novelist. The Secret Chamber;

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1629, 5 October 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

novelist. The Secret Chamber ;

OR, THE GIPSY S YENGEINCE.

By Eliza A, Vupuy, Author of " The Outlaws Bride," " Tht

White Terror," &>c, &c.

CHAPTER VI.

A WINDFALL. '

The following morning brought Avith it a communication to Sir Hugh, which was as we)oome,as unexpected. A letter came to him from Amsterdam which opened a prospect of carrying out his plans for getting a rich wife for Vernor, from a , most unexpected quarter. The head of a law firm there thus addressed him : Sir Hugh Mostou-en— Sir : — The enclosed pipers will show yon that youryoung ward, Ethel Clifton, baa become the sole legatee of tbe fortune of her mother's uncle, Justab. Winston, who died in this city a few weeks since. Mr. Winstou was long engaged in trade here, aud he has amassed a considerable fortune, which he has unconditionally bequeathed to his grandmece. Yon are named as her guardian and trustee, and on the day of her marriage, with your approbation, her fortune is to be paid oret to her husband. It is advisable to wind up the estate without delay, and we think we m3f congratulate the young lady on coming in possession of at least fifty thousand pounds ia personal property and real estate. Hoping to hear from you at yonr earliest convenience, and that an agent will be Bent over to see to tbe aettlemeat of our client's claims, we are, Respectfully, HOOVBE & BEOTHES. Sir Hugh read and re-read this letter, wondering if any man could have been so unsuspicious as to throw the inheritance of his ward so completely in his power. Fifty thousand pounds Avas a magnificent fortune in those days, and little Ethel was really the possessor of all this ! Ho turned over the schedulo sent, and found that tho greater portion of the es.tate was in ready money, the remainder in houses,in the city of Amsterdam, which yielded a handsome sum from their annual rents. Among the papors Sir Hugh found a second letter addressed to himself, which explained Mr. Winston's confidence in him. It was dated a month back, nnd had evidently been written from the death-bed of the deceased merchant ; Sic Ht/Gn Methtjrjj: — Although I know nothing personally of you, yet the man who stepped forward to tbe assistance of my unhappy niece, who received her orphan child beneath >U3 roof, must be eminently worthy of coniilcnce. I have no near relative save- this little jsirl, and to her the earnings of ray life must jro. Since tny health began to fail, I have 1 aused inquiries to be made coLcerning my brother's family, and thus I bavc learned the story^of your beneficence. That you took tbe orphan to your heart and borne is to me sufficient evidence that you are worthy of the trust I repose in you. Ethel will have an allowance of three hun-dred-pounds a year until her marriage. On that event, if she marries with your consent, the whole of the fortune will pasa into the possession of her husband. Ido not believe in rendering a woman independent of the protector she herself usually chooses, and I believe that you will not permit her to bestow herself on one who is unworthy of such confidence. With my dying regards to my unknown niece, I conjure her^ to obey the wishes of him who has proved himself her friend when she bad no other. r .- "•- Josiah Winston. •* What a precious windfall !" muttered Sir Hugh. '• If Vernor will- only listen to me now his -fortune is made. Fifty thousand pounds to come into his possession on the day of his marriage with the heiress, and what is to_keep them . from being married out of hand ? Where lands and fortune are at stake, children have often entered into such bonds in thia country, and then remained at schoo.l till they reached yearo of maturity." HI" doit, and Vernot anall travel on the continent while his bride ii getting her education." •- At that moment the stcpspf his son were heard crossing the : of, and Sir, Hugh called to him, Verrior came to the door of the room and put his head in.

