CHAPTER XXIX.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXIX.

EPISTOLARY. Dk. Bmiwick was. seated in his study rereading somo lebfcers that had arri\ ed by the morning's post. There was one from Herbeit Escombc and one from AsLley ' these ho had read aloud, as was his custom, at the breakfast table, and had brought with him to his ' den ' to look over again. Escombe's letter ran as follows, and was dated from Scudmoro House :— • "My Deak Dr. Berwick,— Pursuant to my promise 1 now write a law lines. You will sec Irom the address that I am staying with tho Ashfords. 1 am now entirely convinced that you are in error with regard to my dear sister. 1 have had several conversations with heron the sutnect in winch we aro both so deeply interested, aad, though she naturally has a very strong objection to discuss the matter, I have on no occasion 3ccn anything to lead me to supposo that she had any hand in the affair. I am at a loss to know how best to serve Astlcy. The only courso I can sec is to discover, if possible, the whereabouts cf the two rervants i\ ho were witnesses at the trial. By the way, my sister told me of her own accord that the feraale witness had been in her employ prior to her entering Mrs Ashford's service. The "whole thing mizzles me not a little, and however things turn out eventually, I am afraid my poor sister must be made to suiter. That Astlcy is innocent I have not a doubt, and by proving this my sister's marriage will be rendered illegal. However, it is better e\ on so than that the innocent should sufl'er. I shall do my bes>t to gret at the truth. 'Of course, dear Dr. Berwick, T do not wish to influence you in any way by my remarks. You will take what course yoyi consider best, and the face of your entertaining suspicions of one who is dear to me shall not lessen you in my esteem, though T cannot share the suspicion. 1 only regret that it is impossible for ns to wo.k together. 'I shall take an early opportunity, after Christmas, of paying you a longer vi&il, when 1 hope to make the acquaintance of Mis Ashford and her sister. — With kind regards to Mrs Berwick, I remain, dear Dr. Berwick, yours very truly, 1 Herbert Escombe.' 'Poor fellow !' mused the vector. 'Things aro getting rather unpleasantly complicated. What) a real good fellow he mu&t be, and j how fond of our boy ! Many men, rinding | such difficulties arise, would give up the affair, but he seems all the move eager. 1b i? too bad that he should be mixed up in it, for it must bring trouble to him in some form. If his sister is innocent), as ho supposes, still she will have to sutler, for, os lie says, her marriage will be illegal. Dear, dear, it is a &ad business, but we must not let it rest. 5 The following is an extract from Astlcy 's letter :—: — 'I had rather a strange adventure a few weeks ago. [ ■was walking down Strcot on my way home to lunch, -when a horse came tearing along attached to a buggy, and m that buggy sat a woman. Just I et'ors reaching me the wheel of the buggy struck \ lolcnth" against a post and the Tinfortu.iate woman was shot into the road. The horse rushed oh." faster th-in ! ever. Instead of anyone piclcnsr up the woman I some stood staring after the vehicle, and others at her. I heaid 'someone say, "Oh, it is only Carrie ; better bend for the police' Not knowing'or caring very much who ' Carrie' might be, I rushed to her and raised her up. Her head was bleeding, and 1 asked a bvstandcr to fetch or send for a doctor. He merely f. rinncd like an idiot. I took her into the nearest hotel and left her in charge of the landlady while I ran for a doctor. When I returned I found the landlady and bathed her head and was treating her very kindly. The doctor examined her and proi nonnced the injury trifling, though it whs a w onder she hadn't broken her neck^ She would ! be all right in a few days. Turning to me he added, ' I suppose you know her '.' I icpljing that I did not, he mtormed me she was ' Carrie.' I was no wiser, as I lold him. He explained that she was what is termed an improper j person, and told me I had "put my loot in it.' I replied that I should do the same again if occasion required. So I would, my deai lather, •would not you ? The landlady having promised to look after her, J left, and forgot the afl'air until about a week after, when I received a note as follows :— Road. 'Dear Sir,— Accept my best thanks for your kindness to me. You saved my life. I was told all about it when I came to my senses. j You was the only man there. If jon will come and sec me, I think I can do yeu a good tern. I am not a lady, end am hated by almost all women. lam not a good •woman, but do come and sec me. I think I can serve you. It you come to-night I shall be at ome and alon s —Yours truly, Carrie. 'Well, my dear father, T went too see thi poor woman. She is what the doctor described her; there are many of thosa poor lost creatures here. She has. an elaborate establishment and is surrounded by many comforts, but, as you may suppose, is not a happy woman. But I must tell you as briefly as possible what transpired at the intcr\iew. Alter she had again thanked me for what she was pleased to term my manly? conduct, fhe, to my astonishment, said — ' Mr Berwick, 1 know you have had a great deal of trouble ; 1 have heard all about you and if yeu will tell me the truth about it I am nearly sure I can be of use to you. I cannot tell you how at present, but if you will trust me, I will show you that, lost as I am, I stiil have a l&errfc and do not forget a kindness. I may be mistaken, but I believe [ can help you in a way that you little think of This is the substance of what she said. As you may sunpose I was rattier taken aback and loth to talk of my private affairs with this unfortunate creature, and she, noticing my hesitation, said, * I sec you don't like to trust me. Remember, I know all about you from the papers, and from j what people have told me. I have heard both sides of the afl'air, but want you to tell me, so that I can bettor form an opinion a& to whether I can be useful to you.' 'To be briet, I told her, and I think I Avas right. She repeatedly told me that I might trust her. and said that I should hear from her again. Yesterday, to my surprise, I received a letter from Auckland, saying that she was on her way to England, begging mo not to cause her to be watched and promising to keep her "word to me 'the kindest man she had ever met.' She signed her name ' Carrie ;' what her real name is I have no idea. 'It will be strange if anything comes of this towards clearing up my affairs, will it not? I cannot help thinking that she knows something important, and I iirmly believe she will be true to her word. I trust we shall hear more of her ere long.' ' How strange !' thought the rector. ' I hope the boy lias not become entangled in any way with this woman. But no ; he is too wise to do anything of that sort. Well, I trust something may come of it, I am sure.'