THE PATE OP THE FOSBROOKES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3419, 26 March 1879, Page 3

THE PATE OP THE FOSBROOKES.

(Argosy.) (Concluded ) A day or two had elapsed. Leaving the Temple in the forenoon, I encountered Stretton in the gateway, just as I was turning into Fleet street, lie caught mo by the button-hole and invited me to luncheon with him. As I hesitated, a light basket-phaeton containing a gentleman and lady, with a small page in dark livery behind, drove under Temple Bar and stopped in fronfc of us. "By Jove!" exclaimed Mr Stretton, and almost before tho words left his lips, the page was at the horse's head, and tho gentleman, whoso eyes and hair were black as my own, and who struck me as a disagreeable likeness of myself— but not a bad-looking fellow on the wholo— had jumped out, throwing the rems to the lady, as lovely a young brunette as it had been my fate to meet, witb eyes as soft and melancholy as her companion's were eager and fiery. With barely a word of apology, he drew the solicitor aside and began in a hurried voico I could not choose but hear —

"What's tiiis your clerk tells me, Mr Stretton? Do you know into what handa you have committed our caae ? This Mr John fosbrooke "

Is a very rising young barrister— could not be in better hands," interrupted tho lawyer, imperturbably. " He claims kinship wifch the Foabrookes of Fosbrooke, sir. There is an old feud betwoen his branch of the family and ours. You must withdraw the brief at any cost. He will ruin our cause. In my father's name lin sisfc on the withdrawal of the brief!" lhis in answer to Mr Stretton's visible protest. I thought it quito timo to interfere. As haughtily aa himself I stepped forward. " Air Reginald Fosbrooke, I presumo." His bow aaid "Ay, and -who on earth are you ?"

iour brief, sir, and my retaining fee, shall bo in Mr Stretton's office in less than twenty minutes. There is no need to withdraw the case— l throw it up." And I turned on my heel under tho archway. I met my clerk on his way to dinner and sent him back flying for fcho offending brief and Stretton's cheque, which lay unchanged in my drawer. 1 had heard Stretton's remonstrance as I went, and the other's annoyed response. I had barely takon three steps after my clerk whon a crash and a shriek called me back. Reginald Fosbrooke was lying stunned on the pavement, the page was scrambling to his feet, a bystander had caught the affrighted horse, and the lovely occupant was in imminent peril. Darting forward, I managed to extricate the lady from fche pliteton beforo the plunging animal had made a total wreck of ifc. Sho seemed as lifeless as fcho man on fche ground. My clork was back by this time. Shouting to him to bring a doctor to my chambers, and to Stretton to have his prostrate client convoyed thither, I hurried forward with tho insensible girl in my strong arms, and placed her in my own chair. Tho couch had soon another occupant.

"This will be quieter than a shop," I whispered to Stretton, " and wo can keep tho crowd oufc h&re."

