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A DARING GAME.

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(Copyright.) A DARING GAME. BY HARRIET LEWFFIK Author of "The Secret of His History," "The v Old Life's Shadows," Sundered Hearts," Dark wood, &c. CHAPTER XXXVII. A ntBAK or DRSTnff. Upon the morning after the bnrtal of Mr*. Wroat, and the uttor discomfiture of the fortune-hunting Mr. and Mrs. Blight, Mr. Harris, the lawyer, called upon Laily. His card, -ith a nuvooqe -wriit'fc.i npen it, was brought up to the young girl in her own roojn by loppen, and Lally came down to the drawing-room, accompanied by Peters. Poor Lally looked very small and weak and childlike in her deep mourning garb; but when she lifted her sorrowful blaok eyes the lawyer read in them a woman's capacity for suffering, a woman s strong and resolute character, < woman's enlightened and awakened soul. "Good morning, Miss Wroat," he said, with asternal kindness, shaking her hand warmly. "You are looking lli. Ought you not to seek clruv.'e of air and scene?" "I HouJd rather remain here, sir," said Lgjly i- "that is, if I may." I "Y car. jro some at your own will, my dear \ounj; _.hny, H unid Mr. Harris. "Mrs. Wrnai has left you entire liberty to do as you plenrc. This house is yours, arul a small cou!:1. i property as well. I came this morning to difi'uss business with you. I have been the lawyev nnd business agent of our lamented friend Mrs. Wroat for a third of a century or more, and it was her will that I should continue to have the rianrigement of the Wroat property nntil your marriage, or ths attainment of your majority. You are at.. late mistress of this house. Is it yoi r desire to keep up the estab- lishment just as !t if. or would you prefer a life of greater freedom and of less care? "IwiU stay here," declared Lally. "This ouse seotns home to me. Aunt Wroat loved and I will keep it just aa she left it. -,thing that she has loved or treasured will > ored to m." Harris looked approval of the sentiment. era's sour, sharp featured countenance lly beamed with an unwonted warmth and re She had feared in her inmost soul >e massive old-fashioned furniture, with ,dd carvings and quaint designs, was to ba > .t to an auction-room, and to be replaced by i. odern upholstery. Shall you retain the present housekeeper and serraats ? inquired the lawyer. "Yea," said Lally; "the household is to remain exactly as it is. Mrs. Peters will also remain with me, as a friend and attendant. She is the omy friend I have now "Not the only one, MJSS Wroat," SAID the lawyer warmly. "I am your friend, if TOu will permit me to rail myself ,0. I have now to explain to you the amount of your income When late Mr W™, dirt, to B^IV .'W K B, wife, .ho ha.' JORT the sum of fifty thousand pounds in securities •Bd.res. estete. Mrs. Wroafhad f £ "SSSS oatside her own household, and did not ESS her entire income, the balance of which has b«en allowed to accumulate, being annually addea to the principal. Thus Mrs. Wroat died possessed r-t over sixty thousand pounds £ n rtonsaud of which it reaI ThS house is rot included in the estimate! haw hsmn« Mttled upon Mrs. Wro&TIt railway shares, in United^JtM °"1#n other rrrfeetlv •-«. I ^°n^8- *nd in PJT rrr!ectl? safe and reliable securities. The interest upon these i. r rule*. •ioe three to Jrcn per ? Vanee ,rom sent iir) T n*t» but averages Ave per have the reform ° to you that you h^" of twenty-five w3S mm °' wkwh> by your aunt's rfthi* *V Iim?edkt« possession. Out ooe hundred POOII^BETF3 ANNU'^ Esjsn* 1m*><«• 'n/z r. P»f~tlj'pf,b, 1 a,tU" "» »•>««• sxnenditt-po *"7 indeed. Your the season, or f Bn8hton io* change in viwtiW,find, an agweable this is scarcely sm^T" P **thou&h 1 South o:8°K1NGILJD "K#IIDM\R SUwey'- an«th# this is not a fincy isat MU. w f"' 'but away off in UiTiLSE—it s on the sea coast. It's faCt' and I'm told UD thnro W1^d m „ ana TNE tberaometer falls below f*"r' • S £ f^WAnd 1 °*° -lEVtS «FC rorih 'J", new Inverness away out of the world at It ^Jion you sw. I was «p thOTe Ct vear itW house being furnishsd, astA steward tswding in a cottage on the estate." I "I should like to go up there," said Lally. "Perhaps I will's little la%r-but not yet. I dQll't mind the tlateiasr of the season, Mr. Harris, and I am not afraid of cold and wind and snow, if I can have shelter and fires. In fafct, I think I