miss Beauelerc must come to town!" he exclaimed. "Yes" —as Miss Ingham looked at him in wild inquiry— "she must be taken into our confidence, and try her luck with Sylvester." "She will never forgive me," sobbed Miss Ingham. "She would have died a thousand times rather than —" She stopped, choked by her tears. Blacksley went on, his voice a little lower and" more anxious: "Miss Beaucletc should have gone in the first place. But what was to be done? She would have resisted to the death! Now, however, her youth, beauty and anguish must be brought to bear upon the old man! They may prevail! If not? Heaven " He turned away, thinking of the girl' 3 terrible grief. ' After a little while he went to Miss Ingham. tTI will go now, and telegraph Dr. Benners that you are ler well (whica, unhappily, is too true), and desire him to bring Miss Beauelerc to you to-morrow morning." "I suppose there is no objection to my meeting them at the train?" asked Edward Ross, eagerly. " Every objection ! " exclaimed Blaoirsley, with emphasis. "It is not to be thought of!" , Dr Benners, closely occupied with his professional duties, did not receive thf teleo-ram in time to go to RossLnnrel thi.t night. But the next day, as the four were gathered round the breakfast table, he stepped into the

business.

She told him,

He was right,

LOVE'S LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE BRANDED FOOT."

CHAPTER XXXH.

room and briefly made known his

He then said, glancing at the timepiece : "You can prepare in five or ten minutes, Carlie?" "Easily," faltered the girl, who was already upon her feet. "She can and she cannot!" exclaimed Dungan, with snarling emphasis. "I shall not allow her to leave Ross- j Laurel." In the moment's dead silence that followed those words all looked at him, Carlie in a stunned, incredulous astonishment. Then suddenly realising that he really meant what he said, the latter cried, with fiery vehemence: "You dare to' stop me? You dare to say I shall not go to the woman who has been more than a mother to me? I will go!" "You shall not go!" Dungan burst out with the rejoinder in the fiercest rage. "You say that, do you?"'cried the gild, her high spirit now roused beyond control. Speaking the words, she darted to the bell-pull and jerked it in a continuous peal. . "Carlie! Carlie!" cried Mr Beauelerc. But before more could be said, i Abrams, Thomas, Sam and some of the other servants rushed in, wilh frightened faces. The girl, waving Dungan back with imperious hand, placed herself in the midst of them. "Which of you," she cried, with passionate fervour, "will see your old master's dear child wickedly thwarted by the man who now calis himself the master of Ross-Laurel? Which of you will see him "prevent me going to the sick-bed of Miss Ingham?" "Not 6ne of us, Miss Carlie," cried Sam, stepping between her and Dungan. "Not one of us," echoed the others, closing about her with ominous brows. "Not one of you!" cried Carlie, exultingly. 'I knew it, and I will remember it, too! But now see me to my room, and then out of the house and into the London train." The servants moved in solid phalanx about her as she walked across the room to the door.

MRS ROSS FLAYS EU2R CARD.

Till this moment Dungan had stood with frothing lips, vainly striving to utter the words in his mnd.

He now cried, furiously, gaspingly: "I discharge every one of you this instant!"

"You dare not.1" answered Carlie. "This story told through the country would be your social ruin!"

Mrs Ross' voice fell like oil upon the troubled waters.

"Edward," she said, catching and pressing his hand significantly under the folds of her dress, "Carlie will go; cease to oppose her, my dear stepson. It is too late now for Dr. Benners' proposed train. She shall go by the next —two hours hence, I th!nk?"— looking with charming softness at the doctor.

"Yes, two hours hence," he answered, barely able to suppress a delighted chuckle.

"Then, if you will kindly arrange to meet her for that train, I will see that she is there."

"Does that suit you, miss?" asked Sam.

"As well as a delay of two hours can suit me, Sam," answered the girl, ready to cry, now that the battle was over. "But"—with a sudden suspicion of the pliant lady of the house— "I desire you to take your seat in the carriage, Sam." Mrs Ross bit her lips and lowered her eyes for a moment. And Sam, accepting the command as a dismissal, marshalled his forces from the room.

Dr. Benners took leave with a soft "Bravo!" in Carlie's ear, and the girL kissing1 Mr Beauclerc's troubled brow, made her instant escape upstairs.

Mrs Ross' first words, when she found herself alone with Dungan, were a tart reprimand. "In time," she said, "you may learn how to handle edged tools."

"She's a cat —a tigress!" burst out Dungan, wrath fully. "She is neither the one nor the other, but a very sweet girl, endowed with a very high spirit. When you play the brute you defeat your own purpose. Why did you not refer the matter to me? I could have settled it amicably and in six words."

"Because I was burning with furit OU3 jealousy. Ned Ross is doubtless in London. I fear him. Haigh's days you have numbered, and he is as good as disposed of. Before the happy bridal he dreams of he'll be past dreams of every kind. But Edward has the charm'and the will to win her."

"While you have the power. Enough! Hear how easily I have disposed of the difficulty—the molehill of which you have made a mountain."

