THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 135, 1 March 1909, Page 4

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All fU.-lif* I'-Wri-vcM ) J

iij- rv. >tr m; \v <;uayih>.v. Author of "TW-- HlarWm»ik?r*." "Hcaiinvr tb»» whirlwind.'" "The iScir »i the l.o»idowiis." Etc.

part iv. "it bou* Iwm hidden there for a hundred years, ferhap*." she told hrtrsvP. "and nobody know* of ilt fsteteww. I don't suppose it has nmthinir to do with th<> others, but I h«d hctter take it to make swirv." Ih*' t'm h**x ««» lo«krd. hut ilm tf'rl wi».« mil to >e Iwrtlrd In such a irikV. Hh" liehtly «MT»rch.«i i;»of<rU*thing and retard him oi h*» on** of nbi«h .•!»»» fttt*-*! to the IcxrH. S*he rnisw*! th* Jul «»f tbtt »«».*•. «nd th»* |>ackct «( farnil.i doci»rrctifj* *n,ji «hs«b«««d to ber eager «7*!«. .?'hr seated hcrsrli now with a MTrU»rw exiri-swlwn. and lia» ins elane*"«l tpni-c Iv «>vrr th«" J»hf»"t.«» ni Style* r»r*lew*K n«rras»*e. and ,«tudird St»9*ur% 'fo: - : »«:*'!« ritrw a» •»' s»b** Woubl r»»»n.fn.»t ■ Mt*h »-. ntrn-'** to nwwory. ••Im l«s»fl> »«)*»', up th*' trfa.Hurv-chart ol Iwn'inv »»f-*l«-n th»r ftrs»t. >the pro|f i% msv>im*t «h* - * f rk-Jk r»w a d m\ and paper'to h-*r. winflt rai'fdK and accurately copf«'d th« dr»wii»tf. ? hj- Itlotted tb>> r»»unler« (art. »nJ put it !*»if -l> away %»iih lUv ntitxlfrin-u* !*tr«p ot parcbsmTKl. ""that f)» « IK" -b»- rvfVcted. wit! » j»iirh oli as nhe rwr. "i bavr «£♦)!!" wiutt I ptonii'-.fl him lo do. an ft n,» n:oiv. ,\hd now to h>d«» the trr.»'"f!. My tri« iwl Utp". rev iwi s"*. I *- |rt. tint, tt'rre *!-.u*l !•«• no e* iilrnce tl.> ' rty\ i" P."'. S;(pI" .'' r i> i* ninu'i* fatrr tU»* Im I «•«. its corrt in'!* irr a*"t. was locPr*l and lack in i s j. t.i''" of contv:lu» nf. *l hr «■.'*(»■{ |,nl r,ti< rlosftl. the laid*: nti •••.ikffi ;r» it 1.a.l *>»■»•»« Lelore. tut ft» . im,*'% oi !r,(t »d< »n tJrof- >%►• [»>•■ c . Vor had certain minor tU-tai >.. ii«tu,l if*f a diia-rrnt and imi re i; wii in; » |.»;r|'«»e. overt« O'vl*'. Ita'. ; rsr s'ipftd nnto l.er cot-*' and -Hntt. t.nd {«"»■»» a l»"t- sur>v\ o th' r o'n. luru»n sro»>«l for a wwnt n». It ♦>' ios; don n up» n the incowriH'w m;t»n «i oiii slie had so Va»tl •,'■■!« wr«nt:»'d. fc!le lingered ti«stt> f.i n. he,- it'atnre» showing nn '•. tfVr.t s rrg I- l.tr.Mii triumph awl •f'm-o. re. ■'Jlurn .'o'tr white f.icrd doll —il »or» r;n." sl.e «his| cred. ftercely. vicbl-ing t«» tlie ifPwM'r fttrt of her rat re. "I hate Jo'", luvtc jou .' f»ir. n ►. r:o "—— S*f:e S'.t.tU s:*»p|rd Km! pressed h«T H; .«» :■» f.'e 4;re.;, sri e-k : thc». with tcirst in her »■>»■.«. she lett the fo!.-!«.* bv tlw' tint rmr.n and hurried at-ms.-» tt:i- ; »rk to tf'e cat'"'. *l'he >.|on» >as o-, * c i.m : l the moon «as fbiniri'ir. Vth «» sh* reached lh-»oa«l a trrt:r .••.artel up llri»ni the shadow of tht* f(«-'te!».

