THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 136, 4 March 1909, Page 4

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(AM Rights Ros*rv*rl.>

By W. MURRAY GRAVDOS. Author of "The IHarknnlilers." "Reapin* the Whirlwind. rho Heir of the l.oudouns." L.tc.

PART V. For an hour tleoilrey trod tin- flwi like wiwr distracted, appalled !•;. thr prospect that confronted him. sewing in the future only th*' Imrrvn. hopeless wreck of the prospects that had been so bright a few short hours* before--th«» loss of honour and happincs*. and of the loved on.- he had waited years to win. Alt were crumbling to ashes. "Heaven help nie I" he cried. "The cup is too bitter f lam master of Hererorotn*e. with tnor»r money than I know what to do with, and yet no l«»»>r wretch sleeping to-night in tie* gutters of London is so miserable ns I. And on«* who bear* the ronw of Torrana has d»alt this blow-has staMied me in the dark. I* it only coincidence or is the r«r?r «f the Car-dews, my legacy from the d«-ad cent uric*. »eginning to work it* prophesied ruin t ts Carmen a d-<een-dant of the Miguel Tormnm v. horn my ancestor slew for lust of y»dd ? If I w-re sure of that I might {,.- It •*«■ the rest."

The ne\t instant hj«« w*s »pi»rv.iding hioisidi b>r a loot. T«» nt'iibiiU any potent to th«y seii-'!e>s v. of a Spanish adventurvr whtt bud been do«t f*>r more than tbr. e centnr'cs «i 3 to sink to ttve bv.id' Itm-I of s;»|»*rstilb»os lb «fi.oui«»("»l tb** *,'ild l»b*»» iVtum b'mind.. and j*r.-.-.-ntl.-. ir. Us ted !•»■* yoml enibirauee by the «ii tMi't founding of the workmen —they «•»..-♦• rr»re nectinjt the »p«rtm«»nt« I»• bod »>•- ST fer bis married litV—le* I'ft tb hows-- r.c:d t.frti'ip'd ih.k>oim ove' the l.r*»«d »rrr» of park and woodland tht»t bed l«K«t their por.-r t.i please. Itnt de o,i'ii.( «»•' tie- morning ch»ereil him n li**l*. and hv ret timed it Ixtter spi.it". with » strong felintf that »i»meh»»u* or other Brian s coming would right the wrong.

It Wk>r«! t*»«i«*r ti> lt«v»> f»t«'»l tli« worst. Iw.*ttt*r nil. for h<- wa* Uuilding «»n n foundation that was fraiJrr than Hrtan arrived at one o'clock, having driven Iron* Ta|»luw. and whim h«w»* sf»»en to the library anil the two w*-r*> shut in tog«*th«T. CJcofhxv n>ad hi» **l** in thr hard, nwrrih-?* tVatwrs* that hod l*wn wont to gr**H him with a sunny *niite of iViindship. "It jt>n haw Judgtd iim? tinh-ard" h* l.fgon l4nrrly. "Ston ' L»'t mr S|w«S.," Hriaii iotprrwH"*'- "' )*"•«•• >"""* t,v * " ur own rtcrd*. Th»ri' l* no r>j»laii.«* tion : tour gwilt in ti»f*r. I b*v«r t« «ta> to jow wUI If l»» **•*'. I cannot »»r«»tfce hcrv. Tl.** |»l«»»-•uflocnH-a nw. IH* >»»» i rvrognf*thb ?" ami hr ifodwv d o !»♦!> '* handticrchiri. a dainty thing of ftn«. laror that eshatal o ««.'«t, mi! IKtJ<»oflre; took it *«* h a Urwiddi.-ig hand, and hi* <r>»* n*ugh* th* in«lials "CIY" *ml»ruldcr«»d in «>«'«<"• iwr. "Wht*rc did jou g-t it ?'* he » iitl. hoarsely.

