CHAPTER XXXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1887, Page 8

CHAPTER XXXIV.

MRKUtfOLES APPEARS UPON THK SCENE. Tt will readily be surmised that Edmund Carpenter had caused the arrest cf Walter. When first apprised of the fact- of Mrs Gordon's loss, ho had taken active measures for the apprehension of the guilty party, and appeared veiy much disturbed that she should hv\\ c been robbed in his house. Still ho was not supposed to know that Walter had slept in the house on that night, consequently his name was not mentioned in connection with the aftair, until after he received Mrs Gordon's note, stating her discovery and the suspicion which it had explained — thalhe must have committed the dcM — and he immediately caused a wan ant for his arrest to be issued. Early Tuesday morning, Ruby, in spite of her sister's commands and even threats, ■went, mio the city to consult with Mr Conunt regarding her lovoi's trouble, and with the intention of going to comfort him if possible. She had not a doubt of his honesty, and, as some of her remarks to Mis Goadou betrayed, believed that suspicion had been thrown upon him with the hone that it would serve to break her engagement w ith him. fthe v, as in a. very unhappy frame of mind, for it .-oemed as if e\ er> thing conspired against her, and she did not know wh< m to Lust. She had not yet heard anything from Mr Rugolc>. and she now began to fear that her letter to him had been inteiceptcd to present her goinc, to Redviile. She leUnquished all thought of going now.foi she was resolved that she Mould not leave Walter while he was in such tiouble — .he would stay where she could see him occasionally and cheer him as much as she might. Mi Con/int received her very kindly. " Do not, woiry, my dear Miss Uoidon," he said, almost tenderly, as he looked into her pale, anxious face, " for it will come out all i i Efh t . We know that Mr Richardson is abo\e dolnfj any such contemptible deed, and T believe it i^ onb' a matter of personal spite that ha 3 caused his arrest." '• But circumstantial evidence, you know, sometimes coiuicts a person," said Ruby, still looking disti eased. " True ; but haidly in such a ca*e as this. Unless the stolen pioperty is found in his possession, or it can be proved beyond a doubt, that he took it, no sentence can be pa-sed upon him." " But the stigma "will remain, unless the real culprit can be found, for suspicion will still rest upon him," returned Ruby, dejectedly. " There may be a doubt in the minds of some," Mr Conant replied ; '' but no one who h?s ever known Walter will for a moment believe him guilty of so despicable a crime. ''Can I go to see him?" Ruby asked, though she Hushed scailet as she made the reque&t. " Bki->s you, my dear young lady! of couive viu may ; and your presence will do our inu^h-tried young friend a world of good, too. He feels the blow keenly, but if he find* that you still have faith in him, it will cheer him wonderfully." Mr Conant said he would accompany her, and they would go at once; and a halfhour later found them in Walter's presence. When Mr Conant appeared at the door of hi- loom hi- ace lighted with pleasure, bat v, hen that gentleman .stepped outside and Ruby went forward, his pule face grow crimson with mingled emotions, and he ciied out, in a voice in which both pain and pleaHne were mingled : "Ruby ' you hn-e '." "Ye-, Walter," she snid, going to his side, a- Mr Conant -lipped out of the room unob-u \cd and closed the door. " Did you think I v.ould lenuiin away when you are in h ti ouble ?'' " But I thought your were in Redviile," lie f.ilteif'd, a 1 - he took both her hands in hi-, hurt ing hi.- face upon them, while hot teai- >ptung to his eye?; for it was in-ten-cl> humiliating to hi** ])roud spirit to ha\ c h( j i -cc him there with the stigma of a felon resting upon him. " I have not heard from Mr Rugglea," .she explained. He looked up, sin prised ; then he grew stern. " There is something wrong in that," he said. "Iha\ebc£run to think so, too," Ruby .answ etui, adding: "but, I am glad now that 1 have been detained, and I should not £,o under any circumstances while you aie in tiouble." " You belie'^ c me innocent, dear, or you w ould not be here ?" Walter questioned, in a low tone. "I /.now j on are innocent, Walter. Nothing save your own confession would make me believe you guilty," she answered, with unwavering trust. " But it galls me almost beyond endurance that you should see me in such a place a- this," the young man said, with a note ol bitterncs* in his oice. "01 course it is very trying to you to be here ; but the place cannot harm you so long as you are innocent," Ruby said, looking up into hU face, with a cheering smile. " Lle»-» you, my darling !" he returned, bending over her and drawing her to him lor an instant. " I certainly ought to take romage when I have such faithful adheients as you and Mr Conant have proved youi selves to be." " You must not lose courage, Walter Mr Conant .says you cannot b<j convicted unless the stolen property is found in your possession, or someone can 2^'ove that you took it. " That is ti ue ; but lam afraid that there is moie in thi.- affair than appears upon the bin face," Walter replied, thoughtfully. " W hat do you mean ?" Ruby inquired in a startled \oice. "lam afraid it is part of a vile plot to ruin me, and to separate us ; and if that is the case, Edmund Carpenter will leave no stone unturned to accomplish his purpose." "I have some such suspicion myself," Ruby said, lifting a white face to her lover. " But do you think that ha has taken Estelle's money and diamonds, and is going to try and make it appear that you are the criminal ?"' "I cannot help fearing so. 1 am afraid he know that I \va« at his house during that Sunday night, and ho planned this thing ; you know he has threatened me several times." : "Yes," Ruby answered, looking grave, as she remembered what Edmund Carpenter had said to her about its being a "dangerous thing for any man to win her, for ho would surely be revenged upon him."

