UNKNOWN

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 608, 4 October 1913, Page 6

UNKNOWN

MSkb Tr« 1 7 :uk^BHH| ■■■■■■V^l^froonj,° c;s., jSHHHBE H| PART 39. ■SEney shall not do that. HBr They insulted you cruelly when Hrey thought you poor and unknown. I'oii shall owe no consideration to your title and your father's wealth." f Lady Gothwic's hopes of rest were rudely destroyed. Soon alter the letter was written the carriage from the rectory stopped at the door, and Mr. and Mrs. Tats came to make a diplomatic call. Then followed Dr. and Mrs. Stanley, with words of genuine friendliness ; and following them Mrs. Elderly and her daughters —all honied compliments. When the last of the coterie had departed Lady Gertrude Noel turned to her mother. '•'Summer friends, mamma !" she said. "We have no great welcome for them. Had they heard that we were beggars, one and all —excepting Mrs. Stanley, and perhaps Mrs. Elderly—they would have declared ' that they always thought so—that there was something very low, after all, in my face and yours.' What is the world worth, after all, mamma?" "Not much—at least, that portion of it, Gertie. We must be thankful that it is not all alike." Perhaps the most curious spectacle seen in Carsbrook that day was the face of Mrs. Poyntz as she read the answer to her letter. CHAPTER LXIV. Lord Gothwic made the best of his time. His first visit on reaching London was paid to Lady Mackin, who for some time was absolutely incredulous as to the trnth of his story. "Mrs. Morton Lady Gothwic, and my favourite, Mabel, Lady Gertrude Nod, your heiress ! I cannot believe it. lam trying as hard as I can, but it is impossible." She was obliged to believe it at last, and oSered him the most sincere congratulations.

'•'l sappose," she said, "that even we old and dfear friends must not inquire into the cause of this long separation ?" "No," he replied. " I alone was to biame, and if I can induce my wife to forget the past it concerns no one else."

He then went to his lawyers, and never w«re men more astonished. You have been married twenty years and more, my lord, yet we never knew it. How could that be?"

The sight of ttoe marriage certificate removed all doubts as to the legality of the marriage ; then they, too, were loud in their congratulations.

"It will save you, at least, all trouble of helping to decide on conflicting claims," they said, ready to bless the name of Lady Gertrude Noel. "We should have had at least fifty disputing the inheritance."

Tben there was the Brftish public to be made acquainted with the tale. A few da*« after Lord Gothwic's return to Labdon all the leading journals of the day had a long paragraph headed "Romance in High Life," teKing how the present Earl of Goihwie, generally supposed to be unmarried, had really been married twenty years ago, but owing to family circumstances his wife and himself had lived apart. The reason that basl separated them existed no longer, and it was said that the Coontess of Gothwic was one of the most beautiful aad accomplished women in England. It was understood that Ladfy Gertrude Noel. Ms lordship's onJty child, would .succeed him. The paragraph was very nicely worded, :s,nd peopk-. read it with unmitigated, wsaacr. rto h*; was married, after all. "this slippery earl, who had flirted 30 many years with the fainjst and noblest girlt, in th€ land. . "Many ambitious dreams faded ou the '.day that paragraph appeared. It was. strange how little society concerned itself as to what were the family circumstances leading to such a separation, it ; wks sufficient for the world in ge&erra? to know that such a marriage had taken place ; -it troubled itself no further. One and aii of the.se papers were sent by the ea-ri lo Beechgrove. He wrote constastijr i*o Gertie, who described Mrs. Puyssia's letter and the number of great amusement. He h«i\t ah-£«dy made what atonement ke> coul'd : his next proceeding was to n&aJie his will. Then. when, he had doae ail that he could think e->f. he went to Florence fialston. Lady Raiston was dead, and Bethany H;-..!) lv,i'i pa-ssed into strange hanj&s. Florence was still unmarried : they were-- no light words that she sasd to herself when she declared that love aati romance were all ended for ber. It- was typical of him that he never thought as to whether his visit azxd its object would be rr.iinful fx> her or not. Twenty-two years ;igv> h:is whole sou! was bent upon wiiming the young actress for Ms wife ;. now it was equally lie:!.'!, "upon golting*, her back again. Miss Kaisi-oa tsas st. ayisi'v; in her own house to CJerltorr. I'hrM- Gardens. There he -went in search of her. Sbe was st*t is-uch palter .■:<!, this beau-tifirl, grtscious wo man, whose life had beea sacrificed to the vain whim of a va-in Eaa. r fb.ere were no lines on the fair, faigh-b reci face ; the lovely eyes were as brij» ht as ever. She was at home win ft! he called, and very to see aim. was ao longer in love v, "ith "him, and Wes 0 psraajcv #e?gr hear! Wy ashamed

