THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 133, 22 February 1909, Page 3

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All Rights n«w»*i )

ity w mi iiuu chavhoV. ftuthor ol The Hlae^lfcirfc" "Beating the Whirlwind. Tl* Mmt »t the Lowdouns, Etc.

iwiit n.

'Tiwr* was no »»*«* »o a** lb* «•**- ti, w. A tall a»d regal girl, ol a hold, dar* »«*h* ol beauty that ♦*»* nvartv not Kagltab. «•* &** ih ™ irlitttnar f»a»t th* two «*«h l»»g<u<* ttn *t inimitable gracr. litamowtt IBfHtn<ml at her throat and in tin o.IMI maswe* of her ra*«»» hair: h<-r fVfttwrc* a iwrwct oval, wen- ol u. «n»«»y olive UttU She ignored ftaAbed her blael. e>e» at t'aroVw lor an instant, and dbaf»|Mf»rv«t with her ptrtwr in the thrwwfr. l»eai»«o4» h«e clouded. It *».* mn »re« seen*, that he «w »»» Me. and *«- *"•» c * r " w.'» Torrwß*. who lor *>>r a l >'*'Oi* had .rt-f*idj»tt In London with Mr atmt. the wwe of *» K»atli»htuttn »»* ww«Hh and |)«*it>o». And it was* e»|i»ll>- wHI known, frhai*. th«t Spanish tfirl h*d n»«nlh» a&> hwt «*•»* henrt to or* who wa» indMKerent t»» that c<wrt» , d >•*«■!. ""fa*.*!* i* no woman in the world to co»»p»r« wilh her." iaid Ks»nw>n«». sadly. S»he i» beautMvl. 1 admit." replied ttewffrej. with the i>»rtuty ol a yoaftf poin'thyr." " I ,>o« nvoit'?'" • 1 ttiH »'»r *ro»» ansKtrstinit it. >he lit m>t my taste. th»l i* all. **l*e me n to : »n K«ho' v —— (t*o>r. inwrd. and hb i»r«; ilmskl*jd wi-th'w initial c*»ii«ur. At the tnof»«f»K ltr»ar»> »i.»I-.nr w»* |a»in». anl if « K .-» h*r »Miik» that lia'l »>»- trayed h> »*rlin.s« A» *»»r and awrrt w* ai Kn«li?-h r»^9'> , . a.* *r rth »nd t n*H r »s» th»- da»n oi t>n I'jiscl»»h wmnrf .* inominjc. Violet !»«*- mond »o.» ai* di««-*vnt itwtt t*»rn>»n TorrftPa ft* d*»> i» Iroin nitfht. Xor w»<» CJro'frey the only one who thought so. lie had h»'ld alool whil- f*ttrr imn tried their chances and larlu'd.

• -It i» not lor me to dispute your i-hoiee." swid Ifesmrttd. "I wtahyoo lM*fc. old rha|»—at last." •'H»t yon would h»v« wished me that always if I had |»rysutucd to '*

"lit omr!M~-yow snow that. Mat the i»6»ir.'*— — "1 »(*afr understand. Said tfooflrcy. dtrwjßrgfinff bis shoulders. "I do »»«t uomflum.' It i* the way o* tl*« «orbl *i- live in" IK* smiled unconsciously. Hrinn wistwri bi>» luct.. and f'oloncl l>e*inmul wfmld doubtless «k» the saim.'. and \mbt—bow would sh»« answer the question be meant to a*l» this very i>i sht ? "I b-lleve she cart* l«r m*\ and for myself »lone/' h*» reflected. "Had I stroked to dishonour, t might hove won h*r lon* a*o. Hh»> fer not mercenary—she refused l*nrfcin»»m with his tw thousand • y*ar. Hut i cootd mt-rr have nslwd her to share » life of comparative povertv. and. lazily. I ne«d not "* Y«». he waa very glad that he had the ri«bt to speak at I«»t. H »till svmed !©«► g«>od to •** * rw - , on '* a month affo he had been Ihe insigrufiet.nl civil elerk. with l*ttl*- or no prose ert of i»tr having the conimaml of wore than five hundred a rear. His elder brother CJeorge. who h»d quarrelled with him unreaH>nahty. and made »i» unfortunate marriage and led an unhappy "a** dissipated e***«ence •bread for year* wax lb»n living in >* continental city. *rbe lw»-their parents were deceased •-wrre sor.s of a >oung»-r and in** rovrrtsbrd trother. ami Ueorge had inherit' d from a bachelor uncle. And now liege's wife *a* dead. «nd Oortct bad followed her to the grae« % lortn'.bl afterwards, ohd he. <***£' "rey Caidew. hod succeeded at the igv ol twcnty-IKr to six thott **s|l rotm»r* a year and to the ownership of lleeehcoml.e. the stately ajKnrtnu on the crest of llcdaor HIM. in IHicfcuMrbanwhlref that had bcoi the bo»»e oi the fardew* since tha rrtfm o« Kli»abrth.. Little wonder that be was tla»led by bis fcood <ortoue. »n«l Ui»t h* wanted but onw lhi»»'X «o n»»ke him Ihe happiest man in the world.

