The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-12 00:00:00

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BARRIER BETWEEN;

REPENTED UNTO DEATH.

CHAPTER XXX.
MRS. PIERRE.

Ross was evidently annoyed at her mamma's ob.
se.rvation, and said, in reply, with some point and
Pique—
" She has no claim on us! She has a much stronger
one than you imagine, for she will become one of our-
selves as soon as propriety will permit."
"'She has, then, confided to you the fact of her
betrothal to your uncle ?"
"She has ; and she expressed herself so charmingly,
that I was touched and pleased at her attachment to
my uncle!'

"Oh, my unsophisticated darling, you know nothing
of the intriguing nature of such a woman as this. She
IS a riddle even to me, and when read through, I am
afraid she will prove anything but noble and true. Do
you for a moment imagine that a brilliant belle like
Airs. Pierre can be fascinated by an elderly gentleman,
Who has nothing about him that can attract a woman
of her stamp? Oh, no; if she has really accepted Mr.
(:hard, the stories about her vast fortune are mere in-
ventions, and she is in pursuit of a husband who can
give stability to her assumed position. It'cannot be
too late to warn your uncle to examine into her ante-
cedents before he makes her his wife. His infatuation
cannot have destroyed all prudence. I must exact a
Promise from him to ascertain who Mrs. Pierre is, and
What is her real connection with Mr. Trevor, before
he commits the folly of marrying a person who may
turn out to be a mere adventurer.
"Oh, Mamma Amy, do not call her by such a name,
Please. lam sure she must be good, or my heart
Would not go out toward her so tenderly as it does.
I know that she has met with heavy pecuniary losses,
for she told me so some time ago, and even if she
accept my uncle from motives_ not altogether

.frorn_'a taint of worldliness,_ she is so gentle, so

able, that she will make him far happier than Aunt
Emily ever did. Mrs. Pierre has had her love dream,
and has seen its object snatched from her in the prime
of life. She respects my uncle, she loves his nearest
connections, and she feels that as his wife she can
ennoble his life. Dear Mamma Amy, do not let the
malicious gossip that has assailed her prevail ever
Your natural sense of justice."
"My child, I listen lovingly to your defence of your
friend, nor am I disposed to judge a sister woman
harshly-. I will suspend my judgment on Mrs. Pierre
until the accusations are clearly made out, and posi-
tively proved. She shall have the benefit of the
doubts that exist in her favour, but I must speak
Plainly to your uncle of the necessity of investigating
the vague rumours that begin to assail her, before he
goes too far to recede honourably."
"I am sure he will not listen to you; but you will
of course do what you feel to be right. In the mean-
time, I will believe her innocent until she is proved
unworthy of my affection."
"DO so, Rose, for I would not willingly destroy the
loving trust of a pure nature, and implant suspicion
in its place. Your uncle will doubtless be here to-
bight, and I will find an kipportunity to speak a few
Words in private with him."
That even'ng Mr. Chard came unaccompanied by
his enchantress, and he seemed evidently annoyed
and disappointed that she was not there before him.
tie managed to slumber throughout the performance,
for he considered music a bore, and felt a sense of
relief when the last vibration of the finest composition
died away upon the air. He was occasionally tempted
to endure such a penance for the attainment of some
Particular object, but this evening he thought the
time interminable. The lovely widow had assured
him that she would be sure to look in upon them
before ten o'clock, and Mr. Chard only aroused him-
self whenever the door opened, in the hope that his
enchantress would enter. _ _ _

At length his impatience was rewarded by the
brilliant vision of Mrs. Fierre in a fancy dress re-
presenting Night; and the floating drapery, spangled
With stars, the crescent that glittered above her
(Illeenly brow, set off her beauty to the greatest ad-
vantage. She explained that she was on her way to
a fancy ball, but could not resist the temptation to
accept the invitation of her dear friends to look in
upon them a few moments.
A gentleman in a domino and quaint costume ac-
companied her, who seemed desirous to maintain his
incognito, but Rose detected Trevor as soon as he
ventured to speak.
"You can't tell who I am, Miss Chard. I'll wager
You my head for a football you can't," he said in a
lugubrious voice from behind his mask.
"As I do not play football, Mr. Trevor, I decline
accepting the wager. But you see you would have
;By Jove how do you know me? I'm sure I
hardly knew myself when I looked in the glass and
Saw what an ugly goblin these things make me look
like._ Aren't they deucedly ugly, now ?" _ _

