STRANGE _STDRIES

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 337, 23 May 1885, Page 10

STRANGE _STDRIES

A STRANGE BURGLAUY.

Pakt 11.

WHEN Sic Henry Preston Muted that Hardy Punter was the burglar, he only expressed his lady's own belief. From the moment she found the cabinet burst open, she had suspected this, and the more she reflected tlio more confirmed became lier suspicions. The Hon. Hardy Punter was : no* credit to his family. Though a young man of good appearance and fair abilities, h.o had never been regarded, even by his partial sister, with pride. From the moment he quitted Eton for Oxford, ho had led an extravagant, dissipated, and tempestuous life. He had been expelled from the University, requested to l'osign from the Army, and dismissed from a Government "post, to which he had been appointed through family influence. His passion for gambling was extraordinary, as was his bad luck; and his father, Lord Bloaklands, being poor, and utter unwilling", and indeed unable, to pay his gaming debts, he, tv raise money to do so, resorted to measures which once or t'.vico brought him under the unfavourable notice of the police. Lord Bleaklands, who had borne with him long, at length lost all patience, and withdrew from him his small allowance, and for more than a year preceding the burglary the lion. Hardy had been altogether dependent for subsistence on his sister, the wife of the wealthy Sir Henry Preston. She had always bceu passionately attached to him, and he was mean enough to trade upon her affection; and in spite of the anger of her husband, which her liberality to her brother provoked, no demand of his upon her pocket went unanswered. Lately, however, she had become rather ■ less friendly disposed towards him. Though the Bleaklands had never been very wealthy, yet their family and titlo were among the oldest and most historic in England; and Lady Preston was inordinately proud of this. The Hon. Hardy was not. He appreciated hard cash more than high birtb, and, consequently, was not loath to pay attention to any girl, whatever was her origin, whose portion of the world's good things was con.sidcrable. Ho had recently fallen in with %, one who quite suited him — a young lady named Mary Jones, who was the only daughter of an extremely wealthy avid intensely vulgar oil-merchant. She herself was a very pretty, modest little thing, and the Hon. Hardy, considering all the circumstances, saw no reason why she should not make him a very desirable wife. He paid her marked attention ; and, what with his position and appearance, was succeeding as well as he wished, and much bettor than Lady Preston desired. She was disgusted that the heir to the ancient barony of „ Bleaklands should think of marrying the daughter of Jeremiah Jones, the retired oil * merchant. Her opposition to Hardy's suit was another cause of disagreement between herself and her husband. Sir Henry, who did not share his wife's ai'istocratic prejudices, saw in the match only a way of freeing himself from the burden of Hardy's support, and a last chance of putting that young man on the straight path again. He knew Miss Jones, and had some hope that she would be able to exercise sufiicient influence upon Hardy to prevent his continuing to lead the hopeless life he fead been so far addicted to. For this reassa he was as strongly in favour of the marriage as Lady Preston was against it, and their differences over the question had become so bitter that he had almost withdrawn from her company, and of late had resided, as much us possible, apart from her. Lady Preston's quarrel with her husband had not softened her feelings towards the proposed marriage or towards the unhappy Hardy himself. Indeed, as the misunderstanding with .Sir Henry became more pronounced, she came to regard her brother as responsible for it, and discharged on him the anger and disappointment it caused her. When, then, a few days before the burglary, ho had called upon her with his usual demand for money, she, for the first time iv her life, refused him, and refused him in torms so rude and insulting that Hardy was thoroughly enraged. As he left her he told her in threatening language that before long she should regret her conduct ; and as Lady Preston knew that when he promised ill he was very likely to keep his word, from that time she was in a state of nervous excitement as to his next step. It was not surprising, therefore, that on being told on that unfortunate evening that a burglar was iv the house, she half suspected it was he ; and that when she saw the broken cabinet and the handkerchief, which sho knew was not her husband's she had no longer the slightest doubt. Hence the reason of her anxiety to prevent his arrest. Sir Mi'iuy, after the first scene with his wife, never again referred to' the missing; diamonds or to Hardy. Indeed, he seemed very much ashamed of his conduct on that occasion, aud strove in. every possible %ay to show Lady Preston his penitence for it.%He did not return to Brighton ; but, remaining s\t home, did everything in his power to make his presence agreeable. Lady Preston fully appreciated his regard for her feelings ; and soon the relations between the two were more affectionate than they had been for a long tinie^. ■ *• .. There wae something?- howevei*; * in Sir

