New York Clipper (Apr 1864)

UUr and FiepFletor.f NEW YORK, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, f VOL. TSMXn, t. iPBioa ux cnsTg* THE OLD PUQIUST. WBxnn roB tbb mnr lou oum^ BTf.H.BOOEBa. His fom If bent. hl« CTO li don, Tba moisttfo of Jils Ufo la fuU. ■ Bis Tolco bnlh loft Its sndont ring, Bis stfqi Its ettlj Tlgonas spring. Bis diwk Is thuL ones fall sod nlr* AB snowy whltolho Tstecsn's hslr. And Iho* boDfc SDd faraken now* TtM sunuliLe Ungon mrliia bxowt When msahood's rigor find his fruno. Bis chosk n*or know tbo blush of shsmo: If riotnr oheond lbs bsUlo's ena« Bis Tinqolshed riisl fbnnd % Mond; Bat If dlsistsr lowsrad hts crest, Mo millco nohlod lo his bmst Vhsn, wonder not thst wsrmly now •Xbo gnnshino Ungcn on his broir. He cslinlT oils st oloto of dsj, And smokes Iho plosssnt hoan snj; And vindars baw, on inooiDT7*s wug, , To lire sob) In Ub'sBveet spring. He fvUs uo thxill of msnly prldo Be fsU wbon xnsnlr fooe dsfled; And tfao* B t«ir maj sofllj start, ^0 f iwiatiifi n Ungors roand his houL^ I Tfor dolh he drosd wbst Doatb msy bring k IThon sammcmed to Its mjiUo "ring;" I Ee'U ester tbors sa froe nom fesr I As e'er he "£ioed the moslo" heco: IVarivetl ho knon the "llsls" glren ^n men ue slwtyB *'sqaflrD" m HesTan. . _~Jpp*«nt to bUt, ooatent to port •JVJaiXE GIPSY; \m)V. of the Esoaped Convlot a&ROB OF tnX AND FOnSST. CHiPTEB ni. ovrnnBTEBpn—TDB ootmok— nra noKTED luif. ii uifpiaiHd of our Bjorjr, London was IllUe liko tho AndOBT^f Vhiaf: It was tbo contro of Innomotablo IUIatiaiiiIeU&suburbs now Jolnod to It by Btntoly stioots battliandDl7''to bo roactaod by gloomy highways, or gloomlor bhdii^patbB, whoro orlmo lurkod la OTory shnd' ow, and whero (te Ughwnymon loltorod airoIoBSly undor the protooUnK ahiite. ordonsoAnd lofly troos. Tho slroola tbomwlTOS-lltby dluTona molanoboly-looklng on lamps —vara gloomy, loo; nnd horo and tbor(>—whoro tho wind, or an Intonslod poison, bad oxUngulshod tho llghta ^4h«y woroburlodinlnpoDOtnbloobsoarlt7,.' - la tbeso places bid tho thlof esoaping from JosUoo—tho l^ltorwhohad l^lt bis rortanato companion on tho mmi^wlUiaitsbin hls baoU—tho Dtdii::iibom 'society ud 'rand6iBB'jUi Of tlaw, and who preyed upo^ hla follows. For hoais tbe sllonoo of those dark comors was unbro- ken, UTO by tho droaiy voico of tho wntchmao, or tho bawling of aomo Eodnn obnlr bonrois, as they rushod along, preceded by lackeys with flaming flambeaux. Along thoso still and gloomy atroots a man was wonder tag on tho night before the arrlrol of Sir Uordannt Oarew atFtrberongh. A mas; tall, and spare and sallow—ono upon whom nis- ibrtane had placed the stamp of tbo most wretched of btr ohildren—a mui who, when ho passed you, shrunk from yon, and darted away Into tfaodnrknoss. Toaoould Us slsalUiy backward glnnco as bo passed, and feel loTolantsrlly how bo itTOldod yon, as If oontnot with yoq ■ere a terror to blR mind. At twilight be bad omcrgod Into tho alreols. Wbonoo ho onmo no ono knew, for none badsoon him Issue forth. All lbs watohmnn know was, lhat a nelseloss, orooping flguro bud suddenly passed bim, tad startled him bom a roTOrlo. Ho was evidently aleno tatheolty; and UwasoTldont,too, that his boart sank il the thought. Tou may bo niono out In tho fark coun^ Ti when Iho only sound you bear Is Iho pattering of Iho Boweloomo rain, and tho only sbollor Is tho bayrlok or llMdegortcd bam. This Is eboerlcss and wrotohod onongh: bnt bow ftr more lonely Is loneliness in tho boart of a groat oily— ho* muoh more dismal is It to fool that thouaands of ba< beings aro living nnd breathing around you—that tttyaro tlooping tho sleep in which all