CHAPTER LXXXVIII UNKNOWN

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 253, 25 April 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER LXXXVIII UNKNOWN

Nothing m ln^ lite became him .is his lea\ muf it Su\K^ri in I r w.i- l.ito in the afternoon when tlu* summoned parties began lo ai!i\c at lT.iddon's Fci i y. First came Dr. (loodwin and Dr. IVtcr Sh.iw. On being told why ho had boon sent for, Dr. (Joodwin exclaimed : ' You shock me beyond mca.su ic, (>'ciald ' chopping into the arm-chair, diawinu mil his handkerchief and wiping his forehead. ' Wo have been deoply aficctcd by the calasdopho," added Doctor Shaw. 'Has the cowardly assassin been aricstcd ? inquiiorl t,hc agitated doetoi. 'No, nor has any wan ant been issued foi such an artcst. No one is known or men suspected as the mmderer: and pis lice cannot is, no a warrant against " some poison or persons unknown."' We wailed for fchc wounded man to recover his eon sciou.sness, so thai we might lake his deposition under oath. TFc only came to him-f-elf this morning, about .six houis before hih death, and then he absolutely declined to name his murderer,' Colonel Fit'/geudd explained. ' Well,' said Dr. Coodwin, ' tell us this . Wa- ho able to throw any light on the mysteries that have bewildered iir-- .so long? Yon understand what T mean, Fitzgciald !' 1 Oh, yes, I undei .stand you, of course. And T am gratified to assure you that he has thrown a whole (lood of light on that darkness ; and in the first place by dcclar inpr that his true name wa.s not Lackland, but something else.' 'How? Not Lackland! Who wass he, then demanded Dr. (ioodwiu. i ' 1 will tell you later. The law requires something more than the dyin«r man's declaration as to his own identity, a^ the owner of vast estates which he is to transmit to his heir. It requires that hi.s word shall be supported by the testimony of others who have personally known him under the name he claims, and can identify him as the man lie assumes to be. For this reason 1 have senfe fco summon certain parties to view the body. An for myself, lam ! free to declare that, although 1 never knew the man under the name that ho claims as his own, yet I have not the slightest doubt that ho is the person he represents himself to be,' said Colonel Fitzgerald, grayoly. ' And the rightiul owner of a considerable estate in this county, did you say, Fitzgerald?' inquired Dr. Goodwin, while Dr. Peter Shaw listened attentively. ' Yes ; therefore you see ■ > urgent necessity^ his being identified beyond

I all possibility of question,' said Colonel I Mtzgorald. ' And hove como your witnesses, (Jcrald, if t raisfaako them not !' exclaimed Dr. flood win, as the travelling carriage from the Summit drew up with a party of ladios and gontlcmen, who, as they alighted, wore seen to he Miss Maxima Rowley, Mrs Doy Fitzgerald, Mi- Royal Greonleaf, and Mr Benjamin Bowers. Colonol Fit/,gorald went out to meet them. ' What is (his matter of life and death upon which you have summoned us, florald? Who in this man tho coachman tells us of, who has boon waylaid, and robbed, and murdered, and brought to tho ferry to die? And what ha\c nr to do with such very ir regular proceedings'.'' querulously inquired Mi^s Maxima Rowley, sorely divided between licr self-conceit and her inquisitiveness. ' You aie required to identify the mmdered man, who is a gentleman and near i elation of your own, Aunt Maxima, ' mercilessly replied Colonel Fit/gcrald. MisH Kowley utteiod a half-suppiessod shriek, and (hen cliew hcr&clf up and took herself scAciely to task for betraying such a w eakne.ss. ' Who is lie then v ' she tartly demanded. 