CHAPTER LXXXII.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 6

CHAPTER LXXXII.

" I W VNT MV I'KOMISKD MUDE." On that glorious morning of the parting .summer? while, Norman Leigh hurried to ])is (loom, Violet was in the nursery, seated by the porcelain tub wherein Magory was ghing thai, laughing cherub, Rupert, his daily bath. Admiring the health and enjoyment of the child, Violet, forgot her i tumbles, and while the subdued sadness never left her eyes., the pimples returned to her cheeks, and smiles curved her lovely mouth, answering to the shouting mirth of the baV\ For the |iast week Norman had refi lined from brandy and opium, had spoken more kindly to her, and had taken more notice of the child. She was planning to win him. in this softened mood, to more intoio-u. in his family, and the duties of his position To Violet, Kupei*- -edited the mo.st lovely thing on earth, and when the child was dressed she hud Jenny go with her and carry him to Lord Leigh V dre*sing-ioom. Not finding Norman there, she went to the libuiry and the billi ml -room. They were .-ihlce empt\. The bell pealed fo> birakfast, and. aft'e." waiting for a while, Violet bioakhiste 1 alone. -* n undefined diead and unea-iness hung o\ui hei, ami as the morning hours passed she sent Kate to make inquiries, and found that one ot the gardeners had seen Lord Leigh walking earl} on the tei ra.ee rand r and had .sent to him a, lad who came viith a note. " He h,^ lueu exiled otl" by the steward, " thought Violet. But when lunch time e.une, and no Lord Leigh, oM Adam, sharing hi- lady's disturbance, tottered oti to the Karl'- Folly to seek hi- master. The little building was empty. AH ah ,ut it was a warm, slumberous silence : dr i'.jon flies and beetles dai ted ovor the tioaeheroiis surface ot the fatal Pool, and along the margin gold tlnead and bi\u ken. ami cardinal flower-, -waved above the \\arei. There was no tiaee of Loid Leiii \ there. Li'nelieon had been over tor an hour when Mr r-ttonr.-) mixed. Violet met him, *i\yinp : •' Loid Lei?*! went out beinr" breakfast, liui htU- not yet returned." 'He appointed this .aiternoon. at three, for a consultation \\ it li me. i -•'■Mit him a telegram ye-?'>rdu\ that I should be heie pi wontl>, ;i- I have little .span 1 tune. He wi-'ied me f o draw up his will." •• \\ hat l- that for?" asked Violet, ui>caMlj "I- he ill?" " ' think he i- not taking good cure of him-oif, and the)' 1 aie some things from "w In Ji, no doubt, \oiu influence will wean hiir, Lad\ Leigh," - lid tiie Uwyei, who could not but know many of the- 'uy-ieries of Leigh'- bfi ' on know he ha- been rlno.'.tvMiod with danyerous illne.s- lately, and [ iodi'v. el mvai^ument.s with him to make hi- w ill and .appoint guaulian- tor his heir m ea-» an\tlutiu hapi>ened. It was only ju.-mico to \ou and the child. He ha.s b"en very averse to mentioning a will, but has tonally agreed i shall not lea\e heie now until it 1- drawn up." 'He wdl -mek I><' back by diimei time, said Volet, and left Mr Stoims to <'n)ot, himself m the gardens and libiaiy until Lord Lei^Y- it-turn, Biir th»> cou.it j-s and the lawjei ate dinner together . •>( -misL't, and no mastei of the house ha I i )]ii.', and both weieserious'y une >sy. At:er f tinner Hie\ went to the- libiary. Violut ki ;>t hei child uu a- lung us she daied, fo 1 its ininicent [irestinco eomfoited hei unit-sr. A-iout '.), the bell < landed loudl\ . " He ha- i oJiie "' -aid Violet starting up out a h;_ih, 4l «M\e voi(^e wa> hea;d in the hal ■ Wiiei t i- Lo«d Lei^rh. '" • He ha- I'.^e'i he.it h>)ine all -lay - w e do iK.t know vslu'iv,' implied the toohnau •it i- • lie ' He i.- here ' He -its j^loatiny o\e' in- e\il work! Poei or beggai, I'll h',\e in- 'ife toi it ! M<- S«-(> in- -!('•»))■/ ii|-<uid ru-hed into the hall T'l.'it, v ith disoideiefl oai-niunts, face \w\ 'n<v (nipping with perspiration tlOlll 111- hdt lie 1 IHOVMUKMIts, sfood l>alt Komi). " Y'\u h". -e, Ke'iip ' What now?" cii^d Mi Stoim-. • I v,.t\. H'\ witi. my promised bridi 1 . and L'il i;ne be. ! Right i.- on my side now, <vid 111 claim ir, even if \ou a y e here to s-Teen t'Mi pee' - iniquities." "Oil, v.'i.-t. i- it V --wh.it do \ou mean? — win v'" '"> ' f»» whom aie you looking v ' c 11- ' Violet-. pro.s.si)ig forward. Hhe -'oo'i in t,h ■> full light of the great hall chan i<r'ier. h» t tin;-- ot amethyst velvet, with i a trie- of I>< <■ at neck and sleeves, tailing i:i a lon^ train of mingled light and shadow ; the abundant silken, dark hair w,Mirnyl about her u'aceful head, had for sole cnttiiit'iit :■ -t-«r of pearls. Her beautiful, ,'iTi^ioiis, eiiildlikt; toce was turned towoi.i li.n [ iv-inp. In ail ! u- e\.<;itemeut, the man recognised the now " of her gentle, winsome beaiity. "Win die you, lady.'" he demanded, hoai- Ay. "f urn the C^ouuloms of Leigh, 1 ' said V'ole 1 -, gently. "I wouldn't e\ei h.ive done that what I did, if 1 had sen you tiist," said Kemp, looking at hei with honest admiration. " Bub now i"'s I who am right. He has you, and why can't he let her, my bride, alo'ie ?" " Will you not tell us what you mean, and of whom you are speaking?" .said Violel gently still, but trembling veiy much "I'm sp'akiug of Loid Norman Leigh, you; hu-band, and of Helen Hope, who promised to many 'no in church this morning ■at 1 1 o'clock. Where is she V" "But how can we tell?" interposed Mr .Slormn "We have not seen her. Why do you come heio for her ?*' Kemp took from his pocket a crumpled note, and held it toward Violet, his hand .shaking a> with palsy, in his strong agitation. Violet read : " [ am going to the Earl's Folly to see Norman Leigh. If I do not return, seek me there. Helen Hope,'' Violet stood silent, motionless, as if, like Niolie, into stone in her despair. " f waited at the church," cried Kemp, frantically; "she did not come ; and this afternoon I received this. I want my bride. Where is she ? Has he murdered her ?" Violet made no s-ound, hut life and colour left her faeo, .and she foil forward senseless, an she leaned toward Kemp, holding still that fat'd note. The man caught hei" in his arms. Pity moved his nir^p/j heart " Poor little soul, this i<< hard for Her," he muttered, and strode into the library and laid her on a sofa, while IVlr Storm* rang fo- holp. /'•im, wiih .-.oijie of the oth«v «<»rvautß, had como to the confusion, and a few words from the footman in the tuill told him the

