LOVE IN THE BALANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12362, 29 August 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

LOVE IN THE BALANCES.

BY CHARLES GARVICE, Anthor of "Mara* a Drayton," Kyra's Fate," "At love's Coat," "Maida," "The ' \} J ,, Shadow .of Her Life," etc. CHAPTER XXVII. ■'They took the earl home. Talbot rode' ■ with him and displayed an appropriate sympathy, and rendered bini an affectionate attention. But all the time his acute brain, sharpened by his peril, vas at work. What course should he pursue? Should he show •'-fight, protest his disbelief of Ralph's iden- }, '■ tity, announce his intention of oontesting the claim? ■'■ _ ■ "■'-■• '/ -■ ■' The moment, 'be had seen Veronica in If the Court he understood that she and Ralph ■were betrothed: another complication. \ She had refused him, Talbot, and had acta*-' . '/' ally fallen in love w h and would many— i the heir. Had she a'i along been aware of I the fact that Ralph /as the earl's son? | 1'; A less clever man than Talbot, might j easily have made the mistake of showing bis resentment and bitter hatred but Talbot Denby was remarkably clever and astute. Before they had reached Lynne Court he Isad decided on his attitude. \ The earl seemed weak and dazed, as if . fe were too bewildered and confused to be conscious of what was going on around him; bit to their entreaties that he would go to b«d, he shook his head, and, assisted by Talbot, went to vhe librarv. As they entered it Mr. Bolton, who "had been on the Cqitinent, drove up. ►Xl have only just come home," he said. ."3es, yes. I know all; my clerk.was in Coirt. Why do you nob take some rest, my lord; why not go to your room?" ' Trie earl ignored the advice. ■■'ilii'Bre —there is no time," he said. "I —J may die—good God, at any moment! ' bj>ttrcv"t'Mng3 are put straight! I want , ! voir help, Bolton." 1 Je looked up and saw Talbot. >, 4 Ah!" he said, in his faint, weak voice. "There is Talbot. What do you say, what de-you mean to do? .You'know that it is trie^—he is my son!" To the surprise of everyone Talbot repled, gravely: ■"You should be the best judge of that, Br; If you acknowledge his identity, his chim, I should not dream of disputing it." The earl looked at him keenly, then drew ' ' a breath of relief. "Youyou are acting as a man of honour, a Denby, should act!" ho said. "I, -4 am grateful to you. I need not say that ftw will— be provided for. There is Wayneford, and—yes, yes, there will be enough for you both." -.-.■/-.../. ' Talbot started, and in voluntarily glanced towards the safe. Had the earl destroyed th* will in Veronica's, favour? If he had not and he were to die suddenly this fellow, this vagrant, would take everything. ■ ' "Do not let my position cause you auv anxiety, sir," he said. "We hare to think o!~my cousin." He brought out the word with a difficulty which the listeners understood and appreciated. Really, Mr. Talbot "»..-'. Denby was behaving remarkably well, with Ja generosity which could scarcely hare been m 'expected! "He is lying «nder a grave charge—" " He is innocent— is innocent!" breathed the earl, proudly. "My son commit murder!" "I;have declared my belief in his innocence, sir, and I declare it still," said Talbot. "But.— you have remanded him, he may be sent for trial, and— the evidence—" »■ The earl groaned. " , ; , s "I am rightly.punished! Bolton, Saintsbury, what is to be done?"' " Everi ; fthing shall be done that can be i done to help him, my lord," said Mr. Bolton, soothingly. ';" We will have down the ;(I best counsel. Wo will—" He stammered i .and faltered. : .'-. : His" clerk, during their drive ; to Lynne Court, had impressed him with the gravity iof • the evidence., "Here hi Doctor Campbell. Yon will follow his advice-—" "Campbell,, I—l- want to see my son!"; I said the earl, his fiery spirit battling with 1 his physical weakness. "Presently, presently, my lord!" said the doctor. "Just now you are not strong enough-to risk an interview that would be trying to both, of you. How soon you wilL be depends on yourself; you must rest, i>.. rest." His stereotyped formula did not raise a smile at that moment. • " Presently, . presently!" said the earl, echoing his words. "I want to speak to Bolton." They all went out but the lawyer. "Bolton," , 'said the earl, in his feeble voice,' " thatthat will I made after Veronica left me, the will leaviing Wayneford and my money to Talbot, where is it?" "You have it it is in' the safe," said ■-/.