"I ffWkfl it wp in *h.--j?MH r«»«»rn this morning/" r-pli-d Ur'mt. ''Carmen Torrana dropped it them*. Shi. was ivur clandestine visitor last night." Ibif yon th'fty it ".'"" "It w»»;ld -'*- ws>l. s». siwe you know th«- trtilfr." •%*•!. th-- truth. «i> ran *t*-«'< plairdy. th. iv. CanKr. yon nrrtinmasked : >m'» stand »•****-»' '•• *" vour trno gr !■<■•. It »f" *»t»«l rnongb N» bat-" "nfVr<-d n»> si-der I hi* iCc.idl/ instil*. *►» have- ph»v-d »• «l»»nM-|i»»». dro-k ing h-r. oiwl degrading I Im* love sb,- had siv'-tt v»W. H»*t then. wa» than that. Ib-gardlrs!* ..I honour, trampling th«- samd nnin; of fri«-nd.«bi|». you have Irn tn-a-chrrowsly scheming fur a b»ng time— I knot*, not. how- b»ng—»»» rob m«-ol th<" only woman fur whom 1 ever rarvd. And v ou sucrr-eiicd only 100 well, if appears. I'i'ifidl; weak »t»nr victim must have Iw.-n. I admit *ha*. A» for the clbinuv. the .final act of wicked lolly that exposed yon, I cannot doubt that i,>ti «."iM*cl«ti Carwen last night- ' 5b • cam" v.Hh >oUr connivance." •Mr t* tab-** »" exclaimed toofiivy. -*ho «r.i driving h;»rd to control 1 himself, rah*-. I t« II you? You , wrong me. winl ! oil wrong | lame n T»rruiin more. W'H >*>" I hfpr »«•'""»- — : -Mt I-+ HmI go on. In a ft** worrfst—be hiar* it *«»» hi» last rhanec-«Jeoffr»'> i.role»te»l I hi* Innqcvncr. and wa«.tly »»hat bad bapf*****! «»»*• |.ic»»«u» rtljtht. He nvMy endca* oun tl to •.hJclrf Carmen. pnU did no as far n» h© bad pver> cttfuw for uncling ibo !nj«.|>ir»«»n.«« that h»* wonM have {►i-pi'.-«-t«*l to k|> to ii-.J»;n>,-«l in siH»no-. with otitthums'l>tfght !i|f, to th«* «nd. -f*u >«m» »»»»w tvtu&t,' In-hind o w»t»»n'» .«Mrt«» I" tw !*!>•• *»th r»»i----i ting scorn. *'!« >«»ur ivltfe-h vanity, to gave jours*lf. you woi.l I sairifi»> ! thr uV'lwled gifl >ou hav»« tempt-*! ', i* Iwrr lull. It i?> no ntoru tliati I rs|M.'Vtutl of vow. rarik-w." "Tbta yuu do not la-l:*"..- m>- ?** **|lrlhn.« jwii ? N«>! are a liar a»*» n cower*!—a c.»n.ti"nq»til«lir \ hvuntl who is unfit for the cuin|Mtny %tt hon»*»t »»'«"- — A blow **o|>|>»»l »Ji«. «:».%>ffr»>j". I »t»ng to wngwvcmnl•!»• hod lif'wd ht* hand and : trtrct. llrinn flwsltcfl a iL>ty rvnl. nitd w ii*d a dr«»t» of blood frotti bii l»|-. »•»'* 'a« c wore the colm, lrfuni|ibaiit jofiile «l one who has ochlcvtrd o caK-fully-thoughttmt |»iirpo»iP. ~ .'•Thrre Is but una answer to thi.*, •» ****** ... - . i "I mil rrady for it.' cn«d "Ctoftw. "Why do you wait T' ""l f«*ar you ml*un*hjt»tand n«, rrptictl Brian. "t am not a coroi nran brawler. You must fight, i »•> dew," , "Fight ?" echoed t;vourey ; end then, reuieuiN.'rtiiir that » vcral o«

