CHAPTER XXVII. A PLOT LAID FOR THK UNWARY KUBY.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 5

CHAPTER XXVII. A PLOT LAID FOR THK UNWARY KUBY.

H>: had passed but half-way down stairs when he encountered Mrs Cordon ascending. " J&h 1" she said, giving him a searching glance. " Are you but just going ? What success ?" " ' Success ?' " he repeated, bitterly, and with a wwace 100k — " a fool's success ! That dainty little sister-in-law of yours is _ a miniature powder-magazine, as I have discovered to my cost. " Mrs Gordon laughed softly, for he looked like an enemy who had been completely routed and demoralised. "It is no laughing matter," he retorted, grimly. " Come down stairs," she said, in a low tone, "and tell me about it. You are too easily discouraged. I believe I can help you, and it will all come right in the end if we only have patience and take the proper course. " She led him down into a small receptionroom at the foot of the stairs, where they were closeted for nearly an hour ; and when at length Edmund Carpenter took his leave, there was not quite so black a cloud upon his brow as there had bocn when Ruby so indignantly left his presence ; while there was a very determined look in Mrs Gordon's eyes as she went up to her own room'!. She did not mention that she had met the disappointed lover ; neither did Ruby tell her that she had had a visitor during her absence. She did not dream that her .sister knew anything of the interview, I and it was too unpleasant a matter to talk about, especially as she knew that Mrs Gordon's sympathies were with Edmund Carpenter ; so she held her peace. Mrs Gordon remaiked that she had been unsuccessful in obtaining accommodations for rlie summei, and that matter was not mentioned again for some time. The lart of May arrived, and one afternoon Mrs Gordon met Ruby Avith a gleeful look and manner on her return from school. "I have at last found just the most delightful place," she said. "It is near the city, and we can take possession immediately, for the horse-cars pass very near, and you can easily go out and in while the term lasts. "Where is it?" Ruby asked, sinking wearily into a chair, and, taking off her hat, she began to fan herself with it, for the day had been an unusually hot one even for Philadelphia. "Here, you over-heated darling, have this fan," said her sister, rising and bringing her «i huge palm leaf. "I am nearly worried to death fearing you will break down entirely this wilting weather, and for your sake I am bound to get out of this hot, dusty city as quickly ai possible. The place I spoke of is about lour miles out just far enough out to escape the noise and heat, and it is lovely, with grounds that are almost like a park, with their beautiful shade trees and shrubbery, fountains and statuary ; while in the house, which is somewhat old-fashioned, there are great airy rooms that are a perfect delight." "How did you find such a epot, Estelle ?'' Ruby asked, smiling at this inviting dcs ci-iption. " Oh, there was an adveitisement in this morning's paper ; I wa-i attracted by it, and went immediately to see if the place was all that was promised. It seem 9 that the owner lost all his family a few years ago, and lias not cared to live there much since, though the place is beautifully kept up, and everything remains the same. But the housekeeper told me that it was too lonely for her master, who spent his summers travelling, and lived mostly in the city during the winters. But he told her that she might take two or three lady boarders for company this year if she liked. The idea pleased her, for she said she was lonely in the great house ; hence the advertisement, and our good luck." "But will there be anyone else there, E^telle ? I wish we could be quiet. I believe 1 am too tired to care about mingling with company," Ruby said, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes wearily. Mrs Gordon's heart bounded. The question just suited her purpose. " No," she answered. " I stipulated that wo should be by ourselves, and she seemed very willing when I named the price I was willing to pay for that privilege, and I told her we should come on Saturday. I chose that day because I knew you would be at liberty,' and you would have two whole days to rest and gain a little strength in the delightful place, before beginning the wearisome teaching again on Monday." " You were very thoughtful and kind, Ef>telle," Ruby said, but wondering to see her sister so unusually vivacious. " What is the housekeeper's name ?" " Mrs Coxon," said Mrs Gordon, with a quick searching glande into her sister's face. j " Mrs Coxon !" Ruby repeated, trying to remember where she had heard the name, | but failing to do so, for Walter seldom re- j ferred to his former home, and had only once or twice mentioned, in a casual way, the good woman's name. " Who is the owner?" she questioned. " I declare, I did nob think to ask much about the owner, I was so delighted With the place ; but I believe the housekeeper called him Mr Edmonds, or something that sounded like that," respondtd Mrs Gordon, turning to look out of the window, to hide the flush that arose to her cheek as she made this reply. She was playing a deep game, and guilt made her conscious and fearful of discovery. But Ruby was unsuspicious of trickery, and was really very glad of the prospect of getting out of the city so soon. She had expected to be obliged to remain there until the last of June, but this arrangement would enable her to enjoy pure air and the delights of the country a month before she head anticipated ; whife, too, the place was so near the city that she could see Walter frequently, which would be a great comfort. And yet, even this anticipated pleasure had its drawback, for Mrs Gordon's manner of late had grown more and more repellent towards the young man. Several times Ruby had been upon the point of confessing the fact of her engagement to her, and insisting that she would not be thrown ' into Edmund Carpenter's society so muoh ; but confident that she would be bitterly opposed, she could nob bear a scene, Moreover, Edmund's recent threat had not been without its effect upon her, so she concluded to wait, afc least until' Walter should be taken into business with Mr Coiianb, when he would be in a position to take- her' away from all such annoyances if it should Beem necessary. ' Doubtless the reader suspects somothing' of the plot that had been laid for the linwary Ruby. By indirect questionings Mrs Gordon had- discovered that she did not know where Edmund Carpenter's residence

