A FATAL PAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 33

A FATAL PAST.

By BORA RUSSELL.

Author of." Footprints in the Snow," "The Broken Seal," " The Track of the Storm," " A Bitter Birthright," &c, &o.

[ALL RIGHTS BESERVED.]

Chaptbb XXVII.

A Stray Shot. MOMENT or two later the whole household was in the utmost confusion. Lord Ennismore had been found by two of his labourers lying wounded in the woods, and Lady Ennismore, hearing — it was supposed — the noise of Lord Ennismore being carried into the house, had

gone to her room door and looked down into the hall below, and seen the terrible sight. This was what was said at least, when the maid's cries brought others to their lady's assistance.

But while the servants were running hither and thither, calling first for one thing and then the other, the rector and Miss Sinclair arrived on the scene. Miss Sinclair had attended the meeting in Mortonbury, and lingered when it wa3 over until she had an opportunity of complimenting the rector on his speech. Then, she had said with a little nervous shiver, she must go, as it was already so dark. And what could the Rev. Peter say? It was dark and it was also misty, and no gentleman could have allowed a lady to go unattended on such a night. He therefore offered his escort, which was delightedly accepted. Luckily Miss Dorothy was laid up with a cold in her head, at the rectory, and Miss Martha had remained to attend on her sister ; so the rector was free to do as he pleased. He therefore walked with Miss Sinclair to Brackenford, and the distance seemed only too short for him. Mjss Sinclair spoke of their friendship, and said what a support it was to her, and thß rector's sallow cheeks glowed in the misty air v But still he did not forget Martha and Dorothy at home, and when they reached the hall door at Brackenford nothing, very particular on either side had been said. They were just parting when Miss Sinclair perceived something unusual going on inside.

" Come in and see what is the matter," she said, still holding the rector's hand. " There must have been an accident I am afraid on the moors," she added ; and thus together they went into the lighted hall. The butler was kneeling by Lord Ennismore's side, holding one of his hands as they entered, and the other servants and the labourers who had found him in the woods were standing about looking stupid or frightened. But Miss Sinclair soon changed all this.

" What has happened to Lord Bnnismore ? " she asked quickly, going also up to the side of the prostrate man, who was still lying on the gate on, which he had been carried in.

Then half a dozen voices told the story, and the rector at once knelt down by Lord Ennismore, and felt his pulse, and held his cold nerveless hand.

11 Help me to lift him on a couch, and let us carry him into the library," he said, addressing the butler, " and send Cox immediately into Mortonbury for Dr Grey, and one of the other grooms for Dr Braittan ; there is no time to be lost, Lord Ennismore is faint from loss of blood."

These orders were all promptly executed, and Lord Ennismore was carried into the library on a couch, which was placed near the fire, and then the rector, assisted by Miss Sinclair, succeeded in pouring a little brandy between Lord Eunismore's lips. He moved slightly after this and opened his eyes, and when he saw the rector bending anxiously over him, he tried to smile.

" Are you feeling better, my dear lord T " said the Rev. Peter. "Try and swallow a little more brandy ? " The spirit seemed to revive him, and while the rector took off his necktie and opened his shirt, which was soaked with blood, he spoke a few words in a faint low voice. 11 I've got badly hurt somehow," he said. " Yes, but you will be all right, presently, I hope," answered the rector, who now had found one wound high on the chest, close to the collar bone, and was holding a handkerchief to it to staunch the bleeding. "Dr Grey will be here immediately, and Braitban too, in the meantime we must try to keep you up."

All this while Miss Sinclair had stood near the rector, but she shrank back a little when she saw the blood-stained garments. And as she did this one of the women touched her arm.

" Oh, Miss Sinclair, will you come upstairs to my lady,' she whispered, and Miss Sinclair, after anotb#r half shuddering glance at the wounded man, complied with her request. She found Lady Ennismore lying on the bed where they had lifted her, still in a halffainting condition, though she was beginning to show some signs of consciousness, and in the expression of her face there was a strange look of terror. "Dear Lady Ennismore," said Miss Sinclair, approaching her, " this is very terrible, but I hope Lord Ennismore's injuries are not serious."