*'!.»'e rod got il ?"* he Inquired. cases 1/ .. • Y.s." *A«*f it I w»>l »i'l '" ■*A:« «»» IoM nr if nortlit. IK* is. •* r tv'» £'. tml *.«'»»!« ti ►thill .♦." "Ko *J r Vo»« nrt' a pJMrli.y icirl. ' «r:i «•■►.'" ■"■*.(». I« o n wr'-tch. IH»«»1-i'«uk to n>'." ,v skkrt w*.l"» l>r»;.'»Bl»t lh«Tr» !♦» II ho'fi- » it frpj» tbpil w«re woiiiote « u->.v >» 'H rf««n n pro-'-sy Inm*. They «iiiul r*f tltp\ ror in the itit'iretiun oi I.OOdo'K «itAITKH V. n;t-: *tt t auamk «>r i;ihi.t. I, kirfiifj; tan *•* fmre Leant ilm ifnriv ;.» •'*>> On »r «•", it »ol»|il I f tl.e '♦>■•: . KSt'"'.m* rtUvrvy r>H »>►«* !»»«»• t'w , \Bl .6 . >«■• i-If.' rh«riotr«r «»< f.'e tnnM.ni'.i.l: •.i* f K!i iVrlh i» M»hh'Fi fiKrui-'-w **■ 6 •»» llw «-WJ'l. Al li\ ,»'cJt» f. 11 Hi-• *»► lh- *'-re n »- fi».^.«Jrn.; ►>•>• w»j* wi« »M*lultf»«»l m«.*-tx-t.- i If-tt lCf»l h«»nr (wmil Viol* I I'•-<»;i-'««:i«l »»l !►»» «li«>si»iwjff-lJ'l»l»-. Il *».<•■ ►'»»►"ly lor !• »»r. hill j>b.- Imil lo »«-.t **th t»V inlrnltoo o< ris>»n« «r|,h ||h«> «.nfftj» mml n wnir* »» er »''i* ».«t t »t.- t ui wlil*:Pi w» >«■? ?■!»•■ In»".-. !» ('»•!?. "I lions It iw»» ««i fflM*'li»* «►«•• «»* «•'" >»>»«•►»■►•»» must «>l lll*' woril. »h'lo'*«l tfrt- or»FT nil*, roiiltl riilV lo hoiinils». nml r. a:* m»t IwK n Im»*I j»I»"I. A* p.h*' t»r. t n :•*••! il:»» l»\Mrioiii n»w."»!»o ol Ins- p>»"«t*n» brown hair, iwnninfj «ro|»li \ r »«••!» it'irmrlory tr*f>. !>ht~ ftlair • v»l ire ivtilly from h*r i.tirror lo 6h». •>: ■. n w'n'low. Il 1.M.k.il lotv»*r»i.«t'*'*'p h«m on»l Mai*ltih.afl. n»«l Imtii"! a ol w&ny niil».i—ftrsl th«» I rontl. lor-ri M«hi«|K dwmoin ol l*rwbc**ml.r. tl>«n »»'<> w|*« 11 wovp oi if*n»c woodland, ami lh*n a charming: panorama o< and »lre.tnt. |>arfc ant imadow. lollinif away to »wH into the horiion* The »«n »»» »P» Ihe atmo»-IIK-re swam with i'rr*h. ."wwl colt*tw». and d-*vdro|» !»|>or».l«fl on tlw *hht ettt'to o* K r »«!» »«d Mnißj". lUr to*l«*t l'.l.i«'h«'d. and h»-r het !«htMil «s.h *to»U loot-. \»**t'-t |nrot*»-« , «h'd Blonsr ll»" b»H ••» hrv lifotlvf'.** room ami kwoc'''.*'d ItjuMtv »>t» liw door. ■ \tv >ovi awake. l!r««n ?"" »lw ♦•«H*-d.

rh ? What's lhal 7" replied » •bt»t*s> »okv irofit within. "Uho's* thetr? «»h. il> J oh. VI."

"Vow jkromwd to I* really." •\-o I «»n—tmrly i" and a thumr* Uifa ed IN* fact that llrian had J*»l I aM otu of Imml. '"l'un't wail." he ad.tetl. "I'M «•<«»» u|. with yott. | Uhrre k-W *«m jCol»)f< ? ' • IH.WB th- Wall*. It lead* to thi liKe. Ucoflrvy told me." "l.»/v k.ggar! Why doesn't take m'i t»»' re hinwe" 7" grumhleil llriao. "Ml ri lit. Vi. 1 shan't hv long."

