The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-08 00:00:00

lAMI

[ALL RIGHTS ItESnItTED.I
AMBITION'S LADDER.
Bu the aluthcrr Gi " At/tent° n e Grange," Life for
A Love," 4.e.

CHAPTER XXV•
RITTER MEMORIES.
I would not hear
Your enemy say so, nor shall you make
Mine ear the truster of your own report
Against yourself.

"THE scoundrel !" exclaimed Mr. Sartori, shah-
ihg his fist in impotent rage after Edwards as that
worthy disappeared in the distance. "The infernal
rascal, to leave me in such a plight !"
And, indeed, his anger was not without cause.
His apartments were at the end of a long corridor,
chosen by him for the very reason that they were
remote from any part of the hotel inhabited by
other visitors, and he had given express orders that
he did not desire to be attended save by his own
servant, so that no one belonging to the house was
at all likely to come near him. There was not even
,a bell in the room, if he could have left his couch
without assistance to reach one, and after one or two
attempts to summon a waiter by shouting at the top
at his voice, which failed to procure any other
answer than was afforded by the echoes that rang
through the corridor, Mr. Sartoris resigned himself
to his fate and awaited as patiently as he could for
the return of Edwards.

Fortunately his patience was not put to too severe
a test. In less than ten minutes he heard footsteps
ascending the stairs, and Edwards re-entered the
apartment.
"Upon my word, sir," angrily commenced his
master when the man stood before hirn, quiet and
respectful in manner as usual, but showing evident
• symptoms of such agitation as somewhat disarmed
Mr. Sartoris of his wrath. "You're a pretty sort of
a fellow, I must say. What do you mean by rushing
-off in that way like a madman ?"
"I'm very sorry, sir."
' Sorry ! Is that all you've got to say for your-
self ? Don't you think any explanation is neces
sary ? What on earth is the matter with you ?" he
continued, for he saw now that the man's face was
very pale, and that he was certainly labouring
under some strange excitement. "What have you
been doing? You look as though you had seen a
ghost."
"Not exactly that, sir," returned Edwards, who
had recovered some of his self-comm Ind by this timo.
"Though what I did see gave me almost as great a
turn."

"What was it, then ?"
"My sister, sir."
"Your sister! What! she who you told
_ _

"Went away with the turncoat that sent his
.comrades to the hulks. ;Yes, sir; I've got no
other."

"Then perhaps he—But nonsense; it's most
likely you are mistaken—deceived by a chance like-
ness. What should bring your sister here?"
" ith, that's what I should like to know, sir.
But it toa.s her, I'm convinced, though she went by
.dressed like a lady, and looking like one every way
.else. And what you was going to say was in my
head, too:'

"What I was going to say ?"
" Yes, sir; that likely enough where she is Alick
Wood is to be found too; and if so —"

"Ay, if," said Mr. Sartoris, a little sarcastically.
"But I don't see, after all, that it follows. How-
ever, it may be as you fancy; and if you can find
out, as I told you once before, you shan't go unre-
warded. But I m afraid your re the victim of an
-optical illusion."
This, however, Edwards would by no means ad-
mit, though he was forced to confess that on reach-
ing the street;he had been quite unable to find any one
bearing the least resemblance to the woman he had
seen pass, and Mr. Sartoris languidly dismissed the
subject.
"It is too unlikely," he said. "Depend upon
it, Edwards, that your eyes have played you false
this time. And now just go below and find out the
number of Lord Lynwood's rooms, and take hina
this note."

Edwards executed his commission, and in less
than five minutes Lord Lynwood burst impetuously
•into the room with outstretched hand and hearty
greeting.
"Never was so astonished in my life, give you
my word," he exclaimed, after a warm hand-clasp,
which was all the outward sign of feeling either
permitted to appear, though the glad light that
shone from out their eyes betokened §omething
deeper and more earnest in their friendship than
was shown on the surface. "You were certainly
-the last man in the world I should have expected to
find here."

"Necessity has no legs, Louis," laughed Mr.
Sartoris ; "and one of mine has played the traitor,
as you can see. I don't grumble at the mishap,
howerer, seeing what good ruck it has procured me.
By Jove! old fellow, I can't tell you how delighted
I am to see you again, and looking so well too."
"Oh, I'm all right," carelessly responded his
lordship, taking a seat by the invalid's side, and
looking at him with an honest expression of pleasure.
"And you
Mr. &artoris shrugged his shoulders.
" Much as usual," he replied. "A little inclined
sometimes to sympathise with the fellow who cut
his throat because he had grown weary of the daily
routine of dressing and undressing. Rather a
• strong way of showing his objection to such slavery,
perhaps, but eminently prattical. At least, it
proved that he had fully considered the subject, and
ha 1 the courage of his opinions."
"Cynical as ever, George."
"Do you think so? Was I ever a cynic ? On
the contrary, I fancied I always surveyed life rather
through rose-coloured spectacles. But, honestly
speaking, Lynwood, I'm beginning to think I might
have made better use of mine."

