CHAPTER XXXVI.—ONCE MORE RISKING IT.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 285, 10 March 1874, Page 2

CHAPTER XXXVI.— ONCE MORE RISKING IT.

'I HOPS you have had a good sleep, Haines?' said Miriam to her maid, whom she summoned immediately on Walter's departure. ' Yes, ma'am ; I am quite rested.' ' I am exceedingly tired ; and as Mr St Quentin is still sleeping — has been sleeping, indeed, these two hours — you shall arrange my hair, and then take my place beaide him, while I rest a little, until the doctor comes. ' Mr St Quentin bus had no return of the pain ?' ' No return.' * Miriam sat patiently while Mrs Haines brushed her hair, put it away in smooth braids, and changed her drai. She even spoke a little, in alow voice, about the business^ which Bolton had gone out; and how much longer it was likely to detain him. Then bhe lay down on & 6ofa in her bedroom; and Mrs Haines, having made up the fiie, and inspected the medicine bottles, seated hersolf behind the bed-curtain, in awful unconscious proximity to the dead man. During several minutes of agonising endurance, Miriam lay still her arm thionn acio6s her eves, wilting ior tho scream with which si c expected Mrs JJaines to announce the diHcorery which she must soon make. A few minutes of profound silence clop-cd, and then Miriam's ear detected tie rustling of a woman's dreis, and strained itself to every movement. If the discovery did not come coon, she should not have strength to hold out ; there was a dull sickly fence of fammess stealing over her even now, and the palms of her hands were cold and clammy. The next tound was the click of curtain rings, as the intervening curtains was cautiously withdrawn by the watcher, shnmed bj the stillness. Miriam heard the slight creaking oi the bed t te«d as she leaned over the huddled-up figure, with its back towards her, leaned furtlier yet, heard her step behind the head the bed, and the whisk of her dress against the wall-^P followed in her imagination the dote, lapid examination which ensued, heard her say, with a ga6p, ' My God !' and, feeling her approach, shut her eyes firmly, and threw her head back in a perfect imitation of Eleep. In a moment, the woman was beside her, shaking her gently by the shoulder. Miriam routed herself, *nd 6a c up, meeting her maid's jsle, scared face with a ttart. ' O madam — I, I fear something dreadful has happenrd ! I—lI — I waj frightened it not shearing Mr St Quentin breathe, and I went round to look at him, and, indeed, ma'am, it'» no vee deceiving you, he is gone !' • Gone P' # ' Yes, ma'am. Come and look at him yourself.' Miriam looked up in a blind, uncertain sort of w»y, catching ac the womtt't gown ; and at that moment, tho nitting-room door opened, and Dr ies&Sytpptfared. Mrs Hame* calkd* to him loudly, and he. curne quickly into the bedroom ; but before he could reach her rid' or aek in

explanation of the looks of the two women, Miriam's hold of her iPaid relaxed, and she fell in * heop upon the floor. Ten minutes later, and ju»t a« theNriprees train wo* about to start, & railway official, accompanied bj the waiter who had Announced Walter* arnyal to hia sister, ran along the platform, looked into tho carriages, and crying ont : • Any gentleman of the namt of Clint here? 1 No RentJaman iwwered the appeal j «nd the train puffed its way out of the station, lenting the official and the waiter looking dii concerted. 'He ain't there,' uaid the Utter, ' T shonfd have known him in a moment.' Tliey turned awsy t\lkmg of the event which had oocurred at the Grand i end Mr Cliisold, undisturbed by the commotion, went on his prosperous way to London, tho bearer of »n oxtonaiba of buiinoi a to Boat and Eibj. Everything <waa done most decoronolf and in perfect ' order. After the terrible shock Mr* St Quentin had received, Br Ashler regarded the rooit absolute quiet at indispensible. In Sfrs Haines he found a sensible woman, who did as the was told, and waa not over-exoited by other people's affairs. Miriam waa removed to another floor of the hotel, at toon as she recovered from the meroiful fainting-fit which had divided the general attention between the dead and the living;, and all the necessary steps were immediately taken. The dootor could not say the lamentable event had actually surprised him ; ho had considered Mr 8t Quentin's condition highly precarious, aB he had told Mrs St Quentin, and had no doubt theimmodiate cause of death was exhaustion consequent upon hia haying travelled when in an unfit state. Ho was very kind to Mirinra, and ready to be useful to her in every way, and he admired the clearhoadednesi and self-control with which sho pave her directions, when bodily weakness had passod away. He communicated by her desire, with Messrs Ross and Raby, informing them of Mr St Quontin's decease, and requesting them to apt for her in a professional capacity. He also wrote to Walter Clint, requesting him to come to Dover. The reply to this letter was written by Florence, and addressed to Miriam. It was constrained, but Miriam knew that was inevitable. Florence's mind would bo disturbed by her knowledge of the truth respecting the marriage thus suddenly terminated, and the sense of what that termination ought to be to the young widow. So she said very little on that point, but told Miriam that Walter could not como to TlOr. -Ittr *»»/! »,»f,,»n.4 from biv bri«f viuit txt DoTtJr in a highly nervous state, and with a heavy, fevprish cold, which had since increa ed, and rendered his leavirg the house impossible. If Miriam wished it Florence would come to her. ' And leave her darling husband ill ! and travel here, to be with me under such circumstance, in her condition, poor child. No ; certainly not, said Miriam, who knew in her ! heart that the last thing sho wished for now was WQltpr's presencp, and the last tiling but one tho presence of Walter's wife. So she wroto to her sister-in-law that she had found friends and all the help she nepded, and she would not have her come on any acconnt. When everything was settled, she would pay them a long visit at the Firs, but it might be a little time first, as she was Mr St Quentin's sole executor, as well as his sole heir ; and as the bulk of his papers were in Paris, she might have to return thither direct — that would depend upon the counsel of her legal advisers ; ' besides which,' she added, 'dearest Florence, I feel, though I cannot explain it, that for the present, it it best I should bo quite alone ' Not a difficulty presented itself to Miriam. Messrs Ross and Raby conducted her affairs with promptitudo and ease. All the customary announcements succeeded that of Mr St (Quentin's death. No creditors presented themselves, not a claim of any kind was made. Mr St Quentin's property ■was in order so admirable ns to be quite incomprehensible to tho legal mind, considering he had never, until tho very day of his death, employed a lawyer. Miriam had no difficulty in ascertaining from his fow, perfectly arrnnged papers the exact amount and distribution of the wealth to which she had succeeded. In her capacity of executor, Bho examined all Mr St Quontin's correspondence. It wan not voluminous, and it was exceedingly uninteresting. If she still felt any of the curiosity respecting his former life, and hia first wife, which ah© had once expressed to Florence, it was destined to remain ungratified. There was not a letter, not a memorandum relating to it ; tho only momento of the past which she found among Mr St Quentin's possessions was a miniature-portrait, m the drawer of an Indian desk ho carried about with him, but never used. It presented a fresh, beautiful face, with gray eves, blaok hair, and a fine complexion Miriam had never heard a porsonal description of the first Mrs St Quentin, but she took it for granted the portrait was hers. Oue word was engraved on the oval frame — Kate.