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

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CHAPTER MIX.

eIIfITZD AND WRBTCHED•
Tax days passed on, and it wanted but two more to
the one appointed for the completion of the sacrifice.
The unhappy bride-elect sat beside her window in the
gathering twilight, and watched the deepening
shadows without, in her own mind comparing them
to the darkness which was so rapidly settling over her
earthly hopes.
Rose had declined going down to supper, but her
maid was sent up with a waiter of refreshments, which
were at once rejected, and the command given to take
them away, together with the light she had brought
'with them. Kate obeyed her; she placed them on a
table outside the door, and re-entering, rapidly ap-
proached Miss Chard, and threw herself upon her
knees before her. She said in a voice of deep
emotion—
" Forgive me, Miss ROM and let me help you cut
of this trouble. Oh; if I had thought things could
have come to this pass I would have killed myself be-
fore I would have helped your uncle to get you away
from London. Only trust me, darling Miss Rose, and
I can get you out of their clutches yet."
She listened vaguely,and wearily replied—
"Go away, Kate. The evil is done; and you have
not now the power to remedy it. You can never cir-
cumvent the plans of my uncle and his unprincipled
confederate. Go away—l am tired and ill."
"But if I can't do it, Miss Rose, somebody else can,"
replied Kate, energetically. "I saw a friend of yours,
even in this wild far-off land, to-day, and he is ready
to risk his life to rescue you."
I' He ? who?" asked Rose in a more hopeful
manner. "Oh, Kate, lam afraid you are deceiving
me again."
"Upon my life, my honour, lam not. I have here
a note from Mr. Ashton, who is watching for a chance
to see you. Shall I bring the light that you may read
it ?"
Rose sank back almost fainting from the sudden
revulsion of feeling. Kate hastened to bring the re-
jected supper, and, while she held the light, her
'oting lady read a few hurried lines, written certainly
by the hand of Charles Ashton. They seemed like a
revelation from Heaven, for they afforded a hope of
deliverance from the miserable fate that lay before
her.
Her pale cheek flushed to the hue of the rose as she
read one portion of the note, and her eyes rested upon
It several moments before she spoke. At length she
raised her eyes searchingly to the face of the girl,
and impressively asked—
"You are not playing me false again, Kate ?"
"No, no. Trust to me, Miss Rose, to get you out
of this, and I will be true to you as steel."
"I must do so, Kate; for that is my only hope now.
The means of writing to my friends have been re-
moved from me, and you must be the bearer of a
message to Mr. Ashton. Tell him I will implicitly
follow his directions and accept his advice, that I
trust to him to remove me from my uncle's power;
and I will consent to any measures he may think
necessary to effect my rescue from the thraldom in
which lam held. You will remember exactly what
I say, Kate ?''
"I will, Miss Rose. I shall see him to-night in the
Summer-house on the lawn, and I will bring you news
that will brighten you up, I'll warrant."
A few more words were exchanged between them,
and then the girl hurried away, fearful that if she re-
mained too long with her young lady, suspicion would
be aroused against her, and she herself watched in
Such a manner as to baffle her efforts to serve her.
On the following morning Rose appeared at break-
fast, looking more cheerful and composed than she
had lately been; and, in reply to some allusion to her
approaching marriage, to the great delight of Mr. Chard,
she said :
"I think it right, uncle, to inform you of the change
in my views on this subject. I have made up my mind
to the necessity of being married immediately; but I
ask as a favour that I may be permitted to be alone
as much as possible until Thursday evening arrives.
Let Kate come to me ; you are not afraid to trust her, I
suppose?"
"No; I have no fear about Kate's fidelity to me.
She is a true, good girl, and strongly attached to you,
as her eagerness to advance your best interests has
proved. I cannot express my gratification, Rose, at
this wise resolution on your part. Trevor will be the
happiest of men. He has overslept himself this morn-
ing, but, when I carry him this news, I am sure it will
effectually arouse him."
Rose repressed the inward shudder that thrilled her
frame at his name, and said:
"I stipulate that Mr. Trevor shall not approach me
till we meet before the clergyman; after that, if he
chooses, ho can express his raptures at my acquies-
cence in your views."
Mrs. Chard would have expressed her delight, but
Rose shrunk away from her, and abruptly left the
room. That lady was, however, too astute not to
suspect some ruse hidden beneath this sudden sub-
mission, and Rose found that a stricter watch than
before was kept upon her movements.
