Saved by a Hairs-breadth.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1695, 24 July 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

Saved by a Hairs-breadth.

TOLD PY TnE HOUSEKEEPER £f ' ski.

Between forty and fifty yea rs since. Miss Adda Paulinson was the reigning belle of the largest English county—Yorkshire—and, being the only sister of the then Baronet, who was a widower with one son, a child four or five years old, was entitled to a considerable fortune' The knowledge of this, «dded to her own great personal beauty, naturally procured the young lady many suitors. Amon* these was a certain Sir Luke Hendon, a dark, handsome man of perhaps five-and-thirtyand of somewhat'austere demeanor, hnt nevertheless a great favourite with the ladies. He was a man well-known, and, on the whole, popular throughout the country, and especially was he talked of as a bold, fearless, and even reckless horseman. Sir Luke's estates were scarcely ten miles apart from those of the Paulinson family, and consequently Sir Kichard Paulinson approved of Sir Luke's suit to his sister Adela, and thought that in every respect the match would be a suitable and advantageous one, 'Not so, however, the lady herself. Adela would have none of Sir Luke. It happened that amongst her many suitors there was a Mr. Everard Durncastle, a young son of a good old family, whose pedigree was longer than his banker's account, So it stands to reason that the young gentleman wasn't encouraged by Sir Kichard Paulinson. Mr. Everard was a slight, fair young man of about three-and-twer ty, and almost girlish in appearance ; but he seemed to please Miss Adela's taste better than the stern, dark Sir Luke—she was but twenty-one herself.

Well, it was the Winter of—let me see, I think it was' 29 ; anyway it was one of the twenties—and a great county ball was coming off at York. You may be sure it was pretty well talked of. Families didn't go up to London then for the season, as they do now. There were no railways then, and posting from Yorkshire to London was a serious business and a heavy expense. Young country ladies couldn't go up to town and be London belles, so they were content to stay'at home and be county belles. And Miss Adela, at the time I speak of, was the acknowledged belle of the county. I might have been about 32, and I was Miss Adela'3 own maid, for I was not then promoted to the post of housekeeper. I had been married about a year, and my husband had just been made second game-keeper-six years after wide.) he was head keeper. The ball, as I have said, was greatly talked about by all the young ladies of our county young enough and pretty enough to feel sure of partners. Those were days of great punctiliousness, and at all public balls there was a regular master of ceremonies to fix partners for everybody. People didn't find their own partners then, as they do now. A royal personage was to be present at this ball, and all the young ladies for thirty miles round York read Cinderella over and over again,' till they knew it by heart; and each and all of them no doubt, for days previous to the ball, dreamt of pumpkins, rats and mice, and little glass slippers.

At last the day came—and it was a bitter cold one, I remember. Miss Adela's dress was pink silk and pearls, and a real princess she looked, I canassnre you. The drive from here to York is about fifteen miles; but that didn't matter, as the carriage was to start with our own horses, and change for post-horses half way at a roadside inu, known as the 'Hendon Arms,' after Sir Luke's family. But on the. very morning of the ball day Sir Richard would not hear of his sister's going alone, and there was no other gentleman but himself at Manmngton Park to accompany her/ At last, however, after a great deal of coaxing on Miss Adela's part, it was settled that I should accompany her in the carriage to York, wait at an hotel there till the ball was concluded, and then we should sleep there; for beds had been engaged for Sir Richard and his sister at the ' Ebor Hotel.' You see, as Miss Adela said, this ball was such a grand affair she might not have such an opportunity again ; so Sir Richard gave way at last, and went with my young lady.

O dear! Odear! To think she never saw that ball, after all!