peerless, both of them." CHAPTER JjXV. ''l am very glad, for your own sake," Miss Kalston said, gently ; and Lord Gothwic never eveu remembered that the subject might be u painful one to her. '■' She had forgiven me." he continued, "long ago ; but she says —and, jh ! Florence, I fear sometimes it is true— that her love is dead, aud nothing can make it live again ! I believe one of the reasons why she will not hear of coming back to me is that she has heard something of my admiration for you." He did not notice that the sweet lace before him grew pale as death. "How could sne possibly hear that '!" she asked, looking up shyly at him.

"You know that ypung kinsman of mine, Sir Edward Peckham ? He was staying with me years ago ; he was quite a boy then, and he heard me speak of you. I remember, 2vcn, giving him one of your portraits, and he, it seems, admires my daughter, Lady. Gertrude Noel. He told her, never dreaming who she was, something of this rumour." "And your wife believed it ?"

"I suppose so. I have fought hard, Florence, but I could win nothing ; now it seems to me you are so sweet, so gracious, so winning., that that which my wife has refused me she may grant to you. Will you see her for me, and use all your sweet woman's eloquence to soften her hrart to me ?"

"Go to her house, do you mean, to plead your cause ?" said Miss ttalston, shrinkingly. "Oh, Lord Gothwic, how can Ido that ? It would seem so officious, so interfering."

"It would not, Florence," he said ; 'you are my best friend. I know that you will be my daughter's friend. Why should you not try to influence my wife in my favour?" tthe was not willing at first i but few people resisted Lord Gothwic for long. She consented, and then he declared he was quite happy, and told her his whole story, and Florence grew strangely interested in that noble and beautiful woman be called his wife. "How could you ever leave her ?" she asked. "I cannot understand it." "I can tell you, Florence, as I told her. I was weak, cowardly, false, ; fraid of poverty, and as unworthy cf her as man could be. Yon are so winning, so persuasive, yon are so noble yourself, that you will find some chord to touch a heart as nolle as your own. Will you try your best for me.?" "My very best," she said. "Unity is strength !" cried Lord Gothwic. " They are sure to lore you, Florence —my wife and daughter. You will stay with them some days, perhaps. Write and .tell me what progress you make. I will join you, and together we shall prevail. Oh, Florence, if I can but get her back, I will be so good ; I will build a church in thanksgiving—l will be a good man all my life."

The result of which conversation was that Miss Ralston started on the day following for Carsbrook. She did wonder a little how they would receive her ; but wonder, embarrassment, and everything else died away in excess of admiration when sh€ stood in the presence of Lady Gothwic and her daughter. Does soul read soul ? It must be so. These two women —both so noble—understand each other a,i once.

"I need not beat about the bush, Lady Gothwic," said Miss Ralston ; "plain, honest words are always the best. I am here for two reasons ; the first is,, because your husband honours me by considering me one oi his best and truest friends, therefore he asked me to plead his cause with you ; the second reason is that you have heard some rumour that Lord Gothwic admired me. Let me tell you the truth. My mother and Lord Gothwic's parents were very eager for such a marriage ; but Lord Gothwic himself, with his own lips, took me into his confidence and told me he was married. Does that look as though he had been false tc you for my sake ?" "No," replied Lady Gothwic, " it does not." "Let me go further still," said Miss Ralston, her beautiful face al aflame with eagerness. "Let me saj more. As Lord Gothwic's advocate. I must own there is no excuse for his conduct—it was unpardonable : but I must, also add that I do not believe in his own heart he has ever ceased to love you. He has been popular, feted in society, made much of ; he has been on the Turf. In- it no stranger to card tables: he has. I should not hesitate to say. beer guiltv of all kinds of fashionable lollies : hut, Lady Gothwic. 1. v.-horn people have called your rival. I hear this testimony fur him. that he never replaced you in his love or forgot, you in his <x:a-rt." She saw that her words had made a deep impression on Lady Gothwic. and thought it. better not to say too much. "I am a selGiuvii.ed guest," sin: said. "Lord Gothwic thought you would like my society for Uvn oi three days." There was nothing they could Jiki tetter. .Miss Ralston v r as charmed with the stately grsce ::-;::« b-.r.yuty of