The day was passed in alternations of hope and fear,
that kept her in a state of agitation which was most
distressing. It seemed to her that the hours were
lengthened out indefinitely; and when the sun at last
sank beneath the horizon, she felt as if a weight
was lifted from her soul, but only to return with
4111 crushing power, as the fear now assailed her that her
preserver might find it impossible to carry out the
plan lie had resolved on as the surest means of with-
drawing her from the protection of her uncle.
The windows of Rose's room opened upon a balcony
supported by an iron network, which afforded a secure
footing to an active person. At midnight the watch
upon her was relaxed, and Kate only remained in her
room as a guard, while the rest of the household was
buried in sleep. The waning moon glitteied above
the dark tree-tops, and faintly lighted two figures that
glided across the lawn, and after reconnoitring the
house, advanced with swift stitTs towards the balcony.
To gain the floor above was the work of a moment to
those light and agile forms, and, in a brief space, the
two stood within Rose's chamber. The moonlight
tell through the open window, and a white figure that
stood beside it, half fainting with emotion, was
clasped within a pair of strong arms, and words of
love, hope, and reassurance were uttered in low •pas-
sionate tones, to which the overwrought girl could
only reply by a violent burst of tears.
"Forgive me,'t she at length found voice to say;
"I was childish and silly, but I loved you through all.
I do not give myself to you as the only means of
escaping a more odious doom. My heart goes with
my hand."
"Thanks, darling, for the assurance, but it was not
needed. Rivers, we may be interrupted; you had
better perform your part in the agreement at once"
The companion of Ashton, who had stood in the
shadow of the window, came forward, and Kate
stood near her mistress while a few important sen-
tences were uttered; a ring was placed upon Rose's
finger, a kiss pressed fervently upon her lips, and she
felt that she need no longer fear the pretensians of
the detested Trevor.
The two intruders swung themselves down as they
had come up, and Rose watched their receding figures
until they were lost beneath the shadows of the trees.
She then threw herself upon her bed, weeping as if
her heart would break. Kate endeavoured to comfort
her with assurances that they would get off in safety;
but even while she was speaking the deep-mouthed
bay of a watch-dog was heard—there was a rush
below upon the lawn, and fire-arms were discharged.
Voices were heard talking in loud and excited '
tones, and presently steps hurriedly approached Miss
Chard's room. Almost beside herself with appre-
hension Kate threw a coverlet over her young lady,
to snake it appear as if she had retired to bed, while
she said—
"Stop crying, Miss Rose, and pretend that you've
just waked up. Oh what shall we do now ? "
"Do nothing; say I am ill, and you are waiting
upon me; it will be true enough; and find out who
Is hurt. I shall die if anything has happened to him
or his companion."
A knock came to her door, and Mr. Chard entered
while several negroes stood looking into the room. He
called to Rose, who faintly answered, and, coming to
her bedside, he looked down on her, and said :
" You are safe in bed, I see, my dear. I only came
up to reassure you about the noise below. Old Felix
saw two men prowling in the shrubbery, and he fired
at them; that is all."
"And was anyone killed, sir ? " asked Kate, with
seeming simplicity.
"I do not think anyone was hurt, for there
is no
appearance of blood anywhere, though that might be
easily concealed by the long grass. But lam of
opinion that Felix was dreaming. Good night, Rose;
go to sleep, and look handsome to-morrow, as you
should upon your bridal day."
He left the room, and Kate crept to the window
and looked out. A sentinel was placed beneath it,
who kept a watch upon the balcony the remainder of
the night.
Many fears for the safety of those who had left her
assailed poor Rose's mind; but toward morning, in
spite of her uncertainty, she fell into a light slumber,
from which she awoke refreshed, and nerved for the
events I hat lay folded in the next twelve hours of her
life. She trembled at the possibility of what might
occur, but she had sufficient faith in him she trusted
to believe that he would remove her safely and hrour-
ably from her intolerable captivity.
At breakfast she managed to retain an appearance
of calmness and self-possession ; and, on her return to
her own apartment, Mrs. Chard came in, followed by
her enaid, bearing a splendid lace dress looped with
pearls, and a magnificent parure of the same jewels to
complete her adornment as a bride.
They were so beautiful that 110150 examined them
with interest, and something of her old, girlish viva-
city shone forth as she listened with complacency to
the flatteries and praises lavished upon her by her
former friend.
Every suspicion in the mind of Mrs. Chard was
completely set at rest. She concluded that when
Rose found the marriage forced upon her was unavoid-
able, she had made up her mind to accept cheerfully
the fate which she could not avert. She listened to
the loving messages of Trevor with a half smile, the

THE PLOT MISCARRIRS.