Henry's .bchayiouc^tha^s^ggested. to Jiis lady, that he himself did nob believe in Hardy's guilt. Without ever referring directly to him, he Inultalkcd on various occasions in a general way about' ungrounded suspicions and hasty conclusion*, so' that the -application of his words could hardly bo mistaken. Before long, therefore, a hope began to spring- up in I his wife's mind that ho perhaps had discovered something which had changed his opinion as to the perpetrator of the robbery. She several times felt much, inclined to ask him if this was the case, bat her courage always failed her. While she was still cherishing this hope, an incideut occurred winch fix6d her opinions. She and Sir Henry were at a dinner-party where the detested Miss Jones was also a guest. At the dinner-table the young lady sat opposite Lady Preston, and when she took off her gloves, her ladyship noticed a beautiful diamond ring on her hand which reminded her strongly of one of those of which she had been robbed, but which, at the distance she then was, she could not positively identify. When the ladies withdrew, and while the gentlemen still, remained over their \vine,_ Lady Preston, contrary to custom. m:idu herself very agreeable to Miss Jones. After some conversation, her ladyship referred to the ring the young lady wore, and, saying it had groatiy struck her, asked if she might be permitted to sec it. Blushing very deeply, Miss Joucs at once assented, and, removing her glove, showed the ring. L idy Preston examined ifc very closely. She could have no doabt but that it was one of hers. ' Might I be so rudo,' she said, in a voice somewhat tremulous, 'as to adk who gave you this ?' Miss Jones did not sci?m, surprised at _fcho question, but only blushed more deeply than ever. 'Perhaps I shouldn't tell yon,' she said, with a little hesitation, ' but it was your brother.' Though Lady Preston had expected this answer, she- nevertheless could not help starting when she heard it. It swept away all her recent hop^s. She could no longer

By an .apt x>f._. the. grossest. iftgratit s ud.e_and , the meanest treachery — an act which, if I am a.=hamed to mention- it oven here, do not imagine I am-igu.orant.pf. . When my father declared you- were a disgrac.3 to the family, I would not admit ' it. - .Now "that I have proof his opinion was light, I will imitate j his conduct. Prom this day forth I acknowledge you as any brother, no more.' The day after she sent this note to him she received a reply. His lector was shorter even than hers, and its hardihood amazed and exasperated her. 'I am sony,' it ran, 'you are so angry with me ; but when you refused mo money I told you that you' would soon repen'; it. I could not live on nothing, and so I took the easiest way, if not the most honcr iblc, of getting- something. If you dislike what I. have douc, you should not have driven me to it. For my own part, I neither regret nor am ashamed of it. and I hope you will some day come to regard it Avith softer feelings.' The shod; Lady Preston received through her brother's conduct was so great that Sir Ilemy became extremely anxious about her. Though she always maintained thhat se was [ quite well, and refused to see the family ' physician, her husband could not blind himself to the fact that her low spirits were seriously affecting her health, and his concern for her became so great and evident that it astonished even her, and gave her a melancholy pka-;urc. At length she yielded to his earnest entreaties, and "submitted herself to the doctor, lie reported her to be in a low state of heal Ui owing to depression of spirits, and recommended a change of air and scene as the best remedy. In obedience, therefore, to medical orders. Sir Henry resolved to take her abroad. A month or two after they left England they saw in the papers an announcement of the marriage of the Hon. Hardy Punter Avith Miss Jones. Sir Henry ay as at first, uneasy lest the news might retard his wife's recovery; but his fears were groundless. Lady Preston had become quite indifferent as to what befell her brother. After his

