CHAPTER XL. AN ACCIDENT REVEALS AN HEIR-LOOM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 330, 2 January 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER XL. AN ACCIDENT REVEALS AN HEIR-LOOM.

' My dear boy !" cried Mr Huntress, unde r his breath, as he stepped out into the ha^ beside Geoffery, cautiously closing the doo r after him, and then seizing him wamily by both hands, ' wheic on earth have you been' and what, has happened to you V' ' The most mysterious and villainou 53 thing that could happen.' replied Geoffrey with a <jiootny tacc. % l h'i\e been kid" napped, earned miles and miles away, and t has taken me hour*, to return.' 'I ph.- peeled a:, nuicli, 1 said Mr Huntic«s, sternly. ' Then you haven't attributed my absence to f.ny iaulfc of mine, Uncle August?' ' Ko, indeed, my boy. 1 Kmio better.' ' What made you suspect foul play? But fiisfctell me about Gladys. Tlow has the borne it?' Geofhey asked, with a wistful glance at tho door beyond which his darling lay. Mr Huntress shot an an\iou; look at him. nearly he had no suspicion of what had occurred during hi? absence. ■ (Gladys has suffered a great deal mentally, but she is sleeping now." he said, giavely, and wondering how he could ever tell him the tmiblo truth. % 7t must have been dioadtul. 1 can imagine the consternation of o\ cry body when they diseo\eied there would l>e no wedding,' Ueoiii'ey said, e\cited!v. uhile he* began to pace ie^tles=ly up and down the conidor. 'How awkward! — how wietehed for my cuuling ! — iiow uneomtoitahV for you and Aunt Alice 1 How did }ou manage- -w hat could you do or say V 1 Como with me, Geoil. wheie we ran talk without fear of distiubing Gladys, and I will tell "son. 1 have something my sfi-aiujt. to tell you, too,' said Mr Huntress, linking his arm within that of the young man and leading him to an alcove over the front entrance. ' Something strange ?' Geoffrey repeated, in a startled tone. 'Very. There has been a most rillianous plot connected with this affair.' From Mr Huntress's manner, Geoffrey saw that something of. a very giave nature had occurred. ' W hat is it?' ho demanded. " Tell me afc once ; I can bear anything better than suspense.' ' Geoff, thei'e uv^ a wedding '.' • Uncle August '•' ' But no one save ourselves and our good doctor, as yet, suspects that thc>o was anything wrong- about it.' ' Are you crazy? "Whab ih you mean: cried the young man breathlessly. 'A wedding? That could not be. Gladys con hi not ha\e been the bride.' % Gladys f'V<> the biidc, and every guest believed chat you wcie the groom.' " G coll rev sink into u chair, hfc strength all gone, while a dim suspicion of the hoinble truth began to take foim in his mind. ' What cm you mean ''. he gasped, haully above a whisper, a deadly pallor on Ins race, an agonised look in h:< eyes. ' Be calm, my hoy,' said his uncle, laying his hand affectionately upon his shoulder. ' A dreadful thing has occurred, but it was all a faree — a fraud rather — which the law ■s\ill bet right in time, and Gladys may yet be yours ' 'Heavens! Uncle August, you aie dri- ing me mad ! Explain ! explain ! I canno' bear the'-e enigmas !' cried the\oung iello'.v, springing to his feet in a fearful f=tate of agitation, while a cold psropiiation :-tjrted out all over his face. Mr Huntress gently forced him back into JiK chair and began at once tv tell him all that had occurred, from the moment of the departure of the bridal partj tor the church up to the present houi. Geoffrey sat throughout the fearful lecital as it ho had suddenly- been turned to stone, and when at last it was concluded, tlieic were several momenta of dreadful ■»Uence. He f-eemed paralyzed mentally and phv-sically by the blighting ailliction >\ hich had o\ei taken him, and by tho bold daiing of the enemy who had thus mined his dearc-t hot e^. Agony, however, at last broke the «pell. He arose and stood pale and stem betore his uncle. 