CHAPTER XI. GATHERING CLOUDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 7

CHAPTER XI. GATHERING CLOUDS.

If Clarence Ashworth had obeyed the conclusions of his calmer reason, he would not have remained at Berisford Manor an hour longer than courtesy demanded, but it was not hie head, but his heart, that influenced him now. He had every reason to believe that Shirley Benson and Miriam Berisford were betrothed. But while this knowledge forced him to keep every feeling in check, it but intensified the love that grew upon, him hourly, binding him in a network which he could neither break through nor, disentangle, . ,> , - * , ;

Hie mother, sharp-eyed in the interests of, hex; boy, /a? mptn'ere Ver are 1 , instinctively diVWeii'th^isecret which he ecarcely durod tJo^hispertd'hinweU. " • "•••• ' After they; Had been^aV Berief p'rd Manbr v for; a .week,>he f 'tobte;'h'im' i6r& WaltfWe day, .ahd'ptf thrway' she, eaid to Hiui : > •* It w timi,' my bbyi we Were 1 getting home," . - *- . ' i ' • ><• ' '•Have you grown, weary of the r M»nor ?" he asked. „' ', ' " One never grows weary of great kindness," she replied. •' So far as the sad circumstances permitted, I have enjoyed the doctor's hospitalities.'^ "And the. daughter's thoughtful attentions?", ';. '; 41 Yes, Clarence, all that. And speaking' of the daughter^ let me say, my boy, that I have iieen wnat no one else has of late, and it ha^ pained me more 'than I can tell you."- " What is that ?" he managed to ask. ! "Your love for Miriam Berisford. ' Do notetartat that, Clarence. The feeling is a manly one. The object is worthy the love of any man in 'the world'; but she is held by obligations that to her are none the less sacred that they are not of her own making. Arid so I think it will be better for your peace and 'my comfort that we leave at once." "1 shall not pretend to deny my regard for Miss Berisford," said Clarence. " Cer tainly, not to you. But if I were to remain here for ever,she should never know of it, unless I could tell my secret with honour. As to our returning, I shall be -controlled altogether by you." "Then we shall return at once. Leave me to explain what may seem like a hasty decision to the doctor and his daughter," said Mrß Ash worth. With this understanding they returned" to the house ; or rather, Mrs Aehworth returned to the house, and Clarence went down to the village of Willowemoe, with no other object than to' walk his nervousness off. The few times, he had appeared on the village street he attracted so much attention as to make it unpleasant, but thoughts of greater peribusness now banished this frou his mind. While out walking with hie mother, ho noticed that they were being followed and watched by a man, whose attentions in this way had annoyed him very much before. This man was John Penfield, the detec tive, who still put up at the village inn. and who persisted in working out a plan which he felt certain would result in discovering to the world the murderer of Frank Ashworth, and in securing to himself fame and fortune. The elder and more experienced detective, Wilson Bly, who had left the village for a time, warned his associate against methods which he felt were not only futile as to the object in view, but actually dangerous to the investigator. But John Penfield was young, strong,and conceited. Such men know ten times as much at twenty-five ac they do at fifty, though at the latter age they are safer and better guides. John Penfield prowled about by night, and in the day he was seen much about the Manor, talking with Shirley Benaon, and watching Clarence Ash worth — dogging his footsteps, indeed, whenever he ventured beyond the grounds Clarence noticed all this, and being a spirited young fellow, it need not be said it annoyed him. And now as he passed the village inn, filled with other thoughts, he suddenly became aware that his footsteps were being dogged, for he heard the fall of feet that seemed to echo his own. 'Be did not look back to learn who was behind him ; he knew it was John Penfield, and the impulse cam! to him to turn about at once and demand an exploitation ; but he resisted it for a moment, only to nurse it into irresistible strength. Clarence went down through the long village street without once looking back, and then turned along a trail or bridle path that led up the mountains towards the Hanging Reck. He was still aware that the detective was* following but a short distance behind him, and reasoning that his object was purely malicious, he decided in his own mind to demand an explanation Waiting till he had come within a few yards of the rock, Clarence suddenly turned and took a few hurried strides back that brought him face to face with John Ponfield " Fellow !" he thundered, as the detective came to a halt, and even started back with an expression of alarm on his face. " Why do you dog my steps ?" " Dog your steps ?" stammered Penfield. ''That id what I said ; why do you persist in following me in this offensive way ?" " I don't follow you," i-aid John Penfield, his courage and self-command, returning together. " But I say you do : and I further say that you must stop it. Do you hear me ?" " Yes, Mr Ash worth, I hoar you ; but I am not bound to heed you. I am a free man, and can come and go in these hills just as I please — " " So long," broke in Clarence, fiercely, "as you no not trespass on the liberty of others. Mow, sir, I have had enough of this. I don't care if you are a detective a thousand times ovor,you have no right to dog me the way you have been doing ; and still more, I do not propose to let you do it." "I guess," sneered John Penfield, "It isn't my following that troubles you as much as your own consicence. " " What do you mean by that ?" demanded Clarence, his tall form drawn up, his steely fingers clenched, and his dark eyes blazing like coals. "If you can't see what I mean," said the other, insolently turning on his heel, " then I don't propose to enlighten you." 4i But you shall enlighten me ! You shall explain, or by all that is sacred I shall flog you like the cur that you are ?" Stung to madness by the detective's insolence, all Clarence Ashworths prudence was scattered to the winds. As he shouted out the words just quoted, he sprang fox ward, and, catching John Penfield by the collar, ho flung him back a3 if he had been a child. . The detective was a powerful man, but he went whirling to the ground, and he was so dazed by the unexpectedness of the assault that it was some seconds before he thought of rising. John Penfield was a man of undoubted physical courage, and among his associates he was known as " a good man." The word "good" in this connection had no moral significance. It simply meant that the man to whom it was applied had that courage, strength, and dexterity that would make him a formidable antagonist in a fight. The young men were about equalin height ■ — the detective being, at least, twenty-five pounds the heavier ;' but in skill and that tiger-like strength that is irresistible -when the blood is up, he was as a child to Clarence Ashworth. But the detective had faith in himself, and he had conceived a violent dislike for theman who had just humiliated him. • With an oath, he sprang from the cround and hurled himself at Clarence, who stood unmoved, with hie right foot thrown back. A report, li!ie ( the' crack of, a pistol, and John Penfield watfdown again, and the blood was flowing from his face. , v , ' In higfwild anger the detective drew a pistol, from his pocket, and, ho Would have

