CHAPTER XII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 311, 27 October 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER XII.

HOMELESS. The account of the Lady Kathleen Connor's singular and romantic marriage was copied from the Belfast papers into the principal Irish and English journals, and afforded food for gossip in the fashionable circles where hei ladyship had shone a star of the first magnitude. Letters from old friends, admirers and suitors came pouring in, with a few costly bridal gifts. The latter were put away unopened ; the letters were read, but unanswered. The Lady Kathleen could not yet cloak her terrible despair and anguish with smiles. Cold and grave and silent, she moved abouc the stately rooms of Kildare Castle like a shadow. Her snowy complexion had a deadly jrallor about it now. A stony look filled the lovely azure eyes. No smile came now to the sweet mouth, She looked like one upon whom some deadly blight has fallen. In the course of a week after the marriage announcement, the Lady Nora received a letter from one of her guardians, Mr Michael Kildare, inquhing who was this Bassantyne, and why the Lady Kathleen's marriage had been so hasty, not to say clandestine. Nora replied to the letter rather vaguely, seeking to satisfy her guardian's curiosity without gratifying it. And indeed she knew nothing herself concerning her step-sister's husband, beyond the fact that he was involved in the mj^sfcery of Kathleen's past, and that he held Kathleen in his power. Bassantyne and his fellow-fugitive were safely installed in adjacent rooms in a remote part of the castle, and in the r esecluded quarters tbev .spent much of their time. Murple ate with the castle servants in the servants' hall. Bassantyne took his meals with the Lady Kathleen and Lady Nora, who treated him with bare civility, and saw him at no other time. He was like an outcast or a leper, and he felt his position keenly. A dozen times a day his heart swelled with a suffocating rage, and he promised himself, with terrible oaths, full vengeance upon his proud young wife. ' I shall make it all right yet !' he would say to himself, with a deadly, dangerous glitter of his eyes. ' It's her turn now. It will be my turn by-and-by !' This resolve, so fearful in its significance, filled him, even in his worst moods, with evil satisfaction. As the days wore on, Bassantyne banished his feai*s of pursuit, and persuaded himseif that his disguise was perfect, and that he had nothing to apprehend from detectives. He even decided to his own satisfaction that be had been alarmed without cause, and that the man he had seen at Ballycastle, and believed to be an emissary of the police, was some harmless countryman or tourist. The two weeks of grace, as they might be called, which bad been assigned to the Lady Nora, thus slipped away. The day for the return of the rival claimant of Kildare Castle came at last. The day was one of those bright, mellow, October days when the bare sense of existence is a great joy. The leaves were softly dropping from the trees in the elm-arched avenue, and fluttering down upon the smooth, wide drive. The sunshine was unclouded, sweet and invigorating. The breeze was light and warm. The drawing-room windows overlooking the eoa were open. Out on the wide Channel white sails were gloaming in the sunshine. The sea-gulls were rising and dipping on their long, slender wings, and their cries now and then rose discordantly through the air. But the drawing-room was not yet tenanted. The Lady Nora was upstairs in the littlo sea-parlour, listlessly looking out upon the sunlit waters. Her bright young face was very grave and proud in its expression, yot it had never looked more piquant than now. She had determined that Redmond Kildare should never know what it cost her to relinquish to him the grand old home she had been taught to believe her own She had no hope that her rival's claims would be disapproved, and had made up her mind to the worst. Yet she had arrayed herself as if for a triumph. Her slender figure was habited in a close-fitting robe of sea-green silk, which trailed upon the floor. A graceful overskirt and voluminous sash completed her costume. Her corsage was cut in the square, Pompadour fashion, revealing a section of her " snowy neck, from which her round, slender throat upl'ose proudly. She wore a necklace of magnificent emeralds, and bracelets of emeralds glowed on her round, white arms, bared to her elbow. Her hair was worn floating to her waist, and was drawn back in careless, waves from her white forehead, and confined by a bandeau of shining emeralds. She was standinghere alone when her ears caught tho loud sounds , of the expected arrival. She was still standing there when, some minutes later, the door softly opened, and Mr Michael Kildare came gently into the room. The young Lady Nora turned and welcomed him with a sudden, light in her duskbronze eyes and a sudden glow on her : cheeks, j 'My poor darling [• cried the Dublin

