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THE MARQUIS S DOUBLE.
(Copyright.) THE MARQUIS S DOUBLE. By RALLI WEST, Author of "Young Mrs. L'Estrange," "Azalea and a Sprig of Myrtle," "Sybil Durant," "Sea Stories," "A Mingled Yarn," "Love's Blind, They Say," "Love Gilds the Scene," "A Summer Night," &c. CHAPTER I. "If by now they have taken you to see The Geisha,' which rhymes with Asia, you will be acquainted with tne most noble Marquis Imari; and if you have seen him, you will know exactly what my host, Mr. James Rawdon, is like. Of course, I don't mean to say that Mr. Rawdon goes about in flowing garments of yellow satin and a pig-tail; but divest the Marquis of those splendours, and clotfievhim in grey tweed, and you have James Rawdon to the life; walk, strut, voice, smile, ogling glances from the corners of his eyes-not a single point missing." "There," exclaimed Maud Pennington, pausing for a moment in the midst of the long letter she was writing to her sister, "so much for my host. I hate accepting the hospitality of anyone I dis- like it seems such a mean thing to do; but this time I simply cannot help myself; he would not take no for an answer. I only wish he had, for I should have been as comfortable again at an hotel. Heigh ho! It certainly is very delicious being rich by way of a change. Two months ago I should no more have dreamt of wearing a piece of elegance like this tea-gown in my bedroom than I should have-" But her meditations were cut short by a knock at the door, and the voice of her hostess asking for admission. "How pro Oki I" thought the girl, as she hastily drew the blotting-paper over the unflatter- ing description of Mr. Rawdon. "I cannot request her to depart and leave me in peace; and yet I did so want to finish this letter to Blanche." "I hope I am not disturbing you," began Mrs. Rawdon, noticing her visitor's occupation. "But I wanted to make sure you had everything you wanted, and downstairs I really had hardly a chance of saying a word. You and my husband have so many interests in common just now that it is, of course, natural he should mono- polise the greater part of your time." "He shall not do it again, though," Maud said to herself. "But now tell me," continued Mrs. Rawdon settling herself comfortably in the luxuriously- cushioned basketchair, evidently bent on a long gossip, "what did you feel like -when you opened the lawyer's letter and found you had come in for this fortune ? Just a month ago, wat it not ? "Yes, a month to-day. I felt too bewildered to think at first; but when I did begin to realise it I was-oh, so thankful. My sister and I were badly off, you know, and the prospect of earning one's living as music mistress at a school was not exhilarating. Then, too, Blanche and I are very, very fond of each other, so being parted was a great trial." "Ah! yes; she is your only sister, is she not ? I remember my husband told me you had settled three hundred a year on her for life. Just a little bit quixotic of you, love, I think; for though you are well off, still money does melt away so fast, once one sets up house- keeping. "But, Mrs. Rawdon, surely you would not have me leave my sister to go on toiling as companion whilst I lived in luxury P broke in Maud impetuously. "Oh, no, dear; of course not. Naturally, you could not'be alone; and when your sister is free to leave her present engagement it will be pleasant for you both to live together. But three hundred pounds a vear for life! It's a good «i;-• ri cwte rb«?oC. Strange of1 oiW^'JL^T'-■» *^1^x118 money in that way between you and lch galiv-jja'^ was not? You are both equally vantèd, only he is cousin on Mr. Binns's father's, you on his mother's side of the family. It seems strange, though, to single out simply two cousins from the large number of relations that he had." Most strange! I cannot understand it even now, considering he had seen me but once in his life. Another thing puzzles me. How was it that Miss Binns's name was never even mentioned ? From all I have heard she had nursed him so devotedly." "She was devotion itself. It was the injustice of the thing that made my husband urge me to ask her to make her home with us, at all events for a time. He said it seemed dreadful for us to come in for all that money, and poor Rosalie to lose her home, and not be left even a five- pound note to buy a mourning ring." And she is as nearly related to him as I am. It is terribly unjust," said Maud thoughtfully. I must see if I cannot arrange for her to receive a sum sufficient to keep her comfortably." If you go on at that rate you will have nothing left to live on," exclaimed Mrs. Rawdon. But I must positively run away. I am robbing you of all your beauty sleep. Good-night, dear child. I do hope you will manage to be happy with us. I am afraid it has been very dull for you to-day, but to-morrow Sydney will be coming home, and he will be only too pleased to take you about." "I sincerely hope he is not like his father," thought Maud, as the door closed on her hostess. Then she pulled the blotter towards her and went steadily on with her letter. "Mrs. Rawdon seems inclined to be most affec- tionately disposed towards me," she wrote, "but at present I do not take to