CHAPTER LII.

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

CHAPTER LII.

Groups of men were loitering about the garde aor standing near the open house door. Two policemen were in the passage and the place seemed full of •trange voices and strange men. Without a word or a question George pushed his way past them all and walked into the house. He could not have spoken then if his life had departed on a single sentence, for bis tongue seemed to cleave to the roof of his month, and his knees were sinking beneath him. The dining-room door was open, and the room was full of people, who, with exclamations of pity and horror, were mostly looking at one object which was lying on a couch at the end of the room. ' Eli ! Mr George, have you got back ; ' | said one of the women present. ' This is a bad job. Poor gentleman, they are just going to straighten him.' Then George walked slowly up, and stood looking like the rest. A dead man was lying on the couch — a dead man with a ghastly wound in his throat, from which the blood was still pouring down upon the floor. A. dead man, with a livid, discoloured face, half-open dull, still eyes, ami fallen jaw — a face which looked as if his soul had qonc forth amid some awful sh-ugjle of hate and dread. 'YeW Imst tie up his jaw, Jinny, at once,' said Dr. Ruthyon'a young Scotch nephew and apprentice, who was bending over the body, addressing a woman who stood near ; • he's getting cold, and it's easier to do now ;' then seeing George he came towards him and otTereri°a bloodstained hand, for he had just been probing the wound. * This a bad business, Mr George,' he said. Do you know this unfortunate gentleman ?' | Yes,' answered George, slowly and painfully ; and he went nearer. Yea, he knew the unfortunate gentleman, whose life's sad history lay ended here. H<j knew Captain Hugh Clayton, who*« wife he had loved and left; knew the man he had hated and dreaded and wished dead, and he shuddered as he stood tlterc, a&d remembered all these feelings now. ' How dltl it happen ?' he snbl, m a low, solemn tone, to the young doctor. ' He must have put the pistol to his throat,' answered the young man, pi<»fessionally. 'Sec here, the wound is right round the main tirtery Yus, hemust have put the pistol to his throat, 1 directly after he shot the young lady.' 1 What !' said George, in the quick, sharp voice of pain. 'What?' and In: staggered back, and grasked the couch on winch the de-ul man lay. • Did yon not know ?' asked the younji Scotchman, in surprise. * They say he was her husband, or something,* and—' •The doctor gays she may come round, Mr Georae,' said a kindly voice in his ear the next minute. • Come away from that horrid sight— come to the mistress.