1 Where is he ?' he demanded, in an awful ■voice, although it was bately audible, 'wheic is that tieacheious \illain who lias lobbed me of my wife, and bloken her heait? Tell rae, for tliero must bo a terrible settlement between him and me. Where i-3 Everet Mapleson, Uncle August ?' • Jlp.il' !' icsponded a defiant i oicc close beside tnem, and, wheeling suddenly about at the sound, Geofirey taw his rival standing between the parted drapeiies that separated the alco\e from the nmin hall. ' 1 am hereto aribwcr for myself,' he continued, in the same ton-c, while he looked a-5 pale and resolute n-i Geoffrey himself, ' bub first I demand tiding? of my— irij' .' That word was like a blow to Geoffrey, v, ho staggeied back with a groan of anguish. 13 ut he quickly rallied. ' She is not your wife f he said, fiercely ; ' a faice — an act of fiaud, could never make her such.' 'You are a nille premature in your statements,' replied joung Mapleson with a &neei. 'I do not deny that my purpo&e was accomplished by something of strategy, but it <w» accompfishcrl notwithstanding — (Gladys Huntre&a- was married to me tonight, and it is i-dmply upeless to contest tho fact.' ' You may have gone llnough the mairiagu terrice witli her ; but you personated me, and it was only a mock ceremony. Besidcb, there were certain preliminaries to be attended to — your intentions made known — your certificate to be propeily filled, without the^e there could have been no legal marriage,' GecfHxey returned, sternly. Fj\ eiefc Mapleson smiled superciliously. ' All that you mention was most carefully attended to, .sir,' he said, with an air of triumph maddening to hi& listeners. <' Tho clergyman was duly apprised of my intentions, and l'eceh cd a handsome fee, fifteen minute? betore tho arrival ot tho bridal party at the church ; the ring had been purchased aud carefully marked and now adorns the hand of the biide. ( Kob a single detail has been omitted, / a&sure you,, to make my position and my claim secure.' • Bah ! your audacity is astounding !' said Geoffrey, contemptuously. *It was a barefaced fraud, and the marriage will never stand in law,' persisted Geoffrey, h'rmly, bub, oh ! with such a sinking agony in his heart. ' Prove it if you can.' retorted Mapleson, arrogantly.*.'^ You will nob find it an easy thing 1o dc£ however, for I shall make a desperate effort to thwart you.' ' Wretch ! how dare you attempt such a diabolical plot !' Mr Huntress demanded. 'I was desperate enough to dare anything:, sir,' Evereb replied, addressing him with more respect than he had yet shown. * With

the love T bear your daughter, I could not brook deleat. 1 vowed that I would win her at any cost, and bub for my own in-di-cretion all this fuss might have boon avoided. 1 was so elated by my success in having the marriage performed that I could nob resist Inking advantage ot my , position, and, in attempting to salute my biide after oar return to the house, she recognised me. If 1 had done nothing to attract her special attention to me, tho next two hours might have been tided over m ell enough, and, once on tho way to Boston, hi loutc for Europe, I could ha\e laujihcd at any outside interference.' Gcoflrcy slmercd. It was dreadful to have to listen to these resolutions and to lealise what a narrow escape Gladys had had, tor ho know that if Everet Mapleson had succeeded in deceiving her until the steamer sailed the shock ot her discovery, j when .done, and m the power of tho audacious scoundrel, might have resulted in her death. Even now they might not be able to secure hoi release, and she would still have to ronmin his wife in tho sight of the woild, but no moral obligation bound her to him, and no power could e\cr compel her to live with him. ' Could you ever hopo to gain any satisfaction in the presence of a wife who would loathe the very sight ot you, and who \oti knew would never cease to love another V Mv Huntress demanded, with cm ling lil*. K< " Love beget- lovo, ' \uu know, and I imagine it would not