"What man can say otherwise?" rather sadly
answered the other. "You, at all events, have
nothing worse to reproach yourself nith than in-
dolence.'

"And is not that enough? Sometimes I wish—
but why repeat wishes which can never bear fruit?
Let us change the subject for something more
agreeable—a talk over old times."
"Would tl; at, answer the purpose, do you think,
George F.' asked Lord Lynwood. "For my part,
there is nothing I would sooner forget; or, rather,
nothing that I have a stronger desire could be
altered—than
.the old times you would recall. One
episode above all others has caused me more pain,
more heartfelt remorse than any pleasant memories
of the past can obliterate."
"Ah ! you mean—"
"The misery my folly, my infatuation, Drought
upon an innocent woman," and here he rose and
paced the room moodily for a few moments before
resuming. The only excuse that I can make for
myself is that my love, though unlawful, was
genuine: was so far true that it still survives
almost as strongly as when it first took root
in my heart. She, of course, has leng since for-
gotten my very existence. You see her often, I
suppose 2'
George Sartoris raised himself upon his elbow,
and looked at his friend with . a puzzled
expression.
'Look here, old fellow," he said,slowly and
deliberately. "Let us quite understand one another.
Who is the' she' you refer to ?"
"Good heavens !' almost angrily exclaimed Lord
Lynwood. "Why do you of all men, ask me such
a question? Whom should I mean but Gertrude—
Mrs. Mainwaring."
"Wait a moment," said George Sartoris, letting
his head fall again on the pillow which supported
his shoulders. " I'm rather bewildered; just let me
think for a few minutes."

"New then," he continued, after a brief pause,
"we'll try and clear up matters a little, for it strikes
me they're rather mixed. What do you mean by
asking after Gertrude Mainwaring in such a fashion?
Am to understand that you are in ignorance of
what befel her ?"
P, Of what befel her? What do you mean ?"
His air of surprise, his agitation, were too real to
be mistAken, and o,orge Sartoris felt more puzzled
than ever.

"Did you not receive my letter ?" he asked;
"the letter in which I told you of her disappearance,
and that it was generally supposed ou aided her in
her flight ?"
"What :" shouted Lord Lynwood, his face ablaze
with indignation. '' Who dared to utter the slan-
her ? Did you believe it ?"
"Well, to confess the honest truth, I did. Yow
don't be angry, Lynwood.. What else was I to
think? I knew afterwards that such was not tha
case -1- have known so for many/ years—otherwise
though I !don't pretend to set myself up on any
high platform of morality. I should scarcely have
cared to meet you on friendly terms but at the
time it seemed so self-evident that
"That you looked upon me as a villain. Thank
_
you. _
" I think if you will consider the matter reason-
ably you will admit my suspicion was not unjusti-
fied," returned Mr. Sartoris quietly. " tnd con-
sidering- also that, against my own convictions, I
did what in me lay to silence all such reports—
though my contradictions did not go far with the
world, which is always readiest to accept the
worst version of a story—you need not cut up
rough because I was no wiser than my fellow-
creatures."
" Well, well, let that
,pass. You say :you have
been undeceived. How r
By Gertrude herself."
You saw her, then ?"
"Yes. And, curiously enough, on the very night
of her husband's death.'
"Ah exclaimed Lord Inwood. "se is dead,
then ? But what of her ?'
"I am coming to that now. i received
asking
morning a note in Gertrude's handwriting asking
The to meet her that same night. I did so—rather
unwillingly, I confess, for at that time. I was still
limier the impression that she had fled with you.
Of that however, she disabused me, but would tell
use nothing of what she was doing or how she was
living, though her appearance was such as to show
The that she was -reduced to absolute poverty. I
vould have helped her, but she refused all 'offers of
•

