A Game of Chance.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 29

A Game of Chance.

BY ELLA J. CURTIS

(SHIBLBY SMITH),

Author of " The Favourite of Fortune," " All for Herself," " His Last Stake," &c, Ac.

SYNOPSIS OF PBBVIOUS OHAPTEBS.

Chapters I to lll.— Young .George Brskine's regiment was under orders for India, and his father, Sir John, Aunt Louise, and little Letty, his sister, were on the gui vive. Letty was a bright, sprightly , amiable girl of 15, spoilt from her cradle, and, child as she was, no one thought of the intimacy between herself and Arthur Pflmer, her brother's soldier friend. Iv the same veasel, the Great Pyramid, which was to convey George and his comrade Filmer to India, sailed pretty Mies Amy Gordon, a sprightly lady, with a taste for flirtation, and her maid, Bella Eoasifcur, a handsome, dashing girl, pert, smart, and given to claim attentions from the young fellows who came in her way. Before she left with her mistress in the Great Pyramid, a tragic cloud had passed over Bella's young life. She was beloved by Jem Hatheaway, a gamekeeper, who heard with sorrow of her approaching departure, and tried to dissuade her, from her voyage. But she is anxious -to see the world, and so rejects poor Jem, especially as handsome George Frederick Pottinger has looked lovingly upon her. Pottinger is Erskine's servant, and has to accompany him to India, and ' the prospect of sailing thither with Bella—" all in the same ship; think of that, my beauty "—is a "lark" to Pottinger. Jem Hatheaway one evening overhears \ the two discussing their plans, and, seized with jealousy and -madness, he fires in their direction. The shot passes harmlessly by, but a moment afterwards another shot is heard, and then hastening to the spot the pair find Jem Hatheaway dying from' a gunihot wound self-inflicted. ' He expires in the soldier's arms, but not' before he has with his latest breath, cursed them both. , This was the tragedy that overhung Bella as she prepared for her Indian voyage. As the good ship speeds away her departure is watched by Sir John, Aunt Louise, and Letty, who wave their adieux. , Chaptebs IV to VI.— A vacancy occurs in the representation of the Southern Division of Stoneshire, and Sir John, a sound, old-fashioned Tory, is asked to stand . Much to the surprise of everybody. & Badical candidate comes forward, ia the person of ,a Mr Otway, and Sir John Brskine thinks it the most audaoious thing he ever heard in all his life. Letty Brskine, now a girl of 18, for it is three years since John Brskine left for India, is in'the habit of driving out with a pair of pet ponies, Fire and Smoke, and it is while so engaged that an acoident is prevented and possibly her life saved by no less a personage than Mr Otway, the Badical candidate himself. Sir John, though annoyed, makes himself agreeable to Otway and calls upon hira.Mr Otway returns the call and makes the acquaintance of Letty. It is during the election campaign that the. girl conceives the idea of asking Otway to relinquish his candidature in her father's favour. She visits him for that purpose, but when in the midst of their conversation her father appears, and, livid with passion, attempts to strike Utway with' a riding whip. ,But Otway arrests his arm only just in time. "If you were not her father." he said, '• I'd knock you down where you stand." Ohaptbbs VII to IX.— Explanations are made as to Letty'a visit, and a reconciliation ensues between Sir John and Otway. The, nomination day arrives, and an insulting remark from the crowd leads to something approaching a riot. As Sir John is speaking a bully cries outf from the throng, "What was Miss Letty doing in the Hew Hotel with Billy Brandon?" Otway .hears it, and instantly attacks the ruffian, and then a riot occurs, Otway being seriously assaulted and receiving a broken arm in the fray. He is taken in Sir John's carriage to the Chase, and there treated until recovery. Whilst at the Chase Otway withdraws from the contest, and ' Sir" John is elected without opposition. On Otway*s departure he obtains a promise from Letty to meet him when he returns after the vacation. She does so, and is waiting for him when she is accosted by the fellow Brandon, who was in the hotel at the time of Letty's visit. He refers to the scandal of the visit, and offers to square the slanders for £5. Half-frightened Lettv gives him the money, and he is leaving her when Otway appears on i he scene, and threatens to hand him over to the police if he does not immediately return the money. He offers to do" so, but declares he is starving, and at Letty's solicitation he is allowed to keep the money. Ohaptbbs X to Xll.— Otway, after the ruffian hai left Miss Erskine, is led to declare his love for her, but she gives him little encouragement, inasmuch as his manner is too submissive, for her taste. She wishes to be ruled, not to rule, find bis docile affeotion somewhat displeases her. Beaching home, Sir John has just' received news from India. Jack is engaged, to Miss Amy Gordon,' the young lady who went out to India in the same «bip code yeses be*

ifqre. , .The, scene' is, .changed fa" ithe young* ladles' college in Little Centre Bridge, where Miss Mary Hamilton, Mrs Dysart Smith's English governess, has just' received her dismissal 'on tne pretext that her' sapervision of- 1 her pupils was too lax during play hours. , The real reason le,.however, that more attentionhadbeenshownher by Dr Murray, thegenial rector^ than to Miss Dysart' Smith; Miss Hamilton from an upper window watches the Hector in the garden which adjoins. the schoolhouse, and afterwards meets him by accident at the post office. She then tells him of her dismissal, a fact which considerably exercises the mind of the Hector.

Chapters XIII to XV.— Through a mutual friend. Mies Maiham, the Hector and Misi Hamilton met at her house, and, left to themselves— they are neither of them of the boy , and girl 'age— they quickly, make matteri matrimonially agreeable to themselves. During the evening ' Mrs, Dysart Smith herself and her daughter appear on the scene. ,Tbe Hector beats ft retreat, bnt leaves' behind him his . hat. Just ' as the ladies rise to leave, Miss Smith observes the hat, but the Hector is not beside it, and they depart, •wondering greatly. Beturning to Otway and Miss Brskine, the latteraubsequentiy consents to become his wife,' and Otway is as one demented with delight. A telegram is received' from India announcing the marriage of Jack.