her. She is a tall, dark woman, who gives one the idea of having had a strong will of her own once-years ago, before she married the Marquis Imari. Si-ice then I should think she has not been able to call her soul her own. Sydney, the only son, I have not yet seen. He is away on business, but is to return to-morrow. If he is at all like his father, I shall pack up and depart; for two Imaris would be more than I could stand. The three girls are at school in Germany, so the only other member of the household is Rosalie Binns,a meek-looking little person of about five-and-thirty, I should think. She is the cousin who, in my opinion, ought to have had the money instead of me, as she lived with the old gentleman for some con- siderable time as housekeeper, and nursed him through his last illness. I asked Mr. Rawdon this evening whatever could have induced Mr. Binns to leave me such a big fortune; and he replied-with a look that he intended, I suppose, to be highly complimentary, but which made me feel inclined to pinch him-that Mr. Binns expressed himself enchanted with my pencilled eyebrows, and considered that a girl endowed by nature with such a charming face and figure would be wasted as music mistress in an establishment for young ladies. Did you ever hear of such a thing ? Then followed sundry exhortations to her sister to provide herself with a good stock of new dresses, and finally Maud fell asleep with the fixed determination to cultivate Miss Binns's acquaintance on the morrow, and see if it would be possible to induce her to accept a sum of money sufficient bt enable her to live independently of the Rawdons. Maud suspected that she did the work of a lady help without receiving the salary. The bare idea made her resolved to carry her point. The next morning was spent in being driven by Mr. Rawdon to inspect the various houses and cottages of which she had so unexpectedly become the possessor. Mr. Rawdon's "little box of a place "-as he designated the showy villa he had bought the previous year--was some distance from the big country town where Mr. Binns had speculated largely in house property, and it was past two before the last of the cottages had been visited, and Mr. Rawdon, remarking that he thought they had earned their lunch, turned the u' horse's head towards home. "Sydney is back already," lie exclaimed, as Maud stooped to pit a huge collie that, ?$Tne bounding across the hall to iiieet "That brute is never off the is he is'at home e, to look after it. 11 Miss Penningto^ paggej on to the dining-room, where th £ servant hud told hfr Mrs. Rawdon was" Tf&iting for lunch, and where she found Sydney in earnest conversation with his mother. "Not a bit like the Marquis," thought Maud. "So different that it scorns almost impossible for them to be father ami son. I like the tone of his voice, the kind, courteous way he has with his mother; and, really, he is not bad-looking," mentally summing him up for B'anche's benefit. "Tall, slightly built, thick fair moustache, good nose, clear, earnest eyps, large but well-shaped hand." Miss Binns, who came in just as they were sitting down, seemed genuinely delighted to see him"; and looked distressed when Mrs Rawdon requested her to do some errands in the town that afternoon. Sydney had proposed taking Maud up the river for a row, and suggested Rosalie accompanying them; but before the words had fairly passed his lips his mother nipped the suggestion in the bud with a suave "If dear Rosalie does not mind, I particularly want her to do something for me this afternoon." So it happened that Maud and her companion found themselves alone in the boat; he pulling with long, swift strokes that soon carried them beyond the straggling outskirts of the town away to the meadows, where che river, gradually narrowing, wound its way peacefully between willow-fringed banks fragrant with meadow- sweet, whose creamy plumes waved languidly ia me son, Daimy air. Alter a lohg pull Syd proposed resting for a while under the trees before going back. "I have been frightfully lazy to let you do all the work," Maud said. "You must let me take an oar going back. It is years since I rowed, but I fancy I could pull a little." "Your hands don't look as if they had been much used to outdoor work lately," he said with a laugh, as she took off her gloves and drew her fingers listlessly through the cool water that lapped softly against the sides of the boat. "No, I was too busy giving music-lessons to have time for much else," she answered, with a sigh at the recollection. "That sigh means you did not like your work, I am afraid." "I ground little girls through finger exercises and scales; took the bigger ones to practising for the music master; hated it all cordially, and was —oh! so thankful when that delightful old man left me a fortune." Sydney laughed. "I fancy you are about the only person who has ever called him delightful. Poor old fellow, his temper was none of the sweetest, and he used to take such a malicious delight in what he called paying folks out in their own coin,' that people got downright afraid of going to see him at last. Rosalie was the only one who could do anything with him, and yet he never left her a penny, though he knew how