H: inn's rs had b-. n m>tod • Uedleu.t. nail thitt llrian him-.-If •*a* an advocate of ••.nlTairF of honour." hj- suddenly gri?si-cd tin- »iiua- . n >'»>r a moment hv *n» »i» •■vh- !»*=. and perturbed. ■ l),> yuu refuse ?" Jlfiau >aid. curtI 'Then? is no alternative, uat h»\c not refused. Ifcamond." ' Ih. n tuu will give iiw aatUlac"Certainly. Ivhcn and wiiorcvei *ou li? e." "Thfot i- canity arranged. Where Jan ; iiu I w fouml to-morrow '.*" | '1 shall »»o in town—at the Albany" tieollicy answered, llercely. •\c-> good. Von will beer from iii«. Ity-the-by. 1-t us agnv that no woman's name shall lie dragged into our dispute." a. "willingl;."" *" VThat is all. then. Von I.bv* w root,** I «i". Car dew. r.* bi.s U nsr%.r friend wronged trusting friend." * Since J 011 are eonv ine.il of tln-i." t.'eoiirvy icplicd. "1 idtull sLull. give you the satisfaction y-oti demand." Xti mom na.« mi id. Tfciy parted in told anger that could haftly In repressed from lan sting Into ttanie. and two minutis later the trap that hud brought Desmond lo lt« r-chcombc Ht'« rattling him uway again. The *ound of tic whes-li dl-d into siIrrwvi and the heaviness of despair and i:u|.en»;i-»s evil fell upon «b«ofiie . lie httd lost bis I-.-.1 frl.nd and in- i-uman who uiis t.ll >hc nuibl to hiin. What wax tb«-re now t.. li-.' for? Som-sbinj* |«rhup> : bnf he wrs in no n:ood t ! i<n to value it. F*il rt had in.s'*.cl him it»l». dumb tni.«ery. and Fate was to strike v\rt again ami <»r «-j :i ;t n «*trofig«T. more puriHtJH'ful |m.-,-.t th«n I li'i'l f>l • ? All doubt I • i"*C «•» bii emi, ».'e«dirr> iv-c'-pt"*! tl. • ii.t-.iiabli? with n *bon«»KX that »urpri>>Tl him. though it in*! Ceil a Ircnrfnrhe fliat was a snio'ddcring life >■( •••rment. The grwntei- part of the afternoon he devoted to a car.-iul r«>n*iderntion of what he » r ioul I do. and lu'h mind •.vat prettj well nmde up when, turning his Irtirk on llewchcoinlie for what he knew might la? th- tsst time, he travelled »o town by an evening train. He took with him the tin t,„x ..-ritniufi.K tb'- Cnrdrn pafvrs. and put iVsii sofelv awny in his rhafsvlß-r.* at the Alhanv. lie went there to ilnxv. and. la'er. having dined at a reMauranl whcr.» he waa little known, and divided thot notbrng could lc gtiiiH-d by Peeking an interview with Cnruen Torrann, he 'idled upon a friend. :> young IV. nchmati of good birth, who lodged In Sackvill>-*lr«.l. and was learning the nit »ff foreign Oi; lotuaey at Allien tint ■•

l»ii|«»n? w*«t ut lttiin>'. and as In- l.mtl n tiur-1 l» tt.-c than al»: inth«\ ht wvfronwd llw •rj'ix.t tfmiiy ..Making the fart •»•' a ?«"on»l. ami li-.Hgh-•«l nt tin? ci»riV'«(iicm>-fi in which it misiht iinol-.c hi»». <?••»(- Im Ml him at a 1..1" hour. r.;t«irnt«l to the Allmm to •»'«l. a»«i s»l-|»t titfultv until !•• tit- m-M moaning. Was *.. TV.-d uhtn In- •nt-rvvl hi- Siting room, ami l»y his |.la;<" * ■ ••» a 1-tl-r that hr.d Ni-n I'-nddri-M.-Md fr.nn roiol'.>. Ik- car.-i'ully toiv it o|*-n. ami glantvd nl tin- contents. "|t> lM>n%ctk* '." hi* K«i* ; l"'»l : »']•' . v ,. rv \.'s>«j'.«.' »»f c«»li»iir llrd fiom !•••* lav*-" With o shaVing hand, with diltUd. Maring «*>c»». he rvatl on to the end.

Cll.\f*rKlt VII. rilß I,.\HT |;LOW

Thi«» Ueuflrey kh 1 . hut human after elf. and b;. no linearis so indifferent «oh's ful'itv c\i"*««":icif ns his n>i«foi-tM!i,-s had |.cr*u««iiil him l»» l*ln-vi». war* -huwn by th» agitation tvith wtiieh he n-reiv-'d 111** t»nd news iontair.eJ in tie lnm»«.'viil-loo?»iiig •»»*•*• lo|»—the staggering, «in»lr.-ntn '«!-o! blow that lii«!«-»tl Mripfed him ol cierj thin*. The Ifil«T he h»-ld In hi. 4 hand was from hi«« solicitor, nml its purport ma; I*-- smiitmd up in a few word:*.

