A LAWYER'S STORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2686, 6 November 1876, Page 3

A LAWYER'S STORY.

(Conoluded.) "How long was Sir Archibald ill?" I. in- 1 quired. I "Ho had boon ailing for somo days bofore j

he complained of positive illness," sho replied j " for two or three days ho was unable to riao. Dr Grey thought it was an attaok of fever. Wo sat up with him for two nights." I did not liko to aßk any questions but sho hurriedly oontinuod— "Lady Drayton was with him the first night t I Bat up tho seoond; I left bim at five o'olook, and at seven they found him dead !" " How droadfully sudden 1" I oriod. "It was," shoropliod; "ond now, Mr Hilton, you must use yeurinfluenoe ; Dr Grey ia simply ridiculous. Ho talks of a coroner s inquest; it cannot possibly bo necossory. Suoh a thing was nover heard of in a Houso liko this. Ho should havo moro rogard for tho family." As she spoke tho whito, wild faoo was painful to soo ; tho words Boomed to oomo from dry, burnt lips. " But why P" I askod, "doos ho think it nooessary P" " I cannot understand," sho roplied ; " ho says Sir Arohibald showed no symptoms of danger on tho ovoning ho left bim." "Yot tho noxt morning he was found dead." I interrupted. " Yes," she repliod ; "it was so. But then, besidos tho fever from whioh ho was suffering severely, I am confident that my husband wes afflicted with heart disease." " Thero soems somo littlo unoortainty about tho oauso of his death," I said ; " why not allow the doctor to havo his own way P it would bo moro satisfactory to you all." The restless beautiful faoe grow ovon more deadly white. "It must not bo," sho oried ; ] " I havo a nervous horror of it j it would kill mo. I sont for you, thinking you were my friend, and would uso your inuuenco for mo." •' What does Lady Drayton flay ?" I askod. " Sho is too ill to havo any voioo in tho mattor," she repliod eagorly ; "and it Booms to me I am the propor poraon to decide." Sho lookod at mo with a questioning wistful j gazo I oould not understand, "If you agree with me, Dr Groy will yield to our opinion. Uso your influenoe, Mr Hilton. I oould not endure suoh a horror undor my roof. Tbo thought of it almost kills mo." She clasped hor hands, and thon began to paoo up and down tho long dining-room, She wore a long white dreis, soft and flowing. I romombor thinking Bho looked moro liko a ghost than a living woman. Suddenly she oamo and stood before mo. " You will do your boBt !" sho oried, eagerly, " promise mo you will. Do not lot Dr Grey or any ono olbo know that I havo soon you tonight. Soo him in the morning. Toll him in your opinion suoh a course is altogether unnocoßaary, and would be most disagreeable to tho family. Prevent him from doing it if you oan." Hor eyes wero burning, her whito parched lips quivorod ; the dreary horror of hor faoe never lessened. Tho first mossago I received tho noxt morning was from Dr Grey, to say that ho wished to soo me. I found him a gravo, noblo-looking man, about thirty-five years of age, rather handsomo, but cold and reserved. Ho greotod mo politely, and began to disoußß business immediately. " Will you explain to me, Mr Hilton," ho said," who is Sir Archibald's heir?" " A distant relative," I repliod ; " a second oousin, who is captain in a rogimont now Borving in India. Tho titlo and this estato of Fornaoourt aro entailed. Sir Aohibald's fortune—no small ono— reverts to his wifo." " Upon whom must I look as tho representative of the family," askod Dr Groy j " tho Dowager Lady Drayton is ill, and unablo to soo mo. Lady Bianca Drayton is out of tho question, To whom must I look for oonsont to what I boliovo to bo nooessary P" " I represent Sir Archibald's heir," was my reply, " and I will be answerable to him for all that is done." " Then I must ask your sanction for tho oourse I believe it neoossary to adopt. I am not at all satisfied ovor Sir Archibald's death. I think it neoossary to mako an examination. Whon I loft him on Tuesday ovoning ho was ill, certainly ; but thero was no appearance of dangor— not tho slightest shadow of it. On Wednosday morning I was sont for, and tod tbat he bad died in his sloop. His valet found him dead at seven in tho morning, when ho went to givo him his modioino." I did my host. I told him how unpleasant suoh a course would bo to Lady Bianoa. How ill sho was j how tho wholo family would disapprove of it ; and that if not absolutely nooessary I trusted ho would abandon tho idea. " I cannot," he roplied ; " Justioo and soienoo aliko demand it." Ho waa inoxorablo, and I loft him. Lady Bianoa cent for me, Sho reooivod mo in her own boudoir. Tho ghastly faoe and wild oyos told thoro had boen no sleep for her. " What doea ho say ! " she oried eagorly ; and I aaw that her wholo soul was waiting for my words. " Dr Groy deolarea that it must bo," was my reply, " ooneoienoo domands it. Ho is sorry to act oontrary to your ladyship's wish ; but ho deolares he must do his duty." I was frightened when I looked at hor. Heavon grant I may novor boo suoh a faoo again. _ Sho turned from mo wilh a low moan, and said no more. I had many arrangements to make for tho funeral ; they oooupiod mo the whole of tho duy. It waa quito ovening whon Dr Groy camo to my room, and said ho wished particularly to sco mo. His handsome face waa atom and solemn. Ho sat down in tho easy ohair I plaood for him, and howod his head upon his hands. " Mr Hilton," ho said, " in tho sight of God I wish to do right. I must do my duty, | though it bo a painful ono. You wore tho friend and adviser of tho poor man who lies dead. You oppose my wish to oxamino into tho oaußo of his death. I believe that lam ' bound in honour and oonaoienoe to show you this. As an honourablo man, I am aoting simply for the best." I Ho hold out a lottor. whioh I took from his hand. I hardly liko to toll you tho contents boys. It was from Lady Bianoa. Sho prayed him to forogo his intention ; no roward, sho J said, should bo too groat for him, if ho would oomply with her wishes. " I am rioh," sho wrote, " and I will share my wealth with you. lam boautiful. I will learn to lovo you. No reward, oven to the bestowal of my hand and heart, shall bo denied to you, if you will abandon an idea that makes mo shudder." This, and hor husband lay doad in the houso. " What do you think of it P " said Dr Grey, as I slowly ro-folded the noto. " She must bo mad," was my roply ; " alio has thought of it until sho has lost hor reason." " I do not think so," ho repliod sadly; "do you boo no other oauso than madness for suoh a letter as this ?" "Nono," I repliod; "but what shall you doP" " Persovero in my intention," ho repliod j "in two hours from this timo I will tell you tbe oauso of Sir Arohibald Drayton's death." A blank horror fell ovor me while the dootor j