she needed it." "Ah! I wanted to speak to you about that," interposed Maud; and she told him of her idea of settling a certain sum on Miss Binns. "I can quite understand your feeling," he said, but I think the money should come from my father as well as yourself. At present affairs seem rather complicated, so, if you will pardon the suggestion, I should wait, if I were you, till everything is arranged before I took any further steps. Rosalie has a home with us for the present, you see." "And being at home only in the evenings as a rule, he does not realise how uncomfortable the poor thing is," thought Maud, but wisely kept her thoughts to herself. The days passed swiftly and pleasantly in excursions to various places of interest in the neighbourhood, water parties, and a picnic or two. Sydney was generally one of the party, but though it did occur to Maud once or twice that he and she seemed a good deal thrown together, she never suspected that the Marquis Imari-as she mentally designated Mr. Rawdon, senior-had given strict injunctions to his wife to see that Miss Pennington should always fall to Sydney's escort. As for Syd himself, he had lost his heart that first afternoon in the boat. and was, therefore, perfectly willing to fall in with his mother's arrangements. One morning, when for a wonder they wera quietly at home, Mrs. Rawdon was unexpectedly called away for some hours. Glad of the free time, Maud seized the opportunity of a tete-a-tete with Miss Binns to question her cautiously as to her plans for the future. Gradually Rosalie was led on to talk of her past life at The Willows, where she had lived as housekeeper to Mr. Binns. Though it is a thing I would not for worlds speak of generally," she said, dropping her voice to a low apprehensive whisper, "I must own to you, my dear Maud. that it was a great disappointment to me to be passed over in the will. I cannot understand it. My poor r told me distinctly that he had provided ..Sly for.syj—JkX and th'e poor little lad*lfllaeja down and blushed, "he joked with nië" a1);1 :,re saying I should not be Miss Binns Iong!;yrMce the contents of his will were made known. He lost all power of speech and nv>vement towards the last; but just before that Mr. Rawdon was standing with me by the bed, and heard him say, in disjointed sentences, but clearly Study —old desk—last will—Rosalie not forgottie».' When all was over, the desk was carefully searched; but there was no will to be found. The one leaving his property to you and Mr. Rawdon was at his lawyer's." "You are sure every nook and corner of that old desk was turned out ? asked Maud, deeply interested. "Oh, yes, dear; Mr. Rawdon and I did it together. I am positive there was not a drawer, not a pigeon-hole, that we did not search. "I wish I could go over to The Willows," said Maud, after a moment's silence, "I wonder if it would be possible to get in ? "Possible!" echoed Miss Binns in surprise. "Why, what is to hinder you ? There is only an old caretaker there, and it's your own house, so surely you have a right to go in when you choose. "Mine ? Are you sure it is really mine? said Maud quickly. "Perfectly certain; 1 heard the lawyer say so. Besides, its down in the will. You read th# will, did you not?" "Oh, yes. Only it all seemed such a dreadful muddle I could not half understand it." "Ah! well, all the same I am perfectly sure you are the owner of The Willows." "Then," said Maud, with a sudden inspiration, "since we have the afternoon to ourselves, will you take me to see it ? "Most willingly," said Miss Binns, evidently delighted at the prospect of once more revisiting her old home. "It is barely half-an-hour's walk from here. If we start directly after lunch there will be ample time to see everyt: -zg comfort- ably." o Maud felt vaguely uneasy as she thought over all Miss Binns had told her. What if proper search had not been made, and a later will existed ? Then how was it that when he so carefully shewed her the numerous houses and cottages which formed part of her property Mr. Rawdon had omitted mentioning that The Willows was also hers ? He had spoken of it simply as "the tumble-down old place in which Mr. Binns had lived for the best part of his life"; yet, though the garden was neglected and overgrown, and the house certainly needed painting and papering, it struck her as being in substantially good repair. The furniture was old-fashioned, but good of its kind; the whole place beauti- fully clean; and, as she followed Rosalie from room to room. listening mechanically to the stream of anecdotes and reminiscences the little lady poured forth, an idea sprang to life which she resolved should be carried out at the earliest possible moment. The Willows was her own; she was used to a country life, liked the neighbourhood, and, though yet as hardly (on- scious of thef act, the society of Sydney Rawdon. What if she went to live there for the next few months, and asked Rosalie to stay with her, do the practical part of the housekeeping, and leave her free to devote herself to the old favourite pursuits of painting and reading, which for the last three years had had to be almost given up ? The more she thought of it the more she liked the idea, and began mentally