CHAPTER XVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 42, 22 March 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER XVII.

"THE BRIDEGROOM MUST BE CHESTER HARRIS." Early the next day Chester Harris was at Mrs Inchbald's apartments inquiring for Miss Yerrington. Hartmann himself ushered him into the little private parlour appropriated to the party, and while he waited for Helena's appearance, entertained him most politely with a pleasant description of the route of their proposed journey throughout Great Britain and the Contin•nt. " I think Miss Yerrington will enjoy it very much," he said, presently, and added, with an air of the utmost artlessness, " So you knew our young lady in America ? I do not remember to nave heard her mention your name." " Quite likely. I am well aware that I can only recall the most unpleasant memories," returned Harris. "I am connected in her mind solely with this unfortunate affair. " Hartmann hazarded a prompt reply : " Ah, yes. I should like to hear the whole story from you. Of course one cannot press Miss Yerrington for explanations of painful reminiscences. I should like to hear your version exceedingly. Perhaps you will tell it to me after you have talked with her ?" " I am none too fond of the recital myself. I am getting sore and vexed on my own account," replied Chester Harris, in an impatient tone ; " but of course lam willing to answer your questions, that is, if Miss \errington does not object." " Certainly she will not do that ; but don't let me be intrusive. And here she comes. I wish she would not keep so sad and grave. Au revoir." And Hartmann dextrously bowed himself from one door as Helena entered at the other. Their conversation was nothing particularly significant. Helena could only reiterate her belief in Konrade Eai-l's separate identity. Nothing Harris could say shook her profound confidence in Conway Searle, and he rose to take his leave, chagrined, and it is possible a little startled by a vague but dawning belief in the truth of her convictions. "It is the most perplexing, unsatisfactory affair I ever meddled with," he said, discontentedly, as he drew on his gloves. "If it had not been for Sir Frederic I should have thrown up everything before this. He is quite jubilant to-day, and has, I really think, good foundation for bis hope of winning the Lady Hortense. I shall fix the time for my return in another fortnight, at all events. And I very much fear that I shall go back without any more definite proof than I have already found. And what are your plans, Miss Yerrington ?" "They trouble me sorely. My heart is yearning toward America. I should be very glad to accept your escort and occompany you on the next steamer. But Mrs Inchbald's wishes must be considered, and I ought not to leave her except she finds another companion. Sometimes I think, since I am here, I had best remain until at least she is ready to set out for the Continent. When I have decided I will let you hear from me." "I am going to take a little trip into Wales as cheaply as possible. An odd errand, and as futile probably as the other urges me ; but I mean to satisfy myself. Your courier would be just the man to set me straight, I suppose ?" " Undoubtedly. Shall I call him to confer with you ?" she answered, courteously, and rang the bell. And so, when Hartmann came, and was only too ready to be of service, Helena left him with Chester Harris. And the latter all unconsciously balanced accounts of indebtedness by disclosing Helena's whole story to the wily Frenchman, who managed so adroitly that he never suspected the man heard it for the first time. "I am afraid it won't be any use to wish you a pleasent journey, 5 ' said Hartmann, shrugging his shoulders in a Frenchman's significant way. "It is_ a dirty, smoky, disagreeable place, according to my way of thinking, only interesting to geologists and miners. I would get out of it as soon as possible if I were you." "It is precisely the coal mines that interest me. I have an old deed of a small tract of Welch land which was willed to my mother by an old discharged &oldier for whom &he cared benevolently in sickness. We sent once to inquire about it, and were told it was a worthless tract. But, seeing that I am so near, I promised father to look after it myself. No matter how small a &urn it brings, I come prepared to sell it to the first bidder. Thanks for your information. And now good-day. Look after Miss Yerrington's welfare, I beseech you. " "Alone and friendless !" chuckled Hartmann. " All the cards then play into my hand. We will see who wins. " Chester Harris went to his lodgings, and found the American mail in, and his letters waiting for him. He seized upon the one which bore Mary's precious chirography, murmuring : " This is fortunate. lam low in spirit, and there is nobody like Mary to comfort one. lam so thankful for one of