CHAPTER I. THIS LADY NORA KILDARE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 305, 6 October 1888, Page 5

CHAPTER I. THIS LADY NORA KILDARE.

Poi^T Kildare, on the coasfc of county Antrim, in the North of Ireland, had been for many generations the home of tho Earls of Kildare. As its namo implies, it was a point of land jutting out into the North Channel, but it was also an island, being divided from the main land by a deep and narrow stream with high and rocky banks. This stream, known as the Kildare Cut-off, was spanned by a massive draw-bridge, which was tended by an old retainer, whose picturesquo lodge nestled amid a forest of greenery on the Kildare shore. The point or island, thus watered on its four sides, enclosed within its boundaiies a princely estate ot over two thousand acres, comprising farms, hills, glens and woods, in picturesque and charming arrangement. A wide diive, shaded by magnificent arching trees, completely encircled the island, and stately avenues traversed the woods and parks and wound among tho well-cultured larms, while fc>unny lanes and secluded footpaths led to the glens and more retired portions of the domain. Tho chief feature of the island was, of course, tho residence of its owners— Kildare Castle. It stood high up on a rocky bluff overlooking the Channel, and presented a grand combination of towers and turrets and immense windows which glittered in the sunlight like glorious jewels. The waters alternately played and dashed against the sea-wall at the base of the castle, while on the three remaining sides of the hoaiy old structure extended terraces and lawns and gardens, losing themselves in the other features of the island which we have desciibed. The present owner of Point Kildare, and the last representative of the graud old line of Kildare, was a woman. The death of her father, the late earl, a few months previous to the opening date of our story, ha<3 left the young Lady Nora absolute mistress of her small principality, her guardian, an easy-natured, indolent old gentleman, residing on his own estates in England, and contenting himself with a semi-annual visit to his ward. And no queen was ever loved more tenderly than was the Lady Nora by her island tenantry and her servants, the faithfull old retainers who had spent their lives in the service of her family. Late one sunny afternoon in September, 1869, a horseman approached Point Kildare, coming from the direction ot the small watering-place of Glenarm. He was well dressed and well mounted, and his appearance differed in no important particular from that of the ordinary fashionable young man of the day. Ho was about tive-and-twenty years of age, dark of hair and eye, and handsome of feature, but there was a sinister expression on his face and a mocksneer on his iull.sensuallips, that betokened a scheming and unscrupulous soul. ' Well, I am almost there !' he muttered aloud, coming to a halt on the brow of a hill and looking oft upon the island of Kildare, its magnificent castle and the shining waters beyond. 'That's a fino sight spread out there !' And his dark eyes kindled with a greedy gleam. ' Tho owner of all this wealth has no need to envy a king. It's a prize worth my best efforts. It is war between us, my unknown Lady Nora — war to the knife ! In the deadly struggle before up which shall win ?' His face darkened with a look of the keenest, deadliest resolve. It was evident that in the struggle which he apprehended he would not be hampered by any sense of chivalry or honour. He was about to move onward, when the silence around him was suddenly broken by a full, rich bugle peal. The sound was followed by the baying of hounds and the tread of a horse's feet in the distance, the latter sound growing louder with each insbanc. With the instinct of a cautious and secretive nature, and perhaps with an impulse of curiosity, the horseman di*ew back into the shadow of the spreading oak-tree at one side of the road, and, halting there, waited. The sound of beating hoofs grow yet louder, and presently a horse and rider dashed past, followed by a pack of hounds in full cry. The rider, unattended save by hounds, was a woman. The watcher, bending forward eagerly in his saddle, caught a brief glimpse of a sunny, witching face, bright with youth and health, and all aglow with spirit and animation, of a mass of noating, dusky hair under a trailing plume, and then the glowing vicion swept on, and a cloud of dust veiled her from his view. The horseman thrilled with a sudden excitement. ' It must be the Lady Nora herself ! he ejaculated. 