" I do nofc believe fchafc Bstelle would be a party to anything so dreadful^ though I know Bhe favours Mr ' Carpenter," she added, thoughtfully, yet loosing greatly distressed. " I hope not, and I do not believe bo would cure to implicate her in any such thing. Ho is abundantly able to carry out his own nefarious plots alone/ Walter answered. u How could he Imvo done it ?" " Easily enough ; he has keys to tho different door. 4 !, and could easily have entered the house that night and have' taken anything he wished," and no one would over think of suspecting him ; while the storm favoured his movements." " Hftve you told Mr Conant this?" Ruby asked, looking greatly troubled. " "VTcs, and tho lawyer also, whom he brought with him ; but they still claim that tho missing property must be found, or my agency proved, before I can bo convicted. As soon as we had talked this o^r I thought it was possible that the missing articles might have been put into some of my pockets, for X remembered that « l had found my coat lying upon tho floor of my room, when I was sure that I had hung it upon the back of a chair. But Mr Conant went to Chester last evening and brought away everything belonging to me, and wo could find nothing, though we searched my clothing thoroughly." "When will tho — trial take place?" Ruby inquired, with a shiver of dread. f< I have not been examined yet, aud'nxy lawyer will plead for thno to work up me defence ; unless — conclusive proof should bo foithcoming at the examination." " But you surely will not have to remain here all that time !" cried Ruby, in dismay. "No; Mr Conant will arrange for my liberty ; lie will give bonds for me." Walter then i elated his adventure in connection with Madam Howlanrl, and mentioned his subsequent visits to her, her app.uent interest in him, and her offer to give him bond^ to any amount for him to secure 1m release. At the end of an hour Mr Conant returned, and informed Walter that ho was to go boforo the court foi examination at two o'clock, and then Ruby arose to leave, promising to .sec him again at the earliest oppo) tunity. She, however, did not go directly homo. She repaired to Mr Conant's office, whcie she wroto a loner letter to Mr Ruggles, telling him of Walter's trouble and of her picvio.is letter to him asking permission to go to Red', ilie to spend the summer. She stated, to ugh, that she had changed her mind, and would remain wbcie she mas until after Walter's affair was settled, when *he should be glad to come to them if ihe>' would have her. Thi> letter was posted with her own hands find she was confident that she would soon tret a icply to it. Then she went homo, and set herself to watch her sister, and Edmund Carpenter also whenever he should be present himself there, hopinir that she might get some clue to the pilot which she believed had been laid to ruin her lover. Walter's examination came off as appointed, but as the evidence against him \\asnot deemed sufficient to warrant conviction without further investigation, his case was deferred for a few weeks, and ho was held in bonds for his appearance. Mr Conant became his bondsman, and the younf> man was immediately released from custody. It was hi» wish to return at once to his work in Chester, and Mr Conant, knowing that ho could not trust his business so well to anyone else, decided that this would be best, and the next morning found him once moic among his workmen, and attending to Ins duties as faithfully as if there was no trouble or anxiety upon his mind. Mr Ruggles answered Ruby's letter in peioon tv.o\lays after it was written. He came at dusk, and found his young friend sitting alone upon the verandah, musing sadly upon her troubles and her need of the strong help and tender care of her brother. Mrs Gordon was upstairs in her own room. She kept out of Ruby's way as much as possible, for she felt very uncomfoi table in her presence, knowing bowdeeply ?hc had wronged and was still wionginu her; for she continued to play the invalid, since she feared, now that "Walter ■was released, that Ruby would again insist upon going to Rcdville. ' Rhc Copied Mi Rugglos's dumpy, awkward figiuc coming up the avenue, and she was mug that Ruby must have written a second time secretly — she had taken care that her fust letter should never reach him — and he had now come to her at her requestRuby sprang up to meet him with a glad cry, and clung to his hand as if realising that at last she had found a true friend and in him lay all the power to protect her. " Oh, Mr Ruggles i how good of you ! I was looking for a letter, but I did not think that you would come" she cried, with almost a .-^ob of lclief. "Bless you, Miss Ruby ! did you think I'd let the grass grow under my feet when you were in trouble? And if there's anything that money or good will can do for you and that fine young chap of ours, why. I and mypuise are both at your service," he answered, heartily. Tears sprang to the young gill's eyes. It was such a relief to have someone to rely upon in the midst of her perplexities that for a moment she was oveicome. But bhe rallied and looked up at him with a smile, as she repeated : " It is very good of you, and I appreciate your kindness more than I can tell you." Then she added, in a lower tone : "If you aienot too tired, will you come and walk with me a little while ? I want very much to talk with you alone, without the fear of being overheard, and — I should not feel sa/t anywhere about this house." He gave her a keen glance, and nodded his head once or twice as if ho understood that something was very wrong. Ho had felt so from the moment of receiving her letter, and he had chopped every thing at once, though he was> very busy, to come to her. " Tired ' not a bit ; and if I was, I'd be willing to travel miles to &cc that anxious look go out of your face," he said, kindly ; adding : " Come, I know the lay of the land about here, for I used to come here often in brother Ralph's day — though I must confess that I was kind o'nonplused when I found out that you were summering here— and I'll take you where there'll be no danger of anybody hearing what you've got to tell me." He arose and led the way around back of the house into a little lane leading down to the river, and then told Ruby to open all her heart to him and keep nothing back. And the young girl did as ho requested. She began with Edmund Carpenter's fondness for her, telling of his proposals of marriage to her, his jealousy of Walter, of his threats regarding him, and finally of the trickery that had been employed by him and her sister to get her to come to Forestvale to spend tho summer.