The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-15 00:00:00

POTATOES.

Good supply of potatoes was on sale. The demand;
was quiet, as follows: Kent regents 70s to 80s: ditto kid-
neys, 60s to 7€o; Essex Shows, 50s to 60s; Vtietorias. 70,
to 60s; liiagnUm Bonwns,, 60s to 70s per ton.
+

„ . .• •

Al .0 ttb,A I, NOV 15, 1864

tA1.1...190NTS RYSERVED.I
AMBITION'S LADDER.

Ev the Antlarr qf " Atherstone Grange," "4 Lift ror
a Love," 4.1.,

CHAPTER XXVL
A LINK IN THE CHAIN.
Brother, I said t knew thee! Thou forgoten
Thy sister's little lace to woman's grown ;
'Put I remembered thine enough to feel
'Twas something once bad been familiar dear.
" THERE 18 one drawback, however, that I haven't
mentioned to you," Mr. Sartoris rernned, after a
.11ort conversation with his friend as to the plan on
which their search should be conducted.

"What is it `r"
- "Only that, should you succeed, it will be at the
pense of another person, who would lose all ;that
young Mainwaring gains'
"Indeed! How is that ?"
in answer to which question George Sartoris
bri,tiy recapitulated the terms of Mr. Mainwaring's
will, and explained Eveline Trenchard's position
under it.
"1 don't even know," he added, "whether she
is aware of the true state of the case, but rather
fancy she has no suspicion that anything can occur
to deprive her of the money."
" If that be so it was cruel to keep her in
ignorance," said Lord Lynwood. "But the fact
makes no difference in the matt r of right-doing."
"Perhaps not, looking at the matter from an
abstract point of view," drily remarked his friend.
Still I doubt whether Eve will be inclined to view

it altogether from such a point."
" The will does not leave her absolutely penniless,
you say, under any circumstances ?"
" Well, no. But the difference between an
ample fortune and a bare subsistence is consider-
able, you know; and she might fancy herself
illused."
"What is she like ?"

