The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 September 1867, Page 233

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

.■A. TAIE OEi-EN^l>^»!j&-AI7SmAIJA. i?\: j/! BtsU‘E;.Lee, i, ( ‘Author 1 * of “'A'_ Taniglcd Skeiri;” ’- v \ WHITTEN J r<>E THE' : HAWKE’S BAT WEEKLY Tnrijs. " • ' .--V a ■■ . .. of translation's reserved by the author.

X. ’■■■'" CHAPTER XV].' " •■' :j "''/' : \ :: A. ’ “ CLEANING the ’.course.’^ friendship existirig-betiveen General jKohartes nnd HerbertlTKarren, 'though all; $537 -ai '’®ry.sincere one, was limited to the frequent yj tits,of,the■ latter, ; to; 3?ark; "V v 5 fLane.. .The .General hnd often endeavored Wfotq obtain his youhg'friend’s consent to.some' jl v tangible-proof of las gratiCdde"; fout^Varren’s \ independent spirit.presetted an insurmountable; the, realization of .General Robartes’ and he, abandoned his design in despair. The opinion which - Grabbe, ;i&d expressed .‘to Beecliaiii "Whitmore was a'correct,’ one. "Warren did love; Miss RobaTtes, - though ! he was scarcely conscious of it'; 'in 1 fact, he shrank- from any idea of analysing his own feelings on the. 1 subject; So long as ho -favoredrrival appeared ; in • the field, he was: contented with.tlje present, the tune- passing with,him drearaily.yet pleasantly,' yery.mijcli’.in the style of Tennysdn’sj‘‘lj6.to's-Eaters.”,’ It needed a stirring interruption' to" Break the spell, . and arouse 'h’im' to' the,. .Ml ’ consciousness 'or the fact that' he, a comparative 1 beggaV, dared to aspire so'high. •• •• . -i :■ ; A few- days after : Grabbe’s return to ‘London Warren received; a! note}, desiring him to call at Thayies Inn next morning.; , ; Though.surprised, at thfo communication'from a stranger, Warren attended as 'requested, and having given his.name,"was .shown by into the private room, where' Grabbe was seated'alone. “ “Takeateat; Mr Warren, 1 ” ‘said the'attorney. “No doiibvydii were surprised at receiving mv letter, but I think I shall increase your i astonishment before our! interview, is over. :■ Your.name, I believe, .is. Herbert .Warren?”^ The young man replied in the affirmative, and Grabbe continued.: “ Lam about toJask you some questions concerning your family, and I wish you distinctly to understand,my object in.doi'iig so; in fact,' I'may‘at once inform you that 1 1 belieVh you a'reeatifleatd a' considerable ahbotmt of money, which has remained tuiclaimed for many years, therefore I trust you will ‘be < an explicit as possible.” i.r r.- ‘ i. - . ,

.“I can tell -you, very little (respeefcingmy family,” replied Warren;, “I know that,my father- —” . ;“Was np^.,.fils, name. Gerald?”, interrupted Grabbe. j',',.', . ,■*'**'... \ 7.' ' “It.was,’’"Warren ahswefed.\‘ l “Re wds heaptain ’in a line regiinChf, and died ‘when 'my and myself'were childrenI—much 1 —much too yonngtor’e tain any recollection of him ;* though - my l mother possesses bis : portrait, ! and-many letters written bv 1

“ tTie^bifih,”'said Grabbe. ‘-Tlte letters, Ipresurhe. were written to your mother ?” “They were,” was the-reply. “I believe there are several officer# still in the. service, who can not only identify the writing, but who remember my father perfectly' well, tome’of tlieifi Having been present at his marriage; 'which' took place'at Malta” ■ -i.' - • -

■ ' Grabbe iheditated.fbr some time, and then said, “It is.curious how* frequently, accident furnishes us .with.the clue which ;we .liaye, been for. years vainly?,seeking. . I luive.long bqcn endeavoring,to trace you, .and liaye periodically, advertised in the newspapers ; yet I owe your discovery to ,an .accident,” \ 11 " ‘ ,t ‘ J ' ‘ u ",

