CHAPTER XXI. AT BALLYCONNOR.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 319, 24 November 1888, Page 3

CHAPTER XXI. AT BALLYCONNOR.

The terror and. dread of the Lady Kathleen as she descended the stairs of the hotel in Dublin, leaning 1 on tho arm of hhre r sinister and strangely -wedded bridegroom, were- fully equal to the terror convulsing ( the heart of the guilty Bassantyne. She realised that, as he had s&lll, his ruin would be her destruction. The calmness of an übter desperation was upon the ; features of Bassantyne as he crossed the narrow section of sidewalk to the waiting vehicle, and scanned the street to the right and to l the left of him. His furtive glances were not long in detecting what they sought. At a little distance a man was lounging carelessly against a- druggist's window, his face turned towards the hotel entrance, his eyes fixed in careless scrutiny upon Bassan- , tyne. This -man v as a keen-eyed, turly-browned fellow,, slender of figure, and wore a white neckcloth. He looked like a poor curate, or .would have done so but for the sinister expression of his dark countenance. < Lame Bill, sure enough !' muttered Bassantyne, his face growing paler. ' H,ow he looks at me ! ! At this moment the lounger aroused himself, and came elowly along the walk towards the cab, walking with a perceptible limp, and still keeping his eyes fixed upon BasSantyne. There was a puzzled expression in his gaze, which was not unmarked by the object of his attentions. ' Yet Bassantyne, with a wonderful selfcontrol, sprang lightly into the cab, closed the door, and was borne away toward the station. As the cab receded down the street. lounger halted, and looked after it a few' moments, still with that puzzled expression of countenance, and then saunter.cd into the hotel, making his way to the office. He found the clerk at his desk, and easily obtained a sight of the hotel register. '.That was a very striking-looking couple '. - who" 1 went away just now,' he remarked, casually. . ' The gentleman looked like the Grand Turk, with his long, waving beard. I suppos9 he's a duke at the very least ?' • Oh, no,' replied the clerk, srniliner, ' al- • though he has M'on a prize which more than one duke has sued for. He is a plain com- ; irioner, but immensely rich -a Mr Bassan--tyne, one of the English Bassantynes. He '' .ha 3 just married one of the greatest beauties " •&i Ireland,, the Lady Kathleen Connor, the * last of the Connors of Ballyconnor.' - The lpuriger ran his dirty forefinger along the registered list until he came tothenames of Nicol Bassantyne and the Lady Kathleen Bassantyne. Halting his finger on fcho*e iames, he stared thoughtfully at the handwriting, a little whpe t and then remarked.: . • „' How oddly things'" turn up! This Mr i&^ssantyne reminded me somehow of a ' - person 1 knew in another par,t of the world. - That fancy of mine was foolish enough. It was all along of meeting another party I once knew. And that reminds me,' headded, tendering a cigar to the clerk; ' that I met p, man in the tap-room this morning — a ' 'fellow dressed in 'black, with a long scar across his forehead. Looked like a gentleinan'js servant. Who might he be, do you 'think?' •",-'• But' the clerk, while inclined to be communicative, oonlcl afford Lame Bill no . decisive information. Presently, there being a new arrival, and the clerk being busy, Lame Bill sauntered out, making his way to the tap-room. Here he prosecuted his inquiries, with no better success. Finally, in the course ofs his apparently aimless wanderings, Tie came upon one of the hotel servants," who was able to . -enlighten him in some degree. The ' servant told him that the man with the scarred forehead was the valet of Mr Bassantyne.; that his name was Murple, and that his master had discharged him that •morningV and that Murple had gone home to his friends, who lived in County Antrim. This information, the servant added, had ibeen given him by Murple himself, at the very moment of taking his departure. * Ah ! County Antrim !' said Lame Bill, carelessly, as he turned away and went out into the street. '-And he_ calls himself Murple ! I know he recognised me in the tap-room,' for I saw his eye fall before' mine. I don't -believe he belongs to Antrim. In fact, I know.him to be a Dublin man. That very remark about Antrim shows that he recognised me, and ha« fled. Evidently he ♦ expected I would make inquiries about him. As to his discharge by