The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-07-17 00:00:00

ATHERSTONE GRANGE.

BY TUE AUTHOR OF

°Arlan Thornton," "Effie Baird," "Almost a
. • Criminal," " Leonora's Lega,q," c.

CHAPTER XIX.
READY FOR HER GRAVE.
Cross her hands humbly,
As if praying dumbly,
Over her breast—HOOD.
XiGter fell over the good ship Psyche,/ and her living
freight settled down into something like calmness
after the painful excitement of the day. Beryl
Atherstone lay in her berth, the stewardess, at her
earnest request, occupying the one made vacant by
Poor Ursula's death. Her terror at being left alone
is that tiny place was quite unnatural; though
only a thin planking separated her from the ladies in
the next berth, she seemed to be all by herself, and
begged the woman to stay with her. She was terribly
Prostrated, and the captain was really alarmed about
tier condition. Dr. Twist, however, as of a different
°pinion.
"She'll be all right in a day or two," he said. "She's
_only a bit shaken. A girl who is going home to
Latierit £20,000 a year won't let a little frighten her
ont of the world. Miss Beryl Atherstone is tolerably
Strong-minded, or I'm very much mistaken."
"I don't believe you like the poor thing, Twist,"
%id the captain, looking curiously at his friend.
"To tell the truth, Bolton, I don't."
s' Why ?"
Ah, there you puzzle me. You know what
etakespeare Says:
" 'There are more things in heaven and earth,
Eforatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'
"And I always take unaccountable dislikes to those
Who belong to that category. Ido not like this girl,
and I shall find out why before the voyage is over.
Ttle feeling came upon me when she came screaming
11P to say her fiiend was dead, and I can't get rid of

"You are an odd fish, Twist."
"I've seen a lot of life, my boy, and learned to
wstrust most of my fellow-men, that's all. What a
glorious moon !"
" Yes ; so far
this
young geld mine acorns to have
ur ought us lucky weather. Is her fortune really
t 20,000 ?"
, "More or less per annum. Perhaps I drew the
°ow a little, but it's big enough to make one's mouth
Water. There's a splendid estate and a fine house, and
!leaps of back rents and funded money, all coming
to this slip of a girl. And if she don't play the deuce
With it," added the doctor to himself, "I never
Itad a face aright in my life."
Re stayed on deck late, as the night was so fine,
poking and looking dreamily out over the sea.
rresently he caught himself nodding, and roused him-
aelf with a shrug and a laugh, to see cne of the sailors
Btanding opposite him.
The man touched his cap respectfully.
"Beg pardon, sir," he began.
"Ah, I was asleep, I think," said the doctor, shaking
'4ltself, with a laugh. "Want me, my man ?"
If you please, sir."
"Someone ill in the fore cabin, eh ?"
"No, sir; it's the boy—him as was stowed away."
r,„"Ob,.that young rascal. What has he been doing?
'-'atiLlbing about and damaging himself, I suppose."
"No, sir; he ain't mischievous. He's quiet enough,
Cough the cheekiest young urchin as ever I see with
"Is tongue. I think he won't talk no more. He's
took.*

"Re's what?"
"Took, sir, for death,"
"What ails him ?"

"Fits, sir, that hard that there's no holding him
When his eyes turns up, and his fists clutches, and
L'uere's no sense to be got out of him. We've done all
that we could, and if you'd come and see what ails
1444 we'd be very glad."
"Pll come. What have you done ?"
'Well, sir, we tried to give him a drop of rum, but
tifte on it went into his mouth; and then we shook
'UM, and we've poured pretty nigh two buckets of
Water over him. It don't seem any use."
"Well, perhaps it's hardly the treatment for the
cOmplaint," said Doctor Twist. "I'll see what I can
olo.n
, Re went to the stifling little den where the crew
"acl their berths, and there he found Jack Blogg in
!bout as deplorable a state as could well be. He had
"come to," as the men expressed it, to a
certain extent—that is, he had left off kicking and
!lutching his hands and teeth, and was lying on the
lioor, moaning and shivering violently. It was no
!ase of shamming, as had been charitably suggested
17' one or two of the more callous of the men. Jack
'iogg was really very ill, and Dr. Twist saw in a
woment that he was so.
"Get him into a dry shirt, some of you," he said,
;1411,c1 put him into his berth. it's as much as his
:8 worth to let him lie in that state. Go aft for a
aro of brandy, someone, and get a little hot water
the cook's galley."
the"hile his orders were being executed he questioned
men, but could get at nothing tending to explain
111,(3 Cause of Jack Blogg's illness. He had proved him-
',l'd a very useful boy, and the men were well disposed
towards him, his only fault appearing to be his
'Cheek," as they told the doctor. His sharp wits and
Untiring tongue were always ready with a retort, no
toatter what was said to him.
"Had anyone been thrashing him?" the doctor
"Ropes' ends don't agree with every boy, and
‘OO much beating might easily bring on a fit."
, But he was assured that the lad had not been
touched, "There was never any call to beat him,"
the men declared. He worked well and willingly,
Mcl it was quite certain that he was not starved. The
rations on board the Psyche were good and decently
• 13e1ved out, and no cne had any cause of complaint in
that way.
Ml that Dr. Twist could gather was, that the boy
d • been missed from his berth by the man next to
and almost before any remark had been made he
'44:1 come tumbling down the steps, "screeching like
a Young tiger cat," and had fallen on the floor in
Ong convulsions. Furthermore, it had been stated
Lou he had been seen prowling round that part of the
where "it" lay (the men could not bring them-
'elves to speak in any other fashion of poor Ursula
Itlhodes), and that he seemed to want to see the corpse,
hough for what reason no one could divine. It would
llot have been very difficult. The corpse lay, rever-
!ntly disposed and covered with white sheets and soft
ukets, on the grating from which, in the morning,
At Would be shot into the blue water. The whole was
covered with tarpaulin, and secured, in case of any
eZtra rolling of the ship; but it would have been
Y for a boy like Jack Blogg to get a sight of the
glee of the body if he had been so disposed. The sail-
raker's part of the business had been left till the day-
ght of the morrow—the afternoon was too far
4JlVanced at the time of the poor girl's death for it to
ue done that day. Perhaps if it had, Jack Blogg
blight have been saved from his fits for that night at
least.

