The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-28 00:00:00

IALL RIGHTS lIEBBILVErna
AMBITION'S LADDER
bY the Author of" Atherstone Grange,' '4 Aid 1.0?
a Love," 4v.

CHAPTER XLVlL—(continued.)
y !i he only knew—as he must soon know! If
",,_rl4: dared to tell him!" she moaned piteously.
'llO4 east me Leonard, too! How they will all despise me,
Off. I cannot bear it! Better to die at
?nee than live as I must live hereafter. Is there no
p.ope for me? Oh no, there can be none. Even if
!ae relented there is no undoing what is past. But
i 8 useless to think of that. My lot is decided. I
Illust bear the wretchedness my own folly and weak
'credulity have brought upon me."
And abandoning herself to the one "luxury of
'which such wretchedness as hers can alone
Void solace in, Eve wept bitter, scalding tears, till
te entrance of a servant forced her to hide these
.Thra,,,:eB of her grief, and assume a calmness of de-
Zneur that by no means imposed upon the bright-
BYmpathetic parlour-maid, who, however, took
0 notice of her young mistress's distress.
` What do you want, Lizzie ?" asked Eve, seeing
'T girl was waiting to address her.
gentleman wishes to see you, miss."
'cl7e shuddered. She had no occasion to ask who
aer visitor was, but she put the question.
Fle didn't give me no card, miss," replied the
Kirl. 4, H i
there. e says his name s Woodville, and that
le- vas no need, for you would be expecting
uree
vie" YeB, yes: of course. It is all right, Lizzie.
eh'u 808 Mr. Woodville. Heaven help me, 1 must! "
a-e added wearily, as the servant left the room with
.4 'wondering look at her. "But what difference
Leter
es it make? Everybody must know sooner or it cannot be concealed any longer."
c, ?he shivered a little as she spoke, for, glancing
of the window, she saw Lizzie returning across
bowede lawn) followed by Clarence Woodville, eho
's ceremoniously as he entered, casting at the
°rile time a significant glance at the girl who had
t,ondu dhjm
P
Saw the look, and answered it at once.
can go, Lizzie," sh, said and then they
"Were alone.
had risen to receive him, and Clarence Wood-
t walked hastily across to where she stood and
allaceer.in his arms, though she strove to avoid the
37 oven love !" he exclaimed. "In tears !"
w•e,ctew can I help them ?" cried the poor girl,
tvloseeratofrheisroh burst of grief, while he pressed her
h ith regardless of the shivering repugance
whi ,ch she shrank from the caress. "1 wish I
ad never been born."
uY what has happened to make you utter-so
eful a wish, Eve Come, cheer up, my darling,
,er'ghter times are in prospect for us yet. If the
tllrst comes, it is but the exercise of a little patience
„Lou are of age, and then "
'hitt'4lhyonyou will get what you want—my money
ex !"
laimed Eve. " Ah, how I wish there
VaB no such thing in the world."
Perhaps it might be better in a great many
said Mr. Woodville, coolly. " But since its
existenee i •
s a matter of fact I certainly don't
11nible at your being possessed of a sufficiency.
„e°tleY is not to be despised, Eve. Without it we
do neehinp: in this world. With a sufficiency it
" hard, but you can find happiness."
'That is your creed, doubtless," she answered,
!itawing herself from his arms. "For myself, I
7..0u1d rather be the poorest creature on earth's face,
-P'eed to labour for the crust I ate, than the heiress
e are:,
i„" Luckily for you, such a wish cannot be carried
effect," said Mr. Woodville, and then, dropping
Careless tone, he continued more earnestly.
youls;en to me, Eve. You charge me with seeking
in 4°r Your money. Well, to a certain degree I
not deny the accusation, but 1 deny that it is
43ether the cause "
Oh ! •
"!lear in out, please. You will do me the
.:ourstiee th call to mind that when I first avowed my
Ton I told you plainly I was a poor man,
v_u could not think of marriage unless I found a
,J)toan blessed with the meals I lacked—a woman
could at the same time love me and have faith
44„ utg,h in my love for her to trust me without
Iltt-u„e!,"°n, and place her future happiness in my
.us without regard to the disparity in our fortunes.
1, was not this so ?"
e 8; you said as much," brokenly murmured
Irl'ind I spoke the truth. I admit," Clarence
lle went on with an air of lofty, highminded
*;T odour, " that when I first sought to win you your
ebee were my chief consideration; but since then
:•-•:believe me, Eve—l have learned to love you
_without thought of other things, to love you for
..f,eurself alone with such fervour, such devotedness
;I'll t were you really poor and unfriended as you
now desired, I could no more resist asking you
eeek you, heirce3
You are."as
Again his stage experience stood in good stead,
luid he uttered his speech with such impassioned
lall °ree, with so earnest a ring in hie voice, as gave it
the semblance of truth. But Eve was no longer
he deceived in such manner, and turned coldly
41'eru him, with a contempt she hardly cared to
")riceal.
'YOU doubt me ?" he said, in a wounded tone.
Is it fair, is it kind? Why
1: ! Why ?" she repeated, wearily. "1)o not
11.„61 BPeak of it. Words can make no alteration."
.1): 'Nene. You are right there, at least. Lot time
their truth. All I claim now is the right to
am entitled, which I am here openly to
teEnvibeiniags he
n spoke the door opened, and Eve sa.n._lc
n
a chair, while Clarence Woodville
ti:lreed an unconcerned air as he turned to salute
oOW arrivals.