He nodded a sort of dazed assent,

Before a doctor reached ua my charge had revivod. And then, her distress ovor her "dear brother," her *" dear Reggy," was pitiable to witness. I did my best to console her, and to assure her fchafc her brother was not dead, only stunned, and would doubtless rocover shortly ; and, as she turned hor liquid eyes in thanks on mine, I felfc there was ono Fosbrooke who could never bo my enemy. A couple of hours went by boforo Reginald Fosbrooke gavo a sign of returning animation. Tho doctor had muttered something of concussion of the brain, and internal injury from tho horao'B hoof ; insisted on quiet, forbade removal, and, aside to Stretton and mo, suggested telegraphing to friends. Barbara— l could have almost guessed hor namo had not the injured mun murmured ifc, as she knelt beside him in sobbing agony — caught tho suggestion and remarked simply— so simply that 1 am suro the doctor thought her wits wero wandering— "Thoro is no need; they will already know of this catastrophe afc homo." They must havo had a telegraph of their own, swifter thau that of science ! Suroly enough, beforo the close of the afternoon, Squire Fosbrooko — who must havo been on tho road before our message was despatched— stood by tho aide of his oldest aon, and clasped my hand with grateful earnestness as that of a stranger, saying he was glad ho had found him alive. He was a grave, dignified, but not haughty man, preternaturally old, and and bent beneath the hoavy burden of inexorable fate. Ho and his daughter took possession of my chambers with many courteous apologies for turning them into a hospital ; apparently unconscious that they woro indebted to moro than a chanco namesake. Only the patient knew my antecedents ; and when, at the closo of tlio week, he recognised mo as his involuntary entertainer ho grew irritably impatient fco be removed. Tho doctor shrugged his shoulders, his gontlo Bister shed tears, hia father, Mr Stretton, and myself remonstrated. Tho heir of Fosbrooko was wilful. Ho was borno thonco with tho tenderest caro ; bufc barely had ho crossed tho threshold fchan violent hromorrhago set in, and only ay lifeless body was carried into tho neighbouring hotel. A broken rib, displaced, liad lacerated some internal organ. Mourning did notarreßt the law-suit. Tho ßquire, ignorant of Reginald's prohibition, wrung my hand at parting, and said he was sure his causo was in good hands. I had gono with them to tho station, possibly drawn thither by tho grateful thanks in Barbara Fosbrooko's overy tono and gesture. Then ifc occurred to the squire that I might better understand how tho caso stood between him and Myers if I went ovor the grounds and tracked tho Fossobrook ; and ho asked mc to follow thorn down in timo for his poor boy's funeral. I wenfc back to my chambera musing. Two strange evonts had como to pass. I, tho descendant of Rupert tho discarded, had been invifced to tho Manor. Moreover, I waß in love with Barbara. Tho Manor House was a magnificent pile wifch a background of waving woods. Perhaps ifc was the presence of undertakers, and a crowd of funeral guests with mournful robes and faces, made mo feel the interior ao gloomy in its grandeur, notwithstanding fcho faint smile of Barbara and fcho courteous reception of Barbara's mother. Was it chanco that aasigned to me, the latest comer in the crowded mansion, the apartment at the end of the corridor? I had followed tho servant mechanically, my mind filled with Barbara's greeting, and nofc his apologies ; but my rapid survey of fche hastily prepared chamber set mo thinking. A label outsido the oaken door showed that it was set aparfc for " Lawyer Sfcrefcton'a friend." The hurried and bewildered servants had no conception that they had shown Rupert Fosbrooke's representative into Rupert's room. If I had a doubt it was dispelled by the sight of a large picture reared against fche wall, from which three faces seemed to look at mo through a veil of dust. I havo not an atom of superstition in mo— at least I had nofc then. It was rather with reverence than awe that I sacrificed my cambrio handkerchief to tho restoration of the picture. Then I was struck with the resemblance botween my ancestor and myself; and wondered if any of the many assembled relatives would perceive it ; never thinking how littlo was known of the faces I was scanning so minutely. Yet I think my appearance at fche dinnor table did excite some curiosity, if furtive glances and whisperings were an index. Sombre dresses and long faces spoiled tho meal for rae. I waa glad whon I found myself back in my room in front of a wood firo kindled at my request; and, taking advantage of tho doublo doors, took out a oigar to mako myself at home.

There was a suggestiveness of damp and rheumatism about the heavy velvet-hung fourpost bed. I declined its invitation, preferring to wrap myself in my travelling-rug and strefcch my limbs on ah antique couch at right