"Your sex should be indifferent to mere lopks ; it
IS the province of mine to stt a value on externals.
The lords of creation' should seek to charm by some-
thing of more real worth."
" Plenty-of filthy lucre,-for instance. Look at Night
73°Nv ; see how blandly she is flashing the light of her
eves, and her diamonds, upon that innocentold green-
h-orn, your uncle. He is of more substantial worth,
You see, than any of the finebeaux around. No wonder
the robe of Hymen is painted of a saffron tint: it
takes its hue from

Gold! gold! gold! gold!
Bright, and yellow, and hard, and cold,
Molea, graven, hammered, and rolled,
• Heavy to get, and light to hold,
Hoarded, bartered, bought and sold.
'Price of many a crime untold,
Gold! gold! gold! gold!
Good or bad a thousand fold;'
That is the only sensible jingle of rhyrnet I ever
have seen, Miss Chard. Hear how trippingly it
goes__
'Gold! gold! gold! gold!
Heavy to get and hard to hold t'
And how true it is."

" Espec-faiy—in—the last lines," said Rose, inno-
cently—
" g The price of many a crime untold,
_ Good or bad a thousand fold 1' "

rie started and looked keenly at her. Had she
fathomed his base and cruel designs towards herself,
and thrown this out as a hint? Had his accomplice
betrayed him? and a baleful glance was darted from
the shelter of his mask towards the unconscious Mrs.
lerre; she was smiling and talking in her most
charming manner in the circle which had gradually
drawn around her, and Trevor felt reassured. He
said--

"The last line illustrates the different use that will
be made of our disputed inheritance, unless you con-
descend to become its joint possessor, when the decree
IS made in my favour. In your hands, it would pro-
duce good a thousand fold ; in mine, only bad—bad----
sure crop of evil. Doesn't your conscience tell you
that it is your duty to save the poor waif that fate
has stranded at your feet ?"
Rose shook her head.

"I am afraid my conscience is very obtuse, for no
such responsibility has been suggested to it. No, Mr.
Trevor; you must be accountable for your own manner
°f spending your fortune whenever it comes into your
Possession." _

" You acknowledge my right to it, then P'
"I shall do so when the law decides that it is
Yours."

"The km, pooh! I think you claim to be a just
*woman, Miss Chard. If I win I offer to endow you
With the wealth by giving you my hand. If you win,
You cast the son of your old friend into poverty. Is
this right? Can you do it with a clear conscience? No
--there is but one way to settle the matter—marry me.
I love you better than any one else can, though I have
an abrupt way of teliing you so."
"Mr. Trevor," said Rose," I entreat—l insist that
this shall be tho last time you address such language to
Me. If you are really the heir of my god-father, take
every penny you are entitled to claim, use it as you
choose, but leave me to pursue my own ideal of happi-
ness and peace. It is not to be found in a purely
Mercenary marriage, as a union with you would be. I
thought I had already spoken plainly enough, but you
Will not listen to my refusal; you really persecute
Me."
"Because I must win you," he emphatically said.
"I will not take even this cruel rejection as final.
No, Rose; the day shall come in which you will
Voluntarily give me the fair hand I so ardently
covet."
He bowed over the ungloved hand, on which
glittered diamonds of great value, and smiled sar-
donically as he calculated their worth. Yea, he truly
t'oveted ths hand that he might despoil it of its decoraft
tions _ • •

Rose turned away, deeply annoyed at his perti-
nacity. Of late, she never encountered him in the
„most casual manner that he did not seek an oppor-
,unity to speak of his passion for her; and the deep
repulsion of antagonistic natures had taken complete
Possession of her. She recoiled from the glance of
his eyes, the sound of his voice, with a sensation of
Sick loathing, for which she vainly chided herself.
'low Mrs. Pierre could admire—could hold in high
estimation such a man as Trevor, was a mystery to
her; yet he was her friend, almost the only one she
claimed as such. But the vital services he had ren-
dered her gave him strong claims upon her, and Rose's
affectionate heart was ready with an excuse for the
artful woman who had so deeply fascinated her.
A few moments sufficed to throw the spell of her
witchery over everyone in that room, and then with
the brightest of smiles Mrs. Pierre took the arm of
her cavalier and departed. It was not often that she
Went in public with Trevor, for she was very careful
to avoid the appearance of too great intimacy with
bin. She did not wish the gossip of society to link
her name too much with his, for too much was at
stake to permit their true relationship to become
known. Should it be suspected, the claim to the
Trevor estate would be blown to the winds.
Mrs. Pierre was the half-sister of the man for whom
Ehe dared so much. The father of Alfred Trevor
married early in life in the port of New York. He
vas an Englishman, the captain of a merchant vessel
trading across the Atlantic, and soon after the birth
of his son he left New York never to return. His