his master, that's all fudge. He ran away, and he may turn up at Ballyqonnor in good time. He won't lose a good place, and good hiding, when he could save both by manoeuvring. I've . struck luck at last. I'd like to finger the reward for him and for Gentleman Bob ! Odd how that .swell Bassantyne reminded me of Gentleman Bob ! But how about Murple, or Hewvijle, . or whatever name he •-sails under how? Til just make my in.qtiiries about him, and if I fail to find him, I'll take a tiip down to Ballyconnor.' With this resolve, he set about his investigations. Meanwhile, congratulating himself on having gticTjessfttlly-'met the danger that bad menaced "him,' 1 Bassanfcyne, with the Lady Kathleen and her maid, drove to the railway station, and was soon steaming down to Wicklow. ( Turning ncr face, to the window, the Lady Kathleen preserved a resolute silence until the brief railway journey was concluded. •'•''- Bassantyne a hired a carriage, of which there were several in waiting at the station, to convey", them ~ the remainder of their journey, 'and* the' 'travellers were soon hurrying ;ouk.of the, seaport town toward threiriteriorjolthe^country. Arriving in the shadow of the tall Wicklow mountains,... the^ roads became more rugged, at'tim f es bding' 1 Almost precipitous. The scenery 'be'cam'e*: picturesque, in places even toiwildne'ss. 1 ' < L • 'At length ,-fche . road,, growing narrower, wound iieetf ljWe a .dusty serpent through a wild ' mdu i nta ) in 0 p^sT-'nitfking perilous curves/clinibih'g bare limestone rocks, and ' winding along by rude ravines and steep gullies, and crossing, by rustic bridges, half-dried mountain torrents. Suddenly the travellers came out upon the crest of a hill. •That is Ballyconnor lying below us,' - said the Lady Kathleen, arousing, herself '^iromher thoughtful trance.

Bassanbyne stared eagerly at the home of his bride. Below them, shut in by the grey, tall Wicklow mountains, like a jewel in a rough | setting, lay^ a lovely green valley, as beautiful as the charmed Vale of Avoco, which was not many miles distant." In the midst of the emerald vallej*, upon which tho early afternoon sun Avas shining, the village of Ballyconnor. its neat houses set in gardens, was plainly exhibited. The long villago road, the tall church with its square tower, the rustic chapel with its steep roof and gables, were all plainly seen from the hill which our travellers had begun to' descend. ' ' There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet,' ' murmured the Lady Kathleen, with tender, brooding eyes, and with a soft, sweet smile breaking through her sadness. ' Ah, yes !' said Bassantyne, continuing to scan the valley. 'It looks secluded and hidden from the world, and that's the main thing. Where is your home, Kathleen ?' The Lady Kathleen pointed at the farther end of the long village street. There were presented all the features of a beautiful estate, fields, woods, pai*ks and gardens, and in the midst of all these stood a^ stately old mansion," , built of the grey limestone of the neighbouring mountains. The sunlight 1 falling^ on thib , dwelling showed its beautiful, wide windows, its great square bell-tower, its slender turrets, and the great colunade along its southern side, which, supported by stone pillars and arches, seemed reminiscence of Italy. Bassantyne studied the old hall intently, while the carriage rolled on, and entered the sleepy little village. The progress of the Lady Kathleen up the long street way in f-ome sorf an ovation, for the news of hercoming had been indus triously circulated by the steward, and shopkeepers and villagers were on the look-out for the ' lady of tho hall,' whose presence at Ballyconnor promised them pecuniary good, and in whose recent marriage they wex - e greatly and cui'iously interested. At the end of the village the carnage entered between two great open gates into the Connor grounds, and proceeded along a superb drive to the mansion. As they drew up before the latter, and the lady Kathleen was assisted to the porch by Bassantyne, the servants flocked out without ceremony to welcome home their long-absent mistress. At their head appeared Delaney, the stewai'd. He was an elderly man, with the port of a royal duke. .Many a nobleman of ancient lineage might have envied the humbly-born steward, his ari&tocratie air and the quiet dignity of manner which sprang from an innate nobility, which neither rank nor wealth can supply. By the time this ceremony had been grfne through with, and Bassantyne introduced as ' the master,' the Lady Kathleen found herself in the central hall of the mansion. ' ' The rfioins are all" ready,- as I ordered, I suppose, Mrs Delaney?