The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

( Copyright.) WASHED ASHORE: A ROMANCE. Dy HORACE LASHBROKE. Aut'tor of "To the Rescue," An Unjust Steward," "The Wreck of the Golden Fleece," "Ainsworth's Folly," "False Pre- tences," &c., &c. CHAPTER XXVI. MR. JUDD. 9 Who was Mr. Judd? The mystery was soon s'>lved. Mr. Judd stepped quite gaily up to Mr. Eraser, Hulloa Maxwell, you didn't expect to see me here he exclaimed. My name is Fraser, sir." Well, well, I heard you'd changed it about two years ago but as Maxwell I've always known you for years, so it comes more natural to me to address you by that name." Mr. Fraser looked white as a sheet; his keen gray eyes glittered with suppressed rage. "You changed your name," continued Mr. Judd, on coming into a small legacy left you by an old lady for whom you had done a little business on the Stock Exchange. She left you the money on the condition that von took her name. Eccentric old body, wesn't s))?.? Ha! ha! I know all about it. What is there I don't know ahout your family? Ha ha "Perhaps, Mr. Judd," said Dr. R >lerts, "you recognise this young lady ?" He turned to Edith Romaine as he spoke. "Recognise her!" exclaimed Mr. Judd. Of course I do I never forget a face I have Once seen." Here he advanced, and took Edith Romaine's hand in his. "Don't you remember, my dear Miss Wilde," he said, "an afternoon in the October of last year, when I called upon you and introduced myself as your late father's old friend and'solicitor,-and.gofcyou-to.attach your signa- ture to certain documents relative to the property he had left you ?" "I remember perfectly well," she answered. Ha of course you do! Now I II tell you why I called instead of deputing someone to do the work for me. For one thing I had other im- portant business, which compelled me to run down from town to Liverpool, and for another thing I was anxious to see you, my late friend's daughter. I felt sorry for you, too, my dear, in r spite of your accession to wealth, being conversant with an extremely sad episode in your family history. Your father's death, however, throws a light upon that dark episode which I purposed at an early data acquainting you with. Before I had the opportunity of doing so your uncle Max- well, or Eraser, if he prefers the name, had re- moved you from the care of your good friend, Miss Potter, and the next thing I heard of was your d^nth—a romance, nlY dear young lady, in which T was green enough to believe." "%i -Mr- Jt(ld will be kind enough to tell Miss Wilde now, in the presence of us all, what the painful family episode he has referred to was. It will throw a flood of light upon a cruel wrong rlme to one not here present, as well as to more than one who are present." Without a moment's hesitation Mr. Judd com- plied with this request. "Arnold Wilde's first wife, your mother, lore him two children, a fon and a daughter. When they were quite in- fants he brought an action for divorce against your mother, in whi"h he proved successful. I acted as his s olicitor in the case. He obtained alsb the custody of the children. He professed, however, a dislike to the oii'spring of the marriage that had come to such a shameful termination. He therefore sent his children away to he reared by other hands. YOIi wete" placed with Miss Potter, your rother-yelsewhere. It was your father's wish that you should be reared separately and be kept apart tlirffi^^qt your future lives. Y6ur mother di»«afi((BBdKl?(>gether, ahfc|iough for some time she matffc. e*rts, by letter, for permis- sion to see her cii?1th en. This privilege your sion to see her cii?1th en. This privilege your father declined to grant. Her applications ceased and her whereabouts remained a mystery, Your brother appeared upon the scene about ;>ix years ago. quarrelled with your father, accusing him of having wronged his wife, and disappeared. Im- mediately before your father's death I learnt from his own lips not only that^fie-had put an end to your mother's applications for access to her children by asserting that they had died, but that he had a)so designedly and most cruelly wronged that good lady in obtaining a divorce from her. He acknowledged to having given false evidence against her a.t the trial, and to having paid others to do likewise. His words were, She was innocent, innocent as a lamb, poor creature, but wishing to get rid of her so that. I might marry a woman with a fortune, T plotted and accomplished the ruin of her character.' I have proofs of this, which are undeniable. In his will your father acknowledged to th ( ime he had been guilty of. Apart from that, h, l b a written confession of his guilt, vhich I have ,(J my possession. "I have stated that your brother disappeared six years ago, after the rupture with your f;. her. He diatftppeared, vowing he would.nqi^ojjger ear his father's name. He has kept his Jjrofd. II is here nqwj-4n this room, bearing hiife self-ch sen name, Jo/ni yN&wcyme, Brother Ijid,lister so cruelly separated, so long divided, fiaVe met at- last!" Mr. J IIdd's rbjee tisffYpbleU with emotion as he ntterfed these last words Tiis eyes were dimmed with tears. Jack Newcome rose from his seat looking pale and agitated. He spoke not a word, but crossing the room took Mary Wilde, his sister! in his arms. Whilst he held her there, and reverently pressed his lips to her forehead, Dr. Roberts once tnore threw iMM the folding .nd Mrs. Porner entered 411&- toom. »IScldl czed Mr. -JRA+, Ivot attempting to disguise the tears that were coursing down his cheeks—"Jack, my boy, "haven't you a kiss to spare for your blessed mother? Then Jack Ngwconre "turned tn- receive the caresses of the wronged and noble woman who hadr borne him. The scene was nearly over. It only remained for Mr. Judd to clear up one or two points, and to see what Mr. Fraser meant to do. 1 dare say," said Mr. Judd, the majority of {rou wonder how I happen to be present lere on this memorab' occasion. I well tell f'ou. Sohie years