-.v/. Bolton. • - - :•" . "Get. it; let me see it. I; want Talbot to be provided for. There are the keys." ' Bolton opened the safe.:';;!:// "Here it is,, my lord," he said. "And here is the will you made in Miss Veronica's :; favour. That should have been destroyed. - I will do it now." v' ■■■'/' The eal moved his hand irritably. "Not nowto-morrow." '~-'■ Mr. Bolton nodded. It did not matter. The latest will, leaving Talbot Wayneford and the money, would stand, of course. He put both wills back.hi the safe. I, Talbot had gone but with the others, who ' regarded him in an uneasy silence. But he seemed in no way cast down by the sudden turn of fortune's wheel. . "Of course you are sure of the accuracy of your statement, your memory, Mr. Saintsbury?" he said. ■'; George Saintsbury 'inclined his head. " Quite, Mr; Denby. I was present at the clandestine marriage. It was— am t}b', ashamed to say-.-excellently planned. ,No one had the least suspicion* that it was tho (/////earl who had been courting Janet; in fact, suspicion was directed in other quarters; I ■ myself did not escape. As to the identity "of the lady I saw In Australia there can be no doubt. We spoke of the wedding and she. bound me to/ secrecy. She had i;//; sacrificed herself as the earl had said. Pride is not the monopoly of the upper classes, Mr. Denby ; and Janet, I mean the countess, was as proud in her way as the earl himself." •:j:';':•.:'•■; /:/ Talbot nodded. ' .■.<:■ " But the identity of—of this young; man?" "That can be established," said Saintsbury. " There must be many persons who could help him to trace his history' and connect it with that of his mother. In my own mind there is no doubt whatever." Talbot smiled gravely. ;>l r "Then I am disinherited!" he said. "Well, gentlemen, we are all in the hands of Providence. I—l think, if you will ex- , cuse me, I will take a turn in the open air." It was only natural that he should desire " to be.alone," to face the blow in solitude; and the glances that followed him as he ■Went out were not without sympathy. He paced up and down the terrace for a 1 time, then went across the lawn and entered the i wood. : The possession of the pockethook could not he of much importance now, ~ for there would be no great difficulty in procuring copies of the certificates, but he felt ■» strange desire to secure the thing, to know what had become of it. He reached the fatal spot, and, looking V furtively round, began his search. His v;. nerves had been severely tried of late, and every now and then there crept over him a subtle terror. It seemed to him that the i ghost of the murdered man was hovering about the place ; he heard his hoarse, husky | voice in the rustle of the leaves; the grave j (..still open was a terrible sight, and in im- j agination he went over ever} incident of the j ; • ■ struggle and again bore the repulsive body j ' in his arms and cast it into the grave. Trembling with a deathly sickness he hunt- ': ed amongst the bracken and newly fallen ;U. leave.'*; but after awhile he realised the futility of his search, and reflected that the detectives -would have left no inch of the ground near the grave unexamined. He rose and went slowly back to : the Court, anxiously reviewing his position. After all he still "stood to win. Even if the earl ac--0 knowledged Ralph Farringdon as his son, '; ' and he were proved to be Viscount Lyia- ' borough. he was still lying under the charge of. minder and might* be convicted. How could any jury disregard tho evidence? -, Yes, he would surely be hanged! But even • , ' if he were not, if he were proved net' guilty, ,; there was nothing, absolutely notiiing, to direct suspicion towards himself, Talbot; and lie still had the world bafdre him. He , was a successful politician, was sure of office, perhaps very high office, while his party was in power. -. And the earl had promised >-''~ '.".,-. 