"A SECRET SORROW."

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8616, 22 March 1897, Page 1

"A SECRET SORROW."

BY MKS MAY AGNES FLEMTOO,

Author of "A Mad Marriage." " Carried By Storm."

CHAPTER XXII.

(Continued.) From childhood I was passionately fond of bunting. While my brother wu poritiir over hi-) book*, I was sway with mr dog and gun through the woods. The consequence was what might hare been expected. He grew op quiet, and steady and learned. I, on the contrary, as I advanced in year*, crew wilder, and rcora r cilias, caring moto for one shot at a hare than for all the books that were ever printed. ' Sti'l. dissimilar as we were in tastes and habits, 1 doubt> if ever there were two brothers in the world more attached to each other. If I ever pot into disgrace with my father—as often happened -by Borne road freak, Harry invariably made peace for me. I often, by my carelessness, did much intentional mischief, bat on every occasion Ha rry foond some means of {retting me off with a very Blight reproof. ' My taiher had at this time a hound of wbioh he was exceedingly food, his life having been saved by it on more Umml one occasion. One day, as 1 waa out as usual wiifc ay ana, I eepttd something vanishing aawg tka, trees^ wbith, I hastily judged to be a deer. Wilhoefrw moment's hesitation I fired, and the animal fell dead, for I was an unerring marksman. ' I ran hastily up to secure my priie, when, to my surprise and terror, 1 discovered 1 had shot my father's favourite dog, I stood for a moment rooted, aa it were, to the ground—for I knew hit anger wouM befri htful on learning his loss. Still, there was nothing for it but | to tell him the truth, and, resolving to brarethe worst, I deliberately entered the bouse. '■■■'' On the way I met my father, and in * few brief wards I narrated my onfortonate mistake. Never shall I forget the fierce torrent of abuse he poured on my bead. He absolutely foamed with race, and, tbonghmy blood boiled at bis weds, I listened in silence. At last, blinded by race, he struck me. Stnng to madness, I rushed from the bouse, which I was never destined to enter more. I had bteu struck. It was an indignity I cootd not endure, even from my father; and I resolved to fly where no one would ever hear of me more. As I fled I met a peasant boy about my own age and sise. Anxious ti disguise myself , and so avoid recognition, I nrged him to exchange 010 bes with me. He willingly consented to give bis coarse garments for mine, And the exchange was soon effected. I gave him half of my money at the same time, forgetting that teouey was not like'y to be faa<i for the asking in future. As I learned afterwards, e'ated at being master of ao mack money, be not drunk, and waa accidentally drowned the same night. My father, it appears, renewing of bis [Violence, cams in search of me, sad, I recognijth»g the jclflibe* of the drowned boy, came to the conc'usioa that I waa dead.'

•"■■• Me.-cifal hearen!' gasped Kate; white with horror,' and jou are —' ' Your cousin, Walter Aha, Lord of Arndale.' ' Oh Father of Mercy!' exclaimed Kate,. < and is it thus I find my long lost cousin? Oh, Walter, Walter! Oh, my dear cousin!' and the tears fell fast on the pale face of the dying man. He cloied his eyes, while the convjunfe twitching of his face betokened that be was wrestling with bitter thoughts. '•• And you knew me alt this lime?' she sb4A. ijsiiDß her pale face at last. ' -Yes, I knew yon,' he replied, slowly, ' from tii« night we met in the old Moor Manor; bAtl did not wish to shock yon by letting you know your consin was the leader of a band of lawless smugglers and pirates." ' My poor Walter!' said Kate, pressing his cold hand between hers. ' How you emit bare suffered cxc you came to this/ •Suffered!' he excUimed. bitterly. ' Yes, more than words can telL There Siare been times when I hare sat for hoars gasine on the dark, .troubled wares, and longing to take the *»«*! leap, U»t would end all my earthly troubles at once, bnt the thought of the terrible hereaf er held ms back. Through all my lons .career of ciime I could nerer shake off the memory of my mother's teachings, and the doom pronounced geainst the self-murderer alone regained me. Thank beaten, it was so ordfcjoe >! It is a eontolation I nerer .expected to hare one who onoe loved ma at enf dying bedside.' ' Whileeiy money lasted I passed my' (time pleasantly enough, roriog from, .place to place. But money cannot last sfar ever; and one night I found myself *rftDderinß through the streets without a forthine in my parse, or a place to lay my head. ' ■ - It was a terrible night—one that can never be^ffacedfrom ray memory. The rain felUn torren s, and drenched me to the akin, while the raw, piercing north wind made my teeth chatter with oold. I had not tasted food since the .evening before, and was too .proud to beg. Worn out at last by hunger, fatigue, awUold, I felt inc'incd to lie down and die atj onct, when I saw a well-dressed gemtleiman approaching mo. I was jurying ,mth hunger, and hunger got the .better -offriae; bo I approached hun, and crimson with shame, I bepged a tiiAe to buyibcead- ■ 'He eyed me from head to foot, as though iarere a thief, and with a gruff •No, I haw nothing for brgaw,' passed on. I siood as if rooted to the ground, orercome with mingled anger, hunger, and despair, whe« my eye felon something bright lying afc my feet. I stooped >« nick it up, and, to ny surprise and dei,\tt, found it was a sovewgn, which he hau' eridentljr dropped as h* passed. Reiowng orer the treasure 1 had toond X h s gt'*n*d to the nearest pubjic^pus*, andca»l«<*for«upper. ; ' VVbi> I But eaunif li. the gentleman entered, .«nd inquired if • boy answering a description wi»ic*j he «ay« ol me had passed, saying be had stolen a aorerign; from him. Thn host pointed to«e. disi playing the aovedgm I hadi giren bj» to {»/ the reckoning. The gentle«ad recognized it. I was accused as a pickj pocket, tried, a«* oondemaed to twelrej months' impriso ?««»* with hsrd Jabonr. Hepauacd, whi>*»»•»«■• f n ****£* forehead grow dark «•«* «»olJen >" lefforta to be calm. Aft"« • P*"^,t? nn X which Kate pressed her »*a -oothmgly to his brow, he resumed— '■ . That waa the first thing t>*J»J c me to desperation. I was madde. 'l$r"" 1 J!*J* like one erased for awhi c, dur.^« ™h I was chained band and foot lik,\* *ad .beast. That I, the sou of an h ««"jj feet, a lord in my own right, shoit. ™ thus condemned to mingle at hard lab ™ with the nlest of the rile, nearly dro\ *c «se mad. At times, I would fiercely ' straggle to free myself from my degrading chains, until, with my limbs wounded ana blaodiag, I would fall back in my hard bed. I wonder, now, I did not die or go mad then. Thar fed mo on bread and water, I who had all my life been pampered with dainties; a handful of dii ty straw I now lay on, instead of the beds of down to which I was accustomed. The gentle facet* of friends were exchanged for the carage ■cowls of my gaoler; fierce oaths and borriblo blasphemies took the place of pltajant werdi and joyous laughter. I

