The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 513, 30 September 1867, Page 1

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

A. TALK OK KNiiLAND k AUSTRALIA. Br R. E. Lee, Author of “A Tangled Skein.’’"' WKITTEK ron THE HAWKE'S BAT WEEKLY TIMES. The right of translation is reserved by the author. CHAPTER XVI. vA WAEREN stasis on hi* mission. ARREN had some difficulty in recoafemaJe relatives to his projected journey ; they thought less of the promised wealth than of the approaching separation; and it was not f j until he had explained to them his enQ ? ' gagement to Miss Robartes that they i ' reluctantly yielded. His mother had been jan invalid for years; she had sacrificed everything for her children, and the same sense of duty at length led her to consent to the proposed arrangement. Miss Robartes received her guests with a cordial air which soon made them last friends, and when taking his leave, Warren had the satisfaction of knowing that he left behind the only beings dear to him united in their prayers for his safe and speedy return. The parting was at last over, and Warren took his way to Richmond, where the custodian of his grandfather’s will resided. Mr Haynes, the individual in question, occupied a snug villa, overlooking the Thames, which at this part presents none of those repulsive features which it assumes below Putney.

From his little experience of Lawyers, Warren was prepared to meet “ a thing of tape and parchment,” and was therefore agreeably surprised, upon sending in his card, at being shown into a room where a rosy-faced, pleasant-looking old gentleman was seated.

“Mr Warren, I believe?” said the latter, glancing at the card.

Warren bowed. “I have called in consequence of some information 1 have received respecting a will ”

The lawyer started, and scrutinized Warren intently.

“ Which I believe you hold,” continued the young man, “ and as I am one of the legatees, I am desirous of coming to some understanding on the matter. I have brought with me proofs of my identity,” and he laid a packet of papers on the table.

“ May I enquire from whom you obtained this information ?” asked Mr Hayuea, after carefully perusing the documents.

t “ I have no objection to inform you,” replied Warren, “ but before doing so I wish to know whether I am correct in my supposition.” Haynes remained sileut for some time ; at length he said, Xdo not know that X ought to answer your question ; what proof have X that you have not obtained these documents surreptitiously ?” Warren started up indignantly, and was* about to make some hasty reply, when the lawyer interposed : “ Come, eorae, keep your temper ; I don’t say that you hurt done so ; but I am bound to be cautious. I admit that the documents jou have produced are favorable to your statement, and I will concede the fact that i ih hold such a will; but before telling you more I must hear what you have to sav.”

Warren related what had transpired at his in-' terview with Grabbe ; and stated his intention of proceeding to Australia in search of Neill. His air of truthfulness evidently made a favorable impression the attorney, who said: “I do not doubt the fact of your being the person you represent yourself to be ; and I think the determination I you have come to is a wise one under the circum-| 1 stances. As matters stand, however, I can do! ilittle to assist you, as I am ignorant of Mr Neill’s! address. Let me explain to you the exact manner in which I became possessed'of the will, and the conditions attached to it; you will then be able to bring the matter to a successful termination in the event of your being able to trace him. As you are already ware, your grandfather left his fortune, which amounted to forty thousand pounds, to be divided equally between Mr Neill’s eldest son and yourself; but he expressly stipulated that I was to retain the document until I received an application from one or both heirs. I have frequently endeavored to trace you, but in vain ; and I have been equally unfortunate in my inquiries respecting Neill, who appears to have left New South Wales suddenly after the death of his wife leaving no clue as to his destination. Should you succeed in your search it will be necessary for you to return with your co-legatee, or, in the event of his non-existence, with satisfactory proof as to your right to the whole amount. I have been less eager in ray inquiries from the fact that you are not entitled to inherit until you are twenty-one. and some time has yet to elapse before you attain that age, I believe ?”

“ Sixteen months,” replied Warren. Haynes made a rapid calculation with his pencil, and nodded. “ That is about the time I thought,”’ he said. “It was my intention when the proper time approached to have taken more vigorous steps. There is a provision in the codicil that either legatee may inherit his share on attaining the requisite age, which is fortunate for you, inasmuch as from what I have been able to gather, I believe Mr Neill did not marry for some, years after leaving England ; therefore his sons, if there are any, must be much younger than yourself. And now let me give yon a word of advice ; you are young aud inexperienced—do not trust too much to Grabbe. No doubt you imagine yourself indebted to him for the discovery ot your future pects, and in some manner you are, but I am much mistaken in him if he does net purpose to make a rich harvest out of the affair. Tell him that you have seen me; that I have confirmed his statement j and leave me to take any necessary step which your interest requires. I wish you success, and in the event of your stay being prolonged do not write to Grabbe for money; 1 will advance it. Yon may think this advice proceeds from professional jealousy; but I must tell you that Grabbe and his partner do not bear the best of characters, and I should not like yon to fall into their clutches.” Warren thanked the lawyer for his friendly speech, and hastened to Grabbe, to whom he gave a brief account of his interview with Haynes. The attorney was of course delighted at finding his statements corroborated; and went with Warren to secure a passage. •‘I suppose yon hive parted with your relatives,” asked Grabbe, after they had taken a cabin , in the Darlinghuret, which was to sail in two days from that tune.

