LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4792, 8 September 1883, Page 4

LITERATURE.

♦ MISS GABBTON'S OASE. (Bnglish Magcuine.) Chaitbb IV. (Continued). A quarter of an hour afterwards, the doctor's magnificent pair of bay oobs were pulled tap with a grand flourish before the police offloe; and I stepped out of the oarriage miserably flurried, wishing that Mr Lamport had been a thousand leagues away on the fatal night he had linked my fate with his. Dr Dawson, who followed me into the ♦ffloe, was received with the consideration due to a magistrate j and the old chiefconstable listened to my communication with nepeetfnl attention. This somewhat calmed me, and I was almost at ease when the dootor mcc to go. I wonld hay gone also, but the ahief-oonstable requested >< >< to stay. " Thie will be a oase f.*r Ins-oeotor Knab man," he said; "youmu-f .cc bm." JStee ponding to a oall oown a tube, a tall fratmt man oame in. Ills faoe bore the •aneemt i»ix«d expwssion of limplioify and astuteness that oould be conceived. Mr Knabman was a oelebrity that everybody had Jieard of, and I felt no little onriosity in Ooming into suoh close oontaot with him, While his superior officer was relating the purpose of my visit, the famou? deteotive kept his eyes fixed upon me with a calm investigation that explored me to the core. I do not know if he was satisfied with me, for Jut Opinions were net accessible to suoh an vneophutioated youngster as I was. Having heard the particulars of tho oase impassively to the end, Inspector Knabman aubjeoted me to the most drastic questioning I have ever known. I told all my faots, divulged all my conjectures, and made such a oomplete deliverance of everything that had happened during my attendance upon Miss Garston, that even my examiaer appeared to he contented at last. "Is this Italian herbalist, Pandofini, known P" as tbe head- constable. w Yes, sir," replied Mr Knapman shortly, going on with his Bote*, for he began to make oopious memoranda of 'he case. These, Toeing completed, ho af forwards correoted them by a few secondary inquiries; thon I WM permitted to depart. I walked slowly homewards, thinkirg o«*er the whirl of things, in which I was being awept along almost as resistlessly as a straw down a rapid stream. I pondered on the oontaot of the destinies of out* aiders with my own. A little while ago, Mr Lamport was as unknown to me -aa an inhabitant of Sirius ; of his existence I was as unconscious as of the men who may tread the earth a million years henoe. And this unsuspeoted personality had sprung sud* denly from out tho infinite orowd of humanity, had riveted my personality to his in the indissoluble bonds of crime. By what strange concatenation of things are men conjoined in thia world ! Trom Mr Lamport, the transition to his -victim was natural. If I had not been oalled to attend Miss Garston, if another medioal man had been ohosen to m >sk the murderer's designs, what would hw happened? Por-* haps the poor girl would have been hurried •from the stage of life -s abruptly aa her father. When once we y -jo up ourselves to a stream of speculation--, there is no saying Jiow far wo may bo oarried, or what new and Startling vistas we may behold. I had in %ome way saved Miss Garston's lifo. That life would go on perhaps for years. What aort of oaroer would it be f Then I remem* hered how lonely and friendless the poor girl WU. Probably the downfall of Mr Lamport meant the financial ruin of his viotim. Thus poverty, with its corroding anxieties, with its narrow and darksome horizon, was sequential is the hideous train of suffering that Mr Lamport had put in motion. How could a lady nurtured in tenderness and eleganoe endure the shocks and disgusts of the nether world into whioh beggary would plunge her ? Misb Garston was no longer my patient. I aaw her in new relations,, a lone orphan, bereft of all that makes existence desirable. Far the first time, I dwelt upon her personal appearanoe ; her dark questioning eyes, whioh hadlongceasedto glare distrustfully into mine, and whiob met me with the sweet confidence nf a ohild. Her delicatr. futures, over whioh •anguish flitted in a hui ! 'red modes, as pitiless villainy worked ito deadly way! Those fair young cheeks was-?