-WaFe up. dr-owcr. and tUt jour rlwt.v." said Ikrian. "We are forgetting our obl»K»ti«n* to our hostess :" and with that *« l »»« , '* a " .•way. " I to has -gone to bad Carmen, thought tJeoflrey. a» he looked after bis friend. **l wish she would r»» ward his devotion a» it deserve*, and refrain from snowing such embarrassing marks of favour to myself, and from staring mo out of countenance with those black eyes of her*, t bave never given bcr the slightest encouragement, that I'll swear ; hot 1 iant lfclp feeling uneasy sometimes. She l» a true daughter of Spain, passionate in love and passionate in hatred. Heaven forbid that I iftOir her enmity t" A true daughter or Kngland was approaching him. and at Might ol that |o;ely fare CJeottrcy forgot all d c. If was hi* donee, and he claimed It. WHipving \ lolet of her extort, he rested on/ hand on her afender waist, and the two gfidrf} into the nwxea of a wait/, to tho measure of the dreamy. r»|>ian»u» rawaic that tu in tune with their own h-ort*. t>n and on tlw»y Bwepi. units among many, and >ct o» thliciow.lv isolated as if they had been trfpplnx I* «© *'•*'* pipe* over a moonlit forest glade. The strains of the orchestra died away in a bow of conversation. Cteoflrey l k «d his partner to a ** , M** corner of the co6»ervatory. hidden bv potted ferns *)* A feather>' minwrt. nnd stood by her for a monimt. waltiaf until the music struck up again. ft was the propitlo«« toon>ent. fader the soft lights her lace flushed. Violet's h«w«tty- wa» (i l# rt> than he could resist. She raised her a\as to hi»- swiltly lowered thatn : and * atme himself uf, ner side, while he c««*s|«*.-d !»""• unresisting band, he punrcd out the o»d 9ton-?

tne mrff. eternal Mory that will be ; e cr m-w a* lorn; a" thr «orM lasts. "I have always lo*cd you." he wrnt on. "I will liv only »'or your h»:>f urn-**. l*o >ou—car# for tm> a little. Violet ?" "More than • little, t.eofjrey." »!•«• «ud. looking up at him bravely nnd tl shingly. " Yes. I will ••« jour wife. " lie ttfesed her lip*. I hew started up at the sound of a Hgtil foolslf* and th* ru*tle ofa 4*irt. Caniwn Terra a stood within thtre yard*. Her ho h-m«d. a !*:>> rv«l *|ol lairi*- • I in ea»h eh*.*. r ihl won and ongyr naslcd dom her eyes. "Tardon." she said ; nnd vanished in comjany with Itrian. who hail been in the Iraekground. 'How- she frightened me !" raid VioM. with a little sbivt-r. "1 believe she hate* yww. «eo*rr*y." "Imagination, dearest." hj« assured Ik-. Tew minute* later. when Geoflrcy and his promised l.ride Ml the con-•*•*■-story, they eame u|on Brian in the I atl-rootii alone. *'ttherc is the itonorila 7" his sister asfced. ' Cone." Brian moodily replied. "A mire mas bronchi to her. anil »lie went »»rt in a hurry." ' ttith h,-r aunt?" "With herself." *ai«l Brian r.n«l in?llned hr head toward* I'ariwn's elderly relative, who wet Tossing on Ihe irm of a Scotch lorohet.