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to provide for him. There w.ns Wayneford and the earl's private fortune. But though he had seemed to acquiesce in the 'earl's -acknowledgment ;; of v Ralph Farringdon, he would only remain passive while the earl lived. Should the earl die before the legal recognition of Ralph be, Talbot, would fight for the earldom % to ; the bitter end; • and -at the worst he might be able to effect a compromise. " • :.;; ; , ~v; . Then, suddenly, his mind shifted to ahother subject: Fanny Mason. He had wearied of her very quickly, wearied of her so completely" that he had discarded her and closed the house at St. John's Wood. He had endeavoured to effect the .separation "amiably;" Fanny in a fit of passion had refused the money he had offered her and had disappeared. . He dismissed ; her irom bin thoughts. 'After all, she could do him no Harm. -It was very unlikely that she would return to Lynne. She must have saved money : from her allowance, and she had, of course, taken the jewellery he kid given her. No ; t there -was no need to worry himself about Fanny Mason. He fecrgot that she : was, j wanted as a witness, and that» detectives, j were searching for her. . . \ . He went slowly back to the house and i met Doctor Campbell coming out of the library. "The earl?" asked Talbot, with every appearance of affectionate anxiety. " He is asleep. I was going to fetch Welford to sit with him." . -• " I will stay with him," said Talbot. v"I would rather; he would like it." > " I am going for some medicine," said Doctor Campbell, "and I shall not be long. Don't let him agitate himself; if he should walce keep him quiet." I ■ ' i Talbot stole in.:. The old man'was lying back in his big chair sleeping the sleep of mental and physical exhaustion. Talbot sat down and looked at him keenly. He might die at any moment, in this death-like slumbe;'. Was the will in Veronica's "favour destroyed? His eyes went to the safe, and he start The keys 'were in the lock. It "would only take a. moment. -.'] -He stole to the safe, and, glancing over his shoulder at the earl, opened it.'., There were a number of papers • and deeds filed methodically inside, and with noiseless haste he turned them over. Presently he found one endorsed " Will." a --~ , He untied the red tape and ran his 7 eyes over the document. ' It was : ii will made soon after Veronica's flight, and left him Wayneford and the money ! ~' He smiled with satisfaction, then searched for the Veronica will. ;:''"';. ; .- ;; '-" '■■ , " : :" i '--'- : '"•■- • Just as he found it -he heard -a-step; outside, and with a' start he tossed the wills back into the safe and stole to a chair. The step passed, and he went back to the safe. A moment afterwards the folded parchment was on the top of the fire. It caught at once, and he watched it until it had smouldered into a heap of .charcoal! ': He was gently and cautiously ' stirring it into 1. the body of the fire when the earl awoke with a deep ■', sigh and looked round him ■ confusedlr. - ! -- • ■ ' • • ; -?j- '?'"'■ ■ ■if. Talbot!" he said. Talbot got up and went to him with affectionate anxiety. -% "',"'Are yon batter, sir? Will you come to bed now; is there anything I can' get you?" ■ - --y : ' * ■■;- ■:' '* No, no, thank you. It was good" of you to stay with me." The voice and tone were i strangely gentle .for the once, stern, and cynical earl. "You know* that I -quite appreciate :■ your position', your disappointment. "But my son, my son, Talbot •; My own son!" - . " Yes, yes, sir; "■ very natural," assented Talbot, soothingly. "But you must , not agitate, ; excite yourself. Will f you not come— '' . , ! (--;-;: ."No, no. There is something ''■■! want"to do. : Come for me in half an hour. You heed not be afraid to leave me. Go, please, Talbot." - • There was the old tone of command in the voice, and Talbot could not disobey. " When he ; had gone, ; the earl rose ' with difficulty, and, steadying himself by the furniture, went to the safe. ': He noticed the disordered condition of the deeds, and frowned thoughtfully, and presently ho found one will. ■ .