The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 48, 2 December 1867, Page 297

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

A TALE. OP ENGLAND & AUSTRALIA. By R. E. Lee, v ; Author of “A Tangled Skein.” wsitteh yon the hawse's bat ■weekly times. The right of translation is reserved hy the author. ■ '-**>-&&<=* — CHAPTER XXIV. “TAIT LE JETT.” M R OM the time of Philip’s abrupt ap"W P earance » Beecham Whitmore oT seemed to have lost aR his former coolness., HisnefariJ\ ’ A i "'i s by his brother’s reconciliation , j with Sir Bryan, an‘d he scarcely \ heededthe sensation caused by .Walters’ production of the document.

It may therefore be easily imagined that he was not likely to cut a very respectable figure in the family trio which occurred after Walters and the other visitors had left.

Philip’s nature was sufficiently noble to feel pained at his brother’s humiliation. He approached Beecham, saying, “ Let all be forgiven and forgotten'; you have been the unwitting cause of great benefit to me, and I freely acquit you of the evil you intended for the good which resulted from it.”

Beecham made no reply. He looked at his father, who took no notice of him; then with a muttered curse he left. the room, giving .vent to his rage when outside the door. As often happens with such natures as Beecham’s, the sudden downfall of his schemes had completely metamorphosed him. Hisdjjbplness and caution had vanished, and he rasufflLto his apartments apparently inspired with Ippe sudden resolution. Hastily turning over the drawers of a bureau, he packed a portmanteau, then putting a cheque book in his pocket, he went to the stables, saddled a horse himself, and rode off in the direction of the village, pulling up at the door of the Whitmore Arms.

The obsequious landlady, who did not know of Philip’s return, imagining Beecham to be heir to the estate, bustled about to welcome her visitor.

“ Don’t bother, woman,” said Beecham, impatiently, cutting short her civilities, “is Captain Wilmington staying here ? If so, shew me to. his room.”

Wilmington evidently did not expect him'so early. He was reclining in an arm-chair, smoking a cigar, with a thoughtful expression ou his features. As Beecham entered, he rose, and flung his cigar into the fireplace. For some few moments the two men eyed each other in silence; at length Wilmington, spoke. It was a peculiarity of his character .that in proportion to the fierceness of his anger,his tone was cool and passionless. “ No doubt, Mr Whitmore understands my motive for requesting this interview ? ” he said. Beecham had some suspicion of the truth; but, d termined to preserve a bold front, he replied, “ I was really at a loss to assign any reason for your request; and if you have any communication to make, I must beg you to he brief, as I am going to London at trace.”

A sudden idea struck Wilmington. “Be it so,” he rejoined, “ London will be a better place for an explanation; we will go together. No objections,” he added fiercely, seeing Beecham’s hesitation, “do not force me to the unpleasant alternative of compelling you.” Beecham’s physical courage was rather of the “Bob Acres” type; he quailed before Wilmington’s fury, and after some consideration, said, “ I do not see your object, but can.have no objection to accompany you,' since I had previously determined to go. When do we start?” “By the next train,” replied:: Wilmington, ringing the bell, which .was answered :by. his groom, who received, instructions to' prepare for the journey, and also a message to send by telegraph to Wilmington’s chambers. Tlie'‘train, shortly after ‘leaving the station, passed close, to the .grounds of Whitmore Chase, and Beecham turned his head to take a last look at the inheritance he had played for and lost. He saw his brother Philip-pointing out the beauties i of the landscape to a lady who leant upon his i arm.. ' t > -

-“Curse him!” he muttered, “his wife, no doubt; well, my hopes are at an end in that quarter.”' ■ Wilmington was watching him ' intently, and saw the look of baffled malice which crossed his features.'' : ' ' • • “ A noble: Inheritance, is it notP” said the former, sarcastically; “pity to lose it in; such a fashion. It must be hard for you to, have all your hopes destroyed at one fell swoop.” . ..Beecham-maintained a sullen silence. His scheming brain'was hard at work endeavouring to 'fathom Wilmington’s , intentions, but be had arrived at no satisfactory conclusion when the trsun entered the London: station. • :,;f

