Lady Trebor's Secret, OR THE MYSTERY OF CECIL ROSSE.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 275, 1 December 1877, Page 4

Lady Trebor's Secret, OR THE MYSTERY OF CECIL ROSSE.

[By Mi:;.;. llAKUirr Lewis.] CHA FT! HI XLY.— contd. * { It. i , i,'— Mugpossible to Iceen the mat;.. r Mi '.manm' irae th.se j'uiir women,” li.o younger Miss Ma> Do igai. “ Gr tchen, cornu this way. I Icn- i.j whaye writycr idler to. lie irf just i.uo.u Grech n ’.r.' 1 :•,•!• hand to hor heart, ii- r rii;. - ;; A off Gee was trauMigine I with her ey ami reli'f. “ Mr Gra.i All !‘ she gasped. I’ullcril si", jiis face fn a stern ami rMid expression, lie arose and moved n step i-., iho oM womr.ii, and tiic lipid; ib-i dll’ upon 'his florid Caro and Jong sandy beard and full, heavy features Groich m ininotl p:m'. She had expected to behold Liu; dark, thin visage of Craflon, She recognised Pubord at the first glance, and a thrill oi terror, uua ecou ni;d> 1 o to her ei f, si ll ce s! ic dld not suspect hiiis of being the secret enemy of Miss Force, vent through her at the recognition. “Is lib the companion of my poor niece ?' ; ached Puiford coolly. “ This is she !” replied MacDougah “ Slic ca's hersd’ the servant o’ Miss Fosse. The Lv/a seem to think the vod o’ each ithcr !” “ They did at tho voL’eat,” said Jarvis. “ It Vi as si singular attachment for t'vo as ;i:ver met fill they met n my a.syhn.i, when Misr; Fosse was brought [here. The old voman had ben there many years—a charily padeit.” Gmlehcn looker! from Jarvis to Mr Pin ibid with a viid appeal. Pul lord's y ;l( . c Wity a study at that ' moment. Ire had schooled himself to the {ask lie J.a.l in hand. The sternness and rigid;;;.' bed deserted Ids features : ho look' d compassionate, kindly, vondering. lie regarded the poor old voman as if she had been an utter stranger to him, and shrank High! :y from her as it he considered her a dangerous maniac. G retch cn vac bevildercd by Lie mixed expression of Puiibru a countenance, but, imii'i! Thou a!), by Ids unhmked-ibr presence in licit lonofy Highland farmhouse. “ Mr Pul ford !” she exclaimed. “ It don't o-.'ova possible ! Y.on here, sir 1 Oh, sir, 1 don't know how it happen.-, that yon arc here, unless you have disco.mM the treachery that ’was practised upon ray young mistress ! I was sure that yon and Lady Trevor would make some inquiry’ after my poor Miss Cecil—” “ 1 don’t understand you, my good wnuan/’ interrupted I‘nkord. “ You have mistaken a:y name. I am air Craflon 1” Grutehon staggered back apace. “ Co you deny that you arc the gentleman vc sr.w afe Lady Trevor’s house ?” she exclaimed sharply. “ Do yum deny that you are Mr Fullbrd, and that you met ns at Gravesend and pat us on board the yacht ? Do you deny—” i'Tiifovd pul uji his hand in a gesture thn t silenced her. “ My good woman,” lie said coolly, I never saw you b dure in my life !” Crelclioa put up one hand toiler liead, and st.iod annua d. “1 d/or crcatm e!’’ said Fullbrd. “ olio's mad, doctor—nnul as a March hare !” Creiciii-ii slued for ono moment, wild raid in model m..-., i;er iacc white, her breath grasping. Pul A Hi’s denial-of ever having s*. on her before ovonvholmod her with a run cement and consternation. She saw that the Mpclffingais began to regard her askance, Bhe o'cnprebeudod her own peril and that of her young mistress, new that Fini'ord hat! espoused the cause of Jarvis, hut she gave no thought to it. A flood of suspicion poured suddenly in upon tiio old woman’s soul. Jdho drew up her heavy old figure; her withered fa Go kindled ; her gray old eyes Hashed like drawn steed in tiro sunlight; a mighty indignation took possession of her. “ I sec I’’ she cried, her voice ringing through the kitchen, pointing her Jong and bony loridinge.r at PuU'ord with stern accusing. “ You arc in league with Jarvis. You arc ids employer! It is you, Mr PuU'ord who are the secret enemy of my young mistress. It is you who cause her to be taken to Black Lock—you who plotted to destroy her life—you v.lm bribed this wretch to kill her! Coward! Murderer! Assassin! I have found you out at last! CHAPTER XLY I, MBS I'KTKIIS’ VISIT. Lady Trevor sat alone iu her morningroom, ft was the morning after her visit to 1 ho theatre. Mr Fill ford had already started for Scotland, and the widow was meditating darkly upon the p;obablo success of his nefarious scheme, and the reward she meant to bestow upon him in lieu of her hand iu marriage. She was thus engaged, when a servant entered with the announcement that a poor woman named Peters AVishcd to see her. “ If you please, my lady,” she said, “ the w.'imm says as her business is mar important, and as you’d sec her T "u km:who A" w. This is her : J ievem. ;i n: xr daintily touched fee ecim.sttuuard, and her ladyship put up her gold-mounted eye-glass

