CHAPTER XXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 323, 8 December 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XX VI.

f TILE O^EMt A.l\ Il'lIJD DOOK. This old Hall was deathly still when the guilty , and. frightened Bassanfcyne crept back fcp it^shelter/ 1 --Ko-Iight gleanoed from

any of the windows, and. yet, as" before, he fancied that ke'en eyes wei'e watching him from behind blinds and' from between tho folds of the laco curtains. But he had no time to yield to, feaJ's and terrors. JEfejpmsb move, and move quickly. , The '.enenjy ho believed .he had slain,, and •whoso' body 1 he' had stolen forth 'to bury iii the Blnok Pool," was s.tiU->a'live — was alive, and had; gone, no 1 ,* doubt," for officers- *to apprehend the fugitive convict- who roigned as lord bf Connor TTali. 'the thought was moie than maddening. It made him desperate. He muat fly within the houi ! He crept into, the Triall, secured the outci* door, and then crept up to' his own room. He closed his blinds, let fall his cur- | tains, and lit his candles. ' A ditjg'uiso !' he muttered, feverishly. I ' 1 mast disguise myself— but how ?' Me surveyed his reflection in a, mirror, and then opened his trunk and &et about the preparation of a disguise. In a box at the bottom of Ins trunk wore several wigs, some bottles of liquidb and , boxes of powders, all of which had been for many weeks in his possession. He set to work with feverish baste. With a pair of scissors he trimmed his long, luxuriant, pointed beard in military st/yk'. Then taking. out one of his toilet hoUles and a small sponge, he carefully wet his beard with the contents of the bottle, brushing out the hairs so that each was exposed to the air. The consequence of this singular process was> soon apparent. The short black hair began bo turn red. soon deepening into a sandy tint. ' That's a disguise, if not a very pleasant one,' Bassantyno said to himself. ' .A red witr will cover my black hair. Now to change my complexion !' He selected another bottle from his collection, and poured a poilion of its contents into his hand - basin,, diluting it with water. Washing his face with this product, he succeeded in removing the dye with which he had stained his face, and imparted to his natural complexion the tint approptiate to a sandy beard. He then put on a red wig. .Scarcely twenty minutes had been consnmed in these operations. He gathered up the clippings of his beard and put them in hirf pocket. He would not leave behind him any clue to his disguise. ' It is time to be off now, 1 he eaid to himself. ' Lame Bill may be even now on his return. It is impossible to guess how long he has been gone.' He extinguished his lights, unlocked his door, and crept out into the hall. He moved stealthily towaid the dooi of the Lady Kathleen's boudoir. His great idea now wa? to procure a greater supply of funds for his Highfc, and to impart something of his plans to her ladyship. He tried the dooi. Jf/ was- not locked. He pushed it open and stole softly in. The little rerl parlour was dark, save ior the erlow of tho dying lire. Bassantyne started at the shadows in the corners. No one was in the room besides himself, as he speedily assured himself, and he crept towards the dressing-room. That, too, was unoccupied and was dark. ' She must keep h*r iewels in here," the man muttered. * I had better help myself to them than to beg her for more money.' He halted on the threshold, looking cautiously around him. The door into the bedroom was closed. 1 So far good !' he though i. ' I can easily enrich myself ar Kathleen's expense, and I will do so.' He drew out hi3 match-case and struck a light. There was a candelabra on the mantel-piece, every branch of which upheld a wax candle. Bassantyne lit several of these, and then began his investigations. Upon the laced - draped dressing - table, between the two windows, Bassantyno observed a large, square, handsome jewelcase, heavily bound with brass. He stole toward it with glistening uye?\ The key was in its lock, where the maid had carelessly left it Bapsantyne lifted the lid, and looked in upon the content--. The jewel-case was arranged in trays, and upon the upper tray lay a full set of magnificent emeralds, so becoming 1 to the blonde loveliness of the Lady Kathleen, | and which ?ho had worn to dinner that day I with a silkeu lobe of emerald gieen. • These ave the ' Connor Emcialds ' Kath leen is so proud of,' thought Bassantyne, gathering the glowing necklace into his rude hand and holding it up to the light I ' But where are her diamonds ?' ! lie dropped the green and glowing gems in a shimmering heap upon their white satin cushions, and lifted out the tray, exposing, in the trav beneath, a set of milkwhite pearls of glorious sue. Taking out thw, he revealed the diamond?. His eyes sparkled at sight of them. Necklace, bracelets, brooches, pendant?, a spray for tho hair, a buckle for the belt, shawl clasps and scarf pins, all set with great limpid diamonds, shilling and sparkling 1 like littleBauns — they were a sight to makeeven a better man than "Nicol Bassantyne covetous. 5ie almost hold his breath for a brief space, in his dolight. Then, remembering that he had no time to lose, he took out his large handkerchief, spiead it on the dressing - table, and emptied into it diamonds, pearls and emeralds, in one sumptuoas, glittering heap. He was gathoring the corners ot his handkerchief together, preparatory to departure into the adjoining room, when a sound behind him startled him, causing him to cry out in his fright. Looking around with distended eyes, he beheld the Lady Kathleen, in her white dressing - gown, with a scarlet shawl about her shoulder^. Her ladyship was pale and frightened. Her azure eyes were opened widely in her terror. As> Bassantyne faced her, with his disguised countenance, she.uttered ,i shriek and flew to the bell- pull. Bassantyne comprehended the truth at once. His bride had not retired, hut had been busy in her bed -room, probably at her devotion.-. She had come out to attire herself for bed, or to sit by the fire. He lifted his arm menacingly, with the handkerchief of jewels extended. 'Don't ring!' he commanded. 'I'm no burglar. Don't vou know me, Kathleen ?' I At the sound of the familiar, hated voice issuing from that strange, sandy beard, the Lady Kathleen's terror scarcely lessened. She did not ring, but she kept her hold on the bell- pull, and her face grew even whiter. ' Who are you ?' she gasped. ' Who should t be but Nicol Bassantyne, your husband ?' sneered the intruder. 'I need money, and have come in .here for your jewels !' The colour drifted slowly now into the pure cheeks of the maiden bride. . ' Ah, 1 see !' she said, scornfully. ' This is a device worthy of you. You have disguised yourself to rob me, and betray yoursolf to me, iu your cowardice and fear that the servants will capture you !'' ' 'You are wiong, Kathleen. I have disguised myself for flight. - , I must, .leave the Hall immediately.' 1 The Lady Kathleen looked at him incredulously. ' It is true,' he insisted. ' Lame Bill has tracked me hero. - He came, on* me in the park to-day, after you left me. He stood i