f . We were to start at six o'clock, the journey being so long, and at that time of the year it was dark at five o'clock. But Tomlin, the coachman, knew the way well, and was a steady man. Ths footman was a young man called Kemp, who had not been long in Sir Richard's service. My young lady was wrapped from head to foot in a costly cloak of sables, to protect her from the cold ; and, as of course she could not go all that distance bareheaded, her head was muffled in her fur hood. The pearls she was to wear in her hair I earned in her jewel-box, for she was to put on her ornaments in York, as we were going first to the rooms engaged at the hotel before proceeding to the Assembly Rooms. As I was not in evening dress, of course I did not require to be so much wrapped up as my young lady; but I wore a large cape of gray squirrel fur, which Miss Adela had lent Die, and a coarse straw bonnet and thick veil. Miss Adela was to meet her uncle and aunt and a large party at the Assembly -Rooms, so all was right and proper, and she would have a chaperone, as they call it, which, I believe means a married lady to look after young girls. &_The last thing Sir Richard said to me, after his sister had kissed him, and we were just going down to the carriage, was, Kaites, mind you bring me Miss Adela back by 5 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.' 1 was giving him his colchieum at the time, and he spoke so abrupt like, that he almost made me drop the glass. But I said '0, certainly, Sir Richard you shall be obeyed.' Little did I think where we should be next day at five o'clock. However, off we drove at last. As I have said, it was terribly cold, and the first seven miles of our journey I and my young lady, in spite of our furs, could net help shivering occasionally. However, we kept as close to each other tor warmth, as possible. At the end of about eight miles we arrived at the ■Hendon Arms,' where we were to leave Our own horses. The 'Hendon Arms' was a small roadside hostelry about a mile and a halt from the Hendon estate ; and Mr. - %«\

Everard Durncastle's family also lived about two miles farther on, on the other side of the inn.

I can't say I much liked the place, as tar as I could judge of it, as we drove up It was but dimly lighted with oil lamps, and it was situated just on the edge of a bleak moor, where three or four road.met. There were no houses nor buildings of any sort, as I afterwards learnt, nearer than Hendon House, which was from a mile and a half to two miles further on But the ' Hendon Arms' did a fair trade, as it lay at the junction of several roads, one of which led direct to York.' The house was a long, low, red-tiled building, with a wooden horse-trough beforethe door, for the accommodation of the York coaches, which passed by at intervals ; and there were benches underneath some scrubby-looking bushes, which I suppose were used in Summer time bj peddlars, shepherds and such like persons, whilst drinking their draughts of ale.' ' Of course we were expected, and the landlord —I remember his name was Dummet —came to the carriage door to see if my young lady would alight and warm herself whilst the horse were being changed.

' No,' she said ; ' why should I do that P It will only take a few minutes.'

• Just as you like, madam,' said Dumm.et, ' But Ihave a really nice parlour, well warmed, and I thought you nrght like to sit there whilst your servants took some refreshments.'

I felt my young lady shiver, and I said that I really thought it would be well to warm herself and take perhaps half a glass of wine and water. I don't think she would have aligted on her own account but she was always considerate for her servants, and when I reminded her that there was a long, cold drive still to come for the coachman and footman, she consented to enter the ' Hendon Arms ' for a quater of an hour.

pit must say the parlour surprised me. Though it was not large it was well furnished. There were sofas and mirrors and paintings and wax candles, and the floor was covered with a beautiful white carpet, flowered with crimson roses, aiiu felt like velvet under your feet ; a small round table was spread with oranges, comfits, cake and wine. We heard afterwrrdsthat this room was never used by the landlord or any of his customers, except Sir Luke Hendon and his friends. Sir Luke, it appeared, was in the habit of spending some of his evenings here pluying at cards or dice with a few of the neighbouring squires. When I say ' neighbouring,' 1 mean within a circuit of a dozen miles. A sort of club was in fact held here by these gentlemen ; and you must bear in mind that forty years ago gentlemen were not nearly so fastidious in their tastes and habits as they are now On the evening of the York ball, this room had been specially prepared for nij young lady by Sir Luke's order, who knew that her carriage would change horses here on its way to York.

I could see that my young lady was as much surprised as I at the unexpected ap^r-arance of this Aladdin's palace on a dreary Yorkshire moor. In fact, she was about to put some questions to the inn-keeper, when a side-door opened, and to our extreme astonishment in walked Sir Luke Hendon.

He walked toward us as airily as if we had been in some fashionable drawingroom. But the position was an awkward one, and Miss Adela received him very coldly, for was he not a rejected suitor ol hers ? Still, with her high breeding, she was polite, though frigidly so.

After an interchange of a few polite phrases, Sir Luke explained to my young lady that knowing she was to change horses at the ' Hendon Arms,' he had come across the country in order to ask to be permitted to escort her to York, he having accidentally learned from a friend of Sir Richard's sudden illness. I remember that, although this conduct would have been perfectly natural in an accepted lover, it struck me as being exceedingly strange on the part of a rejected one. But Sir Luke was not one who would readily take 'No;' and, woman-like, 1 admired him for it; and so, perhaps, in her heart did my young lady. She seemed a little confused and disturbed ; but she could not in common courtesy make any objection after Sir Luke had taken all this trouble upon her account. So, though with considerable reluctance, she assented.