MR. CHARD came to conduct Rose to the drawing-
room, where a marriage contract was to be read in
both Spanish and English, and then signed, before the
ceremony could take place.
There had been some slight difficulty in finding a
Protestant clergyman: but at length the services of a
young Englishman, who 'had recently settled in the
neighbourhood, were secured, and Rose started as
her eyes fell on him; an intelligent glance passed
between them, and she passed on to the upper end of
the room.
Trevor, most elaborately dressed, and looking quite
radiant, in his self-complacency, advanced to meet
her, and she submitted to be led by him to the seat
beside Mrs. Chard, who, brilliant in smiles and beauty,
sat triumphant.
The notary who had drawn up the contract drawled
through it, and Rose listened with a painful tension
of the nerves for the sounds which would herald her
deliverance from the unreal mockery proceeding
before her.
No sound of an arrival came, and she felt at inter-
vals as if she would faint ; but the necessity for self-
control forced her to regain calmness: to maintain it,
even when Trevor took her hand, drew her forward,
and motioned to the clergyman to commence the
marriage ceremony.
But he seemed suffering from painful Indecision
and stood with his eyes riveted with intense solicitude
upon the door. Impatient at his delay, Mr. Chard at
last spose—
" Come, sir; we are waiting on you. The bridal
couple are quite ready for you to proceed with your
duty."
Thus admonished, he slowly advanced—unclosed
his prayer-book, and looked into the face of the half-
sinking bride. She met his glance with one of mute
questioning, and he abruptly closed the book, and
bed, in a clear, sonorous voice—
"l cannot unite this woman in the bonds of mar-
riage with him who stands beside her, for I have
already given her to be the wife of another man
within the last twenty-four hours. Ali here he comes
at last to claim her."
Before a word could be uttered by the half-para-
lysed group to whom this sudden announcement was
made, Ashton advanced into the room, drew Rose's
arm from that of Trevor, and, encircling her form
with his protecting arm, said—
"It is too late to perform the marriage rites
between this lady and another person, for she is
already my wife, as my friend Mr. Rivers can testify.
Mr. Chard, I would gladly have been saved from the
necessity of this clandestine course, but your tyranny
towards your niece left me no alternative. Only as
my wife could I assert a claim to Rose superior to
yours, and I penetrated to her room last night in
company with Mr. Rivers, who united us in the
presence of Kate Kelly."
Mr. Chard was dumb with rage, and Trevor thrust
his hand into his bosom for a concealed weapon
he always carried there. Ashton saw the move-
ment, and caught his wrist with a grasp of iron as he
said—
"I would advise you, Alfred Trevor, to be very
careful what you do. I have a warrant for your
apprehension sent from London, and I have only to
raise my hand to have it executed. You are accused
of conspiring against the life of your cousin, and
claiming his inheritance, falsely asserting yourself to
be the son of Thomas Trevor, when I have ample
proof that you are only his nephew."
"Tis false—who dares accuse me of such double
dealing? 'Tis he who is the pretender, and lam the
rightful heir."
"Come forward, Mr. Atkin", and show this man
how useless such bravado is."
The ex-police officer, whom Trevor thought entirely
devoted to his interests, appeared in the doorway, and
.the detected sharper grew white as death.
"You here, Atkins? What does this conspiracy
against me mean ?" he huskily asked.
"It only means that you have been tracked by me
through every step you've taken for months past,
and you only avoided being nabbed before you left
London by going off so suddenly. I soon found
the clue again, and followed you up; old Spring
knows all your dodges, so you needn't hold out any
false light."
At length Mr. Chard found voice to ask— chap 40
"What does this mean ?"
"That you've been regularly bamboozled by a
pretty woman, as many an old chap has been before
you, sir; and that you have come mighty nigh
giving your niece to a good-for-nothing scamp," said
Atkins.
Ashton made a sign to him to be silent, and,
placing Rose on a seat, he took Mr. Chard aside, and
said to him :
"This man is not the son of Thomas Trevor—he is
a swindler and an adventurer; but you have married
his sister, and for the sake of that connection, and
the name he bears, I will permit him to escape the
penalty due to his conduct."
"His zister ! you speak in riddles, sir; I cannot
understand you," gasped the bewildered dupe, with
an expression of doubt and anguish upon his face
which was pitiable to behold. " I—l am quite in the
dark as to the meaning of all this."
A soft voice spoke beside him, and a light touch
that could lead him through the world, fell upon his