arc equal, nnd (hit among tbo gaiety and qnlot, tho dissipation and the homo bapplnoss, the bustling and slumbering oltIzonB,yeu an the chosen ono of despalrl Theso arc tho dread feel' hitB which drive men to evil deeds—those ore tbo inlse fits over which the dark rivers of great oiUos dose each alihL When tho evening bad passed away, ho left tho streets otthe city, and plunged Into tbo dreary road which then lay telween London and Hampstead. There wore but Anritusin the sky, and tho country looked dismal, wet, aid uninviting. It would have boon fUll of torrors, too, meat pocplo. But Palaloy Wontworth feared nothing, Vho Is ao bold ni ho who has ncthing to lesol Be hold in his hand a stcut slick, which ho clatcbodos (Itwere tho arm of a oompanlon; and when ho bad piaaod the hst house, bo novor paused o moment to see U there wero any lights before bIm, but plunged boldly °n(ard. If, however, ho (bared detooUon, he should Ittvs glanced behind htm. Bcaroely had ho left tho long sironm of fllokorlng light VUoh laaued Drom tbo "Rising Sun" tavern, when two i, clad in rough Jackals, who bad boon (bllowlng bIm * long way elf, quickened their pace and passed oflor to Into the gloom of tho higb road. He walked along so |*(orly and so rapidly, that It was evident bo had a groat wdootahoad of bIm; but n man who Is thrown maoh ■pen the cold mercy of tho world Is suspicious of every "Xud, and Is never quite lost to cntward things. So,' al- ^aagh his eyes wore Oxod before bIm, his oar qnlekly wlected the sound of foolslcps behind bira. '. Be trembled violently.. Was bis hand against,every ^1 and was every one's band ogalnst bim, that'he thos "Vnd bis ibllow men I Bowovor this may bo ho took a ■"waaiesoluUen. /tnihout wnsling a moment In roDootloni he slid down P<>ntho pathway Into a deep ditch, whoro a atroam of notty running water gargled over the,{iebhlos amid tho leads, and hid himself away In l6o shadow. JP'Mently the two men approached. Tbo sllenco whloh Pttfaded the eountry evidently, puzded them, and Ihoy *** talking oamosUy 08 they passed bIm. t 9*inuthnvo tuned asldo near this spot," sold ono Wthim. VTU swear that up to this point he kept along "••toad^i;/''.. jl^eir^ppad still a few yards ohead of him and con- ■•IWoll," said tho second trsvolor, "wo need not waif, "•knewbis destlnatloni and all wo have tedo Is to keep ■"•n* Waoh tho pboo befbro hlB,or,al any rato.aa ■^Mhodoes," "7es; but much good might bo done If wo could pre- vent his going there, or, at least, see him before ho doos go." Ho paused a moment to think. "Well, well," he said, "It Is of no use to remain horo. Let OS go forward." . And so, after this short Intomipllon, they went on very rapidly, nntll tboy almost Increased their pace to a nn. , Falsloy Wontworth rose from his strange hiding-place, ond laughed bitterly to bimsolH '"What good do they propose by hunting mo thus?" ho mattered, as he left the high road and passed olcng a nanbw path across a dank and cozy field. "If the cblld be still alive, she shall oomo with me if the whole world Is there to prevent mo." Ueanwhilo, tho two men, who, fe^ some strange reason, were dogging bis foolstops, continued their progress un- til they reached a llttle 'cotlage which stood by itself a short distance from the bigb road, A light trembled in tho window-a shadow now nnd then fell upon the blind above; that was all, in that still dark spot, wblob proved that human beings wero tboro. In the front' room of that ootloge—there woro but two rooms—sat a woman who had scarcely yet quitted the period when one can lay claim to youth. Eor hair was nsatly braided beneath a widow's