to .survey it. Ehe read simply these '.voids : “Mrs Sarah Peters, of Baden-Baden, wishes to speak about ‘ Mis Nelson.’ ” The card dropped to the floor. Lady Trevor's hand fell to her sidle. The savant did not see the frightened, sbirtled, desperate look that leaped to her eyes. The e was a brief sikn e. Ho retreated, trembling', toward the door, anticipating a storm of anger. But Lady Trevor said, very quietly, and he did not notice that her voice was strangely hoarse : “itis an old servant. Show her up, Tompkins, And see that lam not inter nip ted while she. is here.” Tompkins withdrew and ushered in the visitor. Then he retreated, closing the door behind him. Lady Trevor arose slowly, confronting Mrs Peters. The visitor was shabbily dressed, as on the previous day. Her gait was shambling, but she advanced boldly, her sickly face fin, hj >d with a sort of exultation which her ladyship did not fail to mark. “ Y’ou wished to see me, Mrs—ah— Mrs Peters,” said Lady Trevor, pushing the card into vLw with the too of a rosetted slipper, and regarding it again with her eyeglass. “ J wished to see yon, Mrs Nelson, otherwise Lady Trevor,” said Mrs Pete i s. Lady Trevor stalled. “ What do you moan by calling me Mrs I'salson ?” slit* demanded. “ That was the name I knew yon by, in Germany, fifteen years ago. Y’ou seem to have jorgotton me, madam.” “ You are laboring under some strange mistake. You have taken me for some ono else, Mrs Peters.” “ No, I haven't. I could never forget them eyes. Y’ou look hardly a year older than you did then, Mrs .Nelson—” “ 1 am Lady Trevor—be good enough to remember that!” said her ladyship, imperiously, “ it’s natural for mo to call you by the name you told me was your’n,” said Mrs Pe tors, seaiir.g herself upon a low, marquise chair, and stretching out her large, ill-shod Icet upon the polished silver fender, with the a‘r of one very much at homo. “ I saw yon. iu theparky y eslorday, a-riding inyonr carriage, and dressed to kill, looking like a doll that's made to wear lino clothes and bo carried about. And 1 sat there on. a bench in these here clothes, a-lookinp; on at the hue folks, jist as if I was made of some dreadful ini'erV.r clay.” “ Y’ou saw me ?” said Lady Trevor, forcing herself to speak calmly. “ And so you resolved to come and ask me tor help ? Js that what you want to say ?” “ T hat is what 1 thought yesterday,” replied Mrs Peters, sullenly. “ But since then I’vc got more light. Do you suppose that, because I’m poor, I’ve got no natural feeling ? 1 want to ask you about, the child. Don’t ask what child, if you try to play off ignorant, and that you are not the woman i knew at Baden-Baden as Mrs Nelson, I’Jl go to Lord Lt. -Leonards, as is your grand fa ther, and ask him where the child is.” Lady Trevor sat down in her chair suddenly, as if deprived of strength. Her hard and desperate eyes were turned away from Mrs. Peters’ inquisitive gaze, but the visitor saw that the lady’s lips sot themselves together in a fierce, tense line, and that the lady’s brows contracted in an ominous frown. There was a long silence between the pair, Mrs Peters toasted her feet on the lender and watched the steam arising from her wet shoes, and now and thou fixed a curious glance upon Lady Trevor, who sat like a statue, with that fixed frown upon her brows, and her set lips strangely silent and motionless. iu truth, she was struggling with emotions such as the visitor could never have understood. Her soul was the the scene of conflicting passions, terror, anxiety, fear, and despair. She was trying to consider how best to deal with, this new trouble assailing her—how to rid herself of this woman, whose tongue must bo silenced. fTO Jill COXTINUKD.J

WANGANUI STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY (Limited). capita 1,t30,003. ; In three thousand Shares at. Tex Pouxds cadi, on which it is proposed to call up :C5 per Share, as follows, viz;—los on application, and 10s on allotment, after which monthly calls will be made of not exceeding- 5s per .share. I’UOVISIOXAL DTKECTOIIB. G. l r . Lethbridge, Esq.; if. 11. Jackson, Esq.; J, G. Sharpe, Esq. ; W. D. Shaw, Esq.; J. L. Stevenson, Esq.; John Anderson, Esq.; A. Barns, Esq., (of Barns and Wilson); John Duncan, Esq., (of Duncan and York); John Bennie, Esq.; if. C. Earle, Esq.; John Davidson, Esq., (of Seaton and Davidson); J. Jones. Esq.; (ot J ones s*.nd Walker); C. S. Cross, Esq.; James Bain, Esq.; Geo. A. Hurley, Esq.; James Dnigan, Esq.; James Laird, Esq.; D. Murray, Esq. ; James Brown, Esq,; John Baliance, Esq., M.H.Ik BAX K E!!S. Bank of New Zealand. KOLICTTOK. C. 11. Bmiase, Esq. IiIiOKEII. John S. Capstiek. PROSPECTUS. THE growing want of a local Steam Navigation Company on an extended basis, has become so pressing, that a number of Gentlemen largely intercsled in the trade and commerce of Wanganui and its surrounding district, have decided upon inviting the public to join them in their efforts to provide for the above wants. It will be seen from the list of Provisional Directors, that the promoters arc men whoso co-operation and support in such an