The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 August 1867, Page 191

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

`ATALE OF ENGLAND & AUSTRALIA. By R. E. Lee, Author of “A Tangled Skein.” WBITXEH FOE THE HAWKE'S BAY WEEKLY TIMES. The right of translation is reserved by . the author . CHAPTER' n. * ; THE j FATAL. ;STEF. ; apartments in. Hyde. Park Gardens by Philip Whindore,presented in-their appearance anipdichtiqn.of-hig character. Though elegantly furnished, • it, L ‘.costly - ’articles' ; were ‘-‘scattered- about 'j. with a supreme contempt for., their .value or r the preservation of order. ’A" pair'of rniiddy boots hud left' their 'legible.impress; on/ a richly covered ottoman.; while a college “ pewter,” placed on-a valuable into its foreground t beery, circle.,.. Whips, spurs, boxing gloves’ and fencing foils, bore testimony to Whitmore’s taste for muscular Christianity ; while an easel aud palette, with several half finished studies, attested his mM. penchant for art. On the mantelpiece stood a letter-rack foil, of epistles, some of which were omininously indicative of the “dun.”’ "r;

The proprietor of this heterogenous collection was seated at breakfast with his friend LusCoinbe; Whitmore appeared thoughtful ; and his,companion, after several unsuccessful attempts to draw him into conversation, apparently gave np the idea in despair, and devoted his energies to a Strasbourg pate and pale ale, the latter of which he drank with great gusto,;and. a tacit signification of disgust for tea and coffee, which he classed under the generic name of “ slops.” “ Come, old fellow,” at length Luscombe said, pushing away his plate, and lighting a cigar, “ this is going too far. What is the matter ?. Has the governor cut np rough, or are those infernal duns at it again ? You look' as if you were going to have the yellow fever—- “ *Twas such a mug—so wan and woebegone— Drew Priam’s curtains in the-dead of night, And would have told him half his Troy—”

Pshaw,” interrupted Whitmore, with ah unsuccessful attempt’at a smile,* “ I suppose I have got a touch of the blues.” 1 . ■

“ Try some ‘ sparkling,’ my hoy,” his friend replied, “ that’s my recipe for ennui. I’ll tell you what we will do. Jack Rockford has asked me to. dine with him at the ‘ Star and Garter’ to-day. He will be glad to see you, and-we intend to have some fun when we return to. town,. ; By. the bye, did you hear of Rochford’s performance last ■night?” -

. “ No,” rejoined, Whitmore, “something eccentric, as usual, I suppose ?” ‘ • “Well, you .see,” Luscombe .replied, “it occurred in this way,.. Grey, who does the Opera for the ‘ Daily Crusher,’ called : at Rochford’s chambers on his road to the Hay market, and Burden and Moore happened to be there. ‘ Grey had a. box for the night, sp the'other fellows went with him. After Grey had sent in his erUiqite, they went to supper at Scott’s, and Rodiford got rather in nubibus; in fact, they were all pretty lull. Some dispute arose as' to who should pilfer the supper, and. Rochford proposed that aft four, should get, inside a. four wheeler, tell the cabby to drive on, close'the windows, and smoke away like Mount Etna; the first man openiug the window for air to pay for the supper and cab.” . “ A pleasant, ‘arrangementsaid Whitmore, drily. “Wasn’t it a grand idea?” continued Luscombe, unsuspectingly., “Well, they went, ahead until passing the cab-stand opposite Devonshire House, when Moore was obliged to ghe in; ,he put his fist through the window. The cabby opened the door, and found the other three'insensible ; but a few buckets of water. brought them round, and Moore had to stump up. He told' me that lie would not try it again at any price.” , “ I should imagine not,” replied Whitmore, “ no one but Rochford would have thought of such a thing.”,. , , • • - A servant entered with a letter, which he gave to Whitmore, who opened and read it. As he did so, Luscombe observed him change countenance. “ I shall not be able to go with you to Richmond,” said -Whitmore, when he had finished perusing the note. “I must leave town for a few days.’ j.i 1 . ;

“No bad news, I hope,” his friend observed. “ Not exactly-that,” was .the reply, “ but a business matter., to which I mustattendimmediately.” “In that case I will be off,” said Luscombe, rising, “I must be at the Academy at two. Of course yon will call on me when you-return ?” “ CertainlyWhitmore replied; and Luscombe left the room. ,i : - . “ This .settles the matter!” Whitmore muttered, when alone, re-opening.the letter he had received. “I suppose that meddling brother of mine has found some clue, and has been hinting his suspicions.” ' | ... ■' The letter was from his father , and'ran thus:—

“My dear Philip,—l am sorry io say that 1 have received had accounts of-your proceedings in London, which are confirmed hy intelligence from my bankers,of the heavy ,sums .for; have lately drawn on me. Now,! make ho complaint respecting the'moneyyou -know fhat A preferred youto amuse yourself for a season in town instead of laboriously toiling at a;prol'ession- which, however honorable, is unsuited to a young man in your position.; >,,, v

