A ROSALIND OF THE BUSH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12269, 13 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

A ROSALIND OF THE BUSH.

BY KATHARINE WYNNE,

Author of " The Madness of Love," " A Strong: Man's Love." " Silken Bonds," etc., etc., etc.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

CHAPTER I.—The scene opens in a fashionable London ballroom, and introduces Gilbert Fermoy and Florizel Strathearn. The former is the son of an eccentric baronet, Sir Itoyston Fermoy, a, reputed millionaire, who lives a retired life in the country. SJr, Royston makes his son a handsome allowance, arid the latter lives the life of a fashionable man about town, and spends money lavishly. Gilbert is passionately in love with Florizel Strathearn, a fashionable beauty, and at the ball in question seeks an opportunity of declaring his love. He finds Florizel in the conservatory, and just before the close of the last dance, succeeds in getting the lady to accept an engagementring, telling her at the same time that in three days he will become of age and succeed to his inheritance. Florizel questions him somewhat as to the nature of his inheritance, and he has to confess that he is ignorant on the subject, and only knows that his father has promised him his inheritance on his twenty-first birthday.

CHAPTER 11. introduces Marlow Summerton, an old school-chum of Gilbert Fermoy's. The friends go home from the ball together, and Gilbert- tells his chain of his engagement. During the ensuing conversation Gilbert also touches on the subject of his coming of age, and confides to his chum the fact that Sir Royston wishes his son to remain in London for the event, and that toe will write to Gilbert on the matter of his inheritance. A wine-supper has been arranged by Gilbert to celebrate the occasion, and after talking things over the friends retire to bed.

CHAPTER Florizel tells her mother of her engagement to Gilbert, and Lady Strathearn, who is essentially a prudent mother, somewhat reproaches her daughter for allowing matters to come to a climax until Gilbert had attained his majority. The day following the ball Gilbert calls at Lady Strathearn's and his engagement to Florizel is formally recognised. He remains to dinner and afterwards proceeds home and entertains his bachelor friends at the supper in honour of his having reached his majority. After the departure of his guests Gilbert is handed a letter by his servant. The missive proves to be the one promised him by his father, and the young man opens it eagerly, impatient to learn what his inheritance consists of. After reading the letter Gilbert drops horror-stricken and bewildered, into a chair.

CHAPTER IV.—The letter from Sir Royston disclosed the fact that Gilbert was not the son of the eccentric baronet, but the illegitimate child of the baronet's cousin, who had been deceived by Sir Ttoyston's chum. On bis deathbed Gilbert's father had sent for Sir Royston, and the latter had hastened to the address given, resolved to wreak vengeance on his former friend. The baronet arrived too late, as the object' of his vengeance was 'at his last gasp, and unable to speak. Sir Royston then resolved to wreak his vengeance on the son, and Gilbert was reared in luxury, and taught.to believe himself the heir of a, millionaire. According to promise, Gilbert a inheritance was now bequeathed to him. and consisted of poverty and shame., The morning after the receipt of the letter Gilbert is disturbed by his friend. Marlow Summerton,. ■who'has come to congratulate his chum on succeeding to his inheritance. Noticing immediately that something serious is amiss. Marlow inouires what is the matter, and Gilbert gives his friend the letter to read.

CHAPTER V. ,• ESCAPED. "He,is a cruel, black-hearted villain," repeated Marlow Summerton, for the third time, bringing down his closed fist fiercely on his knee. " Such conduct should be regarded as penal, as a big fraud, and punishable accordingly."

The two, the perusal of the letter concluded, had been talking for some ten minutes.. That immense relief which the confiding of our trouble to a sympathetic friend brings had produced calmness at last in Feumoy. ' The grasp. Summer-ton had given his hand, the deep, earnest sympathy in the four words he uttered, "Poor, dear, old ■boy!"-bad seemed in a measure to restore him to life, to strength. Here was a friend, indeed!