’;''“'lt;i? vei-y,possible"that;you may h'ave" advertised 1 repeatedly;” replied Warren;' “ yet your non-succbss'is-'easily accounted for." - Until- a -recent period! resided; in ‘Germany, having been educated <at Nenwied, ,on . tjie. Rhine; and as my mother and sisters have scarcely any acquaintances, living vqry retired, and seldom seeing a newspaper, their, silence, is not extraordinary. As I have already.'iold you, I'know very little, indeed'almost nothing,‘/concerning oiir' family affairs,-, therefore the information I ani able to' give von is very meagre. "Perhaps I had better consult withmy mother before! we eriter upon! the matter.” - :'“ltds<not necessary,” replied .Grabbe. . “Ic is of mo momfiKt tp. state Roy I, have acquired, .the information ..which.l .possess,, suffice it that, I haveiraced the affair, 'step,by step, until, I .am certain.ypqj.are. tjie ladiyidiiad in ‘ question. Of course'this lias been'd' cdhsiderable to me, btit' I have’ n<i doubt we ShalTfnake sdni'e‘amicable

arrangement in l the event Of your 'obtaining this money through'nty instrumfentab ... - • ■ “ Niune yonr own terms, said Warren,- “.they must be* very,hard,ones indeed if Ido not, at ■ once consent, t.o them, when .but .for-you I might never have known, of the. matter.”. ... ~ of that presently,” returned the attorney. ” '“'Af present 1 must give you an outline of yoni‘positibn'as’legatee andto ; do sol mustrecount'to ybu ;: a part of yoiir'-'family history-with which I‘have become acquainted,- and concerning Which you are doubtless,! in -ignorance. Your grandfather, Robert Warren,,was, as yon are perhaps aware, a wealthy, city, merchant ?” .; Warren nodded,. and |Grabbe, k contjuued“ At the time of his son’s marriage, your grandfather contemplated' a wealthy alliance for him,' having in view the.heiress of' a'deceased 1 drybhltef." He whs therefore, 1 1 proportionately '-furious! when ' lie heard that your'father had married Miss ! Vincent, daughter ;of the major of tlie regiment in which lie served - Though the lady his son had .chosen was ini every, .respect but.puei superior, -to . .Miss Jaggcr, your‘father’s selection, the .old .gentleman deemed thati onequalificatiqn, money,paramount to all others, indeed he, considered its possession a' cdm'ppnsati'in for the absence __ of .j all' ! ’tliose wonianly' graces ‘ in which Miss dagger 1 was singnlarly deficient. When he fouhd himself foiled," therefore,' He wrote ,to your'father,- desiring him: -to discontinue; ail' correspondence and communication .with him. nToo' proud-to descend to entreaty, Captain Warren tpok him I at Ris wprdj, sold his,, commission, and invested the amount .yhicli tjie" sale’realized.in afirm death,' which" occurred four years afterwards,'.'a sum wliioh.when invested according to ; the ‘ directions contained-in his‘will;:produced ■ a. yearly income enabling; your mother,;' by; the exercise of gilat' ecodoinyV to giye'yb^. i ;sisterahd-’y6h.TSedf a g6bd;education. ' T ! tientibh ‘ this ,: to' show yob—thbugh l think the -Yepetitioh l necessary—-that-yomaredoublyi bound to .obtain - this, money, not only, onyour own account, hut: to;place,.your mothsrjuttL opiqfort^bleyosition.”,

“Show me how to- do_so, and I will gladly! strain every nerve to accomplish ( it,”- said Warren. “ Were it, to demand any Sacrifice on my part, it should be cheerfolly maae.” '. 1 * ' 1 “I am rejoiced'to hear 1 you - say* so,”- rejoined Grabbed “:as*l.fear there-is a little; trouble to be experienced, before, our. object is,achieved; i but to resume my_story’.; Your, grandfather' rigorously excluded Warrfh-frpm'liu will, ’ bequehithing liisprdpferty to His .cousin, Arthur Neill; bat hy tlie latter’s persuasion (Neill Steadily refusing tb accept the bequest) he subsequently- added a -codicil, 1 by. which, the’money w;as to-beequally divided between Neill’s eldest son: and. the .eldest son of Captain Warren, provision being made that.in the event, of Neill remaining single 'tlie'whole went to the other claimant, that is,, yourself. It was expressly 'enjoined ‘on- the' executors that the estate was to be divided in the presence of both -parties, in the event of there being two claimants, and as -it is all / invested' -in- securities, easily. to b.e, realized, there will be no, difficulty about that. Now cqm.es, the troublesopie.part of the matter, however. Shortly after the will yvas sighed Neil} left England to settle in .Australia. I believe he always entertained a hope that your grandfather Would-becdme reconciled-to"his son, and'cancel the-will-he 1 had made; and as liis .letters : to ; the ! -'old ' gentleman invariably urged this matter, • the-’,latter became, angry-and discontinued,-the..correspondence.-. That will, the codicil of. which was never- altered, is in the possession of, the lawyer who dr,ew it, aMr Haynes, .who. has retired,from the profession, and lives at Richmond. Haynes occupied these offices before I became theif tenant, and a copy of the codicil which I found among amass of old papers thrown aside, -first attracted my attehtiou'; and I hpve gradually fitted circumstance to'circumstance until I have obtained' the. information I have given you. -Your course,is therefore plain;-you- must endeavor to find this Neill,.previously satisfying.yourself that my. statement is correct, by an interview with Mr Haynes. ,1 imagine it, was by your grandfather’s directions that lie hasßetained the will; the executor’s names you must ’ascertain if possible from him.”