lawyer,' coming forward and embracirigiKe^ ' I expected, to find you .sorrowing* and^clill creased, but you are as brave as a, young? lioness.' \\ -'<>/' -'• \ ■ V'-^fS • Then, catching the' gleanouof the emeraldij in her shining ,wayes of h'a'fr," He stepped! back abruptly and surveyed her^ exclaim^ ing, in an altered tone : "' y 4 |||| ' You look like a young queen, 'NpvsM Can ifc be that you are expecting to defeafcj Redmond Kildare ?' , ' I mean, if I am defeated, that he~ shjaill not know how much pain my defeat "'costifs me,' replied Nora, steadily. 'My jewels! are my own, Michael. They belonged' ijtdl my mother, and no one can take them froin^ me. Is Sir Russel come ?' ■ 111 'Yes; they are all below. Prepare pfts the worst, my poor darling. The case is^soli very plain that there will be nothing buti folly' in going to law. Yet you must decide j for yourself, after hearing what additional^ facts have been brought to light.,, Addf, remember, Nora, that my heart and my poqiffj home are open to you in this extremity. \ ~'{i; 'I will remember.' • vjj<| 'You will, of course, decline any invita/'^ tion the Lady Kathleen may extend to youX^ to accompany her to Ballyconnor,' said^ Michael Kildare, softly. ' Her strange mar}'^ riage shows that she is not a fitting guide;;: and counsellor to a hot-headed, enthusiastic/?" impulsive girl like you. I had ' great con,- l f , fidence in Lady Kathleen, but it is justly/^ forfeited. This Mr Bassantyne may .be*/ very^ wealthy and highly connected, but' l V consider that Lady Kathleen has loweYed, .; herself by-a marriage with him. She mighty have wedded a duke. And so, Nora, I wish you to consider your connection with your ij step-sister at an end. I have already seenNj Lady Kathleen, and requested her to lea re Point Kildare to-day.' v """<,'] The Lady Nora's cheeks flushed hotly. V { How dared you ?' she cried haughtily. :fe ' Kathleen is my best friend. Poor, poor/> Kathleen ! You don't know how she needs : i me — you don't know how I need her !' ' She told me herself that she intended, to S' go to-day,' said the Dublin lawyer depre-.i? catingly. ' She told me that Ballyconnor was no place for you. Be reasonable, Nora/;; my poor girl. Kildare is no longer yours,; ' and is it not better that I should bear the Z pain of dismissing your guests? It would _| have been too hard a task for you.' I The Lady Nora made a gesture express'-*-,' sive of a terrible heart pain. She turned \\ from her kinsman, looking out of the ' window. , "f," f , Michael Kildare was profuse in his apolo- -c gies and protestations. He was so humble, , so deprecating, so distressed, that Nora '„ looked at him at la3t with a forced smile, / and begged him to no longer pain him-,,"' self. l \ ' You forgive my seeming officiousness, ~ Nora ? Then let us go down to the draw-ing-room. Your guests are awaiting you there.' He gave her his hand. She placed her </ hand lightly upon it, and they left the,; parlour, proceeded down the great, stair- -'* case, and entered the drawing-room- ' " The Lady Kathleen was there already, , - vbeing anxious to give her ' young 'step-"" sister the comfort and support of her presence in the trial before her. Bassan-^1 tyne was conspicuous by his absence * - The young Lady Nora paused near the I door, taking a brief survey of the newcomers. Her chief guardian. Sir Russel Ryan, / stern and troubled and sorrowful, came forwaid to meet her. Nora greeted him warmly. Mr Wed burn, Sir Russel's lawyer, then advanced gravely, and shook hands with the Lady Kildare. A humble, decent-looking couple stood in the background. Nora conjectured these to be Mr and Mrs Dox, the fosterparents of Redmond Kildare. Two other persons made up the group. ' One of these was Redmond Kildare. '^The '^ other was a lady, deeply veiled, who waf' half reclining in an easy-chair and whose sumptuous silk dress lay in heavy folds on the floor. .. - _' Redmond Kildare came forward to greet j the Lady Nora with an exultant smile. He had the gracious air of a host, and already- . felt himself master of Kildare. 'I am charmed to seeyou, my fair cousin,' - he said, extending his hand to Lady Nora. ' • Care seems to have touched you lightly.' The young girl would have refused,, to,| give him her hand, so deep was her aversion.