||*» ft;.-o(lrrs C'nuk'W) was not the lepnl lT«-ir to I'f.-vhcoiulM'. A cun. Siiliiry. l»y neiiH'. lisol l.«vn l»«irne to Ceorge and l.o!;k t.'onlew five veaisi ln-ior»- ot I'oiirn. i"i Frame: anil two v.nr* l.i'-r. wlh-ii the |«arent?» by iiiuluhl jigrmnienl. t.eorgc t'ordev. had |»ul the child in the cor«- of fi-ieiids •>f Uh. a c-rt'iin t*«i|>tuin I.iyloml and h ; s wife, who wrre on the eve of .sailing for Canada «o tnk«- |»o.«»- ■■•*■*»■ ion of n t!overnn:<-nt limlKT KiH»>t that the r.iirvd omrer had in-»n-iit"-d from a r«lativ». So m«rh ior that fact, which tJeoflrey's rvcentric lirotiier hod chosen to kt-cp from the knowledge of any whom it might concern. The aeqiie! liegnn with the r-evnt death of tieorgc fnn.'e.t u« Heidelberg. lb* outiiicd bi** vvit'e but a short tinn-. »lur bis. iiieml in Canada th" o-itil'.cute- . i Ui* marriage and of hi* soli's t'Mlh, » letter of instruct ioiiy. und n l»g;-| dorMn>i-nt that viited Cjpt.iin bind with powers of guni-•Ji-in to the «hibl. And now «:o|itiiin L«>lnnd and his wife were io Kngiand with the Ih»> . who was Unrightful owner of Ib-echcombc. The guardian of young Sidney Cardew bad acted promptly k!«d quietly. The necessary pa|iers ha«l be*-n I'.bnl. n r'lttr. of j-oliriton* h«d lieen employed and notice had served on ArchibobJ Men/ies to render an ncciiiint of the pro|ierty which he no long:r bad unv authority to administer for tin. l»« iV f-t vf bis tlk-nt, Ov-ofl'rvy Car•Jew.

• t, was aware of tin's startling dev. !«>|ifti-nt some few da.is ago." th* I t«»r «M»l w» ? "hut ' thought it lest not to communicate th.; >nuw lo >«»• Mitlil I had K ,,n '- thoroughly into th>* mntfr. I hove now out* *»ill'-d nilh Captain lv}hu»l twl -ulii. stor«, and lh».-re steins to I*-ttu ground*. I regret to saj , that wu»*l« r.cir»nl opposition on oi*r j-nrt. rhnt i* nt> opinion at pr».»«T.t. lUit \o*l hod te»lcr roliM.f lo J»~e !»•- •• ones.-, and we will decide what s!«p«. if nn.v. Il nm.v •*-• «dvl«.i»l»l-i t.» ink*: Though jour brother di«-d in*, estate. li'ji Mm would succeed to Ike.-hcomlK o.h the estate i- entailed to mule he jr. H mighl kitd lo something— I osier {Jiis meagre wrap of encouragement for what lp Is worth—if «i nbou|d proceed tp trace the antecedent* 01 CJeopge Cprdew's wife. ' H«" knew little of her at the tiiue of his marriuge—and no nior.; afterward*. 1 Ivltcvc— except that .she was the widow of a Brazilian officer. Uenerat Cnlderon. and that she had p'tentlj" come from Kio de Janeiro tu far is. where l|o fln*t met her.

But he suspected that she had been j an adveat ureas, as jiersonally confid- | ed to no- on on-* occasion, and if ; that t»e true the story' of her past j life illicit* icpnv iuvest in**' 'on. It , Is only w .tUKgc.-ii.m. and probably worth nothing, but 1 should be peg-bt-tiul of your interests if I failed to ii.culiou •••"

A f-;w words of sympathy . that testified lo the solicitor's kimllv and anselfeh heart, brought the lengthy communication to a eluse. tb-olTrey crushed it into his pocket, and turned in a dazed manner to his lueakfas.t. He sipped his codec nlistra«-i----cdly, and toyed with a chop, vvhile his mind graS|ied by degrees the lull meaning of what he had just reud. He had lost Violet and alienated Brian, and now his fortune hml takeu wings and flown. He had nothing left :he could draw no more cheques : he was under oblli?at ions lo refunil the sums already s| cut—a thing beyond his power. He could not go back to llcechcombe. nor could he retain his chatultcrs nt the Albany. The Cardew estate and iis revenues tielonged to his brother's child. .His first thought, to do him justke. was for his solicitor, the man who had been his friend and adviser in the years of obscurity j, a well as in the later days of hi/ prosperity.

"McnZitW is a good sort," he tub. Himself. "Not a word of the money he has advanced to me. Not n hint of it. And yet he knows that, he is responsible for If. and thut he a ill probably have to refund it out < f his own pocket and trust to me «<>

repay him when I am able, which 1 fear won't be very soon. Ibit it is not much, after all. The cost oi the alterations at Jletjchcoiubc won't count : the wines and" horses and other purchasers there, and this furniture heie, stand for ready asstt*So my actual indebtedness, ursecured, will lie a comparatively siiiull amount."