'How beautiful she is — the glorious little Amazon ! I am impatient to learn how she will take the news I have to tell her.' He rode on at a gallop, following in the lady's wake. A few minutes later he arrived at the draw-bridge over the Cut-off, and rode leisurely over it. The horsewoman, with her hounds, had disappeared up the avenue. As the stranger reached the Kildare shore, the old bridge-keeper, whose post was merely nominal, yet who faithfully adhered to ancient customs, came forward, touching his hab to the new-comer. ' I have business at the castle,' said the horseman, tossing the old man a shilling. « Whieh turn shall I take ?' 'To the right,' responded the bridgekeeper, with a look of keen curiosity, for visitors at Kildare Castle were rare. ' The Lady Nora has just come in.' The stranger touched his horse, and galloped along the broad avenue, while the old bridge-keeper looked after him, muttering :' ' I don't like the looks of him ! It's the •eye of a snake he has ! And yet he has the Kildare features, as cure's I'm born ! Who can he be ?' 1 Unconscious of the interest he had excifced in the old bridge-keeper's breast, the ) horseman rode along the tree-arched avenue, following its curves alongthe shore of the island, coming at last upon the broad sweep leading to the chief door of the castle.- ' ' * > 1 " " By this time the sun had set,' and the shadows of the twilight were gathering. The, doors and,, windows of the castle were all open, to give free play, to" the pleasant

evening breeze,' but thoflaw.n was deserted, 1 , and no one \y&s visible about the premises. The stranger rode 'up to the portico and slowly alighted, ; and at the same moment a lad came running from the direction of the stables to take his hoi'se. Resigning the I animal to the lad's charge, the stranger as- \ cended the tall and stately -flight of steps, and sounded the massivo burnished knocker after an imperious, authoritative fashion. The summons was speedily answered by an old servitor, who gave him admittance into a grand old entrance-hall, demanding his business. ' ' I wish to see the Lady Nora Kildare,' said the new-comer. ' Be kind enough to tell her that a gentleman from London wishes to see her a fow moments on business.' ' What name, sir ?' 'No matter about tho naine,' returned the stranger, giving the old man a halfcrown; 'I wish to surprise her ladyship.' The servitor nodded sagoly and conducted the guest down the length of the magnificent hall, past statoly drawingrooms, into a pleasant, breezy parlour, at the further end, then went to execute his errand. In the course of a few minutes he returned with a message that her ladyship would see the visitor presently, and the stranger was then left to himself. The long twilight was now deepening. The shadows began to gather thickly within the parlour. A servant came in and lighted the lamps and drew the fluttering lace curtains. Tho sinister guest began to grow annoyed and impatient, and muttered : ' This is getting tiresome. Ah ! there she comes now !' The next moment the door was pushed open, and a young girl enterod the room. At the iirst giance the stranger recognised her as the gay and airy little vision he had seen an hour before on horseback on the road. With an involuntary look of admiration he arose and bent his head lowly before her. If she had looked beautiful when mounted on her horse, she was absolutely bewitching now, in her trailing robe of white muslin and with her wide scarlet sash tied about her slender waist. She was about twenty years of age, slender and graceful, with a half-haughty carriage of her swaying figure and a half-ha\ighty poise of her head that were infinitely becoming to her. Her eyes were of a bronze-brown hue, shaded by black lashes ; her complexion was dark and clear, and her hair, of a deep, dusk hue, fell over her shoulders in ripples and waves. The face was exquisitely piquant, bright, arch and sunny. You wished to see me, sir?' she asked, in shigh, clear, sweet voice, and with a doubtful glance at the stranger. ' 1 thought it was a neighbour. The servant did not give me your name.' ' You are, then, the Lady Nora Kildare?' The young girl bowed gravely. ' And you ?' she asked. ' Permit me to retain my name from your ladyship until 1 have unfolded my errand,' said the stranger, politely. 'I have travelled express from London to see you, and havs letters with me from friends of yours, which I will present in due time. You will list-en to me ?' The Lady No— a hesitated, fcho stranger's manner and words striking her unpleasantly. But she was in her own ca&tle, with a score of retainers within call, and with a haughty little bend of her small head sho signified her assent to his singular proposition, quietly took possession of an arm-chair, and, pointing out another to her sinister guest, signified her readiness fco listen to him. ' This is a grand old place ! 