Lady Ennismore looked at her as if she scarcely comprehended her meaning. • " The rector is with him,"' went on Miss Sinclair ; "it was very fortunate was it not that he kindly saw me home from Mortonbury, as the evening is so dark, and when we arrived here it was a great shock to us to find Lord Ennismore lying in the hall." '

Lady Ennismore suddenly lifted her head and her pallid lips parted, and her eyes were fixed with a terrible look of inquiry on Miss Sinclair's face.

" But the rector has sent Cox for Dr Grey, and Lord Ennismore has swallowed some brandy and spoken a few words, so I trust the accident may not prove a severe one," said Miss Sinclair soothingly. "Lord Ennismore?" gasped out Lady Ennismore.

" Yes ; you knew, did you not ? They told me you had seen him carried in, and it had upset you so terribly." Lady Ennismore sprang from the bed, and fell tottering forward, but Miss Sinclair caught her in her arms. " Not Ennismore ? " she said wildly ; "say not Ennismore 1 "

" Dear Lady Ennismore " "Ib was not my hu3band they carried in — not, not Ennismqre?" repeated the unhappy woman, peering up in her governess' face with her terror-stricken eyes. " I saw them bear in — someone "

" There has been a slight accident, but do not disturb yourself so dreadfully, it would grieve Lord Ennismore so much, if he knew." , Lady Ennismore gave a kind of gasping sob, and sank down on a seat, and covered her face with her hands.

"Take some sal-volatile, Lady Ennismore," urged Miss Sinclair, and she ordered one of the maids to prepare this, and then held it to Lady Ennismore's lips, who eagerly swallowed it.

It seemed to compose her, but again she gave a shuddering sigh, and covered her face. But after a few moments she looked up, and said almost steadily, " Tell me again, Miss Sinclair, what has happened ? " Then Miss Sinclair detailed once more her return to Brackenford with the rector, and how they had found Lord Ennismore. " But do not alarm yourself, he was merely faint from loss of blood, the rector said," added Miss Sinclair.

" I will go to him," said Lady Ennismore rising ; and deadly pale and shaking in every limb, she staggered to her feet, and clinging for support to Miss Sinclair's arm she quitted the room, and descended the staircase, and was led by Miss Sinclair to the library where Lord Ennismore lay.

He seemed better now than when they had first carried him in, and as Lady Ennismore entered the room, he looked at her and smiled.

" I have had an accident, Katie," he said : •' but it will be all right I expect, though it was the strangest thing." "How— did it happen, Ennismore 7" faltered ,Lady Ennismore, sinking on her knees by his side, and taking one of his hands in hers.

" I cannot imagine how it happened," he answered; "I was not feeling very brisk, and I left Ourzon and the keepers early, and walked slowly back by the woods just as it was getting dark " "By the woods," interrupted the woman kneeling by his side, with a sudden start. " Yes, and just when I got to one of the little bridges I heard a shot fired, and the next moment felt I was hit. I was hit twice I think, and fell forward — but my poor Katie, this is making you quite ill, and I daresay I shall be all right presently." Lady Ennismore spoke no word ; she bowed her head forward as if utterly overcome, and the dew broke out on her brow, and she grew so ghastly pale that Miss Sinclair thought she was again about to faint..

"We must all be thankful it is no worse," said the rector, trying to spe ik reassuringly ; " I fear it must have btiv n some poacher, Lord Ennismore." " Not unlikely ; well, Katie, you'll just have to nurse me," smiled Lord Ennismore, and she pressed her cold trembling lips upon his hand.

"I am sure Lady Ennismore will be a wonderfully good nurse," said Miss Sinclair, "and Lord Ennismore an equally good patient — but I hear an arrival — no doubt it is one of the doctors."