Two hours subsequently she told Carlie at the station, saying, sweetly:

ifEdward and I have concluded to go with you, my dear." Carlie took it coolly. "Then," she said, addressing Dr. Benners, "it will be quite unnecessary for me to impose upon your kindness. But do me one favour, doctor. Please telegraph Cousin Milly and Mr Blacksley that I have left for London in the care of Mrs Ross and her son instead of yours."

A swift smile of amused assurance touched Mrs Ross' lips for an instant.

The next the guard had shut the carriage door and Dr. Benners was rushing to the telegraph office.

"I don't like that smile," he thought, uneasily. "It seemed to say she held the winning card.

Arrived at Miss InghanTs lodgings Mrs Ross played her card.

"Don't take off your bonnet, dear," she said as Carlie began to divest herself of her wrap.

"Why, what do you mean?" exclaimed the girl.

"Noting, dear, except that, as< my stepson's ward, it is proper that you should stay where we stay."

Carlie looked at her. I The rebellion possible at Uoss-

manner,

ingly.

Laurel was not possible here in Miss Ingham's presence.

"Don't be distressed."' said Dungan, breaking the silence that neither Carlie nor Miss Ingham could. "My mother will bring you. backward and forward frequently, and the —" He stopped, anxious and startled. Carlie had suddenly stepped to the bell.

"You are not going to raise a row here?" he cried, angrily.

The little housemaid opened the door at the moment and Carlie answered his question by composedly sending her for Mrs Harley. Mrs Harley, passing through the hall, heard the command and came in.

CHAPTER XXXni.

THE ESCAPE—THE APPEAL.

"Mrs Harley," said the girl, her eyes alight, but her»"voice calm, "■will you as a great—a very great—favour to Miss Ingham and myself, accommodate Mrs Ross and her son with board and lodgings during the period of my stay in London?"

Mrs Ross recovered herself and seconded the request in lier choicest

"I never dreamed." he said, "that sucli an arrangement would be even possible. So much more pleasant," as Mrs Harley gave the desired answer—"than a liotel or a perfectly strange house. I "really feel deeply indebted to you, Mrs Harley."

The despair with which Miss Ingham had heard Mrs Ross' declaration of her purpose was not lessened by Carlie's victory.

"How am I to escape their vigilance? How am Ito get Carlie to John Sylvester?"' she thought, foreseeing the discreet but unceasing surveillance that followed. •

As the afternoon began to wear away she found it impossible to control herself longer. "I must get out for a drive and I must take you with me," she cried, bursting into tears, as Carlie was performing some loving little oftice for her comfort.

"And why not?" said Carlie, sooth-

'•Because we shall have mat woman and her son with us, or on our track. I have business to transact —private business."

The girl thought a moment •T.ll fetch Mrs Harley," she said, presently. "She is shrewd, and by no means in love with her new boarders, though Mrs Ross has not spared her fascinations."

Mrs Harley's first words were of comfort.

"Mr Ross," she said, briskly, after hearing the difficulty, "is going out for a drive. There!"—as a vehicle dashed up—"that's his broug-ham this minute! JCovr. you leave tlie widow to me. I'm good for two like her. Just hold yourselves ready."

Thirty minutes later she was back.

"Now's your chance!" she whispered. "Ann's got the carriage waiting."

Miss Ingham and Carlie hastened to the carriage, the former telling the coachman where to drive.

"What takes you to Regent's Park, Cousin Milly?" Carlie asked.

Miss Ingham burst into a fit of wild weeping.

"Don't touch me! don't look at me!" she cried, when speech was possible, shrinking from the girl's caressing arms. "I have done you a frightful injury, Carlie—an injury you will n^ver forgive."

"An injury! You!" breathed the girl, frightened, yet incredulous.

"Carlie, Carlio, we are going John Sylvester's! He knows all."

"Knows all! You have betrayed my father!"

Miss Ingham . covered her face from the reproach and anguish of the eyes burning upon her.

"Oh, my child, be merciful!" she sobbed. "I meant it for the best. I hoped he would forgive, and thus your marriage with Lemuel "

She stopped, unable to say more; and Carlie burst out, passionately:

"What, compared with this, would have been my marriage with Li-iimd? I would marry him fifty times over rather than ■"

She broke off in a sudden call to the driver.

"Faster!" she cried—"as fast as you can!" and then sat down and begin to wring her hands.

Tears came to her relief.

"Hear me, my darling," faltered Miss Ingham; "you must know all now."

In a few words, and with many tears, she detailed everything.

As she went on, Carlie pai ily forgot her grief and despair in a growing amazement.

That this timid, dependent woman had risen to such a height of courage and decision seemed incredible. Suddenly another thought struck her.

"And you have no cancer? That was Mrs Ross' nervous fancy?" she cried, something like joy in her eager, trembling voice.

"Altogether her fancy, my love." "Oh, thank heaven for that mercy!"

"Then you do not wish me dead, Carlie?" "Wish you dead!"

The horrified words died on the girl's lips. The carriage had drawn up before 'the handsome residence overlooking Regent's Park.

There was room for but one thought how—>the thought of 'the coming interview.

With reeling head, and steps as uncertain as Miss Ingham's own.Carlie mounted to the door.

But ,there la terrible blow met them.