Call him what yon will," remarked Gilbert Fermoy, gloomily, " and you cannot .call him worse than he deserves; in, no way will it, help me. Think, Summerton, of my position.—only think of it!" And again the haggard face was buried in the shaking 'hands.• "What is this loss of property to the.loss of Florizel Strathearn? What -yes,', what is the loss of both to the loss of honour? .'Do you wonders—can you wonder?','—with sudden fierceness —"that again and again since this fearful news arrived I "have contemplated self-destruction? Surely justifiable in my case if in any man's."

" Come, come, dear boy!"—his hand affectionately on his shoulder—" it will be a big fight, I own that; but we'll fight it though. I'll help you."

"You're a good fellow, Summerton. I knew I could reckon upon your not turning from —pressing his hand. "Turn from you! My dear Fermoy, if I saw a wall crash down on a man do you think I should pull another down on top of that?"

"If only the world were like you! But you are as aware as I am that it is not; and never again as Gilbert Fermoy can I face my fellow-men!" " Oh, they're not all so bad" "Bad?"—bitterly. "Oh,' no; they are as the world has made them. Can you picture my entering the club or appearing in the park after this news is known, that Gilbert Fermoy has all along been an impostor, a fraud? • That Gilbert Fermoy-, who called himself the son and heir of Sir Royston Fermoy, is a penniless beggar and a— Great —starting up and beginning to pace the room— I dare not think of it or I shall go mad !" " Look here, dear boy, you must not think of it," put in Summerton, decidedly, seeing that firmness was needed. " You have been at this kind of thing ever since we left. Well, no fellow could stand it. The only medicine for such a trouble is action. Let us go somewhere, anywhere; walk, ride, which you please, for miles. Let us get from London." "Would I could, never to return!" broke in Gilbert Fermoy. Well, that must be soon. Look around you, Summerton" cynically—" is there anything you would like to bid for? You admired my horse. I hope you'll get it, as you'll treat it kindly, for everything will speedily go to the hammer. These were gifts to his victim, which Sir Royston has not reclaimed ; very generous of him, is it not? I'm glad I never have had a dog since Quilp died. I could not have left that. A dog is next to a human friend, sometimes the superior animal. You told me once you envied me that piperack. Well, now, there will be a chance of making it yours. A cigar henceforth will be a luxury." Summerton, one of the best-hearted of men, had himself broken down. He had gone to the window to conceal his emotion. Strange, men will at times shed tears before a woman, which they shame to do before their own sex.

"Fermoy!" he exclaimed, exerting self control, and swinging round. " Don't talk like that. It is not you—it's—l can't bear it. I'll buy Zulu. I'll buy everything 1 you like, and I can, in trust for you. Do you think we have been chums for so long without my reading your character? You're not the chap to go down; or if circumstances knock you over you're the fellow to get up again and rise higher. Thank goodness, the world is getting wiser and more just every day, and takes a man for what he is himself, and does not hound him down for sins his progenitors committed. Look here! brush yourself up; come out with me. We will run down to little Shere—"

"What an idea!" interrupted Gilbert Fermoy. " I have much to do to-day. Don't imagine I have passed the time all in useless cries and groans. lam now only waiting for the hour to start." " Start? I am glad you take to action; but start where?"

"Tc Cheshire. Do you imagine I will bear tamely having this vile trick played on me?"

"That is right. I agree with you there," ejaculated the other.

Exactly. I am going down to confront him, and force him to confess the truth or the lie with his own lips. Thenthen—" He did not complete the sentence, but his teeth closed, his hands clinched so fiercely, while so strange an expression came into his face that Marlow Summertofl, watching him, said:.

" Fermoy, you will do nothing rash?" "Rash? What do you mean?"laughing. " Bah ! he is an old man ; lam young. He, old in villainy ; I. young in trust. It would be a fearful thing, would it not, to send so black a scoundrel to his account? The question is," he continued, still in the cynical, half-bantering tone, " whether, for humanity's sake, he is better here or there. Let the fates decide.

His manner had succeeded in allaying the dread his expression had created in Marlow Summerton.

Nevertheless, the words in Fermoy's mind when he paused had been : Then, if this be truth, I shall kill him!"