planning the way the rooms should be arranged as she followed her guide down the narrow staircase that led from the attics. "But we have not seen the study yet," she exclaimed, when Miss Binns proposed a turn in the garden. Rosalie hesitated. "Oh, yes, I must shew you that; it is along this passage," pushing open a baize door as she spoke. "Mr. Binns used always to sit here, and since his death I have hardly been in, for, though I know Mr. Rawdon thinks me foolish and sentimental to care. I really was fond of the old man, and it grieves me to remember that those peaceful days have passed away for ever. I can almost fancy he is sitting here by the wijylflW- -ks-his big armchair, saying to me —" She broke off with a sigh. "There is the desk I was telling you about," she added, after a moment's pause. It was a gloomy room, low pitched, long, marrow, and so dark at the end furthest from the window that Mau did not see the desk till she stumbled against it. She looked curiously at the tottery, worm-eaten old thing, resolving to have a thorough inspection of its contertg before many days were over. It was too late to attempt anything of the kind that day. "This room is too gloomy for my sancturt,, she said, crossing to the window, and pushi^„ aside an inquisitive tr-ul of the Virginia creey* which covered the house from basement to at "I think I shall turn the large front bedro into my own especial snuggery." Theij, catchij sight of her companion's look of ment, she proceeded to unfold her plan, a plan in which Miss Binns gladly acquiesced. "Imust go through the room-, again," the girl continued, as they turned to leave -lie study, "and see if I can find one with a g i'"1 light for painting. She was some time over her tour of inspection, and not finding what she wanted on the first floor, mounted to the attics. To her intense surprise, on opening the door of the largest of the four, she saw Mr. Rawdon. lie was peering into one of the big cupboards that filled the recesses on each side of the fireplace, and did not hear her until his name, in astonished accents, broke from her lips. He started violently, and hastily push- ing to the cupboard door, exclaimed in a nervous, hurried tone: "I was inspecting part of your property, Miss Pennington. I fancied the woodwork of these upper rooms wanted seeing to, and thought it had better be done before we sought for a tenant." Oh! There will be no need to seek for a tenant yet awhile, Mr. Rawdon. I am going to live here myself for the next few months." You! he ejaculated, turning sharply towards her. Yes. I have fallen in love with the dear old place; why did you not tell me about it before ? "I did mention it, that first day, when you found fault with my driving. But there was no time to see anything more then, and since that Morning you nave been so engaged with my Wite tnerts nave Deen no opportunities for business conversation." She did not pay much heed to his words, but stood Tost in thought, looking intently out of the window at the neglected garden below. "I shall never pass that poor old man's room but I shall think of him trying to make you understand what he wanted at the last," she said as they went downstairs. "It could not have been anything of much importance," said Mr. Rawdon, quickly. "His affairs were all in perfect order, and if another will had been made recently, someone in the house would have known, for he had not been outside the door for months before his death. We questioned the servants most carefully, but they all declared they had never been asked to sign any paper whatever. I suppose Rosalie has been giving you all the harrowing details of what she calls the last terrible hours.' But after all, poor thing, it's not surprising if she should be a little bit morbid over it, considering the bitter disappointment she experienced." CHAPTER II. A week later, Maud took possession of her new home. The morning after her arrival she devoted to thoroughly overhauling the old desk, fancying that perhaps a secret drawer or panel might have been overlooked; but though she searched most carefully, she could find nothing but the two drawers of whose existence Rosalie was aware. Some days after, an uncomfortable presentiment, which had been forcing itself upon her ever since the first evening, became unmistakable reality. She found The Willows frightfully dull after the constant variety to which she had been accustomed during the past weeks. This par- ticular afternoon Rosalie had gone out, and Maud, sitting alone in the garden, shut in from any view of the road beyond by high hedges of yew and privet, began to wonder somewhat drearily how she could manage to exist until her sister returned from abroad, Blanche was not to start even till the season was on the wane. She was just weighing the advisability of carrying off Miss Binns for a fortnight of London gaiety, while everything was in full swing, when she heard shouts in the road, and a moment after a vehicle of some sort tore past at a furious pace. Running down the long drive to try and find out if there had been &n accident, she saw Sydney Rawdon coming in at the gate. He was deathly pale, his clothes covered with dust, blood flowing from a deep cut on his forehead. "Sydney, you are hurt! she, I' ^-onscious in her agitation that sh?