The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-12-20 00:00:00

lALL RIGHTS RESEETED.]
AMBITION'S LADDER.
By tlo• Author of " Atherstone Grange:
_44 4141 s for
a Love," 4-e. ,

CHAPTER XXXII!.
A FOTUNATE ACCIDENT.
A Incicy chance, that oft deckles the fate
Of mighty monarchs.
SEVERAL days passed, during which Laura Des-
mond suffered no fur ber molestation from her per-
secutor. More than once, indeed, she caught sight
of him when she was out walking, and saw plainly
that he was but watching an opportunity to accost
her; but this she scrupulously avoided giving him,
and despite Clarence Woodville's self-assurance,
and the knowledge he had that she dared not
openly defy him, he was too cautious to run any
risk of failure by precipitate action, his main
object being to obtain something more than a
mere introduction—a valid footing, indeed, by which
to ensure an ever-ready welcome at Mrs. Grwme's
house.

What would follow if he gained his point he had
not quite determined. Nothing, perhaps. Per-
haps !—a great deal that depended upon circum-
stances with which he had yet to make himself
acquainted. But this he could not do without a
certain degree of intimacy that at present appeared
altogether unattainable.
"If she wasn't so confoundedly obstinate the
thing would be easy enough to manage," he
muttered savagely to himself one evening, after an
unsuccessful attempt to communicate with Laura,
who, coming out alone, had deliberately turned
back into the house on detecting his presence
in the road. " But where there's a will there's
always a way,' and it will go hard but I find one
yet.'
In spite of this resolve, however, the matter was
no further advanced at the end of a week than it
had been when fist thought of; and at last, in
desperation, he made up his mind to have recourse
to bolder measures, and force Laura, either to assist
him or brave his anger and the vengeance he had
threatened.

"And I don't fancy, somehow, that she is
reckless enough for that," he considered. "At
any rate, I can but fail, so here goes for a bold
stroke'."

And in„pursuance of his project the following
morning saw Clarence Woodville standing at the
door of Mrs. Gra me's house, while Jeanie, that
lady's old servant, carried his card into the morning.
room to Miss Desmond, with a request to be favoured
with a few minutes' interview.
Mrs. Gra me, occupying her favourite seat in the
deep bay window that overlooked the front of the
house, had a good view of the visitor as he ap-
proached, and she looked rather suspiciously at
Laura.

"I understood from Mr. Sartoris that you were
absolutely without any acquaintances in England,
Miss Desmond she said a little drily.
"And you understood quite correctly, madam,"
coldly replied Laura. "I have no idea"—and she
looked again at the cari.—" who Mr. Woodville
may be, or what is his business with me; but I
presume you will have no objection to my receiving
him and learning what he requires ?"
"No, no, my de ir! Certainly not," said the
old lady hastily, a little vexed at having exhibited
any distrust at so ordinary an occurrence. "See the
gentleman by all means."
Laura bowed quietly and left the apartment to
find Clarence Woodville awaiting her in the
drawing. room, which she entered and confronted
him with a hard, defiant look upon her face that
told him at once she came prepared to give him
battle.
"'Well," she began abruptly, without any preface,
" you have—"
A quick, warning glance stopped her further
speech for the moment, and she turned to see Jeanie
standing in the doorway.
"You may go," she said, and the old servant to- k
her departure, but not without having noticed that
Miss Desmond's manner towards her visitor was
hardly such as warranted her assertion that he was
a stranger, and Jeanie shook her head dubiously
as she closed the door and descended to her own
territories.

---
" It's gey curious !'' she mused, debating in her
mind whether or not it would be advisable to ac-
quaint Mrs. Grime with her suspicions. "No to
be comprehended ava. She kent naething o' him,
sae she telt the mistress; but rm thinking frae
the way she spoke till him the noo that they're
aiblins better acquaint than my leddy pretends."
There was, however, no tangible ground for
making such an accusation. Perhaps—the thought
just glanced across Jeanie's mind—if she stood
without the door for a few moments !

- _
But the old Scotchwoman would not play the
eavesdropper, though Laura Desmond was no
favourite of hers, and, she did not long entertain the
idea of spying in such a manner.
"Maybe I'm wrang, after a' I" she muttered.
"Maybe I only fancied it; but I'm vera doubtfu'
they're no sic strangers as you lassie wad hae the
mistress. believe."
Meanwhile Miss Desmond renewed her attack as
soon as she was satisfied that Jeanie was out of
hearing.
"I warned you," she said sternly, "that I would
be no party to any of your schemes. Why have you
sought me out? Why will you not leave. me in
peace ?" ,
"I have no desire to disturb your serenity, my
love," mockingly answered Mr. Woodville. "Nor
do I see why you should suffer yourself to feel
annoyed. After all, I have only kept my word.
I told you I should pay you a visit, and I am
here."