wife, with whom he had not lived happily, died when
the boy was ten years old, and in another year Alfred
was sent out to Cuba by the command of his father,
who had formed a new connection there with a
wealthy creole, the native descendant of foreign
parents of unmixed white blood.
Captain Trevor did not entirely abandon a seafaring
life; for he made an occasional voyage when the
monotony of a life on shore became too wearisome.
His son always accompanied him, and the associations
he formed both on sea and land did not tend to refine
a nature originally coarse and overbearing.
Alfred grew into a rough, imperious youth, who
tyrannised habitually over a fragile little half sister,
the only survivor of six children, and the latest born.
Yet the little Lonore loved him with all the strength
of her young heart; she would sob over his harshness,
and retreat from personal violence only to creep to his
side again, and beg for forgiveness when she had not
been in fault.

This clinging affection increased with her years, and
to advance the interests of her insatiable tyrant
had been the one thought of her life. When she was
nine years old her mother died,six years later her father
perished at sea, and the wreck of a once ample
property passed into the management of her brother,
as her natural guardian.
There was no one to interfere, and Trevor dissi-
pated, the income; involved the estate more deeply
than ever, and ended by marrying his sister to a
yo,ing boon companion of his own, before she had
completed her seventeenth year.
The story of her life, as related by Mrs. Pierre to
Mrs. Chard had a shadowy resemblance to truth.
She did make a bridal trip to Europe, and her brother
travelled on the same ship. On their voyage her
husband died, and Trevor performed for her tha
services claimed as the promptings of benevolence
alone. He saved for her a fragment of her deceased
husband's estate, which he took care to 02end on his
own pleasures.
A few more years of reckless dissipation, and the
young widow's fortune was a complete wreck.
Nothing remained to her save a heavily mortgaged
plantation, and some valuable jewels which had
belonged to her mother.
When her available resources were all gone, Trevor
returned to his early mode of life; he led a disrepu-
table, rollicking life, and visited nearly every quarter
of the globe. In Paris he encountered his cousin the
son of his father's stay-at-home English brother by
accident at a gambling-house; the similarity of name,
and the remarkable resemblance between them, first
attracted them toward each other.

These congenial spirits cast in their lots together,
and as adventurers spent several years together in
such pursuits as may be inferred from the conversa-
tions held between the two since they have been in-
troduced to the reader. Trevor gradually acquired
the certainty that his kinsman was heir to a large
English estate; that he held locked in his own mind
the secret receptacle in which family papers were con-
cealed which would always enable him to claim his
inheritage. Gayoso, as he called himself, had not
communicated with his family for many years; he
was ignorant whether his father was yet living. So
long as health and luck enabled him to enjoy the wild
and vicious life he led, he was indifferent to his claim
to fortune.

At length his excesses began to tell upon his con-
stitution, and he commissioned his cousin to write to
London and make inquiries about his father. The
reply duly came, with the account of the death of the
elder Trevor, and the disposition he had made of
his fortune, in favour of his god-daughter, Rose
Chard.

By the time this letter reached him, Gayoso had
been attacked by partial paralysis, and found himself
completely in the power of his unprincipled kinsman.
The plan of the latter was soon formed; he would
assume to be the heir, and claim the estate as his
own; but suspecting his intention, Gayoso tenaciously
refused to reveal the hiding-place of the family papers,
till the secret was wrenched from him by the
mysterious power of the clairvoyant.
Through mingled motives of interest and affection,
Trevor enlisted his sister who was now in London,
and moving in good society, in his service. He showed
her that her own ruin was nearly consummated; a
few more months and the mortgage held upon her
property would be foreclosed, and herself. rendered
homeless; he could still raise money ; they would
stick to each other in London, and use all the craft
and guile with which nature had endowed them, to
secure the estate of which they considered themselves
the lawful heirs after the death of the imbecile son,
who could not live many months.
Thus reasoned these two—one thoroughly bad—the
other weak, and fond of luxury. The letters I\lrs.
Pierre brought with her were genuine; forher mother's
connections were people of influence ; but she sedu-
lously concealed the fact of the relationship between
herself and her brother, as that would at once
have defeated his claim to be the son of Thomas
Trevor.

