THE SECRET CHAMBER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5387, 28 November 1888, Page 4

THE SECRET CHAMBER.

CHAPTER 11. fCuidinix-dj

When iutr two bearer*, Vernon and Gerald, pWtd her chair in front, of thu door, nha sprang lightly from it, and bounding toward Sir Hugh, kneeled before him, and plated h-er crown and /sceptre at his feet, as die naid :

" The May Queen dupuf/t* 7110 to offer her homage to the lord of the niu<;ur, and pray from him the liberty to frond a. measure in the nncient hali of his fathei's."

" Ho ! Lady-Bird, that speech eniaeks of niv scholarly nephew, for yo:.i would never hiive made it of yourself. What.' dunce in this old place 'i We've not trod a. measure here since my lady di^d, but that is now many a year ago. My dancing ihiya are over, but Verncn no doubt thinks his day lias come. "Well, well, young , folks, wiico you've all come with tin: Jiopo of having it rod, I'll not bo bear enough to baulk you. Conic in, place yourselves, and let mo sec how you can perform." "Thank you, clem , , good Sir Hugh, I knew you would consent," exclaimed the

little girl, starting tip and clapping her hands. "Now, Gerald, let us take our places." Vemon stepped forward, and with a flashing glance said : " To the heir belongs tho hand of the fairy-queen. Como, Ethel, let mo lead you to the head of the reel." She drew back, and with an air of childish command said : " I am but tho queen's deputy ; thero stands tho ono to whom your courtesy is due," milking a gesture toward a young girl of sixteen, who stood blushing and expectant of this honor. Vernon imperiously replied: " Gerald may do the hanors here. You are to dance with me ; I chose it to be so, and that ia enough." Ho seized her hand and drew her toward tho farther end of tho hall, saying to his cousin as he passed him : "Takeout the rustic queen, Gerald; I prefer her deputy." A faint flush crossed tho olive cheek of tho youth, but lie was too much accustomed to the overbearing spirit of his cousin to be surprised at his command. He bowed courteously and approached the young girl, who looked resentfully after the I young heir and his unwilling companion But her brow cleared, mid the smile returned to her lips as she listened to the request of Gerald to become his partner. Sho gave him her hand, and with sn arch expression, said: " If Mr. Vernon had only known what a gipsy told me yesterday afternoon he would never have put tho slight upon mo." "So—you havo dealings with gipsies, Miss Kate Conway. What would your father say to that, i wonder f " He'd scold me and keep me from walking in tho roads, I suppose : but don't you want to hear what she said, for it concerns you?" *• Indeed ! Pray, let inu hear it, then. " The queen of the tribe told me that tho one with whom I should first dance with on this evening would bo crowned with good fortune."

" Gerald laughed gaily. "Of course—since I havo tho honor to dance with you—that was all the prophet meapt."

" Oh, no—by no means—for slio went on to say that after inimy trials and difHculties, you would win all you desire." " It will bo bravo news for my mother that her darling boy is to become a favorite of fortune; ~ but, unluckily, gipsies' prophecies rarely meet with fulfillment. I am afraid that in this instance there is little prospect of their boiny realised." " But I toll you this was the queen of the tribe—an old woman known fa* und wide for hor skill in fortune-telling ; and I am glad, Master Gerald, that you are the person she referred to, for you uro good as well as bravo. I have not forgotten the time you dragged my brother from the fishpond at tho rink of your own life." Gerald blushed slightly at this prtiise. Hβ said:

" I only acted from an impulse of humanity. I could not see a lad drown when I knew how to swim, and my own life was not in tho slightest danger, 1 you." " Others thought differently, sir. But tho music strikes up, and it i» time for us to gain our places." Fifteen couples stood up in a countrydancu, at the head of which were the two cousins with their partners. Ethel flitted through the mazeH of the reel with tho light and airy grace which distinguished her, and Sir Hugh watched her with nn cmoton almost of pleasure. He contrasted her with tho rosy and rustic beauties from the village, and said to Mrs. Methurn : " See how our Lady-Bird puts all the rest to shame. Sho might somo day make a figure at court, if that old curmudgeon of ji grandfather would do his duty by hor." " Then we should loso our darling," said tho lady, with a pensive smile. " Nfither should 1 ! v willing to know that my pureheiirted child was exposed to the tcmjuition of such h court as that which is now found at Whitehall."