" I am engaged for thismorning; father, »nd if you hare no particular business

Wlttt UNJj I W Z 'SU you would exense mo a few hours." 11 But I have very particular business with you, to which oA'erything else must be deferred. Come in nnd shut the door, for I have something to reveal to you which nearly affects your future fortunes." Vernor'B curiosity was aroused by these words, and ha came in, saying : '* Oh ! if that's the game, I can put aside my affair's for tho present. But what can this wonderful revelation bo ?" " Head those, replied Sir Hugh, offering him the letters, and then I will see if your thought tallies with my own." Vernor obeyed, and then returned the letters with an expression his father scarcely liked. " Well, sir," he said, "Ethel has become suddenly rich ; but how does that affect my fortunes ?" " Yon are very dull, or you would see that, aa her husband, you can gain possession of the whole of this money." Vernor looked annoyed. " She is but a child, Sir Hugh, and be- 1 fore she is old enough to marry I may j find a better Avay of recruiting our ex- ; hausted finances." "Yuu must be very hopeful, then," sneered his father. "If Ethel i 3 a child, bo much tho better for yon, for she can have no will of her own to oppose to mine. Your idol, Monmouth, Avas- married to Lady Anne Scott while she Avas of tender yenrs ; andwhat is to prevent you from following his example ?" Vernor started, and looked steadily at the speaker. " Are you in earnest, Sir Ilugh ? Would you make such a use of the trust confided to you ?" " What better use can I make of it thnn to advance the interests of my own son ? We need this money, and it will be no wrong to Ethel- to secure ifc in this way. You can travel and learn the ways of the great world, while your child-bride can remain' with your aunt till she ia old enough to assume hor position as Lady Methurn." " But really, Sir Hugh, I do not care parlicularly for Ethel, and she likes my cousin far bettor than she does me. She ■will dovelop into a gentle, quiet Avdraan like Aunt Agnes ; but the being I shall love must be brilliant and dashing, passionate and vivid in her nature. No, Sir Hugh, I can never love little Ethel as my wife." " Believe me, Vernor, tho woman you describe Avould mako me wretched. I speak from experience, for I have loved such a ono, and lived to loathe and fear her. Do not walk in my footstcpg, but grasp tho good fortune that has been thrust upon you. " " I havo heard that you did not live happily with uiy mother ; but I was not aware that such feelings had grown up between you," said the young man with a slight show of emotion. " Your mother I Oh, no — not to her did I refer. Your mother brought me wealth ; but I married her after tho hey-day of passion was past. We were not happy, and I am afraid it was more my fault than hers. Let that pass ; it has nothing to do Avith the matter in hand." " I am afraid it has, sir ; for if I marry Ethel, I shall, in my turn, mako her miserable. 1 know that I can never love her. She is too sensitive, too refined, to assimilate with such a3 I am. Bosideu, as I said before, she likes G*rald far better than mo." Sir Hugh spoke with somo passion : "Then you are ready to let all this money go to your cousin without a struggle to retain it ? No wonder he has been pronounced the heir to good fortune if yon resigu your best chances in his favor." Vernor flushed deeply ; thi3 was touching him on a tender point ; but after a pause, he said : "If I should consent to this arrangement, sir, if Ethel can bo induced to give me her hand before she is old enough to make a choice for herself, will it not bo aterrible abuse of the trust her uncle hns reposed in you ? I need money, and the temptation is great to avail myself of this chance tojobtain it ; but you will be censured forgetting possession of your -ward's fortune in so irregular a manner." "Whyßhouldwe care for the Bcandal of others if we are well paid for it 1 I have already arranged in my own mind what is to be done. An agent must be Bent to Amsterdam, and you shall go thither as the husband of the heiress. There will be no difficulty in settling with you in that; character, and then you can make an exfconded fcour on the continent. You may be absent four or six years if you wish it, and return only when your bride is old enough to be claimed. This is the only avenue of escape from the foxhunting life you have hitherto led. I believe you have ambition, and this is your sole chance to gratify it. The ehiW in yielding nnd easily persuaded. She will grow up with the idea that her allegiance is due to you, and she will learn to love you." Vernor pondered a few moments, and then asked : " How much am I to sell myself for, Sir Hugh ? What does the lawyer say is the amount of her fortune ?" "Fifty thousand pounds— a splendid inheritance, by Jove ! and besides, Ethel stands almost in the direct succession to ■ hor grandfather's title and estates. She is the Aanghiev of the second, eon, an<^ tho eldest is a man of dissipated habits, who is likely to die unmarried. Think of it ! She may yet be Viscountess Clifton in her own right, Avith a rent roll of five thousand pounds a yt-ar. You're a fool, Vernor, to hesitate a moment." " Thank you, sir ; but lam not quito such a simpleton as to permit all these chances to fall £0 Gerald's lot. I suppose I must make a compromise of taste and feeling and accept the little one as my wife — that is, if sho will consent to take me." " I have no fears about that. We can soon win her over ; make her a few handsome presents ; indulge her fancies for a few weeks, and you will gain the ground that Gerald's absence must cause him to lose. I will AA'iite to the lawyers and tell them that an agent "will be' sent over shortly, and ia the meantime you must commend yourself to Ethel, that ehe may not be difficult to manage." Vernor rose with a resigned air. " What destiny wills muat be submitted to, 1 suppose ; so I shall begin forthwith to play the part of lover to the baby heiress. But I say, Sir Hugh, will it not be necessary to keep what is going on from Aunt Agnes ? Her notions are rather rigid, aud I fancy she looks on