was. He had spent )bufc very little of his time there since his father's death, and, for more than a year, it had been rented, furnished, to a gentleman from New York, while the young man had had his bachelor apartment in the city. It was now empty, however, and in the care of Mrs Coxon and a servant ; and the young man and his accomplice, both intent upon the same object, had planned that Ruby and Mrs Gordon should go there to spend the summer, where they intended, by strategy, or by compromising her in some way, to force the young girl to accept Mr Carpenter's proposals. Ifc was base and mean, but Edmund Carpenter was a man whoAvould stop at nothing to gain his own ends, while Mrs Gordon's god being money, she felt that almost any measure was justifiable in order to secure so handsome and rich a prize for her young sister, and, with it, a luxurious home for herself for the future, or until she, too, should succeed in capturing a wealthy suitor, They knew that they ran some risk of exposure through Walter, but Edmund had learned that he had left the city to superintend a contract which would keep him away for a long time, and he reasoned that if they could get Ruby bettled at Foicstvale, ifc would nofc be hard to keep her there. Mrs Gordon would refuse to make any change, and doubtless Ruby would feel obliged to remain with her. Mrs Gordon had taken care that their former landlady should not know whither they were going, and hoped thus, in case Walter .should call, if he chanced to come to the city on business, to keep the knowledge of their whereabouts from him. If she had known, however, that the young people were already lovers, and in the habit of corresponding, she might not have felt so confident of the success of her plans. On the last Saturday in May the two ladies left the sultry city, and Ruby found their summer home even more delightful than she had anticipated. A feeling of intense satisfaction and content took possession of her as they wandered about the lovely grounds after tea, getting an invigorating breeze from the river, commenting upon the lovely views all about them and the beauty and comforts of the place they had been .so fortunate in securing. Sunday \va« a day of rest indeed to the weary young teacher, who simply luxuriated all day long, lying in a hammock that had boen hung upon the north piazza, reading a little now and then, but mostly gazing upon the distant hills, and drawing in with j every breath life and strength from the fresh, pure air. Toward evening a beautiful cariiage, with a span of fine bay horses, was driven j to the door, and Mrs Gordon informed Ruby that they were going for a drive. 1 " Why, E.stelle, are you not extravagant , to order such a carriage as that just for a j country drive V" Mrs ' Gordon laughed lightly at Ruby's; question, and informed her that they were to have the use of the turn-out all the sum- j mer if they desired. { " What do you mean ?" Ruby cried, more and more astonished. She knew that her sister's income would not admit of such an extravagance with all her other expenses, and she could not understand it. "Oh, the horses were standing idle in the stable, and the agent said we might as well exercise them by driving them as to have the coachman exercise them alone. You may be sure, my dear, that 1 had no objection to such an arrangement ; so get on your hat and take an extra wrap, for it may be cool before we return." Mrs Gordon made this explanation in her lightest manner, and then went sw eeping down the steps with the imperious bearing of former days. Ruby soon followed with a very bright face, lor it was long since she had had the pleasure of driving out in such style, and it almost seemed like old times. I The coachman was upon his box, dressed in dark-green livery ; the sleek, handsome horses seemed conscious of their own attractions in their gold-mounted harness, while the carriage was a marvel of luxury and quiet elegance. I Ruby would not have been so comfortable had she known that all this had been arranged with special reference to herself — that it was but part of the plot to entangle her in a net from which she would feel there was no escape but to