“It will-be necessary-for-me to make inquiries in Australia in. some manner, then,” said Warren, “ YlCt h-OW^r,

. : “ Why, not- go...yourself?” said Grabbe. , “No one vnU. work for you half,as well or. thoroughly, as-you will do. ; As to the expense', Half the fortune is yours at any. rate, and ‘if we come to an understand ing j' Iwilladvance you sufficient tp oomplete the enterprise,' as Neill -will no doubt be easily‘found,- and your absence, therefore, but a •brief one.”- ■.' *’• - • , :: Warren , remained .silent for some time ;. the idea of becoming independent had revealed tp him ,tlie true state of lii.s feelings towards Miss Robartes ; he felt that he loved her, yet tlie very steps' necessary to'b'e'taken ih ! order to wiii her would separate them for liionths, perlmps years'. Unable calmly to reason, lie - requested ■ Grabbe to allow-him'until-the next day to consider. ; The attorney assented,'-stipulating that the- matter should for the present- he. ponfined. to themselves] and Warren lmrried hpmeto,-Rayswater, to. think over,his course of proceeding, in this momentous epoch of his lifei, ‘ ' t ' ' I ‘"The result of''a night’s reflection confirmed Wiprren in his acceptance df .Grabhe’s'offer j . ! fn-j deed now that he perfectly understood the position iu-whicli he stood with respect to Miss he foresaw that in either case absence Avould; he necessary. Iu his;.present circumstances it was not likely that - General Robartes would consent to tlie marriage, and in that event Warren felt that lie could not remain inactive, and with nothing to hope for; he must seek, by exertion and change of scene, to forget his blighted hopes. On the other hand was a prospect of winning the prize he had sought; still all depended on the lady herself, and he determined to hazard the-momen-tous question without delay. -. i ~ With this object in view, he called upon Grabbe early next day, aud stated his intention of proceeding to Australia. Some time was occupied in yfr'ahging terms, which were at length concluded aiid Grabbe found himself secured against loss' in any case. If Warren succeeded in his object, the attorney would receive a munificent remuneration; -while in tlie event of any. unforeseen failure, the money Beecham would pay lor‘the removal.of his rival would cover.the amount Grabbe had advanced to Warren . . , The latter felt more reassured as to. his' chance of success when he received the cheque for the amount Grabbe had advanced. ' ‘

■ “ One thing more,”'said the attorney, “before you leave. . Of course it will be “necessary for you to inform, your relatives df-the object of your departure; but l= think, it .would be; advisable to confine .your- confidence to them for tl.e.piej.p.if, as.secresy is • best .until, you have some satisfactory statement to make. You could not explain the position,of affairs, to others' without, mentioning family matters wliich you,would hot care' to do, and any statement" without -suclv an explanation would make it appear that you were'oh. a wild-goose chase.”

Warren coloured. “The fact is,” he replied, “ that though I see the force of your observation, there is oue friend to, (whom I must decidedly communicate my intention.” Grabbe bit his lip ; .but after, a moment’s pause, said; “ Well; of course you kuow best- ; however, I .suppose-, after you. have done so, you will, start directly you. have seen Mr Haynes P” , “ Immediately,” replied, Warren. The friend qf .wliom-1 spqke,is,a gentleman to whose care I must entrust my mother ‘aiid sister during my absence, therefore you see it is imperatively necessary that I should inform him.” “Send me a line before y'oqstart,” said Grabbe, “and I'will come to see you off. ‘ I may he able to gather some informatiou before that time respecting Neill.” . ■■■.-. j •

" Warren promised'to do so, < and leaving Thavies Inn, hurried to Park Lahe; entering the General’s house witli feelir.gs very different , from those lip had formerly entertained when .visiting there. General 'Robartes', 1 was 'not 'at 'home; But his daughter was in the' drawing-room, i and received Warren with n cordial smile, which] however, greatly embarrassed him; for, contrary to his usual custom,’lie felt great difficulty 1 in' commencing a conversation,-breaking tlie'ice at length ivith that delightfully'novel topic, the*weather:

' If Miss Robartes saw 'his 'confusion; she^'cruelly made no effort to’ extricate him; and after ih dry response to l liis observation,: the young lady -rose and went to the piano, whither Warren followed, looking,-the picture of-indecision.,' Tlie expression on . Ms.. ; C9untenance proved .too much for Miss Rpbjustes’!; gravity, and she into, a peal of lauglitei;; ‘ ", ; Whatever jCiin .be. the matter with you, this jnorning ? she asked,, when hqr> merriment' had partially..subgiueik/, ,f Have, you seen' a ghost, or turned 1 that dolefiil ? ”, iU ■.■ ill .-'H .3 tj .

r WaVreh’ looked- 'Savage, “-I am'-in no mood for Before many days.l-leave England^- - , There ; was no laughter now. - “-Leave England l the young lady Wherefore ?” , ; Somewhat, reassured by her. agitation]. Warren replied, more confidently, “ Business of importance obliges me to proceed' at once to Australia, and the’duration-of my stay there is uncertain deed, 1 1 may,' perhaps, remain there • ” ■■ ■ and he regarded her- keenly as he perpetrated this stroke of.diplomacy! •

, “‘And ;yonr mother and sister,” inquired Miss Robartes, “ will you leave them ?. ” , . “I must.do so,” he replied, “and I hope to place them under your father’s care until my return. I have heard news which may effect a great chafige in oar fortunes.”

“My father will be sorry to lose you,” said Miss Robartes, after an awkward silence; “.he has grown .'so accustomed to your society that lie will, sadly miss you.” “‘And yonrself,” said Warren, taking her hand, trad, endeavoring to. read his fate in ,her eyes, “ Hear me, Agnes,—'may I call you so ?! I, love you deeply, devotedly, but tlie difference in our social positions has hitherto prevented me from owning, even to myself, the strength of niy- affection.- : Now, however, I can speak without being suspected of mercenary motives. lam entitled to a considerable amount of money by my grandfather’s will, but it is necessary that I should trace my co 7 legatee before I can receive it. Dare I hope that you will consent to give it value in my eyes' by sharing it with me—by becoming mine ?”

Had Warren witnessed the coolness with which Miss Robartes had received the proposals of. liis rivals, he might have gained confidence from her confusion in the present, instance.; but .without this, knowledge, lie was too much-.in love, not to interpret her emotion. .Indeed, in spite of the ingenious rules of procedure in cases, of the’tender passion, laid down by the celebrated “ Parliament of Love,” held at the court of the Provencal Xhig, lii-ne, the decision of that august assembly never found much favour “in practice. Popping the question is very like taking a sensation “ header,” you • plunge in without calculating the consequences, and he who "succeeds in the rash proceeding, why “ happy man be his,dole.” . General Robartes was not a man easily astonished, but it must be confessed that he was considerably startled when he suddenly entered the drawing-room, and saw his'daughter seated beside Warren, who still retained 1 her hand, while lie discoursed “ sweet music,” which doubtless deserves its name when spoken, bat, —runlike some statesmen’s speeches,—is not improved by printing. Miss [Robartes escaped, from the room .directly her father behind the latter stood Wilmington, his face.presenting,a beautiful "index of conflicting passions struggling for' the mastery. Warren returned his rival’s gaze defiantly] he feared .nothing at that moment. • : “Ifear I am de trap” said Wilmington,isneeringly; addressing his uncle.” , No doubt, -you -vqislx ■to have an explanation of the. scene we .witnessed;” aud the Captain.left the room. • ,1 “ Now, sir, what is the meaning,of this ? Have I been mistaken in you ? ” inquired General Robartes, when they were alone. • 1 Confidence in his altered position enabled Warren to. bear the General’s burst iof,aager uuflinchrapidly narrated the facts of the, case, and' boddlyitsked General Robartes’ consent to-his engagement.:. % . , The General could not but admire Warrdn’s candour; and though tlie downfall of liis hopes respecting his nephew was a great blow to him, he remained true 1 to his purpose of allowing his daughter to choose for herself.: -

“ Were you the only one concerned,” he said, “I would say, do not leave England, bat your mother and sister must'he-'corisidered.' Go to them at once, and bring them here ; Agnes will be glad of their society, aud when'you return, if yon are both 1 of . the same mind, : I will not object.” Clearly Grabbe’sddea of “ clearing the course ” was

(To be continued.J -