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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 277, 8 December 1877, Page 4

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

[By Mas. llauuet Lewis.]

CHAPTER XLVII. ' i. DE VASTATION. ■ rd-imncialiou of Air < •• . .■ ■.,■,■■[ 11,,e listeners, y ■. a . r.naVmnd terrible, j '- : a A-, v:.;ct, stolid people, ma.sui to s-.u-h di: play of passion Mitred t -c p-,1- (.1,1 man in alarm. Jarvis • ndre: led a step before the Hashing eyes 1 ami ‘.ii'rn seen.eng linger. Lulu ultoivl stood his ground apparently unmoved i by her recognition ol his vill.my and his enmity to Cecil. Act trio llush mat burned redly on his llmid chocks, the fierce light that cleaved to his eyes, _the quick compression of his lips, might have assured ids companions, had they noted these indications, that Ins wrath, still though it was, burned at a white heat. He held his anger with .stern and powerful control, ilo was so much master ol himself tmi tho even asoimied a pitying cEpi-m Am, regarding Grctchcn with apparent compassion. i'oor creature A ho saul calmly, “ this is terrible, Doctor. What plo 'van do for her warn siio is violent I’mc liiis T His empieyr As coolness restored Jarvis’s sell pm-session. i: Wo gon’-.dly lock her up in a padded room in Loose hero moods ! lie muttered. “ tjho’s uncommon dangerous V Puiford turmoil to his hostess, “Mrs Aiacl/oug'-ilp’ ho exclaimed, “I thought you decrue-1 the woman sane ? ’ Mr MacDougal regarded Grotchcn donblfuhy. Even firs MacDougal drew away from the old woman who seemed so*suddenly to have become an inum mile I'ary, ami had not a word to say in hue deAnce. “ My .good woman,” said Jarvis, m a so;it;;iiie, voice, addressing Greiehcu, who stiii stood in war-like altitude, struggling with her emotions, “ tins violence frightens these hero good people. Go up stairs —” “ And leave you and tins enemy of poor Miss Cecil to plot against her, exclaimed Grctchcn. “Mr MacDougal —madam —you will not give us up to these wretches 1" she pleaded wihhy. “ 1 tell yon they moan to kill Miss Cecil, ray pour young mistress, v. ho never harmed a worm. .For God’s sane, save her ! Turn these men out of your house, in. ileaveu’s name—” “ Hoot ! woman,” interrupted Maca, umvAy and rcbukinglv, with the air of one ueepjy scmuhUmed. “It becomes not sic Trail creatures as wo to bo sac laminar wi’ the nemos o’ holy things. Ifc is blasphemy to speak sic wards as yours. Cairn your passions, woman. r,u’ speak Ilia wards o’ trutu an’ soberness, an’ ye Icon them. ’ Grctchcn tried to calm herself, but her terrors held fail possession of her, and would not be restrained. “ 1 do not cure for myself,” she cried, 'A’snairingiv', “ but for my \ ovmg mistress. 'ibis mini is her enemy, fie sent ns to .Ac iiie.sk Lock by an net of treav’ev. 'i, ] us. Lending that lha yacht would take ns to Yorkshire, ilo hired this man Jarvis to kill us. lie is not Air Cralton—he is not the gentleman 1 wrote to—” The fanner’s patience gave way. “ Hoot ! woman,’ he. sa.id again. “Do ye deny this mon to bo your friend ? When lie cam’ frac Lunuou at your bidding ? There is nau post ony unco a week ; the dock ter conldua send for him, as the post left before tho dodder cam. What brought him here but for your summons ? How cam he to ken your presence here bu fc for your letter ? I begin to think my sol’ your brain is craekit. Yo dinna speak the wards o’ souse or wisdom.'’ Gretchen scanned the faces around her with a last vain appeal They ai! looked coldly upon her, even Airs MacDougal. These Highland people lived such quiet lives, free from warring passions, remote Irom knowledge ol darker crimes, that Grctchcn’s wild words scorned to thorn the ravings of lunacy. “ tSho seemed quiet cnoo’ till the night,” mattered MaclJougui. “ I w.idua hao bvlievitsho could hao gang on like this to a, plcasant-spokon gentleman, that cam Irao Lunuou at her ain bidding.” Grotchcn drew a long, liard breath. “ There is no use my saying any more,’ she said, hopelessly. “ Ton will not believe me, any ol you. lint I warn vou .hat Miss Cecil and I will not go with these men. Mr Pullbrd, 1 will rouse; iho hamlet. I will scream for help. 1 will command you to prove the charge of lunacy against, us. Wo will soil our lives dearly. Yon—" “ I do not think my niece is safe in the same room with this person,” saiu Pol ford, smoothly. “ »Sho ought to be locked up in a, room by horsoif.” Grctchcn beat a precipitate retreat to tho door. “ You Mali not separata mo from my young mistress !” she Hashed. “ You shall never taka ns from this house alive, Mr PnFord —! Miss Cecil and I will dio together, if need be. but not by your hand, you cowardly assassin !”

