“BALDOVIE.”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6237, 9 June 1890, Page 4

“BALDOVIE.”

LITERATURE

A. TALE OF CRIME AND

MISFORTUNE

The brightness instantly vanished from J( ss’s face, leaving the pallor more marked than belore.

* What is it you mean ?’ she asked, again bewildered and frightened. 'Did he not promise to come to you on the night when he was last seen.’ * Yes.’

‘ But instead of coming here he went in the opposite direction—the dooms scoundrel. Do you not see yet ?’

‘ See what V 1 That it was Will Carmichael himself who got the boat from Bauldie Monro ’

‘ But Bauldie would have known him, and he savs it was a man he had never seen before.’

* That was part of the play. It was Will Carmichael himself, I tell you ; but he had muffled himself up so that Bauldie could not see his lace, and he did hot speak more than a dozen words through his happings.’ ‘ What then ?’

‘ Why, the rest was easy. He set the boat adrift so that folk might think he was drowned.’

‘ But if he wanted folk to think that, why should he seek to hide who he was from Bauldie ?’

The appositeness ot the question staggered him for a moment, and then seemed to aggravate him. * That was another part of his play. He showed himself at Jean Scourburn’s and that was enough. Had he allowed Bauldie to ken him he would have been been kept back by his jabber mattL speirings about his home-coming. JKo made believe to be his own "'servant. Now he is off to enjoy h;msolf, and he took care to get a haul of siller for the purpose. On that very day he got five thousand pounds from his dying father.’ ‘ Who told you all this V ‘lt was—but I will mention no names. It was one who has kept an eve on him lor my behoof and yours, and who had the chance of discovering his treachery. Do you not believe what I tell you ?’ Jess bent over the cradle crying. It was not, however, as Culross thought, because she was convinced of Will Carmichael’s guilt, but because she saw how hopeless it was to attempt by any argument to satisfy her father ot his innocence. She had more than a suspicion whence the story emanated, and she knew that it was false.

Words and arguments would have had no effect on him ; but the spectacle of her wordless grief did reach his better nature. He sat down, elbows resting on his knees and brow on his hand.

‘ Jess, ray bairn, Jess ; I hae had a heap to thole, and this seems to hurt me more than all the rest.’ He muttered this bitterly, with clenched teeth, as if angry with'himself for giving way to emotion. For fifteen years misfortune held him in a cruel grip. ‘ 1 that should have .shared the luck of John Carmichael, was hurtled from my place by the falsehood and fraud that was charged against me. Against me—-me —that never wronged moul creature of a penny. They were forced to own that there was a mistake, but I was ruined name and credit gone, and siller wasted in defending myself.’ She passed to the side of his chair and rested her hands sympathetically on his shoulders.

‘ Bat I could lift my bead against them, and laugh at the curs that slunk away from me because 1 was poor. They left me in the slough when trouble came —all except one ; and now that one is dead, and his son has given me the hardest blow that I have yet had.' He stopped, and she spoke in low earnest tones.

‘ Jf Will is alive, father, as you say, I thank God, for he will soon prove that he has done us no wrong.’ He jerked his head from her with an impatient ‘ Hoots ! We need no mote words on the matter until I chose to speak, and when that time comes I shall hav eseilled accounts with him.’

‘ Are you going away ?’ * Ay,’ he answered with his hand on the door, ‘ I am going to the funeral.’ ‘ Ton will come home afterwards P she questioned timidly. ‘I do not know ; but you can get a bed ready for me ’ The group which assembled in the dining-room of ■ Baldovie after the funeral of John Carmichael, comprised, besides the family, a number of distant relations who had suddenly appeared from the various parts of the conn try, some of them sorry enough lor the loss of a friend, all of them—poor and well-to-do alike—eager to know to what extent they were to benefit £by the

will. As the lawyer of the deceased, Mr Daiegisb, with much solemnity, placed the private deed-box on the table- Mrs Carmichael sat on his right hand, and to her he chiefly addressed himself. Margot was on his left and David stood behind him. With professional deliberateness, Mr Dalegish fixed his gold-rimmed eyeglasses, brfke the seals, opened the box, and produced the will, which he proceeded to carefully smooth on the table. Every movement was noted by eager eyes, and every word was listened to with breathless interest.

There were considerable bequests to a number of institutions, legacies of varying amounts to friends —the minister, Mr Grant, was included among them —and relatives. His clerks and servants were all remembered in proportion to the period they had been in the testator’s service, and a small sum was left to each of bis mill-hands.

The bulk of his property was divided in this way ; Baldovie and its belongings, with a suitable sum lor its maintenance, and the annual interest of onethird of bis. whole estate, were bequeathed for her lifetime to Mrs Carmichael, and at her demise to be equally divided amongst his three children or their heirs. To Marget, one-third ot

his estate under trustees ; to William and David in equal shares, the whole residue of his property, and the entire interest in the business of Carmichael and Co., with the mills, machinery, offices, ships, and everything belonging thereto. Mrs Carmichael and Mr Dalgleish were appointed trustees. • Now, there is this packet, marked No. 10,’aproceeded the old lawyer, in a grave, methodical way ; I no instructions have been given to me regarding it ; but doubtless they were given to Mr William Carmichael. In his absence —temporary absence, we hope— It has been suggested to me by Mr Feuerheerd, that we should delay opening this packet for a few days. With Mrs Carmichael’s approval I shall do so, and in the meanwhile I will replace it in the box, which will remain under my care,’ Then the company dispersed, some pleased, others hiding disappointment under solemn looks, but all speculating on the future of Margaret Carmichael, whose inheritance would make her richer than some of the royal princesses. On the forenoon of the following day the s.s. L’ndores entered the Victoria Dock, Norman Grant master. Having performed all pressing harbour duties, Norman hastened to the manse, _ where he was received with ecstatic joy by his crowd of sisters, and with calm pleasure by his father. He had not been home for ten minutes before he wa« informed of what had happened at Baldovie, The captain was startled by the marvellouß news, and determined to proceed at once to the house in order that he might offer Marget what consolation it was in his power to give. The minister was ignorant as yet of the very important personal interest his son had in the fortunes of the heiress, and did not think of mentioning what a large proportion of the late millionaire s wealth had been baqueafhed her. The girls were full of it, but bad not time to enlarge upon it.

{To he Continued, i