would like to hide myself in some far-off hidden Hook nntil 1 shall have learnt to bear rrJY trials- with fortitude. Life is so verv bitter to me, Mr. Harris." ct T ;=- said the lawyer, wttb an 'ndulgent smile. "You have money, -oufch beauty, and will haYe hosts of friends, fcou will learo, as we all do, sooner or later, igin Wroat, to take the bitter with the sweet, and to thank God for all His goodness, instead of repining because ooe or two Dlessings are withhbid out of so many ffiten. But I will not iore you with S'sermoø. I have little more to say this morning except that, should you need me, I en reat that yotrwill call upon me at any tiipe, 1 will come to you at a moments notice. Is there anything I can now do for yo.u ? Thero was nothing, but Lally expressed her gratitude for the offer. Mrs. Peters had a few questions to ask, and when these had been duly answered Mr, Harris paid into Lally's hands the sum of six hundred pounds, being one quarter's income* He then departed. The young girl spent the remainder of the day in her own "=, not even coming forth to her meals. The next day she came down to the dining-room, but immediately after dinner retired to her apwtmme. She read no books nor newspapers, but sat before her fire hour after hour, silently brooding; and Peters, with an unspeakable anxiety, beheld the round gipsy face grow thin and pallid, dark circles form under the blaok eyes, and the slight figure grow slighter and more slender, until she feared that the young mistress would soon follow the old one. • In her distress, Peters had an interview with the housekeeper, and expressed her fears and anxieties. T "A good wind would just oiow M.iss Laity awav,she said. "She's pirin, and the^ first ne a PI we know she'll be dead. W).atcan I do ? "Who'd have thought she'd have loved the missus so much? said the housekeeper. "It isn't that alone," declared Peters, "although she loved Mrs. Wroat as a daughter might have loved her; but had other troubles that I'm not, at liberty to speak of, bat which are prewrng on her, along with her great auntj death, until. I think, the double f Duraen win crusn rer into tne gmye. She don't eat more than a bird. I ordered ber mourning f,.t- her, and when the shopman brought gnvit parcels of silks and bombasines and crapeii. glis never even looked at tliom, but said Peters, please select for me. You KNOW what I want.' The dressmaker was in despair yesterday because my young lady would not take an interest in her clothes, and did not r;ve a single direction beyond having them made more plainly. I'll go and see Mr. Elarria about her, or else the doctor." "What does a man know iR a ease like this ? exclaimed the housekeeper. "The young ladv is pining herself to death, Mrs. Pe>ers, and that's the long and the short, of it. This great house is dull and lonely to her, and the gloom of the funeral isn't out of it yet. The young mis- tress wants change—that's what slie wants. Take her to some watering-place, or to the Continent, or somewhere else, and give her new interests and a change of scene, and she'll come back as pert as any bird." The idea struck Mrs. Peters favourably. She hastened upstairs to the amber room, and softly entered. Lally sat in a great chair before the hearth, her little shrunken figure quite lost among the cushions, her small wan face start- lingly pale, and her great black eyes fixed upon the fire. She looked up at her attendant, who approached her with a swelling heart, but with outward calmness. "If you please, Miss Lally," said Peters, broaching her wishes without delay, "I've been thinking that the house is so gloomy without the dear old mistress, and thnt you keep so close to your room, that you will be ill directly unless some change is made. And I am sure I'd like a change too, for a week or a month. And so I make bold to ask you to go for a month to Brighton." The girl ?hook her head with a look of pain. Not there, she murmured. I cannot bear the crowds, the gaiety, the careless faces and curious eyes." "Then let us go up to the Heather Hills, your Scottish place," urged Peters. "I HAVE been there once, and we could take Toppen with us Miss Lally. The steward who lives on the estate can provide us with servants. Let me telegraph him to-day, and let US start to- morrow. II "Very well, "said the young mistress listlessly. If you wIsh it, Peters, we will go The sour face of the faithful maid 'brightened, and she expressed her thanks warmly for the concession. 