CHAPTER XXV.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 183, 12 July 1873, Page 3

CHAPTER XXV.

But look ' the morn, in russet mantle olad, Walks on the dew of you high eastern lull. Tub sun, rising ovor the rocks, and peering down into the little glen of Bodgadfan, sees a very sad sight on tins winter morning, such a sight us he had ne\er seen since that black day, two thousand years ago, when the wild Cymry, rushing down upon the little sheltered village of the Gaels, had fired the thatched roofs of its mirerable <•«//««, and brought destruction upon all that dwelt therein. For the old hall of Bodgadfan was gutted and destroyed ; its weather worn gray walls were all besiniiclied with smoke, or whitened b} dame; its timbers were sticking out here and there, charred and blackened; its lawns were trodden into mud; its glass houses shattered into fragments. The new wing was untouched by the flames, and in hit -study sat Evan Rowlands, desolate. He had thought, when Ons daughter appeared to him alive and unhurt, that no further misfortune could now affect him ; that ho could bear with unconcern any evils Fate may have in store for liim But with the cold blenk morning came a revulsion of feeling : he wished he had perished in the flumes ; kinder, in the short agony they would have inflicted, than the smooth, gentle world to the man who has lost his footing and had fallen. For he had fallen now ; (here was no doubt about it. It was useless to try to escape his •destiny. He had seen clearly last night, when he was visited by John and his two associate, that he was hopelessly in the toils. John had even proposed to him that they should appropriate the balance of gold and marketable securities lying in the bauk coffers, and divide the proceeds amongst the four ; that the bank should be closed next day, And RDwlands be declared a bankrupt ; that the deficiency in the cash should be aocounted for by remittances on account of the exnenses of the ship, for which Captain Ellis and he would find vouchers The banker had temporised with this offer. He thought he might be able to turn the tables on his friends : he had thought of giving them all into the custody of the police ou a charge of conspiracy. But then the written authority he bad given his clerk to deal with the ship as ho thought fit— this damning evidence would surely convict him too. And then the young man taken away, by Ins orders, from his home, and put on board the dgomed vessel, lost so soon after : hero were tragic prdofs enough to blot his name from the roll of honest men. AnH what was more terrible still, he could not own himself guj"iless ! No ; for one fatal moment, he had been a murderer in his heart ; of that moment the Evil One had taken advantage ; he was lost, for ever lost ! Before a danger so imminent, in the presence of a doom so terrible, his mind also gave way ; but then the thought came to him : lost as he was, he might yet save his daughters, his son ! For his own sake he had rather end it at onee — confess the evil thoughts he had harboured, the evil deeds he had sanctioned, and await the penalty. But for their sakes he would yet play out his part. And then there came to him the coolness and clear-sightedness of utter despair. The worst had happened to him ; he could fall no lower ; but he might yet stand forth for awhile before the world a whited sepulchre, an outwardly respectable man. If he •could only make up enough to save Arthur from sharing his rum, then the crash might como ; there would be a home for his daughters, a plank to save them from the wreck. The fire had complicated matters still more His goods were insured at their full value. The money he would receive from the insurance company would be a reasonable reinforcement, if he could but only hold out ; but would not all the circumstances tell cruelly against him, if the real atata of his affairs became known ? Whilst he sat in his study musing and mourning, alternately calling to his memory all the past scenes of his life, .crying out sadly to himself: 'Why should it end thus? What evil hand is this which lias thus wrecked a well-spent life? ' or again eagerly forecasting all the direful contingencies of the sad future — the room was suddenly darkened, and between him and the light he saw the figures of his three accomplices. They tapped at the window, and he rose and let them in. ' What do you want now ? ' he cried. ' Wait a bit,' cried John. ' We've been robbed, Mr Rowlands, bach— robbed of our hard earning by a bit of a lad ; and that's our first job with you. We want a warrant for Turn, Mr Rowlands.' ' You must apply through the police,' said Rowlands. 4 Give in your complaint to Sergeant Jones, and he will come to me for a warrant if it's necessary.' ' Yes, 1 said John ; ' only time presses ; the lad will be away if we're not sharp ; and I thought you wouldn't care to hare Sergeant Jones up hero till* things had been cleared away a bit That was why I didn't bring him with me, Mr Rowlands ' ' What do you mean ? ' ' Do you know what they're saying in the town about the fire, Mr Rowlands, cli 9 That the fire at Bodgadfan was lit to w.irm the bank. Deed, you were too quick altogether, Mr Rowlands, bach; first the ship, then the house. You'll bring discredit upon us by being too quick, Mr Rowlands.' ' You rill mi! ' exclaimed the banker. ' You know, at all events, however much appearances may be against me' ' That's just it— appearances, Mr Rowlands; you should take more care of appearances. Now, look here, what I find in the lawn of Bodgadfan ! See, Mr Rowlands, a candlestick ! such a pretty candlestick ! I know who's candlestick it is / knew who unlaces her pretty little stays with this pretty little candlestick. Well, we'll say it's Miss Wmny's candlestick, eh, Mr Rowlands 9 Well" tho fire burns all Miss Winny'a room to cinders, but it doesn't bum pretty Miss Winny, or pretty Miss Winuy'a pretty candlestickno ! And see, on the little curly handle here, a little liny bit of— what do you think, Mr Row lam 1 c, bach, eh ? — why, a bit of lace curtain ! Ha, ha ! Miss Wiany. She's a very dutiful daughter ; 0 ye 3, Mr Rowlands, bach ! ' ' Villain ! don't bring my daughter's name out of your foul throat again, or I'll brain you where you stand !' cried Rowlands, jumping up almost crazy with passion. A tap was heard at the door. ' May I come m?' cried the sweet voice of Winny, who opened the door and walked in without waiting for a reply. ' Deed, Miss Winny, you are the very one we are looking for, 1 cried John, running to fetch her a chair. ' We've quite a family party now, eh, Mr Rowlands ? ' ' Then I'm afraid I'm an intruder,' said a frank, clear English voice, that of Gerard, who had followed Winny into the room. The three accomplices stared at each other in blank amazement. The banker looked puzzled ; ho had never seen Gerard Robertson.