marry the man she despised. But Ruby had no suspicion of anything wrong ; so she leaned back among the soft cushions with a, sigh of delight, and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the moment. They drove for nearly two hours, and enjoyed every minute of the time. Mrs Gordon, who was in her happiest vein, exerted herself to be agreeable and entertaining, and Ruby could' not fail to be somewhat infected by her exuberance, and her face had not looked so bright and rosy for many a day. Just as they were passing the entrance to Fairmount Park, at Egglesfield, a horseman dashed out from under one of the arches of the bridge, and a single glance was sufficient to show Ruby that it was none other than Edmund Carpenter, mounted upon, a beautiful and spirited chestnut horse. A look of well-feigned surprise crossed his face as he appeared to recognise them ; I then he lifted his hat, and bowed, and ! smiled. ! The next moment he had dashed up beside thecarriageandwasasking Mrs Gordon, in his blandest tones : " Whither have you two ladies flitted so suddenly? I called at your rooms this morning to see if 1 could persuade one or both of you to attend church with me, and was told that you had gone out of town for the summer." u Yes ; we left only yesterday. We have found a most delightful retreat, and deem ourselves remarkably fortunate. Come home and take tea with us, and see for yourself if we are not pleasantly situated," said Mrs Gordon, with as much cordiality and composure as if all this had not been a part of the plot. "Thanks. That is a very tempting invitation ; but I shall intrude upon your quiet," responded the man with an appealing glance at Ruby, who after civilly returning his greeting, had given her attention to the horses, determined to have nothing to say tp him. "No, indeed," persisted Mrs Gordon, animatedly; "we shall have to take our tea alone unless you will share it, and it will be pleasant to have an addition to our party. Come and tell us about t u e sermon that you heard this morning. We have been quite like the heathen to-day." Mr Carpenter laughed. " I am afraid my memory will not serve me well enough for that, as sermons are not much in my line ; but I will join you at tea with pleasure." So he rode home with them, keeping up a lively conversation all the way, although he Was not successful in drawing Ruby into it. She was too much disturbed by the encounter to feel very sociable., Shehadhoped, by getting out of the city, to escape his visits and attentions ; and here, at the very outset, ho was coming to them as freely as of old. When Mrs Coxon had informed her master whom she had securod for boarders, he had informed .her that they were acquaintances of his, and that he did not wish them to know him as the owner of the place, as he

should probably visit them, and they would feel more freedom not to know it. The coachman had also received his, orders; therefore, when he made his appearance with the ladies upon their return from their drive, he was simply recognised as their guest. But Ruby was determined that she would not be annoyed with his visits. If her eister would persist in inviting him, she might entertain him : and so, after tea was over, she stole away by herself, thus leaving the two arch-plotters by themselves. She was a trifle nervous and uncomfortable, too, for she had dropped a note to Walter a day or two previous, telling him of their contemplated change, and asking him to come out to their new home to spend this Sabbath evening- with her, and she could not help dreading to have these two men meet. But Walter did not come. Hour after; hour passed, and "Ruby watched and waited in vain, until, feeling both sad and lonely, she crept away to her own room and retired to rest. (To be Continued.)

First Bridesmaid : " You'll never tell?" Second bridesmaid: "Of couise not. I never do, you know." First bridesmaid : " Well, she told me — in strict confidence, understand— that, though Jack was poor, they were going to travel all .summer and stop at the bes-t hotels, and that they got the money by telling their wedding presents. Now, I wonder if my spoons are paying part of the expenses !"