"In looks de you mean? Oh, passable. At-
tractive, I think, and rather inclined to be romantic;
so perhaps she would be rather pleased than other-
wise to enel herself the victim of unmerited
misfortune."
"Misfortune is hardly the word when a matter of
right or wrong is in question."
"Ah ! I confess there you go slightly beyond
me," observed Mr. Sartoris, relapsing into his usual
manner of speech. "It may be all very fine and
very heroic to do right irrespective of consequences
—no doubt it is so—but the result may be decidedly
unpleasant, for all that."
"Which all goes to mean, I presume, that you
are beginning to repent already" quietly remarked
Lord Lynwood. "If so, tell me plainly, and—''
"No, hang it all! I don't mean that," petulantly
broke in Mr. Sartoris. "But what is a fellow to
say? I can't help pitying poor little Eve. It
would be deuced hard lines for her, poor girl! But
as you say, right's right, and so, if Hat justit ia is to
be the motto I adopt, there's no more to be said in
the matter."
'You will give me your help, then ?"
"So far as 1 can be of any. service I am with
you, Lynwood," replied Mr. Sartoris, extending
his hand, which the other took. "I never did put
myself out of the way for anyone before ; perhaps
I might have been a better man if I had done so
more frequently. However, it's never too late to
mend. You've stirred me up, old fellow, but I dare,
say you'll have to keep me to the scratch; at any
rate I shall consider you as responsible for roe
from this time forth. Going now? Must you
really ?"
" I have letters to write."
"And I some to read. By the way, I don't know
which is really the greatest bore. You're alone, I
suppose ?"
• Quite."
"Then take pity on 'me and dine here We'll
only have Edwards to wait upon us and ecrhaps
joins in our counsels."
"Is he to be trusted, do you think?" asked
Lynwood.
"With untold gold, I firmly believe," was the
emphatic reply. "Although the beginning of our
acquaintance was brought about by his making au
attempt to pick my pocket."
"And yet you belieee in him ?"
"Implicitly. After all, the only point of differenee
between Edwards and the rest of his fraternity is
that he began where they leave off. Edwards is
the best servant I ever had, and we shan't part in a
hurry, I promise you."
"I shall make no attempt to deprive you of such
a treasure, depend upon it," said Lord Lynwood,
smiling, and then, repeating his promise for the
evening, left the room, whereupon Mr. Sartoris
summoned his servant and gave him directions for
dinner.
" Don't bother rare about details," he said. "Take
care that we've something fit to eat, that's all, and
that the claret is properly warmed. For the rest, I
give you certe Maar/ie.'
" Very well, sir."
And Edwards quietly departed, leaving hismaster
to open the pile of letters that lay beside him on the
table.
• Very short work did George Sartoris make
of most of them, till at length he picked up one
on which he at once recognized his father's hand-
writing.
" Hallo ! what can the governor have to say
he muttered, breaking the seal—for the elder Mr.
Sartons had an old-fashioned scorn for the modern
adhesive envelope—and opening the sheet of paper
began to read, his features betraying no small
amount of wonderment. as he proceeded.
"I hardly know whether it is much use writing
to you," the letter went on after a few lines of
unimportant matter; "but if you can for once get
up an interest in something outside your own com-
fort and convenience, I shall be glad of your
assistance. I want some enquiries made for me in
France, that you, with your intimate knowledge of
the country and language, will probably be able to
manage very much better than I under any
circumstances could do, even if I felt capable for
the task. But the years are beginning to tell upon
me, George, apropos of which dismal reminder I
should be glad if you could be with me a little
oftener than you have been. Perhaps I have been
as much to blame in the matter as you, but however
that may be, it would make me happier to know
that in the future—however widely asunder our
past lives have drifted—there is a prospect that we
may be more united.
"But I had no intention of alluding to this
subject when I sat down to write. However, out
of the fulness of the heart the mouth speakel,' so
let it stand as it has escaped me. To explain what
I require of you I must trouble you with rather a
long letter, and perhaps repeat circumstances already
familiar enough to you. Still, it is better to be prolix
than obscure. I want you to throw back your memory
to a long-past date, and recall what you can of that
• miserable time when poor Gertrude disappeared.
You know, of course, that all the steps I took then
and afterwards to disco-er what hai become of her
were fruitless, and you know also that unless she be
found—if alive—to say what has become of the boy,
or if—which is much to be feared—she no longer
lives and has left no evidence by which, in the
event of his being discovered, his identity may be
' legally proved, it is possible a great wrong may be
,committed on an unoffending man; and it is that
which I fear now, for I think we—or rather Sampson,
for, to tell the truth, I have only lately been
,converted to his view—have actually found the
mtesing heir."
To afirm that George Sartoris was surprised by
'the time he had read so much of his father's
letter would be to give but a faint idea of hisfeelings.
The coincidence was unlooked for, so entirely be-
wildering, that he read the last few lines over acmin
before he could quite satisfy himself as to thou!
reality.
" I reut be dreaming, I fancy!" he muttered.
But it was no eream, as he soon convincei
'self on resun,ing the letter, howeear drawee.
It would take too long a time to go into the
whole story now," he went on to read, " especially
Rs I hope you will soon give me the opportunity of
l'eleeating it. to you by word of mouth, when I can
enter into fuller explanations than are possible
within the limits of a letter. At the same time, I
Must make you so far acquainted with the outlines
of its leading features as to enable you to aid us in
91e searCh for that evidence which, if Sampson':
belief is correct—and I am coming more and more to
think that it is—undoubtedly exists in the shape ol
documents. The manner in which Sampson s
suspicicns were first excited was in itself remarkable.
Accidentally taken to see a boy who was lying
diati ngerously ill,in a villainous den by the riverside,
h attention was immediately aroused by the strong
resemblance which he declare'd he et once perceived
the invalid bore to me it
Ta ward,
eneuiries hick went fa; to°o6ucniirm' and e made
his
belief.Of
the -,boy's parentage he c learn nothing more
than that he was an orphsan,itwhose mother had
drowned herself— at least, e
there were circumstances of such Suspiciousawas said, thoughtu
about the case as rendered it doubtful
whethernature
the r e
poor creature had not nut with foul play. At any
rate; she was dead, and the boy was afterwards pro-
tected by a youth of more than questionable
antecedents, but good appearance, who told Samp-
son plainly that he held proofs of his protegee birth,
and promised to produce them, but when, depending.
on his promise, I accompanied the doctor for the
Purpose of sifting his story, we found the bird had
liewn, and a few days afterwards a letter reached
us from him saying that he was on his way to
Australia, and had left Leonard—for so the boy was
called another strong presumption in favour
Sampson's theory—in safe hands till we should claim
Since then nothing has ever 'eeen heard from
or of the fellow who professes to hold the proafs we
require. but Sampson claimed the boy as he had
promised, and has since brought him up as his adopted
6". He is now a youfw man, well educated and
talented, the
and objectionable in nothing eimee
Shadow of uncertainty that surrounds his indentity,
in *Tito of which shadow, owever, he has cli&eft te
fall in love with Eve, who—if the truth Vette we
"spect—is his cousin, and will soon, unless .ow
inlepicions can be changed to ertainty, possess th
f ,
Whether
thia 'Should righeful y belong to him.
Eve returns his love is a point not so easy
to deeiee upon just yet, for I felt it my duty to
Serbie any engagement or eon a dedaratioilpi
• „ r
.10— • ..) . - ~.011`.
*Claim i• 0 -••• •
a*•••

