The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-19 00:00:00

LAU. RIGTITS RESERVED.)
CATHERINE'S MISTAK E

OR,
A SECRET FOR YEARS.

CHAPTER XXXVIIL
STILL ON THE SCENT.
THAT same day Cleland had a visit from Maxall in
her sick room.
She was lying on a sofa in front of the open
'Window, white and frail as a poor little snowdrop in
early spring.
When the servant opened the door and announced
Mr. Maxall, she shivered and hid her eyes in the
"Oh dear! oh dear !" she moaned; "why have you
Come? I did not want to see you. Go away again,
please; I don't want you here."
"I dare say not; you never do want to see me,
young madam; but I want to see you, for all that.
By Jove !what a fright you look without your hair."

"I don't care what hook like," she sobbed. •
"You never did, so that's not much. But I want
to talk to you a bit; so leave off snivelling, there's a
good girl. It's no use, you know; it cannot bring
back the—any one. So ho:d your noise, and listen
to me."

_
Cleland dried her weary eyes, and looked at him
With such loathing and abhorrence, that he actually
seemed to quail beneath her eyes. Still he did nos
notice it in words; he only shrugged his nouldert
and turned his face away from the light.
"Mike haste, please, then, for I am tired, and
.cannot talk much."

"It is about Miss Wace. Cleland, I think—l
believe—she suspects some one of the murder; do you
know if it is so? Do you think it is Groom ?"
The subject was too sore a one yet for the poor
sister to discuss calmly. Her tears burst out afresh,
and she could only wail over her brother's untimely
fate.
"Oh, Ross oh, Ross, my brother! How dreadful
--dreadful to die that cruel death! Oh, Ross—oh,
Ross! come back." _

_
"Cleland, I'll shako you to pieces if you don't
•answer me sanely! Is it Groom that dreadful woman
•suspects?"
"Suspect Groom I No, no, indeed! Groom loved
'him far too well."
"Who is it then?"

"How should I know?" she almost screamed.
"Ross is dead, and nothing—nothing can ever bring,
bim back again. I don't care to know who she sus-
Pects. Go away! oh! Maxall, go, and leave me to
Dayself."
"Hold your noise, you little fool! Look here, I
Want you to find out for me who she does suspect;
for I think it not unlikely that she and I may have
hit upon the same person, and in that case, you know,
We might each help the other out to—to secure the
guilty person. I don't speak to her myself about it,
because I don't like her, and she is so mighty thick
'with the governor, too, lately; I wonder you don't
suspect something, Cle. They are in the park together
tow."
"I am not like you, suspecting evil in everything
,and everybody."
"Well, Cle, you will do that for me, won't you?
Just mention the subject in the course of conversa-
tion; but don't make a point of it. Will you
Promise?"

if you will only go away now."
"All right ;" and he went his way, but not re-
joicing.
Cleland did mention the subject an hour after,
When Catherine entered the room.
"Miss Wane, you do not think it was poor Groom? I
Ile nursed him when he could not walk."
" Groom ! No, indeed, Cleland," she said, looking
down upon the girl's beseeching face. "Cleland, I I
limy not tell you who I suspect."
" You may not!" She rose from her couch, and
fixed her eyes upon the other's half-averted counte-
nance with a wild stare.
"Catherine, who is it?" There was no reply; and I
then Cleland, bursting into a half-hysterical scream,'
fell back again among her pillows.
"I see it in your face !" she cried. "Alt, dear'
Miss Wace, I can guess now. I see it in your face.
know—l know !"
"Hush, Cleland; keep your own counsel, and re-
member in this house the very walls have ears. God
Will punish in His own good time the treacherous
hand that fired that gun. For your father's sake--"
'but Cle had fainted.
The next morning Maxall asked the same question.
"Whom did Miss Wace suspect ?"
"She did not tell me," said the girl, with averted
race.
"And can't you find out?"
"No."
"But she does suspect some one
"Yes."
"Wily the devil do you keep your face turned away
_ _

from me like that, eh? Can't you look a fello\
straight in the face when he speaks to you?"
"You must know why you do it. What is it for 0"
he said, savagely.
"Because I hate you," she screamed; "because I
Cannot bear the sight of your hideous face. Go away,
think I shall tear you to pieces with my han.ig,6%
Go, beast !"
And he did go, cowed and alarmed by her wild
'Manner. He went back to his own room, anLI throwing
himself down on the bed, pulled out a small brandy
flask from beneath the pillow. He put it to his lips,
• and drained it dry; then he nestled his head among
• the pillows, and went fast to sleep.