Mr. Sovtgoods : "Veil, the climate of Auckland is too muggy for me — give me Duneclin." Mr. Ballded (lately from the Sou'li) : "Pooh! my dear sir, Dunedin positively hasn't (jot a climate ; it is sunshine there one iriiiuto raid mining the next; Hue sky at breakfasttime and black as your hat an hour aftervvuids. Duneclin has no climate ; it Juts noOdiifj but a lot of sample*. "

entertain any c'oubt of Hardy's guilt. She was shocked at this proof of it, and enraged at his effronteiy in opouly giving to a lady she might any day meet the jewel he had stolen from her. When the gentlemen came into the draw-ing-room she was lsoking so pnlc and miserable that Sir Henry at once noticed it, and, coming hastily to her, ho inquired if she were ill. She said she was not quite well, and begged him to take her home us soon as ho could do so without attracting attention. Sir Henry, who seemed deeply concerned about her, at once made some excuse for dej parting-. Lady Preston did not sloop much that night, and, as she lay awake reflecting on what had taken place, two thoughts chiefly occupied her mind. One regarded the magnanimity of her husband, the other the shameless meanness of her brother. She was now convinced that Sir Homy had aff ctcd to believe Hardy not guilty merely to relievo her mind. Sho knew how clearsighted and observant he was, and had little doubt ho had ascertained the truth before j this. Sho contrasted his noble conduct with j the baseness of her brother, who would steal from his sister and benefactress to supply ] means for dissipation and to enable him to j give a handsome prosont to the low-born girl whose fortune Id wanted. So" far she Had not acquainted Hardy with her knowledge of his crime. Since their quarrel he had mot visited her. But she resolved on the morrow to spare his feelings no longer, but to write at onco to him" and tell him what she thought of him. The next morning, immediately after breakfast, she set about the task. In a short but passionate letter sho reminded him of her many kiuduosses to him when he had. not another friend in the world; how, when he was disowned by his very father, she had stinted herself and irritated her husband to find him means. ' And how, : she continued, ' have you repaid all this ?

conduct towards her, she regarded her marriage to JNtiss Jones as not of the slightest importance ; indeed, it elie had any feeling on the subject it was rather one of satisfaction that it sli.mid give her husbaud pleasure, as, in spite of his efforts to conceal it, she plainly saw it did. They rem.-iinod abroad for nearly a year, and, thanks to the southern sun and the devotion of Sir llengy, Lady Preston by the end of this time h:id more than regained her former health and strength. They then determined to return home. This resolve was perhaps hastened by the intelligence they received that Lady Preston, by the death of her godmother, had become entitled to a very large legacy. The money was, just now, extremely welcome to nor. Daring their stay abroad Sir Henry confided to her that, owing to two or three unfortunate investments, and through a great deal of his money being locked up -in land, his affairs had for some time been rather embarrassed. She had been greatly shocked when she thought that at the very time she was drawing so largely on his resources, in order to supply her ungrateful brother with funds, Sir "Henry, unknown to her, was suffering heavy losses. She was surprised that he had not then resented her conduct more bitterly, and was delighted to think that the advent of this legacy would suable her to make some reparation for her selfishness. Sir Henry's sagacity respecting the- marriage of his wife '^brother had been amply vindicated. Hardy's wife had, indeed, put him on the straight path. Through her influence he had been induced to give up his evil courses and take his place as a respectable member of society. He had, moreover, become reconciled to his father, who was enthusiastic in his praises of his little . daughter-in-law. Lady Preston could hardly' repress a slight feeling of shame when she thaught that her own miserable prejudices had nearly prevented the bringing about of this happy change" in affairs.

Though Jhcr ladyship was greatly pleased witk'her brothers"r eformation, anci iVT'cbrisideration of it was jiuite prepared to forgive him his previoxis^inu^eojidiict, still, she naturally fclfe:s6me>ax]^Y : ardness'-as to meeting Mm. '■'"Bhe"''' i wla^'""vYefy :; - :^iriucii" relieved therefore, when, after-,thcir arrival in London, her husband informed! h.cr that Hardy and^his wif e were out of town. Sir Henry appreciated the difficulty of 'her position, and as a means of removing it suggested that they should have a dinner-party oh the night ' of Hardy and his wife's return, and invite them to it as if nothing had occurred. Lady Preston gladly consented to this, and the invitations were duly sent and accepetd,

(Concluded 'in our next.) \^.^