^ m by his Cu'risti'aiT jfTo-.rne.. A g!a< r/4 f <,me to his eyes. "It is nothing, dear, he said, taking her hand in his, "but I am afraid my father is badly hurt. I came to see if you would let him be carried in here while the doctor examines hiin." The doctor's verdict was reassuring, but he absolutely forbade the patient being moved for some days to come, and recommended sending for a hospital nurse. To this, however, Mrs. Rawdon would not consent. Her husband hated strangers about him, and had always made her promise to nurse him herself should he be ill. The doctor shrugged his shoulders deprecat- ingly, but as the case was not complicated, and required only ordinary common-sense treatment, said no; more about it. Sydney undertook to share the night duty with his mother, and between the four of them they could manage easily in the day, for, though delirious at times, Mr. Rawdon lay the greater part of the time in a kind of stupor. Towards the end of the second day Maud was watching alone by the sick man, when she was startled to hear him exclaim: Why am I in this room ? Take me away; he haunts me; he won't let me rest. Why did you bring me here ? Before she could reply he had wandered off again, and began talking excitedly, in rambling, incoherent sentences. Presently she caught the words: "It's madness to keep the thing. Why haven't I the courage to burn it, and have done with the whole business ? I'll make it up to Rosalie in the end." She listened intently for the next words, but his mind evidently wandered to something else, for she heard him muttering over and over again long lists of figures, and details of his business. But presently he said, distinctly "I've hidden it away here too cleverly for that prying girl to find. No one suspects even. Witnesses dead-quite safe." The words trailed off into incoherent mutter- ings. Listen as she would, she could gather nothing more. What she had heard, though, was terrible enough. There must have been a later will, which Mr. Rawdon had found and sup- pressed, a will evidently in favour of Miss Binns. Now the thing to be done was to find it, and when Mr. Rawdon was sufficiently recovered compel him to make restitution to the rightful owner. For the sake of his family she would keep the knowledge to herself should she succeed in discovering the hiding-place, and let it be imagined that he had found the will hidden away in some unlikely corner. Rosalie came in to take her turn of watching a few minutes after, and, once released, Maud sped up to the attic in which she had met Mr. Rawdon the first day she went to The Willows. She remembered distinctly how agitated he had seemed at seeing her; remembered, too, the supposed loss of the penknife, and his return to seek for it. The cupboard in that attic must be the hiding-place, and he had tried to frighten her with tales about the rats to prevent her frequenting the rcom. With trembling fingers she turned over the odds and ends on the shelves, searching every nook and cranny to see if a board was loose, or there was any place where a paper could be secreted; but she could find nothing. Mr. Rawdon must have changed the hiding-place after she had seen him peering into the cupboard. The next room was a store place for trunks, boxes, and furniture that had been considered too shabby for the rooms below. It took her some days before she had turned out the chests and boxes to her satisfaction, and in the end the search proved fruitless. There was nothing for it but to wait patiently until Mr. Rawdon was well enough to be told what she had heard him say, and compelled to make restitution. Meanwhile something happened that, for the time being, drove the all-absorbing thought of the will from her brain. Sydney told her of his love; and when a true- hearted girl weighs the love of the man she cares about against iiioney-well, money is nowhere. But lying awake at night, pondering over this new-found happiness, a disquieting thought came to disturb her peace of mind. She recalled the great satisfaction with which Mrs. Rawdon received the news of the engagement, and her assurances of the pleasure it would give her husband, when sufficiently recovered to be told of what had taken place during his illness. Would Maud Pennington, the music teacher, her face her only fortune, be welcomed with the same warmth as Maud Pennington, whose banking account touched a figure which placed her far beyond the need of uneasy calculations? Instinct told her "No," as far as the parents were concerned; and though she firmly believed that Sydney loved her for herself alone, it would be only right to make sure of the fact; right to him as well as herself. Sydney was not a little astonished next day, when she interrupted a blissful picture he was drawing of their future happiness together with an enquiry as to whether lêcould have cared for Her had she been only a penniless musical governess. Supposing she should by any chance be again forced to earn her living, what would he say then? He seemed downright hurt and indignant at the bare supposition of her fortune having anything to do with it, and his fervent assurances that nothing could