cap—her hands wero folded on bor lap—her eyes wero flied upon the Bamos in tho reviving Ore. At her feet lay a large black dog, asleep, with his nose flattonod out along his massive paws. Tho furniture of tho place was soanly, but what there was was good. It seemed to tell a elory of days when It had only been a portion of the stock of a ftoll-flllod bonso. On the black sbolvos that stood In ono eomer were many volumes of all Imaginable bIzss and oharaotors; but on this evening evidently tbo widow's books.wore. In the flames, and In thorn she was reading tho past, or striving to undoisland tho future. Suddenly tho dog slarled, and altered a low, plaintive growl.' Tho widow gazed at bIm with alarm In her fttce, but she had not muoh time left for surmlset Before sho could collect hor thoughts, a loud knock called her to the door. Bbe drew back, nnd thon closed the door again somo' wb.at tremulously, as thoro entered ono of the pursuers of ralsley Wontworth. Ho was a tali, woll-bulll man, of some forty yoars of ago—1\ man with whom nature had dealt kindly, nnd who rewarded bor for it by Ills evident enJo}°mQnlof life. He was dressed In a rough ooat, nnd wero his hat with n dash of Jauntlnoss on ono side of his bead, but bis attire nltogether was ovldontly a disguise. "Oood ovenlbR, Mistress Belilngham," ho said, vnavo you soon anything (his night cfPalsIc]^ Wontworth t" . Tlie woman clasped her hapds In muto terror. "Toll mo the truth," he added, stornly. "I am seeking htm for his own good." "I turn tell the truth!" sbc cried. "I have net soon bIm; and, what Is more, I hopo and trust ho will net come horo. Bis coming Is always Ihe sequel of sorrow to hlm- soifor to ctbera." "Be is 0 msh and foolish man," mullerod tho gontlo- man, who was evidently convinced by tbo widow's enrocsl manner; "but ho ought by this time to be awaro that from Sir Neville Dolnruo ho need fonr no evil. He is coming horo to-night, I am certain, so I will await him hero." Tho widow gncod at lilin In Ibar. "Oh I Sir Neville, lot bim not Ond you horo," sho sap- piicited. "Tou know his fierce and ungovomablo torn- for." "Tush, woman 1" cried Sir Nevlllo, intermpling bor impatiently. "What do you fear? Toll mo, where Is tho child t" "It is gone," said Uts. Bclllnghnm. Tho Barcnot'e oboek blanohod. "Qonol" he cried In a hoarse voice. "What moan yout IsltdoodT" "Dead I No, no, not dead—not so terrible a mlsfortuno as that. Bui I bavo lost lU Nobe has taken it away with her, whore no one knows; and Sir Uordaunt and Lady Oarew are oven now In search of iU" Sir Novlllo Delaruo rom.ilnod for a few moments in thought. Then he rose slowly. "Uis. Belllngbam," ho s,'\ld, slernly, "I will leave you: my servant baa gone up to the hnll; I will follow him thither. Dpen your own bend bo the result of this crime, for so your noglcct may Justly bo termed. To you, then, I abandon the task of telling Wontworth this terrible news. Bark 1" He stood still, with his arm upllRod. Thoro was a sound as of foolstops appreacblng tho heuie, bnt no bond raised tho latch of-the door, though bolh.fbltAewas there. There wns a shadow at the window—a glare of blood- shot eyes at tho bright fire—Iho slain of brenlh upon tho glass, and bo was gono. Sir Novlllo, yielding to his first Impulse, rushed to tho door. A dim, hurrying figure passed bolweon blm aod tho boriien. ■Wontworth I Wontworth 1" orlod he; "oomo back- eemo bnckl" He would bavo fbltcwod, bat the widow olung to him with the oncomcss of terror. "Oh I m'lcsi him not I" she cried. In a vcloo of onmest entreaty. "Uolcst him not! Bomomber his ohiid Is gono, nnd I bavo to answer to