CHAPTER LXXVII.

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

CHAPTER LXXVII.

THIS I.s VOUK LAST OI'I'OKTUXITV. Wuiu: Lord Keith talked with thogra\edigger, the man was standing in a grave which he w;h preparing for an old pauper. Close behind the trench stood a little wooden house where the man of graves lived, and where bodies were sometimes laid to await burial. A window of this small house opened over the scene of the sexton's present work. The sash was raised, but a brown moreen curtain fell over the w indow. Behind the curtain stood Bart Kemp, eying Lord Keith through a tiny rent in the moreen, and hearing every word that he paid. When Keith asked that question, " What were you paid for it, and by whom ?' Bart trembled visibly, and great drops rolled over his face. He fail ly held his breath until the man icplied : " I gets my money by bexton work, not secrets. Stand back, mister, or this dirt will get on your boots."' "It might be well for you to tell the truth," said Keith. "I've told naught else, and writ naught else." Keith studied the man's* hard face for a little time in silence, and then walked away. Kemp moved the curtain a little. " You did well," he said. " Don't bo frightened into going back on your statements." •'I got plaguey little for 'em," said the sexton, turning around in his grave. ' The other party would gi\e me more." " You got iihtrty in the bargain, mind you. Remember, it was not for a hundred pounds you did it ; but I know, from the man in the penal settlement, that you were in the jewel tobbery in Dublin, when the clerk Mas killed, and I had only to speak to tmnspent you, perhaps hang you. " "Ah, I know; but mebbe I will get transported for this. Hang you, Kemp, why couldn't you left me alone to dig grave* ?" " You were sure of transportation for the other affair, if 1 spoke ; possibly of a lope. But brace up. Hold fa.st to your part, and biing us safe through, and I'll double your j fee, and take you out to Australia, where ! you can get a iheep farm, and grow as rich as I have." " You've got yourself on well,'' said the grave-digger, mollified ; •' for I remember you, a boy with bare leg*, and a dirty face," lacing round here, and st-indin' like a gra\e-stone, stiuok in one of your 'leptic tits." " Hold fast to your statement, mind you, and you'll get a fortune out of it," said Kemp. But he went b.ick to London with a quaking heart. The breaking down of this witness meant ruin to him and to Helen Hope. Helen had made her own use of the brief time— less, than thi cc days— of Kemps trip to Shields She had found that Violet L-igh had been summoned to London for a conference. Immediately Helen sent for an acquaintance of her own— a woman of about her age and size, with dark face and black hair. Helen requested her to come to her about dusk. " Now,"' she said, " I want you to change clothing with me, and stay here at the Golden Cross in my place. See no one ; keep the room very dark ; ling for the ehambeimaid, and tell her to bring you tea and toast at noon, as- you have a sick headache, and will not rise. Keep your face to the wall. la\ ill come back to-morrow evening." " And for what is this ?" asked her friend, as they changed clothes. " Merely so 1 can piove I was hero, if I am declared to have been somewhere else," said Helen. "Trust me to act your part," said her friend. "It is little to do for you, when you have been sn kind to me, and shared your salaiy with me when I have been ill." Leaving her friend in her place, Helen took a night tiam to Sussex, and went to | Leigh Towers. I "An old lady wishes to see my lord,' said a servant, going next morning to the room where Lord Leigh was moodily trying to interest himself in studying a system of probabilities in returning members. " Let her come in," said Leigh, flinging his pamphlet across the room. A woman in 4 'usty black, white-haired, a stoop in her shoulders, entered. As soon as they were left alone she locked the door, pulled ofi' the white hair and widow's bonnet, took out the padding that made the change in her shapely shoulders, and stood forth — Helen Hope ! "Norman, ha-\e you yet learned my power ?" " I understand what you have done. Go and do your worst. Why do you come here ?" " Because my heart misgives me ; I cannot ruin you, Norman." It struck Lord Leigh that he might make terms with his enomy if he tried kindness. He held out his hand and said, softly : " After all this, is there still affection in your heart for me, Helen ?" "It is all affection ! I attacked you for love's sake." " A strange way, truly to show love." " It was to force you to me, since you would not come otherwise. Listen to me, Norman. " She knelt down beside him, laid her head against the arm of his chair, and looked into his face. 11 How worn and thin you look ! You have been ill, and it is all my fault ! And yet I cannot repent of it, for I would rather you should die than live far from me, with others, hating me." " Helen, do you call that love ?" " Listen. I meant, if I heard of your death, to fling myself into the Thames !" " 1 wish you had had the provocation, then. It would be better for both of us!"

j " But. J6IV see, we bolt* live. Let us be I happy. YMI- will get strong and happy if > you come wf#i' me. Come 1 , we will go to Switzerland, oV North Italy, and 1 will nurse you back to 1 strength. I will be your friend, your nursey your entertainer, your slave. Try me, No*man." ' ' As a reward for r"uin ? A payment for your malice ?" " Norman, I, only I, can break down- tho evidence that destroys .Your title. In my fury 1 sought revenge, but, oh, the price I must pay for it ! That' 1 monster Kempwishes to marry mo. I shiver at the Very sound of his voice. And yeft I promised to marry him if he would avengfe me on yau. But 1 can destroy him and his case. I will <\o it for your sake, Norman. " " What ! prove me the Earl of Leigh ?" '"Yes." '"Then the ea*e against my titfe is an infamous fabrication. " " But can never bo shown to be sttch unless I show it. "' " Do> so, and? earn your reward]- dear Helen." " 1 cannot trupfe- you," said Helen, keeping. "I adore you, but Ido not belfeve you. Come witli me. Lot us go together to the Continent, and in six weeks' time I will teach you how to* break down that crse. I will not give yen this- knowledge until b>©~ ibre all the \\ orld your have committed you», s«lf to me. " "And if I rafufre?" " The case goes on; Hartingtcwi is Lort<*' of Leigh." " Consider, I have a wiifeanp child." " Thi.^ courrfo « r o>ild retoin for them title , and estates." " And if I refuse, avid you 1 i-uin me, wijl it {>ay you to have seen rod revsiige at the price of marriage with a m'&n> wli©m you hate as you do this Kemp?'' "Hark you! I will » never, wrcr be his wife. When I get my roventcer my payment will be other than my hand. " Look you, Helen heiS'iiefa. I will give yon ten thousand pounds if yem will break down this case, many him, and go with him to Australia. I w ill "get hhn a government position, acknowledge him as a .stepbrother, rccoive you both as-my guests ; you •shall be married here. Let a» be friends. Let us make these terms ?" "Never! nerer \ m;vkr"'' said Helen, furiou.sly. "' Now, tlien, yon shall lose all !" "Ifl ill .^woar to tln-5 visit i, ml your statements here." "And I will fully prove an alibi, and break }ou down." "Jwiu, vox go with yoi% woman. I hate you so eonsumingly that ftiac end would only he murder."