ever change his love made her happier; but still, she felt a vague uneasiness as to the future, and wished with all her heart that the ordeal was over. Mr. Rawdon was told of the event that evening, expressed himself charmed with the prospect of welcoming her as his daughter-in- law, and on the strength of the future relation- ship drew her towards him and kissed her on the cheek. The girl shuddered from head to foot. How he would hate her if only he guessed what she knew about him He was getting so much stronger that it was arranged for him to be moved to his own home the following week. But, though able to sit up, he declared nimself too weak to leave his room. He needed absolute quiet, he said, preferred to be alone as much as possible, and insisted at last on sending for one of his own carriages, so that the three ladies might be driven to a flower show held in the neighbouring town. "He is pretending to be weaker than he really is," thought Maud, "and when we are safe out of the way he will go up to the attic and destroy that will. I must let him fancy I have gone, but at the last I shall change my mind and slip back again by the side gate. They had not driven far when, making an excuse to the other two, she stopped the carriage and got out. Once it had turned the bend of the road, and she was safe from observation, she set off running at the top of her speed, slipped through the side gate, in at the French window of the drawing-room, and was up the stairs into her own room not ten minutes after the supposed departure. As she had suspected, Mr. Rawdon lost no time in setting to work once the coast was, as he supposed, clear, for a moment after she heard his bedroom door cautiously open, and saw him slowly and laboriously toiling up the steep stairs. There was a door of communication between the attic with the cupboards and the one adjoining it. She had made sure that this tor opened noiselessly, and directly she heara <3 step in the room above she crept upstairs. "'There's not a moment to lose," she heard iim mutter. They may turn back if it rains. That prying girl may be here before I can inish the job. I must make haste. Ah! it's fielding now." There was a crunching of wood, and a moment ,fter he stood wiping the perspiration from his orehead, a long envelope in his hand. "It will be safest to burn it," he said. "But lot in my room; that girl might wonder. Ah I enow." He hurried out of the room as fast as his still weakened strength would allow, listened a noment at the head of the stairs, then began a cautious defcrnt, clinging to the balusters to ielp himself along. Maud watched till he was it the bottom of the second flight, pushing open :he baize doer that led to the study, then ran swiftly after him. He was standing by the fire- place, in the act of striking a match, when she went in, closing the door carefully behind her. The envelope lay on the top of the fire, which -io.cl that moment been lighted, though only one side had caught at present. With a quick move- ment, she eJ rang forward, and snatched the paper from the tongue of flame that was curlil g round it. So sudden and unexpected was her ippearanre that Mr. Rawdon stood speechless in miazen (n, but in an instant seized her by the wrist. "Give me that packet," he panted hoarsely. 'What do you mean by acting in this extra- ordinary manner ? I was only going to burn iome papers of my own, of no importance to tnyone but myself." not give up this paper, the said firmly. "I saw you take it from the attic :upboard just now, when you thought everyone was safe out of the way. I heard you say you should burn it, and I believe it is the will 1 have ilways thought Mr. Binns must have made in Rosalie's favour. You Know I have told you oefore I believed there must have been a late me; only no one seemed to know anything about it." "Nonsense!" he cried. "You have gone crazy Dyer that will, in spite of all the explanations 1 have given you. This envelope contains papers relative to my business. It is most important they should be destroyed at once." She noticed he was on the alert to intercept her retreat to the door. The room—always gloomy at the best 3f times-was almost dark now from the thick- gathering clouds. In th\J dim light she saw his syes gleam, his face white with suppressed fury. Bis breath came in short, panting gasps. "Come," he said, striving to speak calmly. "Be a good girl and give up these papers. It Burely cannot concern you what I burn or not. I must apologise for keeping my things in your house; but, you see, in my old friend's time I Dften transacted business with him here, and I bad forgotten to take this packet away." "It was a strange place to keep your papers, behind the woodwork of a cupboard," she returned, drily. "Mr. Rawdon, unless you allow toe to leave this room quietly, take the will to the lawyer, and state that it was found here in turning out some things, I will go to him and repeat everything I heard you say one day during your illness, when you were delirious; tell him also of what 1 have seen you do this afternoon." She could have shrieked with the pain of the sudden tightening of his fingers on her wrist; but she still kept the papers tightly clenched. 