'That you will have to toll us. We do not know w ho he it, but only who he cldim.s to be." ' Who docs he claim to be, then V 'We must not Lell \ou. We must, not suggest an} (lung (o you. We mu.s(. await youi o\\ n spontaneous recognition,' lephed (ierald Kit/uerald, .1- he turned to welcome Mi- Doy and the oUiei \isi(or-«. ' (Jh.'lleiald •' exclaimed Mis Do> Fitzgerald, as mh.u ;b he had giectod her — ' Oh, (ioiald ! m) man\ things h.uo happened (o upset me within the hx>-t time da\ s. The unexpected leturn ot \<mr wite, and hei appearance at the ohmeh on the wedding day, of all dn>s in the woiid '' ' Better than to ha\e put in an apnoaron (ho day iflei the wedding, WiMi'l it v ' exclaimed Royal (Jieenleaf, as lie heaihly shook the hand th d. (leiald otlered him. l oh ' a thouNind times bettei ' Oh ' infinite!} bettei ' Uood Heaven '' ie spouded Mis l)i>> ' But. \l would have l)een best ot all if she could ha\e come weeks or months beforehand. \\ hat a hoi 1 id shock it was Lo ihe pooi hi ide elect ' ' It woul 1 ha\e been a hoirido one lo the wife ot a week oi a d,\} , wouldn't it ' de mandeii the men i)e-s Mr ( lieenlcai. ' Oh, hush, hush, Ko\ ' You .shock me be\ond all measvue ' And now this pool murdcod tia\e!lei, 1» ought here to die. and sa\ing that lie is a i elation of ouis -' ' Like one ot jmn novels, isn't it, 1)0} ' demanded hei saicastic biothei 'Oh, Uo\. ih> be .piiet' (Jeiald, is the pool man ieally iatall\ v,ounded'' And can not liing be done ioi him? Is he truly a lelatiou ot ouis, oi only .some pool pic tendei "' 'He is duly a iclation of ouis, and bis wounds ha\e aheady pioved latal,' ausweied Colonel I'it/geiald. 'Oh. Oeiaid' tin. poor -onl • Who lhe, then "' 'One who ha- hi en long missing, long supposed to be d"ad. and whose body \ou aie icquiieu lo idenlif\. it you can.' i ' But whoishe '' ' That \ou aie icquued lo tell us. if \ou can : but \oui loeogmtion, to bf> ot the gieatest a alue, must be spontaneous, not su<i<4Csteri 4 1 wondei , now ,if it, is not that lost b!at k sheep, Arthui Lloyd Fit/gerald v> said Ben Bowers, accident.. illy hitting on the exact truth, although he did not know it. <it the time. ' 1 cannot tell \ou of my own knowledge. lne\erkuew Aithur FiUgoiald betoie he went away, loplied Ociald Klt/geiald ahe led the pai t\ into the pai lour, -whne they shook hands with the lectur and physician, and then sat down. Colonel Fit/yeiald went to the dooi comI municMting with (he kitchen and called old j Jess, telling ho to take the ladies to some spaieioom wheie they could lay ofl then bonnets and cloak*. Jess came to the dooi, caught a glimpse of the compain, and ictieatinu. into the ]>ii\ac\ of hei kitchen, raised up both hands ; in cousternarion, mutteiing [ 'De lois a mes-y on m\ ponr oh -oul ! , \ oung M.n-e (Jeiiild go and '\ ite all dese I'ulie" and ge'incn to de liou-e, 'out s,i\m' one woid 'I>ont i( (o me. .md no suppei j sided foi urn ' \\'ell l<oi ' \ouriy inn /- ' do debl)il, add do nios inn easonalilc s( an j niithou'.'liifulest eicelm- in dis woil' ' J Jut I w h.M can >ou -p» (I ' \on cant nut ol<' -hould'Ms on \ ounu hc.nl-. ,h de olt ~a\in s,i\. [leap ol> se;i' oin dt-e olt -,n in -, ,u> {de longei 1 III » (I* moie I knows if. I mph ' ■ i! mph ' Won t Mt-s (ai 111 1 ude hah to t lam I him out oh his lice and eas_\ camp man 1 neis ' Ifu-h, hone} ' But, lots' ,/,, am t Igume U> dam him. Slug's \c-' a guino i > 1 let him hali his own w a\ An' dat s de iuin.it.ion ob am man Dcv can't stan it. De pool, ignoianl he Lieatuies '(juiie to be trained 'C-iu^c w lint dey know v " And '-d giiimblin^, old Jess pioceeded to make heisulf dd} to come into ». ho p.ii loin and wait on the ladie-. She enteied. emtoseymu, and s|ood silenU\ and respeetfullx waiting to attend them. ' Show me w here I enn lakr- oil ni) bonnet, and put on my cup -il theie is any decent loom, in this wi etched bain, said MisMaxima How le} . n'sinn. This put .less in a lai^c, but she <'ondolled liei tcmpei, and unsueied, with (|iilet malice : 'Sait.un, M^s. I will \luct \ei to de bes room we li;>b qol al one's '.-.posal, whi<;h ts not do v.eny be- in de house. 'cjuise.de "ceased fje'miin hab not dat.; noi likewise fie .second lies , 'cause do youn" madam, Mis OciT Kit/geiT hab gone deie to lie down and depose, and can't, be '.stiu bed.' ' Hold youi tongue, you impertinent fool, and "do your duty !' exclaimed the irate old lady. Jess tucked her tongue in her check, and led the way up stans- to a. very plainly furnished back bedroom, whore theic was not even a /ire on this bleak February day. 