. “ Gome with me, said ; Wilmington, briefly, takingßeecham’s arm, and, beckoning a cab; dijrecting the man to drive to the Albany. - Beecham perceived.the object of Wilmington’s telegraphic;message when he, entered,the latter’s rooms. ; A number of gentlemen were assembled, who greeted Wilmington as he entered. “True ’to time’ old fellow,” said one, “you appointed nine, : and it ; wants some minutes to it yeti”'-'?"-* : ' M ; V. 'u Wilmington ; introduced, Beecham, who was more; astonished, than, ever ; to And. the Captain all at once treat him as a valued friend, v ; .. 1 “This, man is playing' a part,” he .soliloquised, V, what .is. his object P”,, \ . , j * Hdwas. d6pmed receive a fetal answer to his ''''' " . J somewhat uproarious; j he seemed to’beitrying, assumption ofhigh Bpirite;i’to’j encourage -.the:; bandinage which was] freely-carried on.? ‘ Beecham noticed once or twice thatWilriiington'endeavpured. to;put- anoflensive construction s upon ieiharksj but he hadj.been pmMd\by ; the; pthers;.ta - take drine'‘so.frequently, ushal : ih'a great' is J alow|;,-ivvote,we iakp .a turn as far %‘‘A§S^l. on^ihfrted'for the^pro*

-■ Ifc‘will be remembered in the’early part of;; our story, that Walters mentioned high play was carried on by Wilmington, and his associates at the rooms over Yeri’s, the perfumer’s, .in - St. Jamgs’s-street. It was, in fact, a private gam-, bling-house, opened only to a few of the “ select,” and their friends, i.e., pigeons whom the aristocratic; rooks considered worth plucking. Beecham, who had never before been in a place of the f kind, regarded with some attention the room and' the‘persons assembled. . ‘ Admittance was not'gained until several interrogations had been-made and replied to, at length he found hitniu a - large and handsomely furnished room, in which stood a billiard-table, though no persons were using it. at the time the party entered. ‘Wilmington walked towards the folding-doora at‘the end of the room and knocked. A head was immediately protruded, and after one or two questions the party were admitted.. “What’s up to-night, Redman?” inquired Wilmington of. a stout individual, whose military appearance was enhanced by a deep cicatrice ■ running the whole length of his nose, which was 1 of the genus “ bottle.” giving him a Bardolphiau ' appearance.

“ Nice little match for a ‘ thou.,’ between Bradshaw and Trevelyan,” replied Redman, “ Trevelyan is getting his revenge; Bradshaw won three thousand of him the other night.” Wilmington and his friends, including Beecham, approached the table. The interesting game of chicken haeard, at which a baronet of some celebrity in present political circles is understood to have lost large sums, is peculiarly adapted for the speedy dissipation of a “pigeon’s” fortune, especially if, as in the present case, his antagonist is one who believes the only disgrace in cheating to consist in being found out. “ Let us have a bet,” exclaimed Wilmington, abruptly, to Beecham. “ Really,” replied the latter, “ I never bet—that is”—

“ I bet you ten to one in <e fives ” on Trevelyan,” said Wilmington, with the menacing look with which he had regarded Beecham in" Westmorland. :

Several gathered round in astonishment, as well they might, the odds against an. inexperienced player like Trevelyan being quite as much'as Wilmington laid on him. As might have been expected, Wilmington lost his wager. He coolly produced his cheque book, and beckoning Beecham to a side table, filled in a cheque and handed it to him. Beecham hesitated in accepting it, saying something about Trevelyan’s inferior play, when to his astonishment, Wilmington uttered furiously, “ You lie, Sir,” and struck, him a blow, which prostrated, him; his head, falling against the corner of the table, was severely cut, and bled profusely. A crowd immediately .gathered round. “ What is this ? ” exclaimed the Hon. Percy Snookville, approaching Wilmington. Beecham rose from' the floor, panting with rage; all considerations of prudence were banished. “ You shall answer for this, Sir,” he ejaculated, hoarsely. T- “'Pooh, pooh!” replied Snookville; “thething is ridiculous; duels in these days—rabsurd. ..Wilmington will apologise, of course.” ' “ I beg your pardon, I shall do nothing of the sort,” repned Wilmington, “it was a- premeditated insult, ahd can be come to.”

Further argument was cut. short by Beecham’s removal. The altercation had produced such an effect upon his natural cowardice that he swooned, and was conveyed to a sleeping apartment. “ Look after him, Morris,” said Wilmington to his quondam acquaintance of Hyde Park, “I have a reckoning with him which cannot be long delayed.” (To be continued.) ’ ■