ciiArrr.it in. A LKUACV KIWiM TIIK I»K\l>. Mrrnu nm» hoiHAlly and oprnly *!•»•" light rtt— thrre «ra» n?» one Im' loVd ?•« well a* hi* hrwther-iit-law —and f'uton'l «a« Mattvlly »rfpsie*** > nt. He jailed »I».i«'|.r« r «?nd r»»nttrat»»late«l hin»"thot,eh \i.»lit u;i'4hl hntf lo«ili"«l a little hi.h»-r."" he swiid "No offeiiee. my dear Mlow." "1 ant not worthy of h-T—no m«n m»." replied tJoflrey. the fartlext* have re»u»ed tit hit in their time." he atnird. |>rnHdl>. "And never a Winy ol Ireland.'" said the colonel. " hut had a l>e*mond at hia right hand." Lit" ran in pleasant Une* for Oeoffrey then, ami h' »o«»n rttted into iiis |>lare a.« if he hud ntit of it. He l»R«l l"ft the India Wore, and ocrupii-*! chandler* at the Albany—|»nrl!y lo b»' near Violet, ami mainly becaiMte which had liren tdiut up Mince tli-orgo t*ardew*s arreiwion. had to In,* made ready fur him. The legal forma litir* that put him in |hi»*« station of the es»taie were not i»ntir»'l>" completed, but Ik- hod c*rte lilonche ro draw on the family Mtliritor lor <und». and he found it » novel .«" nsation to gold as he had formerly »|'cnt tdiillinga. he r«irn-tled his brother"* death, he did not prole** to more grief than he :«»» Id honeMly f«el. <:eor*,e hail trtntefl hi«n *hamefull> . without just ;a«-»*' nr reason, and the two had not met or wriitin to each other lor seven year*.

Ono sunny Vny irom : nji. a fortui|(lit after Mrs. Ailiiir's nvefdion, r(e«iftrey drove down to rhnncvry-'anw to t.-ep i»n npiMintirenl which his :ot»riii»r hn.i P',,ue-ti"»l in writing. He arrived on li'e minute. Utr he find f>romi.«rd to join Violet later in tho Par*.. ; , . "I don't *uppo*e it «s on;.thing ri>ore ' iimorini'l."* he told liim*'lf. •than « wicuim-nt thsit rwittir.* n»y *iii»,.|i re."

Archibald Vmxic*. a man of sixty, whose head was silvered by the fam•lv secrets that re|»o*ed therein, was waiting i»r him in U>- private omee. !!•• greeted hi* client with an air oi no I gravity that for onae was not assumed, and having c»r«fully locked the d..«.r and put out bisruits ami a lotlle »» l'«rt-at which Oeortrwy's modern and uncultitalrd taM<- rvliHl «th»" opened a I'oir Jerows rah' and took "oiii il a s»-al-nl Mi*' cm plop'. He seated •«»"•- *e I op|-«>lte to «*Von"rvy and clearvd »!■» throa*. I need rot I'll vow. Mr. Uaroew. '. he Iw-tfan. "that ancient and honourable blood l*ows in your iiiin*. Vour fore-fathers, sir. I*v«il in »n nK« when getlcntcu of spirit iwl with ndxentun* th«t a«v unheard of and imrossiMc In thi*e prnsaic days. And in vour ease. sirancHy enough. «•» echo of oih- such adventure hn* survived t„ the |«t> cnt. At intervals of gnater or !••»» extent during the cost tbr.e centuries—if I «"• right in trucing Ihe custom «» far I ock—th r.» ho« route a time to »a-h succrsshe nralc h-ir oi vour race when

'••• Ins made cognizant of a certain tatnrl,' nt'nir awl was put in possesinn of certain papers relating to the s»me. Those document* 1 0111 atxMit *o deliver into your keeping. As I ii|o bound to do by virtue of tnv tnM. r.ud n» I did In tin- rase of or undo and of vour brother. Have \on uiiv I now ledge. '•«> I «*>»■ oi »h'a is- known n* the Curse »,* the t'ardc**?"

