The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-20 00:00:00

CALL RIQTITS RESERVED.]
HIDDEN PROOFS.

CHAPTER IV.
She had a surapnour ready to her hand,
A slier boy was none in Engleland.
CHAUCER'S "FRIAR'S TALE."
ArrEn Mr. Rawthorne left the mistress of Ravenside,
that lady retired to her own apartments, giving strict
-orders that her privacy was not to be intruded' upon.
The Lady Marion consequently knew nought of the
departure of her step-son till his note was put into
her hand on the following morning. She felt annoyed
and vexed; she had flattered herself that Mr. Raw-
thorne would have left Maurice, and that her persua-
sions, added to those of Mr. Pulsford, would have
induced the young man to accept the large sum she
Was fully prepared to offer him; and by so doing,
tacitly to acknowledge the stain cast upon his birth.
That part of her plan was a decided failure, and it was
in no very pleasant mood she descended to meet the
lawyer recommended by her brother. The Right
Honourable Talbot Glendower was indebted to Mr.
Pulsford to a considerable amount, and he was glad to
discharge a part of his own obligations, and accommo-
date his sister at the same time, by sending her an
agent who was troubled with few scruples of con-
science. When the Lady Marion entered her breakfast
Parlour, she gazed with surprise upon the odd-looking
Personage who advanced to meet her, bowing at every
Step. In sooth, Mr. Pulsford's appearance was not
Prepossessing. A large head, covered with thick,
black hair, with eyebrows to match beneath which
Peeped out a pair of grey, ferret-looking eyes, sharp
and keen, scanning every corner, and appearing never
to have known rest—a nose of the pug genius, slightly
inclined to turn up at the point—a huge mouth,
garnished with large teeth of ivory whiteness, and
surmounted by a moustache carefully trimmed; a
Short, thick neck, a pair of broad shoulders, long
arms, and a short, squat figure, formed altogether a
tout ensemble so strange, that Lady Marion instinctively
Shrank back. The astute lawyer pretended not to
notice the movement as he approached the lady. The
, baroness slightly glancing at a letter which he handed
I her, assured Mr. Pulsford she was glad to see him, and
• would confet with him upon business as soon as she
had breakfasted.
When introduced again to his fair client, Mr. Puls-
ford listened with the most deferential attention to
the lady's story concerning Maurice and the loss of the
Will ; but the sharp, cunning glances he ever and anon
cast upon her as she proceeded in the narrative, were
more annoying than Mr. Rawthorne's look of angry defi-
ance; and a slight smile, though instantly suppressed
told her she was doubted.
"Very strange. You have looked everywhere, my
lady ?"
"I believe so," was the haughty reply. "I did not
interfere with the search."
"Well—well; all safe—all right. They must prove
the first marriage."
"I assure you, Mr. Pulsford, there was no first
Marriage."
When Mr. Pulsford retired, he sought the steward,
fluttering as he went along
"Clever woman !—Should like to know if will is
destroyed or hidden.—Marriage certificate stowed
away somewhere.—Could only find it !—Have her
then." And the lawyer rubbed his hands and chuckled
St the thought.
"I wonder what Talbot meant by sending me such
' a fellow," soliloquised Lady Marion. "He says in his
letter he is clever. lam sure he is cunning; he may
he useful, though. I must make all I can of the
Ravenside property. Should Maurice succeed in his
Claim hereafter, he is too generous to ask me
to refund; but I should have nothing to fall back upon
except my dowry, and I could not ask him to portion
Alfred. Have I indeed acted wisely ?"
The large mirror which hung opposite the lady
answered her question. The haggard and care-worn
features, the restless and unquiet eye, told already of
the remorse within ; and she turned away, with a deep
nigh, to meet the reproaches of Alfred, who loudly in-
.- Slated upon Maurice being recalled.
But, if Maurice returns, you will not be master of
enside, Alfred."
"What care I for Ravenside?"
"You will think differently some day, you wayward
bnY. So far," said Lady Marion, mentally, when her
Son had left the room, "I have sown the wind, and
am reaping the whirlwind."
We left Pulsford making the best of his way to tho
' old steward's apartment, who received him very coldly.
Alr. Mapleton had served two generations of the house
of Glanville, and was warmly attached to Maurice. He
could not understand the conduct of his lady, and dis-
liked her solicitor's appearance exceedingly. But Mr.
Pulsford had not won his way so far in the world to
be daunted by cold looks. He stayed a week at Raven-
Side, spending his days in taking a minute survey of
the property, or in finding flawsta leases, by which ho
might be enabled to raise rents or eject tenants; and