told n_m pit l anecdotes of him hj) _ i(. u iis courage, bis w 1 in u 1 i 1 Mi Kvelyu, 1 u> < ih\ ) ugh she reeog■ [ bin i' of her youth. i 1 I u i \ i ; ' i report pro- ! iin b ii liv of her visit i i 1 i-in ' n 1 \ reached Beech - i \t Lord tlothwie, uidhi'ook House, i.wiuion. t(i Lady Gothwic, Beech-u-rove. Carsbrook.-—Come by the next train. Evelyn, and bring Gertie with yon. Ask Miss Ralston to come aiso. I have had an accident. Lose no time." They looked at each other in blank dismay. "We must go at once," said Florence ; "he would not have sent that telegram unless he had been badly hurt." 1177. CHAPTER L.XVI. Oldbrook House, the town mansion of the Gothwics, stands near Hyde Park. It is one of the most beautiful houses in town. Lord Gothwic, who liked his London residence, had refurnished it. He had built large conservatories, which led from the drawing-room, and were filled with the choicest of flowers. He had lavished money upon it. On this May morning there was the usual bustle and noise in the London streets ; the sun was shining brightly ; the world seemed full of sunshine, and warmth, and fragrance ; and yet, in the most stately chambec of that stately mansion, a scene was passing that bright May day that spoke with a thousand voices of the utter vanity of everything in this world. All his wealth, his stately mansion, his heaps of gold, his timehonoured title, his long pedigree, his great personal beauty, nothing could help him, nothing could save him. Now all was useless, for the Earl of Gothwic lay dying of a terrible injury, and the doctors had told him there was no hope. "If you have worldly matters to settle, my lord," said the doctor, "attend to them at once." And the earl turned to him with a smile.

"You think I am in a had way ; I do not. I feel absolutely no pain, only a strange kind of lightness, as though I were made of air. You are a prophet of evil, doctor." "Is there anyone in this world you would like to see ?" asked the doctor. "If so, send for them at once." "I should like to see my wife and child. Not that I believe you doctor ; still it will be an excellent reason for sending for them. Ah !" he continued, rapidly, "you did not know, Turner, that I had wife and child. My wife —God ble;;s her !i™ the noblest and most beautiful woman in England ; my daughter, the fairest and sweetest girl. Send for them, by all means,, in my name. Miss Ralston is visiting them." So the telegram we have read ivas despatched. When the servant, with the folded paper, was leaving the room, Lord Goth wit: said : "I was going there this morning when this accident happened."

"How did it happen, my lord ?" asked the doctor quietly.

"I was in plenty of time when *I reached the station ; but 1 lingered at the bookstall, and did not notice the whistle. I saw the train was only slightly in motion, so I jumped upon the carriage step. I did not see any danger—l did not, indeed ; nor can I tell how it happened. I fell between the platform and (.lie carriage. I remember giving a terrible cry ; and then I recollect no more until I found myself lying here. and saw your grave face by my side. I am not hurt, Turner—there is nothing wrong with my head ?" "No, my lord," replied the doctor.

Yet for all that, he knew that in a few hours he would be a dea.i man.

So the long, bright summer day passed. Other doctors came, and to all of them the Earl of Gothwic spoke with the same security. "He was a little shaken, and had a strange, numb sensation, but he would be all right in a few hours." Yet over the house, where magnificence and luxury remained paramount, there hovered this great, grim angel of death, with outstretched arm and heavy sword ready to smite.

Through the rose silk hangings the cheerful sun streamed in. He could hear the distant sound of rolling carriages. There was life, brightness and beauty all around him. Why should he think of death ? The fall had shaken him, and doctors were all alike. Never the least fear crossed him that they were right, and his hours were numbered. Nothing seemed so far away from him as death. Yet the doctors as they left his sumptuous chamber and consulted with grave faces in the library below, said :

"It was only a matter of a few hours. Recovery was utterly impossible ; the injury was a mortal one." Gradually the truth spread among the bewildered servants. There was a sound of weeping and mourning, for be had been good to his servants and v. :i s ueariy loved by them. The doci :.:•.-• hail given him until sunset--in! bniger. He smiled at iirsi, whi'u danger was mentioned; but Gne si range, numb feeling iu-civa.-i-d. and. il made him uneasy. id!, if Gvelyn ttuukl .'.ome ! Evelyn, his loving wife. Why,, the first Guich of her hands would heal him, the iirsi look at her face would re-stoi-r hint. flow many times did be rise his wistful -yes ; uid ask : "A IV 1 hey come ?" "Vh.uv i,;td not been time yet for the josiruey," ov "They will not be long now, my lord," was answered him. i'i'o be Co"! imied).