THE HEIRESS' PERILS.

Lake County Press, Issue 34, 26 January 1872, Page 3

THE HEIRESS' PERILS.

(Concluded from out last.) Mrs Butler was still much better, and Gertrude spent the afternoon reading and chatting with her. Hard as the task was, she effectually concealed her terrors from tbe invalid, each hour drew her nearer to the approaching struggle; but still her voice was as clear, her manner as composed as ever. At moments thedreadful thought flashed across her, " Should Fitzpatrick be too late"—but she resolutely drove it back. Her aunt was gayer, less inclined to sleep than usual, but gradually the draught began to show its influence. Gertrude bent over her fc* k*»i. a nQ ninn kiss, it might be her very last! "God bless you, darling; what a comfort you have been to me, dear Gertrude ; your uncle will find me quite recovered." •• Good night, aunt dear, I have forgotten to tell you they are going to have a dance down stairs; it is som?- j body's eve, Kelly says, so do not be'

alarmed should you hear them moving about rather late." " Very well, love ; but I do not remember any holiday to-day, Gertrude." " I dare say they would find you a warrant for dancing in some, legend or other;. but 1 do not like to refuse permission." " You are quite right. Good night my dariiug." She turned away, her tears would not be repressed ; " Should she ever see that dear pale face again, hear that fond voice?" Oh, it was too bitter. Hastily drying her eyes, she hurried to the library. Kelly had fastened its windows as usual, but she dexterously withdrew the bolts ! She had yet two hours to wait. The traitor came in. He seemed surprised to see her there; but not a fold of the curtains had been displaced, and the book in her hand explained her errand. "Will I send more wood to your room, ma'am ?" " If you please, Kelly. I do not feel sleepy." " And the mistress ?" " Is much better. Good night." He was evidently satisfied. He or Andy had dogged her all day. On reaching her room, she dismissed her maid, secreted some jewels, money, and a knife about her person, in preparation for the worst. The knife—for whom was it intended ? herself ?—that wretch ? She never could say ? but she had it, and it gave her strength. Her repeater struck twelve. Throwing off all other terrors, she prepared herself for the inevitable struggle. It could not now be long delayed. She bathed her feverish temples, satisfied that her knife was secure. But not long—a stealthy step crept up the stairs—a low tap at her door, and Kelly entered. '• Kelly, what is the matter ? my aunt " " Would you be pleased, ma'am, to I come down to the library, there is one I wanting to spake wid you." "With me—at this hour ?*• } " One who would be asking a favor, ma'am; 'tis never too late to do good." ] ''True—l will come down." ! The man looked relieved; he had half expected a struggle. Slowly but with dignified grace, with the air of a queen, she entered the library. Kelly followed, and placed his back to the door. O'Reilly stood waiting for her; his really fine person dressed to the best advantage. " Mr O'Reilly!" she exclaimed, affec'ing surprise, " you. in this house ?" " Why not, madam ? since you are here also. Did you think I would tamely relinquish you ?—that I would not follow you ?" " To what purpose, sir :" " Because I love you—because you are mine." " Yours ?—yours ?" " Mine, proud beauty 1 Listen to me : I love, but I hate you also. I love you, you are beautiful, high-born and wealthy I could have worshipped you. Nay, turn not away so proudly, you are in my power, you shall hear me out. I hate you too. You were born to cross my path. Do you know who I am ? Ask him. I am Redmond lihua." "The outlaw!" " The outlaw, the coiner, the mnrderer—and your husband, your master." " Kelly, in mercy let me pass." " I dare not, ma'am." " I am Redmond Rhua: you scorned me, but my blood is as good as yours, Gertrude Davenant j my father was your uncle John." J " Impossible!—he was unmarried," "So the world said—but he had a son. He acknowledged me, he educated me; but you were born, and I was cast off." " My uncle neglect even an illegitimate son for me!—it is false." " I was thrown on the world, while you inherited my father's wealth; proscribed by society, I have hurled the gauntlet in its teeth. I tried more peaceful arts; I would have loved and married you, but you spurned me from you. My advances were an insult you would have chastised even with a horsewhip!; still we are brothers, children ! Gertrude, Gertrude Davenant, it is not yet too late; be mine, my wife." "•• Never." " I will make you bes for your knees. "Vever, never. I cannot, I will not marry you—l would die first. But cousin, cousin " " You own me, then!—you own me." I remember I have heard them speak of such a cousin. My uncle was offended by him; and if indeed you be he, you could not, you would disgrace your father's blood by injuring a womau." " He injured my mother." " He did, but she consented; I cannot, I will not, I do not love you as my wife; but cousin, cousin John, I will not call you by the vile name you have assumed—you will be John, will you not, to me ? I am rich, I will share my wealth with you —there are other lands where you may re-