-' she asked v ' Yes, my lady,' replied Mys Delaney, a mild-faced, pleasant-eyed, ladylike old woman, dressed in 'grey. 'The master's rooms are on the same floor, and opposite yours. Everything is as you ordered.' 'I will go up to my rooms at once,' said her ladyship. 'I w ill have my lunch served in my own sitting-room. Mr Bas.santyne will probably prefer the dining-room, and he can be served there. And atter lunch.. Mrs Delaney, I shall be glad to have you come up to see me.' She mounted the broad staircase, followed by her maid loaded with parcels, and came out upon the upper hall, a wide, well-lighted gallery, hung with pictures. ' This loo'--s like home,' mused the Lady Kathleen. ''Everything is as I left- it a year ago, after my la&t visit.' In the course of the afternoon, not deeming it wise' to give herself up to vain regrets and useless imaginings, she tied on her hat, drew about her the warm folds of- an Indian shawl, gathered up her train, and set out on a stroll through the house and grounds, Delaney, the steward, accompanying her. She did.noL again see Bas&antyne until they met at dinner. After dinnerthe ill-assorted andstrangely joined couple adjourned to the drawingroom. ' I am well pleased with mj new home,' observed Bassantyne,' pompously, looking out of the window upon the lawn with quite a grand seignorial air. ' The tenantry and villagers treat me with the most flattering respect. The fact that lam the husband of the Lady Kathleen Connor seems a passport to their hearts. I s-hall be safe here and happy. Atleast but one thing is wanoing to my happiness.' 'And what" is that?' asked tho LaJy Kathleen, indifferently. ' That is a revival ot your old affection for me,' said Bassantyne. 'To be beloved by you, in addition to being master here, would be a ioy almost too great to bear. Oh, Kathleen ! ;cannot the past, be revived ?' An indignant flush arose to the Lady Kathleen's cheeks. 'We have done with the past — you and I,' she said. 'Do not speak to me of love.' ' But you loved me madly once, Kathleen.' The red flush in Kathleen's cheeks grew yet more vivid. ' Why taunt me with a folly that is long past?' she demanded bitterly. • Suppose I taunt you with your error? and crimes ? I assure you I judge myself more harshly for, that girlish folly and madness than I judge you for your crimes. And Heaven knows I have suffered enough for it all, without this most terrible punishment of all.' Bassantyne frowned. ' Do you know, Kathleen,' he said^ drumming on the window pane, ' that I half expected you would contest this Scottish marriage ?' The Lady Kathleen smiled bitterly. ' And if I bad,' she said, * you would have made a fine scandal. And Lord Tresham, hearing the story linked to the name of Kathleen Connor, would have turned his back upon me. And Nora would have been taken from me, as she has been, and I should have had to bury myself in some remote spot where my name is unknown. It is better as it is,' and she sighed wearily. ' Yes, it is better as it is,' echoed Bassantyne. 'You and I can be happy here, Kathleen. We can make up our differences, condone each other's faults, and in time the old love may come back.' ( IN ever. I would rather be miserable than to experience happiness with you. If I fancied nlyself so low and degraded that I could ever love you, I would shut myself up in a convent. • Do not dare to speak of love»to me again. You a,re a fugitive in hiding. I accord you shelter and food, but we are and can be nothing to each other more than we are now. Do not speak to me of love again, if you would not drive me to keep bo my own rooms.' She arose and quitted the'room. Bassantyne looked after her darkly. . ' Let her wear her grand airs now !' he muttered. ' My. time is coming. I intend to be master of her in truth as in name, I , intend to intrench myself in the seat of the dead and gone Connors — to handle their revenues as my own, and to become in reality lord of the manor. And if Kathleen stands in 1 my way,' he added, huskily, ' I must push her aside. lam in haste for Murple to come. I may need his brutal

hand and unscrupulous brain. With him to help mo, I can dofy Kathleen and her superannuated old servants. 'I can quietly depose her and roigu in her stead,'