1 Etliel as hor peculiar property. Ifc was she Who took her, you know, and she h&k had 1 the care of her sines she has» been with ; us." , Sir nugh reflected a moment, and then said: "There is no need to tell Mrs. Methurn of what has happened just yet. I will make things straight with her when the proper time comes. Curb your, impatient temper, Vertior, and be gentle Avith the child. She has a very affectionate nature, and you can easily step into the place Gerald lately held. Ethel has long wnntod a pony. I saw a beautiful one, a Bhorfc time ago, at Farmer Con way's, that Kato has boon in the habit of riding. He said he would' sell it if ho could get his price, which ia somewhat high, but; that ia of no-conae-quence now. Here is money. Buy it, and send to Taunton for the necessary OUtGt ; and, by the way, order a hat and plumes for Ethel, and a scarlet habit. Thai will b© sure to take her childish fancy. " Vernor laughed. "You are going into the affair in earnest, sir, and you seem to kno*v somethink of the Avay to win a woman. " " Why should I not, when the sex was once the study of my life ? They all .like pretty things, and, as a natural consequence, they love him best Avho can giA r e them the most of them. A few hundred pounds, judiciously used, will make Ethel think youpeifectly charming." " I bow to your experience, Sir Hugh, and take the cue you have ao obligingly furnished. Give me the money, and I will lide over to Conway's at once and make sure of the pony, though I expect some black looks from Kate for my pains." "By the way, that reminds me that Conway told me that Kate would accept yourg Crofts if you would cease your at tentions to her. The father has sense enough to know that you have no intention to 'marry her, but it seems the girl thinks differently. It was very presuming in ILato Conway t3 aspire to become my daughter-in-laAV, and you must have said many absurd things to lead her to form such a hope." "Perhaps I have, sir," replied the young man, indifferently ; " but you need have no apprehensions on that- score. Kate and 1 have come to an understanding, and she told me yesterday that she had accepted Crofts. I promised her a bridal presont, and tho money I shall pay for tho pony will probably buy her wedding finery." The baronet gave him his purse, and Vernor sauntered from the room, lightly humming a cavalier Bong. He encountered Ethel on the lawn, wearing a large garden hat, and leading a pet fawn, which Gerald had given her, by a long ribbon attached to its collar. Exercise had flushed her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with animation. Vernor regarded her critically, and he thought : " Sho will really be very pretty ; but, then, sta is such a little creature. I like Btately women, and this one is going to bo a fairy. But Avhat does it matter, after all ? The Aveight of her purse will make up for any deficiency in hor oavii, Aveight." Etkol threw back her curls and came dancing toAvard him with smiling lips. •' Oli, Vernor, I have had such a delightful romp' with Pitapat J len^b that a nice name ? It's just the sound his foet make on the hard road." "It is a very suitable name, LadyBird, aud shows that you have a nice ear." " Oh, I didn't give it to him. Gerald gavo him to me, and he named him." " Well, pretty one, I shall not permit Gerald to be the only one to mako prej sents to you. I am going to give you some-thing better worth having than your spotted fawn, for he will soon outgrow his spots and become a dangerous playmate. My present shall do you some good." The child's eyes brightened, but &he threw her arm over her pet's neck, and said : "This has done me a deal of good, for aunty says my color is brighter since I had Pitapat to run after. But what are you going to get for me, Vernor ? I had no tdea you would ever think enough of me to give me anything." 11 Oh ! you're mistaken there, Ethel. I have always thought a great deal of you, but you were so much taken up with my cousin, and with your studies, that you had no <ime to notice me. Ifc Avill be different now Gerald is away, and I am going to -teach you how to manage a pony of your own," She clasped her hands in childish ecßtasy. 41 Dear Vernor 1 a real, live pony ? Oh, how delightful 1 Gerald said you would teach me to ride after the hounds ; but 1 do not wish to do that ; I should be afraid of breaking my neck. But if you gave me a pony, perhaps I shall like to do it after I get used to riding him." " Yes ;no fear of that. You've got a flash of spirit in you that will come out by-and-bye. You must be very lonely now Gerald is gone, and I mean to make you my -especial pet. D,on't you think we shall get along together very well ?" Ethel looked rather doubtful, and she dubiously said : "If you will have patience Avith me, and not get into what old Maude calls your tantrums. You know yoji flash up so quick, and lose your temper, so thai — that sometimes I am quite afraid of, you. Gerald always — " - "Never mind Gerald now," he impatiently broke in. " You need not expect me to be like him, for I do not care to imitate him, highly as you appreciate him ; but I mean to be as patient as Job whore you are concerned, for I have set my heart on filling my cousin's place while we are still together." ♦'Dear Vernor, J hope you are not thinking of going, too. What should Aye do, with you and Gerald both gone?" "Would you really be eorry, LadyBird,, if I were to l?ave you?" he asked, and he looked earnestly into, the sweet face that was upturned to his. c *Oh, so sorry! Besides, Avhy should you go sway ? You have not>your living to gain, as Gerald has.". " Then you do love me a littls bit ?" "Of course I love you. Are you not my bipj Wothor? You haVB VfiXfid I»l) sometimes, but I always forgave you for it, bpcause you know I couldn't help getting into a passion when any thing goes wrong Avith you ; and I know that I am cftcn a sad worry to you. lam a timid little goose, but if you will teach me how to use my pony, ■ I will try to bo more courageous." "That is right j and I promise you to

