CHAPTER XX.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 276, 27 June 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER XX.

TWKLV Is MONTHS' DOINUS IMUKKLY KKVIKWKD. To chronicle events as they happened daily during the period of twelve months 1 would be too tedious. Twelve months ! a [ short time to look back upon in the life of man, yet of how great importance to many ! Years and years may pass over our heads and bring no changes, yet in twelve short months— from the beginning to the end oE one short year— how many tilings may happen to us ! AiVr giving a briof glance to the doh:gs of our friends in New Zealand during this period, we will take a trip Home. Mr Turner, on entering his office one morning, having spent some time with Mr i Lovegrove the previous evening, rang tho i beil and Mr Todd made his appearance. 1 iMrTodd, be so good as to ask Mr Dakin to step this way.' 4Mr Dnkin, .sir!' exclaimed Mt Todd astonished. ' Mr Dakin has gone to Auck" land.' 'Gone to irhcrcV roared, rather than .said, Mr Turner. ' Cone to Auckland, sir. He went the night before last.' ' Really, Mr Todd, I think you have made some mistake. ' ' No, sir,' replied Todd. 'Mr Dakin was. not here yesteiday, and List evening I saw I his name in the list of passengers for Auckland.' ' Show me the paper.' Mr Todd withdrew, and presently returned witli the evening paper. ' ' (ioocl hca\ens •' ejaculated Mr Turner. 'The scoundiel !' And then lie continued as his clerk was leaving the room, 'Stay, J Mr Todd, don't mention in the oflicc that I was not aware of this ; I have particular reasons.' ' Very well, sir.' Yes ; he had gone, there could be no doubt about it, and Mr Turner, though he was astonished, was very glad a? well. • Yes,' ho thought, ' it was the best thing he could do for all parties, 1 can almost forgive him for robbing me. It would not have been pleasant to prosecute, either for me or Lucy.' Mr Lovegrove had made some startling discoveiies. Amongst other proofs, a second pass book had been found, and there was no doubt whatever of Dakin's guilt. He had gone, and so had some thousands of Mr Turner's money. 'Serves me right,' thought poor Mr Turner, 'for being so careless.' It now behoved him to look out for another manager. . He e\ entually promoted Mr Todd to the higher post, and placed another old hand in that gentleman's place. This left a vacancy, which he tilled, on Astley's recommendation, with Mr Chetwyn, the young fellow whom our friend had had an opportunity ofner\ingon a former occasion. The appointment gladdened Chetwyn's heart, and relieved a loving mother and sister of heavy anxiety. He waa the son of tho late Colonel (ieorge C'hetwyn, a gentleman of some .standing, who had left little behind him, baiely sufficient to support his widow and daughter in a humble manner. Young Chetwyn had proposed going to Mew Zealand to try his fortune, and the mother and sister agreed to go with him, as they could not bear t^o lose him. Miss Chetwyn was a charming girl of seventeen at the time they left Horne — charming alike in appearance and manner. Mrs Chetwyn very soon added considerably to her income by giving music lessons, so that now her &on was &o well provided for they were able to live veiy comfortably. j It was never publicly known that Dakin had absconded after robbing his employer. Mr Turner gave out that his manager had been suddenly called away owing to urgent family affairs. That was all. Of course there were rumours, but nothing certain was known. Had Dakin turned up once more in W , there was nothing against him to prevent his again occupying a posi- j tion of trust. Herein lies the evil of eon- I coaling a crime. If once a man has gone j ronfj, if once he has been dishonest and has escaped punishment, he is apt, nay. nearly sure to repeat the crime. Dakin had gone, and there was an end of him as far as the residents of W were concerned. Theie were only a few— a very few — who hoped he would never come back. Mr Turner so hoped, and so did the other members of his. family. Lucy was in high glee, after the lirst shock was ovci , at her escape from such a scoundrel. But she did not know half his guilt. She only knew him as a thief, she little thought how a part of the money he had taken had been squandered. And what of Carrie? Did she hope Dakin would not return ? Did she not? She had not waited long after his departure before she caused the jewellery ho had left with her to be sold for what it would fetch ; and finding herself in possession of a good round sum of ready money, she invested it on mortgage, and the interest was a very comfortable liltle income. Did she reform ? No ; the money was. not her.s, though she tried to comfort hei .self with the assurance that it was as much hers as his. The voice which spoke within her tortured her for some little time, but/ it gradually died away — killed by debauchery. This money, so obtained, did her no good, but simply urged her on to wor.se sin, givinc her further opportunities for indulging in vices to a\ hich she was prc\ious>ly inclined. In vain her old lover pleaded with i her, earnestly beseeching her to abandon this life and come to him as his honoured wife. At first she listened patiently to him and promised to consider his offer, but she soon wearied of the idea. She could not go to him— so she reasoned— and live the quiet monotonous life of a staid, married woman. She- would go mad ; no excitement, no wine to drink, no jolly, congenial companions. No !it would never do. So she told Alfred. Again he pleaded. Tn vain. She shocked him so terribly at last that he left her. Well nigh broken hearted, he left her to her own life. She soon had many visitors, and presents came to her thick and fast. Always capricious, she stood aloof from others of her class, and never disgraced herself by any public demonstrations. Women visitors she had none. Those who would gladly have como to her she would not have. She was not fond of the society of low women, and no respectable women knew her, except by sight and repute. Astley Berwick soon became very popular as the partner of Herbert Eseonibe, one of the wealthiest and most respected men in New Zealand. After Dakin had left there was no one who cared to say a word against Borwick. Those who had so easily swallowed and digested the lies Dakin had fed them with had no ill-will against him personally, and seeing him taken up by some of the most influential people it was 4 not worth their while ' to continue the scandal ; and Mr Tnrner took caro to quickly circulate the fact that Berwick had come to him with the very highest recommendations.

Escorabe was now on his way to England accompanying Mr and Mrs Bernard. They intended to remain at Home some eight months or so, as they had allowed themselves «i year's holiday from the time they left to the bime they should return. Astley liked his occupation, Dividing his occupation between the station and the town business, he had plenty to do, and he did it well. lie was very soon known and respected as a thorough man of business.