CHAPTER XLVIII.
ILL 'WOODVILLE LEADS TRUMPS. ,
It'l th.ers no Way to 'seape these nuptials? _
. fr,ghte
_my reason ! Warps my sense or virtue?
ItAig.o
Iloca n eranges Ille Into a thing
lzfiv at With abhorring!
r•SR Were Mr. Sartoris, Doctor Sampson, and
lo d L
7,Ynwood, who returned Clarence Woodville's_
tla()),„,c4nt recognition of their presence with cool to die txvo last-named gentlemen crossing over
Ile e, to whom the Doctor presented Lord
avith.7ocl, leaving Mr. Sartoris to open conversation
Lta - '4B unw 1 - visitor,. which he did without
i ileh
c.,,.. e come
N. 111110 y.
, .;
0,,e
'The f 01 1• presume, are the person who wrote to
ll'oervianne!n„terview, signing your name as Clarence
lir. ~ , r he said.
nees. A oodville bowed with exaggerated polite-
Preci
`` A s.el Y,,/ he replied.
lorcerid, instead of seeking to see me first, have
(c Your presence"
the 4'4
ell" me Mr Sartoris," quickly interrupted_
'obtaiandZ,eaturer', "I. 'was Properly announced and
Permission to enter."
're ell, We
need not discuss that, after all. You
baere efr.°,; and perhaps will oblige me by stating
what you require of me." lten Pall be most happy—but—would it not be as
'tncoe-;:e were alone? I was hardly prepared to
•
ith
tii,rocr.b...o;esribsiy n
o larogt,,, ean audience of strangers!'
answered Mr. Sartoris, smiling i. " At the same time I am afraid you must
~,
1'44 - BaY what you have to say before these gPTIIe
-
!() 4,-,r. ,11 0 t at all. Besides one of them is hardly
141'Rin‘e.4,,ef a stranger to you as you perhaps
4, tioee.
laid wanY ! I don't think T have the honour—,*
Do to°°dville.
l'l°Taecei.r Sampson turned towards him at this
'lt
;‘Rl)ssl'at't 'Peak of honour, sir," he said, sharply.
You i I feel none n your acquaintance. '
'veakey.l.ce Woodville stared superciliously at the
R 4 01; ,4°l' a moment and then replied coolly.
-1441)so . „tbaia. k I remember now. You are Doctor
The la:
'lof (I°eter nodded his head shortly. _
Alihne, wieethnrtie I. remember y . "
ou,
, at v an airof condescension continued Woo d.•
and self-possession
h'iDelit,ba! Perfectly exasperating to the doctor.
'''ecl to meet you again, I am sure! ,!,or
lal)("ettorrre I can't return the compliment," growled
10,..vete:1!12.,80en,turning away disgustedly. "For.
R 4 'ellow.°4 ,_ Sartoris! don't bandy words with
ty jid of 1.,,re1l him to cut his bus.
418 N. 'irri• Pah ! The very airinseesesmsshionrftecatnedd
1?A Fel,"ence"
)1' th 1-.1..t flush suffi d Clarence liroodville's cheek,
Akntl N'
' t sum
t '3'ttoel illiT Words were . Token in an undertone
an ciently distinct to reach his ear,
le ,ierer,r6r.v retort rose to his lips.
34. e"ed the temptation, however, and turned
'Thkik.l Pags°eri.ra again. .
.1
;_, twist not object to Doctor Sampson
Renti a.' r interview, he said. "But this
etnaou
etiMst.). frietid, Lord Lynwood, is here at my
A i eth,..l
t° irit''' illav t
' \rerfer = A ask what right Lord Lynwoo, d has
lav: A Oti ° In what in no way concerns him
.P '
a'l?"' "tritlY ...ask, certainly," coolly replied the
laozseimpst cie:i.,-1 am not bound to give
le I—that ti... 'Le% refuse to satisfy. youyrobuciairiosity
4 rri '18: that I have asked him to e present
8 tO 8 with h. .
'trdi Is advice, should it be necessary,
~ziary pi.. "swer I shall give to your very extra-
if 48 3704
,°1,1'08al."
1V0.1311 thootjteB.Bo. It really matters nothing to me
n 4441 8° t°
ethi C. ~ Ahave 60 many witnesses," returned
allr !IR so •,, 41-8 to my proposal, I really see
Mlse.,, 'erY extraordinary lai in it, or calling for
,
P4Thaps 3,
va w• , ~ 1
Ir.tag.44. 111 be good enough to put it into
1)el•:: ''aCtly: a_lipe oIY written."
el"reuca:l4lly ~mh at I s t
You should prefer to hear from you
ttpr,„ •IN require."
Nthe"sion ef .
cb.ociville lifted his eyebrows with an
th
Mil , • . , t, eve, d. _ -eBlgnatims glancing over at Eve,
ovv' eouged thEtt h
the'4l was looking Audiously away from
it oiel pervous interlocking of her fingers
a 014 403 NVaa riot unobservant of what was