-- -.
"For what purpose r
" Can you ask ?'
"I wait to be told."
Clarence Woodville smiled in a disagreeable
manner.

"YOU are curious," he said. ' "Well, it is the
failing of your sex. But can you not believe that
I'm impelled by a desire for your charming
society ?"
Laura looked up scornfully.
"What is your object ?" she asked again.
" Ah, you are incredulous! Please yourself. I
have an object, of course, but at present I prefer
keeping it to myself."
"I shall find it out."

"And if you do F"
" Defeat it."

Mr. Woodville's face darkened, his hands clenched
involuntarily, and he made a step towards her, but
turned away slightly disconcerted by the expression
with which she confronted him.

"Bah !" he exclaimed, "that is not in your
power, and if it were you would not dare attempt
it."

"Don't be too sure of that,' retorted Laura.
"Your threats are powerless to influence me. What
harm can you do me that would not recoil upon
yourself r
"More than you imagine, perhaps. I should
take particular care to ensure my own safety, you
may depend upon that," said Mr. Woodville, scowl-
ing at her. "But it is no use wasting time in this
manner," he went on. "I intend to obtain a
footing in this house, and you will have to help
me."

"Really 1"
"Really."
"What if I refuse r
"You hinted at that before, and I warned you
of the protable consequences," returned Mr.
Woodville. "When I once make up my mind to
anything it generally comes to pass, and I have done
so now to be introduced to that pretty girl I saw with
you.,,
" Ah-h !" Laura murmured, drawing a deep breath,
"I understand."

"Not quite I think; but it is immaterial," ttirily
replied Mr. Woodville. "You know, at least, what
I require of you ?"
"Yes, and decline. Oh, you need not look at
me like that! I tell you that my mind is made up,
too, that neither in this nor any other of your schemes
will any aid be forthcoming from me."
"Don't be a fool, Laura," roughly said the man.
"It will be as much for your good as mine. You
need not compromise yourself in any way. In-
troduce me as a cousin—or—better still—a brother
whom you have lost sight of for many years. That's
a relationship that holds water, you know.
and—"
"You are speaking to the winds," Laura im-
] atiently broke in. "had Jail the will in the world
I could neither invent nor support any story of the
kind.'

"Why not ?"
"Because-" and she laughed a little hardly.
"I have already given too elaborate, a description
of myself to allow of any such epilogue. lam an
orphan, friendless and alone, with no relations in the
world.'

"SO much the more reason that one should turn
UP now. But make any excuse you will—and you
are too clever a girl to be long at a loss for one—l
shall be equally satisfied."
Still she remained unmoved, and Mr. Woodville at
Fist lost patience.
"As you please," he said, doggedly, and rather
in a hurry, for the sound of a slowly approaching
footstep in the hall warned him that their con-
versation was about to be broken in upon. "I must
then lay my plans without reference to you. So be
it Only, mark me, don't try to thwart them, or it
will be the worse for you."
Laura made no answer. Indeed, she could not,
for the door opened at that moment, and Mrs.
Grime appeared on the threshold.
Clarence Woodville bowed to her with easy grace
as she entered.
"I must apologise for my intrusion, madam,"
he said, "and explain it, as I have already done, to
Miss Desmond. I picked up a purse yesterday
which she accidently dropped while out walking,
and as an envelope inside bore her name and
addreas, I ventured to call personally to restore
tho property I was fortunate enough to recover.
• Ravin," necomplished my errand I have no
excuse further to trespass either upon your time or
hers."
"Miss Desmond should be obliged to you, air,"
returned the old lady, with stiff politeneap.