have been such ;i hopeless task, after all, to win tho heart ot my wife, with such devotion a-. I have to ofter her,' Kvcret Mapleson ilippantly m plied. Geoffrey's blood boiled as much at his coniident, anogant tone, as at his words, and almost bciore ho had concluded, ho walked Miaighfc up to him, sowed him by the ecut collai, wheeled him about, and marching him to tho head of tho stairs, pointed below and said, in a stern, authoritative tone, a^ lie leleascd his hold ot him. ' ho '' The younn man w.ivo taken aback by this summary act, that ho did not oxen otter to resist until he i cached tho top stair, when he put out his hand and seized the l ailing. Ho turned with blazing eyes and faced Gcoii'iey, but the expression which he saw upon his face warned him that he had no irresolute sphit to deal with. 'Co!' reiterated Geotu-ey, inflexibly, 'or I may be tempted beyond my strength and forget one of the ' thou shalt nots. ' ' / /' ill not /' he ictnrned, nsie&olutely, all his antagonism aroused. 'Do you imagine that, after having straggled so desperately to attain the dearest hopes of my lite, I will fly like a coward in the very hour of their achievement ?' But even while he spoke with all the bravado of which he was master, he shifted uneasily befoie tho terrible look in Geoffrey Huntress's eye. Yet it aroused all the passion in his nature ; the hot blood mounted to his brow, coursing in an angry tide through all his veins, and befoie either of his companions could suspect his intention, he swung aloft his right arm to smite his rival to tho (100t 1 . Bub the blow never descended. In his hot-headed anger he forgot the danger of hi-^ position, made a misstep, lost his balance, and fell headlong down the long flight of stairs, and then lay silent and motionless, while those two men above looked down upon him with white startled races, and hearts throbbing heavily with a sickening fear. The stairs wore carpeted and thickly padded, so that his fall had not been a very noisy one : yet tho disturbance was sufficient to bi ing both Mrs Huntress and tho physician forth from Gladys's room, in a state of alarm and consternation. 'What id it? Oh, August, what has happened?' cried Mrs Huntiess, clinging to her husband. ' That villain pliyed the spy upon us, and in attempting to strike Geoffrey, lost his balance and fell, 5 ' Mr Huntress explained, adding, anxiously, ' but pray go back and «tay with Gladye ; let her know nothing of this, c\cn if she wakes., and wo will take caie ot thi-> fellow." Jlc icd her back to the young gill's room, and wa-s greatly lelicvod to sec that .she was still sleeping heavily and hud not been conscious ot the confusion outside. The doctor and Geoffrey, meanwhile, had sprung down the stairs lilted thoniostiato man, and cairied him into one of the looms below. A careful examination convinced Doct.or Hoy t that there weie no bones broken, the thickly carpeted and padded stairs had doubtless been his «ahation in this respect ; if he hid suffered no internal in]in> , he had surely escaped in a wonderful Manner. The force and shock of tho fall hid stunned him, but it was not long befoie he began to rally and loot; about him. As he sat up, rubbing his eontiu-ed head and trying to lealke what had happened to him, Doctor IFoyfc glanced curiously ftom him to Geoffrey. Both weie dre^ed in e\ cuing suit?, both were \eiy pale and their resemblance to eacli othei v>as something wonderful. ' I do not wonder that the scamp succeeded in his villainous .scheme,' the physician said, in an aside to Mr Huntress. '1 never sow twins that weie moio of an c\aet counterpart of each other.' c Well, how do you find yourself now V ho added, in his abrupt, unprofessional way, turning to Everet. ' ] believe my shoulder is sprained,' he replied, cringine with pain as he attempted to move his left arm. ' Any peculiar faintness* at the .stomachany internal pain V ' No, 1 reckon not ; i have hardly come to my.