him for her. Think of bis fbarfui anger, Sir Novlllo, and, for the love of heaven, leavo him to himself." Tho Diirenet thought a moment, and then slowly and in sllonec took bis w.iy towards Oarew, Douse, which stcnd about n mile boyond. When he bad advanced seme fbw hundred yards be stepped and gtanood back. Tho light In tho ocltago bad boon oxUngulshed. Fearing that somo evil deed had been perpetrated sinco his departure by the man whoso anger the widow seemed so greally to'dread, he at first thought of going back, but thon with a shudder ho turned away, and hurried onwards towards Oarew Bonsoi OHAFTEn nr. new TUB eionzT wis nn. There had boon a feud for many yoorg In the tamWj of tho Oorews of Oomwoll. Bir Uordaunt Oarew, tbo older brother, bad over boon the fiiverlto both of his bUior and mether, and Wontworth Carow,the yeongor, had thlfered the inovltsbto oensequenoe. He bad been bredgM op In an ntnespboro .ef Indllforenee, and had teamed fi) hate him who eliottld have been hla oompaDlon and DrloiW When Uordaunt beeamo baronet by the death of his Ihlher—the mother bad boon dead somo years bel^ht— Wontworth left Oarew Oaslle and procoeded to LondojlL A U1S3 HGNiaQDES, OF WALLACK'S. roa Biooupniciz. anon sib isuimu obuTihiu moderate competence bad been eooorod lo him by his (hthor, and on this ho lived for snmp time, scorning to work honestly, booauso, ss bo imnglned; il was angontle- monly. After a time, however, he mMcd, and had ono ohiid. His marriage altogether ohong^d the nspeet of af- birs. Bis wife, a young and beauUil woman, was al- ways ailing; aind his money, forostUled by loans and merlgages, soon ovaporatod. Tbqu-^e applied to his tHends, who refused him help, and referred him to his brother. Hla brother, however, was tho . last person In tho world to whom ho would have gene In suoh un emer- gency, and sho died and was burltH In poverty. Tho child, ilulo Alice Carow, wns placed by hor father under tho oaro of Uis. Delllngham, at the ^ctjnge near UirOw Heuso. Why ho oboso this spotlt ls^dlSlanlUo say, bul It might have been wllb a dim, unlofinod hope that If for- tune proved fickle to himself, Alloc, ai least, might be near tho homo of a fHond. Tho child was placed at the octtnge un^er tho came of Alloc Wontworth, ond ho hlmselv,jtL?'lha mnmonlof his ))overty, rissumoif that of PaWI^ wonttvorth? Bo disappeared. Uoanvhilo Sir Uordiiunt Carow's wife died, leaving no Issue, Then, after a time of mourning, he married again, n Mrs. Constance Lo Uomcnul, the young widow of a French cnplain, who brought to him protly face, a handsome person, n Utile oblld, and no for tune. Sbc was an GogllBhwoman, had married cut. of splto, and had taught her boy, a fine fellow of five, to bate bis (btbor, and ridicule his memory. " Sir Uordaunt Carow soon discovered tho ^roplnqnity of his niece, nnd nfler n variety of coaxings und porsund' togs, ho Induced Urs- Delllngham to allow tho oblld to visit Carow House. Lllllo AMco Wontworth, ns she was called, was n winning child, and It was not long ore tho Oaronot booamo devotedly attaehod to bor. Hla sooonl marriage was, at the period cur story opons, as unfortu- Date aa the first: no ohildren blessed tho union; nnd at though Henri, bis slop-child, engrossed a oonsldersblo nmount of bis attention, bis heart yearned towards Alice, who was, strictly epoaklng, bis heiress. And so eemo said sho would be. Others, on tho contrary, spoke of nnclbcr oblld, a boy, who. If be were living, would bo nearly of ago; but of blm nothing wos known, neither of his birth, nor of his mother, nor cf bis subsequent life Bis name was a memory, that was nil. It