The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 49, 9 December 1867, Page 303

The Secret of Whitmore Chase.

A. TALE OF ENGLAND & AUSTRALIA.. By R. E. Lee, ; ' Author of “A Tangled Skein.” ’ -—; • ■ q WKITTKK POE THE HAWKE’S HAT WEBKIT TIMES. I ' . 11 The right of'translation is [reserved hy the:author. ® • ' ■ . ■ . .. .. V CHATTER XXW.-— Continued. > v f V .Wilmington left the gaming-house mid returned f to,his Chambers' in the Albany. .He threw him- 5 ‘self iiito a chair, and. reflected on the scene which liadjjust occurred; , \ - . o '. y‘‘lif the fellow is anything of a man,” he solilo-1 ouised, ”he must notice such a public insult!; r ■' Tidon’t think he is overburdened with cou- a .rage.”-.. . ... -,v r. ’ • •.• , . As he anticipated, several of the men who had ] .been present; at .the jiracflff dropped anxious to * know the reaton of the assault; but Wilmington I . evaded their inquiries, and succeeded in getting rid J -of .all,'with the exception of one, whom he sig- e nailed to remain. . • e : ' “Look here, Vaughan,” he said, “I did .not t liwishtb explain before all those fdtows, : ,bat ;this 1 matter can have only, one termination,an<l as I e -shallwant your assistance, it is cmly right to ex- , plain”-— 7— • .. . '„■ X ;:■,-!.!• /y ■" i ; .i _“ L fo know that some -y'cpravmds; t of Yaiagbiia; “if ■ thereisahythihg'bfaprivatenature”-^—- ’ * • liasbeen interfering; in Ay ’ family affairs,’ quite 1 ; . snfficdenlly-to provoke-the i butaa I-didnot Wishtliename of a irala- i tive'- pf:<inine, !be named; onthe-occasion,' I! r .adoptedihismodßofbringing abontthemeetmg;! ':. .-•■ ‘yjr;,;'■. “ But my have ybu cohsiteredP” : : the days of. Chalk Earin are, renderyourselfridiculous. . Ten to one Whitmoreitakes ja -pecuniaryeviewiof ; y<the aLftoiSandiMgß^;!!abtlbn;agaiii^»y6u??rr^ r “ Theymanagethefle thingsbetterl in¥.‘Trance' ” ■ WiMingtomy If t he hjas'tKeHpirit-bfa.cnf.he - “ T

rienced,' rendered'&h utterly incapable ofvolition. By. the direction of the was removed to: a,bed-room, where he remained’aU.night. in mi unenviable.state of His curs^',indiscriminately v on. his relatives, Wilmington, Grabbe, and afl with whom he bad been concerned. . Morniiig dawnbdi and still; he - reclined on the bed ; somewhat'cooler. The leading-'thought ' in his mind was revenge on Wilmington; but unscrui pulously as he would have adopted any, feasible scheme, none such presented itself . •’ ; . ; Waughan was in his surmisethe idea of a duel, , though it presented itself to Beecham’s mind, was not entertained by. him for an! instant; He knew that he could not face bis quondam associates a disgraced man, and determined to start for the. Continent, where he resolved to. remain, entertaming a- lingering hope that his: brother would make some provision for the future. iHaving come to this determinatien, he rose and left the house,-, took the train, and in a few hours was «n his way to Paris. “I say, old fellow, I was right, you see,” exclaimed Vaughan, entering Wilmington’s chambers the same evening. “In what manner?” asked the latter.

“Simply that your bird has flown,” returned Vaughan, “ Morris saw him start in the steamer for Paris this morning.” ’ “Confusion!” exclaimed Wilmington, “I will track him wherever he goes! ” - _ Vaughan shrugged his shoulders. “ I doubt your ability to provoke him to an encounter,” he said. *lf he 1 prefers being posted here, where he is known, he is not likely to care about the opinion strangers may form, of him.”

“I will try it,” said V7ilmington; “I have nothing to keep me here now, ana I will devote my time to hunting him out of society, if I can do nothing else.” ' “It is likely to produce some fun,” said Vaughan, “ I don’t care if I go with you to Paris; London is awfully slow at present.” I will just call on my uncle and settle some business matters, as I may not Teturn,” said Wilmington, “I suppose you can start soon? ” “ Perfectly ready,” replied Vaughan, a bachelor’s portmanteau is soon packed.” “Very well, I will meet you at Long’s in two hours,” said Wilmington, and calling a cab, he drove to General.Robartes’house.

| General Robartes had that morning received a letter from Warren, relating the events that had lately occurred at Whitmore Chase; and he was meditating on the strange incidents related in it when his nephew entered. The General saw in a moment that something was amiss, but his nephew did not wait to be interrogated ; he said, “I have come to bid you farewell, sir; lam about to start for Paris, and have no idea at present of returning to England for some years, if at all.” General Robartes imagined that he understood the canse of this sudden determination; he believed it to be in consequence of Warren’s return. He therefore did: not endeavor to dissuade Wilmington; on the contrary, he encouraged him in his intention. »

“If you Want any money, my dear boy,” he said, “draw upon me. In a few months you will be entitled to your fortune; until then use me as your banker.” ... ■Wilmington took a hasty farewell of his uncle and started for Long’s, where he found Vaughan, ready prepared for the journey. When they, reached Paris, Wilmington made various enquiries concerning Beecham, but for some days could obtain no information. At length he traced him. to the Qnarticr Latin, where he had probably gone on account of the chance that in that haunt of students and other “ loose fish,” no notice would be taken of him.

Beecham bad,- in feet, been actuated by a desire to find some retreat where, unknown and unmolested, he might- meditate on his future plans. He entertained a.profonnd dread of Wilmington, and after some consideration determined to retire to

the south of France, where he might remain, until Wilmington’s ire had evaporated. . He was seated in his room early one morning, watching throngh the open door the froUeur engaged in his daily task, when he heard a step on fhe stairs which he recognized, and cowered as Wilmington entered the room. —s_ (To be concluded.)