Tart for the present, and he has in tire vtaralime
gone to Australia in the hope —a vain one, I fear—
of seeking out the man who professes to possess what
inforrnaticm is needed to give him s. name and
recegnized place in the world.
"I ,ay, 1 fear it is a useless journey. Leonard
started about four months ago, and Sampson went
to see him off at Southampton, where, in the docks,
having disembarked almost the same minute that
the "1/,..tera.s." steamed out of harbour, he
en o•.ntered a man whose face struck him at the
time as being strangely familiar, and who, an
utter in ident convinced him, was no other than he
in search of whom his adopte I son had left England.
h a onclusion was arrived at through another.
person, an inspector of police named Pouneeby,
who had also seen and recognised Alick Wood, and
sticks stu bornly to his story, though the man he
recognised gi \ es li'mself out to be an actor, ad calls
, himself Clarence Woodville. But Mr., Clarence
Woodville was soon lost sight of, and it has only
just tome to oar knowledge through Ponneeby
that he is in France, accompanied by a young:
WOllll/11 who calls herself Laura Staunton, but who
is really, we believe--though there may be scene
mistake on this point—one Caroline Bradley, who
certainly went to Australia with him.
" Such is the position ef affairs at present. and
new for the way in which I think you might aid ua
Ponneehy is convinced that his errand in France is
seine piece of rascality, but we are so completely in
the dark that it is impossible to take any steps
against the scoundrel. Can you, will you rouse
yourself so much as to endeavour to find out where
he is and what he is doing? I know of course that
the task may not be an easy one with such limited
information to go upon, but the French police have
more experience, more means at their command for
tracing people than we care to employ over here, and
I think if you go to work with a will there is a
chance of success. What is to follow I don't quite
see at present, but the first and most important step
is to hind Mr. Clarence ‘.‘ oodville, and we can then
decide what further steps must be taken. That,
however, I will leave to your judgment, and trust
that you will help us by every possible means."
"That I will," exclaimed George Sartoris. "And
perhaps more successfully than you imagine. By
George ! the governor couldn't have dreamt how
opportune all this is."
But he had not quite reached the close of his
father's long epistle, and read on.
"Sampson has written to Leonard adr'sin,g him
to return to England immediately. A letter has
also been received from him announcing his safe
arrival in Melbourne, so that we shall probably see
him back very shortly. Eve is going to Scotland to
pay a visit to her aunt, who has expresoed a wish to
that effect, and as the old lady is not badly off in
this world's goods, and Eve is her nearest relative, it
is advisable to accept the offer. Besides, to speak
plainly, the girl is rather beyond my power of
control, and would be better looked after by one of
her own sex. I have been looking out for a com-
panion for her, and such a cartload of applications
as I was pestered w:th !--but my choice was soon
made in the shape of a young Irishwoman a Miss
Laura Desmond--''

"Desmond! Where have I heard that name
lately F" mused George Sartoris.
"-who appears to be a very sensible, well-educated
person. liather young perhaps; but that is hardly
a fault. She starts with Eve for the north next
week. Let me hear from you soon, and see you, too,
once more. Not that I imagine lam going to leave
you directly, but when a man is nearly seventy
there's no telling what may occur."
And with a few more words the letter closed.

"Poor old boy !" muttered George Sartoris, as he
read the concluding lines. "I suppose he does feel
himself rather lonely. I really must manage to go
and see him before long. But in the meantime I
must do my best to ferret out this Mr. Clarence
Woodville, or, rather—what's his confounded name
again? ity Jove!" he exclaimed, as another
reference to the letter answered his question, " Alick
Wood Why—that's the very fellow that Edwards
vows vengeance on! Here's a coil! And the woman
-- Here, Edwards, where are you ?"
The loan entered upon this summons, and Mi.
Sartoris began hastily to question him.
"Look here !" he said, in some little excitement,
" l'in inclined to think your imagination has not
been playing you a triclr after all.'
" In what manner, sir
"Just read that and you will see what I mean." •
Edwards took the letter his master held out to
him, folded down at that portion referring to Alick
Wood and his sister.

'You must help me in this, Edwards," said Mr.
Sartoris. _

" I'll do my best, sir," replied the man, vindic-
tively. "Both for my own sake and yours. But
how?"

" Ah, that is the question. But we'll settle on
some plan this evening, after I have consulted Lord
Lynwood. Meanwhile, there is just the possibility
that you may encounter your ghost again, and that
would simplify matters very much."
That such an event was so near at hand, however,
Mr. Sartoris little suspected. Fdwards left him
almost immediately, and was crossing the corridor
on his way downstairs, when a door opened, and a
lady, quietly, but richly, dressed, stepped out.
He stood respectfully aside to allow her to pass,
when their eyes met with a sudden flash of mutual
recognition.
" Carrie!"
"Ned I"

The words broke from them simultaneously, and
the next moment they were locked in each other's
arms, much to the ama7ement of Lord Lynwood,
who happened to be on his way out, and was an
involuntary witness of the scene.