The cessation of the dance recalled Mrs Methurn to the necessity of providing refreshments for their unexpected guests, and at her command foaming tumblers of nlo were brought in, with such edibles as the house afforded. Whilo sipping; hers, the May Queen addressed Vemor, with a slight tosa of hor pretty head : " You would not dance with me, Mr Vernor, but you gained nothing by your refusal, let mo tell you. Ask your coutia what 1 have told him."

" I am sure I do not know what I have lost," replied flip young , mull, indifferently. " I owed you ii return for refusing to walk with mo yesterday." " My i'uiher forbutlo my doing bo, find he will not like my coming hero this afternoon, for he says you huvo been trying to turn my head lately by your flatteries." " Well, it't n very pretty head, and what can your father expect but that a gay young man' will tell you so? But what have I lost, Kate? lam curiouH to find out." " Only the beiiciit of a prediction ; that is all." " Really ! I am more curious than ever ; pray enlighten me." llie girl then related what ehe had already told Ueruld, and tho young man glanced toward hi.s cousin with an air of chngriu, but he laughed find said : 41 1 i'uiiry I can accomplish more for mym'U than the prophecies of the gipsy can foriii}.' about, lml where did you find her'r 1. i:i<l not know thero is an encampment in the neighborhood. Mrs Tarply had better Wjjjin to look after her poultry if they are hereabouts," " 1 accidentall} - ciiinc on them as I was walking hi*',, evening, and the head woman of all t.iM my fortune." •' So -o -you did w:ilk, after nil. Tell me wlii'r ili-.-y arc to be found, for I Jin yon iL-itv U) r\-e tliis fan iiUi* HOU'M," •''lhey an , in ;i hnllow lirlii id the beech w<.i>:!, tibnut a iiiii.' I clow the Priory." ••1 ofti-ii shoot in that direction, and I (ih'ill h tv. I hem out to-morrow, and proba'.ily wiiiii them - if. They are a set of jj'-.'iiirnt vagrants, ami .-should not bo peru;i!U'il Uf remain on any gentleman's prop.'ity." \ i i7ifn , wni!>!."jv<l nn-ny, and fair Kitte i-tiu-oli"! hcr.-iclt for Ida neglect by flirting violently with a young j'cornan who had li-ii-r been in love with her! Hutu Ci'iiway irni the daughter of a rich farmer; ami her futher'.s income was quilt! tijual to tliat of Sir Hugh, she had uiiiliitimiply aspired to beconio tlio future L:uly Mctiiurn ; but tho incidents of the day hud tiiught her that the attentions and ikitteiifts of the young heir meant nothing, and shn widely turned to one in her own uphert; for consolation. Aj the sun waR settinjj the party broke up,and tjw family gathered around the frugal evening , moal, which was served in a «mall apartment the great banhall, which, in tie palmy days of the jMotbimie. had resounded wjth mirth and wassail. "Now it was desolate ia ips faded grandeur; given »p to tho rats and spiders, for Sir Hugh'/? decayed fortunes no longer permitted him to entertain JiisnejghIjwm in the roysterinj .stylo of the day, and his pride was too greet to permit him to ] receive them with jesa gplendor than had been tho ancient custom of his houae, A deeply embayed window opened from this Bmallor apartment upon thencgh«ted purls, and tho soft spring air fluttered through the shrubbery that grow near It. I Ethel sat in such a position as to have a view of an opening in the* woodland beyond, j I and she suddenly nitered an exclamation, i und eaid: ''What it straogO'looking woman! und she i« corning , here, I declare." Vernor roue and approached the window, "It is one of the gipsy clan of whom Kate Conway spoke. What do you gay, Ethel, to having our fortune told ? u " Oh, I had rather not, lam sure. lam afraid she might tell mo something dreadful !" "Pooh! there'w no donsrer of that. She is too keen to teil what fha thinks will not please. It will bo some fun to see what the old impostor pretends to know of the future. Shall we lot her in, father ?" Sir Hugh was in a better humor than ueuixl, and after glancing toward tho woman wiio wiw approaching with rapid strides straight toward thu Priory, he said : " If you choose ; but I'think it is folly to meddle with such iuuinmej-y. What is to couie, will come without any intervention from jsudi v. wifceji as that.-" * J TO I.IK COSTf SUKW. )