'This is perfectly outrageous Why is there not a fire here?" sharply demanded the .sniveling Mis.s Maxima. ' 'Cairo I wasn't, 'speetin' company, nor likewise 'pared for 'tin, 't-ides habni a dreat deal to do along ob all de trouble we was in/ answered Jest. 'Certainly.' .said Mrs Doy, kindly. 'Oi course (iera'ld has had n great deal to think of, and forgot, to apprise Jess, and the poor thing ha& had a great deal to do as .she has said.' 'Yes: but. whcie was that jade of a ierry-girl, that she could not have made .i fire" here?' .scornfully demanded Miss Maxima. Jess's black eyes began to knap. ' Who mougiit yer be talkin' 'bout, Mi.ss ?' she inquired, with ironical respect. ' That creature he foolishly married. She's not too good, 1 suppose, to wait on ladies,' said Miss Maxima, contemptuously. l : Jchs drew her sword and threw away the ! scabbard, so to speak. " You talk about my misl/ess dat way, ycr'liciouspizen old maid, you ! loud aie to call young Mrs Gcrl' Fil/.gerl' a ereetur ! She aint no more ob a ereetur dan you is 1 ycrsc'f ; no. nor ha'f as much. It's you is de ereetur', and a horrid, ugly ole ereetur at dat ; what no man could ebcr be Viaded to

marry obcn for yor money. It's yon, is do creolur, and she is do lady. You jes' lot Murse Colonel FitzgcrT hoar you call do young madam a creotur', and he'll show yer do outside ob do door, Miss, quicker'n you ebor scod it done in yor life. Marse Colonel is a perfect gem'an, an' mighty pcrlite to ladies ; but ho won't stand no nonsense whoro do young madam is 'corned, I tell yor good. I 'vi&cs yor to bo bery 'spectful to young Mrs Coral' FitzgcrT, if yer knows knows what's good for yer — so dore !' While Jess poured forth this tori en fc of indignation, Miss Maxima Rowley blood aghast witJi astonishment and dumb with uigc. She, boforo whom all the slaves on l)Of plantation trembled with abject fear, <.o .stand and hear .such inconceivable insolence from the black servant of the lorry house ! She was really so confounded .she did not know what to do or .say. She would have liked to oideroiT Jess to instant execution by binning at the slake, if she hud hud the power. She was tempted to knock old -Jess down wheie she stood, and |ump upon her and .stamp her to death, if such a proceeding would not have boon both undignified und dangerous. Any lighter way than those of punishing such unheairiot impudence seemed (o her both pueiilo and iufile. 'I 1 shall rcpoit (hi.-, to your master, .she muttoicd, in a voice choked with biipptcssod i age. 'Oh, do' /V<rc< do now! Don't 'fiain on my 'count' Toil it to Maive Colonel Fil/geil'! Tell him what a good sottin' down J gib yci tor spcakin' dis-iespec'ful ob do young mad. im ' And den .sec how he'll 'cei'voit,' .said .Jess with the most polite iiony. 'Come, Aunt Ma\hm, let ih go (low ir stairs. We shall catch (old it we irmain hcic,' s.iid Mrs Doy Fii/<roald, who had taken no pait in the coutiovci-y, but, indeed, with mild tact had ignoied the whole thing. 1 \ ( <s ! this i- no place ior me 1 1 will ha\c that black demon— -I will ha\o her— I will ha\e her— di awn and ([uartcicd !' -putteied Miss Uowlcy, as she loft the loom, followed by tiic doiishe laughtci of old -less. When the two ladies re entered the parloni, th« t % louud the gentlemen deep in the di^i u^sion of (he myslei iou.s assassination. Ceiald Fit/nci.ihl had given them the tacts, as tin as he had learned them horn John Btooks, the boai m,u>, uho had been the hifet, to(iisco\ci the niuidoi, and who had scon the unknown woman jump up tiom tin ->ide ol the v ounded man, and disappear in the woods behind him. V.c also ielalcd the cneumManccs oi hit* own seeking and tindmg the victim, and biinumg him to tho fei ) y-hoiise But he withheld, toi the piesent, the statement made him bv Auhui Fil/geiald on his death bed. As the ladies entered, t lit ( on\ei-ati<>n ceased. Colonel Kit/geuild aiose ami placed chiins ioi them, and then turning to Mi ('•] eenleaf, said . 