CHAPTER LI. TOO LATE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2200, 14 August 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER LI. TOO LATE.

James, the servant Mr Mounsey had entrusted Laura's note to, wns, us his master had said, tolerably sober when he received the order to go at once to Mr Ma'nnera's office, and leave the letter Mr Mounsey placed in his hand. He was sober, but*'he war elerated ; and meeting on his way down the street an old companion, they began talking of the rich marriage which ' the mistress's sister ' had just made, and on the strength of + it, and of various half-glasses of champagne which he had already consumed, and also of sundry half-crowns which, during the morning, had been slipped into his hand*, James proposed to adjourn to a neighouring public-house, and offered to treat;' his friend and himself to a glass of whisky. They did not stay long, for James had not quite forgotten his commission ; but they stayed long enough to miss George Manner*, who had left his office and gone for a long walk into the country before James and his note arrived there. The clerks, however, directed him to George's lodgings, which were the same an he had formerly occupied, and thither they now directed their steps ; leaving George's note at Mrs Clarks house, just as the town clocks were striking five. The two men had scarcely left Mrs Clarkes door, when Luke Hiud march, pale, excited, and covered with perspiration, for he was hardly sober yet, rushed up to it, and eagerly demanded to see Mr Manners'. ' He's not come in yet, Mr Hindniarch,' said the deaf old woman, when at last he made her Understand who he wanted. ' But he wont be long, so ye best come in a bit. Them two meu have left this note for him/ continued the landlady ; and Hindmareh, wiping his pale face, glanced at the addrea% and guessed who had sent it, and what it was about. He had not long to wait. Just about ten minutes after his arrival he saw George's head pass the window, and darted out of tho room to receive him at the door, as George was opening it with his latch-key. 'Manners/ said he excitedly, * come in. I'm waiting for you. I've been all over the town seeking you ; such a thing has happened.' 'What is it f' said George, and his mind naturally reverted to their business. > 4 The man, Captain Clayton,* began Luke Hindmareh; but George's quick eyes had by this time seen Laura's note lying on the table, and he hastily put out his hand and Uok it. - 'Tbat will tell you, I believe, better than I can,' went on Hindmareh, for he was beginning to feel the awkwardness of the communication he had to make; so George opened his letter and read — ' My Dear Mb Manners, — My cousin, Hugh Clayton, has just unfortunately discovored, through some unintentional speeches of Mr Hindmarch's, the identity of Miss Williams with his lost wife, and has left here with the avowed intention of proceeding at once to your father's house. There is a train leaves for the North, Mr Mounsey tells me, at a quarter after five o'clock,' and there is none before. I think she would be safer with some one , to protect her, for I fear Bugh, Trusting this wilt reach you in time, 4 1 remain, .your friend, " ' J 'L. P.' : ' Oh 1 my God,' exclaimed George ; and j as he read on, though he was a strong man, his face grew absolutely white, and cold drops of dew gathered on his forehead. ' Does it tell you V asked Hindmnrch, eagerly looking at the letter. ' Does it tell you that Miss Williams is Captain Claytons wife, and that he has rushed off to the station like a madman? And I believe if ever a man was mad, he is.' *It tells me,' answered George, in a low voice; and then with a trembling hand, he pulled out his watch. *It wants four minutes to the time,' he said; and without another word he •eized his hat and ran out of the room, out of the door, down the street, down the next, followed by the breathless Hindmareh ; then hailing the first cab he met, he shouted— 4 A sovereign if you catch the train North?'* holding out his watch as he I sprang in. ' You have three minutes, my man— drive for your life !' and the cab.man, taking him at his word, flogged his horse, ana swore and tore along the streets, followed by two indignant policemen, who considered the public safety endangered, and by the panting and almost exhausted Luke Hindmareh. At last they reached the station, and George, flinging the sovereign on the flags, leapt out and rushed into it, just as the train for the North was slowly puffing away from the opposite platform. , * Stop the train ! stop the train !' he shouted, dashing violently against the locked rails, which are closed as soon as the train starts. ' Stop the train and I'll give you a hundred pounds! — stop the train, and I'll give you " * My good sir," said the station-master from the other side of the railings, who was standing there at his duty to see the train start, ' are you mad ?' 1 1 will give you anything you ask— anything ! — if you will let me have an engine, and follow it,' cried George, excitedly, his eyes fixed on the fast-disap-pearing carriages. 'And lose my place/ replied the sta-tion-master, coolly. *We coaldn't do it, sir, now, without especial leave from the manager— no, not to save the State.' ' Where ia the manager ?' asked George, eagerly. 