^ to him, but that so many eyes were on hei&jl At this juncture the veiled la/iy arose an^fl came forward with a certain grace, h^H garments trailing, and her costly Indi^H shawl half falling from her round^H shoulders. ** ;^W She flung back her veil, revealing a hand- J *'f) some elderly face, framed in with puffs of -.1 grey hair. She must have been beauti- * ' ful in her youth, and her bold black eyes, although insolent in their expression, Kad , still the brightness and lustre that must.) have charmed her admirers a quarter pf-ar^ century before. Her cheeks were deeply', rouged, and the hand of art had been called' in to darken and make shapely her perfectly [• arched eyebrows. An easy, insolent smile,! sat upon her well-tinted lips. Her manner, was imperious, overbearing and super-- *i cilious. s-1 Redmond Kildare offered this lady hia arm, and led her nearer Nora. - "• ' Lady Nora,' he said, with a triumphant^ gleam in his eyes, ' permit me to introduce i you to my mother, your aunt, the Countess' I of Kildare !' , , The lady put out her hand. ' , : ' So this is my niece,' she exclaimed, in ji a falsetto voice, 'the daughter of my late- v husband's younger brother. My dear, I--J am glad to see you.' , ' ,%^ She imprinted a kiss on the girl's white cheek, and Nora recoiled from her as if it had been the salutation of a serpent. 'We will proceed to business, 1 said Sir Russel Ryan, conducting his ward to a seat." ? 'My dear Lady Nora, we have made full, investigations of Redmond Kildare's claims"^ during the past fortnight. We have examined church registers, and found iris , certificates to be copies of genuine entries, f There is no question but that the late Lord Redmond Kildare w&s legally married- to,*> Madeleine Bonham, who is here present !' '; ' < ' Not the slightest question !' said Mr *« Wedburn, emphatically. c There are two'-* witnesses living." The clergyman who per-!"-] formed the ceremony is also alive, and has *~ been visited. His testimony is clear,* dis if tinct, emphatic, and to the point. He posi-;f tively and fully remembers marrying Lord 1; Redmond Kildare to' Miss Bonham.' „ ' -'^ ' The church register contains also th'e^ entry of the birth of- Redmond, son ofL'ordV Redmond and Lady Madeleine Kildare,'^ continued Sir Russel, standing by the centre^' table, and addressing himself -to Nora\U- ' These good people,' indicating^he,humbie=& looking couple in the background, 'arejMr^f and Mrs Dox, who received the yo'uri'g^cHii^ from his father's hands after theLadyiMatf^leine went insane, and who kept/hinis|i^j their care" until he was of an age to Jbe'pufct* at school. ' Cr-SCi Iff: 1 , • "He ordered the couple to step f6fward»*K and proceeded to question them sharply: f'i Their evidence, clearly given, ■ confirmeii']; Redmond Kildare's statements. Tney^weres simple and honest-looking, and-the^ady^ Nora gave their story credence. » * .-''•^^M It was short and simple. They\said*th%lg Lord Redmond Kildare had come tJoFtfiero with a young ohild, which he deblared^to^ej his own lawful son, and of which^KeJ,ha^ hired them to take charge. This^cfiiUfj

&tKey knew to be the young man there and known as Redmond Kildave. li ir Sir, Russsl then politely requested the of Kildaro to add the weight of testimony to that already given. S-V This. she did in her own way, telling story of her marriage and subsequent by her husband in a manner theatrical, yet with a directness ;land truthfulness which satisfied even the %Lady Nora. V— ' The whole case has now been placed (before you, my dear Lady Nora,' said Sir ißussel,i Russel, kindly and pityingly. ' You have r ; all the evidence just as a jury would have it. As your guardian, aud in the stead of your father, Thave investigated every scrap '/>£ testimony, taking it all as false till .proved to be true. I have been assisted by .. two able and experienced lawyers, one of Ithem your devoted kinsman. Were there i Jbhe least break in tho chain of evidence — Vere there the least possibility of fraud or "mistake— l should, as your guardian, invoke the law in your defence.' - 'You mean to .«ay, then.' said Nora, bo.becoming very pale, ' that .you bcliove this rival claimant to Point Kildaro to be the rightful owner?' 'Ido !' said Sir Russel, slowly, reluctantly and solemnly. •And you, Michael Kildare,' said tho young girl, looking up at him, ' do you also Believe this young man. Redmond Kildare, .« to be the rightful owner of this old castle and estate ?' * Michael Kildare flushed a little under her clear, earnest gaze, and lie shifted his /weight nervously from one foot to tho other. -Then he said, in his soft, feeble voice, yet ' earnestly and solemnly : - "- 'Ido ! Hard as it is fcr mo to speak the words, Nora, he is the rightful owner of Kildare !' The Lady Nora turned to the English lawyer, and put the question also to him. % Be answered as the others had dene. ' The case is settled, 1 said Nora. 