lie was very ill now, and it took some little time,
7en with the assistance of hot brandy and water and
mrY clothes, to bring him back to his senses; and even
17„hen they did return he was terribly frightened.
visions of condign punishment for the trouble he
had given flitted before his eyes, and his terror was
ridiculous in the extreme.
te;l didn't mean to be took, sir," he said, with chat-
ing teeth. "It was all along of—"
• "Of what ?"
But Master Blogg seemed as though he had said too
riluch, and stopped, and it was with great dif-
4culty that the doctor extracted any more from him.
"Along of seeing it, sir," he said. "I wanted to
see it, and I did; and I never saw a body as frightened
tile so in all my life before."
This was enigmatical, to say the least of it, for Dr.
;Ivvist had remarked on the extreme placidity of the
ntures of poor Ursula Rhodes. The boy must have
"kenatural horror of death inherent in some people.
"Did you ever see a corpse before, my lad ?" he
kaked.
"Scores, sir."
"Ever touched one?"
"Lots of times—drowned people and such, on the
betteh at Melbourne."
"And were you not afraid of them 7"
"Not a bit."
"But you were of her 7"
"Yes."
Why?"
But Jack could not be brought to tell why.
"Because I knowed Miss Rhodes by sight when she
pa alive, I suppose," was all he could say, and Dr.
r.rwist went back to his own dominions thinking deeply.
gave Jack Blogg enough brandy-and-water to
'!4•Eure his having a night's rest. and laid a strict in-
,
'lltletiou on the men that he was to be allowed to
sleep in peace.
t " What has frightened the boy like this?" :he
enght to himself, " for it is fright, there's no mis-
'ke about that. I'll take a look at Miss Rhodes
taYself."

-Re—cal" led one of the wateh to bring him a lantern,
,111 d with the man in niost unwilling attendance,
'alked to the place where the dead girl lay. He re-
the covering from the placid face, now rigid
- the icy coldness of death, and looked long and
te,arilestly at the placid face. Then he pushed aside
long, rippling hair, that had been neatly arranged
the temples in rather a prim style by the woman
ho had straightened the corpse, and finally cut off a
4ittle bit and put it in his pocket-book.
"To send to her friends," he said to the man, who
,Q.eked rather surprised at his proceedings. "I don't
(1:112k. anyone else has thought of it. See that no one
isturbs this place any more. I find that lad Blogg
- i
8 been poking about here. Keep him off fhe comes
4gainp

I don't know where he don't poke and spy where
has no businesc," said the man gruffly. nil take
—p he don't come here no more, your honour."
theualiek Blogg was better the next morning, and before
our fixed for the funeral was summoned to the
v-,-:&toes cabin, where that gentleman talked to him
kg earnestly. When he dismissed him, Dr. Twist's
011`-€2 Wore a curious, puzzled look, and, with his hand
Jhe or, he detained the lad for another minute.
442., can't believe you," he sail " I'm afraid you
vo'been telling me a lie."

Wish I may die, if I have, sir," said the boy, blub-
bering. "It's Gospel truth. You'll find it out some-
time."

"Well, get away; and if I hear of your saying a
word to anyone, mind, I'll have you given to ''the
police the minute we get to England. The laws are
severe there, and there is no knowing what they
may do to you. Don't you know that every meal you
eat on board this ship you are defrauding her owners?
You will be punished as a thief."
Jack Blogg had never been out of Melbourne in his
life, and had a very vague idea of what England and
English laws might be like, and he was terribly
frightened.
"Will they hang me sir ?" he asked, piteously.
" I don't know," rep lied the doctor, gravely. "They
might."
And with the fear of the gallows before his eyes,
Jack promised abjectly to be discreet, and kept his
word. The fright and the illness it had produced had
a good effect upon his tongue and his manners, and
he was particularly docile and obedient ever after-
wards.