'In Scotland ait present,' said the sta-tion-master, with a smile. • No, sir ; there've been several accidents lately with specials, and we're altering our line too •t the Pockliuo;ton Station, and without particular orders from the chief manager we could not do it. But,' he continued, drawing out his watch, 'it is seventeen minutes past five now, and the next train for the North starts at 7.30, and it's a fast train ; so y»u wou't be more than an hour and a half late for any appointment you may have made/ Very well, said George, and turned away. He was not a man to make any •exhibition of his feelings in public, but even the station-master noticed the grey look of despair which had crept over his face. 4 1 fear the gentleman has met with some trouble,' he said to one of the oliicin's standing n-iir. 'Ah, it's a foolish trie* that pc >ple have of losing trains.' ' As George was moving slowly away, Mr Hindmarob, breathless and excited, ran into the station, and seeing him, at once came up. ' You have lost the train then ?' he panted. ' It's a bad job j but don't look ho dow D| old fellow ; there's another in it

couple of hours or so, and not much harm can happen before then. Come into the refresh me at* room, and have a glass of sherry and some dinner before you sturt.' Without a word, George followed him, and sat wearily down in one of the re-freshment-room chairs, while Mr 1 Hiodmarch bustled about, and in a minute or two came back with a glats of sherry in his hand. •Take a reriver' he paid, jocularly, by way of enlivening Goorge ; and Manner* held out a trembling hand, and eagerly drank he wine he offered* 'Have another?' naid Luke, kindly. Even he was touched and shocked by George's appearance. 'Yes/ said George, with a kind of groan ; and then he sat silent, white Hindmarch proceeded to tell the ftory of the photograph, but was profuse in bis apologies and regret. 1 But why did you keep it to cloae, Manners ?' ho said. ' Why did you let a fellow nearly go and make a fool of himKeif, as I wart going to do. Upon my honour — I must my it was too bad. 1 •It was a secret,' s<nd George. ' Hush, Hindmarch, hush, I c;innot Wnr to talk. Ido uot blame you — though God knows what you miiy have done.' • I couldn't bo to blame,' began Hindmarch, but George stopped him with a gesture, 4 Don't talk of it,' he said. •It mar seem unkind — but, Hindmarch, I would rather be alone.' 'But hadn't I better go down to N;irborough with you/ nujjgented Mr. Hindmarch, who really felt uneasy about bis partner. •What urood would that do?' said George sharply, 'No — you mean kindly, I know, but i here are some things a nmn can bear best by himself ;' and after thu Hindmarch felt constrained to leave him. Then George sat quite silent and still, facing the clock on the wall, and bearing an best as he could the intolerable anxiety he felt. Click, click , click, went on time* index. Throb, throb, throb, his fast-beat-ing heart. A dull, cold pain crept into his side. A sort of vision seemed to pass before him — a vision too dreadful to realiso or endure. So strongly did his imagination become excited, that he seemed almost to follow the unhappy Clayton on bis miserable journey. He saw him get out on the lonely platform at Narbroujrh — he followed him down the familiar road —he saw the lights in the windows at home, and the wretched man outside, prowling in the darkness. 'Oh ! my God—my God !' said George aloud, starting up. He could bear it no more, and he went out of the refreshment room and wandered restlessly up and down the street before the station for more than an hour, counting the lamps with a sort of dull effort to divert his mind, and watching the people pas-sing to and fro from the trains — watching and walking, like a man in a dream. At last the time came, and he took his ticket, and after what seemed to him an interminable delay the train started, and the very movement seemed at first a sort of relief to him. It was a fast train, and as they went driving on through the cool night air, George began to hope that he might yet be in time, and that perhaps some delay' or mistake, about the locality might have prevented Captain Clayton reaching Narbrough before him. But to this phase of mind quickly succeeded another — 'What might be happening even then — what might be happening even then ; aud he covered his face with his hand and groaned aloud, as his heart answered the unspoken dread. It was a terrible journey. Hope and fear — hope and fear, through nearly two long weary hours ; but at last it ended, and George sprang out of the carriage, and quickly giving his ticket to the porter passed through the station, and hurried out upon the road. He did all this so hastily that he never noticed the curious eyes which instantly on his appearance were fixed upon him, of the sort of excitement with which the officials and the few people standing about evidently regarded his arrival. He heard one man say,' Why, it's Mr. George— eh ! I wonder if he's heard ?' But without turniug his head George passed on his way, and the next minute was running with desperate hasto and sickening dread towards his home. As He turned down the lane which led to the Vicarage from the highway he met a mounted policeman, and two men who were eagerly talking together, and who also turned round and looked curiously at him ; and as he approached the familiar gate, which was standing wide open, he became instantly aware that something extraordinary must have happened.