fired, had not a man, who Had suddenly coWe iffctonUhWctfne'-ffrim theiehodow ?of 1 thfc ** Rocks ' wrenched the pistol from his' grasp /and. ' whirled it away. 14 Man to man and equal blade to blade, but no treachery," aaid, The Jooke, as he lifted John Penßeid to hie feet. "I must thank you," said Clarence, "for eaviog rae^om the bullet of this coward, whom I fiave ( been forced to flog 'for his ineolence." •' '< ,>. ''You attacked me without -any cuise," whined John^ Penfield, ac he wiped the blood from hie face. ' u You attacked me in the lme of my duty* and I'll make you 1 pay for it.'?. . n> « 'i',|,,. ...,,, • V JPrecent.any, honest bill you may have, my good iellow,, and now I promise ,you^ to hopour.it at once,"}9aid Clarence, unable to conceal his contempt for, the detective. M.lfc is not, for me to, judge .of the merits of your quarrel, eaid the hermit, as he adjusted the strap that slung hie, rifle at his back; "but I do know that it is cowardly for one to vee his pistol when the other has only hie fists. In my day I loved to see a fight between equal men with , equal weapons ; but in this case the weapons are all on one Fide, and the men are by no means equal. Mr Detective, (take, your pistol and go about your business, if you have any ;" aed the Jooke pointed Penfield to the weapon that had been torn from his grapp. Sullenlj' the detective picked up the pistol and returned it to bia belt, and as he turned to go away he growled back : " This ain't the last of it, Mr Ash worth." " The last of what?" asked Clarence. " The last of to-day'e work." " It is the last so far as I am concerned, unIbbp, indeed, you should be so fooliph as to follow me again, when I promise to flog you eoundly." " You know the ground on which you're fighting," retorted Penfield, as he held up the handkerchief crimsoned with his own gore. ' " This is not the first blood you have shed near here. Wait! My innings is coming." It was not till the detective had gone off fully fift}' yards that the full import of his words burst on Clarence A&hworch's mind. 14 Hold ! you scoundrel I" he ehouted ; and he would have sprung after the rapidly retreating detective had not the hermit laid a strong restraining hand on his arm "My young friend, if you follow that man to resent his insolem-.e," said the hermit, "you will be simply making yourself his equal, and that you cannot afford." "But, sir," protested Clarence, "you heard what ho insinuated ?" "Yes. I heard and understood it You see his game. Let him play it while you Rtand back on your euard. But," continued the hermit, wi-h a changed manner, "'why do you tarry in a land that can have no pleasant associafons for you? See! It waB in the shadow of that rock that your brother wad slain. The same hand may hold the same dagger for you." " You aro right, sir The land has no pleasant, asflcciatiuns for me ; but J am here in obedience to a duty," said Clarence, all the anger flying from his face. "A duty?"' repeated the hermit, questioningly. " Yes ; I have come with my mother, to visit the old home of her ancestors, and to see the place where her son— my brother - is sleeping." "Alas! alas!" sighed the hermit. "I thought the pun would sot brightly over the houpe of Berisford. But the clouds are gathering ! the clouds are gathering !" {To be Confirmed )