Sir Luke was not in ball costnme, although he also was to be at the ball at the Assembly Booms. He informed us that he had sent his valet on with a dress suit to one of the York hotels, where he had hired rooms for the night. So it was all arranged, and my young lady was pursuaded to take a glass of wine and water spiced and a sponge cake. As for me, I don't mind saying that I had two glasses of wine, and a large helping of a beautifnl trifle covered with custard ; and I really don't think I ever enjoyed anything so much in my whole life. Sir Luke had retired for a few minutes, and at last he came back in a huge buff overcoat, which he said he had borrowed of the landlord, and announced that the carriage was ready. He handed us in, but he would not get in himself beside as, as he said he should only crush my lady's dress; and, besides, he would not press his company on her, as he knew it was distasteful to her ; so he got upon the box. It was so exceedingly dark that I could not see Tomlin. our coachman. But I knew young Kemp was all right behind, as I heard his voice saying ' Good night 'to the hostler. Kemp, I must remark, was a raw country lad, bred on the Paulinson estate; and although he had been but a very short time in Sir Richard's service, he was devoted to my young lady. Well we drove on, and warmed, as we were, by our rest and refreshment, the road did not seem so dreary and cold as before. My young mistress was very silent, and for my part I must confess that I actually fell asleep. We reckoned to arrive at York a little before nine. At last I was roused by a slight shake from Miss Adela.

'Raites,' she said, 'we must have missed our way !' And she took her watch from her bosom and showed me, by the faint light of a carriage taper that we had with us, that it was nearly ten o'clock.

Just at that moment we heard a very gentle tapping at the back of the carriage. I must tell you that in our old-fashioned carriage there was a small trap, through which any one inside the carriage could

communicate with the footman behind, in the same way that people riding now in Hansom cabs communicate with the driver. I got up on the seat, and raised the trap softly for I began to have a faint suspicion of something wrong. Young Kemp's face was so close to the open trap that it almost touched mine. * Mrs. Raites,' he whispered, in a frightened tone, { what can this mean ? We are three miles beyond York, and I have just discovered that Tomlin is Dot on the box. It is Sir Luke Hendon who is driving us.' I was petrified at tho lad's statement; but I always had a good share of what is called ' presence of mind ;' so I gently shut down the trap, and proceeded to relate what I had heard to my young lady She was greatly startled at first; but, after a few moments pause, she said, 'The only thing to be dono is to speak to Sir Luke at once.' She spoke without hesitation ; yet I could tell by the trembling of h^r hand that she was much agitated. As for me, I guessed at once that it was a plot of Sir Luke's to run away with Miss Paulinson. It was a hanging matter, however those days, and I trusted to frighten him ; so I put my head out of the window and screamed out, ' Sir Luke ! Sir Luke ! my young lady desires to speak with you !' 1 suppose that he knew an explanation must come sooner or later, for he pulled up the horses and descen .ed immediately. His face was hard, stern and determined, as he came to the carriage window; and I saw then what 1 had never seen before, the villanous nature of the man peeping out through tho mask of outward courtesy, beneath which he had hitherto veiled it.

Miss Paulinson asked, in as steady a voice as she could command, what was the meaning of this extraordinary proceeding. ' And where is Tomlin?' she added.

' Tomlin is at the Hendon Arms, sound asleep,' said Sir Luke ; ' and the meaning of this proceeding is that I am taking you to Scotland, there immediately to make you my wife.'

I really think to this day that the man could not have been perfectly sane ; for, as he pronounced these words, he pulled out a couple of pistols and showed us that they were primed and loaded. ' There is no one on this desolate road to hear you cry out.' Sir Luke said ; ' but when we come to inhabited districts, if you venture to cry out, there will be an end of you all three.'