I oKtraitu of «kail ami gorw t*arrewj* lEia-a th.' wmH' »tairra»e. and \ i. I t in agined that thHr ryc« wptp fxeil critically upon rwr from out tleir sou.r.re fraiuc». as sthe H to tho gloom and silence below, where- f gure» in •rroonr *spo».e of an riirilef jr. Sod of the family history, tit! wiling to quietly leave the hotwc Irv tho gnn room, she entered tho library. "" l»»u. bre»th in that clone, to'iercw-lwfntert nrnrtnicjit. and fot |h%- moment she forgot her purppsc,

Stepping to the nearest window, slu drew nsiffp the heavy curtain and flung the easement open, letting in th."> licht and air. The**, hearing n .-r. aVinsf sound and a half-stilled >a«n s.l -.- turned with a start of alnnu. Uin. HVo.lrey !" she cried. "What ;>. natter?" i:...Tiv V had but that instant l» en Di .«| from hi* hrnvy shiml cr. and • a<. fitting tip in his chair withdistended arms, as jet in no rnnditiou to think clearly. He yawned OKoin. rubbing hi* eyes, and with an effort row to his feet. He stood swnyin'X l»*e a drunken man. and Hutched nl the table for support : his* hair was dislw-veltrd. «nd his* face pal.*. "Where am I?" he asked, thickly. "Morning already? la that you. Violet r* S*he came a little closer, regarding him anxiously. "Ihd you spend the night here, in that chair?" idle said. "Have jot: Uen ill. fJeoflrey. or w<-re you""—— * Not that." he broke in. grasping h-r i£ii*|t)'in meaning. "1 luu« nevr been the worse for drink in my life. J *at up rath T late, a"»d must i>n»c fallen asleep, though I huviLjnc i|i>lM>rt recoil-ction of how it na|* |eUed." "You look III." " IVrhnfs J am. dear. I don't know what else it can lie.'' There was a brhf silence. Violet. ptrrth-il and uneasy, glanced from fJeortrey to the floor. a«d then to th< table. The tell-tale threads of evidence caught her eye. and one in partirular—it was not to be misinterpreted— slung her to swiit suspicion. She shrank anny from bci lo* -r. lier checks flaming with colour : and he in that moment snildrnly remciubercd with ciu»hing forct what his da/ed »»nscs had lein try »t?g to recall. You «*w not alone last night." ncc»>«. d Yioh-t. "You had a \i*ilor. tSeonrcy." '" I had." he admitted, in n dull tons.'.

"Who was it '-'"" "s lips uio%ed. but no sound came from them. lie rtnlised that Ik? was lace to t'ure with a gr>-at and terrible cri.-is in his life. and how he w«s to meet it. how to explain th* array of riirumstnnces that pointed to his duplicity, he did not Inn*. Uhisky ai»d n syi'hoii were on a s'de-laMe. K nd in order to rain time for thought lie lilhd n gla«* with so<la water and drank it. Illsparkling fluid s«*emefl lo iuHianily r«-lie»e the headache ami lassitude {fiat oppressed hltii. II" hnikeil at \ >o|e|. „ud read in h-r e> es Ihe erief and Scorn, the outraged lo\e. that she was striving to conceal.

"A ttuttniit «n«t luTf willi \mi !" •»he rriitl. "S.v ! she 1»-»t li«t ,«l«»vc r»n llw Inlih*. Sh.- was .smoking •injwret le». lor here i» pari of one. Vou nvwr na«> them yourself: I li M ve heiiril «tin nay jwi. Yon wire driiikiiitf champagne from Iwo j*,ln*>M-s. liiiil oii«' Hen l»ruke,i on III"- lloor. Who wns »h«». ♦•••oflrcy ? 'IVII me." "Calm jounvli. Violet, niul listen lo me."" he lieggi-d. "I chii explain nil. f give >o» '"> word that I li»i*r lion*' notbii>C In lie n*>haiiie«l :»t. You are rijjhl a'-nul n«y \ i.*ilor. A woman wn<* h-re—n >oiiii.sf liiily of my nri{»iniw«iiic,». She unfortunately lost her way while c>•lii.«. nn«l finding hem-lf nt I !••• {ute* of lleerhromlie— ■ where she look r 'tup*' (mm the storm—?.he rame up lluoc cli iln> j>nrk nml asked me lo eiii'lc her lo threat Mnrlow. I was in lli> at Ihe linn-, jiiul .she •ii<t the light and rapped on the loor."'