It was one of the doctors— Dr Grey of Mortonbury, whom Cox had luckily met returning from his country rounds, not far from Brackenford. And he had at once, on receiving Cox's news about Lord Ennismore, turned his horse's head aud ridden to tho Hall.

By his wish the ladies immediately left the room until he examined Lord Ennimore's injuries. # Lady Enuismore made no opposition to his request, an 1 accompanied by Miss Sinclair she feebly and falteringly, as if

stricken with sudden age, went Into the breakfast room which adjoined, and sat there silent, motionless, while Mis? Sinclair continued her common-place consolations. "Oh l hush hush," she suddenly cried, starting to her feet. She could hear no longer the smooth speeches, which jarred on her racked heart, torn with hideous consciousness. Had she done this? By the bridge — he said by the bridge— and it was dark, dark

She stood in the centre of the room with her hands clasped, and with such an intensely tragic expression on her face as one after another of these thoughts whirled through her brain, that Miss Sinclair grew absolutely almost afraid. She thought grief was driving her mad, and wondered how the ordinarily stately and composed Lady Ennismore could be moved to such a depth of passionate emotion.

And minute after minute passed on — minutes fraught with such miserable anxiety and dread for the unhappy woman that they seemed hours to her distracted mind. Then there came a little, gentle rap at the room door, and the kindly face of the rector appeared. "I am the bearer of good news, Lady Ennismore," he said. "Dr Grey has examined Lord Ennismore's injuries, and he hopes with good nursing, which he is sure to have, that there is no danger to apprehend." Lady Ennismore listened to these words, and then suddenly she broke out into loud and hysterical sobs. She could not control herself, the strain had been too terrible, the relief too great. 11 Hush, hush, my dear lady — think how thankful we ahould all be," 3aid the kind rector, advancing and taking her hand. " Thankful ! Oh !my God, how thankful 1 " cried Lady Ennismore, falling on her knees. " You are a good man, Mr Prescott ; pray for me now— pray for me in my agony 1 " " I will indeed pray God that Lord Ennismore may soon be restored to health and strength," said the rector with deep feeling. " But, dear Lady Ennismore, remember how it will grieve him if he were to hear you in such distress, and the library is so near." 'I " Yes," gasped Lady Ennismore, trying %o stifle her sobs. " Yes, yes, I know — thank you, Mr Prescott." He raised her up as he spoke, and led her gently to a chair, while Miss Sinclair ran for wine and restoratives. And with a great effort Lady Ennismore finally mastered her almost overwhelming emotion. She did not, however, go back immediately to Lord Ennismore's side. She felt she had not strength just 'then to look upon his face. She was therefore assisted to her own room, and a few minutes later, when she was endeavouring to grow a little calmer, her maid brought up a letter for her, which had arrived by the second post. She scarcely glanced at it, until by chance her eyes happened to fall on the address as it lay on a table near her. Then she bade the maid leave her, and with trembling, shrinking hands she raised the letter and tore it open. It was from George Roche, to tell her he had been unable to keep the appointment she had made with him to meet her that afternoon in Brackenford Woods.

It was dated the evening before from his lodginga in town, and ran as follows :— " Dear Katherine, — I am sorry that I cannot meet you to-morrow afternoon in the woods at Brackenford, as you propose. But the truth is my brother, the colonel, has expressed a wish to see me to-morrow afternoon, and for the sake of our boy I intend to pocket my pride and go to him. He will probably let you know the result of our conference, or I shall, but I am sure if you think of it you will see the gross injustice it is to a fine young fellow like Francis to be cut out of his proper position as your eldest and fonly legitimate son. He knows the whole story now, and went up to London on Sunday to ask his uncle the truth of it. Of that, as you know, there i 3 no doubt. — Yours sincerely," G. R."

Lady Ennismore read these lines, and as she finished them she knew her sin had been in vain; knew that instead of her bitter enemy, her hand had struck down the husband of her love.