"Miss Desmond has already thanked me mord
than sufficiently for so slight a service," Mr. Wood-
ville went on to say. "I might, of course, have
sent the purse by post, and perhaps as a stranger
that would have been the more proper course to
take. But lam an idle man, madam, merely
seeing the sights of this wonderful old city of yours,
and could well afford the time. Besides, I thought
it as well to take every precaution in the shape of
personal enquiry that the purse should reach its
proper owner."
Still Laura spoke not, though he turned towards
her as though expecting some acknowledgment,
which she only vouchsafed in the shape of a slight
inclination of her head, andlMrs. Graime, the soul
of hospitality and old fashioned courtesy, felt rather
annoyed at so cold a return being made for the
stranger's civility, and strove to make amends
for it by an extra display of cordiality on her own
part.
Clarence Woodville was not slow to avail himself
of any opening that offered. Quick-witted with a
ready flow of language and an insight intocharacter
that enabled him to gauge pretty accurately those
with whom he came in contact, he contrived so
adroitly-to draw on Mrs. Grxine into conversation
that it actually appear° I as though she was
detaining him, or at least that without apparent
rudeness—for had he not already declared that his
time was of no importance—he could hardly make
an abrupt departure.
And on her part Mrs. Greme was by no means
anxious to get rid ot him. True, he was a perfe t
stranger, had indeed only gained an entrance inte
her house under the flimsiest of excuses, and had
Laura Desmond's manner towards him been any
other than it was, cold, distant, repellant almost
to rudeness, Mrs. Grreme might have felt suspicious
of something behind the scenes. But any linger-
ing doubt on such a score was completely dispelled
by Laura's forbidding attitude, and though that
young lady inwardly chafed at the fact, she was
forced to remain quietly by and see Clarence Wood-
ville's scheme assume every prospect of ultimate
success.

For, as has been said, he could talk well and
fluently, was outwardly gentlemanly and well-bred,
and sufficiently handsome to be pleasant to look
upon, and Mrs. Gneme, old though she was, grey-
headed and wrinkled, had been a belle in her youth,
a well-preserved woman in middle-age, and was
flattered even now by the obvious deference paid
to her by one of the opposite sex in the presence of
a young and attractive woman.
So she chatted on, quite forgetful for the moment
that half-an-hour earlier she had not even known
that such a person was in existence as this
pleasant-spoken, distinguished-looking stranger,
whose unlooked-for advent had secured her a morn-
ing of unwonted excitement; and Clarence Wood-
ville kept the ball of conversation rolling, exciting
pleasurable pride in the breast of his hostess by
well-timed praises of the land of her birth, a land
which he enthusiastically declared it had been the
dearest wish of his life to visit, and which surpassed
in his estimation all others in the world that he had
seen and they were many.
Which last remark elicited the fact that he had
travelled much, and led to further desultory gosip
that was listened to by Laura Desnund with ill-
concealed impatience and contempt, knowing, as
she did, to how much of his imagination Clarence
Woodville was indebted for the glowing de-
scriptions with which he regaled Mrs. Grume's
credulous ear.

_
But even the longest morning call, whether paid,
by intimate or stranger, must have some end, and
Clarence Woodville wisely resolved to cut his
short before his hostess should begin to weary
of him, and perhaps remember his lack of in-
troduction. flow, or by what means he was to
find any excuse for a renewal of his visit was the
next thing to be considered, but at this moment no
way suggested itself that appeared at all practicable.
Mrs. Grxme was more than civil, certainly. She
seemed indeed to have "taken" to him, but no
syllable escaped her that he could construe into an
invitation to renew his visit, and as for Laura, it
was quite plain to him—even had she not distinctly
s stated her intention—that no help was to be looked
for in that quarter.
"I will succeed, though, if only to spite her,"
Clarence Woodville mentally ejaculated, as he rose
hat in hand to bow his adieux, while Mrs. Gr tine
touched the bell and moved towards the door with
him, Laura returning his bow with a cold
inclination of her head, and al almost imperceptible
smile curling the corner of her mouth, the mocking
triumph of which made him vow even more
determinately to leave no stone unturned for the
purpose of outwitting her and ensuring the fulfil-
ment of his object.
Whether he would have succeeded but for what
immediately occurred may be doubted, since it was
just beginning to dawn upon Mrs. Grxme's mind
that, however pleasant and well-mannered her guest
might be, he was yet a complete stranger to her.
But accident accomplished what-perhaps no effort on
his part could have brought to pass, and placed him
at once in the position he desired.
In rising from her chair, which oho could only
do with the help of the crutch-handled stick she
used to aid her feeble footsteps, Mrs. Grum
stumbled. Laura was too far away to give her any
assistance, and the old lady caught instinctively at
the nearest object for support, a light lace curtain
that gave away in her hand, and sweeping against a
wall bracket whereon stood a marble bust °of the
Great Unknown, highly prized by Mrs. Grime as
a gift from the author of " Waveriey" himself, it
tottered and fell.

Not upon her, however, though she stood im-
mediately beneath. Clarence Woodville saw the
rnisshap, and darting forward in time to save her from
the threatened danger at his own expense, the heavy
marble descend, d upon his head with so much force
as to lay open the scalp and deluge his face in blood
that flowed from the wound.

Mrs. Grxrne beckoned tremulously to Laura, who
rang the bellloudly, but before anyone could answer,
before she could reach him, Clarence Woodville,
after an unsuccessful attempt to keep his feet,
dropped into the easy chair his hostess had so lately
vacated and fainted dead away..