wns a week bC' fore tbo scone at Urs. Dolllnghum's octtago that nn event bad occurred which plunged not only Carow Houso, but tho whole nolghberhood into conelornatlon. In tho ser- vice of Sir Uerdaunl wns a young woman named Nebe Loy ton, who bad boon Imported Into tho eslobllshment by Lady Constance, and who occupied an anomalous poslUcn somothlng between that of a Indy's-mnid and that of a companion. Nebe wosbuttwenty years of ago, nnd very pretty, but aho Icckod older, and had nn oxprcsslon In her face whloh was anything but pleasing. For acme time she bod boon engaged to ho married to Hugh Lcdbltter, tho gardener at Carow House, a rough, lli-lccking fcilcw, who appeared anything but a fit mate for bor; but who, It Is said, bad saved a little money, and who seemed also to bavo a slinngo Influence over hor. Iddy Oonslanoo Ihvorcd (his union, principally, it wns be llevcd, because sho had somo Idea of goUlng rid of both of thom for some hidden reoson. A week befbro tho opening of my story, as I have snid. Lady Conslanoo Carow called hor mnid, Nobe, Into hor room. "Nebe," she said, "I have olways placed groat eonfl' denco In you." Nobe smirked. "Vos, my lady," abo onsworod; "In mo and Florotto, your other maid." Lady Oonstnnce doteotqd tho sllgblost possible shade of aonoyaneo In the reply. She hnslonod to rcmovo II. "Yes," sho said, "I have trusted Florotto too, beonusc when I Icso you It will bo neocssary to havo somo one to roplaoo you. You know It Is not .oa^ to Ond ono who can lie trusted as youoan." "Yen are very good, my lady, lam Buro,"sald Nebe,' eourlsoylng. "No, I am only tolling the truth. But come, lot mo toll you why I have sent for you to-nlf ht I wish you lo got married." Nobe started. "Oct married I" sho cried In wonder. "Yes; you bavo always told mo you would liko to many Hugh Ledbittert nou I will give you'tho means. Out it must be on ono condition that I help you, and one only." "Wball8tbat,nylodyt" "Thatyou leave tbo eountry. Nay,donotBpoak,donot olfor any objeetlens; Ibere must bo none. You raustloavo tbo country, and with yeu, you must take Alice Wont- worth, this oblld whom thoy protend to ho my husbnnd's brother's daughtoK II must bo dene ot once, for Paisley Wentwcrth Is expooled heme day by day, and If wo delay It will be too Into." Nobo thought a moment, "acod, my lodyl" sho said. "Shall I toll Hugh!" "No; lot me do so myself. Bend him to me." Hebe trembled, ond her Ibco ehangod odor rapidly. She seemed tmdor the Influonoe cf some unacoeantoblo fbnn "Wbat alls year* asked Lady Oartir. . Nebe smUed fklnUy. *' "ItttX exellsdbytl^sudden aoaonnoomootof yonn, that Is all," she said; "but bad I not better tell Hugb'nty- •If! If be be soon oeming hither Iti^eioito suspicion iflcr I bave gene." Lady Oarow*t)ioaght a moment . "True—you ore right; so toll him at once'. Say ho must Barry yon the day after to-morrow. Qlve him those ten ■overeigns,' and explain that If he consenta to my arrange Bent he shall have two thousand. But remember ono thing.' Net a penny more shall be have until he reaches UvorpooL Thoro a man shall JH) In walling to see bim on board a vessel; onco on board, tlS monoy ehoU bo ginn blip; bnt tho Journey ttom London to Liverpool muit be performed on foot, that no one may suspect my ooDDlvanoo, If yon aro diseoverod, and that, moreover, yeu may not be traced. Oo ond toll him my plan, nnd when I have heard what bo says I will give you mlauter detaib.". Ten minntes after, Nobe, altlrod In a neat bonnet and sbanl-dreasod, In fact, as little oonsplouoosly as possi' hie—look her way towards Hampstead, The cottago where Hugh Ledblttcr