'I'll" telegraph AT once, Miss Lally," sho said. But then the steward is not likelv to receive the telegram unless he happens to be at Inverness, which is not likely. I will send Top by the first train to prepare for our coming, if you are willing, Miss Lally." Lally was willing, and Mrs. Peters withdrew to acquaint the tall footman with her mistress's design, and to d'spaich him on his journey to the northward. When he had gone she returned to Lally. "Toppen is on his way to the station, miss," she announced. "He will have everything in order for us against our arrival. It is cold at I Heather Hills, Miss Lally, with the wind 11 blowing off tha sea, and you will need flannels and thick boots, and warm clothing." "Order them for me, then, Peters," said Lally, with listless voice and manner. But you will want an astrachan jacket to wear with your black dresses, and you must try it on, to be sure that it fits," said Peters. "And you will want books at Heather Hills, and those you can choose best for yourself. And the newspapers must be ordered to be sent to our new address, but that I can do this evening by letter. And you will want work materials, Miss Lally, such as canvas, Berlin wools and patterns; drawing materials, new music, and other things, perhaps. Let me order the carriage, and let us go out and make our purchases." Lally looked out of the window. The sun was shining, and the air was clear. She had not been out of the house for days, and she assented to Mrs. Peters's proposition. The maid ordered the carriage, and proceeded to array her young mistress for her drive. The carriage, which was called Mrs. Wroat's carriage, was a jobbed vehicle, hired by thfc month at a neighbouring mews, with horses, and with coscbmsn and footman in livery. It looked like a private brougham, and with its mulberry-coloured linings, and plain but ele- gantly got-up harness, was very stylish, and even imposing. When the carriage came ronnd, Lally and her attendant were quite ready. They descended to the vehicle, and drove away upon their shop- ping excursion. A fur dealer's was first visited, then a stationer's and bookseller's, then a shop for ladies' work and their materials. Lally's purchases were deposited in the oarriage And lastly the young girl stopped at a picture dealer's in Regent Street, a small cabinet painting in the window having caught her eye. It was simply a quaint Dutch interior, with A broad hearth, a boiling pot over the flames, a great tiled chimney-piece, Dutch housewife with ample figure and' round, good-natured face, and three or four children pausing at the threshold of the open door to put off their abose before stepping upon the immaculate floor; a simple picture, executed with fidelity and spirit; but its charm, in Lallv'S eyes, lay in the fact that in the early days of her marriage, during the brief period she had passed with Rufus Black in New Brompton, in their dingy lodgings, he had painted a cabinet picture of a Dutch interior, nearly like this in design, but AS different in execution as may be imagined His had been but a daub, and he been glad co get fifteen SHILL' FUR it. The price of this pictum V;LICH bad now caught Lally'T eye was ten guineas. The young lady had the picture withdrawn from the window and examined it closely. "I will take it," she said. U I will select a suitable frame, and you may send it home to- day. Here is my card." The pioture dealer brought an armful at fminee Ol" her selection, and while she examined the design and gilding a man walked into the op with a sauntering gait, and paused near CONTEMPLATION of an old cracked painting to whleh Wall attached a card declaring it to be- ANNSILI" A MURUL° ^AN I'm one« hiTtoTt^eAn*yl?0m?T loudly> half-turning IT'STT^ ,? shopman. A MurilloT At C ?ot UP AT the sound of the strainer'. T U The strange connoisseur, who had so boldl given hii; opinion of the Pretended Murillo, was Rufus Black 1 u 0, He had tired of the loneliness of Hawk- hurst, and had run up to town for A DAY'S recreation and amusement. The picture shoT> in Regent Street into which Lally had strayed that morning had long been one of his favourite haunts, and the picture Lally had just bought had really given him the idea of the picture he had painted so