CHAPTER LXXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 201, 30 April 1887, Page 10

CHAPTER LXXVI.

" w if at w i hi: \ov VAin, and bv whom ?" Loud Kknni.tu Ki:ith was. at the villa of ColoiK-1 H<u ting-ton, in deep consultation. "I know, colonel," he said, "that you would not, for one moment press this claim to the Karldom ot Leigh, wore it not, in your view, well founded." "Ceitainlyl would not. I have all respect for the head of the house of Leigh ; and as long- as I believed Norman held that position 1 regarded him accordingly ; but 1 have too much honour for an ancient lino to leave it for a day longer than can be helped in the hands of a usurper. Such I now consult v Norman." " But should it be proved that the statements made are false and malicious, the testimony purchased, you would feel yourself in ii bad position if you contested the title on svich ground." "I should, Lord Keith, and therefore I wish the lawyers on both sides carefully to sift the evidence befoiewe bung the case into court." " I have seen this Mi.ss Hope, and I feel sure that her testimony is not tho simple, ■unbiased statement >ou deem it. She is influence! lv\ revenge." " Yet ma) be stating a fact, all the same," "Colonel," said a footman at the door, "Miss Hope." " Oui Ta-fc mteiview was .such, that it nusrht be better if I did not see her," said Lord Keith. " Keith," s.iid Colonel Hartington, frankly, '" 1 should like you to hear just what this lad\ sa\s. Will you not take your place in that bow -window , behind the draperies, and heai hei statements to me Vj Truth is what we all want, and that speedily. I admit to you that Lady Clare is impatient of an hour's delay in w hat keeps her from what she con-ideis our inheritance. If you heai this lady's talk, it may give you lio-ht by which to advise Leigh without furthei tiouble." j " 1 w ill do as you w i-h, my fiiend ; but I warn \ou that Imean to help little Rupert Leiuh' in this contest foi his ancestral dignities till the last gasp."' The colonel smiled- -lie felt Mire of his case -and placed Lord Keith behind the drapery. Then he ran" for the servant, and bade him bring Miss Hope to the library. "Ha\e you any new testimony to commanieate, Mi-- Hope?" asked the colonel, as he handed hei a chair. " No. But this aftair is delaying beyond ■what expected, and thus ue principal witne-se- are kept here to our detriment, j Mr Kemp i" desirous of leturning to Australia, w here his business need* hi* attention." . "I understand: and he wishes your company, and \eiy naturally you both are in haste to sot up your home. We w ill push on as fast as we cim. Now, as a favour, will you onoe more quietly state to me how this mattei came to your knowledge, and Avliat moved you to come to me ?" " I have -tatcd that before,'' said Helen, v.i'h impatience, "it is very simple. I was spending a little leisuie, boarding in Su-sew nuar' Leigh Towers. The climate and sccneiy are plea-ing, the place I found v\ a- eh<-ap -an itun toi me, a* lam poor. Mr Kemp, retuininir fiom Australia, naturally was intere-tcl to see Leigh, the estate wheie his .step-mother had lived after making -ueh an unusually good maniage. As lie w t- wandering about the estate he met me : we foi median acquaintance, and he fell in lo\ewith me." " Yeiy r-iturall\," said the colonel, with Helen cast down her handsome face, and ilu-hed in not with giatiiied pride oi lu\e. She continued : •' When Mi Kern]) wns -.peaking to me of hi- step-moHier, T luid a curiosity to see \vb it w.i- said of hei in ' Burkes Peeiage,' an 1 sn looked .'t .i cop\ in the village hbi,t'\, aiid ch.inccd to lemembei the dr.:- ot the Leigh mauia^e. Then, ono cL.' , when Mr Kemp was detailing the e\( aoidinary circumstances of his f./i'.i'- sculping and real death, I suddenly .^ the <"rue fact of the case, and cried out. 'Then he was not ti uly dead when Mrs Kemp in -'li^d Lord Leigh!' So we comjwed not - and lie saw "it, but said care-lc-sh ,• Wf 11, he dierl soon after. = 0 it> li.'ht/ and I replied, 'Not at all; his existence n „do tho Leigh maninge illegal.' 'So it di.'.,' said Mi Kern] ); 'but what dlnerenee, mhoo they are all dead now?' Then I - )! uned: 'The difference is that thr -on -jf'thi* illegal union cannot inhei it, so he i~ mi 1 the true Lord Leigh, and a Coloivl 1! i' dngton is the real heir, and he on uh t to know" it. To conceal it is real roM)ei\ ' Then, after some discussion, Mr Kunp"s t ,id he cared nothing for peers or theii estates, as he is a .self-made man himscU ; but if I felt it on my conscience to state the truth, 1 could do it, on his authority, and he had papers to prove it. So I came to you." When Kenneth, behind the curtain, heard thi- simple, clear, and very natural statement, his heart sank like lead for Violet and he boy. It seemed that this terrible thing must be tuie " " Miss Hope," said the colonel, " J shall be under infinite obligations to you, if I secure an earldom by your means. 1 .should i ejoiee to mark my obligations to you, by a very large sum." ""Thank you," said Helen, coldly, "I ha\ c not »poken for money. Mr Kemp is v, calthy. I should refuse any such mark of your gratitude." " But J do not doubt the opposing counsel have made you very liberal offers. AKo tieated you to threats." '• Alike idle," .said Helen. " Why try to frighten us, when we have sure proofs of the facts ? And as for keeping quiet, if we took money for that, we should have been compiomising a felony— bigamy." The colonel looker) keenly at her. " Miss Hope, tell me in honour, was regai d for truth your only motive ? Had you no personal interests to gratify — no hostilities?" "Pei haps 1 had," said Helen, flushing up. " There wae a time when I met Lord J uG \<t\\ — when he was seeking out a pupil of miife. lam a governess, Colonel Harbington, and because I was only a governess ho took leave to insult me. lam not a woman to forgive" that, sir. Then, I being a goveined, I have to thank this lady, 'now called Countess of Leigh, for driving me out of a very excellent position at Mrs Ainslie's. First, the husband insults me, and then the wife chooses to be idiotically jealous of the object of his insults, and hinders me of honest hard earnings ! I hate them both !" At this statement Lord Keith took a little courage again, for he felt sure that Violet could not have been guilty of the conduct and motives assigned to her. " Let me warn you," said Helen, rising, " that if you daily with this case, you may lose it. The other side will make strong