resided was situated at ono end of the grounds o{ Carow Houso, where It formed a kind of baeklodge. It was not, however, towards this ledge that Nebe took her way. After crossing the gardens, es muoh as possible In tho shady portions, she glanced >eund after Bhc'rOBohod tho front lodge, to seo If sbo wos not followed, and then planned down along tho dork road. Fresently, amid tho dense obscurity, burst ferth a bright llght,'and she saw the sign of the "Traveler's Host" swinging (o andtVoln the wind. She approaehed noiselessly, and pooped Intb.thopubllo room. ^ . r The light was dim and muffled In: that rocip,fbr the smoke was donso, and tho lamp fodwlth oil, whloh wns far f^cm th|i bosi; but near the window she oould dlslin- gDlsh the' form nnd Ihoo of ono who wns strikingly distin- guished ttoTa the oUior occupants of tbo room. Ho was young, toll, well-built, with a Ihco which wss intelligent and manly, without being handsome; but whloh wns net so fortunalo In expression as In feature. Hbi hair foil In lone, I'eht waves over hls shouldors, and ho wore his dross with an air cf devil-may-care eonfidenue, which. In him,wasBonroolydispkinslng. AsmllcpaESOd cvcr-tho girl's ibaturcs as her oyes rested on him. 6l)e<thon tapped the win'dow.ttiroe tlmes.^ Tbo .Vammons was'nt once undcistood., ; Tbo'.young man leaped up. "I must go, my ft'Icnds," bo cried, gnlly, os bo eaught up bis bat. "Adiou, nntll our next merry meeting 1" In anotlior moment bo was at Nobo's.sldc, "Why, Nobo, my ohnrmer," ho crIad,"you arc. Indeed, early 1 Butwhal is tho matter r YoU'scf m pnlo, and 111, and oxoltcd," "Iam,IIurk,"BaIdNobo. "I have much to toll. Listen, and I will explain nll.°" The young man llslcncd-nolvcry patiently, ho itsald— to hor rcolbil.' He laughed when.she had Onlsbcd hor story. What bos all this to do with me, my dear ong 1" Iio orlcil;" "tn^ nnmo Is cot Hugh Ledbittert" "No, no, Uark, you do not undersland me I" said Nobo. "Lady Carow does nut moan,to see Hugh, lost ho should eiollo suspicion.. Hugh, thoroforo, will know nothing of all thl^. Yeu muslinarry me and have the two thousand pounds." Mark sinrted, "By Jovo, Nobo I" ho cried, "you ore on ongel. I bave been at my unfortunate trioks agnln. I stopped n gen- tleman 0 week since, in Lambeth Flclds,'nnd the rosually moon broke out full In my ftice, and ho rooegnlsed mc— not, bOT/over, till hla purse Was safe In my pooket. Tho Bow-strool runners aro nftermo; nnd I'll swear that ev- ery sound In yonder Inn frlghlened mo from my senses t" "You need bo fHghtenod no longer, tbon," sold Nobe. "No, dear ono; you have oomo lo tbo nlo<of time. But tell mo bow Is tho matter to bo arranged I" 'Yeu must go to London, obtain n ilconsc In tho name of Hugh Lcdbltter, many me at enoo, and wo will go. Here aro tbo ton pounds my lady gave mo to-night. When I toll hor I have arranged matters, she will explain oil the dotslle, she says." Good, my little philosopher I" cried Mark, ns bo po-rj^- etod tho ten sovereigns with gusto; "but thoro Is one peint you have cvoriocked." "What is thntl" "Hugh will bo at Carow Honse, nnd will betray us by his very presence." Nobo thought 0 moment "I will eonceet a loiter," she said, "whloh will tnko him cut of tho nalghbcrhocd for throe days. By that time wo shall bo Ibr on our Jeumoy." "Well, well I time will prove i Whon om I to see you again T" "To-morrow night." "Oood I By thai time I will bave tbo license." On the following night, Nobo met bur lever, nnd having explained Iheir (Uturo plans, and arranged tho mooting for tho morrow, left blm, and betook hctsolf towards heme. The niglit was dark and gloomy. Heavy