-, withored in their early bloom. Tho lips made for smiles, pallid, distorted; her bosom rent with agonies, whioh the monster who caused them could never feel. Why, I asked myself, are the base and the merciless permitted to inflict the extremities of physioal and mental pain on the innocent and the helpless ? How can the aublime intilligence of a man be degraded to infamies like these? I reached home in a speoies of frenzy, which alarmed my mother and sister exceedingly. lam not of a demonstrative nature ; thna my agitation was the more distressing to others and to myself. I told my mother all that had happened without reserve; and in doing so, I grew calmer. Then we had a long conversation respecting Miss Garston. How shonld I break to her the news that Mr Lamport was about to be arrested for her attempted murder? A vast, yes, a fundamental revolution was trembling around her ; ahould its approach be announced, or was I to permit it to burßt upon her unawares ? " If she is at all able U> bear the communication, tell her," said my mother. "You wfll of ' course quietly prepare her for it. Women oan endure far more than men suppose. Besides, if Miss Garston knows that ahe is in no further danger from that horrid man, that will sustain her." " But where is sho to go afterwarda ?" I asked. "I know she will not stay in Mr Lamport's house." "Bring her here," returned my mother resolutely. " Your sister and I will care for her until she is able to decide upon ber future. You are sure that she will recover ?" " Dr Dawson is positive of it," I returned. M He says I have been mistaken as to the peril she has been in. Of thati have my own opinion. Still, lam bound to admit that she oke rallied marvellously in a few hours. If 1 iind her stronger when I return, I shall venture to tell her a few particulars about Mr Lamport being in trouble. Bat I will not mention the poisoning. Something she must be told, to aocount for tho changes that will take place in tho house. I hope Mr Lamport will not be arrested at home ; that will de* moralise the servants, and they will frighten my poor patient, and goodness knows what the result may be." Ife waa now nearly four o'olook. I hurried to prepare Miss Garston for another change in her fateful life, fearing lest it might have heen revealed by the event itself. But all was in its wonted order. The fine old mansion never looked more imposing. Upon it, the after-glow of a frosty sunset fell re* aplendently ; its windows gleamed with re* joioing fires, aa though a grand gala were in progress. The evergreen shrubs along the pathway were more witching than at summer's noon. By the side of the house, a gorgeous conservatory seat forth a glow of flowery loveliness that looked like fairywork. Everything bespoke the home of wealth, taste, and luxury. And in the house, all was aS usual ; the servants pursuing their duties ; from the kitohen came a faint hint of an exquisite repast preparing ; along the lobby tho portly batler walked leisurely, with a plate-basket gleaming and jingling in his hand. Miss Garston was still improving. She had just dismissed the attendant who had performed her toilet, and she lay in the soft lanSor of the fatigue it had oaused. The sun 1 rosily upon the bed, and lent a faint tint to the pale nice lying on the pillow before me. A smile, a bright welcoming smile, and a flash from the sunlit eyes, told that I was ex* peoted. I stood entranced for an instant at the changes that met my eyea. Hitherto, the aiok-room had been darkened to a twilight ; the expression on my patient's face had varied from supplication to terror and despair. Now all was radiant, transformed. Why did I thrill as I took Miss Garston's hand ? Why slid I tremble as I spoke to her ? But my embarrassment did not last long. I had a duty to perform infinitely more diffioult than any that had fallen to my lot previously. With the utmost caution I opened the subject of Mr Lamport's affairß, I told of his business distresses ; how he would have to leave his present abode, and live on a lower level, and how Miss Garston would need another home. The prospect did not alarm her, as I feared ; nay, she seemed almost glad at the impending separation from her self-styled guardian. Then I ventured to offer the hospitality of my mother's house until she was convalescent, and begged permission for an interview on my mother's part. These propositions somewhat disturbed my patient. I saw that I had gone as far as her strength would Admit of, and bidding her rest, I left her

with a promise to return later in the even* ing. I had broken the ice. Miss Garston was prepared for tho inevitable, and her energies had seemed equal to the shook. But I quailed at the thought of the further strain that would be put upon her enfeebled _ powers, when Mr Lamport was brought to trial. When I reaohed the library I oogitated upon the courses that lay open to me. Shonld I wait where I was, until I learned if Mr Lamport were arrested, or should I return home to meet Mr Sleigh the bookkeeper, as arranged? I determined to stay, and so prevent any possible misohief to my patient I therefore wrote a note, bidding Mr Sleigh to oome to me without delay. (To be oontinues!.) >*»»»»*»»»»»»»»»*»»»»*»—^^'*^^^ — *^