Aware of the thought to which he had given rise in his friend's mind, with the cunning of insanity, he tried to remove it by his behaviour and speech, as he began to dress for the journey. During this he showed Summerton a telegram-form, addressed to Lady Strathearn, to the following effect: — " Have to leave at once, most unexpectedly, for Cheshire not an instant to spare. Will write."

"I dared not send it tc Florizel. I dared not write to her. I—should have said — too much. , Will you see this sent for me?"

"Certainly. I'll take it at once, while you finish dressing?" "Will you return?" "Of course. I shall see you off." " Thanks. I feel stronger in your company. You force me to talk,- and it's human to confide one's troubles to somebody." To own truth, the shock had been so great, even to Marlow Summerton, that he was glad to be alone for a space to recover himself.

"If I could but help the poor, dear fellow !" he thought as hurried to the tele-graph-office—" if I only could. At least, I'll do my best. The bitterest part, I know, is that in reference to Florizel Strathearn. It's that that's preying upon him most, the sure sign being that he speaks least of it. But I can read it in the lost expression, the agony which shows every now and then in his eyes. Yet how he commanded himself when he spoke of the telegram ! It's a base, diabolical thing this old man has done, which no provocation could justify. Of course, it will be all over between him and Florizel Strathearn. A girl in her position could not wed one who -will have to begin at the first rung of the ladder to work for his bread aside the disgrace upon his birth. And if she could or would, as a man of honour, as the man I know Fermoy to be, he could never marry her. That would be a selfish love, of which he is utterly incapable." By this, he had reached the telegraphoffice, and having despatched the telegram returned, engaging a hansom on the way. He found Fermoy, so far as outward appearances went, in a much calmer frame of mind, and prepared to start. "I was getting impatient." he said, lifting his Gladstone bag. "We shall only be just in time." " Oh, yes, I've brought a hansom, and it's: a good horse," rejoined Summerton. "He'll cover the ground without distressing himself." .' , '

"Marlow, what a good fellow you are!" " Nonsense. Don't come any of that. I'll go first." Soon they were being driven along at full speed. As they dashed up to the station, Summerton, on the near side, sprang out, saying : " You settle with the man, while I get the ticket."

When they met on the platform, they found the train about starting. " Smoking-carriage, sir?" called a guard. " JjTo," said Summerton, slipping a handsome gratuity into his palm. " A carriage, if possible, to ourselves." And after Gilbert Fermoy sprung in hastily, for the carriages were beginning to move, on turning, to his surprise, he found Vlarknv Summerton in the carriage, too.

"You!" he ejaculated. "You here!" " Surely, dear boy, you didn't think ] would, at such a time, let you go alone?" " What more can I say than what I have?" rejoined Femioy, with emotion, " that you are a good fellow; that I always knew rt-"

For some short while he sat silent, his face turned to the window; then they fell again into conversation. On they went, through the lovely English land; through towns, past distant villages, pleasant farms, and meadows, and stretches of land where neither cattle fed nor grain grew, rich land lying waste, the private property, the estate of some great man, great by inheritance or purse. It was pretty scenery, but well known to Fermoy, while Marlow Summerton had no thought to give to anything or anyone save his friend.

They reached the old, quaint city of Chester just in time to take the train, to Bidston, the nearest station to Abbotsholm.

" You are weary, tired, now," said Summerton, as they drew near. " You will not go to him to-night," for the twilight was settling down. " Best wait, Fermoy, for to-morrow."

" I must know all to-night," was the firm response.' "Do not try to persuade me other. Not go on to Abbotsholm?" laughing cynically. " Why, what would Bidston think? Unless he has already bruited the foul news abroad, every man, woman, and child there, yet holds me son and heir to Sir Royston, the millionaire. "Then shall I come with you?"—anxiously. I'd better." i "What, to stay in the hall or the .anteroom while I see him? Where would be the use? My interview with Sir Royston must have no witnesses."

