CHAPTEE LXV.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1595, 23 September 1882, Page 5

CHAPTEE LXV.

Hector Macinnis had sat down after making a speech, which he felt was a failure. The opposition, which had been growing in strength, had attacked him upon some appointments he had made at Grit. Old M'Calviif, after a long absence from the House, had scented the battle afar off, and seeing his opportunity had attended that night.. Sitting opposite, in his white Vest and black clothes, with the ever fragrant bouquet in his coat, he had listened with a cynical smile to the attempts of Hector's party to explain away the " little transactions ;" yet lie never moved until after Hector had replied. Then the old man got on his legs, took a glass of water, looked behind him at Ins supporters, who cheered lustily, and then glanced fiercely on his enemy, who had thrust his hat over his eyes when he set down, and was moodily watching these demonstrations. Then the old man opened out. Sentence after .sentence flowed from him — cutting, cruel, slashing. He analysed the charges and the defence, and closed with a few words so telling that when he sat down the House cheered for several minutes. One of the frothy orator.-}, who were the curse of Hector's party, rose to reply. Just then a messenger came up to Hector, and cringingly informed him that a lady was waiting to see him. Her name was Miss While. Hector started. Was this girl after all coming to him of her own accord ? Perhaps she was in want, and appealed to him as a la&t resource. " She was very pressing, sir," said the messenger, " and said if I mentioned the name it would be enough. She looked so poor I wouldn't have noticed her only for that." " Show her into my private room," was the reply ; and rising up Hector went out. He pondered in Ms own mind about this strange visitation. Well, after all, thought Hector, if he could obtain Bertha for whom he felt his old passion rising, lie could solace himself in retirement for a while, forgetting his political troubles. He knew the end of his power was at hand. Motioning the messenger away, lie walked inside. There was a female in the room — but she was not Bertha White. Hector gjyvo a glance at her. His face became crimson, his head grow dizzy, he reeled like a drunken man. He had to lean against the door for support. " Ay, you may well stagger," .said Prudence — for it was she. " You thought so sec Bertha, the girl you are so fond of, and you see Prudence, the woman you have wronged and all but murdered." "Great God!" cried Hector, putting his hand lo his brow, " I am surely dreaming. The excitement is too groat for me." " You were never more in your senses," was the cold answer as she gloated over the terror and confusion of the man. "I am Prudence — no ghost, I can assure you." " But, but," said Hector, faintly, " you wore reported dead — your body was found." " Stuff," said the woman, " I escaped out of the asylum and the blundering policeman took another's corpse for mine. I hope to live yet to revenge myself. I have kept out of your road until now, because I had no opportunity How patiently I waited to see if you would marry Bertha that I might have you arrested and tried as a common felon. But that did not take place, so I have had to wait — and my time has come at last." Hector sank into a chair, and put his hands over his eyos-Mrying to shut out the horrible figure that had stepped between him and honor and happiness. At last ho spoke. " Prudence there were wrongs on both sides : Ask what you like, I will give it to you." But did he speak this from any wish to make reparation to this woman for the ill he had done ? Not he I His desire was simply to give her the means of freely indulging in the poison which he knew would soon put an end to her life and rid him of her for ever. " Before I say another word I must have a cheque for £1000," said Prudence, gravely seating herself in an elegant chair which seemed polluted by her rags. Hector rose, and, reaching for a cheque book, wrote out the cheque. She glanced at it with rapture. " Well, that is right," said she with a cold laugh. " I wonder if these lackeys who pushed me about and seemed to think I wasn't fit for a kennel would use me ill if they knew I had this. Wealth commands attention, does it not, Hectdr ?" He groaned. "How that fellow, who went to you with the message, stared when I said I must see the Honorable Hector. A beggar, said he to himself, no doubt." 'hYou have got what you want," said Hector, some of his old fire returning ; "leave mo in peace for a while. ' " That I will," replied Prudence, fixing upon him a look of cold hate ; " but not until Ido you a service. Everything considered you have behaved handsomely; so I'll tell you some news. Bunakum is dead !" A gleam of sunshine came into Hector's face. Thank God, one of his tormentors was^ gone — the one, indeed the only one being he feared. " You're happy to hear that," said Prudence ; " but don't be too fast. Before he died he had his son Jack at his bedside, and he made a full and open confession." Hector started up. His face become distorted, his eyes started out of their sockets. Seizing Prudence by the hand he spoke in a hoarse whisper: " Confessed ! What? For God's sake tell me." . Coldly, and with almost diabolical conciseness, the woman repeated Bunakum's confession. Word after word fell upon Hector's eara like boiling lead. His fate was sealed. The woman could not be telling lies No being on earth knew what had transpired except BunakUm. " Leave me, Prudence," said the man, in an unearthly voice. " Leave*me, if you value your life." The fearful tone of his voice had all the old power in it. The woman started back appalled, and walked out of the room, olutching the cheque. ; She had hardly gone, when a messenger knocked at the door. " Come in," said Hector. " Division, sir," said the^ messenger. " I will be there presentfy." The division took place ; but Hector Macinnis did not trouble the tellers. It was in his parly's favor; but the majority was so slender that when the result was announced the Opposition cheered heartily. They saw the day for possession of the plunder was not far distant.