She appeared in London society as an American
widow of vast fortune, sought and obtained the eitirec
to Mrs. Chard's house, in the hope that she could bring
about a marriage between the heiress and her un-
principled brother.
Mrs. Pierre had never seen Gayoso. Trevor assured
her that no harm should happen to their unhappy
cousin; that he should always be well taken care of,
and she quieted the scruples of her conscience in the
best manner she could. Sometimes they would make
themselves heard, as we have seen; but they always
yielded before the influence of her brother. She
loved him yet, though not with the blind affection
which had filled her childish years, and she had
learned to fear him, as helpless women dread un-
scrupulous and ferocious natures.
Mrs. Pierre had become attached to Rose, and she
shrank from the thought of the final wrong; but once
embarked upon that sea of evil, there was no re-
turning. She helplessly felt herself abetting the
crime of abduction, and luring on a young and trusting
heart to ruin and misery. A few more hours and the
die would be cast, which must give her own hand to
Mr. Chard, and place Rose in such a position that only
a miracle could prevent her from becoming the victim
of her lawless brother. She dared not retreat now;
shrink as she might from the consummation to which
all her efforts had so long tended, she felt that she
was powerless to avert the consequences of her own
acts.

Immediately after Mrs. Pierre's departure, Mr.
Chard rose to go. Mrs. Chard requested him to cal
at an early hour on the following morning, as she had
business cf importance to confer with him about.
Suspecting its nature, and resolute to show her at
once that his mind was unalterably made up to make
the fair widow his wife, he came in with an expression
of elation upon his features, and a will of adamant in
his bosom. He carelessly said :
"I believe I know beforehand what you intend to
say, Amy; and I think it as well to tell you that it
will be time lost to attempt to change my will."
" I know, that, Mr. Chard ; but where the question
is one of such vital importance, I must speak even
if it should prove in vain. Both your .happiness and
respectability are involved in this matter, and you
should not enter into a union for life with the rash
ardour of a boy of eighteen. You will listen to me, I
hop e?"
"No, madam, I will not listen to you. I will not
have a breath, even from your lips, sully the fair fame
of the woman who is to become my wife. I may be
an old fool, and I daresav I am. but I love her, Amy :
tove her as I never loved in the days of my youth.
She is the most exquisite of women! I once made
a marriage of convenience, but in this my heart is
engaged. I would take Lonore to my bosom were
she penniless, homeless, outcast, and give her all that
fortune has bestowed on me, feeling that in so doing
I conferred honour upon myself, but more on her.
Now, Amy, have you the heart to repeat to me all
the gossip which fools and knaves are uttering
against her? I tell you I close my ears to it; I will
lift her above it, and when she bears my name, I will
make them afraid to breathe a syllable derogatory to
her."

Mr. Chard's figure seemed to dilate, and acquire a
dignity it had never before possessed. For the first
time in his life, his sister saw him really aroused and
in earnest. His first wife had been a silly butterfly of
fashion, who treated him with civility, but made him
feel every day that he was of far less importance to
her happiness than a magnificent dress or a fine
parure of jewels. He had never known the sweet
flattery of affection, and its skilful simulation by the
enchanting widow had completely enthralled him. In
her defence, Mr. Chard felt as chivalric as the most
devoted knight-errant of ancient days, and the bare
thought of losing her aroused all that was antagonistic
in his nature.