She's in the study with the Vicar, for the children have gone away with their old nurse for the night ; but I saw you come, no I came to tell you, for I thought you would be sore upset.' Mechanically George looked at the person who thus addressed him, and remembered the pleasent, honest face of Jane, the housemaid ; while the girl laid her haud on his arm, and continued to urge him to come with her. 4 Come, Mr George,' she said, 'you look so bad. But the doctor has set her arm, you know, and we'll be haring her up in no time, perhaps. It's well that horrid man's dead, I'm sure,' she added ; • fancy him coming and shooting her like that— but men are such creatures. But come now,' and she led George like some blind man from the room. 'They're in hore,' said Jane, rpening the study <'oor. • The doctor won't have anyone upstairs with Miss Williams but hisself and cook. Here's Mr George, mam, she continued, half-pushing George into the rorm ; and the next moment he was in his fond stepmother* arms. •Why, George, my boy !' said the Vicar, lumping up from the table, where he bad been sitting consoling himself with a strong glass of his favourito beverage. • Glad to see you, my dear fellow, though you find us in trouble. You'll have heaid ' but with a gesture Mrs Manners stopped her husband, and drew George's faltering feet towards a ■eat by the fire. 1 Sit down here, my dear, 1 be said ; 'don't shake like that— it's awful, isn't it ? But we hope the best for dear Amy. Drink this,' he continued, catching up her husband's glass from the table, and holding it to George's trembling iips. 1 Adhere is the wouud?' he asked, almost in a whisper. lln the shoulder of course. But drink some more, dear, and don't be so down* hearted. The doctor says he thinks she'll get over it— and now let me pulJ off your muddy boots?' and as she did so George's head sank on her shoulder, and she heard the poor fellow mutter a prayer. •Yes, my darling, yes,' said Mrs Manners, kissing his cheeks, 'He has spared her, and he will spare her, I hope, to us all, for many a long and happy day to come.' In a few Moments George's mind had recovered from the shock it had received, and he heard with a kind of composure the details of the tragedy which had ended so fatally. * It is a most disagreeable business,' said the Vicar, looking round for his glass, ( ' most disagreeable ; what with this, and the absurd claims of that wretched creature, Peggy Richardsou, one has nothing but annoyances." 'And Adelaide,' asked George,' where is she V ' Luckily, Lady Lilbourne came yesterday and took her away,' answered Mm Manners. 'She has been very ill, George, you know— very ill since ' ' Hugh's death,' said George; 'poor, poor Adelaide.' 1 Well, she'll get to her old home soon,' said the Vicar, more cheerfully. " You'll all get. I'm not going to be put off my just rights a month longer, that's what I can tell them. I'll ' But here the Vicar was interrupted. One of the policemen rapped at the door, and wished to know, 'if it would not be better to telegraph to some of the unfortunate gentleman's relations to be present at the inquest, which had to be held tomorrow.' *lt would be more satisfactory,' the policemen concluded with, and the Vicar called to ask him if he knew where any of them were to be found. Then George remembered Mr Mounsey, and dictated a message for the policeman to telegraph ; and the Vicar left the room with the man to see after some further arrangements, and George was thus alone with his mother. 'Let me see her,' mother,' he said in a low toDG, after a moment's silence ; ' I know myself it will do her no harm.' 4 But, d. ij ar, the doctor " 1 Ask Ruthyen. to come and speak to me,' said George, and Mrs Manners pressed her son's h.tnd, and with noiseless step* stole to the &k;k-room door. In a minute or two Dr. Ruthyon entered the study, and t-ilently and kindly held out hia large, strong hand to tho young itum. ' So this was your secret, Mr George?' he said, presently. ' You acted like an honest man, as far as I hear; and with God's help I hope the poor young lady's life may be spared.' 1 Is she very ill r' said Gporge. 'She has two severe wounds,' answered the doctor, ' one in the arm, and another, the worst, in the shoulder. But I dare not extract the ball to-night ; she's too prostrate for that. All we can do is to keep her perfectly quiet, and I've telegraphed for Dr Mackenzie, of Edinburgh, and he'il be here in the morning. But if eho has anytbiug preying on her mind ' She would be happy if I could see her for a moment, I think,' said George, turning away his head ; and the doctor, after glancing at him keenly said— 1 Well, come along then, Mr George. We want everything that can keep her up. I will depend on your discretion ;' aud so George followed him to Amy's door, which the doctor closed after him as he went in. ' I will tell her you're here,' he whispered, as he opened it. •We must have no more sudden shocks ; and aa George stood a miuute or two outside, while the doctor was preparing her to receive him, he heard her moaniug is if in deadly pain, and caught a glimpse of a white, drawn face lying on the pillow as the doctor entered the room. At, last Dr Rnthyeu came back. 4 Come, iv Mi- George,' he said, in a loud, cheerful voice, and speak to your old friend, my pitient, hore; * but mind, I'll ouly allow you five minutes,' he continued, takiug out hi.i watch. ' You've just to ask how she ii, <md nothing more — and I think m the meantime wn may as well yo out ;' aud he nodded to Mrs Manners and tho cook a-^ lie tpoke, who followed linn from i,he room Then Georjjv wnlke.l in and went, up to the side nf the bed, .mil tho pale, drawn f'tce Miiiioil f.tiutly as he .ipproa< i hoJ. * You li ive come bask,' she s.tid, almost in h whimper ' Ye~, .m y <le u\ to tro away no more,' he ;ms\vcie»ii, mid lie bent down and kixse-i her ; hm<l even amid her pain a flush vomj on her ohtvks ;it his touch. ' You k« tw [ am y; un-r to dip, George V she sihl I'nnlly ; s y>u know I am jroiuir tortt^?' * * 4 >". » '." sud (uuMsro, ' y.>n }) re aroint <<> ti\*> <\>, iih> >o\i ,j»e irohisr M hva r«« m>k>» i»m |),,,),v urn ;' , m ,J \ w U,u>ltdowu tnul kis-e'l h"r h c.1,1 i^ 1i'mu1,!,,,. • You will 1»,m«- u f,»- j,,y *.i) (i >. Amr ?' h« wli^p.r. il, **«r t I!v ; '"you will try* to get Well to. ,„• }>» * ' And— and— Huifh ? .she a,-la>d, with a a shudder. ' He is iroup,' •iriswetvd Gwitjje, in a low, *teadj voice; 'ho (hM by his owu luui'l, Aniv; !u\r d<, Ill( . hhmc youit-elf — do not look so temlicd. He w.i* mad, and .sooner or 1 cor was Mite to have destroyed himself ' '*Uli ! it 1 <• .i.!,; only hcli'-vp that,' she moam'd , 'nnl\ Kl.hv.- tint ' ' riicn v.ii nt.n,my (l<jn, yon may. He i> irone' .md there is nothing to part n^ now.' Here the doctor bctran wxitflnnjr and riMii"/ 'ho i. mil, ..* ,i, i, )tu n-jrside. •Time's up, Mr lieoiye, 1 he suid, put.

tin?; m hi> head «ttter the.se preliminary announce intuits of his ieturn. ' C»n't allow a moment lonirer. I am just pomy to yivo my patient a sleoptft<r| (Ir.m^hc, and after that a^£^, "sp«s tajOti stir ia the hotlse.' "" ' \U m ' Very well,' «aid George. V.^Coo^ ni»t, d^ar Amy. Try to bteej!^ and .with n raftte lie loft her. ' You ,uo a famous physician,' said Dr. Ruthyen, with a kindly m>i, Vrhen an hour .iftcrw.it ds he o-nne down to the ■stiulv to h,i\c lus ; supper and a grbiss of A\lii-ky toJdy, tor ho was goinjj to stay all ni^lit. at. rhv Virnrncre. •'A't.Tmons pT»yMet.m, Mr (k'or<jfo. The yuuntr lady'h pul-o luih jjri.nrt up $masmi£ly ainoe you felt it ;' anil Jio laughed atoud'at hia little joke Hut (.loorjre ouly laughed very foubly in loplv. He could not forget th« dead m,u\ who lay to near -the dead man who h.id died by his> own hand^ and to whom, though uncun.sciously, he had done bliol) U'Utjl \\ lOMJJ.