angles with tho hearth. A second cigar sent me to sloop, to dream of Barbara. I awoke shivering, wifch an uneasy impression of a hand laid on my shoulder to arouse me. The flro was almost out, the candles quite, but there was a light in the room, and—yes ! in the very midst of that light stood Rupert the painter, palette and brush in hand, painting away at a picture on his easel. I rubbed my oyes and gave myself a shake. The artist was still at work, and I saw tho picturo growing under his brush. Ifc was an Alpine scene familiar to myself. Now figures appeared upon the canvas toiling up tho snowy ascent. The artist looks round afc me, and back afc his canvas. I see delineated a broken rope, a shivered alpenstock, and a figure slipping and falling headlong infco a terrible crevasse. Again fche arfcisfc turns his head, and liia dark eyes transfix me. The canvas is blank. Again tho brush ia plied. Judge, jury, counsel, take tlieir placea. I see a brother barrister of long standing addressing the court, see him painted out ; and my very counterpart stands out in mv very attitude in my most eloquent mood. I see the effeot on the faces of judge and jury • ifc is cheering. The artist turns round and smiles. Picture, painter, easel, light, are gone ! lam shivering in the dark, with barely a ray of moonlight straggling in through tho windows. I givo myself another shako, say 1 am an arrant fool, concludo I have been dreaming, and compose myself to sleep again. Convinced, when I awaken in the morning, that I have been dreaming, I say nothing at the breakfast table of my broken rest, nofc caring to excite either alarm or ridicule.

As Stretton and I return to town in the expreea the day after the funeral, I elioit from him that the squire has another son, now travelling in Switzerland, to whom, of courso, tho heirship will descend. After that, I fear Stretton has bufc a stupid companion to the end of tho journey. My survey of the moat, converted into a shrubbery, and the track of tho watercourso in dispute, did nofc tell in my client's interest. Nevertheless, I went into court with a conviotion I should win, although I scouted the idea of being influenced by a dream. And I was successful. The case was dismissed as litigious and vexatious, and when I shook hands with our client, ho insisted on my returning with him to the manor, and said I did honour to the name I bore. Other cases kept me in town until the end of the term. Then I, John Fosbrooke, availed myself of the aquire's invitation, and was welcomed ; Mrs Fosbrooke offering many apologies for my being thrust into an unußed room on my former visit. I protested I was perfectly satisfied, and thought ifc a pifcy so commodious a chamber should be leffc to me and the spiders. The lady sighed and said no moro. This time I occupied the adjoining room, smaller, but well kept, and less antique in its appointments. Tho squire took to me amazingly, and Barbara's heart opened to me. I hesitated how best to disclose my ancestry anu propose for tho sweet girl, when the wholo fabric of my futuro was shaken by a telegram from Switzerland. Charles Edward Foßbrooko had perished in tho ascent of the Simplon. I was staggered, and the whole family were overwhelmed. Ifc was no time for love proposals. I volunteered a journey for tho recovery of the body, saying that I know tho precise spot in which he was lying ; this involved explanation of what I called my dream.

" Dream ; it waa no dream," cried Barbara and her parents, simultaneously. " But who aro you ?" demanded the squire, rising to his feofc, who have seen the spectral painter of our houso; Rupert Fosbrooke never reveals the future save to one of his own near kin."

My answer and its effect may bo imagined } an avalanche could scarcely have overwhelmed them moro completely. Tho old squire, his eyes suffused with tears, held out his hand to mo.

"This is no timo to perpetuate feud," said ho ; fato is too strong for us." Neod I add that I went to Switzerland and recovered the remains of tho last heir of the elder Foabrookea ; but oro I took my departure, unknown to tho family, I spont a night in the haunted chamber, still inclined fco be sceptical ; I came oufc next morning converted • once moro tho mountain sceno was painted beforo me, but I saw myself and guides recovering the lost, and the means employed. Another picturo was painted beforo me, and then tho artist seemed to fling brushes and palette aside, and vanish with a benediction. I stand, with my now acknowledged relatives, by fcho gravo of tho squire's last son, and sco his tears fall fast on tho coffin-lid beforo ho turns away, and, graspng my hand, calls mo with a sigh the heir of Fosbrooko Manor. I could hardly realise it then; I can realise it now, as I stand amid a perfect bower of holly and evergreens afc Christmas in a pretty country church, and clasp the hand of Barbara before the altar, in that bond which for ever reunites tho sovered branches, and averts tho fate of the Fosbrookes; and thia was the last picture shown mo— now a Fosbrooke of Fosbrooke, a picturo of love and peace and goodwill at Ohristmas-tido.