The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-17
0heG,telli(e
FOULPLAY.
a N o We L..
by cnAs. READE AND DION BoUo1cAvIr.
! N o " r. L
CHAPTER XVI.

hearts; and at sight OF Helen's father
the baser one ceased to beat for while
He ran to General Rolleston, SHOOK
him warmly by the hand, and welcom
ed him to England with sparkling eyes
1t Is pleasant TO be SO welcomed, and
the stately soldier returned his grasp II
kind. ,
as Helen with you, sir ?" said Ward
law, making movement 10 go to The
door: for he thought she must be out
side in the cab.
mo, she is moi. ;" said General ROLES
"There, now" said Arthur, "tha
cruel father of mine has broken his
promise, and carried her OIL to Elm
treesw
Al this moment Wardlaw senior re-
turned, to tell Arthur he had just been
too late to meet the Rollestons. so
here he isl" said he; and there were
fresh greetings.
.'WeIl, but" said Arthur. "where is
Helen
II think it is who ought TO ask the
question:" said Rolleston, gravely. Il
teleHraphed you at Elm-trees, think
ing OF course she would come with
you to meet me at the station. 1t does
not much matter, a few hours; but her
health wis declining when she left me.
How is my child, MIR. Wardlaw? Pray
tell me the truth"
Both The Waldlaws looked at one
another, and at General Rolleston, and
the elder Wnrdlaw said there was GER
tAinly some misunderstanding here.
1--WE fully believed that your daughter
was coming home with you III Inc
Shannon" .....
Come home with me? Why, of
course not. She sailed three weeks be-
fore me. Good Heavens! Has she not
arrIved?"
mo" replied old wardlaw, 1--WE
have neither seen nor heard of her."
"Why, what ship did she sail inf" said
Arthur.
"In the Proserpine."
CHAPTER XVII.
Arthur wardlRw fixed on the speak
er IA gaze full of horror; his jaw fell;
livid pallor spread over his features; he
echoed in a hoarse whisper, 1.-THE Pros
erpine!" and turned his scared eyes
upon Wylie, who was himself leaning
against the wall, his stalwart frame be-
ginning to tremble.
1.-THE sick GIRL" murmured Wylie,
and a cold sweat gathered on his brow.
General Rolleston looked from one TO
another with strange misgivings, which
soon deepened into a sense of some ter
rible calamity, for now strong con-
vuIsion swelied Arthur WaIdlaw's
heart; his face worked fearIully; and
with a sharp and sudden cry, he iell for
ward on the table, and his fathers arm
alone prevented him from sinking like
IA dead man on the floor. Yet though
crushed and helpless. he was not insen-
sible; that blessing was denied him.
General RolIestnn implored an expla-
nation.
Wyiie, with downcast and averted
face, began to stAmmer a few discon-
nected and unintelligible words; but
old Wardlaw silenced him and said,
with much feeling, LET none but a
father tell him. My poor, poor friend,
The ProserPinei How can ! say il3'
"Lost at sea-" Eroaned Wylie.
At these fatal words the old warriors
countenaucc grew rigid his large, bOny
hands gripped the back OF the chair on
which lie leaned, and were white with
their own convulsive force; and he
bowed his head under the blow, with
out one word.
His was an agony too great and mute
to be spoken to; and there was silence
in the room, broken only by the hyster-
ical means of the miserable plotter,
who had drawn down this calamity on
his own head. He was in no state TO
be left alone; and even the bereaVed
found pity in his desolate heart for one
who loved his lost child SO well; and
tween them, in IL helpless and pitiable
condition.
CHAPTER XVIIL
Bot this utter prostration of his con.
iederate began TO alarm Wylie, and
rouse him to exertiou. Certainly, he
WAS very sorry for what he had done,
and would have undOne it and forfeit.
ed his G3, 900 in a moment, II he could.
But, as he could not undo the crime, he
was all the more determined to reap
the reward. Why, that G3.OOO. for
aught he knew, was the price of his
soul; and he was not the man to let his
soul go gratis.
He finished the rest of the brandy,
and went after his men, to keep them
true to him by promises; but the next
day he came 10 the Office i'll FenchuTch
Street, and asked an1iously for Ward
law. Wnrdlaw had not arrived. lie
waited but the merchant never came;
and Michael told him, with consider
able an xiety, that this WIS the first time
his young master had missed coming
this five years.
In course of the day, several under
writer's came in, with long faces, tower.
ify the report which had now reached
Lloyd's, that the PToserpine had toun-
dered at sea.
at is too true" said Michael; "nud
poor Mr.. Wylie here has barely escaped
with his life. He was Lnnte of the ship,
gentlemen"
Upon. this, each visitor questioned
Wylie, and Wylie returned the same
smooth answer to all inquiries: one
heavy gale after another mad so tried
the ship that her seams had opened,
and let in more water than all the
exertions of the crew and passengers
could discharge; at last, they had taken
to the boats; the lOng.boat had been
picked up: the cutter had never been
heard of since.
They nearly all asked after the ships
II have got 1t safe at home," said he.
''It was in my pocket all the time"
Some asked him where the other
survivors were. He told them i've had
shipped on board the Maria, and three
were with him .at Poplar, one disabled
by the hardships they had all endured.
One or two complained angrily of Mr..
Wardlaw's absence at such tune.
swell, good gentlemen" said Wylie,
"I'll tell We. Mr.. Wardlaw's sweet
heart was aboard the ship. He is
almost broken.hearted. lie Vailed
her more than all the gold, that you
may take your oath on"
This stroke, coming from rough
fellow In a peajacket, who looked as
simple as he was cunning, silenced
suspicion; and SO pleased Michael PEN
fold, that he said, "Mr. Wylie, you
are interested in this business, would
you mind going TO Mr.. Wardlaw's
house. and asking what we are to do
next? I'll give you his address, and a
line, begging him to make an effort
and see you. Business is the hearts
best ointment. Eth, dear Mr.. Wylie,
have known grief too; and 1 think 1
should have gone mad when they sent
NV nnnr snn AWAY. hut for hnsinpsa.