Not trusting liorsclf to speak another word, fearing' that her enemies should seize upon her and prevent her return to her mistress, old Gretchen ik'd up the stair to Cecil's chamber, and the listeners heard her barricade the door.

“ I think no harm will come to Miss [fosse through the. old woman’s being with her,” said Jarvis. “ Miss Ifosse always soothes and quiets the old erect nr when these here streaks come

“ You have, seen the condition of this poor demented person for yourself, Mr MacDougal,” said Halford, quietly turning to lus host. 11 1 do not know wind edict her denunciation of me may have upon your mind, but 1 trust myself without misgivings to your calm and unbiassed judgment. As Use post leaves hero but once a week, ami as it left bearing the old woman’s letter, before the doctor’s arrival, I think it is dearly proven, as you say, that I came in response to that letter. How else, as you also say, could I have known that my niece is here ? Still, although it is clearly proven that 1 am Mr Cralton, and the unde of Mis Ifosse, 1 desire to establish myself thoroughly in your con lido nee, and to refute the charges of this crazy old woman. Is there a physician near hero ?”

“ Nane nearer (lian thirty miles.” “Wo will send for a physician tomorrow, nevertheless,” said Pul lord, calmly. “1 will prove to you by a medical man that my poor niece is insane, it is a wonder Hurt she has not betrayed her men Lai condition by some act of violence as Hurt poor old woman has done.”

“ Wad yc wish to see the young lady 10-night ?” asked Airs MacDougal. “ No madam, I prefer to wait until morning. lam tired after my journey, and fool scarcely' able to encounter another seen;. 1 of violence,” said Pul ford . “ But m the morning 1 will visit Hie dear child. Poor girl ! she used to bo very fond of her undo in the old davs.”

He drew a long sigh and resumed his seat by tho lire. Tho family were seated also, "but their tasks wore not again taken up. They wore ail anxious and excited, all seriously troubled and oppressed with vague iorbodings. Pullord exerted himself to make an agreeable impression upon them, and in this he succeeded. He told them a very pathetic story of his ‘ niece s’ disappointment in love and consequent insanity', drawing largely' upon- an imagination which was unusually' prolihe and vivid upon this occasion. Mrs MacDougal wiped her eyes frequently, and Elspoih more than once sobbed aloud. Tho pretty and sorrowful romance which Pullord wove

about their young guest tilled thorn witn tender pity for her and sympathy for him. Before he had talked tin hour lie had completely won their confluence. “ I should like to retire early,” lie said, at last, desiring to leave them while their good impression was at its height, “ since you are so good as to keep me to-night.” [to he continued.J

WANGANUI STEAM NAVIGATION CO M PANY (L ijuted) .

CAPITAL, £30,003.