try and restrain my quick temper. We will ittakd a mutual eompaot, Ethel, and I shall b© sure to keep mine, for I have set roy heart on rivaling Gerald. lam jealous of your preference for my cousin, for I think you a charming little person. " The child opened he: eyes with surprise at the first compliment Vernor had ever paid her, and she archly said : "What would Kato Conway say if she heard that. Sho was A-excd that you danced with me in preference to her on May-day." " I fancy sho wouldn't care much about it, for she is too busy fixing for her Avedding to think of anything else. Don't you know that she is going to marry Tom Crofts?" "And you must Avear the willow," s!io roguishly said. "Hero is a tree convenient ; let me bind a spray around your hat." "Do ; but I shall wear ifc, not aa a trophy of defeat) but a promise of victory." And he took off his hat and held it toward her, whilo she tAvined around it a long willow Avreath from an immense tree, under the shadow of which they stood. ■ In a few seconds the fantastic ornament Avas adjusted, and Vernor replaced the hat upon his head with a flourish. " You have crowned me, Lady-Bird, Avith tho symbol of hope rather than of despair. Good morning now, and dream of what gifts the good fairy Avill bring you wilhin the next three days. Sir Hugh has opened his heart nnd purse, and ordered a birthday gift that Avill be splendid ; but I shan't tell you what it is to be." " How good of Sir Hugh ! Nobody but aunty and Gerald ever thought of my birthday before ; and it's very kind of you and your father to remember that 1 shall be ten years old on the ninth of this month." Vernor might truly have told her that he had only remembered it himself within the last few moments, and offered it as an excuse for* the unusual liberality uhown toward her, but he only said : " You must say nothing to my father, Ethel, for he wishesto surprise you ; and I should have given you no hint of the pretty things in store for you. Sir Hugh has adopted you as his daughter, and in future he intends to treat you as such." , "He 13 very kind, and I will try and be a good child to him, for, oh ! Vernor, if he had not let me stay at the Priory, 1 do not know what would have become of me when my poor mamma died." " Nor I either ; for you had no ono to take care of you ; b'ltifyou are obedient, and mindful of Sir Hugh's wishrs, he will never repent of his kindness to you. He may ask some return from you some day, Ethel, and then you can show your gratitude." "I will do anything — anything ho asks me,'' impulsively exclaimed tho child, with flushed cheeks and radiant oye3. Vernor pinched her cheek, and laughinglr said : " That Avill do, Lady-Bird. I see you are in earnest, and I will leaA T e the futute to develop itself. 1 must go now and bargain for the pony." He blew a kiss to her from tho tips of his fingers, nnd left her standing under the old tree, lost in a delightful reverie. It had long been the darling wj'bli of her heart to have a pony of her otvh, and no gift could have been so Aveleome to her. Iler tastes were simple and natural, but Sir Hugh rightly judged that her childish heart could be won over by gifts and attentions to which she had been unaccustomed.