"Ami you I.ri'l her here until the storm n«» ov rr ?*" " Naturally. .What cls«.' could I tiii**" "Oh. if I could l»elie\e what you »!•►• >«y ing ! Hut it in 100 iner.iliM•. I am not a child, am! cannot I,- •In.iv.d like one. I'.rinn nod I •viSr.il nt hsili-past t.'ii. and there n.re no *l£m of a slurin when I fell n*t.«*l». though afterwards* I was awaCiiml by tlu- •liuiid.T. Would a ludv !•»• ryrlimj. t iud alone. >«» Int.- tit n>.«»t ? W«>nM «••»• Mio:> at your door, and .nit with jnu U» lh»: hour, and drank champagne and Mit.tk ■ rijtar.-tl.'j" '.*"" \i«.|et. I «.nmr li» you" ' ll.ch r Hon long did thist ti>Mif> Ikilj- »tul'? And \*!■> did you fall «!>l«e|» in your chair?" "'I hat I* d.i not know," t;. oUTiv>i»»!»« i-n-d. mistvrnMy. "I cannot tell bon it hap|»>'n«il. tinl.-sw" He l'»v»«<«d. realizing how im|»rol>aMc :ind ridiculous nnml s>eein the svuggertion he nmihl hate ouer.il. "tHi >.vi irffjit in doubling toy word. \ i. I t ••" lit- added. ' I am c>»u«l« Uil to. And .-ten il what you **»> »"* I cm-, could that irn'c il ««> -'better? Oh. 10-offivy. t;.oSn-y, why have you ileceivul me 7 I loted you wi much: I thought you m» nnd noble. Vou nrv breakbur o«y h'urt."

■Ami yi.n on- In making mine. I nm QlwoluiHy If.nocrtil. Won't you

■ S«». no. I rinnot. ThaiA 11-acen thai I hate found >ou out hi time, In-fore it wo* too lal •-"" ''Violet. lis*! en to me. Let in< convince joii"'

He Mewed towards her. hnl she evaded his oulMrvtrhnl arms, and fled to th? door, where she turned and confronted him menacingly. hei ho.«om heaving and her rye* Hashing scorn. At ilia »«iw instant tool' »te|t* were Iwoid in the. hall, one: llr»«n entered the room. "Hello! what's wr.mjT'.'" N'ot a b»ver>* «|«»«rr> | nbrtbly ?"" he asked rah in j*M. ">o» are "|» early llda> morning. tJ.nf.rfy." • 11.- has not l» •»« li» l»d." e,\rlaimed \io|. t. n»-riil.*> in wrath.

"11l- hn* *|-»nt moM «»« »•'•■ »»ght lirr*' ili*m»l.ii»k «|»4»"'l , ".fc"'-"- wilh a >w«»>r l«i«ly." •"Cuuw. rnm\ VI. nr*-u't jou drawing »t rc««lf r Mtong 7 il'hij» »h a svrinus «hon:»'."

"It is Iw." *>!»«• dwlarrd : mill j>he raM-d li«t hrpllwr's atU-miou to th» Lc?rrt>li»B c«»li«Silion of the tabic. IJrlon looked «rn%«% "What is >o«ir version. OoofTrcy ?" he said. " There is a mistake, of toMr»." # "There is » inii'undii'slnndiiMr." Gcoltrry replied, bitlerl}. "Ah for the facts. you hate had them from Violet. Hut I am entirely iimociiit. and ••»>' conscience I* char, though I admit that circumstance* arc «ue. I ha* e done your siitlur no wronu in thought or deed." "And I tlo not believe you," Violet told hint. Ilrian ahrnjjjp-d his jdwulders. He picked up the glow, dropped it again, and wetit into the nun room. When lw returned • moment later one

hand was thrust into his coat pocket. His face wos «ol<l nti<l m--.ii. and there was n gleam in hi* gi>> tye* that wax not pleasant t<» **•<•■ "Who «a* tin* woman V" hj« demanded, luo.shly. "Yon forgot to lock the terrace door after her." "Hrinn. do you. 100. turn against n«e ?" ""Hie woman. Cnrdew ? Ulial w;i.<hcr name?" "1 rnnnot tell you that." fJeofiV-v answontl slowly ; "but if jou "ill permit me to explain" "N'ot now. I will not hear him." cried A"iolet : nnd burKting into t<nis »he threw herself into her brother'?arms. "Take mo awa>." she Mii>bed, hysterically. "Take me hoin-. "My .sister is right." said Uriaii. "Tliis is not the time for nu "Nplanation. I will accompany her lo town, and will r-turn n* m»«hi asr |H>osihlc. in order to y«>u the opportunity of clearing your.■•»•!f." "I shall ex |»ert you." r»'|di<t| (."enffrey. "Itut you "are not going without l»renkfu»»t ?" "We are going at once." "Then 1-t me ring for a enrriage." "It is unnecessary- ''''"' groom will he at the stables, ami tlu-i<- ia train from Taplow in n litth more than an hour." "You will rcgi-et this. Hesnmnd." "I have already much to n*gret." was th« airt reply. "Stand aside fanlew. No. don't touch l.er." "Violet, one word." apiH-ahil <.'« of fre\. stretching fortli hi* hands. She shrank proudly from him clingiinr the tighter to llriun's arm. Thus they- passed out of his sight the woman he loved to distract"" and the man who had Ikh-u his I»-m friend. They left the lions.- by th< gun room, and their footsteps diet. away on the terrace.