141 shall tell everything," she repeated, "unless you agree to what I say." For a moment she fancied he was going to strangle her. He seemed mad with passion. His hands were on her throat, pressing her backward against the old bureau. She could not scream or cry out for the grip which held her as if in a vice. A tall, big, powerful man, she was like a child in his grasp. "Listen," he hissed. "If you persist in this crazy idea, you will ruin yourself. You will be a penniless drudge of a teacher again for my son is only marrying you for your money. He must marry money; it is absolutely necessary to save us from bankruptcy. Moreover, I shall make out that your brain is not quite right, and have you shut up out of harm's way. I know someone who will keep you safe, and tell no tales. You thought I was a weak invalid, did you not ? I'm pretty bad, certainly, but I've plenty of strength left to do for you, and no one can hear us in this room. A sharp knock against this old concern," pressing her harder down on the bureau, "would make your brain queer in real earnest. I advise you to be reasonable, and give in quietly. You keep a silent tongue, and you shall marry Syd; if you don't swear to do as I bid you, prepare for the worst. Now, which is it to be ? The thought of her lover gave her strength. Again and again she strove to free herself enough to cry for help, for though no sound could be heard in the house there was the chance of the gardener hearing, could she but manage to reach the window. But she might as well have tried to move a rock. Mr. Rawdon only laughed at her frantic efforts. She knew she was at his mercy; a feeling of utter despair seized upon her, and she had given up all hope of rescue, when the door suddenly opened, and 8yd's voice exclaimed: "Why, father, I never expected to find you downstairs. Surely you ought hot to have left your room." Startled by the unexpected sound, Mr. Rawdon relaxed his hold, turned savagely round, tried to speak; then, with a groan, fell heavily to the ground. Some hours after Maud asked Sydney to go with her to the study, and, once sure that they could not be overheard, told him of what she had discovered.. „ t „ "I waited for you before I looked at it, she said, unlocking the desk as she spoke, and handing the envelope to him. "Syd, I am afraid this may mean ruin for both of us, but I could not help myself." "My brave darling, even if ws are poor, we shall be together. The business must have gone this year but for the unexpected increase of capital; and, by Jove! go it must now," as he rapidly scanned the paper in his hand. "My father's name is not even mentioned. Every- thing is divided between Rosalie and yourself." "Then it will be all right," she cried, eagerly. "My share will help the business just as well. Your mother was telling me the other day what awful times it has been for the building trade of late years, but that now things seemed to be taking a turn for the better. You see; let me have a share in it, and I shall bring you good luck." He shook his head. "Syd," she went on earnestly, "you cannot ttcan that you will throw me over became roil ate poor, and I happen still to have my share of the property." It took a long time to get him to listen to reason, but at last she did succeed in gaining her point. She succeeded also in keeping the' history of the will a secret; for, thanks to the rotten condition of the old desk, Syd was able to slip the envelope into a slit he cut away behind one Qf the drawers, from which hiding- place it was produced, to Rosalie's wondering delight. She remembered the names of the witnesses as being those of a irother and daughter who had lived a few weeks with Mr. Binns as cook and housemaid. They had con- sidered the place too dull, left very soon, caught diphtheria in a neighbouring village, and died shortly after leaving The Willows. Enclosed in the same envelope was a letter to Mr. Rawdon, in which the old man stated that he had left the first will purposely at his lawyer's, because it afforded him the liveliest satisfaction to see how completely his dear friend James Rawdon wa» being duped. He begged to remind him ot certain business transactions which had passed between them, in which the younger man had had considerably the advantage, and laughed in his sleeve over that old fool Binns's" siln. plicity. The "old fool "fancied that the laugh would b« on his side now. Sydney gave the letter to his father without comment; but neither he nor Maud was surprised when Mrs. Rawdon informed them, shortly after, that her husband was nothing like so well that evening- It was some days before he was pronounced well enough to see his future daughter- in-law. She was not anxious for the inter- view, but judged it prudent to get it over as soon as possible. It gave her a shock, though, when he received her with his usual bland smile, as if nothing unusual had ever passed between them, expressing himself charmed at the prospect of a half-hour's tete-a-tete with his dear Maud. 7 Her throat was still black from the grip of fingers, but not a word did he say of their lafit interview in the study. The Marquis Imari "Was wise in his generation. If, for love of the son, Maud was willing to conceal the disgraceful con' duct