eleuds swept ooross Ihcsky, nnd Ihe fliea of tho country round,gioomy ntnll times, wos now tcn.fold os black as usual. Unmp. stead, as t luivo said olcowhoro, was thon a sranll und isolated village. Breed roadsnnddark hrldlc.piiths swopt away iVom It every whoro, and the din cf tlio miglity city beyond was drowned nmid tbo voice of tlic trees. Al the eomer of Lonford Uuie—a narrow turning whloh,at tliat lIrau,lod tiom tho main road towards High, gale Ulll—he slortod as a loll flguro suddooly slood beside him. Ho drew back, "You startled me, my ftrlond," cried Uark. "Let mo pass; I om lo a hurry." Tho other obucklod derisively. "Not so fast, my friend," roluroed hot "Fvo got some- thing to sny-to you." "Indeed I You might then have eheson a bolter plaoe than this," replied Uark; "somo'spol wboio wo oould see one another's faoes." "It's net necessnry< In snob a plooe we might be ove^ board. If you oan'l soo my fiiae, and don't know me, I'll tell you who I am nnd who you are. I om Hugh Ledbtl tor, and your nomo Is Uark Durant." "Well, and what Ihonr' "You bnvo Just loft Nobo." "I have." "What would yeu with horr' ■ f- ' Hark laughed londly, • ."What is that to yon, Master LsdbtttarP' "Bvorytblng. Bha be going to maity me." "lodoedl Well,:oTery woman to bor taste. Idon'llM . what one nood say bora Just now;.ie let me past, ai Iia In a hurry." ' ' "Nor, mtdentABdne, MaA Saraat,". oriei Hugh ttS> blttcr,'stomly, fldldn't mm beratojesl; I ttm b«M . to'tell youi once ibr oil, that I jircn't be made a fbol oft Tou*vo no right to be with He|tr'.0ti«^ my sweethaait^ ond Is going to bo my wifot so I jbk to It I don't meet yoa' with boragnin, I've soon you loafing abent here foriom^ time; i)hd I'll lolUou what, if I oateh'yonat Itagalo.l'U sot Dip Bew street runners on to you. I knew thsy'N main anxious to oatoh hold of you." - The bleed of tho highwayman—for sucbtiril^lMlIttlfi Dumnt—rose at theso words. "fe -w? " • "Stand osldo," he eriodhoanoly, "and mMlBtpott or, by heavens. It will bo tho wono for youP'T**"" ' Oht I'vo n little mere to say', and you shall hear a» out" said Hugh. "Ah I would yeu oome'le blewi ■» seen 1" Uark raised his heavy stick and rashod npen Uq, Hugh Ledblttorwls active, bnt no matoh fbr Us eiiM' . ricnopd opponent, and the oombot wna of but short'dan* tlon. In Ices than ton minutes, Hugh was lying) itnmwt and bleeding, on the earth. - Uark knelt down, and, by the pole light of tho moon,' - gloncod nt tho man's Cice. "He Isn't dead, mere's tho pity," he mattered.. "If to woro dead and out of tho way, why the cheat would Dsrtr be dlsocvorod." i "^r"'* Tho cold Bweat stood on hla brow, and bo glanced xffL' ooslly round him, \ Then he drew fk-cm bis btenstn long, thin knllb, tad plunged It again and again Into tboebestof his sensidMl / . opponent A long-drawn sigh, a gush of blood, and Ul was over. The cheat was safb from discovery. B^, there was somothlng more, though Uark know It not Tbo Oarew eeorct was safe. ' ;f On the next day, Mark nnd his wife loft Iiondon, antf '. Alice Wontworth went with tbom. Uow thoy guar4e<l'' tbolr charge wo already knew. ' ', • CnAPTBBV. * f: k Fua elm's OEOErr. ' • , - Croat'was the ccnslornulcn of Sir Uordannt'Oaibw* when lie dbcovcrod that the ohlld ho loved was^one> Tho news oitmo upon him like a thunderbolt Urs,^U llnghom (ame lobblog nnd In flmr to Oarew Honse to tii)i hor story, ond was listened'to, first In wild's ■ • by tfao baronet nnd thon In doog Borrow. "I Mil ImmodUitoly proceed In search of I woman," ho said, ns lio dismissed her and! room where sot Lady Carew. ' — ■'■ Tho lady bad board cf hor coming, and was