"Very well, then. In plain words, sin(.o you
will have them," resumed Woodville, "I have the
honour to offer myself as a suitor for the hand of
Miss Trenchard, your ward. It is a merely formal
request, I may add, as I have already received my
answer from the young lady herself, who will tell
you the same."
But Eve still remained speechless. Indeed, Mr.
Sartoris gave her no opportunity of adding her voice
to the conversation.

"What you assert mat, have some foundation, I
admit," he said, quietly.; "But as Miss Trenehard's
guardian it is my duty to roteet her and see that
she does not throw herself away upon a mere
adventurer."

'Sir !" fiercely interrupted Clarence Woodville.
"Pray don't interrupt me," calmly went on the
lawyer. "Save her from throwing herself away
upon an adventurer, I said. Now, at this moment,
I have not asserted that you belong to such a class,
but merely that I am bound, under the circum-
stances, to make sure that Miss Trenchard is not
influenced by some romantic feeling which she
mistakes for love, and "
"What is the use of parlying with the fellow,
Sartoris ? " broke in Doctor Sampson, who could
keep silence no longer. "You know we have
decided that there is only one answer to give him."
"And that answer is- ?" said Clarence Wood-
ville.

"No," shouted the irascible doctor.
"Pray be quiet, Sampson," interposed Mr.
Sartoris. "You will excuse my friend; Mr. Wood-
ville."