of the father-why, so be it. They all went up to town before the season was quite over, and to see "The Geisha as soon as they could get seats. „ "What a horrid creature that Marquis is Rosalie exclaimed with a little shudder when the piece was early over. "I should be afraid to know a man like that; would not you, Maud r "No," replied the girl quietly. "Acowardly bully like the Marquis would never frighten me. She looked steadily at Mr. Rawdon as she spoke. There are many like him in the world, I fancy, she added, "though they may not always be found out." Mr. Rawdon smiled blandly upon her. "My dear Maud, what harsh judgment w issue from such sweet lips Where have yo\1 learnt such doctrines ? "I happen to have met the Marquis Imari » 4ou.ble," she answered slowly. "I was thinkiotf of him when I spoke." And the double said no more. ituz END.)
----Uantfisarst School Board.
Uantfisarst School Board. The monthly meeting of the Llntrisant- ij School Board was held at the Parish offices, Llantrisant, on Monday, the chairman (Mr Rhys Davies), presiding. Other members present were Dr. Morgan (vice-chairman), Mesrs Richard Morgan, Gomer Evans, "T". E. Davies, G. T. Davies, with the clerk, Mr J. Colenso Jones. The Clerk reported that zC148 had been paid into the bank to the credit of the Board under the Agricultural Rating Act. After that day's payments tnere would be at the bank a credit balance of JB181. Miss Hopkins, who was recenti'" teacher at ?;myrefail now wrote declining the appointment. The Pontypridd School Board wrote agreeing to accept C5 per head for the edu- cation of the pupil teachers at the Ponty- pridd Centre, and would allow the Llantri- sant Board to appoint a representative on the Pupil Teachers' Centre Committee. i. The Clerk remarked that he had seen the head-master of the Centre, who said that -H with the exception of a few, the Llantri- j sant teachers were the worst in the school. The Board were of opinion that if an im- provement did not take place the teachers should be dismissed. The head-master of the T ondu Pupil Teachers' Centre also wrote saying that one of the Gilfach pupil teachers was good and industrious but the other two were ex- I tremely backward. Mr Gomer Evans complained that the teachers could not study when they were running about the roads at night. It was decided that unless the next re- port was more favourable to dismiss the two teachers complained of. It was further resolved to obtain infor- mation as to the progress of the Tonyrefail teachers at the Porth Centre. John J. Gardner, ex-P.T. at Tonyr- efail, tendered his resignation. It was ex- plained that this teacher was anxious to obtain the maximum salary. The question was left in the hands of the local membres. lu was decided to refund the fees, paid for books to the pupil teachers with the object of encouraging them in their studies This would apply only to the most diligent. The Clerk reported that the attendance at th" evening continuation school at Ton- yrefail had now fallen off to only 11 scholars It was decided to give the school another month's trial. On the motion of Mr Richard Morgan, seconded by Mr Gomer Evans, a vote of condolence was passed with the widow and family of the late Mr Daniel Thoma, Ton- yivlfcil, one of the members of the Board. Dr. Morgan asked why it was that the Tonyrefail Schools were not closed on the day of the funeral Mr W. E. Davies re- plied that as all the local members were awny he did not care to close the schools o;i h;s own responsibility. He had tried, but failed to consult the vice-chairman. The salaries of the teachers were con- sidered, and several grades received ad- vances. I
Tonypandy Bankruptcy -
Tonypandy Bankruptcy Application for Discharge. Before Judge Gwilym Williams at the Pontypridd County Court on Monday, Mr R. 0. Davies, solicitor, Festiniog, applied for the discharge of David Eynon. The applicant was for merly a partner in the firm of Messrs Reynold Lewis and David Eynon, outfitters, Dunraven Street, Tony- pandy, who were adjudged bankrupts six years ago. Mr Davies, regarding an allega tion of extravagant living, explained that a great deal of money was spent by appli- cant upon his wife, who had ben ill for a prolonged period. Since then he had gone to North Wales, and his wife, who was manageress of an hotel, now kep the Cow- mercial Hotel, Festiniog, of which her husband would be manager. Mr Daniel, the official receiver, explained that the dividend was 6s. llfd. in the £ and op* I posed the application unless the applicant { consented to judgment against him for 10s- I in the t- Mr Davies replied that his client s could not possibly do so,, as that would PRyment between £ 200 and + i u •e h°tel was not a large one, the rental being £ 45 perannum, but he would make an offer of 7s. Gd. in the jE. His honour said that if the applicant desired a immediate discharge it would be worth his or his wife's while to make a sacrifice, He granted a discharge, suspended for two years, upon the payment of a dividend of <s. 6d., or in the alternative, an im' mediate discharge upon the applicant con- sentmg to judgment for 10s. in the E. All order for 7s. 6d. was accepted.
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