.peering? dub at, me as l~iay on the grass, amtilJie iiadi .satisfied. , himself- of my identity., , -How muoh, longer he bad stood; there I don't know- Ws ;hacl a fight. Li thought) J killed 'him./ ?1 hidt.him in.ia hollow-among the.Hrs. To-night 1 went outftoibury hinv.but he ,wtts gone. The footprints showed that ho had gone off, nob been carried oft 1 .! .How lojjg he's been gone, '(Itcau'bMtell. ' Of .course he -went _ tot" Wieklow. He will be back with the whole constabulary force,' ] The. Lady .Kathleen comprehended the j position. ' Is your horse saddled ?' she asked. ] • No. The grooms sleep in the stable, j If T were to arouse them, they would bo able to pub the pursuers on my track. No ; I must go on foot and alone.' The Lady Kathleen breathed' heavijy. Perhaps she had feared that/ he vrould compel her to accompany him in his flight. Bassantyne smiled grimly, reading her thoughts. 'I cannot take \ou with me,' he *aid. '] am sorry for if-. But you must come to me at a place J shall appoint, I have already formed my plans. I shall go from here up io County Antrim, to the neighbourhood of Point Ki Id arc. I shall procure a boat there, and go over to ScoHand. Ib will be impossible for me to escape into England, or by way of the seaports I [ must crofes in a smack to the Scottish coast. When I send for you. you must set out ostensibly for a visit to friends, and be careful you are not tracked.' ' You had better not send for me until you are safely on the Continent,' suggested the Lady Kathleen. ' I should, ot course, be tracked to Scotland. You seem to have lost your usual keenne&« in your present terror. ' Bussiintyne looked at her sharply, and said : ' You aie right. Stay here till I write lo you to come. Bufc refuse to come when I send for you at your peril ! I want you with me — your commanding presence, your evident gentility— to make people respect me as your husband ; and, above all, 1 want your purse. Now [ must be oH." The Lady Kathleen detained him by a gesture. 1 The possession of these jewels, will bring suspicion upon you an being a common house - breaker/ she said. ' You cannot dispose of them without suspicion. You will be detained at the first custom-houpe. Let me redeem them. I will send to you, to any name and address yon may dictate, a sum equivalent to half their value, ami you could not sell them for moie than that.' Bassantyne became thoughtful. Her objections were sound . ones, commending themselves to his sense. He studied her face attentively. Her glorious blue eyes met his in an honest, steadfast, truthful gaze. Bad and false and treacherous as he knew himself, and believed others, he was compelled to believe the Lady Kathleen's word where an oath from another would have been disregarded. He dropped his burglarious trophies ' I believe you, Kathleen,' he ?aid simply. 'I shall rely on your word. And now I'm off'.' The Lady Kathleen approached him, with her white, solemn face and uplifted eyes of a glorious heavenly blue", nowdimmed with tears. ' One last word, Nicol,' she said. ' There is something I have been wanting to say to you, but I could not. Verhaps this is nob a fitting moment to say it, but I cannot let you go from me with these words unsaid.' ' Say on," The sweet voice trembled as the Lady Kathleen continued : ' T loved you once, Nicol Baseanoyne, with a ghlish sort of love that was no more than an ill-directed fancy. 1 thought you innocent and noble and good— all that X have since proved another man to be. Now I know you to be bad a'nd vile and murderous — yet 1 do not hale you !' Bassantyne smirked. He felt flattered. ' Ah, ha !' he said, with sudden jauntiness, forgetting for the moment his terrors'. ! ' You love me, then ?' The Lady Kathleen shook her head, with I something of her old disdain. ; 'No, no, 5 she taid. 'But T pity you! Like Ishmael. your hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against you. j j Hunted, homeless, friendless — my heave j [ aches for you, Nicol Bassantyne ;' and I j want you to know before you go out on your wild flight that I shall pray for your safety and your repentance. May Ciod forgive you for all your wickedness, as I forgive your wrongs to me !' She held out her little white hand to his blood-guilty one, and looked at him with a gaze so kindly, so pitying, so sorrowful, that the had man's heart— for he had a heart somewhere— melted within him. He took her handaudclaspedibfervently. ' You are too good. Kathleen.' he said, in a broken voice. ' If I had known you earlier than I did 1 might Lave been an honest man. I've been a brute and a devil, and I've wronged and wrecked your life, but I believe if I could undo everything, I would. I do indeed.' He wrung her hand and flung it from him. At that moment a furious knocking was heard upon the door at the main porch, Bassantyne glared about .him like a hunted hare. 'They've come!' he gasped — 'they've come ! and Lame Bill with them ! It's all up !' He retreated to the wall and drew his pistol. ' J"ll never die on the gallows !' he muttered. ' Fool ! If you had let me go instead of keeping me heie to preach to me, I should have got off. As it is, we shall perish together in one common ruin !' The knocking was repeated— louder and more furiously.