IZBA’S BID FOR FORTUNE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144082, 29 April 1913, Page 5

IZBA’S BID FOR FORTUNE.

By MBS. HERRIOT GORDON,

Author of ‘‘My Last Chance ’’ “Paying a Debt,” “Stephen Dcloraere’s Crime,” etc. CHAPTER IX. A ’ •• RALPH'DERRICK'S DISCOVERY. While Fred Barton and Gerald Alenstrie were - planning their, future move- 1 monts Ralph Derrick, the lawyer, was engaged on a task which "'as of much importance to him, • > His relative. .Edward Hinckley. of Th.orlihurst, whose heir 1 ho had long considered himself, had commissioned him to find out if a 1 daughter of his son’s was alive. Young Hinckley had made, an (imprudent marriage and had been disinherited. Both he and his wife had died, leaving a daughter, who dt the time of their death was quite a .child. In his later days the old man showed, signs of relenting, and the probability was that lie would leave h portion of his wealth to his grandchild, this was not what Derrick desired, but he determined to find out if this girl was alive or dead. When lie had done! this ho could give Hinchley ns much or as little information as he chose.

Young Mr. Hinchley had died first; Ills wife only surviving him a few months. Derrick was fortunate in finding tho woman who had attended Airs'. Hinchley in her last illness. She informed him that through tho influence of temo friends of Airs. Hinchley the child had been placrd in tlie Farnlmm Horne for . Orphans at Norwood. She also was qblo to give him an idea or the elate on which, tiie child was admitted, namely, Alarchf 187—. ■ .. ' . Accordingly,' on,; the following,- day Derrick drove out’to Norwood,, whore he soon found the. Farnhara Homo or Orphanage. . The homo was a large building, standing in the iriidst of fairly extensive grounds. and when Derrick called a large number of children, mostly jyrls. were amusing themselves. . AViion the lawyer .presented his card he was immediately shown into’.a com-’ fortahle room, where a cheerful fire was burning, and informed that the matron' would’.-scc him in a few minutes. _ ' He had. not been long seated-when a woman.wearing a black dress, with-.'stiff-white linen cuffs and an equally stiff white-linen collar, entered the room. She was a .hard-featnred Women! and her ‘stiff dress-rustled as she crossed the .floor to whorh Derrick stood. The lady was no other than Aliss Milner, the schr.qlrmttre.Ts of Shettlrbury,, who- had been picr.ir; •;! to th:. .u,.'. cf matron cf -tbVfl-s'ii uiic;:.’ ‘ ’

3.l ’v Drmsb rvciv ! '-c; n” cf > his . mcrd, condescend! ig bawa,7. " I am told, madame, that- this is_ n'ot.yov regular, day for receiving visitors, but as my business is of great importance I have ventured to throw myself on your go'nd ' nature and trust' to your absolving me for breaking the,-.rules.” Ho snokc in his most suave tone and with "bis most polite manner. •'-Miss Milner,, who remembered Mr. Derrick, hastened to ; express the Measure it gave her to be able to servo him. ■ . After a few more remarks the lawyer explained the nature tie his business. He stated that an orphan girl had boon placed in'the institution in the month of March, 187—and, further, that it was of the utmost importance that he should be able to trace the life of.that girl. . ' ‘‘You can sec the register, iji which everythin" that is known regarding the child at tpe time of its admittance into t.he'home is entered,” she said, ‘

Miss Milner crossed the room to, a bookcase, which she unlocked, and finding the volume for the year mentioned, placed it on the table before the lawyer. . '

“In . this other,,volume,” she said, taking another from tho bookcase, and also placing it.on tho table,- “you will find entered the dates when inmates of the home admitted in .that year, left; also a note of, tho situations* obtained for them.” ■ Derrick thanked the matron, and Miss Milner, ; in her cold, hard voice, asked, to be excused, as . certain other matters claimed her attention. This was precisely what ,tho= lawyer 1 desired, and ns aeon as the door closed behind Miss Milner ho eagerly took up, the register and opened it. Hefound that only one orphan had been admitted during the, month of Marchof that year," and the date was th'e Bth. He find remained standing, but stooped down and ran his eyes over the passage referring to this orphan. He read on until he came to .tlie namo which had been -stowed on the child when admitted into the homo. Then he uttered an exclamation of surprise and horror, looked at the, name again, then staggered hack a stop or two, his lips bloodless'- and his features the hue of ashes. - For once' in. his, life the lawyer was utterly appalled at the extraordinary discovery he had made ; for the name Izba Sutherland stared him in the face. ■ Ralph Derrick bent down and uigain read tho name; then for a few minutes stared at the clear,' distinct characters as if he scarcely believed his own .eyes. He opened tho second, volume, and, aided by the index, quickly turned up the part referring to the same inmate of the home. There was no mistake, for the name again stared him, in the face. Izba Sutherland appointed assistant teacher : Shettlebury Public School, the day of the montlj and the yqar upon which she left the institution being given. The lawyer was completely overcome by the discovery' ho had made. Rarely or never had a man’s sin found him out so thoroughly or punished him in a manner which he felt so keenly. The woman whom he had lured from her home, inveigled into, a- false marriage, then cast adrift, was the daughter of Edward Hinchly and probably his heiress, the woman whom of all others ho would now have chosen to he his wife. " ■ , • : Ralph Derrick clenched his teeth and cursed the untimely chance which hacr overtaken him, and for once in his ’life regretted 1 bitterly an evil deed which-he had done. He pushed away the volume, and as he did so Miss Milner, the matron, entered-the room. In her cold, polite tones she asked if he had obtained the information which ho required.Derrick answered in the affirmative, and, pointing to the page, asked her what she knew pf the girl mentioned. ; Miss Milner in her hard voice proceeded to give a very highly-coloured account of the] behaviour of Izb'a Sutherland during- the time she- was assistant teacher at Shettlebury. The matron dwelt severely on tho elopement, and 'gave a- not very flattering picture of the man who had betrayed Izba.