•%ery little. If a.n>." tiioflrcj r«ilied. wondering what wa« coming ie\t. "There was a vague family tradition, t believe, mixed up with F.l» a'ethan swashbucklers and hidden treasure, and that sort of thing. I have an Indistinct recollection of my grandfather speaking of it—or It may have been my father—and even that wa* not meant for my cars." "And >o?ir brother George*?" "He wait referred to the maltei. nor did mv uncle James." ••Well, it was n.>ither a myth nor a tradition. Mr. Cardew." said the solicitor. "It was a fori, a chapter of aetual happenings, ami it is n-s real to-dn.v—K ha* been my privilege to be convinced 0* that—as it was thne hundred yiars ng»». Wnt I will give you a brief outline of the stor>". and afterwards >ou nhall c.amine the proo's. In the year 1.-.P5 Sir Walter lloleigh. in ron«eqtHtim of reports that cn-«lit«-d tlur northern part of the continrnl of FoMh'AiiHrica with bein-r a bind of tuarvpllous tn<asun». and hoping to wini.»s Hw discoveries of forte/. aid VI arn». equlps-ed an c.\|.edition ami set 5..11 frouv Kngland. Aiming these who accompanied him was vour ancestor. tSc.iflrey fanlew the first. Iron whom you are descended in an unbro'en lino. Ho hiuixelf in th»» doCeat o( the Armada, and prior to that he had «<ected |teerhro:i«lie. of which one original wing still stands intact. In due rot r*e the cxp-dition arrived at fb*inoco. and saile«l up that mighty riv.r. when »o:w ot the adventurers sought in one direction and some in another. A l-arty of five, braving the ticrils of the unknown wilderness, pushed up for a considerable distance to the sou*, into what is

now the nort part of Hri- | tish f;uinn«. Of these Car- : c|e» was ( >n«'. nn'i amnh'T was ; , c-.-r----tain Migwl Torrana. n. Sjmnish p.-n----tlemon of e«'n«l birth. H< ami ""v----cr»l «omi| anions had l»wi» i o*.cunl during the voyage from n sinkink' i ship. Th«? rest of thf rr.-w, it Seem*, had periMHMi tif htar\ntion." "Torrona ?" >n flc-iflrev •*0O«t the faniilv exist at the profit , day ?" "1 do not. Jinr*. sir. It is Irchl;. intprol able. ttby do you a«V ?" ••From roero etinosity." refitk-d. truthfully enough. "Will v>'J pardon my interruption. Mr. and continue yo'ir story ?" To hi't-.-Self. he added, "It is ait odd coim irtt'tac. at least." ] "Of these five men." r«Miine«l ih solicitor, "three dietl of fever in the j interior. The survivors were Migu-I Torrans and your ancestor, who hml formed a couiradely friendship wimh. •ad to say. was destined to m<l in tragedy. ritimateiy they fo-ind gold, amassed a large qi>mitii> or it. and then quarrelled over o>spoils. Both «wc hot-lcmpcntl. mid neither would yield. In anm in of ungovernable rage Geoffrey Cmdew struck the Bpanim«l to th--ground with a weapon. .lk-li«\»i»p his friend to be dead, and overcome with remorse and grief, he dragged the body deep into a thicket and f!e«l in a canoe, taking th.- ill-gotten treasure with hiss. Rut the r«uov springing n leak "jsfore lie had g«me far. he landed, barfe«i the j; l ** «'•'•'' j»art of the gold, and continued his journey on foot. He reached the flrinoco Imrdr in time lo wiil with Haleigh—the live men had l»e«.-ii gi-.e« up for lost—and when he returned tr Kngland in 1506 he gave h»r. win Mytes a truthful account of his ndventure*. with one exception. Miguel Torrana. lie dt,-elnred, hud died of fe\cr like the rest. His deception, we must admit, was but human nature, though it was to lead to strange consequences. As for his sin. he expiated that within a month. for he was killed in London in a brawl.

