The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-09 00:00:00

expression of which was inscrutable to the astute
woman oi the world; she, however, thought a few
more hours would make all safe, so what did it signify
what that smile might mean?
The day wore away scarcely less tediously than its
predecessor, and, as the shadows of evening fell, Kate
busied herself in arraying her young lady in her bridal
robes. The fitful colour came and went upon the deli-
cate cheeks, but in her sweet eyes was a light which
surely never shone there as a greeting to Alfred
Trevor as her future husband. The misty lace fell
like foam wreaths around her light form, orange flowers
bound her hair, and the filmy veil could not conceal
the rapid changes in her complexion as every noise
sent the blood in vivid carnation to her cheeks, or
caused it to recede, leaving her fair as a snowdrift,
and nearly as cold. Hope and fear contended in her
bosom for the mastery, for she knew that on the
events of the next hour all the happiness of her life
depended.

CHAPTER XL.

overtaken them, and reclaimed her child. But no in-
timation was sent to her, and the telegram which pur-
ported to give her consent to the prosecution of the
voyage, was written by Mr. Chard himself, and the
letter subsequently received by Rose was, as she sup-
posed, the production of her uncle's wife. Hex
mother did write a long and affectionate epistle tc
her, but it was not permitted to reach its des-
tination.
On the very day it was dispatched, new and ter-
rible fears assailed Mrs. Chard for the safety of her
beloved daughter. Madame Latude had by this time
sufficiently recovered to leave the asylum in which
she had been placed, and before returning to Grove
Cottage she called on Mrs. Chard and informed her of
the frauds practised by Trevor, of which the reader is
already aware. Mr. Spring was summoned to take
part in the interview, and he brought Atkins with
him to confirm the truth of Madame Latude's state-
ments.
Such developments were made in the ensuing con-
versation as completely set at rest any claim that
Alfred Trevor might bring forward to the disputed
inheritance, and Atkins produced the original promise
from Gayoso to compromise by dividing the estate
with Rose, a skilful copy of which he had given to
Trevor.
Mr. Spring had only that morning received a letter
informing him of the actual relationship existing
between the twp chief actors in this drama of fraud.
The plot so skilfully woven by the brother and sister
was now clear, and it was too evident that Rose was
intended to become the victim of their conspiracy.
One hope of rescue was still left. Ashton had not
yet left Cuba; a telegram was despatched to New
Orleans, to be forwarded immediately, in which he
was informed of Rose's presence at Mirandola, and
the probability that unfair means would be used to
force her into a marriage with Trevor.
The dispatch found Ashton in Havana, on the eve
of embarking for England. No time was lost by
him in retracing his steps to the scene of his late
inquiries, and he ascertained that the party had
arrived at Mirandola several days before his return.
Accident enabled him to gain an interview with Kate
Kelly on the very day of his arrival, and Ashton
appealed to her feelings in such a manner as to induce
her to become an active agent in effecting her young
lady's escape, while his friend Rivers entered heartily
into the cause of the lovers. Assured that Atkins
was on his way from London, with full proof of all
Trevor's delinquencies in his possession, the friends
thought it best to defer the final coup de main till
after his arrival; the result has been seen.
While these events were progressing in Cuba,
events of not less vital importance to the personages
of our story were transpiring in London. Mrs.
Chard's preparations for departure on the next
steamer for Havana were interrupted by a peremp-
tory summons to the house of Mr. Danvers, where
some terrible catastrophe had occurred, the nature of ,
which she could not gather from the frightened and '
bewildered messenger.
But, before we accompany her thither, we must
follow Madame Latude on her return to Grove
Cottage. On arriving at the railway station, she
found that a collision had occurred very near the
city, and many persons on the down train had been
killed, and others severely injured. She ordered the
driver to proceed at once to the cottage; it was ten
miles, and two hours elapsed before she arrived at
her place of destination.
Madame Latude had communicated with her niece
several times during her detention in London, and
had heard from home on the previous afternoon. No
misgiving that all was not right entered her mind.
She paid the cabman his fare, dismissed him, and
entered the house. No one came to meet her, and
wondering where her niece could be, she knocked at
the door of Gayoso's room. No answer came, and,
after knocking again, she opened it, and looked in.
Her heart almost ceased to beat as she beheld the
scene the apartment presented. Every receptacle for
papers was open, and their contents had evidently
been tossed over. A faint odour of chloroform filled
the atmosphere, and an empty bottle was thrown upon
a napkin which had evidently been lately saturated
with it.