CHAPTER LX.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 299, 15 September 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER LX.

Judith lost no time in carrying out her determination to warn Captain Fossbrooke of his danger. The moment, her duties to Lady Marguerite were ended, she hurried across the wold, in t,he waning light, to the residence of Mr Keith. The old Highland country house was very silent and sad, for Mr Keith was absent, at work with the detectives -who were trying to find poor Maggie; and the old doctor was sitting out upon the stone steps, his head bent upon hiV breast, given over to despair and grief. Judith approached him with teai.^ in her eyes. ' Ay, 'tis you, my girl," lie said, in reply to her salutation, his eyes full of the wi.stful inquiry that never left thorn. *f «as in hopes — ' He stopped shojt. his voice choked and unsteady. 'But "tis ut>eless." he added after a moment. ' 1 may as well give up all hope. She's gone, Judith -my pretty bairn's gone — I shall never hear from her again. ' There was deep pathos in the old father's grief for the daughter he loved so fondly, Judith's tears fell fast as she looked at him, but her words were the words of hope and consolation. { Do not despair," she said :'I am sure you will find her—l feel it somehow, doctor — she's not gone.' But he shook his grey head in despair. ' Remember how it was about Hendrick,' the girl continued, hoping to cheer him. [ I had mourned him as dead so long, and in the hour 1 least looked for it, he was restored to me. The mercy of Heaven is endless, and its power is omnipotent, doctor. You will surely find your child again.' He looked up at the summer stars above him. Judith's earnest words thrilled him with renewed hope. She passed on, in search of the captain, and found, to her consternation, that he was absent, gone to Glasgow, to return on Thursday. On Thursday, the very day on which the fatal wine party was to be held ! What should she do? Hurrying home through the silent starlight, she thought until her temples throbbed with pain, and at last determined to reveal the whole affair to the countess. Lady Marguerite was in the music-room when Judith reached Ravenswolcl, filling all the summer silence with her mournful melodies, and the girl ran to her own little room, to seek advice from her husband. She had told him the story of the baronet's treachery before, and he had .strongly approved of her decision to reveal all to the counters. 'There's, something wrong," he said, in his grave, slow manner, ' though 1 can't see through it. Ive been watching the baron e<" since you told me, and there"? something wrong with him, Judith. He starts* and looks behind him when there.- no cau-o - he's got a secret of some kind on his mind, I'm sure o' that." ! 'And he to be my poui little Pearl's j husband !' cried Judith. i 'And a night or two ric.- 0 ," pursued Hen- j drick. without noticing -what she >aid, ' 1 ■n'as down in the stables, and Sii Bayaid came down- -he's always prying about the horses. They both stopped and stared at each other, and &ays the captain : 1 Why, Colonel Richmond Brooke, as 1 live !' * And Sir Bayard, he turned so white that I thought he'd drop where he stood. The captain went on with a Laugh, and then Sir ! Bayard fell to swearin' awful. I wonder what it all means '!' 'Colonel Richmond Brooke," repeated Judith, thoughtfully. ' 3 said Hendrick ; ' that's the name. I i remember it well. ' ! ' Well, 'tis all in a tangle,' she replied : ' I can't begin to see one end from t'other : but I'll take your advice and tell the whole | thing to the counbess.' 'Ay, lass, 'tis the best thing -you can do,' responded Hendrick, stroking her brown hair as he arose to go out. And Judith went straightway and tapped for admittance at the door of the countesp's sitting-room. The old lady had a new novel before her and her inevitable silver mug of strong coffee at her elbow. She stared a little as Judith entered and begged the favour of her attention for a few minutes. But she closed her novel, and pushed back her goggles, and laid one hand on the jewelled head of her staff, and bade her proceed with what she wished to &ay. Judith obeyed, rehearsing in a concise and strictly truthful manner, and with that terse and striking style that was one of her gifts, the whole affair from beginning to end, winding up with the little incident that Hendrick had noticed in the stable-yard. The countess listened, her keen eyes blazing, her hands working nervously on the top of her cane. She comprehended all the points that had escaped the girl's comprehension. When the story was ended she bi-ought down her stick with a crash. 'There,' she cried excitedly, ' I see the whole thing now as clear as daylight. What a blind idiot I've been nob to suspect it before. The man's an impostor, and Bayard Bromptom's dead — murdered ! That's the whole in a nutshell. Poor Bayard.' She meditated a moment and then bounded to her feet with the alacrity of a girl. 'Here, my good girl,' she cried, as she threw off her velvet gown, 'drees me quick. I won't ring for my maid — there, the black satin and a fresh turban. Oh, Heaven !' .. shawent on, excitedly, as Judith hastened to obey, 'to think how I've suffered myself to .be duped — thank Heaven, 'tis not too , late. Poor Pearl, poor little girl, what a . ,fate she has escaped. 'Girl,' turning upon Judith as she was folding the snowy turban, ' I'll give you a fortune ior the service that you've done me to-night ; a fortune that will make you a lady.' Judith thanked her as she arranged the turban and looped it in front with the great flashing diamond. Tbe countess grasped her stick and hurried down. Pearl was still at the piano, and the baronet was bending over her chair, doing his utmost to play the devoted lover, the poor girl shrinking away from him with norror and aversion. The countess crossed the room with the tread of a cat and pub her lips close to the baronet's ear. * Colonel Richmond Brooke,' she cried, shrilly, ' wlicn did you. murder Sir Bayard Brompton .'*

The baronet bounded up as if a bullet had struck him, turned sharply and stared at the countess in blank Consternation. Then, comprehending" the whole, his face slowly whitened, and with one or two tneH'eotual ga*ps ho sank to the floor insensible The countess sat down, contemplating the prostrate soldier with an amused twinkle in her sharp eyes. • I've idven myself credit all my life for being a clever woman.' she observed, ' but I'm convinced now that I'm insufferably stupid, thai I ever should have boon brought to beiiove that creatuiea Brompton. I'ah ! Marguerite, child, ring the bell, will you V Marguerite, pale with wondering dismay, hastened to obey. ' Call that gentleman's valet,' commanded the countess of the servant who entered, indicating the prostrate baroneb with the toe of her satin t-ltppor. In five minutes i^ennaul enteied, a startled look \i\ his black e;\e- ' Take your master to his room," said the countess : 'he i<? ill. T will have a pb)siciau called in. ' Leonard obeyed with alaciit> ; and the dowager proceeded to call in, not ;t phys. cian, but a pah ot onicei>. Half an hour later they invaded the baronet's room, but 10, the casement was< wide open, and the baronet and his \alel<wetc both gone. Uut the unsuccessful .-oldier had K«tt lv-> written confession behind him. ■1 am Sir Buyaul Bromplon'.- haUbrothor b> an illegitimatt' connection. Hu> father did my mother an uupaidouable wvonji, and i owed hei wm a Motecner, I was the elder son, the title and wealth were mine : 1 tntd to f»eeuie them : 1 have failed." "Poor fellow," mused the countess : 'he did have a look of the Bromptons, and I can't help feeling some pity lor him. But he* a murderer -put the omVeis on his> track.