f efforts to ,*>ribe the grave-digger of Shields, j who is a c kief witness. Suppose that Mr j Kemp should die, he is but mortal, and ' your chief witness ; people have been put out of the way t'™* less causo." " There is justice in your romarks. I will hasten on the Pase at once," said the colonel. "What an infamo v .V»* woman! What monstrous suggestions" 1 '* cried Keith , pushing aside the concealing: Curtains, when Helen had departed. "Yes; I do not belie\e in tfonie of hor suggestion^, but you will a*im£fc it is a strong ease. Sho has done tte a great service, and \\ ill take no mark oi gratitude. Tho least I can do will be to hasten the trial, when delay defers her marriage and departure for a home. I owe her that much, at least." Tho night express took Lord KeitlV on a second trip to Ireland, to tho town of Shields. Again he examined tho records of the Dublin stone-cutters' books ; all were correct. Then he closely questioned Che grave digger at Shields. The minister wf*o kuried Kemp was dead. Shiolds was but a hamlet, and hud no register of deaths, except that kept by the grave-digger. The grave-digger wa» a sullen fellow, with a certain confusion in his dogged air. " I've give in my testimony in a signed paper," lie said, gloomily, *' and I sticks to what I wi it. '' "What were you paid for it, and by \\ horn ?" askud Keith.