->-•■ ••;■ , He laid'if, on the table, and searched for the other; but it was not there. . Had Bolton taken it? '■[ No; ■;. he remembered seeing him replace them both. With the other will :n his hand he moved back to the fire., and i stared* at * it musingly, and'suddenly he saw a fluttering ember of parchment. None of the Denbys were fools. ; - In an instant he had leapt to the right conclusion. The keys had been in the safe,' Talbot had been kneeling by the fire— - " . The old man shrank as if he bad been struck. That a Denbyi the man who . had so nearly become his heir ■■■ and; successor, should be guilty \ of an act of felony overwhelmed him with grief and shame. The perspiration stood out in big drops on bis forehead and he trembled like a leaf. Then his lips moved. ' - ■" ' ?'- "Be it-; so!" he muttered. "He has digged a pit and fallen into it. ' He,; a Denby, a common criminal! He has digged the pit, there let him lie.-;,"'. ; ';'v \, , '; Certainly Mr. Talbot Denby's * unlucky star was in the ascendant, for the will the earl had ia his hand was that he had made in Veronica's favour. Talbot had destroyed the wrong one! ; '. : LJ ' CHAPTER XXVHI. Viscount Denby I The son 'and heir *of the earl! '•"■•' •- 1 It seemed incredible, and Ralph's friends, as they sat in conference in the oldfashioned room of the old inn—only quite recently raised to the dignity of an "hotel' —held an excited conference. . i ; Veronica sat at the table, her beautiful face flushed, her eyes sparkling ■ with a pardonable nride. " "I ' noticed the fust time I saw him, she said, in a low voice, " that, he was different to the men of the class to which he was supposed to belong; he looked like a gentleman in disguise, and spoke— The earl's son! ' Does he know it?"' \ i Mr. Selby shook his head. - He had just left Ralph.- '""',,*■ \i "No. He had been removed from the Court before the earl spoke," he said, " and I have not told him yet. Why agitate him with this fresh issue? Of course, Mr. Saintsbury, one can rely on your statement, there is the miniature, and "the earl has acknowledged him; but I need scarcely jloint out that if Mr. Talbot Denby chooses to fight —"he shrugged his shoulders. " And mind you he' has by no means a bad case; at any rate he could keep the Law Courts employed for a considerable period—" '_ . ""When his own father recognises him! said Veronica!, .; ; '■' , ■- '/\ ■ - ■ Mr. Selby smiled grimly. . ; . ,_ »•'; "There is a famous case ; in which the Mother ' recognised'—an impostor,; Miss Gresham," he said. " But isn't there a more important question for us? Mr. Farringdon—" ;'... c ;'"'' "Lord Denby, murmured Mr. bamtsbury. , ,«..., "l beg his pardon. Lord Denby, if you prefer it. is remanded on a charge of wilful murder .. , ■ -~, Veronica looked up quickly, and with a catch of her breath. "1 , "But you yourself said he ought to be discharged ••-'• ■( Mr. Selby smiled again. "So 1 should have said if the evidence had been twice as Miss Gresbam. If 1 am to speak plainly—" She was pale now, and her lovely eyes met his bravely. ■■-■~. ~.. . .■ • . . "Yes, yes; oh, yes, speak plainly, please!" she murmured. "Weii, then, it is absolutely necessary, if we are to clear him of the charge, that we should find the man who committed the crime." ' . ; . ,' " Someone may have killed him in robbing him," suggested Mr. Saintsbury. Mr. Selby shook his head. ; ' "The man was too poor for that theory to be of any service. No; he was killed by some person who had-a' stronger motive for getting rid of him" I "Ralph had none!" put in Veronica , quickly. i '.-."" True; but he wjus .known to have quar- ! relied with the man—had been heard quar- ' relling with him on the night that Farring- • don 'left li3Tine suddenly, and without ap- ! parent cause." i ■ The blood flew to Veronica's face. < ! " No; not without cause," she said, and, - in faltering accents, and with downcast eyes, she told them something, but hot all, : of the scene in the arbour. • Mr. Selby listened intently, nodding at ; intervals. . " Good he said; "and vou would tell them this in the witness-box.'"? * She looked up with a proud smile. - I "Yes! I—l am proud of it!" ' ; !