Well, what could we do ? The lad Kemp was unarmed, and only 18 years old, and we were two poor defenceless women. YVc could not cope with an armed and desperate man. Sir Luke extracted from us all throe a promise to hold our tongues until we were over the border. My young mistress, who believed we had a madman to deal with, whispered to me not to excite him. So we gave the required promise. But I thought to myself that directly we wore over the border, no mortal man should keep my tongue between my teeth. Sir Luke grew calmer when we had given our words not to call out for assistance, and, when my young lady asked our destination, he said, quite culmly and coolly: ' We are first going to be married at Gretna Green.' And so we drove on, in what state of mind you may imagine. At any rate, we were not forbidden to speak to each other, and my young lady and I held a consultation in whispers. At last a brilliant idea occurred to me —for, having nothing to dread on my own account, I was by far the calmer of the two. ' Miss 4dela,' I said, ' have you your tablets with you ?' My young lady drew from her bosom a set of small ivory tablets suspended by a gold chain, which she usually carried with her, and which, I suppose, on this occasion she had intended to use for keeping a list of her partners at the ball. ' Here they are Baites,' she said. It may seem strange to you, my dears, but the greater the danger the stronger became my nerves. I believe it is sometimes so. Miss Adela was trembling like a leaf, and did just as I bid her. I made her write a few words to Mr. Durncastle. I believe they were as nearly as possible ' these: ' I am carried off to Gretna Green by force. Follow immediately!' My poor young mistress wrote them. Then I softly raised the trap and I spoke to young Kemp. I told him to drop gently to the ground, and carry the tablets across the country to Mr. Everard with all speed. He was a born Yorkshireman. and knew every inch of the country ; and, besides, as I have said, he was devoted to my young lady, so he needed no pressing. I watched him with great anexiety as he stealthily swung himself out of the rumble, for 1 feared the terrible consequence, if Sir Luke should hear him. But the snow broke his fall and deadened the sound, and I breathed again. On we bowled, and I was busy with my own thoughts, whilst my young lady sat with clasped hands, and never uttered a syllable. At daybreak we stopped to breakfast at a roadside inn, where the people were clearly in Sir Luke's pay, as they showed no sort of astonishment at my young lady's dress. She was supplied also with suitable travelling things, so it was evident Sir Luke had laid his plans well. For my part, I saw it was useless as yet to raise any alarm, and so did Miss Adela. There was nothing for it but to take things quietly aad be patient. Well, we travelled all that day and part of the next, and at dusk we reached Gretna Green. Here Sir Luke conducted us to a small cottage, where we were watched by some creatures of his ownin fact, kept close prisoners. Sir Luke, I suppose, had gone to make preparations for the marriage. I can't tell you how terribly long those few hours seemed ; my young lady sat in a sort of dull despair, heeding nothing that was said to her. I had almost lost hope, for I expected Sir Luke every moment, and I thought that by this time Mr. Everard ought to have appeared.What if anything had happened to young Kemp ? He might have lost his way in a snow-drift, and the message have Dever reached Mr. Durncastle. The idea was terrible. I shut my eyes and prayed as I never in my life prayed before. At last, we heard the sound of Sir Luke s voice, and my young lady shivered from head to foot. The dreaded moment had arrived. Sir Luke entered the room ot the cottage in which we were sitting, with a look of cool determination on his brow, and his lips firmly set together. Come Adela, was all he said, and he I

held out his arm. But she did not move, and I verily believe she had lost the power of moving.

At that moment I fancied that I heard the sound of wheels on the road, deadened certain'y by the snow, but .still I felt sure I heard them. My whole object was now to gain time. I said to Sir Luke, 'My young lady must not be hurried ;' and I proceeded to eke out the time by offering her a smelling bottle and other feminine conveniences for averting hysterics. At last Sir Luke would no more be trifled with; he seized my young lady rather roughly by the arm, and insisted on immediate compliance. He in fact dragged her on to her feet, but as he did so the sound of a loud altercation was audible in front of the cottage.

' I tell you there is no lady here,' I heard the woman who rented the hut say.

Quick as thought, and before Sir Luke could stop me, I forced open the door. ' There is — there is !' I screamed; and my eyes fell upon Mr. Everard Durncastle and young Kemp, who were standing outside expostulating with the virago who called herself mistress of the cottage.

* O, heaven be praised, Mr. Everard !' I exclaimed. ' You are just in time.'

' "W here is she ?' he cried. And I led him to my poor young lady, who bad fallen into a dead swoon.

Never can I forget Sir Luke Hendon's face as he glared at us. The veins of his temples stood out like cords, and his eyeballs were like coals of fire; a purple flush spread over his flountenance. He tried to speak, but words failed him; he gave a sort of husky snort, and, producing one of his pistols, took aim deliberately at Mr. Everard, but before he could pull the trigger he fell heavily forward, and the pistol exploding, the bullet passed harmlessly through the window.

Sir Luke Hendon, a victim to his own violent passions, had had a stroke of apoplexy. He never spoke again. I suppose you can guess the sequel. Sir Richard consented to his sister's marriage with Mr. Everard Duucastle, and for the sake of Sir Luke's family, his misdeeds were hushed up. Let us hope that the poor man was mad. Tomlin, the <;oachman, I must add, had been faithful, but had been drugged by Sir Luke.'