Mrs. Chard had respect for any genuine feeling, and
with a sigh she said—
"I can do nothing, then; but I fear that you will
bitterly regret the infatuation that leads you to give
your hand to this beautiful siren. At least promise
me that you will learn something of her former life
before you take the irrevocable step which renders
her reputation of vital importance to you."
"Quiet your fears, Amy. I am going to her own
hornet() claim her; if her pretensions are false, she
would scarcely take me where I can learn her whole
hist*. I would have mairied her here, and now,
but she would not consent to our union so soon after
Emily's death. For my part, I let the dead past
bury its dead,' and greet the new sunshine as it falls
upon me with deeper gratitude than I ever felt for
that which has passed away. Poor Emily did not
seek to make me happy, and my fortune purchased
all that was necessary to make her so. She rests in
peace, and I confess to you that her loss did not
move me half as much as does the possibility that
my new love may be separated from me."
"You are infatuated, brother; and I am afraid
that the awalienicg from your dream will be terrible
indeed." _ -

"Well—yes---[ am infatuated, and no true love is
worth much unless i" has some such element about it.
I will not believe a word against Mrs. Pierre. I ask
of you to sustain her against her enemies, by such
support as you well know how to give. I insist that
Rose shall show her respect for my future wife by
seeing her on the steamer before she leaves. I will
take her down tn ( iray.esend myself, and keep her
under my own protection, I assure you,"
"I am sorry that you have asked this, b,ecause it is
my wish abpve all things to keep Rose free from
doubtful associations. If you choose to make Mrs.
Pierre your wife, I cannot, of course, prevent it; but
I must think that she has thrown her spells over you,
to obtain power over the fate of your niece, that she
may begow her hand on Mr. Trevor, between whom

and herself an intimate relation exists; of what nature
you should be anxious to fathom. I beg Mr. Chard,
that you will not insist on taking Rose to the
steamer."

"But I do insist; and I think you guilty of disin-
genuousness, Amy, in speaking thus of Trevor and
Lonore. She explained to you the origin of her in-
timacy with him, and you accepted that explanation.
I do not ask you to permit Rose to see her off, but I
demand it as the right of my future wife to have this,
courtesy extended to her. I shall call for Rose at four
o'clock in the afternoon of the day we sail. We go at
night, and I will arrange for her safe return. I shall
be irrevocably offended if she is not ready to accom-
pany me."
He arose, bowed stiffly, and seemed to be waiting
for her decision. Mrs. Chard did not wish to have a
rupture with her brother-in-law, and she thought it
better to choose the lesser evil of the two; she there-
fore reluctantly said:
"Rose will be obedient to your commands, for she
wishes to see Mrs. Pierre again, and I cannot place
my authority in opposition to her wishes and your
own. I trust that no evil result to my child will
spring from it, though I feel a strange unwillingness
to permit her to go, even with you."
" Ta.sh! nonsense! your imagination has played you
absurd tricks before to-day, Amy. With me nothing
that is not for Rose's good can happen to her, so quiet
your fears. I shall expect to find her ready at the hour
named. Good morning, madam."
As Mr. Chard passed out, a neat-looking maid-
servant, who stood in the back part of the hall watch-
ing for his appearance, was beckoned towards him.
lie hurriedly whispered:
"it is all right, give warning as if about to leave;
pack your young lady's things, and have the trunks
taken out as your own. Go to Charing-cross, and
thence to join the steamer at Gravesend as I told you;
my man will meet you and put you on board safely.
Remember that it is only a pleasure trip I am securing
for Miss Chard, to which her mother is (opposed, but
for your life do not betray me to Miss Rose, as that
would spoil my plan."
The girl nodded intelligently, for she knew enough
of her young lady's wishes to be aware that she was
much disappointed in foregoing the invitation of Mrs.
Pierre, and she thought it an agreeable ruse on the part
of Mr. Chard to give his niece a pleasurable surprise.
She was diligent and expert in the performance of her
task, and at the appointed hour the maid with her own
wardrobe, and a sufficient supply from that of her
young mistress to serve her in the tropical land to
which they were bound, were safely bestowed upon
the steamer.

Kate was instructed to keep herself out of sight
until Rose was informed of the trick played upon her
by her grave and respectable uncle, when Mrs. Pierre
and he would so have engaged her attention that the
steamer would have started and it would be too late
to return to the protection of her mother's roof.
Everything thus arranged for the successful abduc-
tion of Rose, Mrs. Pierre held a parting interview
with Trevor in which their final plans were settled.
As they separated, he said—
"l advise you, Lonore, to make your silly old
captive marry you before you reach Mirandola. It
will be the only sure way to chain him to your galley,
and he is so stupidly in love with you, that by using
a little honey every day, and making him believe that
a your g dashing woman like you is attached to him
for himself, you can live in clover all the balance of
your days."
"I will think of it; nay, I believe it will be best to
do so," she replied. "Since the sacrifice is to be made,
it does not signify whether it takes place a few days
earlier or later.