her loving letters to cheer me up." And, with a smile on his lips, he broke open the letter. But he had scarcely read a line, when a cloud dropped suddenly upon his forehead, and scared away the smile with a wild look of amazement and consternation. Twice he laid down the letter and brushed his hand across his eyes as if some uncanny mist there gave false vision. Then a deep groan escaped him, and he read on fiercely, sternly, and ended with the low, despairing cry : •' Oh, my Mary ! my patient, self-sacrific-ing, noble-hearted Mary ! How have they tortured and persecuted you to bring you to this. Give you up to that cold, calculating brute ! Never, never !" And he paced the little room with fierce, impatient steps, his cheeks burning hot with anger, hie eyes flashing with indignation. "I shall go home at once. I will not have an hour's delay," he muttered, hotly, hurriedly seizing upon a steamer advertisement and examining its dates. " I will go back at once and show them that this jewel is not to be snatched away from me." And then a second thought brought a hot flush to his forehead. "But what can I say? Good heavens, what can I urge ? Here is a man, rich and unincumbered with drawbacks. He can save her mother's life, he* can give them both a home of ease and comfort. What have I

to offer to outweigh his pretensions? A true love, an honest heart, willing but empty hands, and years and years it may be of poverty and privation. Oh , M ary , Mary, am I an honourable man to hinder you ?" Two hours of bitter humiliation and anguish found him still fighting a battle ■with himself, and undecided what^ was his honourable duty in this woeful strait. "lama selfish wretch ! butl cannot lose Mary's love and the bright hope of my life," he muttered, drearily. ' ' I will hasten home at once. I will follow after no more will-o'-the-wisps. It would be folly to waste a single penny upon the journey to Wales. Three days more and I will be on the homeward voyage. I must see Mary. I must talk with her before I give her up. Poor hapless child, do I not know how much it will cost her likewise to break with me ? My darling, my darling, if it were only for you that I must fight single-handed, what heroic efforts I would make ! But there is the sick mother, and my bed-ridden father, and little sister! Heaven pity me ! Life never looked quite so dreary a battle before. I wonder what Sir Frederic Mildraay or this aristocratic young Earle would say to this alternative that presents itself to me? Truly we know little enough of one another's trials." The resolution to leave by the first steamer did something toward calming his perturbation. He sat down and wrote several letters that were necessary ; even began packing up the articles of wearing apparel lying carelessly about the bedroom, and finally threw himself upon the bed, only meaning to rest his aching head for a few minutes before going out to make known to Sir Frederic his change of purpose. He fell asleep, however, and scarcely stirred for nearly two hours, when he woke, with a low cry, out of a startling dream, his forehead beaded with perspiration, his hands trembling, his whole frame quivering with excitement. For a moment or two Harris stared around him, bewilderedly ; but when his faculties returned to him he drew one long breath, and exclaimed aloud, with a new energy in his look and voice : " What adreo.m ! I will take it as Heaven sent. I will go to Wales." For he had seen the old soldier in his dream with vivid distinctness that had hardly been possible for him to portray previously. He had come to him with a sad, solemn smile, and said : "You will go to Wales and get your mother's legacy. Be sure you go to Wales. " Chester Harris was not given to superstition, but something now impressed him deeply. He went to his desk, and took out the yellow, time-worn paper which gave Thomas Macdonald his claim to onetwentieth of a certain tract of land situated thus, and bounded so and so. Then he looked over attentively the shorter document, in straggling writing, which made poor old Tom's last will and testament devise and bequeath the only shred of possessions standing to his name to one Margaret, wife of James Harris, of a named town and State, of the United States of America. And still another paper proved his own right to Margaret Harris's mythical mine in Wales, about which she had so many times jested lightly. Then he took up his Bradshaw, and finding the hour of departure for an express train, quietly settled his portmanteau to be in readiness therefor. He wrote also two letters, both very brief, but since he knew not whither the new will-o'-the-wisp would lead, nor how long detain him, he meant to prepare for a prolonged absence. One was to Sir Frederic Mildmay. The other to Mary Converse, And it is only the latter that interests us. " Dear Mary : " You must not consider yourself