'Well, Ho\al, will you 'nc the nisi to \iew the body, and -cc ll \mi can iden' liy it ' ' \ c>, ceilau:!) ! ccitainh '" c\( laimcd l!o\, lumping u|>, on llic </m in< of < iniosiij . ' Follow nu, then, '••ml (-eiald They left the | >-*. il<>i 1 1 and t i os~,ed the hull (Joiald Fit/gciald unlocked the loom of death, iiiul they jii^sed in 'It is as a \aulf. Lei ds Jia\ p Jiuht , whispeied (loyal (lieonloai, who, coming ficiiii the sunn\ hall into the shaded loom, could see nothinu but ihe w hite bed, u ith the dim outline of the lonn human ioim under the eountti pane Colonel Fit/gerald opened the windowshuttcis, letting in a Hood ot light, and (hen went to the bedside, silonllx. lollowcd bj I loyal (>( > i oen lea t. "<ieiald levcicntl} tinned down the u lute co\ei let, and levelled the calm! 1 ) sleeping lace. (iood l,oid ' It is Aithui Lh\yl Fii/.l'ooi, pool tellow ' evelaiined Ko\al (iieonleat, m .in <n\e sinckcn tone. ■\ on iccouuisc ii i in ' iiujuikcl Cc lotiel 1 it/'^ei ild, in a low v hi>pei ' I f uuld s\\(_,n to him on a })ile of l>ibk> ,i- lnu'i ;i- a h.\\staclv' icsponded Mi ( ! Ken leaf. 'That i.s we'll Ask no que-tions now, m\ deai Ko\ Lat.ci , 1 shall ha\c sonic thipq (olell \ou (!o io the window, ni) m>od tellow, and sit theie. Make no m<;ii 1 must liiui" in otlu i witnesses, whose l e< o'jnition niiisl. be as spontaneous a-; }oui ! own, said Colonel Fit/gciald, as he ic\ei jen 1 1\ eo\ ci cd the ( aim tai c Mi Uo\.il (lu-enhat took the indicated seal w Inle Colonel Fit/nci.ild left (he loom, and |ue-enll\ K^uined with Miss Maxima Row !e\ on his ,ti in. lie led I he old lad} to the beds-ide, turned ! (low n t he co\ci let, and ie\caled the quiet sl(V|>"l. ' Do >on know t.his face, Aunt. l\owlc\ !' uujuued (iciald Fit/geiald. | " ()! coiii Ido ' ' sn.ippcd Miss liow!e\. I ■ It is the iaee of that sjood-toi -nothing, ! Ally Fit /gei aid ' I thouuht the de\il had : got him lonu auo ; but 1 knew he would conic to a bad end at last ! '1 am \eiy sou \ to hen you sj )tM k so unchaiijabh, madam,' said Colonel Fit/coldly, ;is he led hci lo a -eal hesidi the othc s He (hen left the i ooiv and relumed with Mis l)oj Fit /gci aid, who, ousceingthc face, exclaimed • 'Itis om pooi Arthui Fit/gei.ild ' Oh, u\) pooi boy ' Oh, my poor boy !' and toi Hitting <he years that had passed, and M'emi; betoie hoi only the playmate ot her infancy the < ompanion oi ho girlhood, she fell weeping o\er hi 1 - bod). \\ hen Mis Doy w.is sullieiently composed, Colonel Fii/gci.'ild ga\o hey n scat, and went out to biii>n in, in succohsjon, other witnesses, all ot whom, each in his turn, at sight, rocou'iiised the body of the muidoicd man as that of the long-missing heir of the Summit Manoi , Arthur Lloyd Fitzgeiald. (To be Continued.)

Nt ksin'<. K\iiiis. - E\crv mother should, it possible, muso hex own baby, .supposing, ot course, that she may he healthy and able to undertake the duly with cotntovt, and success : and 1 won Id remind yon Ol tilC effect w hicli ,» wet muse may have upon the physical and cs'ou mental constitution ot the child she icir*. A nurse of scrofulous, can'crous, 01 rheumatic tendency, tor instance may infect a nurseling in no way 1 elated to her, ami diseases too hoiriblc to name may be convened by her milU. I know a remarkable ca'-e, in which the wholo mental typo of an individual appeals to have been modified by that of the foster-mother ; the child in qucstiou, now grown to manhood, exactly resembling 1 in disposition and idio&yncracy the woman who nursed him, not the mothe who bore him, nor, fo far as can be ascertained, any of his proper rolathcs. Such facts show how highly important it is for those mothers who aro furccd to confide the nourishment ot their infants to strangers to make a judicious and caroful choice, assisted by professional guidance, and by a knowledge not only of tho pcraon but of the antecedents of fcho substitute selected. — Anna KINUSJ-'OKD, M.D.