" CeruoLiiv-/' remied "Warren. “ I thought itj belter not to have theni to see me off, although 1 should have liked it; my mother is in a very delicate state of health, and I imagined it better to get the separation over at once.” Grabbe chuckled as he saw the vessel being towed from the dock into the stream. He wrote to Beecham that night, detailing his proceedings in removing Warden ; but he concealed the fact of the legacy, and mads it appear that he had bribed the young mas to leave England. The rage of Captain Wilmington, when he heard that his uncle had sanctioned Miss Robartes’ engagement, may be imagined. Since his interview with Grabbe he had closely watched Warren, and found ample proof of the truth of the lawyer’s statements. Determined to bring the matter to some issue, he sought his uncle, and after plainly telling him of his own rejection, related what he termed Warren’s presumptuousness in aspiring to the hand of Miss Robartes.

The General was indignant, though not from the motive Wilmington supposed. True, the collapse of his Castle in the air respecting his daughter and the Captain grieved the old gentleman; but his principal feeling was anger at what he deemed Warren’s duplicity in the matter. He felt that the only course for an honourable man would have been to absent himself from the house, and frankly state his reasons for doing so; and although he did not attach such importance as Wilmington fancied to Warren’s comparative poverty, he could not be blind to the disparity in dhe relative positions of the lovers.

Wilmington left the house anticipating a stormy scene between the General and Warren ; he was therefore thunderstruck when he called on the former at his club, and received the news of the engagement.

“ Bear it like a man, Frank,” said General Robartes, grasping his nephew’s hand, “ you must know you had my good wishes in the matter ; but Agnes has chosen for herself, and I must say deserves credit for her choice. You must not cherish any ill-feeling towards Warren on account of this affair, promise me that.”

Thus addressed, Wilmington assumed an air of candour, and said, “ Were I to tell you that I do not feel the blow deeply, you would not credit me; but my first wish is for my cousin’s happiness ; and I can assure you I bear no ill-will to Warreu for his good fortune.” “ Spoken like a man ! ” said the General. “ And now let me, ask you a question.' I fancyyon have been rather w ild, lately; perhaps this matter has had something to do with it. However, if such is the case, I trust you will take rayadvice, and reflect upon your folly ere it is too late. You will before long be entitled to a good income ; and if you have got into the gripe of ’hose rascally money-lenders, give me a list of your liabilities, and I will put you straight.” Wilmington appeared confused. “ I will not [deny that I have been raising money r lately,” he | said, but I am not prepared at present to go into , the subject; my disappointment has rendered me j unfit for dry business matters. Perhaps in a few days I may feel more inclined to do so.” i “ Well, well,” replied the General, “I will not 'press you, now. Whenever you are ready, I shall | be happy to go over the items with you; but, j above all tilings, incur no fresh liabilities ; I wil. supply you with what money you may- require! I Do you intend to remain in London ? ” i “No;” replied Wilmington, moodily, “ I have lost the only attraction which bound me to it ; I shall apply for leave of absence from my regiment, and run over to Badeu.”

The General shook his head. “I sincerely trust you do not indulge in that fatal practice, gambling?” he said. Wilmington hastily replied in the negative. [“The fact is,” he replied, “I only thought of Baden as being the most likely place to get rid of my unpleasant thoughts ; I feel a want of some excitement to banisli reflection.”

“ A dangerous mood in which to approach the rovge-ef-mnr tables,” returned his uncle ; “ still, I trust your good sense will keep you from falling into the snare.”

ilmington left General llobarles, and hurried to Grabbe, who administered some consolation by informing him of Warren’s approaching departure, which the General had not mentioned. A long conversation ensued between Wilmington and the attorney ; the former’s chagrin at Warren’s success rendering him less reserved than formerly. He frankly owned the exact position of matters, and confessed his inability to devise a remedy, though he trusted to the attorney’s experience for assistance in the matter. Grabbe did not make any immediate answer ; a part of Wilmington’s intelligence had now occupied his mind, lie was very much annoyed to hear of the engagement existing between Miss llobartcs and Warren ; but with more calculation than Wllmingfon'possesscd, he trusted to the many changes time produces to find some means of breaking it. He pointed this out to W ilmington, and his specious reasoning rendered the laiter somewhat more hopeful of the result. “ It is of no nse mincing matters now, Grabbe,” he suddenly exclaimed, “ this marriage must not take place. You have undertaken to prevent it— I will double the promised sura if you keep your word.”

“It shall be done,” replied the attorney. “ Trust to me, I will find some way of breaking it off; ” and with this assurance from Grabbe, Wilmington took hisjeave. Grabbe was now in a position demanding the exercise of all his craft, great as it was. lie was for the moment undecided as to what course would redound to his greatest profit. To use an expressive sporting phrase, it remained to be seen “ with which horse he would declare to win.” (To he continued.)