With much respect and embarrassed hesitation, the porter informed them that Mr Sylvester would not be able to see Miss Ingham again, or any one Miss Ingham might happen to bring.

"Then he expected us?" faltered Miss Ingham.

Carlie took a sovereign from her purse.

The old man shook his head

"It would be as much as my place is worth, miss,"' he answered, glancing rather fearfully in the direction of the library.

The girl saw his glance, and in a second had darted past Mm along the hall.

"Heaven preserve me!" gasped the porter, starting after her.

"Let her go! Let her go!" cried Miss Ingham, breathlessly, seizing his coat and hurrying a gold coin into his hand.

As she spoke, the girl threw open, at random, one of the three doors towards which he had looked.

It proved to be that of the lofty

Dunqran

library, which was the pride of John Sylvester's heart.

John Sylvester was within, grimly imposing, and lazily comfortable, in a large chair on the hearthrug. He had just returned from the city, a good deal tired, and cross and disappointed at the non-arrival of his son.

Starting up at the girl's headlong intrusion, his first look was one of mingled admiration and wonder. But the next moment his brow darkened to forbidding .sternness. He exclaimed, in low, harsh tones: "I understand! Miss Beauelerc!"

Carlie flung- herself upon her knees, gasping wildly, her small hands clasped, her beautiful eyes upraised.

"It is I—Carlie Beauelerc. Oh, sir, my father! my father! Be pitiful of my youth, and spare him! Only give us time, and the debt shall be paid, principal and interest."

But John Sylvester had already set her upon her feet.

He answered coldly

"Say no more. It is useless. The money is a comparatively small consideration. My principles are involved. I cannot go against my principles. If justice were always unsparingly dealt out, there would be fewer crimes. That is niy creed. If your father suffers the full penalty of the law, some other man may be saved from crime by the warning. I have only to add," then, that your father's sin must be publicly answered for. That is my ultimatum. Good evening." It seemed to the girl that his words had changed her into stone.

She could neither move nor speak. She scarcely felt.

"Good-evening," he repeated, after an instant.

And, passing her, he opened the door.

At that she started mechanically forward, took a few steps, and then, ■without a word or sigh, dropped fainting to the floor.

At this unexpected ending of the interview, Mi. Sylvester exhibited some alarm.

Hastily raising the slight form, he laid her on the sofa and rang the bell.

The housekeeper came jmmediatelj'.

"She is not dead?" he asked, uneasily, as the good woman began to exert herself with energetic haste.

"Oh, no, sir; it's only a faint. She's coming round already; her hand quivered just then. A little wine will put her right again. But what a beauty she is, to be sure, poor dea.r!" "Give her anything she needs," said Mr. Sylvester, hurriedly.

With that he made his escape into the private study where he had received Miss Ine-ham

"Confound it!" he muttered, as he locked the door, "What a nuisance women are! As if I'd yield the principles of a Mfetiine!" Miss Ingham happily learned nothing of the girl's illness till it was over, and she appeared at the recep-tion-room door leaning on the kind housekeeper's arm. She came forward with a little cry. "It is nothing, dear Cousin Milly," said the girl, her soft, sweet tones hurried and nervous. "Let us get home." It needed no words to make known the fatal result of the appeal; but Carlie cried, hoarsely, failingly: "It is all over!" No more passed between them. Miss Ingham wept in silence, yet with a vague comfort in the thought that the degradation of a marriage with Lemuel Haigh no louger threatened Carlie, and as vague an anxiety concerning Edward Dungan's designs. "He loves her," she thought, "and he is unscrupulous." Carlie' thoughts revolved wholly around Anson Beauelerc. To save him was now the one hope of her life. Resolving not. to be fettered b} r Miss Lngham's promise to Mr. Sylvester, she quickly blocked out' a plan of escape.

"To-night," she thought, "I can take Ann and make the necessary purchases for a disguise, and to-mor-row sUtj to Ross-Laurel by the daybreak train."

At this point she was roused by an exclamation from Miss Tngham and the stopping- of the carriage.

Before question or answer eou'd be littered, the door was opened by

Eypn through the gloom of the elopiiiQ' day Carlie saw the white rage of his face.

Bnt, qnietlv accepting his proffered aid, she (lieing nearest the door) got out, and Ihen half turned to assist Miss Tngham.

Dunsyan burst into a short, mocking laiiffh, and caught her hand ronp-hly to his arm.

"You've done with that business!" he snid, hi fierce, smoth^r^d tones, .whirling her round to nno+her carriage, in which Mrs. T?oss pat p-low-ine with trimrmh. "And you've seen voiir lost of Miss Tnp-hnm at RossLaurel. Yon are mv prisoner!"

A mnddenino- vi-'on of Mr. Beauclerc rose before CaHi^'s eyes, nr-d. with fi shrill scream, she cried, pi+eonsly: "No+ to-Triffht. To-morrow I will p-o without a word!" Bnt in v.'iiri she struggled in his Btrono- clasp. , . , "Curse vnnr noise!" lie Tussftfl, fnrionslr- fnrriTirr ber into the carriage, and sprinsrinfir in after her.

fTo be continued Wednesday liext.)