CHAPTER XIX. "JOHN FOSSDYKE'S AFFAIRS."

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2230, 23 October 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XIX. "JOHN FOSSDYKE'S AFFAIRS."

• How arc you, doctor ?' said Phil Soames as ho made his way into the familiar sanctum to which he had been a privileged intruder for many a year. 4 Ah, Phil !' exclaimed Dr. Ingleby. looking up from a, mass of papeis with which he was apparently wrestling, ♦ I am very glad to fee you. I suppose there Is no fresh news about this terrible biifiness. 1 , . . , 'None Foxborough is either lying concealed in London, or has fled the country, I should imagine. At nil events there Uno news of him whatever. The police seemed battled at present. Turn me out if I am inteirupting you.' • Not a bit ; glad to see you, whatever brings you ?' • Well, 1 called chipfly to ask after poor Mrs Fossdyke and Miss Hyde. Of course I've left my card and enquired at- Dyke ; but I have seen nobody, and you, probably, have seen them.' ' Yes,' replied the doctor, ' and Mrs T?o«sdyke, now that she has got over the firot shook, bei'ra it better than I anticipated. Miss Hyde, I think, seems the more thoroughly upset of the two. By the way I used to fancy, Phil, you were a little sweet in that quarter,' and here X)octor Ingleby eyed bis companion some■what keenly. 4 I not only was, but am,' replied the young man, doggedly. • Ab, then, perhaps, it is just as well you should hear what I have to tell you. Bessie Hyde is a sweet girl, and much too good to be made a fool of.' • You needn't tell me that,' interrupted Phil, somewhat roughly. < Ah, but you probably have mistaken Sde».s regarding her. Firstly, that she ac the adopted daughter of the Fossdyke«.' „ , . . . • I am under no mistaken impression of that nature,' rejoined Phil, slowly. 'I .asked her to marry me some time back. She was very careful to disabuse my mind on that point then, and told me she was nothing but Mrs Fossdyke s paid companion." 4 And what, pray, was the result of that conversation ?' • She declined the honour,' replied Phil, 4 saving there were insurmountable obstacles, that unless she could tell me the B toryofherpastlife,it was impossible; that she had not the courage to do that ; and finally, though she didn't exactly say go gave me to understand poor Fossdyke was acquainted with her whole history. •Curious,' said Dr. Ingleby, as he called to mind Sergeant Uaher'a dictum that Mi" Hyde could probably* throw li<rht upon this mysterious affair if she would tell what she knew of James Foxborough, little as she might think it. •Still Phil, there is one thing moie you Tiacl better know. You may fancy that -Miss Hyde, although not nominally an adopted daughter, is likely to succeed eventually to the bulk of what John Foasdyke.has left ?' 4 1 have never thought about it, replied x>T,;itn niiifitlr.