trieve your name, where you will find fairer wivra thau I."

" Pshaw! words are but useless ; you may ehoose your fate; my wife, or-—" " Kelly, can you see me injured ?—your child died in my arms " Sno did, ma'am, the heavens be her bod ; but would you have me stand in the light of my own sister's child? Sure thin, you were only nursing your cousin, Miss Gertrude—won't I be your uncle when you've married the captain ?" She turned from him, disgusted. " Decide—decide at once," muttered O'Reilly. " I cannot, cousin ; be rcerciful—give me time."

•' Ten minutes—l give you ten minutus ; but I will not loose sight of you." Ten minutes—it was but a very short space—yet Fitzpatrick might arrive ere its expiration. He came not—her heart sank within her. Was she indeed forsaken, doomed ?

" It is time," he cried, seizing her arm. " Unhand me, roan ; you shall not pollute me by your touch ; unhand me—l would die before marrying you; and yet, cousin, cousin, it is not too late to repent." " Who talks of repentance ? not I. By heaven she ia strong; here, Kelly, help me—my wife—she shall be worse." They were dragging her along, when the window was dashed open, and Fitzpatriek, followed by a party of soldiers, jumped through. With one bound he was at Gertrude's side, and had hurled Redmond to the ground; then her strength failed her, and she sank fainting on his bosom. Kelly would have flvd, but was intercepted. " Redmond Rhua!" cried one of the men, turning to the prostrate outlaw, here's a prize, doctor, by Jove." "Merciful powers—John O'Reilly, my old schoolfellow! Jack, Jack, have you fallen thus low? Miss Davenant—Gertrude, dear Gertrude, you are saved " She was slowly recovering consciousness but the first beseeching look of her languid eye, the joy with which she clung to him was a sweet reward to Fitzpatrick, who had loved without daring to hope for a return!

"Dear Maurice, from what have you saved me! But spare that unhappy man, my cousin." " It is too late, dear lady." " And you can love that man ; that poor physician ? I see it, I read it in your looks when you spurned me. He, too, is poor, and basely born." " He is good and kind ; he has conquered fortune. Dr Fitzpatrick, is it indeed too late?"

He pointed to tho soldiers; there needed no reply. The outlaw was hurried to his prison and there he perished miserably. He was, in truth, the natural son of Mr John Davenunt, who had given him a good t ducation, and would have provided for him handsomely, had not his unrestrained violent temper and profligate habits caused an irreparable breach between them. With the paltry pride of a narrow low mind, he went iDto low company, delighted by their adulation, and sank from one degree of crime to another. Not so his old schoolfellow, Fitzpatrick, who of hcarce better birth, and fur worse opportunities, honorably made himself a path in the world. O'Reilly died in prison, spared by the rapid fever from the disgrace of the gallows. Fitzpatrick became Gertrude Davenant's husband j he merged his humbler name in hers, and their children are now allied with many of our aristocracy. Colonel Butler, with an Irishman's pride of ancestry, was at first averse to this marriflge j but in what other way could his uiece repay Maurice's inestimable services T And then she loved him devotedly. The few hours during which her fate lay so entirely in his hands, in which he was her sole dependeance, had rivetted her heart to his. They loved, and she never repented her choice. Kelly would have puichased indemnity by becoming king's evidence, but Redmond's sudden death foiled him. He was tried fur his share in the attempted abduction ; and, with his worthy nephew, transported for life. Mrs Butler recovered from her illness; but it was many months before she knew all the events of that fearful night. i —— —-