fIIAITBU VI. FKOM I»A1» TO W'OHSK. The full force of the trouble that had descended upon him like n bolt from the blue, the unclouded comprehension of what he had lost ami of the fatal snare that entangled him. were not for <Scoffre.v >ct. They were to touch him later : at pn-*ent his thoughts were confused : n*- with one who is recovering from the 1-fhfls of a narcotic—a comparison that was no less than the truth, though he had not suspected it.

It will all come right in the end.' he 101 l hims.lf, ri-sentfully : "but they might have trusted me am' taken my wonl for it. instead of trotting lis* like a convicted felon And Hrinn—a irifiid of years ! It won't l»e easy to forgive him."

For \ iol-t h • fell some excuse Whol she hull si-en. he rclh-cled, was •noue.lt t<> rouse nn«l confirm any womnu's suspicions, lie threw him-m-Ii into n chair, his hands pressed In his throbbing temples, nnd sat i litis for several minutes: then, having 10.-svd the broken glass «"'•» '•"' urate, and fluug the iii'-riminaiing glove In-hind nn ontiqiu- cabinet, he went up to his dressim; room in time to avoid tho servants. Ashe looked nt his haggard features* iu a mirror, he heard the di.-liiut rattle >f the trap that was i-cming his offended guests to Taplow siaiion. A cohl hath refreshed him : hut he drought a poor appetite i«i breakfast, pushing one dish after another iside. Hy now. however, the stupor was passing off, and he was Ircginuing to sec things in n »!•*;•.rer light. lie retired to the library, saving orders that he was not to l»e iislurhcd : and there, when h- had ic--n|ln<l every lACldvnl of tbe pre »ious night,*" the rc>elHlion t'lat was mi slow to conic dawned «;pou him st last.

•'I was drugged." lie avowed. "Xoi j doubt of iu When 1 went to the -lining: room (o . fetch the s-eond .•liihk. Carmen dropped wiiKil.ind inlo the other one—l he full one Hi.n I was subsequent 1,. to diiuk. That u-counts for the Midden fur lhe sound sleep that h-*ld me imitil morning and roused the headaHie Itiil what was licr motive'.* Why -thoulil she have wished to make ii»- uneonsciou* A theory (lashed to CJeolTrev's It y)-cnir<l ins rediM". preposterous, .rt he at onc«* put it to Mi«- t«-st my opening the secret panel and unlocking the tin l»ox. The documents •were oil there, and evidently they nad not been disturlwd. "It wan not that." he assured himself. -"So much is certain. If anything wos missing I should lielieve otherwise.. And it is folly to suppose that Carmen is aware of the e\i»tence of these family papers—that she knew them to be iu my position. Xo. her purpose was far more wicked ami treacherous. She hates me with all the fury of her Spanish blood—of a jealous woman Hpumed—and this is Iter revenge for the indifference 1 have shown to her. She came here l««sl night because tihe had learned that Violet was In the house. The champagne and.the two glasses, the glove nnd the half-smoked cigarette, were means to the one end. She drugged me bo tlint 1 might lc found here at daybreak, surrounded by the evidences of a guilty assignation. And llrlan. poor fellow, love.-s nnd honours thot deceitful .Je/.el>e! ! lie must never know that she was my visitor, for if he did o thousand proofs would not convince him of my innocence.t Hut could uOV thing |icrsuadc him of that '* was there any ho|»e. CJeoflrey asked" himself. that either llrian or Vlol/t could Ik» brought to mi; him in I lib light of a wronged j and innocent Victim— tlie victim of a wicked and «!• feigning woman ? Would j he ever Ik? able to clear himself in their eyes ? As he revii vml ihe web of cireiini- j stance, fitted lite links together, nnd j w how cunningly they were con- ! trived, his heart answered no to the j rpicstion. And common sense told him that eyen.il he should tell the whole truth, even if he should in «M'|f-4lcfencc reveal Carmen's name and lay bare her motive.*, liie story must se.-m too utterly absurd for credence, and must ine\itably recoil on his own head. Would any believe that he was speaking the truth ? Xo. it was impossible. He was caught in a fatal snare, and i there was no chance of cscaj>c from , •t.

(To »e Continued)