In three thousand Shares at Ten Pounds each, on which it is proposed to call up £5 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. PUD VI SIGNAL. DIUECTOUS. G. Y. Lethbridge, Esq.; P. lb Jackson, Esq.; ,T. XI. 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 Bonnie, Esq.; Ih C. Earle, Esq.; John Davidson, Esq., (of Seaton and Davidson); J. Jones, Esq.; (of Jones and Walker); C. S. Cross, Esq ; Janies Bain, Esq.; Geo. A. Hurley, Esq.; James Dnigan, Esq.; James Laird, Esq.; D. Murray, Esq. ; James Brown, Esq,; John Balhmce, Esq., M.H.U. HAKKKUS. Bank of New Zealand. 80LIC1T0I1. C. 11. Borlase, Esq. IIKOKEU. John S. Capstick.

PROSPECTUS,

THE growing want of a local Steam Navigation Company on an extended bads, has become so pressing, that a number of Gentlemen largely interested 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 ot Provisional Directors, that tlie promoters arc men whoso co-operation and support in such an undertaking will go far towards ensuringthe large measure of success it is anticipated the Company will achieve. As an advantageous investment, a consideration of the following facts will clearly demonstrate its honajidai.

It is proposed to purchase the steamers “St. Kilda” and “ Wailahi,” belonging to the “ St. Kildo Steam Navigation Company,'’ and to keep them in the live stock trade ot, t he port ; and cither to purchase the “ S.S. Clyde,” or some suitable steamer lor the ManawaUi, liaugitikei, and Eaton trade. For the Wellington trade, Jt is proposed that a steamer capable of carrying 150 tons of cargo, and a sui'lieient iumnbcr ot passengers, on a maximum draft of seven feet, at a mean speed of 12 knots, to be procured. It is of the greatest importance to Wanganui and the surrounding districts, that the live stock trade of the port should be properly provided for, and it is with a view to this object that the proposed purchase of the “bt. Kilda” and “Wailahi” has boon included in the programme of ibis Company, as the vessels in question are both proiitahiy employed in carryingstock, and are in every way suited thereto. Their present owners have such faith in the, success of the proposed Wanganui Steam Navigation Company, that they have signified their willingness to accept 400 sluircs as part payment for their vessels. Country settlers who arc vitally interested in the 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 be permanently secured to this port. With respect to the Manawatu, HuugUikei, and Patea trade, there can bo no doubt but that it is of great 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 the southern trade of the Company. Overtures for the purchase of the “ S.b. Clyde” will be made, and if unsuccessful, it will remain for the shareholders to decide upon whatstopsshall bo taken to procure a suitable steamer for the trade in question. The large amount of goods and 1 passengers now being carried by the Wellington steamers, is quite sutlicient in itself to warrant the floating of a local Steam Navigation Company, as it is manifest the paying of so much money to outside proprietors, helps to drain Wanganui of a very considerable amount ot capital, which, if kept in the [dace, would materially assist its more rapid progress. At present the maritime interests or Wanganui are not as well conserved as they might be, as the Wellington trade is at limes greatly retarded, owing to the insufficient provision made for its requirements, by the outside companies, into whose hands the monopoly has passed. Alocally ownedsteamer,equal to the requirements of the trade, with good accommodation, capable of making the average passage to Wellington, and vice vena, in eight hours, would prove a great boon to the public hero, and would with the large measure of support already assured*to the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company, be always profitably employed. The “ Wailahi” and “ St. Kilda”by bringing coal as return freight from Westport and Grcymonth, would help to cheapen the cost of working the other steamers, and would, when the Wanganui Gas Company starts active operations, iiavo an extended market for their surplus coals. In fact there can be no doubt but that the‘Wanganui Steam Navigation Company, if fairly supported, must prove not only a highly profitable investment to its shareholders, but of __ great benefit to the whole community of Wanganui, and those ports embraced in the circle of its operations. The public of the West Coast Gold Fields ports arc cordially invited to assist in the -formation of the Wanganui Steam 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 Wanganui the benefits so sure to follow the successful floating of such an undertaking, will be largely seconded by the public generally, as the more extended the interests embraced in 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 lost 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 bo had on application to Mr John S. Capstick, Broker, Caxfon Chambers, Victoria Avenue, Wanganui ; W. Date, agent, Carlyle ; W. A. G._ Winchcombe, Wavcrlcy j and J. Fisher, Waitotara.