long before in the dingy room at New Brompton. His face was half-averted, but Lally knew him and a deathly faintness seized upon her. He was well dressed, and possessed an air of elegance that well became him. His hair was worn long under an artist's broad-brimmed hat, and his features from a side view were sharp and thin. His mouth and chin seemed to have gained firmness and character during the past few months, but in the latter feature was still prominent the dimple Lally had loved, ANI prominent the dimple Lally had loved, and which, pretty in a woman, is nearly always a sign of weakness and irresolution in a man. Rufus turned slowly towards the girliah figure in blaok, his gaze seeking the shopman. A low, strange cry broke from Lally's lipe. Rufus heard it and looked at her. Her heavy crape veil was thrown back over her bonnet, and her small face framed in the heavy black folds was so white, so eager, so piteous, that Rufus thought it a vision—an optical illusion —A freak of his imagination. He recoiled in a species of terror. U Rufus! O Rufus! cried the deserted young wife, in a wild involuntary appeal. Mrs. Peters heard the name, and compre- hended the identity of the young man. the came and stood by Lally's side, warning off itufus by her harsh FACT) and anZXS eye* "Come, my dear," she said, -lot us "go." "Rufus 0 Rufus moaned the poor young wife again, seeing nothing but the anguished, horrified face of her husband, hearing nothing but his quick breathinr. Rufus slowly passed nis hand over his fore- head. "My G,)d f he murmured. "Lally's face! Lally's voice 1 Mrs. Peters took the hand of her young mistress, ATTEMPT mg to lead her from the shop, which but for them and the amazed shopman was happily deserted. But Lally stared at her young husband in a species of fascination, and ne returned her gaze with one of horror and amazement, and the old woman's efforts were fruitless. "My dear, my dear!" whispered Peters anxiously. Come with me. Come, my darling! He abandoned you. Pluck up a spirit, Miss Lally, and leave him alone Lally slowiy rose and moved towards the door, but coming quite near to her stupefied young husband. "It is I-Lally' she said, with the simplicity of a child, her great black eyes staring at him piteously. "I am not dead, Rufus. It was not I who was drowned in the Thames. I know that you are going to be married again to a great heiress, and I hope vou will be happy with her but she will never love you as I loved you. Good-bye, dear- good-bye—for ever! With a great sob Lally flitted past him, and hurried out to the waiting carriage. Rufus dashed after her, wild-eyed and wild-visaged; but Mrs. Peters grasped him vigorously by-the arm, detaininir him. "None of that she ejaculated harshly. "I won t have my young lady tampered with. You shan t follow her. You TE broken her heart already! "She's mine—my wife I" cried Rufus, still aruazed, but in an ecstasy of joy and rapture. 1 tell you she's mine. I thought she was dead. I am not engaged to an heiress. I won't marry one. I want my wife "You're too late, sir," said Mrs. Peters grimly. "You should have made up your mind to that effect at the time you abandoned her." But I was compelled to abandon her I God alone knows the remorse and anguish I have known since I supposed her dead. I love her better than ail the world. How is it that she lives? Why does the wear mourning? Woman, let me go to her! and he tried to break from the detaining grapp of Peters. "No, sir," said the woman, still more grimly. "If you have a ap-ark of manliness, you will let the young lady alone. She hates you now-I assure you she doe*. She's only a governess, and you'll lose her her place if you hang round her. I tell you again she hates you." Rufus uttered a low moan, and sat down abruptly upon a shop bench. Mrs. Peters glided out and entered the carriage, giving the order to return home. "I told him a lie, God forgive me she mut- tered, as she locked at Lally, who lay back upon the cushions, faint and white. I told him that you were a governess, Miss Lally. Let him once get wind of your good fortune, and he'll abandon his heiress and come back to you. Let us start for the north to-night, dear Miss Lally, and you will not see him if he comes to Mount Street. We can take the night express, and sleep comfortably, and to-morrow night we will sleep at Edinburgh. "We will do as