The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-22 00:00:00

lALL RIBERTII34
. 1
AMBITION'S LADDER.
Bq the Anther of Itherstone Grange,' 4 Min for
a Love," 4.e.

:CHAPTER .X.X. V ll,—(anatinfterl,)
LACTRA. DESPARD was the first to perceive the
vresenee of a third person in the room, and started
from .the embrace in which she was held with a low
cry of dismay and indignation as she rose and faced
_

'the intruder'
"How dare you?" she exclaimed wrathfully.
'" Me gave you permission to enter? What do you
want '
Clarence Woodville, who also rose, surprised at
his companion's sudden movement, turned round
at the same time with angry words upon his lips
that found no utterance, and stood confounded for
.sone moments as his eyes met the cold, scornful
gaze of the new-comer on the scene, who as vet
vouchsafed no word of answer..
At last he spoke.
Carrie !" he exclaimed, involuntarily, a low-
mattered curse accompanying the name. "What
has brought you here ?"
Still no reply, as she looked fixedly at him with
an expression of contempt upon her set but hand-
sone 'features, and then turned her eyes from him
to Laura' who met her look with an outward bold-
ness of demeanour which belied the inward con-
viction that this stranger's presence boded her no
good.
"Carrie !" she repeated, catching Clarence
Woodville's utterance of the name, and turning
swiftly towards him with a fierce suspicious look.
"Carrie who? You know her, then? Who is she?
'What does she want? Since she will not herself
,explain the meaning of so unwarrantable an in-
trusion, perhaps you will answer for her."
But to this request Mr. Woodville did not at all
appear inclined to accede, only clenching his teeth
'wickedly together and throwing a very evil glance
upon the occasion of this annoying contretemps
without replying, whereupon Mademoiselle Des-
perd's wrath waxed greater, and with a quick
arotion she was gliding across the room to summon
assistance to expel the intruder when Carrie
interposed.
"Since he will not give you the necessary in-
fcrreation," she said, quietly, I will."
"You are very good, I'm sure !" sarcastically
olserved Laura Despard. "I shall be glad to
kaow what excuse you can possibly make for your-
self."
"None at all," was the calm rejoinder. "A
wfe has no occasion to excuse herself for entering
hor husband's apartments unannounced, that I am
aware."
.4 Husband !" almost screamed Laura. " You—
y.o lie !"
'4l speak the truth," retorted Carrie, coldly.
"Perhaps, therefore, you will admit my right to
ciallenge your presence here rather than to afford
you any ex:planation."
"You! his wife !" gaspingly exclaimed Laura,
almost breathless with suppressed passion. I'll
net believe it! Tell her'—and she faced Clarence
Wobdville now—" that she lies. Bid her begone
fmm hence."
But even to this appeal, or command, rather, he
continued deaf, only glaring savagely at the woman
who had made the assertion, while she returned his
glance with another of defiant recklessness.
"You perceive," she said, addressing Laura, "he
=not deny the fact. Nor would it avail either of
you if he did. Cleverly as your plans were laid I
have contrived to follow you without much
difficulty from Melbourne, and I am here to claim
any proper place."
"So,. it is true, then ?" muttered Laura, looking
angrily from one to the other. "There is no need
to ask you again—l can see it in your face. Leave
Ws room, sir, and take—her—your wife—with you,
and never let me see you again."
Laura! Have a care,' he whispered drawing
her a little aside. Remember what is at stake."
"Remember! so I do. What of it? You can
61 me no harm, at least, without betraying your
own share in the:scheme,":she replied. Go,I tell
you."
And once more she 'pointed imperiously to the
‘door, near which stood Carrie, coldly immovable
while this by-play was going on.
"I must now, I suppose," savagely returned
Woodville. "But it shall not be for long. Listen,
'Laura, I have not deceived you as you imagine—
I swear it—but, I can't explain now. I shall
return when I have got rid of her; she has no such
claim as she asserts. Do be reasonable, now," he
continued, as she turned impatiently from him. "I
will make everything clear to you—l promise it.
Meanwhile, be careful what you do till I return.
A false step now would ruin everything. Come,"
he continued, sternly, as he walked towards Carrie,
"as you have done all the mischief you can, perhaps
you will leave this house."
"With you, but not alone."
"How devoted we are, upon my soul !" sneer-
ingly observed Laura Despard, resuming her seat
and pouring out a tumbler of Burgundy, which she
drank with a mocking salutation towards them.
"Pray take poesession of your property, madam; I
would not for the world deprive you of[so loving
and devoted a husband as you claim."
Carrie deigned no reply, and Clarence Woodville
followed her out of the room, not at all sorry, to say
the least, for his temporary release from a position
of such embarrassment.
"Now," he said, recovering some of his 'usual
apkortb,:after a few minutes' walk in the open air,
"this is no time for useless reproaches or recrimina-
tion. First of all, how did you contrive to ferret
rue out:"
"Is that a matter of much consequence?" coolly
asked Carrie, refusing his proffered arm. "Never
Mind the means I took; the result—fortunately for
y,ou—is that I have found you in time."
In time! For what ?" -
"To save you from the peril that threatens you."
"Ah ! what may that he F"
•-" The certainty that you will soon be arrested,
unless you escape at Once. Oh, lam not speak-
ing idly, or for the mere purpose of frightening
you. Your scheme is destroyed, and if pou re-
main here another day it will be at the risk of your
liberty." Chap 27
"But, I do not comprehend," began 11 r. Wood-
ville, in a bewildered tone.
"It is enough for you to know that it is so," broke
in Carrie. "An accident fortunately enables me to
piit you on your guard. The woman I found with
you must take her chance, but there is yet time for
you to fly."
,0 Not without giving her warning," he said,
-doggedly.
"As you please' but I swear that if you attempt
to see her again I will myself give information of
your whereabouts."
'Woodville looked at her with a murderous light in
his eyes, and muttered a curse.
"Ay! call me what you will," retorted Carrie.
4' But I would keep my word. Do as I ask you, and
you are safe."
,“ How can Ibe sure even of that much?" he
asked.
"Can you not trust my word? You have no
reason to doubt me. I have been only too faithful
to'you, ill has you have served me. Even now, I
had only to be silent, to leave you to your fate, and
without lifting a finger to help it on I should have
been revenged amply on both of you. As it is,
though I spare you, I will have no mercy upon her
—that I promise you."
" With the usual justice of your sex, of course,"
be answered sarcastically. "And pray, what is
your reason for showing me such consideration?"
" Reason !" she bitterly retorted. "I have none,
except that, like most women, I am a fool where the
man I love is concerned."
"Love !"
." Yes," Carrie passionately continued, stung by
the tone of cold incredulity with which he echoed
her. "I ou have forfeited all claim to such a feel-
ing on my part, and I am not surprised that you
should doubt its existence, but—weak as we are, we
women—we are stronger, more enduring on that
point .than you who call yourselves our masters.
Yes, I love you still—the more fool I to confess it."
she added, bitterly. "I mu,ct love you while I have
life, though you —you care nothing for me, I know,
or you could never have deserted me as you did,
never have left me in that far-off country without
one word of farewell, one expression -4 Qorrow or
regret?'