undertaking will go far towards ensuring the largo measure of success it is anticipated the Company will achieve. As an advantageous investment, a consideration of the following facts will clearly demonstrate its bonajitles. It is proposed to purchase the steamers “St. Kilda” and “ YVallabi,” belonging to the “ St. KildaSteam Navigation Company,” and to keep them in the live stoc.t trade of the port ; and either to purchase the “ S.S. Clyde,” or some suitable steamer for the Manawatn, Kangitikei, and Patca trade. For Hie Wellington trade, it is proposed that a steamer capable of carrying 150 tons of cargo, and a sufficient number of passengers, on a maximum draft of seven feet, at a moan speed of 12 knots, to be procured. It is of the greatest importance Lo Wanganui and the surrounding districts, that the live stock trade of iho port should he properly provided for, and il is with a view to this object that the jvroposod purchase of the “kt. Kilda” and “ Wallabi” has been included in the programme of this Company, as the vessels in question are both profitably employed in carrying slock, and are in every way suited thereto. Their present owners have such faith in the success of the proposed Wanganui Steam Nav'g-ili ai Company, that they have signified their willingness to accept -100 shares as part payment for their vessels. Country settlers who are vitally interested in Iho live stock market, arc confidently appealed to for their support, as it is of the greatest importance to them that the means of export should bo permanently secured to tins port. ’With respect to the Manawatn, llangitikci, and Patoa trade, there can be no doubt but that it is of groat importance to the commercial community here and in the different ports in question, and it is also certain that a good boat will pay in such a trade, especially when it is worked in connection with ihe southern trade of iho Company. Overtures for (lie purchase of the “ S.S. Clyde” will ho made, and if unsuccessful, it will remain for the shareholders to decide upon what steps shall bo taken to procure a sail able steamer for the trade in question. The large amount of goods and passengers now being carried by the Wellington steamers, is quite sufficient in itself to warrant the floating of a local Steam Navigation Company, as it is manifest ihe paying of so much money to outside proprietors, helps to drain Wanganui of a very considerable amount of capital, which, if kept in the place, would materially assist its more ’rapid progress. At present the maritime interests of Wanganui arc not ns well conserved as they might be, as the YVeliingion trade is at times greatly retarded, owing to the insufficient provision made for its requirements, by the outside companies, into whose bauds the monopoly has passed. A local ly owned steamer, equal to the requirements of the trade, with good accommodation, capable of making the average passage lo Wellington, and vice verm , in eight hours, would prove a great boon to the public here, and would with the large measure of support already assured to the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company, be always profitably employed. The ” Wallabi” and“ St. Kilda” by bringing coal as return freight from Westport and Grey mouth, would help to cheapen the cost of working the other steamers, and would, when the Wanganui Gas Company starts active operations, have an extended market for their surplus coals. In fact there can bo no doubt but that the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company, if fairly supported, must prove not only a highly profitable inveslmcnt to its shareholders, but of great benefit to the whole community of Wanganui, and those ports embraced iuthc circle of its operations. The public of the West Coast Gold Fields ports are cordially invited to assist in the formation of the Wanganui Eteam Navigation Company, as it is greatly to their advantage to keep open the communication between the stock-producing ports of this Island, and the coal fields of the other, and to keep up that mutual interchange of staple products so necessary to both communities. The promoters in conclusion trust that their efforts to secure for YVanganui the benefits so sure to follow the successful Heating of such an undertaking, will be largely seconded by the public generally, as i he more extended the interests embraced iu the Share list, the greater the measure of success in store for the Company. Early application for Shares is invited in order that no time may be lest in commencing business. On sufficient shares being called for, a general meeting of shareholders will be called, and all necessary steps for the formation of a Company on a permanent basis discussed and decided upon. Forms of application may be had on application to Mr J olm S. Capstiek, Broker, Caxton Chambers, Victoria Avenue, Wanganui ; W. Dale, agent, Carlyle ; W. A. G. Winchcombc, Wavcrley ; and J. Fisher, Waitotara.