CHAPTER XXXIX. i
MRS. FAIINCE THREATENS. ,
MR. KENT was preparing to leave his office one after-
11°0n, when his head clerk opened the door, and
announced— .

"A lady."
But his visitor did not look either ladylike or sober,
'as she staggered in, and managed to seat herself with
• some difficulty on a chair opposite Mr. Kent's desk.
"Good day, sir. Some time since I have had the
' pleasure of seeing you," she said.
The gentleman bowed, and said it was some time,
• indeed. She was well in health, he hoped.
, " was the reply, as she pulled part of a daily
newspaper out of the reticule she carried, along with
'a dirty bun and some loose snuff.
With great nicety she folded this piece of newspaper
-out smoothly on her knee, and looked with apparent
'care up one column and down the next. But her
hand shook, and her eyes seemed unable to fix them-
selves as the owner wished.
Ah, well, it is not of much account," she said,
.folding up the paper again. "I dare say you know
all about it—Ross Ingestre's death I mean. I read it
• Yesterday in this paper; so I thought I would just
tali and ask a few questions you may be able to
answer. There is no date upon the paper; how long
is it since he was killed?"
Mr. Kent looked at her with a face of stony horror.
, %Is it possible ?" he exclaimed; but then checked
ninaself, and composed his features into their former
expression of business-like placidity.
The lady laughed, and repeated his words.
• "Is it possible? Yes, quite. Do you think I
..(,).light to cry my eyes out for him? Not a bit of it.
4" always hated that boy, because his father made
such an idol of him, and I am glad now to think how
his heart will be broken for his loss. I only hope he
'will die himself. That reminds me, has Ingestre made
his will yet? There was some talk of his being mad;
but that seems blown over. Has he made his will?"
"He has, madam, some time since."
"Ha! he will have to alter it now, then. The girl
'will come in for her brother's share of course, and I
Suppose Ingram will get the entail. Maxall tells me
_ ingestre has a person in the house now who has
great influence over him—the governess, I believe—
and it is reported—mind, I say reported—that he in-
tends to marry her. Have you heard that, Mr. Kent
—from head-quarters, I mean ?"
. "Madam, I have heard Mr. Ingestre say that such
is his intention."
. There was silence for some few minutes; the lady
looked at the lawyer, and the lawyer looked at the
lady. Then the latter smiled, with a sort of tipsy
levity, and said
• " Very well, let him marry her, and I'll promise to
go to the wedding. She is a handsome woman, they
say, and it will be an excellent match for her. Eight
thousand a year, and a good-tempered husband. Oh,
Yes, I'll go to the wedding."
"Better keep away, madam—better keep away ;"
4,11 d there was a warning in the lawyer's eye as
he
uxed it on the face of the lady. "Your being present
at such a time will be of no avail to yo ar purpose—
Ilene in the least. Be wise, madam, and leave a mad-
Inan to his folly."
"Then you: mean to say you are a party to this—
this--? You know what I mean."
"Perfectly. But I think it much better for you to
. tat. ake no claim on Mr. Ingestre, as he will admit
tle ; and if you persist, has made up his mind to re-
a`pi
is late in a manner very unpleasant to yourself. He
genared for this, I assure you."
rs. Faunce cogitated for some time over this,
aying to and fro on the stool as she did so. Then
'Te looked up and said, with an expression of
diabolical spite and malice—
Are you not aware that I hate the man With all
taY heart and all my soul? and that when I'm not
9ruclte myself—a little funny, you know—l feel that
euld kill him? So do you think it likely I shall
"t injure him when I have him in my power ?"
" Not when he can injure you in return. Again I
Counsel you madam, to allow matters to have their
Course..
"riditi what will Ingrain Ingestre do? Take up
1,2 awsuit again, or consent to be swindled out of
own a second timer'
61 y
„Know nothing of Mr. Ingram's intentions."
hen lam to remain quiet, hold my tongue, and
~;„.-1r" e hands the bride? That is your advice,
."u Kent?"
hi" Certainly, madam; it will be best for you, and for
▪ also. You will not be forgotten—in a pecuniary
'Way, I mean.,,
"Very w
Nveddin e • I shall see you again before the
by th g, and tell you my mind; it will be made up
at time. At present, I want you to let Ingestre
▪ wish the girl Cleland to come and live with
hi am gettinob . old' and want a companion. Tell
retht,don't have her I'll open my mouth."
,[_
iiii tell him; certainly I will tell him.,,
'en vou don't know who murdered the boy-2'