°elf yet, though.' The doctor made another examination. ' You'll do,' he said, a.s he completed it ; ' there arc no bones broken or out of ioint, and if there was anything very .vrong inside it would be^in to show itself, "it's lucky for you that you haven't a dislocated neck. The next time you want to play pugilist don't choose a flight of stairs for your battle-ground. Now, it you'll take my advice, you'll make tracks tor your hotel, give yourself a good rubbing all over with alcohol, and go to bed.' Evciefc glanced darkly at the man, and it was on his tongue to tell him that he should do no such thing ; but he had been too thoroughly shaken up by his fall to feel in a very defiant state, and he realised too, that he had received very good counsel, which it might be wise to hoed. Mr Huntress, after hearing the doctor's verdict, had slipped quietly from the room, feeling greatly relieved ; but he returned in a few moments with several small articles in hand, which he had picked up in the hall and on the stairs. There was a small pearl handled knife, a Kussia leather wallet, two or three pieces of gold, and some of silver. These he handed to the young man. ' They mupt have slipped from your pockets as you fell,' he said. received them without even a civil acknowledgment and replaced them in his pockets. ' Does this belong to you also V Mr Huntress'asked, holding oufc a small, glittering, peculiarly shaped object. ' Yes ; thanks,' ho now had the grace to say in an eager tone. 'Itis a pockefc piece and an heir-loom ; I would not loobo iti'ov

a great, deal,' and he held out his hand for it. Geofirey glanced up carolcssly at these words : then he stopped quickly forward, his eves glittering, a strango expression on his face. 'Let me look an that, if you please,' ho said. Mr Huntress passed it to him, although TSvoret Mapicson frowned at the act. If Geoffrey had boon palo before ho was ghastly now as ho received that small object on tho palm of his hand. lb was halj of a Inhjht-tvmphtr'.-i ao^, which find been broken diayoticdfi/, and >' % «s Ihnutllidhj cnnmcllcdand ciujraotn ! 110 turned it over, holding it nearer the light" to examine tho back of it. ' Ha !' he exclaimed, with a violent start, while he glanced wonderingly at E\oi«t, who was aho regarding him vuth aistoni-h-ment. ' Will you tell mo how thu> happens to bein your possession?' Geo/lVey asked, meeting liis ojo. 'Certainly, 5 Lho young man loturued, with mock politeness ; 'ib belonged to my groat-grandfathci who served in the re\olution. Ho became a KuighL-Temphir just befoio enlisting, and wab pie?cnted with that emblem by tho lodge nt nuihtorma^ons, over which ho had served as W. M. The date ot tho picentation, with my venerable i dative's name, i 1i 1 - engraved on the back, a^ you perceive/ ' What became of the othci portion ot it '•" CJcofhey asked. /( My father has it.' ' Your father ha* i> T ' Vc.-,' curtly rcsjwnded live rot, annoyed by thitf questioning, yet impelled tv loply by something that stiuck him a^ peculiar in Lieufliuy's manner. 'It was broken by accident, 1 he added, 'alter my anoestcn'o ictvim from the war, never having ' ( 'tt Iw* person duiing all that time, and hog'ivo one halt to hit, ?on — ' a^ ;i pocket piece, he said — keeping tho other himself. At hi^ death Id's poriiou was gi\ en to ray tathei , « ho had been named for him, and, when I was of an 'ige to apuieciatc it, iiii; gnmdtathcr'ft half was handed down to me. 'And } our father -yon 'in *n>\ — ha^ tho other part of it now?' (ieolhey inquired with pale lip?. ' Ye?,' Eveict said, with a slime? of liU shouldeis ; ' we have always icgauled them as heir-looms, and have been caiet'ul not to loto them.' '/have a ' pocket piece * which / liavc occn ' careful not to 10-c ' tince.it came into my possession,' Gcofiroy remarked in a haid, dry tone. He took something from one of his pockets a« he spoke, laid it beoido that other piece lying in his palm, and held it out for Evoiet Mapleson to rco.