" I can afford to do so," replied that gentleman,
by no means imposed upon by the lawyer's
courteous demeanour, beneath which he could see
plainly enough was concealed quite as much deter-
mination as Doctor Sampson openly avowed to
oppose his purpose. "Supported as I am by Miss
Trenchard, I have nothing to fear."
"Quite so," urbanely continued Mr. Sartoris.
"Except that 1. would point out to you that we
have, under the late Mr. Mainwaring's will, the
power of refusing our consent to Miss Trenchard's
marriage so long as she is under age, and can with-
hold every penny of her fortune if she marries
without that consent. Of course, to a disinterested
suitor, that fact can make no difference. Still, it is
only fair you should be made acquainted with it."
I am already aware that such is the case,"
replied Woodville, perfectly unruffled in his manner
still. "But I hope to convince you that to with-
hold your consent would be against the best interests
of your ward."
" Confound your impudence, sir!" exclaimed
Doctor Sampson. "Do you think you can persuade
us that we should be consulting her best interests by
suffering her to become the prey of a scheming,
fortune-hunting. play-actor 'r"
Mr. Sartoris held up his hand with an expostula-
tory gesture.
"My dear fellow !" he said mildly. "Pray let
this be a peaceable discussion."
"Peaceable fiddle-stick, sir !" continued the doctor
"Send him packing I say! A rogue—the com-
panion of thieves and vagabonds, to dare---"
"Stay, sir," said Woodville, with a well-assumed
air of wounded feeling. "What you say may be
—is, I confess, true of the past. Miss Trenchard
knows the truth, and how bitterly I regret it. But
is it fair, is it just, to use such a reproach now
when I have freed myself from the taint by years
of toil and honest living, when I have by my own
unaided exertions raised myself to an honourable
position ?"
"Bah !" exclaimed the irate doctor. "You may
talk as you will. I have no faith in such reformation.,
for my own part."
"Do let us get on," mildly urged Mr. Sartoris.
"Now, Mr. W oodville, we will take it for granted
that you deserve every credit for the position you
have earned; but with regard to your proposal there
is, as Doctor Sampson has said, only one possible
answer."

