The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 515, 7 October 1867, Page 1

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

A .TALE OF ENGLAND k AUSTRALIA. I I>T 11. K. Lmji, Author of “ A Tangled Skein.” VnUTTK* rOl TU Ufttt’a »AI Wi.EKXT ximis. The right of translation m reserved by ike author. 'V CHAPTER XVII. b » c ov»T." ** SK, BOUT a week after Warren's depar W tare, Grabbe was greatly astonished at receiving a telegram from Beecliam S/\'\ Whitmore, requesting his immediate ? v presence at the Chase, and directing him ld to bring his clerk witli him. The attorney >'V at once started for Westmorland, accom- { ) panted by Walters; occupying himself during the journey with surmises concerning Beecham’s probable object in summoning him. He fancied the message had something to do with the disposal of the property, and he was not far wrong in his conjecture. Sir Bryan Whitmore’s health tiad gradually declined; and as the time rolled on his animosity to Philip decreased, aud he secretly hoped to receive from him some overtures towards a reconciliation. At length he asked Beecliam what had become of the young man ; and that astute individual was alarmed at the question. He promised to institute inquiries; though his only .reason fur making the promise was to gain time jfor reflection; and after some deliberation lie resolved to acquaint his father with Philip’s supposed death. Sir Bryan was greatly distressed at the intelligence, which he implicitly believed ; ami Beecliam conducted himself with such discretion in the matter that Sir Bryan, shattered both iu !mind and body, gradually accepted his remaining json as the future representative of the family and i possessor of the estates. Beecliam was anxious [for his father to make his will while in this mood, [not that he doubted the fact of Philip’s death, but he feared a diversion of the properly, iu the event; of Sir Bryan discovering his share iu Philp’si exile, lie cautiously sounded his father, whose reply proved favorable ; indeed he directed Beecliam to send for a lawyer to draft the will, ! which he lost no lime in doing. | Beecliam communicated these facts to Grabhe, and having thus enlightened him as to what was required, introduced him to Sir Bryan, who was so much worse as to be unable to leave lushed. It was evident to the attorney that the old man was rapidly sinking ; it cost him a great effort to give Grabbe the requisite directions. By the teuour of the will, Beecliam was made sole legatee ; but Sir Bryan refused to sign the document until his old friend General llobartes could be present. This necessitated a delay of a lew days, which Beecliam endured with ill-repressed impatieuc*; but iu accordance with his father's wish, he wrote to the General, explaining the baronet's desire. General llobartes lost no lime in complying with the request of his old friend ; the wiil was at length signed, and by Sir Bryan’s especial desire, taken charge of by the General.

Tne time occupied iu these arrangements rendered it necessary for the attorney ami his clerk to remain some days in lire neighbourhood, and T veil am accommodated them at Whitmore Cause. Walters found himself loeai-'d iu a room which was apparently used for storing discarded furniture, its contents being heterogenous collections of old cabinets, curiously carved presses, and antique escritoires, with which the little modem b.-dstead hastily placed for Walters contrasted strangely. These articles afforded great scope for Wallers’; prying propensities. He did not feel inclined to sleep, ami he amused himself by opening the drawers of the escritoires, and peering into the presses and cabinets. Nothing, however, reward'd his industry but a few scraps of old letters, too small to convey any meaning. Al length he arrived at the only one he. had not inspected, an eld cabinet, elaborately carved, which had apparently been consigned to the lumber-room on account of a broken door. Carelessly opening the urawer* one after the other, he found them to be empty, and closed them again. He found some diliiculty in shutting the last one, a small drawer above the broken door, and after several vain attempts, he drew it out to discover the impediment, when he found that the lock of the drawer was broken, and on a more minute inspection he found that the broken part was sticking across the slide, thus preventing the drawer from .shutting. Not wishing to betray his curiosity by leaving it open, he put in his arm to withdraw the piece of wood, and in closing he grasped something behind it, which had apparently fallen from the back part of the drawer in consequence of its broken condition. Hastily pulling it out he discovered it to be a packet, directed “ To my son, Bryan, to Ip opened after my death,” Walters did not hesitate to break the. seal, and found several letters, a miniature of a lady, and another document, the perusal of wnich produced on Walters’ countenance a mingled expression of surprise and delight.

“ Good,” he muttered, “ it seems that I am to get i'rotn oue discovery to another. I thought that the rummage of old Skinflint's safe had pro-' tluced a prize, bat now I have hit on something; which will make me independent of the old i scoundrel, if I work it properly.” | After carefully reading the letters, he pocketed! nis treasure trove with a satisfied smile, and sought! his pillow, where, if conscience is any gauge of: sound sleep, it is to be suspected his slumbers] Were itgiit, | jvt length Grabbe and his clerk returned to! London ; the former well satisfied with the result! of his journey, which he exhibited in sundry chuckles ; while his clerk, though equally satisfied, maintained his usual morose air. Grabbe received another visit from Wilmington after his return ; the Captain was becoming impatient ; the removal of Warren had not rendered las cousin more disposed to smile on his suit. The attorney listened to his complaint attentively. ” You cannot, expect a change at once,” he said, when Wilmington had concluded, “ there is oue way to bring about what you wish.” “ And that is,” — inquired Wilmington. '■ Warren’s silence,” was the reply. “ There is | a rather a strong line by some poet respecting ; a | woman scorned,’ vnth which you are no doubt familiar. If she receives no intelligence from him jas time rolls on, she will begin to doubt; and a 1 wonders, if once her pride is aroused.”

“ But who is to make these remarks ?” inquired Wilmington.

“ Have you enough influence with your uncle to procure a situation in his establishment for the daughter of a deceased veteran P” asked Grabbe, with a cunning smile. “ I see,” replied Wilmington. “ Yes, 1 could do so, but my uncle would make strict enquiry, and that would defeat your project.” “ N„t at a!! ” returned the attorney, “the girl the d-itg f “ht€r of r.p old soldier *. it is too long a story to tell you how I became acquainted with her, suffice it to say that if you could place her in the house our object would be accomplished. Her name is Jane Dwyer. You may mention it to your uncle ; it wiil look more respectable if the General should call to satisfy himself. Here is the address,” and he handed a card to Wilmington, who took it and left the office Grabbe appeared to be working his puppets greatly to his own satisfaction. (To be continued.) [During the sittings of the Provincial Council, the proceedings of which demand to large a proportion of the space at our command, we shall be reluctantly compelled to somewhat curtail that which we usually devote to the “ Secret of Whitmore Chase.”— Ed. U.B.T.]