CLARA CUTHBERT.

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 574, 28 December 1889, Page 7

CLARA CUTHBERT.

To be opened by her after the death, of my beloved Mother. ALEX. CUTHBERT. Auckland, N.Z., June lOtlx, 1869. _ 'Open it! open it !' said Clara, as George handed her the letter. , „, , ' No, no, Clara, I can t do that. 'Oh you are a fidget,' said Clara, as she broke the seal and handed the document to Georsre, who read as follows : — < I Alexander Cuthbert, having but a very short time to live in this woyld^commend my soul to God, and pray for his forgiveness for the miurv and injustice I have done to one who has Sways been my friend. To think me capable of such an action would break my beloved mothers hearb, which is the reason I have asked her to leave this to be opened by my daughter Clara after her death. To do justice to my friend now is out of my power, for he has gone to the grave where I am soon to follow ; but I ask and entreat of my daughter, or if she be too young at the death of my mother, then her nearest friend to do everything in her or their power to restore the property which rightfully belongs to the only son of my friend, George Howe. ' Good heavens !' cried George, can this be so? Mv father !' „ _. ' Oh George, dear George,' said Clara, tremulously. ' Will this make any difference between us ?' ' How can that be, you little stupid,' replied George, and he looked a little surprised. But let us read on,' and he continued, the only son of my friend George Howe, to its rightful owner. The 'property is in gold and diamonds amounting in value at this time to upwards of .£IO.OOO {ten thousand pounds), and lies buried m allotment No. 10, Section 3, Auckland City, and the exact spot can be ascertained by reference to the enclosed plan, which willbe found accurate to the half inch. I began to dig in a cellar, the ground floor of which was at the time four feet and a-half below the level of the street, and the leather bag containing the gold and diamonds will be found five and a-half feet deeper down. In filling in the eartn, which has been to me the grave of all my happiness, I dropped in a number of golden nuggets, and the last and most valuable one will be found within a foot and a-half of the floor of the cellar. All these valuables belong to the son of George Howe, who is also called George. That they may be restored to him if possible is the dying wish of Alexander Cuthbert.' When George had finished the reading of this extraordinary document and glanced over the enclosed plan, he looked intently into Clara's eyes. She appeared bewildered and perplexed and could not utter a word. ' Clara, my love,' said George, ' what ails you ?' ' Oh.nothing, George, nothing, she replied, and her face grew pale and rigid, and she looked as if about to turn into atone. 1 Why should this distress you so, Clara ? 'Oh, Georgp, to think of my father having wronged yours goes like a very knife to my heart, and you still to— to— ' ' Yes, to love you for ever, Clara ; what earthly difference can that make between us ? Are we not bound to one another as companions for life ? No wild stress of passion, or feeble abstractions of fancy, or the sordid compulsions of interest or convenience have brought us together, but we are bound by a pure and holy tie, and I doubt very much whether it would make any difference in my feelings towards you, Clara, were I to discover at this moment that your father had been the murderer of mine.' ' Oh, George,' said Clara, ' how could you think of such a thing.' 1 Never mind, Clara, the thing to think about now is, how to get hold of this money. By kings (this was a favourite expression of George's). Ten thousand pounds! Oh my ! Won't we do New York, London, and Paris. I fancy I touch the precious jewels now. Clara, my love ! Don t you order your bonnets or gloves until we get to Paris, and I will restrain myself in the matter of clothes until I visit the Prince of Wales's tailor. Ten thousand pounds! Oh, ridiculous! and besides, suppose it had been buried, it is now so long ago. there is little chance of it being recovered. Why, an insurance office, or a bank, or a warehouse, may be built over it. Let me see ?' continued George, as he folded his arms and considered what was best to be done, or as the penny dreadfuls would have it 'ruminated.' After a. little time, during which Clara also remained silent, he continued: 'The plan appears to be accurate and although the ground may have changed hands, and may possibly be built upon, this particular spot may not have been touched. 4 1 have it, George,' said Clara. ' Why not go to granny's friend in the Arcade ? He is an old identity, as they say, and besides, he is a land and estate agent. He, I have no doubt, will be able to show you the exact spot.' ' But how am Ito explain to him ? What am Ito say ? It won't do to let the whole story out.' ' No, no, of course not ; but you needn't show him the letter. The plan will be sufficient and no one has any right to know why you require the information. It's no business of theirs.' .** ' Trne, Clara, but then people are so suspicious. Well, I daresay you're right. I will go to old Turtle and ask him to draw the buildings which are at present existing on the ground plan your father has left.' . . •' No, no, George, ' we must keep the original plan. You just make an exact copy, leaving out the yellow spot where the erold and diamonds are buried, and ask old Turtle to draw the place as it is at present. Let it be a matter of business with ' Yes, Clara, you are right. I will take your advice and Bee Turtle at once.' 'Now mind, George, don't say a word about the why or the wherefore. Let him find out if he can or cares, but I think it will be diflicult for him to do so without the yellow spot.' | 'By kings, Clara, you are a clever little woman I and no mistake ; I will go to old Turtle now and ' see whether he can do this for me. Good-bye, Clara. Now we will put another seal on this little business,' he said laughingly, as In kissed her, and they parted.