“Was this man who is,said to have

married hen. known?” asked. Derrick, with a keen glance at the matron. “No,” answered Miss Milner, severely, “hut ho was supposed to bifa rcion of a noble faintly who had led a very dissolute life.” ■ . Derrick waited to hear no more', but took leave of the’matron and drove to Iris office. . ' ,

Once in his private room he allowed liis feelings full play. “Who; would.have .believed such a eh a ncq possible ? Wh at- cu rsefl 1 uek- lias been mine! If.,she is alive T will find Tier.” .. ; ~i *■;.

In j c ‘very fetv days Derrick had obtained all the*'particulars of the railway ..collision and the death of Izba ■'..Sutherland, With these particulars in 'his possession he determined to call on Lady Dtinsinore, and if possible son Airs. George Dnnsraore, who had travelled 'with r lzba. ; . . ' ' It may be mention::,l that Derrick wits oil the. Continent when -the (Collision took place, and 'therefore had ‘not- seen it..record-id i:i the newspapers. Aftar’vhllj where was izba SiithcrTnnJ. or rather. 'las vra Cught’./to ;rry.. .Mrs-. .George Dunsmofclt is time we -were, following the career cf that clever 'woman, who lifid managed to. introduce 1 ’ - Herself' successfully, into “the balls of .fashion.*’

■i It 1 is a truism j that all is not gold that 1 glitters, 'not";even all silver that shines; and the. anticipation of a pleasure far exceeds its realisation. This was the case with Izba, for to tell the truth .she .had not found her life, with Lady Dunsmore an unmixccl flow qf happiness and delight. There were a great tunny; drawbacks, in her opinion. In the first place, everything, was so awfully dull,'so terribly formal and appalling in ■ its' respectability. , Lady Punsmorc’s parties were humdrum affairs,, her guests mostly old people," and Izba had-not, the slightest chance, of .flirting with any one on the right side of fitly—a very unpleasant prospect for a lady of her disposition, who Was' inclined to wear her widow's weeds lightly ; indeed, to „ throw them off altogether. , .. Another grievance .was that so. much 'Wjis expected of her, there appeared to ho no end to the days of her mourning for tins George Punsmoro; and let her try ever so much-—and she did make brave efforts—lzba could not always cause her tears to flow and compel herself to look sad over this’ man whom she had never, seen. Of late she: had begun to leave off tho deep folds of crape 'which had at first characterisedher dress, and to introduce bits 1 of. Colour into her attire. ■ Lady Dunsmore was shocked, but Izba declared that she could not mourn all her' life, -and when the older lady hinted that her husband had not been ■ dead‘quite a year she burst into -(oars, declaring that if poor dear George had been alive, he would have been the last person to censure her behaviour. Lady Dunsmore was silenced by this appeal to the departed one, hut not convinced; and she ,began to think that ;a young 'and giddy widow was not a desirable inmate for her staid and sober Establishment.

ytlt will thus bo, seen that the two ladies did net get on very well together', Izba, had begun' to show that slit had a will of her own, and insisted on attending 1 a ball given by Mrs. Grainger Hay, a person of whom Lady Dunstnore strongly disapproved. The dress which Izba wore on that occasion was; in the eyes of the old Indy,* little ■loss'-than a scandal. Izba, saw that this cduld not go on for long, and she determined to, take a house of, her own and give over living with Lady Dunsmdre.. 1

Matters wore in this, state when Ralph Derrick called upon Lady' Dunsmore.

Izba was descending the stairs, and. hearing voices in the drawing-room, paused before entering; for she had a most peculiar and unaccountable dread of strangers, and always tried, if possible, to get a look at all-visitors who were unknown to her before she joined their company. ‘ On the present occasion she-entered ihd ’back drawing-room, which was divided from the front by folding doors. The doors stood a little ajar, and, gliding noiselessly to the opening, Izba screened herself behind the velvet cur- ' tains- and peered into the front, draw-ing-room.. / . The tones of a man’s voice she knew .well fell’on her cars and caused her to. start with terror. A glance and she saw Ralph Derrick, the man who-had professed to niarry her, talking confidentially to Lady Dunsmore. It was with difficulty that Izba suppressed an exclamation of surprise; her limbs 'shook under her with terror. Her . very , blood seemed to freeze in her veins, and she staggered back against the .wall. By a desperate effort she stilled- her beating heart and. throbbing nerves, and again approached the opening and peered into the front room. It was true, she' had made no mistake, the visitor was Ralph Derrick. Discovery had overtaken her-.

(To bo continued.)