was absent. The hours struok one after another} three passed, and then be returned. One look at his faoe was sufficient. He was the bearer of awful tidings. " It is my painful duty to inform you that, after a careful examination, I am convinced Sir Arohibald Drayton has died by poison, administered to him during Tuesday night," he said. I started in uttor horror. "It cannot be, dootor," I oried j "there must be some mistake." "There is none," he replied gravely; "I am certain Sir Archibald has died from poison; it will be for others to find out by whom that poison was given." " But, great Heavens ! dootor, you cannot suspect her of such a thing 1" " I mako no further comment," said Dr Grey j " the matter must now pass into other bands. Will you, Mr Hilton, see Lady Bianca to-night, and tell her tho result of my investigation P I oould not speak ; horror and dread overwhelmed mo. The dootor looked ill and anxious. Ho left me sitting like one stunned with a sudden blow. I oould not help the thoughts that crowded upon my bewildered brain. She evidently oared for some one else. Sho had been unhappy with him. I cannot toll how I nerved myself for the task. I found her Bitting just as I had left her. The whito faoe and haggard eyes turned wistfully to the door. " Well," sho said, as I entered. " Tbe examination is over," I replied ; " and Dootor Grey wished me to inform you of the result." Thero was no need to toll. She knew it. It will haunt mo until I die. " Say it in plain words," she oried in a thiok hoarso voice. " Sir Arohibald has died from the effeots ef poison," I said. Sho uttered no ory. She spoke no word. She turned hor faoe from me and hid it in her hands. " Beat to-night, Lady Drayton," I said ; " to-morrow we oan consult again," She might be guilty, but from my heart I pitied tho wrotohed woman who orouohed upon tho sofa. I oould not soy one word to inorease her suffering. " To-morrow," she said wearily ; " yes, let it bo bo ; we will consult t .morrow." But almost as Boon as tho sun rose Lady Bianca's confidential maid knooked at the door of my room. " Will you oome to my lady's boudoir !' she said j " and oome at onoe." I went. And saw— ah, me ! I shall nover forget the sight—just where I bad left her— she lay dead. With just the same look upon hor faoo, tho samo dread and horror. By ncr side lay a little phial, quite empty. It was labollod poison. Sho had been dead some hours. A note lay upon the table. It was addressed to mo. I opened it with trembling fingers, and read it with eyes dimmed by tears." " I know what tho world will say," it began, " there is no hope for me. It will call me guilty, and the proud woman who has hated me over sinoe I married her son, will rejoioe in my degradation. Dr Grey is right, Mr Hilton. My husband died by poison. Given by mo j but mind, remember always, I swear it was an aooidqnt. His medioino bottle and a bottle of laudanum stood side by side. At cloven o'olock I went to give him his medioine. I was tired and sleepy. Careless I own, to a criminal degroo. I took the wrong bottle, and nover discovered my error until early morning whon I found my husband dead. I knew ho was dead when I left him, but I dared not say io. Of what use for me to swear it was acoident? Who will believe mo P Tho only course left for me is to die ; and I dio deolaring I am innocent of all intentional wrong." Wo thrco— Dr Grey, Lady Drayton, and myself kept tho seorot; the dark tragedy of Fornscourb is unknown. I think of it at times, and am still undeoided as to the measure of the poor lady's guilt, I have told you a story under assumed names, but it is true.