There was not a great deal to be done in preparation
for the funeral of the next day after the death. The
doctor duly certified the cause, and the corpse was
promptly prepared for its ocean grave. Beryl's grief
was pitiable. Everyone did their best to cheer and
soothe her, but she could not be comforted.
"Ursula was the only friend I had in the world,"
she said, sobbing bitterly. "And now I'm all alone.
I wish I had died instead of her."

They tried as much as they could to keep all sight
or knowledge of the preparations for the burial from
her, but it was impossible to do so entirely; and when
she learned that the funeral was fixed for noon that
day, her fright and agitation was quite uncon-
trollable.

" Oh, not in the sea !" she begged. "Not in the
cold pitiless sea! Oh, Ursula! Ursula ! What shall I
do? You shall not bury her so
Captain Bolton sat down by the sobbing girl, and
drew her close to his sido, as though she had been a
daughter of his own.
"It mdst be done, my dear," he said. "What else
could we do ?" _ _

"What else? Take her to England, and let her lie
in consecrated ground. Oh, what can I say to the
poor old woman, who gave her darling to me, when she
asks me where she lies? Let me take her home,
Captain Bolton—let me take her home !"
She burst into a paroxysm of sobs and cries, and the
captain felt his own eyes wet. Dr. Twist came up at
that moment, bud beeliOued 111 M away.

"Leave her to me," he said, quietly.
her to reason."

"I'll bring

"But you are so hard, Twist."
"It is necessary to be so sometimes. Miss Ather-
stone, will you not try to listen to me?"
Beryl was moaning out that they should no.f bury
Ursula in the sea in a wild, incoherent sort of way,
but she stopped at the sound of the firm, resolute
voice.

"We are all very sorry for your forlorn position,"
he said, but without a trace of the captain's tender-
ness, "and we want to do all we can to make your
burden lighter; but what you wish is utterly im-
possible. Are you honouring me with your atten-
tion ?"

"Yes, oh yes."
The sobs had ceased now, and Beryl sat very still,
though with her face hidden in her hands.
"Why is it impossible ?" she asked, after a pause.
"People are taken home to be buried sometimes."
"In very exceptional cases. This is hardly one. If
we were within a day's sail of England no objection
would be made by anyone; but we are al the begin-
ning of a long voyage, and for the sake of every
one in the ship it is necessary that that funeral should
take place at once. is medical officer here I insist
upon it."
"But Mrs. Dalton, Ursula's grandmother-"
"Will accept your statement and mine, I have no
doubt. She will be as well satisfied to hear that
yonder poor girl is committed to the blue water, as
that Captain Bolton risked a mutiny on board by
carrying the corpse to England."
Beryl lifted her head and looked at him. Their eyes
met in earnest, eager scrutiny. All the grief was gone
out of the young heiress's face now, driven away by
the stern, hard manner of Dr. Twist.
"Have it as you will," she said. "I suppose you
mean kindly, but your tone and manner are hard. I
have to ask everyone's pardon for the trouble I have
caused. I will give way no more. Let me know,
please, when all is ready. I wish to be present."
"Better not, my dear, better not," said the captain.
"It might be too much for you."
"It was not too much for me to find her dead,"
said Beryl, bitterly. "I had rather be there,
please."
"As you will, my dear. It is fixed for twelve
o'clock,'
"Thank you, Captain Bolton; you are very kind."
And Beryl rose and walked across the room to her
berth with a firm step and a face from which all traces
of her late passionate emotion had departed. She was
very pale, but there was a fixed, set expression about
her pretty mouth that told of some secret determina-
tion. _ _ .

"No more tears," she said, as she looked througt
the windows of her little cabin over the sparkling sea.
"There's small sympathy with grief in this world. I
must bury my sorrow with her in the sea—with
Ursula, the only link between my old life and my new
one." . .

She shivered slightly, and a dark look came into
her eyes. Very like her dead grandfather she looked
as she stood there communing with herself. All the
Atherstone pride and bitterness were in her face just
then. Leonard Atherstone had seldom looked so—he
had inherited his mother's gentleness; but some of
the family qualities had evidently passed over him to
descend to his daughter. There had been little in
Beryl's placid life with her mother to call forth anger
or resentment, but they were thoroughly roused now.
"He is a cruel man," she muttered, thinking of the
doctor's manner to her—" a hard, cruel man. Well,
well ; perhaps it was best he should be so—he has driven
away my tears, and brought back my senses. I shall
neither be sorrowful nor frightened any mere."
And just at the moment she felt sure she should
not; but the fortitude she intended proved beyond
her power when she came to stand by the corpse of
her friend once more...

"All's ready, miss."
It was the stewardess who spoke, and who was
much surprised to see her charge so calm and quiet.
"I'm glad to see you so much better, miss," she
added, coming for ward to adjust Beryl's hat and
dress.
"I am much better, thank you. Where is it to
be?'
"Dr. Twist's waiting for you, miss. He'll take
you.,,
"The doctor is very kind."
Beryl pulled down her crape veil, and took the arm
of the doctor, who was waiting for her outside. He
could not see her face, but he could feel that she
walked firmly and did not tremble.
(To be continued.)