I ■■;! *' I should like to have that girl, that Fanny i Mason, in the, witness-box," he said, mus- •, iugly. ■ » i , :.m The evidence is against us," remarked I Mi. Saintsibuiy. ■ I ," I know ; but if she were about that night, b so near to the time of the murder, she may t have seen- someone else. What is the mat- - ter?" he broke off, for Veronica had started and a faint cry had escaped her. "No-thing!" she said., but her lips trem--1 bled and her hands closed spasmodically, ' r There had : been someone else near the r place that night, and she had seen him; it . was, Talbot! - ;.;;■ Mr. Selby's sharp eyes watched her side- - ways, but he said nothing. I " Who is to tell Ralph that he is the son of Lord Lyraborough?* asked Mr. Saint , bury, pi«sently. :> .-■■ v"".::, b You had better leave that to the earl. x He wishes to see him, is anxious to do so II the moment his doctor will permit, and I ; should not be surprised if he refuses to wait ; for the permission," said Mr. Selby. i His surmise wa3 a correct one, for the 3, next morning the earl came down early, and 5, Welford followed with his lordship's hat and r- fur coat. j .'" I -"■ " Surely you are not going out, sir?" said . Talbot; with grave remonstrance.: "Yes," replied Lord Lynborough, eyeing . him sternly. "I am going to the pri—to see my son." ' . ''■ . ■' '''You will let me go with you, sir— far as the town?" said Talbot. * ;/ [ It would make a favourable impression if ■:.< he were seen accompanying the earl. . % The earl declined with a gesture. ; : "' Thank you; but I prefer to be alone," he j said, and his eyes rested on Talbot's piercingV ly and with almost open contempt. '■> The old man's heart was full of bitterness I towards the man—the —who had , stooped to rifle a safe and destroy a will; . but he kept silence. The act had wrought J its own punishment, as Talbot would discovj'; er later. ;-; ;: ';;.; : ' '.;;■;;' '■•■ As the great barouche was passing the Roej. buck, Veronica chanced to oe coining out, She stopped and the colour rose.to her face, then left it pale, and she looked sadly at the .i frail figure lying back in the carriage. He , saw her and" he started, as if he had for- ■! gotten her—indeed, there was little room j; in his mind for anyone but the son whom he ..-; had so strangely found—then he stopped the i carriage and signed to her., ' *.? ': ; She flew to him with outstretched hands, " and he took them and gazed at her sadly, J remorsefully. _ "Will you get in? lam going"he *; said in a low voice. ■ I Sho entered and sat beside him, and they j* were both silent for a minute; then he said : b ■ "You were -wiser than I, Veronica —and i l yet they say that blood will speak, that the :l .voice of Nature-will make itself heard ; but P.' I was deaf and blind! And yet, the first ; time I saw him there was something in his • face, in his manner of speech that struck 3 i me. ■•' ■ ';-- : -:V: -■:"-.. : ;;-.'';; : a.;.--.;■:...';,-'. 3 "Iremember, my lord," she said, her heart I full; of pity and sympathy. "I'remember "j how keenly you looked at Mm." <■ -. ? ' : " Yes; and on other occasions something ; in his face raised haunting .memories ; r every time I saw him I was oppressed by the vague resemblance to—-to—"• •. * ._ 8 "He has your voice, is like you; I see it ' now," murmured Veronica. ', . - You think so?" he responded, eagerly. M << Yes-ryes, he is! And to think that I sent 5 : my son away from me! But you were true • to him, Veronica! lam grateful to you for e that. You— love him?" -* ;T ' ; 'sWith all my heart and soul!" she re- % spohded, her. eyes glowing. -"Oh, myJ lord, . you do not know how good, how brave, how *■ noble he is!" ''; ." He saved the child," he murmured. ' . * v '-." V "At u the risk of his life. I was there;; ; IsaivUt." . Her voice was low, but rang with 0 pride and love. He nearly'died * " And you nursed him?" » . She bowed her head. :■■"■-'-. "Yes ; God was good to me and spared him 1 to-me;" v . -;-/'V- ,■■''■■-. - - ; '= -'-' ; H-^-i'■'-'' --;:". "■. '.'I must see the child," he said..- / *; '■-■. ' She;is at,the hotel staying with us." % "Yon must all come to the Court, Ve- • ronica!" • She was silent thenjs'aiiok her head. 3 ' "No, my lord, riot until—until—" He started. ! " Youl don't think—there; cannot be auy 1 doubt of his innocence in the mind of any- ■ one. "He is my son, my son, Veronica! • How could my son be guilty of—of murder?" i - "He is not guilty!" she said, very gently, •'" but—but we must find the one who is." ; He began to tremble. ■ . . "There cannot be any difficulty! Ve l 1 ronica, no stone must be left unturned, no • expense spared I ; No expense is being spared, my lord," ; she said, ; ; i i He winced, though she implied no rebuke. 1 v " Bolton shall see to it," he said. " I—l ah, ! what can I do!" They had reached the prison by this time, and he looked up at the building. "My sen 5 is in there!" he muttered. .' Veronica left him' at the gloomy portal: ' "I—l will see him later," she murmured. J (To be continued on Wednesday nest.) ", V - ! . ■..: . 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