" Hear me, then, Fermoy. You have been cruelly treated, justifying much—but —promise me you will do nothing rash?" " Rash!" laughing shortly, as, the train coming to a halt, he opened the door. "My dear fellow, what have you in your mind? What do you suspect? There, like a good boy take my Gladstone with you to the Bidston Hotel, the best in the place. I'll join you there. Confound the fellows"— in lower tones see how they all respectfully touch their hats to me. If they only knew!"

Did they not know? Summerton fancied they • did z for he noticed they turned and" looked after the young fellow when he passed with grave, sympathetic faces, and, in some cases, whispered together. Going through the gate into the road, Fermoy sprung into the only fly waiting without a word. But the man knew; touching his hat he gathered up his reins and drove off.

" Heaven keep him from harm," prayed Summerton, for earnest wishes are prayers. " Keep them both from harm, and bring him safely back. How he avoided giving me a direct answer, much less a promise. I've half a mind to follow," he reflected, anxiously, watching the retreating fly. Glancing round, for the first time he saw that his friend had taken the only one there was, consequently to follow was out of his power. Besides, what right had he to force himself into the presence of these two?

Finally, after a further hesitation, he took up the Gladstone bog, entered the small country town, and inquired his way to the Bidston Hotel.

Meanwhile Gilbert Fermoy, deep in painful thought, was driven along the country road, arched by trees, to Abbotsholm. How often, from child to man had he traversed it.

The distance, but a mile and a-half, was soon covered, and the handsome ironwrought gates came in view, with the pretty lodge, the fine old trees shadowing its thatched roof.

At the sound of the fly's approach, the lodge-keeper came out, hastily opened the gates, and dropped her curtsey. But as she did so, she raised her eyes a moment to Gilbert Fermoy's face, and he noticed on hers sadness and sympathy, before she averted it.

"By heaven! he has told all of them," he thought, flushing crimson. A moment the shame of it made him hesitate whether to proceed. Only a moment. "It is the more need that I should see him," he muttered, through his set teeth.

Now the avenue ended, the fine, old mansion he had called his home from childhood, which he had always believed one day would be his, and in whose handsome rooms he had delighted to picture Plorizel Strathearn—Florizel, his wife— up before hini out of tilt) grey, twilight

I Descending, beginning tc tremble much J with excitement, he rang at the big, half- ; glass door.

A footman, an elderly man in plain dress, opened it, drew back, stepped forward, and hesitated. Gilbert Fermoy usually walked in, asking for his father, now he" stepped . over the threshold as a stranger and asked ] for Sir Royston. | " Sir Royston. Mr. Gilbert! Have they j not told you down there!" nodding toward ; Bidslon. "Do you not know? Sii Roy- ! ston is dead

| "Dead!" echoed Gilbert- Fermoy, starting i back, and the first thought that flashed I tiirough his mind was: "Then, after all. ;he has escaped me." In a moment, howi ever, he asked: " How'.' When? 1 do nob I understand.''

" It's been a shock to all of us," replied the man. "He wrote a letter to you yesterday. Mr. Gilbert, and it- seemed to* excite him a good deal. He sent the groom at full speed riding to Chester to post it, that it should reach you the sooner. We noticed, his face was Hushed all day. and the eyes swollen. He scarcely ate anything, and went early to bed. Tins morning we found him dead."

There was silence, then Fermoy asked: "Did he speak of me?" An expression of great confusion and distress came into the servant's countenance.

"Speak out, man," said Fermoy, sharply. "He did?"

"He did. He said: 'If Mr. Gilbert comes do not admit him. I refuse to see him.' "

" Did he say why?" " No. Mr. Gilbert. Are you going? Will you not stop?" "Stop! Stop here after that message,?" cried the 'young man. " For what do you take me? Wait. Who is undertaking the arrangements?" "The butler; they wrote at once for Sir Royston's lawyer Sir Royston always gave orders that that should be done, did he die suddenly." "That will do, thank jou. When the lawyer comes let him know I am at Bidston. I must see him."

Then, stepping over the threshold, without once looking back, he quitted Abbotsholm.

(To he continued daily.)