trouble, MrStoim** s^iowed him theitotej which he had token from th& hand of the 1 (fainting countess, "Ho is not them, I looked! for him there- - this afternoon," snid A\daim. " You are all leagued to hide* iver to deceive me," showfeul Kemp. "Hush!" said Mr Storms. "You will find that we are a.lll leagued to ferret out this affair at once. Believe me, the' woman is far more dangerous than, the- man. Adam, call two of the gardeners, and a keeper, and a groom ; those- four,, with Kemp and , my self, Will search the park and the vicnn.iy of the Folly, (.^et torishos and lanterns. " In a litile while they went out Uv the search. All tho household was astir. Mr Storms, questioning (jhe young gardener as to the boy seen, in the mornkig, hent a footman for the lad, and at midnight came back with Kemp to see tho boy intho library. Violet, recovered from, her swoon, had refused to- go to her rest, and the pallid agony of her face mocked the rich beauty of ' her atth c- as she waited in the library, " Did you bring a meswigp to Lord LeigJi, boy ?" asked Mr Storm.s. " A bit of a note from, a huly. She- met mo niglu the wood." "How did shu look ?" demanded Kemp, fiercely, " She was tall and handsome, |>ale as the dead, and all in white, like a- bride to a weddrn'," said the boy. "Helen ! Helen !"' Kemp. "And what did«. a he sa>y ?" asked the lawyer. " 'Fly to Lord Leigh with that, and let no one else sec it.' And then she turned and went quick in the cedar wood.''