his nights, when opportunity offered, in rambling
about the old house, endeavouring to discover docu-
Talents which he felt certain were concealed somewhere,
for he had ascertained the tastes and habits of the late
oWner. But though he did not succeed in finding the
Papers he anxiously sought, he succeeded admirably in
rendering himself and his employer detested by those
Who had hitherto looked up with love and veneration
ta the family; and the morning after he left Raven-
-aide, Mr. Mapleton resigned his situation, assuring
Lady Glanville that she would live to regret placing
confidence in a man without honour or principle.
" Pshaw, Marion !" said the Right Honourable
Talbot, a few days afterwards, when he paid his sister
S visit of condolence, "we will soon send you another
steward. He's a capital fellow, Pulsford, and manages
to make the most of property—he'll double your rent-
roll shortly."
"But the tenants, Talbot."
"Ah ! the people that work and pay. Why, Glen-
. 'vine let them off too easily; they must work harder
and pay more—that's my idea; good, isn't it ?—ha!
ha!" _
Leaving Talbot Glendower and his sister to discuss
the duties and the rights of property—premising that,
like many tyrants, they may find that to abuse or
neglect the one, may in time endanger the possession
of the other—we return to Maurice, whom we left
asleep at a roadside inn.
Arrived in town, the two lawyers held a consulta-
tion concerning their young client.
"You must choose a guardian, Maurice, for the
.7ear of your minority which has yet to run," said Mr.
Rawthorne; "and we must then give notice to the
tenants to hold their rents in abeyance, whilst I take
n journey to the Continent, and endeavour to unravel
th.iS mystery. You will remain here as Mr. Charlton's
guest.,
The necessary preliminaries settled, Mr. Rawthorne
, departed, and was away a month, the principal part of
Which time Maurice spent in poring over the old folios
and law books in the solicitor's office.
" Well, Maurice, my boy," said the old lawyer, as he
grasped his young friend's hand warmly on his return,
" I have failed in my mission. I discovered the nurse,
:who took you to Geneva, and from her I ascertained
the name and situation of the place where your mother
resided, which was a small village on the frontiers of
• Switzerland; but I could find no trace of either
Marriage or baptism; the old cure remembered both
Your parents, and gave me some information which
rnaY be useful at a future period, but it has no
bearing -on your present fortunes. It would be
fOily to risk a lawsuit under these circumstances; so
Your claim must rest for a time."
"he it so, my dear sir," was the reply. "I am
°11,15' sorry you have taken so much trouble in vain;
I do not fear to do battle manfully with the world in
• .801ne shape. Were my means not so limited, I should
• chose the law as my profession; as it is, what do you
advise ?"
, "The law, Maurice," said Mr. Rawthorne, after a
e
.ne,thened pause, "is an uncertain profession;
thouspids of young men have entered upon its study
'With vigons of the woolsack before their eyes, and
after years spent in the vain hope that their toil and
talent would be appreciated, have sunk into poverty,
• 3na died unnoticed and unknown. Nevertheless, if
•You
.feel that you can read studiously, and toil
Patiently for a long period without hope or reward,
Which may come at last, you shall have every assis-
tance I can give you. As far as pecuniary matters go,
take no thought; I am, as you know, a bachelor,
have no near relatives, and no one has greater claims
upon me than your father's son. No denial, Maurice'
You shall pay me when you are Baron Ravenside, or,
better still, when you win a silk gown by your own
industry."
On the day that Lady Glanville took possession of
her splendid mansion in Belgravia, Maurice became
the tenant of a suite of chambers in Gray's Inn, with
tho faithful William for his attendant.

CHAPTER V.
Old father Time, though he looks so meek,
And his feet scarce seem to move,
Is stealinz the bloom from beauty's cheek,
And the light from the eye of love.
Be pilfers the toy from the gamesome boy,
As he leads him to manhood's prime;
• And the raven tress in its loveliness

_
tv, 18 whitened by father Tune.
42' :ars have elapsed since our story commenced,
-4,11 d we have left alike the green alleys, the winding
uroohs, and sunny glades of Ravenside, with the quiet
orridors and queer nooks and corners, where huge
:°ll-hound receptacles, filled with musty parchments
deeds) Consigned by thriftless heils to thrifty
,Nyyers, garnish the rooms of the modern Knighti
4eruPlars, who wield the pen instead of the sword.
our scene opens in a crowded court, with an eager
4Uditory, for the trial is an interesting one, and ti
lawyer of grea6 promise is the advocate for the