5 said the stranger, with a glance around him. * No doubt you love it, my lady, more than you love yoar life.' ' Love it !' repeated the Lady Nora, in haughty surpiise. 'Love Kildare, the home of my ancestors, the spot where I Avas born. Bub,' she added, coldly, checking herself abruptly, ' what have my sentiments in regard to my home to do with you, sir ?' A strange gleam came into the stranger's eyes. A curious smile gathered about the corners of his thin lips, as he responded : ' Much — everything ! I came here to tell your ladyship that your possession of this cherished spot ib menaced— ' ' Menaced !' ' Yes, my lady. There is another claimant to Point Kildare !' The Lady Nora uttered an exclamation of incredulity. ' You have been imposed upon,' she said, haughtily. ' I am the only child, and consequently the heiress of the late Earl of Kildare !' Again the stranger smiled, and there was something now in his smile that struck a vague chill to the Lady Nora's heart. ' The new claimant has a right superior to yours — superior to that ot your late father •' he exclaimed with a,n air ot assurance. ' Permit me to tell you — ' The Lady Nora waved her hand, interrupting him. 'I decline to hear your statement,' she said. ' If your words, which seem so utterly preposterous, have any foundation i in truth, I am not the one to whom you ' should come. I refer you to my guardian, Sir Russel Ryan, who lives in England. He and his iawyers will dispose of any pretensions of the sort you are preferring !' She arose to withdraw. ' Stay !' cried the guest, his eyes suddenly blazing, as he stretched out his arm in a commanding gesture. • I have come here to teli you the story before the whole kingdom rings with it ! You can at least hear what I have to tell. If the evidence is insufficient you will know that as well as Sir Russel Ryan. If it is overwhelming, and convinces even you, possibly your ladyship and your rival claimant may be able to effect some compromise, or tho case may be referred to your guardian or the lawyers. I beg of you, for your own sake, to listen to mo. If you refuse, you shall read all I have to tell in the Belfast papers of the day after to-morrow !' The Lady Nora resumed her seat, her face becoming a shade paler. ' Of course,' she said, ( I know this rival claim is a forged one, if any rival claim exists. But I will hear what you have to say. Only be as brief as possible.' ' I will do so,' said the stranger. ' It will be necessary for me to begin with a slight retrospect. Your grandfather, tho fifteenth Earl of Kildare, died some five years since, and his son, your father, my Lady JNora, then in the prime of life, succeeded to the title and estates. This, so far, is true ?' ' The whole kingdom knows that it is true,' said the young girl coldly. * The whole kingdom also knows that your father, the last earl, inherited Kildare in consequence of the death* of his elder brother. Let me revive the knowledge of your family history. Lord Kildare, your grandfather, Had two sons, Redmond and Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was your father. Redmond was a wild young fellow who spent most of his time in England, lost money on the turf, kept a costly yacht, and indulged in every luxury and fashionable dissipation of the day. He ran through his money; and bis health, and jdied at the aere of thirty-one, a prematurely old man. Had ho. left legitimate issue, that issue, would have inherited 'Kildare, to , the totalexclusion of your father and yourr self.' , . ', , . ' ,

- l 'I am'abqtiaintBd s vvifch l ijlie lawsof primogeniture, ' coldly.saicl the Lady, Nora. • I , ' Yoti recognise , the truth, - then, , of the 1 great fact?' demanded the'- sinister guest,, with> some excitement. '-' You comprehend that if Lord Redmond .Kildare lefta lawful son, that son would now, be Lord Kildare, and the owner of this vast property f * The fact is perfectly plain.' An exultant gleam shone in the stranger's eyes, and overspread his face. ' Listen !' he cried, his voice ringing through the room. ' Lord "Redmond . Kildare, your father's elder brother, did leave a lawtul son and heir. Lord Redmond was secretly married to an actress, who waa for a while the rage in London. He made her his lawful wife, and withdrew her from the stage, establishing her in a cottage at St. John's Wood. Knowing his father's inveterate family pride, he dared