The solicitor's suggestion to truce the past life of George Cardew's wife was repugnant lo Geoffrey. He attached no importance to i», and Jismissed it with brief consideration. No good could conn* of such a search, unless it could he proved that the woman had another husband alhc when she married George, and that was 100 rtmot-ly, widely improbahl" i<> be thought of seriously. A* for the strn-t legal :(> of the marriage- •crcmonj, ami ill--Bound title of his broth.r's child to the succession. Gioffrey wn-< only too well «-ati«.iVd thn'. there was no chance of finding a llaw in either. "It is* the natural result." he reflected, bitterly, "'of Gi.-orge's malicious nml re\engeful disposition. oi the dielike he has shown towards me f-ver since I w«t n boy. Yes. it is nil a« clear as da>light. I s-o through it. He took delight in conscaling the birth of his Kon. knowing that 1 would thus look forward to inheriting Ileechcomhe some day. And the il'lay in bringing the child forward was a part of his designs concched liefore his death. He meant that J should enter into full possession of the property, taste the sweets of fortune for a brief time. and then be pitched back into the old life of rcs|iectable poverty. Poor Gcorne ! I wonder if he knows how thoroughly he has succeeded '-' His* iii'jitcy brought him no happiness ond I think he envied me my good health and spirits and my bachelor existence. I shall soon follow him. |KThaps\ At this hour io-morrow I may l-e lying cold and stiff, v. ilit a bullet soniewliero in my anatomy. Brian evidently means to ilo his worst. It is a barbarous custom, duelling. un-English and out of date: but I have do choice in the matter."

A mental pict urc of the coming ordeal disturbed CJeofTrey. nml on the hwh of it dashed a sudden an.l vivid recollection of four line* 01 Torrana's legacy to the oifHpring of his treacherous friend :

Ko peace nor joy nor quie' I'fShall male h ir of f'ardew km.-,-. : But hitter cup and blood\ stii;.Shall spirit crush and pride biii.y low,

"It is more than j>trui»;e." h<- '«>l<i himself. "Jn the few weeks Mint I bavo been fceir of the fardels !he words of the prophecy ha\elcvn fulfilled, excepting the bloody strif-. And that.' too. Is looming near, if k means the duel. But lam no longer the beir, and if Hum-.: is anything in the Cum? it wilt fall on t.eurgc't innocent child, which Heaven forbid." With such dismal thoughts lor company, with Wtt-r retrospect ion of of his ruined hopes. Geoffrey sfienl the hours that elapsed IWor- th<» arrival of Jules Ihiponl. Not ten minutes later came the man whom Brian had deputed to act for him. This os John Connor, a >oung Irish landlord, who had aNo a property beyond H«mp.*-lcad Il'-uil*. and resided mostly in Knglaiid. tt'wffrey rccchcd him with chilling and formal courtesy, anil Ih-n. taking hli hat and gloves, ho left Uv? two together, and went out into Ihe glorious sunlight bustle of Piccadilly. He hailed a cab. and drove to the solicitor's ollices in Chancerylane, where he was informed that Archibald lleti/ics was not in town. ••Has hj« gone, to Bccchcom'ie ?" he fnqulred. '•So, sir.*' the cKnk re|.|i.-d. 'He Jfl In 'Scotland. His wife Ins las-il taken suddenly iil theie. and be went up last night. He wished to sec you. Mr. Cardvw. ami e.Metoi you yesterday. I was iu lell yon that be hol>efl to be. back to-iiiormw. If there is Qn\thing 1 can do for you" ••'XoihjiJg. thank juu." said Geoffrey, "except to give Mr. Men-ivs» m>" sympathy." He returned to tie- Aliai.t tnJ found Jules I'-.p-m! wi.itiiM; io." bias ajonc, /'Kvertthing s'liW.'" be i.skrd. •'Everything, «':.r«:ew. It is to take place, with pi>tol«. mi-ly tomorrow nioruiue*, in u pi«ve oi wyods that lielongs to Connor's e.rtule near Finebh-y. The airang-m-uls, of course, are out of your bands. You will be guided by me. At four o'clock i will Ik.- in I'ic a<iMl... M the Albany eptram-e. with a cab." "I w\\\ be naiiv, .lui- *." <Tp !.•«• Co'.: ''■' ■'<>■