released until you hear from me again. lam coming homo in the first steamer that leaves after my return from Wales, which I trust will be the very next, the same that takes this mail, only not being sure of it, I write this, to stay any further proceedings in case of my non-arrival. I have not given you up > ct, Mary, my darling, that is all I say now. "Ever yours, Chester." He folded and mailed the letters, still looking very grave and sad, but there was a fluttering hope in his heart that he scarcely dared acknowledge, but which kept him from despair. Midnight saw him steaming along in the train, making the best he might of hi 3 thirdclass accommodations. Another day, and he stood in the limits of the designated hamlet, and was surprised to find an enterprising village where he was led to look for an uninhabited waste. He hazarded but one more inquiry after his first question had been answered. " Was there a mine in such a vicinity ?" " Lord bless you, sir, yes, indeed, and one of the richest in these parts. The company began working five years ago, and it has built up this whole village since then." Chester Harris grew a little paler, and it was a husky voice which presently said : " Will you tell me where I can find the president, or its board of directors." And when the answer was given, staggering like a drunken man, he went out into the black, sooty street, and threaded his way to the tall, dingy building pointed out to him, and panting and breathless, eyes wild, and face haggard and ashy, he suddenly presented himself before the desk, where a grave, sedate gentleman was casting up accounts, startling that wondering functionary by the tragic beseeching of his voice, as he announced : " I come here, sir, with the claim of Thomas Macdonald, who owned onetwentieth of this tract of land." "Bless my soul !" ejaculated the president, pushing up his glasses, and staring over them at Chester "Harris, "What did you say?" The latter had just voice enough to repeat his former words. This time it was understood. " Here Thompson, Ferguson, Wylie, come here all of you !" shouted out the president. " The Macdonald claimant has turned up at last." Upon which a bevy of gentlemen who were gathered around a long table littered with papers came rushing up to the desk, with a dozen different ejaculations of astonishment, but not one of anger or annoyance. " There, didn't I tell you so ?" " It only wanted a little time to be noised abroad." " Just as I expected." " Well, it's good news for the company. Now we can feel our feet." And all the gentlemen stared at Chester Harris as if he were some natural curiosity. "You knew of the claim, then? You acknowledge it?" stammered he, seeing that something further was expected of him. "Knew of the Macdonald claim! Of course we did. We've advertised |it all over the United Kingdom, and Australia too, for three years. You've brought papers, of course." Chester's hands went fumbling over his pockets. It required all his strength of will to appear rational, with his head in such a whirl. " What is a guess at the worth of the claim, if you please ?" he said. " I see I am with gentlemen, and may ask honourable treatment." | The president glanced askance at th* I directors, and they eyed each other, but the former answered, readily ;

"You might set it down safely at £20,000, young man. Why, what in the name of folly " And here he stopped abruptly, for the questioner made a sudden clutch at the desk, and missing it, reeled backward, and then slipped down in a helpless heap upon the floor. It was well they were honourable gentlemen, as he had said, for the claimant and his proofs were completely at their mercy. They lifted him up, untied his cravat, splashed water into his face, and forced a little brandy into his throat. When he sat up again, very pale, but smiling, and happier than any sovereign in all Europe, he was quite himself, and said, apologetically : " Don't think I am quite an idiot, gentlemen ; but, indeed, I have been through sore suspense and trial, and the assurance of happiness and safety was too much for me. As I said before, I see that you are honourable gentlemen, and I will tell you my story." It was a story to appeal to the sympathy and touch the sensibility of the generous, warm-hearted men before him. When it was done they all grasped his hand in friendly warmth. "We congratulate you as much as wo congratulate the company, who have been long enough annoyed by the suspense and uncertainty of so large an owner s appearance. You shall have the easiest lime possible in settlement, believe us. " And that night, from the little Welsh village, there went out another letter, quite as brief, and, for Mary, even more inexplicable than the other : "Mary, my darling— the man has not money enough to outbid my claim. We will have the wedding, but the bridegroom must be ' ' Chester Harris. "