not acknowledge his mad marriage, the more especially as his wife had no wealth or family connections to back her, and there wore enemies ready to impeach her previous good name. Lord Redmond soon tired of his actress wife, and repented his folly in marrying her. The birth of a son had not power to win back his affections to his wife, and he coolly abandoned her when his child was less than a year old. The wife had one noble quality at least — her love for him. She went mad at his desertion of her, and was placed in a private insane asylum. Lord Redmond continued his wild career ; and a year or two later, worn out with his excesses, came home to Point Kildare to die. With his proud old father at his bedside, with his younger brother ministeiing tenderly to him, he could not, and he dared not, acknowledge the oxistence of his mad wife and her son. He died with the secret untold. And that wife and son are both living to-day.' Lady Nora looked at the narrator with dilating eyes. She could not trust her voice to speak, and the stranger continued : ' The marriage certificate is in existence. There are yet living witnesses bo that strange, secret marriage. There is a certificate ot the son's birth There are letters which Lord Redmond Kildare wrote to hi3 wite before she went mad, some of them bearing date from Point Kildare. A conclusive chain of evidence, not a link wanting, has been wrought out, and Lord Redmond's son is about to enter claim for his inheritance.' * Why has he never put forward his claims before ?' demanded the Lady Nora. ' If this claim is made, you may be sure it will be closely investigated. This son, or pretended son, of Lord Redmond Kildare' must be at least five-and-twenty years old. Why has he never come forward before? Why did he not make known his existence to my grandfather? Why did he not reveal himself to my father ? Why has he waited until the estates have fallen into the hands of a young orphan girl ? Does it not look a& if he had feared to battle with men ?' A red flush burned on the Granger's cheek. His voice was husky as he answered : * Until within a month, he has not known his own history. The marriage was secret, and intended to be kept secret until the death ot Lord Redmond's father. When the mother was placed in a lunatic asylum, Lord Redmond placed his son in safe hands, keeping, however, the secret of the boy's parentage to himself, and having but a single confidant in the matter. He died, as I said, with the secret unrevealed. The boy grew up ignorant of his birth. And he would never have known, had not the insane mother been discharged a month since from her a&ylum cured, and he took her to his home, and there heard from her lips this story. Since hearing it, he has collected all the proofs necessary to establish his mother's marriage and his birth. He is not a hard man, Lady Nora, although he has been hardly treated. He has no wish to war upon a young girl, but one thing he must have — justice. His mother's wrongs demand to be righted. He wants his rightful name and honours. He has had a hard struggle with the world so far, and he ia determined now that the world shall give him his due. And so, Lady Nora, before proceeding to extremities, and invoking the aid of the law, I have come to ask what, you will do. Shall we effect a compromise, or shall we go to war ? There are letters and documents proving the claim,' and he took from a breast-pocket a bundle of documents tied with red tape and laid them on the table. 4 And here is a letter to you from your kinsman, the Dublin lawyer, Mr Michael^ Kildare, who was Lord Redmond's confidant all through, declaring that he was one of the witnesses ot the secret marriage, and 1 that he knows me to be Lord Redmond's son and heir. In this letter he gives the reasons for his utter silence concerning my existence. Again I ask, what is to be between us — a compromise or war ?' He arose and stood before her, with folded arms and a stern, set countenanco, lighted by a lurid glow. j The Lady Nora arose also, pale with sudden agitation. 'And you,' she whispered — 'you arc — ' 'I am Redmond, rightful Earl oi Kildare,' answered the stranger, his bold eyes flashing as he flung his head proudly. ' I I am the son of your uncle, Lord Redmond, by his marriage with the London actress. I am your cousin, Lady Nora, and your rival claimant to Point .Kildare. Before arousing a scandal and going to law, I have come to you, with proofs of my claims, to i offer you a compromise. Shall we be friends or enemies ?' He looked at her with the air ot one who held her destiny in his hands, while he awaited her answer.