"Very well, sir, let me have it. Once more, lam
here, as my letter announced, to ask Miss Trenchard's
hand in marriage. Please to say whether you will
give your consent or no."
"Will you answer first, or shall I, Sampson ?"
asked the lawyer.
"Mine won't take lows," said Doctor Sampson,
quickly. "In one word', sir, if you wait for my
sanction to such a monstrous proposition you'll
have a very long time to wait, for—l'll see you
hanged first, and I think it is like your confounded
impertinence to ask it."
And he struck the floor with his cane to give
stronger emphasis to his speech.
"Doctor ! ' imploringly exclaimed Eye.
There, there, my dear," he said. "I didn't
mean to be so violent, but uponmy soul it is enough
to try one's temper.
"Don't make any apology, sir," coolly observed
Clarence Woodville. "It was only what I expected
from you."
" Apology ! Confound you !" snorted the doctor,
more enraged than ever. "What do you mean?"
Clarence Woodville turned from him with an
ironical smile and addressed himself to Lord Lyn-
treed.
"Perhaps, my lord," he said, "as you ha-verb-den
elected one of my judges, I may hope for a more
favourable verdict from your lips."
"I don't know why,' coolly returned his lord-
ship. "I have really no voice in the matter, but
if I had you may rest assured that it would certainly
not be raised in your behalf."
" Thank you, very mach," and Clarence Wood-
ville made him a mocking obeisance. "There is
but one other source of hope, then, You, Mr.
Sartoris, are, it appears, my last resource. It is
simply- a matter of courtesy that I seek your per-
mission at all, and your sanction or refusal are
equally worthless—the result must be the same.
Now, sir, what do you say ?"
He held his head defiantly erect as he spoke, and
he for the first time looked up as she waited with
evident anxiety for her guardian's reply.
It was not lone. withheld.
"I cannot pretend to understand your tone of
defiance, Mr. Woodville," he said, speaking slowly
and deliberately, with an entire absence of heat or
passion that gave more weight to his words, "nor
can it possibly influence my decision, which is
already formed. Miss Trenchard is my ward, and
I should ill discharge the trust that has been con-
fided to me by giving my consent to her union with
a man who, by his own acknowledgement, has
been an associate and confederate of convicted felons
Nay, let me finish before you speak," he went
on, seeing Woodville's lips open to interrupt him.
"I can guess what plea you wish to make that
your present position and mode of life proves
amendment. But, even if that were really the ease,
which it is not—pray don't interrupt me," for again
Woodville essayed to break in upon his speech.
"Which it is not, I repeat—l should still offer the
strongest opposition to your suit, for ether reasons
which I need not enter into more fully, and give
you, as I now do without the slightest hesitation,
a distinct refusal."
"Now are you satisfied?" shouted the doctor.
"You've got an answer, my man, and had better
go."
But Clarence Woodville made no attempt to
follow this advice, neither did he appear at all dis-
concerted by the rebuffs which he had met from all
sides. He only smiled mockingly, and looked with
a confident expresson towards Eve, who, overcome
with grief, her flushed face concealed by her hands.
sobbed painfully.
"You hear them, Eve i" he said.
But she answered never a word, and he addressed
himself once more to the wondering trio.
You have quite made up your mind, then,
gentlemen ?" he said.
" Quite " replied Mr. Sartoris.
In that case it is useless to try further per-
suasion. It would certainly have been more pleasant
for everybody concerned if you had come to a
different conclusion, but since you are resolved—l
suppose I must play my trump card. Come, Eve,"
he went on, speaking now in a tone of calm autho-
rity. "It is quite time to end this little farce. I
am going as soon as you can get ready to accompasT
me.'
She lifted her head and looked piteously, entreat-
ingly at him, then rose slowly, but only to throw
her arms round her guardian with a low cry of dis•
tress and terror.
" Ah, guardy ! help me! help me!" she cried
passionately. "Save me if you can."
"Save you! How? What do you mean, Eve?'
"I did not know—indeed, indeed I did not!" she
continued, clinging to Mr. Sartoris in the abandon-
ment of her grief. "I had no thought, no suspicion
of what I was doing."
"For Heaven's sake, what does she mean ?"
exclaimed Doctor Sampson.
"My dear child, what frightens you ?" asked Mr.
Sartoris. "Come, come, Eve, do not be so foolish.
We can and will protect you. You have got your
answer, sir," he went on, looking sternly at
Clarence Woodville, who still stood hat in hand and
waiting. "Be good enough to leave us before I
ring for the servants to show you the way out.
You must see that your continued presence is painful
to Miss Trenchard."
"Mrs. Woodville has nothing to fear from her
husband, sir," replied Clarence. "I shall not
require the assistance of your servants to find the
door, but as I don't choose to go without my wife,
perhaps you will be so good as to allow me t? ,re_
a few minutes longer while she ge's ready."
Had a shell fallen into the midst of the party it
could hardly have caused more consternation than
was produced by these few words.
"Accompany you i" gasped the doctor.
"Your wife !" simultaneously exclaimed Lord
Lynwood and Mr. Sartois, upon whose breast Eves
head still rested, her large eyes resting upon Clarence
Woodville with a gaze of fascinated terror. "Your
wife!"
"Exactly. My wife, whom I order to follow me
at once. Stay her at your peril: you a lawyer,
and know what redress I could claim in such a case.
Come! do you hear me, madam?"
And he made a step towards where she stood.
"Eve, look up and answer me," said the lawyer.
"Is what this man asserts the truth? Are you-7
I can hardly credit it—really his wife ?"
" Ah, don't hate me, guardy !" she said im-
ploringly. "I did not know—l did not know—
but—At is only too true."

you haVe-Wden I ME

(To be continued.)