The Northern Guardian. — 1893-10-13 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

ALL RIGHTS ASSERTED.] CATHERINE'S MISTAKE.  A SECRET FOR YEARS.  CHAPTER XLVII. (Continued.)  "No, I don't think anything of the kind. Do you suppose I never have any gentlemen acquaintance to pay me visits? Now, sit down, Cle, and don't look so white."  In another minute the door opened, and Mix& entered. Mrs. Faunce rushed from the sofa, and flung her arms round his neck. He submitted with a very bad grace to her affectionate greeting, and when it was over, threw his hat down, tore off hie glovea, arid turned an eye of much disfavour on the shrinking Cleland. . - • • ...- -  " You-tittle foot! to put your foot in it like this! Why couldn't you wait till the farce was played Out? It would have made no difference to you in the end, but now you have just gone and spoilt all the fun. Miss Waco suspects something, and has bolted." "From Redfern?"  " Yes, clean gone, and I'm glad of it. She was a devilish sort Of woman—got such confounded eyes— watch, watch, watch a fellow all day long. That reminds me, I'm so horrid dry; haven't you got a drink of something; Helen?" "Yea, to be sure, my darling boy. In the little cupboard, Cie. You have the key." "I—l am afraid I cannot find it, mamma. I have quite forgotten where I put it." And she looked with an imploring expression at her mother as she said it.  "Oh, never mind," sneered Maicall ; "I can See what sort of a housskeeper you have got, Nell. She was always close-fisted enough for anything. Never mind, I'll ring for something present'y. But you don't risk for news, seanserow—eh 2 don't you want to know how the dad is?" Cleland was silent. Her hatred and abhorrence of this creature were beyond expression. She could not open her lips to utter a word to him. Sick and faint, she bent over the dog, and tried to drown the sound of his odious voice; but it continued in this Strain :  °That beast of a man, Helen—your husbanct— has not got back to Redfern yet; he is somewhere in London now. I am so afraid this Catherine has got wind of you somehow, or why should she have bolted ? In that case, you see, there will be no marriage-- consequently, no fun for us. Bah ! but I hope he'll do it, and go to gaol for fourteen years, .at Imst, and I shall be free at last."  "You don't suppose George Ingestre will eves-live to go to gaol?" said the lady. "Be will commit suicide first, Max, and then my girl will come into a nice little fortune, I hope.'' "What, Cleland!" he exclaimed, looking over to where she crouched. " Not a bit of it. Ile made his will not many months ago, and I know what's in it. Cle won't have much, I can tell you. Ross WAS the favourite; besides the entail, he was to have had a whole heap of money, made by the saleof the Jamaica estate."  "Y, but of course, as Ross is gone, his only sister will have it.'  .oh, will she? Then! don't think so, that's all."  No, but Maxall, do you know—know for certain —who will have it ? "  ",Yes. He told me who the money should go to if Ross died."  "Who For God's sake tell me who?" "Myself!" and he chuckled afoud. "To you: Maxall ! you!"  To  Cleland raised her head and looked steadfastly It the speaker. He had forgotten her presence, and saw not th.?. horror-accusing eyes fixed on him. At the next sentence his voice fell to a whisper, though; and the conversation continued so until the room grew dark and cold, for Cle had let the file out. With her bee hidden in her lap, she had paid no attention to the expiring embers in the gprate. "Then, Mairell, you have left Redfern for good? pNever wind her, she is fast asleep.) Ycu do not mean to go back?" said the woman, rising stealthily from her seat.  " No, I'll never go back, Helen; the place gives me the blues," be said, shuddering. " No, we'll ;wait,* bit, and see how things turn out, and W they do so—as is we expect- -that is toy, if lagestre petit turmspertecl or commits suicide, and. I tuoble into ttat_niorkey,  why, well pack up and start for Mtry. ean't nve here; it's no use. Oh, you're going to get something to drink—that's right, my tongue is parched with talking. Drink, drink, blessed drink h.t hOUld do without it ?"  She had secreted a bottle of spirits under the sofapillow, and brought it out, with a stealthy look at her sleeping daughter. Then, very noiselessly, She fetched two glasses, and placed them on the table, sitting down atter thlt, with a sigh of delightful relief. "Yes, Maxall, dear, your plan is an exoellent one; Italy is a capital place --Naples especially. But what a good thing it was for you that Ross went off so suddenly as he did. You would have had to wait----" " What the deuce are you always bringing him up for? I hate it. Don't do it again. How dark the room is--beastly dark! Get a light; I can't see to 1111. my glass." "A moment, Max. I just want to ask you what I am to do with Cleland.' "Curse Cleland! Poison her, for what I care." " Nonsense ! I must turn her to account, somehow or other, now she is with me." "Get ^ tight, wit! you ? " And here follw,d some more foul words.  She obeyed, struck a light, and lit a wrached candle. Cie still slept, or seemed to do so; and the two drunkarda sat over their beloved alcohol and drank on!