"Geoffrey Curdew had brought back with him a chart, drawn on a strip of parchment, that fchowcd where thi ireaMir.- wa.«« buried, nnd thin sii|»plie* tlw motive- that twefte years later took M.vles Curdew to Guiana —then known a» Manoa. or Kl Dorado—with a vessel and crew, which ii« paid fur o»t of his own liocket. Now witness tin- hand of fate. At a I fttparmh settlement on the Orinoco, near which he landed, he fell in with a younger brother of Miguel Torrana. M\lc*» Cardew. tn-ing u n honest man. arid realising that Luiz Torrnna had a r»'«»t l" half «» f tno treasure, offered to share with him. With a few friendly Indians for escort—none of Mylcs Cardew's seauien would accompany him—the two went into the interior as their kinsmen had done before. They did not succeed in finding the gold, in spite of the mai»— so much is fairly established—hut they did discover a cavern in a wild region near a stream, overhead. lay the body of Miguel Torrnna. He had recovered consciousness and crawled there to die. and on the wall beside him. with his la*t effort*, he had carved whnt Iwcame known as the Curse of th<: Cardew*. The inscription proved l»e----vond doubt that Miguel Torrnna had I unshed by the hand of Geoffrey Cardew. and tho result of it wns to change tbc two exploit.rs into sworn foes. As their voices were raiwd in stormy accents. th-\ were alannetl by falling earth and stones. Tliev fled to fhe outer a«r in time to cscnje a *laWa-Slidc which overtook an Indian who was with them and buried the mouth of the ca\cr» under tons of rock. The disput • was prompt I v resumed, and a duel was fought with swords. Luiz Torrona. who was. of course, the challenger, fell seriously wounded. A part of the Indians carried him through the fom»t to the Spanish settlement, where he died. The others accompanied Styles Cardew. who, ultimately rvachisig the Orinoco. tooV ship and returned to Kngland. Wh n 1" died some .\ears later he left to Ins descendants" a written account of tinadventures of his father ami himseli in Guiana. (JeoiTrey Cardew *s chart, nnd a copy „t Miguel Torranns cur.w —ho must have committed it to memorv front tho cavern wall. And here tliev are, Mr. Cardew. a ll three. one pajfe awnars to be missing, for there is a gap botwe.u the description of the duel a »»d the of Myhs Cnrdew'a journey to" fro coast.'' Geoffrey took the map and the papers—the ,\ellow, time-worn documents of parchment that have survived three centuries and were inscribed by the quaint but legible hand of his ancestor*. For a full hour, while the solicitor busied himself with writing, the young man read and rend, •riowly deciphering the tragic story. In com|-l--t»; detail, that Archibald Mcii/hs had just related to him. It wn» all there—a thrilling chapter from the remote annals of the family. He came at last to the curse, which ran as follows : Ko peace nor joy nor quiet life Khali male heir of Cardew know, But bitter cup and bloody strife Shall spirit crush and pride bring low. Cardew. if thou the curse would spurn. To earth Torrano's dust return. The room seemed to'grow dint before Geoffrey's eye*. Tno roar of the London traffic faded to a murmur, and for a moment he was back in spirit among the |>eople and scenes «hat. had been so realistically portrayed in the narrative he had read. . . . yl hardly know what to think oi it. Mr. Menzies." he said. "It is o very strange tale. And I am the pi\*cnt heir of the Cnrdews. How |pm> has it been the custom to rr veal this secret IP the head of thu fanrilv on ' his succession ?" »'I cannot it'll >o" how far back tt goes. For centuries, fierhupa. I first received the pa|>ers fron» your grandfather, and It was my duty to give them in turn to your uncle and vour brother." . r'And what did George do with them ?" "He handed them back to me—Jn trust for vou." Geoffrey was silent for n minute. "I»id any of my ancestors ever Seek to remove the curse ?" he aak(To K- < or.tinufil;.