lonred and prayed wildly for death; bat it came not at my call. I was reiemd for still grra'er trials. s ' At last I grew calm, and they sot me &7 or£ with tha reßt- Oh! •■• W**»» bitter days of nncsasing toil whira I' then endured. My hands, delicate, aad unused to labour, grew blistered and sore. The ikin came off, bot still Iwm forced to l«bouron. Of ten hate Iworked and worked, until ererything I handled would grow red with blood,, and still I dared not stop a single moment, eren to ' rest. ■;:,:•

' Six months passed that away, aad I (bouKbtof nohins bat escape.- Night after night I employed myself ia fiiling the iron grating of my window. At last, after weeks of unceasin* toil and almost superhuaun effort, 1 freed the window, and one dark night I made • ropooiths> * eoarss quilt of my bed, and Teatared to fly. The rope was not long enoagh to reach the ground; a* I allowed myirif to drop; I fell heanly to the ground and broke my ark. Sill I was not daunted, and, thoogh suffering anspeak able acoay from layb-oken arm, I ventured touoaat the wall. I had nearly reachedthe top, when I w*s suddenly seised by the seat- ' inel who bad ctpiedme, and captured one*. more. I straggled m»dy tofree myaeif from his grasp, but in vain. He held aw as though in a ticf; and at leagth, exhausted by pain aad loss of blood, I ioU fainting to the ground ' When I recover ;d I found myself ia the gaoler's room, and a surgeon bating .pro me, binding my arm. The nest day I was taken before a maitutrtt*, ttd aocused of attempting^ asoaplj jig PWsJtj| tjwtgased^ssiiat^vasirriwrolsijti jajsj ment. I sobmtttedto mr lisi WlO sWaajii,. indifference. Dsapsir hidiyc—delpy former madness, aad I moTMaabaglarf fellow erimina'j stsilta *i|d ailant. I ■• longer iboutb| of escape, «M«. f»a» f if I had, it was no loog«r in mrpam€ t tft I was now carefmlly ehaiaed erery ajght. • Well, tin two years paaasd away, «•! I was freeagsn. There wai bat oa« desire left me now, and that wM ntmst. I determined on TeniaaM oa thaw was) |had thus degraded ate. aa4 aerar M 4. Oorsican keep the Tcadotta wit* wmt • fierceaeaa than L Hal I Yiahoi to latura home, degraded ai I «M,it wat no ' longer in my power, lor I Iraa witkaak ' money, • 'As I wasdMci wry uaoiiy •!««■ > through the streets, hailed by me vara r children as I passed as * gaol-bird,' I an- • countered a lot of hd'-tipty tailari 9 adraneing towarde a puclio-ootaa,, ' I ssy' niejsbmlsj-' called oae of tltaaj, • 'heare to there, and show your oottaff. r Whose flsu do yoa beioag tot' I {To ie Vtntmml.)