*-60 lid 6 ' „

assistance, anci only awed one ravour at my hands,
that I would take charge of some papers she handed
me, with the address of a woman, where, she said,
her boy was to be found, and so left me. I have
never seen her since."
"Nor heard ?"
"Nor heard, Lynwood—at least, not then. She
was very wild and haggard in appearance, poor girl!
when I saw her; a strange contrast to what 1 re-
membered of her, as could well be imagined; but
I could not induce her to accept any assistance from
me. It was too late for that, she told me, and some-
thing in her manner prompted me to follow her
when we parted. But I hesitated too long, and
when my mind was made up the opportunity was
gone. I had lost sight of her only for a moment, but
that sufficed in a locality of which I was completely
ignorant, when it would have been useless to attempt
to discover her."
"And so you allowed her to escape you without
an effort to prevent it ?" said Lord Lynwood sternly.
"Had you no heart, George, no feeling of sympathy
that could conquer indolence for once in a way at
such a crisis ?"
• Mr. Sartoris winced a little uneasily under the
rebuke, but answered without any hesitation.
"I don't say that I'm blameless," he replied.
"Still, 1 think you are rather hard upon me, old
fellow. It wasn't all my fault. I should certainly
have sought her out next day but for the loss of
the papers and address she gave me, which were
stolen that same night, and, curiously enoueh, I
have just obtained what I certainly imagine to he a
clue to the thief."
"How ?"
"Strangely, indeed. But you shall judge for
yourself."
And briefly he recounted what had already passed
between Edwards and himself upon the subject,
Lord Lynwood listening with evident interest, that
rose to agitation as his friend came to that portion
of the story which dealt with Gertrude Mainwarings
probable fate.
"Good Heavens!" he exclaimed. "It is
terrible!"
"But true, I very much fear,' sadly rejoined
George Sartoris. "So many circumstances, trivial
enough in themselves certainly, but all pointing to
the same conclusion, confirm me in the belief that
poor Gertrude sought relief from her troubles in _ going
self-destruction_ Indeed—though I baldly like to which showed
make the confession—her manner in bidding me Lord T'
farewell was so peculiar that I—l felt an uneasiness
I found it hard to rid myself of in a hurry. So
strong was the feeling, indeed, that, as I have said,
I should have followed her but for the quickness
with which she disappeared, as though she was
resolved to elude me."
"But could you not have made some effort after-
wards to discover her?"
"Not at the time. There were a lot of things
hanging over my head just then—l had outrun the
constable, in fact—and was forced to make myself
scarce. And after all, what could 1 have done ?"
added Mr. Sartoris, in an expostulatory tone. "No
step short of following her at the moment could
avert what there is every cause to fear actually
occurred."
Lord Lynwood sat silent for a few minutes. Long
ago as all this had happened, altered as were his
thoughts and feelings, a shocked, pained sensation
crept over him at the reflection that so much woe
had been wrought by his moms, and it was some
little while before he again found his voice to
speak.
"It is indeed terrible, very terrible !" he said at
last, in broken accents. "Would to Heaven that
by any means I could atone fer my share in the
catastrophe. I shall never be able to forgive my-
self."

"Come, come, old fellow," said his friend.
"You must not look upon a young man's folly so
seriously."
"That is the philosophy of a worlding, Sartoris,
replied the other, gloomily. " I cannot lay the
flattering unction' to my soul. When a young
man's folly,' as you term it, bears such disastrous
fruit, it is impsssible to regard it with a lenient
eye. Would that by any sacrifice I could undo the
past !"
" A h !" said Mr. Sartoris, shrugging his shoulders.
"That's by no means an uncommon wish. But
since you cannot-"
"I will at least make what poor amends is in mv
power," broke in the other, throwing up his head
with a determined gesture. "You spoke of her
son ?"

"Who disappeared with her, and has never peen
heard of since. Yes."

"It shall be my task to discover him, and return
him to his proper pla-c in the world. A task tl at
I will carry out if it costs me the half--nay, all my
fortune."

Better let sleeping dogs lie," coolly responded
Sartoris. " I've told you all the clue I possess to
the boy's afterlife. If it be correct the chances are
a thousand to one that, should you succeed in your
search, it would be to findhim the inmate of a prison
or the hulks."

"Even so," warmly retorted Lord Lynwood,
"my duty is equally clear to rescue him from such
ri,fate."

"You'd do him no good, depend upon it," urged
Mr Sartoris. "It would only be time and money
thrown away. Take my advice and lot the matter
drop."
" Sartoris, you are--" the other began, hotly,
and then calming down. "But no, I'll not do you
the injustice of believing that you can possibly be
in earnest."
"Is that a compliment to my head or to ray
heart, I wonder r laughingly asked George Sartoris.
"Theoretically, I was never more in earnest in my
life."

" But put your theory to the test—would you
really advise me to the course you have suggested ?
No. I was sure you would not," triumphantly
continued Lord Lynwood, as his friend remained
si!ent. "Affect as much cold.bloodness as you
please, play the cynic to your heart's content, I'll
not believe that you are so thoroughly heartless as
you pretend to be."
"By Jove ! old fellow, if you go on like that I
shall begin to give myself credit for being a much
better fellow than I know I am," returned George
Sartoris, a little uneasily. •‘ I never thought much
about the matter before. It's my way to forget
very easily—or I might, perhaps But it's no
use talking of what I might have done. The thing
to be considered now—if you have really made
up your mind to the job—is how we are to set to
work."
"We r
" Certainly. You've roused me up, and I mean
to take my share. There's my hand on it. Besides,
my assistance—or rather, my man's—may simplify
matters." _ _ _

"True. I had not thought of that. Then Imy
depend upon your aid ?"
"To what extent it can be of use. Yes."
(To be continued.)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the Horsr or LORDS. Nov. 3, there was a good
attendance of peers, and the Prince of 'Wales was in his
place on the cross benches.
The Duke of Wellington, Lord Clifden, and Lord
Petre (a Roman Catholic: priest) took their seats on
succeeding to the peerage.
Lord Sydney, Lord Steward, brought down the
Queen's reply to the address of their lordships in answer
to the Royal Speech.