“BALDOVIE.”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6240, 12 June 1890, Page 4

“BALDOVIE.”

UTERATURE

A TALE OP CRIME AND

MISFORTUNE

‘ 01), Mrs Carmichael,’ exclaimed Jess, ‘ I knew you would come ! I am so much better at the sight of you. How good you hare been to us! Will —our Will—is the only one that can thank you as I would like to do if I could,’ she said excitedly, reaching out her hands. ‘ And he will be able to do it himself; for my father was here yesterday, and he says that Will is alive and safe. 1 know they are wrong in saying that he wants to run away from me; and it I could only find some way ot showing father that he never meditated such a thing, I should be well in a day,’ The letter Mrs Carmichael had in her pocket would afford the proof Jess desired, provided she had not written it. She produced the letter. ‘ Is that your writing V Jess glanced at it, and answered promptly : ‘Of course that is my writing,’ ‘ Look again,’ she said nervously; ‘ read, and tell me if you wrote that.’ Jess, much amazed, read the letter quickly, and it dropped from her helpess hand.

‘ Oh, Will, Will, Will—who can i.ave done this?’ she moaned, closing her eyes and shuddering. ‘ You did not do it P’

‘ Me—no ! how could IP We were waiting 1 here for him all the evening—all the night—grandfather and me, and be never came. ... Oh,

Will, my Will, you have been murdered by some villain !’ ‘Do not think that/ said Mrs Carmichael with restored energy now that all doubt as to the possibility of Jess having written the letter was removed ; and, with more excitement than sbe was accustomed to display, she continued ; ‘ Think rather how we can discover the person who has been able to imitate your handwriting so closely that even yourself were deceived at the first sight.’ * Yes, yes, that is what I ought to do—that is what I must do !’ cried the young mother, clasping 1 her hands and looking wildly into space ; * hut 1 can think of nobody—l can think of nobody who would want to do such a wrong to him and to me.'

‘ Have you not written to any one who might be—jealous of Will V A light flashed into Jess’s eyes, and she clasped the hand of her friend, looking into her face with clear honest eves, in which there was an expression o”l astonishment at the idea which had been suggested to her. ‘ I do not think it can be possible/ she said, forcing herself to speak slowly, ‘ but there is one man whf> pretended that he—that he liked me. I said ‘No’ to him, and he was sorry. He did not say that he would be vindictive ; but at the same time I felt very uncomfortable, and the idea passed thrcugh mind that it he ever had an opportunity of hurting the man I loved he would do it.’

‘ Who was the man V asked the mistress of Baldovie, in the strange tcne oi one who already knows the answer to the question. ‘lt is so ridiculous/ replied Jess, ‘and besides, the man never had a letter from me so that he might copy my writing.’ s Who is the man P* repeated Mrs Carmichael quietly. ‘ You will be astonished you may laugh at me/ replied Jess, somewhat hysterically. ‘ I am thinking about Mr Feuerheord He used to come here very often, until I refused to see him/ Jess proceeded ; ‘ and then,—oh, but it is nonsense!’

‘ What is nonsense V ‘ The idea that ho could wish to murder Will, because I turned him away. He never could do it.’ ‘jji am quite sure that he would not,’ said Mrs Carmichael, calmly, f for that motive alone,’ 1 What other motive could he have ?’ was the excited question. ‘ "Wo do not know yet,’ said Mrs Carmichael. * What we have got to do just now is to find out who wrote this letter. I shall, perhaps, take it to the Fiscal and leave it with him. In the' meantime yon are to do your best to get well, so that you may be able to find your husband. I do not know what other counsel to give you. But there can be no harm in holding our tongues.’ , ‘ I will do anything you wish ; but grandfather might be able to help us—he is very clever about handwriting.’ ‘I know he is, and 1 mean to ask his help. Good-bye. I shall see you again to-morrow, and hope you will he stronger then. We have a great dea to do, remember, and so you must try to get well in order to help roe.’ Jess gratefully gave her promise to do whatever her friend desired, and Mrs Carmichael took.her leave. Her next step was to the office ; and her visits there were so rare that it caused considerable sensation amongst clerks and porters. On the way she had decided how to make use of the letter. , . Mr Feuerheerd observed tne arrival of the carriage, and hastened down to offer bis hand to the lady. Mrs Carmichael affected not to see his proffered hand, but spoke to him in a confidential tone. ‘ I have particular business with you, Mr Feuerheerd,’ she said, ‘I have been very much agitated to-day, Mr Feuerheerd. and I want your advice.’ ‘ Pray be seated, Mrs Carmichael, and tell me what has happened. You know my services are always at your disposal.’ ‘lt is a somewhat delicate matter, and must be explained to you and to others. Accident to-day has placed in my hands an important clue to Mr William’s fate.’ * That would he good news indeed ; for so far all the efforts ot the police and my evertiona have failed to find the slightest trace of him after he quitted Jean Scourburn’s.’ ‘ Read this, and tell me if you do not think it is of great importance V He read the letter as directed, and his heavy eyebrows were lifted in surprise.

‘ If this is genuine, it is of the very greatest importance,’ he said with emphasis. ‘ Yes, if itisgenmne,’ she said quietly, as she took the letter from him. ‘ 1 think we can easily ascertain that by consulting the writer. I understand that it is written by the daughter of Gavin Cnlross.’ ‘ Supposed to be written by her,’ was the gentle correction. ‘ Say ‘ supposed ’ then j but I must now confess to you a matter which has often caused me uneasiness. I knew that there were some passages between Mr William and this young lady which I certainly did not think prudent or likely to be approved of by his father. But it was not my business to interfere ; and had I attempted to do so, it is more than probable that Mr William would have taken some rash stepwhicb might have caused you all the more annoyance than by leaving him to his own course,’

< He took a rash step in concealing their manage Irom his family : for now it has to be acknowledged under most distressing circumstances.’ ‘ Marriage ? Has it gone so far as that?’ exclaimed Feuerheerd, as if astonished by the information. ‘ Yes, and the fact must be recognised with the least possible delay. Meanwhile, I have seen Mrs Wil iam, and she did not write the letter. She has not been out of her house for more than three weeks.’ ‘This is -the most extraordinary affair I ever heard of, and renders the disappearance of Mr William more mysterious than ever, I am for a moment utterly at a loss to know how to advise.’

‘ Tell me what should be done with this letter P’

He answered promptly ( It must be placed in the hands of the Fiscal ; but first I would suggest that you should take it to Mr Dalgleish, explain everything to him, and act as his experience may direct.’

[To he Continued.)