Hobelist. HARD TO WIN: THE STORY OF STRANGE LIVES

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2310, 30 April 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Hobelist. HARD TO WIN: THE STORY OF STRANGE LIVES

BY GEORGE MAXVILLE FENN, Author of "Ship Aiioy," "Dutch the Divek," " The Foundry Belle," &c. The Story: IB6o.—Strange Lives. [All Rights Reserved.] CHAPTER XXXVIII. only on;e. ' By Jove, yes," cried Tom, starting at the doctor's suguestion. " Why, of course. Doctor, you've hit it. Depend upon it their gone to Uncle Robert's, fflthcr«' 'Think so, my boy, eh? Think so?' said the, old gentleman. 'I.t would be very dull and gloomy ; but they would ifind peace and , quietness.. Doctor, I've ■often, thought I shouldilike to go and live •with my brother Robert.' 'Nonsense,' said the doctor. 'Tom, my dear boy, the more I think of it, the more likely it seems to me.that they have gone there.' 'Yes, that's it, doctor,' said Tom. 'Gov'nor, I don't like to be hard on you, but the doctor's a very old friend. It-'s a :nice thing, isn't it, that our girls should j have to go to Uncle Robert's foi the protection they cannot find here?, ' Yes, my dear boy, it is, it is,' said tlje - «old man, querulously>; ' but I can't -help it.' Her ladyship toqlc the reins as aoou as we were married, and'she's held them very tightly ever since.' ' Here it is at last,'"cried as a ring ■was heard at the door, and the policeman ■was admitted. j s 'Well?' said Tom,-'the number of tbe cab ?' , t . * Haven't got it yet, sir;. but I've sent notices Ato iavery station, in London j men are making enquiries at the railways; and everything possible isibeing done. : 'JThen get a cab,'_saidTom. ' I think I've got a clue.' The man stared,, but set off and returned with a cab," into which Tom helped his father, for the old gentleman was too feeble with pain and excitement to walk the little distance to Wimpble-street. It was now five o'clock, and broad daylight, as the cab drew up at Lord '.Robert's door, when in answer to a. ring which Tom expected it would take balf-, an-hour. to get attended to, the door was opened directly by Vidler. 'You were expecting us, then?' said toni) as the little man put his head on one side, and glanced from the young man to his father, and back again. ' Yes sir; his lordship said you might .«ome at any time, so I sat up.' 'All.right, father, they're here,' said Tom, as the old man leaned heavily upon him, and was helped in. What time did they come, Vidler ?' •They, sir?; , m . ' Yes, my,sisters, said Tom, impatiently.' ' What time did they come?' ' Miss Rendecame her about half-past: ten, sir.' ' . r- i • And, Miss Clare, what time did she come here ?' ;,v . •Miss Clare, sirr ; . «Don't be a stupid old idiot, cried lorn ■excitedly. • I' say—what—time—did— xny—sister—Clare—get here . . , 'Miss Clare baa'not been here, sir, replied the little man-* not she came to bid my lord _ bye.... * thought she was to Be "married this morngroaned, and looked blankly at .his father 5 and, in spite of his determina-

tion not to believe the story suggested about his sister, it seemed to try and force itself upon his brain. ' Where is my sister ?' he cried at last. ' Lying down, sir. Salome is watching by her. She seemed in great distress, sir, and,' he added in a whisper, ' we think his lordship came out of his room and went to her when we had gone down.' ' Poor Robert!' muttered Lord Anthony.' ' His lordship's very much distressed about her, gentlemen. Miss Ren6e is a very great favourite of his.' 'Is his lordship awake, do you think ?' said Tom. 'I think so, sir,' was the reply. ' Ask him if he will say a few words to my father and me. Tell him we are in great trouble.' The little man bowed and went upstairs, returning at the end of a minute or two to request them to walk up. ' Last time I was here,' thought Tom, ' I asked him for a couple of tenners, and he told me never ta come near him again. A stingy old hunks. But there, he's kind to the girls.' The little panel opened as Vidler closed the door, and Lord Anthony, lookin? very old, and grey of hair and face, sat looking a,t it, leaving his son to open the conversation. ' Well, Anthony, what is it?' said the voice behind the wainscotting. ' How do you do, Bob,' began the old gentleman. 'I—l—l, we—we —we — Tom, my boy, tell your uncle. I'm too weak and upset.' ' We're in great trouble, uncle, : began Tom, sharply.' ' Yes, I know,' said the voice. ' Renee has fled to me for protection from her husband. You did well amongst yon. Poor child.' 1 Hang it. all, uncle, don't talk like that,' cried Tom, impetuously. 'You ought to know that we had nothing to do with it. Help us ; don't scold us.' ' I am helping you,' said the voice. ' Ren6e stays here with me till she can be sure of a happy home ; and, look here,' it continued, growing in firmness, 'she has told me everything. Tom Hetley,' if you are a man, you will call out anyone who dares to say a word against her fame.' ' It's all very well, uncle,' said Tom, ' but this is IS6O, and not your young days. \No one has a word to say against Ren6e. But look here, uncle, that isn't all. Clare lias gone off.' 'Eloped?' said the voice, sharply. ' Yes ; went off last night, so as not to ■ marry Sir Grantley Wilters.' 'I'm glad of it,' said the voice—'with John Huish, of course. Anthonybrother, how strangely things come round.' 'Wo, uncle,' said Toin; 'that's the worst of it. I wish to heaven she had, bad as he is.' ' Bad as he his a«id the voice. ' John Huish is a gentleman ; Imt what do you mean? Where is Clare, th' Mi?' 'We hoped she had come here with her sister.' 'But she cannot have eloped alone. What gentleman. To il was silent. 'Do you hear?' was the next query. ' What gentleman has she gone with? Not that scoundrel, Garland ? Why don't you answer?' Father and son were so intent that they did not hear the door open, nor see in the gloom the slight pale figure which entered the room, but sat there speechiess gazing at one another. 'I take your silence as an acknowledgement of this being the case,' said the voice, trembling. 'This is dreadful! What will her sstier, who knows him, say ? There was a faint low sigh for answer, and Tom turned just in time to catch his sister, as she tottered towards the nearest chair. A couple of hours later, Tom was in conference with the police officials, and anxiously waiting for the replies to telegrams sent in different directions, while Mr Hurkle, instructed by her ladyship, was acting on his own behalf, with the aid of his partner, Mr Stant.