prepared '. for bor husband's burst of griof and Indignation. Bbe lit- tenod with npparantly deep ooncem to her husband's story, ond then throwing hoisolf down, lo bor ohlldlsll ' ' way, before blm, she loaned on bis knees, looking up at' him with her blue, bright eyes, ITcm beneath the Wild. waves cf hor golden linlr. "Sir Uordaunt," she said, In a tow, murmuring.voice of ■ympBthy, "what a sad disappointment lot yoa I" Tho baronet storied. "Disappointment madam I" he cried. "I loll yea \V» no disappointment; I will net have It so. This ohlld Ik gene, but I will go after-1 will And her—I wlll^— Tbo young wife's eyes filled with tears os he ipoks. He took bor fulr bead botwoon bis bands, and caresaod It' fondly. "Forgive mo," bo sold, "for my rentals, lamTeir - rude ond paaslonolo with yeu sometimes, my darting. ■ But I om really very, very muoh grieved, and so eielteA that I eonrcely knew what I say cr dc." "What purpose had thoso people In carrying aw«y Ui» ohlld T" asked Lady OonslAnoe, quito innocently. "I know not; Mrs. Bclllnghnm oould net tell me," re> turned Sir Uordnunt "Dutlwlll80onaaoertalnlt,forl will pursue them ot once, nnd thoy shall answer Ibr their oonduet before 0 oourt of JuBtleo." But tho Boarob was In vain, and In four days Sir Uor« daunt and hla wife rolumod to Oarew House. "Now, my boy," murmured Lady OenBtahoo, as, upon ; / her return, sbo patted the head of borCklrbey—"Doir, ; my boy, wo are salb, and you will bo the beir to all,".. Ueanwhilo, aa I hove said. Paisley Wootworth oaae, on'' tbol block ood throatonlng night to the eoltoseof Hn.' Bollingbom, but bod rushed away to wild despair wbeii Sir Novlllo Deloruo oppearod In the doorway. U-^rr^ Tho widow expected not his return^ ajd m, uOltlngleF' °. door, she extlngulebod tbo tamp jn flie front room and ra> tired to hor hed-ehambor. Sbo lind not boon thoro ninny minnles, however, befor* n vlolonl knookleg again aroused her. She wont totter-. ing lo the door, opened it cautiously, and started back at Paisley Wontworth entered, pale ond boggard, with ftir ' turosdiBlortod by posslon, ■;:■■.■!■ "Whore Is my childl".he cried, floroely, "She Is gone," snld Mm. Bollingbom, fUllng ah'ber knoes before him, ond clasplog her hoods In eameitfopr plication. "Pray—pray dc net blame me, (br I am gnlli. less," The man slammed to tbo door, throngb which tho night .. > wind was blowing coldly, and niising thowcmao lonis- what roughly, crlod, "I want none of your otylng and loollDg. Toll mo,wliorc Is my child 1" "I know not Sho Is gono; whither no ono can toll." PalBloy started up. "It la to that man, BIr Neville 1" ho exelalmed-"yo« have given bor up to him I Oursesonblml Uo shall ma. Ihlidajl" ' "He, no, Ur. Oarew," orlod Mrs. Belilngham, oallti^ bin by bis realname—"no, no; il Is not bo whom yen bave to blame—ho has over been a friend to yeu and yonn. If yeu will let me, I will tell you tho story, and- yeu will thon see who are your enemies." Wontworth answered not and tho widow, taking Vm sllenoo for eonsent, began bor narrative, "Sir Nevlllo," sho added, "has, I oan assara|;eii,ba«a.' ever your best friond. Be has spoken cf yea to BIr l{oc> . dnont In terms of muoh regret and sorreWiand.WH M . ; griqvod as nny man cculd be when ho beard of jtwur Vmi* ■ ' Wenlwortb mused awhile. ... .- -.i- "Andsc," he said, at length, "my bre'thei^prelteMta bo fond of my lllllo Alice I" , ,■ "Yosi bo loved bor OS If she had been Us 6wa<"'< "And Lady Oonatnncot" ' . ' "I know not. Alice did not oaro mneh-ibr her, I ika«!fi^ '|, Tiioro was n kind of rl.valry between h«r aod Henili^B.;^. oblld ofmylody byliorAinnorhtiabud." • '^v '>