'Of course, there being no doubt in tho case, no obscuiity, recourse to law is not onty unnecessary, but foolish. I have every in nay guardians and Mr Weciburn. My own judgment approves their decision. And now but one question remains,' she added, drearily : ' What is to i become of me ?' The Lady Kathleen came nearer to hei. 'Oh, darling 1 Nora,' she whispered, ?orsowfully, ' if I could only take you home with me! But your guaidians refuse to leave you in my charge.' . The Countess of Kildare, stout and imposing, lifted her white hand, as a sign that she was about to speak *As the aunt of the Lady Nora, and her nearest relative,' she said, • I beg thai she may be left with me. My heart warms to her. Her position at Kildai-e Castle need be but slightly changed. I entreat thai". she may be allowed to remain with me.' ' 'This is very kind, Lady Kildare,' said Sir Russel, with more warmth than was customai*y in his manner, for an act of apparent generosity always touched him. 1* As Lady Nora's guardian, I thank >ou, and, cordially consent. It would have 'pleased me to take my ward to my own house, but I have already a large family dependent upon me, and my health is infirm. It is with gratitude, Lady Kildare, that I accept your generous offei.' 'And I also accept it,' said Mr Michael Kildare, in a tone tremulous, as it seemed, with deep feeling. ' I should have been •_ overjoyed to share my own home with my young kinswoman, but mine is but a bnche- ' lor establishment, not fitted for one accustomed to the luxuries of Kildare Castle.' The young Lady Nora looked from one to the other of her guardians. A stormy light began to glow in her brown eyes, and her lip curled in an impatient scorn. 'I am aware that I am yet a minor.' she said, ' but I presume I may be allowed a ~__ voice.in this question of ray disposal f w, / Certainly,' said Sir Russel, uneasily. The Dublin lawyer echoed the word, his * face reflecting the baronet's uneasiness. : * Then, 3 said Nora, decidedly, ' I utterly ""decline to remain at Kildare Castle. It has : already ceased to be my home. When these people come into it I must lea\ c it. I have been mistress here. I cannot remain here a dependent.' ' But what will you do ?' ciied Sir Russel, „-/ You don't mean to marry that bankrupt f Lord O'Neil, do you ?' $ ir * Nora's face flushed. jj|vf/'* Not yet,' she answered, spiritedly. 'I Kpould have done so, could I ha\c gone to rich. But he is in debt, and now I be but an incumbrance to him. I promised him to wait for him, alI may tell you that he has urged r^re to marry him immediately.' „ - f Your guardians would never consent to such a marriage,' said Michael Kildare, hastily. ' Our duty to your dead father, -Nora, would not allow us to cony-en t to your marriage with a beggar. ' 'Certainly not,' ejaculated .Sir Rusoel. '*" s ?Tecidedly. ' * I can earn my own living I ,' said the Lady Nora. ' I can be a governess, a music or drawing teacher. I will be one of these rather than stay here ot the cascle among - ,those people,' she added, impetuously, / who are abhorrent to me.' 'You must then go home with roe, Nora,' „• said the "Dublin lawyer. 'It will be the aim of my life to make you happy. ' It was the only refuge open to her. .Nora accepted it with thanks and gra.i tude. 'I am all ready to go, Michael,' she said. 'My trunks are all packed. I foresaw how this would terminate. I suppose these people intend to remain, now they are here?' ' ' Yes, Nora. Lord ELildare intends to remain with his mother. Tho countess intends to organise her household at once.' ' Then let us go to-day — now,' said Nora. Michael Kildare reflected, then consented. „. 'lam sorry that you dislike so to remain,' Lord Kildare, blandly. ' Let us hope |pJn"at-tyhen we know each other better that 2*xlislike\will wear away. I will summon the for you. Lady Nora. And for you iSalso, Lady Kathleen Bassantyne,' he added, with a deep bow. JH' The ladies at once withdrew. f.v ;In less than an hour they returned, clad '|*in grey travelling suits. The Lady Kathleen bad her maid with her. The Lady Nora ifcliad dismissed her pretty Alleen, as unA necessary to her future life, but Michael meeting: the girl in the hall, and her weeping at her dismissal, had her. Therefore, when Nora V'came down, she found, to her great joy and Alleen bonneted and leady for her farewell to her father having |ibeen brief.

&*-' [To he Continued).

_ g% /The minister was in the hafaib of calling fpli the school and putting the scholat-s gj^fclirougb, their 'facings. 5 Last week he was a boy, when he happened Kto'ask him i£ there were any prophets ndw||ada.ys. This was a poser for the youth, as jEweil as for the whole class, and a dead ■pLteUCgLi-eigned a bright boy, the only v pf,-a pushing merchant, extended his ||||nd eagerly towards the minister. ' Well, tliere any prophets now?' l|||Ees,>sir ";" small profits and quick returns !' fep^p the, triumphant response,