4 Well, it will come rather as a surprise to Baumborough, but as ono of his executors I have of course been looking into his affairs now tho funeral is over, and it looks to me very much as if ho has left very little iiuleed behind him. I can't understand it, and we haven't quite got to tho bottom of things yet, but it looks to me as if even the",biggest half of Mrs Fossdyke's fortune has disappeared, I am afraid she will be found to have been left very poorly oft. That she will have to give up Dyke, and either sell it or let it, is, I think', certain.' 4 You do amaze me,' rejoined Soames. 4 Not that it makes the slightest difference to me. 1 mean to marry Bes<iio if I can, and doo't expect her to bring roe anything, but I am very sorry indeed for Mrs Fossdyke : giving up Dyke will coino very hard upon her. Do you think I might venture to call r' 4 Yes, do, it will do them good ; rouse them up a bit, especially Miss Hyde. You evidently don't deem her answer conclusive, and putting money considerations on one side, you will bo a luck y fellow, Phil, if you win her. She's a special favourite of mine,' 1 1 have got her mysterious past to get at first. I don't believe the bugbear she toiments herself with to be of the slightest consequence in reality ; but to discover it is the difficulty. I shall say good-bye for the present, aud walk out to Dyke.' Arrived there at the expiration of halfan hour, Philip sent in his name, and hoped the ladies would see him. Puor Mrs Fossdyko looked very sad in her sombre draperies, and evidently felt her loss acutely ; the remembrance that she had not been quite as good a wife to him who was gone as she might have been of late was a, subject of bitter regret, and she thought ruefully over that passage of arms on the subject of Bessie Hyde, which had been ia truth the severest quarrel of her married life. She had done her best to make up for it, but felt her husband had never been quite the same man afterwards. He had always worn an absent, preoccupied look, as if worried with business cares or difficulties. Her penitence for that momentary abandoning of herseif to her godfather'^ insidious counsel had njado her marvellously tender to Bessie ever since. Fond of the girl she had always been, and it was nothing but curiosity concering her antecedents, fanned into a flame by the irrepressible Totterdell, that had led her to play the part she had. Since her hu&band's death she and Bessie sorrowed for him together, and the girl had become inexpressibly dear to her. She rose with a faint smile to welcome Philip. ' You were always such, a favourite with dear John," she said as they shook hands. ' It.would have been hard to lose him at any time, but that ho should come to such a voilent death is too dreadful.' I am sure the whole town and country sympathise with you in your terrible trial Mrs Fossdyke, and the most heartfelt regret and pity is everywhere expressed for your poor husband's sad fate," replied Phil ; and then he turned and greeted Mi«s Hyde. Bessie looked very pale and her lip .shook a little as she faltered forth her welcome. Then Mrs Fosadyke began to tell Philip of her plans for the future. "1 mean to go away," she said, " in about a fortnight, to pome quiet, seaside place — change will be good tor both of us; everything here reminds us of all we have gone through. I have never dar^d to look into the study since that evening when I came and found you with Bessie, and little dreamt what you had comu over to break to us." ' Saddest errand ever I was sent upon, but we deemed it best you should not be left to learn buch. awful intelligence by accident ; and news of that kind spreads like wildthe.' • Both you and Dr Inglcby were everything that was kind and considerate ; indeed, everybody has been that.' ' I hope we have all done what little we could, but then it is so little. I trust they may not trouble you much on the trial, but it is posbible, Mrs Fossdyke remember, that your evidence will be deemed necessary. I mention this now so that you may accustom yourself to the idea.'' ' They havo apprehended Mr Foxborough then," asked Be&s>ie anxiously. " 4 No,' replied Soames, 4 so far I believe, the police have no trace of him whatever.' 'I could almost hope they might not find him,' now observed Mrs Fobsdyke in a low voice. ' nothing can give me my John back again, and I confers I dread the idea of appearing in court of law." ' You may ie>t quite assured that you will be spared all possible pain, and be treated with the greatest consideration, and you also Miss Hyde. 4 They cannot possibly want to question mo,' exclaimed Bebsie. " I can tell them nothing." 4lt is quite open to question whether they "will require either of you ; at all evcuts, the criminal is not caught as yet,' said Soames, rising. ''Will you walk with me as far as the gate, Miss Hyde ? A little fresh air would do you good, l'm sure." For a few seconds Bessie hesitated, and poor Mrs Fossdyke faltered out, 4l You've nothing dreadful to tell to-night surely, Mr Soame=>. If so, let me hear it at once.' 4 Nothing, I assure you. I can sa) all I have to pay here if Miss Hyde wishes.' 4 1 will walk with you to the gate,' interposed Bessie hastily. Til run and get my hat. ' Phil Soames wiahed Mrs Fossdyke good bye, and in another minute he and Mis* Hyde were strolling slowly down the drive. Bessie looked very handsome in her dark robes; mourning suits a brunette invariably, and the trouble of the last few days had thrown a languor around her brilliant beauty that was infinitely bewitching. 4 I want to know^if you are still resolute not to tell me what is it stands between us ? You pretty well know poor Fossdyke meant to have done so. Be generous, Bessie ; I love you so dearly that I ought to be allowed to judge whether the obstacle you talk of is insurmountable." ' More so, Philip, than ever,' replied the girl, turning away her head. 4 Do you mean that poor Fossdyke's death has still further increased the impediment ?' 4 Ye.«. Philip, you must think of mo no more. I have walked down here with you on purpose to say this in common justice to you, to again thank you for tho honour you have done me, and to tell you that though I acknowledge you have wou my heart, my giving myself to you is now more impossible than ever !' 4 Will you let Mrs Fossdyke be judge?' 4 Great heavens, no !' She of all women must never know my story now.' • Would your let Dr Ingleby judge between us ?' 1 No ; I tell you, Philip, wo must part Good-bye and God bless you,' and with a quick little nod, Bessie turned abruptly and sped back to the house.