“As 1 have been thus indulgent to you, I expect something from 'you iu return. .You express a dislike to the idea of entering the Guards, and even in that matter ! I will give way to your wishes, bn one condition. I feel myself gradually becoming worse; and thoughy our .brother is: very attentive to,me,.and remarkably steady, it is to see my elder son—the inheritor bf my titl?and estates—take his acknowledged position in the county before I is' my' proposition.. Return and fulfil the mutual wish of General Robartfes’ find myself' by marrying Miss .Robartes.. 1 remember you-ad-mired-the young lady‘when you werb’down here last year; 1 have reason, to know that Miss Eobaxte’s consent will not -be' very 1 diificult to gain ,; and the acquisition.of the. General’s estates will' nafike you the first man in the' .cbnnty.-' ; - You can enter, Parliament, and with, the influence you wlll'ebhimand may attaina-high portion. .‘•■l am anxious for you to adopt this course, not only for your own'sake; hut oh 'yfiur brother’s account. ' In,his future profession,, the, law, r your influence" wifi he of great advantage to'hiin - ’since although are- not entailed. I consider they should remain undivided, 'lo,support in proper dignity the hei.d of ;the;family,;, and I.shall therefore be able to leave 'Beecham but a very small sum. -I trust,. therefore,, that -you will 1 answer, this letter iu person ; and 'by t compmng wttbiny wish,.benefit yourselft and gratify what is,probably the last request! may make.’’ '" ~

Whitmore gazed at the letter-' for some moments. “It Ms true,”'ihe said, abstractedly, “ Miss Robartes is a pretty girl,.and such,a marriage .would, double, my future. income.;. but thqn—” ' • • ' Ah \ “ but then /”.. Had, lie possessed, sufficient rssplution to - ‘obey 'his father’s 'request,- what hay" crime might have been avoided. To him; might nave beenhpplidd with peculiar fitness th&words, “Unstable os water, thou shalt not . will see Ellen”, atlengtli he said, “and let how lam situated ; her good sense will shew her that our; separation .is, .unavoidable. It would not be, right to- leave London without' explaining to her the position of - affairs.’-’' After some forther deliberation he wrote a note and gave it to his servant, directing the man to take it to the “ Cromwell’s Head,” and .watch for an opportunity of delivering it to Miss Needham privately. ; > The man was absent some hours, and Whitmore paced the room in deep thought until his return. “ Well,” he impatiently exclaimed,'as his messenger entered the room, “did you see Miss Needham P” ' ' ■ ■

“ I did,” was the reply, “ and she said she couldn’t write an answer, but would be there.” A short time afterwards Whitmore-left the house.

The note which he bad sent 1 to Ellen contained the following words— * ,-, ... “ Since I last saw you something .has occurred which renders it Imperatively necessary for me to have some conversation with you. I will he at the cottage of your old friend, Mrs Argent, ou Sunday afternoon; do not fail to come, as it is a very important matter.” ’ '

The two days preceding the one on which the appointment was made were passed by WMtmore in a miserable' state of indecision. He tried to persuade hiiriself that he merely'wished to' see Ellen, in order to explain his position to her, and tp part as friends; but if he had examined his own heart more closely he would have discovered there a lingering hesitation which might at any moment hurry lnm into a different course. . In this frame of mind he found himself at the place of appointment. Mrs Argent had attended Mrs Needham at the-time of Ellen’s birth, and was the only friend of her t own sex to whom the poor girl could look for counsel. It was unfortunate for Ellen that Mrs Argent was likely to prove an ally of Whitmore’s "“in the present instance. Though well-meaning, the old lady; entertained the common idea of tlie lower class, that it was a “great catch” for a friendless girl to marry a rich man ; and hence she used all. her influence to persuade Ellen that she ought at onCe to “ clinch' the matter,” as she expressed it. She was dilating upon her yonng friend’s good qualities to Whitmore, when the .door opened,' and Ellen entered the room. At the sight of her beautiful face till her lover’s prudent resolutions immediately vanished. , “ You can remain, if you please, Mrs Argent,” said Whitmore, as the old lady rose to leave the room. “Ellen may probably, need your,advice, and I wish her to weigh well what I have to propose.” He took Ellen’s hand, and walked with her to the window. A long conversation ensued between Ellen and her, lover, the latter, appearing to be urging some "request to which she dissented. At length Wnitmore said earnestly,’ “ I cannot see why yon still refuse. lam certain my father will forgive me when he knows I ani positively married; whereas if I return to Westmorland single, he will find some way of forcing this match upon me.” ’ : v “ Force 1” exclaimed Ellen, in a tone of surprise; “is that a word for a man to' use?”

Whitnipre appeared confused. “ The truth is,” he replied, “ that I shall be constantly badgered and baited until I consent to what he desires ; or exasperate him by refusing. You say it is only on my aecoiiut that you hesitate; 'but surely you must perceive the truth of what-1 tell you.” “ If you really believe that it is for" your own happiness, I will; make no farther. objections returned Ellen, “ but I entreat you, to consider well ere you take the irrevocable step. You kno w your father’s disposition, and are the best judge of tlie prudence of such a measure.” : “ Have no fears 1 upon that score,” replied Whitmore. “He may fume a little at first, but he cannot see you and remain long- angry. What is your opinion, Mrs Argent ?” < Thus appealed to, the old lady, as Whitmore expected, gave her strorig.support to an immediate marriage; and,after spme. hesitation, and many tears, Ellen at length'gave si'reluctant consent. In the parish church,; a few days afterwards, with the clerk, pew-opener, and Mrs Argent as witnesses, was solemnised the marriage' between Ellen Needham and Philip Whitmore, contracted by the latter in passion and disobedience, and fraught with terrible consequences to both.