you say, Peters," Lally wearily. "Only don't speak to me now. She buried her face in the cushions, and was silent with a stillness like death. Meanwhile, Rufus Black sat for some minutes in a sort of stupor, but at last raised his haggard eyes and said to the shopkeeper: "The-the lady who passed out, Benson, was my wife. I had heard she was dead. Can you give me her address ? The shopman was all sympathy and kindness. He knew Rufus Black had come of a good family, and he suspected, from lite scene he had just witnessed, that he had experienced trouble through his marriage. He picked uu THE^ mourning card Lally had laid down and read the address aloud. Miss Wroat, Mount Street. Grosrenor Square,' repeated Rufus. My wife is gover- ness in that family. Thaaks, Benson. I will go to Mount Street." He went out with staggering steps, hailed a hansom cab, gave the order, and was driven to the Wroat mansion in Moint Street. The boy called Buttons waited upon the door in Toppen's absence. He was a. shrewd lad, and had received private instructions frm Peters, who had just come in with her young mistress. "I want to see Miss Bird," said Rufus abruptly, making a movement to enter the ball. The boy blocked his path. "No snch lady here, sir," he replied. Mrs. Black, perhaps ? suggested Rufas. "No such lady," persisted the boy. Rufus offered him a bright coin, sad said desperately: "I want to see the governess." "No governess bere, sir," said ButtoosR poeketing the coin. No children to teaoh, sir. There's no lady in the house but the mistress, Miss Wroat, and she don't see no one, sir. Rufus stood amazed and bewildered. "Can I not see Miss Wroat?" he asked. "I wish to inquire after a young lady "hona I suppose to-be here." "Miss Wroat can't be disturbed, sir, on no account," said Buttons. "She's not well, and don't receive to-day." "I will call ;J nufus, will --CREASING desperation. "I must see her." He descended the step, and the door closed behind him. "Benson must have picked up the wrong card," thought Ratus. Or Lally might have given a wrong card. Why should she give her employer's card—unless, indeed, she was buying a picture for her employer? I'll go baok and see Benson." He went back, but the pietera dealer affirmed that Lally had given him the card with Miss Wroat's name upon ik and :2nfUl said-to him- self: 1 I have it. Miss Wroat is the sour-looking, servant-like woman in black, some parwomm grown suddenly rich, and Lally is bar com- panion. This Miss Wroat knows Lally. story and despises me. I'll go back to Mount Street this evening, and see Miss Wroat. When I tell her the whole story she will pity me, and allow me to see Lally, I am sure. I won't care for poverty or toil if I can have back my poor little wife. I will iiy with her to some foreign country before my father comes back. But what did Lally mean by my R,NTIA?E with an t heiress' ? My father must have told her of l Neva. Why, I'd rather have my poor LITTLE Lally than a thousand haughty Nevas, with a thousand Hawkhunts at their backs! Early in the evening Rufus returned to Mount Street, and, Buttons again answered his double knoek. "Family gone- away, air, I said the lad, recognising the visitor. "Where have they gone? inquired Rufu. 11\ sadden despair. Buttons declined to answer, and was about to <JO?R' WHEN Rufus plaoed his knee against it and CRFAD out; companion.IT*" °T H*T FOIL™* V, ? gone away, I must tive. Tell ME^USLW W^^ T^TU" and I will give you THII!» 7 G°°*> ,OVHE^!D UP » GUTTERING half- Buttons hesitated. Clearly he had had his instruction, TO betray to no 0118 the coune hi, young mistress had taken, and. just as clearty his virtue wavered before the glittering bribe offered him. He reasoned within himself that DO one need ever know that he had told, and here was an opportunity to make ten shiUmcs without work. He yielded to the temptation. "Miss Wroat and Mrs. Peters," he began, with his eyes fixed on the oom.uüaey_ "Mrs. Peters? That is what the young companion calls herself ? Go on." "Miss Wroat and Mrs. Peters," repeated the bov, "they have gone to Heather Hula to stay a inooth-that's whom they'To goee. Now give me my money. "In one moment. As soon as you tell me where is Heather Hills." I "Scotland," said the lad. 11 Invemen. I tion't VDow nothing more. only I know the I

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A DARING GAME.