Mrs. Dorner, believing len-t'If pta t\ie point of death, confided to Dr. Roberts the history of her past career. She told him how she had hidden her unmerited shame and disgrace by, leading Jon c ohscure life as a governess in a country gentleman's family, and of how she had there met Colonel Dorner, to whom she had related her history and who had made her his wife. When Dr. Winchester consulted T)r. RoHertfe in tfce ewev Miss Wildp, explaining bis suspicion as to who she really Was, the name of Wilde was of course, familiar to Dr. Roberts as Mhi. Darner^ first married name. He "then dis- covered that Mr. Fraser had borne the name of Maxwell, which he knew from Jure. Dorner was her nrat husband's half-bmthifr's'name. He thep asked her for the name of her first husband's soli- citor, and she told him it Wair Judd. Like h sensible man he at once came up to town and consulted Vne. I was happHjy«ble t^give him the information that has brought together those so long disunited, and which will no doubt render certain other crooked ways straight How did Icome to know your name was Jack Newcome, "young gentleman ? Why, don't you remember a little more than six years ago my introducing you taaa friend of mine who purchased some of your "Surlier attempts? Well, when you disappeared he tried to'find you, being a sincere admirer of, and believer in, your abilities. Only two year's ago be came across an early picture of youM signed Wilde. He inquired of the dealer who had it, and learnt from nim that yon had changed vour name to Newcome. When, therefore, Dr. Roberts told me there was an artist named Jack Newcome staying at Fairwater with Mre.Dorner, I knew I had found yon out! And now, sir," resumed Mr. Judd after a moment's panse, turning to Mr. Fraser. I trust fos are convinced that you have but one thine to do as a sensible man acknowledge your niece and crave her forgiveness." "I will do neither," cried Mr. Fraser with vehemence, I pronounce this girl a vile impostor, I pronounce all who side with her foul conspira- tors. You may pretend to believe her to be Mary Wilde if you like, but it is plain enough who she really is. You have heard her story of the wreck of the Stormy Petrel, and that has betrayed her identity. She is Mrs. Staggers, who, as she has so graphically described, robbed my poor niece ind wormed her history out of her,which she bas with so many embellishments now made use of. Doubtless the shipwreck took place, and doubt- less both bodies were washed ashore at llhyl. The body of Mrs. Staggers Dr. Winchester first found in a moribund condition, the body of Mary Wilde we afterwards found, dead Dr. Winchester, with the assistance of Mrs. Staggers and other confederates, has conceived and worked up this preposterous conspiracy to rob me of my money." This was Mr. Fraser's final effort to free him- self from the entaglement in which he found him- self, or at least to crush the conviction which had taken possession of all present. It was clever in conception, and worthy of the ready brain that conceived it; but it was rot so clever or impres- sive as the challenge made to Dr. Winchester in the cemetery. Not a liad idea of getting out of the diffi- culty," replied Mr. Judd with quite a pleasant smile but the soft impeachment has come too late in the day you ought to have thought of it before." It will bring you and the whole Tot of you 'to confusion if you have the audacity to carry this matter further," cried Mr. Fraser. "You will find yourself struck off the rolls, Mr. Judd, if you do not look to it." "Struck off the rolls cried Mr. Judd, for the first time losing his temper. You scoundrel! If you don't at once ask forgiveness for your un- mitigated blackguardism, and eat humble pie, you will find yourself in the dock for fraud and conspiracy to muder ""Perliaps," said Dr. Roberts, "it will be better if we discuss the future later on. It would be painful to the ladies were we to do so in their presence. I have arranged for Mr. Judd and Mr. Fraser to remain here as ray guests until to-mor- row, so there will 1 e plenty of time." All present took this timely bint and rose. Annie Fraser seemed uncertain as to how she was to act. Are you ready, my dear ? said Mrs. Dorner,' advancing towards her kindly. You are iiot, tlieri, going to close your doors against me V' sbe p.rswered. Why should I ? You at least have committed no intentional wrong. Your father can trust you with me, I am sure—for the present at least." Tli&n Annie IVaser had a ,irief..whispe;red .con- versation with her father, and she, Mrv. Dorner, and Jack Newcome left the house together. ;• CHAPTER XXVII.* ? > { • now IT xvix ) -*• Alas for poor Jack Newcome the voice of the siren had not yet ceased to charm him. When they readied Fairwater, after quitting Dr. Roberts's house, she led him aside and did her utn.ost to persuade him that her father was, in spite of all that had been said, the victim of a wicked conspiracy. She assured him that Mrs. Dorner was not only a weak woman, but cunning and deceitful into the bargain. When," she said, I thought I was convinc- ing her of the truth by confiding everything to her, she was, with her assumed sympathy, merely leading me on so that she might strengthen that cold, calculating Dr. Roberts's hand. Still, I think I might have led her, had it not been for that sly, Avicked woman, Agnes Meadows, in conjunc- tion with David Strange. Oh, Jack, how you ever could have been deceived by that hideous little monster I cannot conceive." Jack Newcome listened to all this with many a pang. lIer ahuse of those Avhom he had Joyed and trusted, jarred terribly upon his ears. Even were her accusations true, which he could not bring himself to beHeVg, her bitterness'was a painful spectacle. None of us like to see the un- pleasant side of those we hn e. Annie," he said at last, I cannot doubt the evidence )ve have heard to-day you must accept the ineA'^able bravely. And Avhat, after all, Hoes it signify! Riches do not, thank Heaven, make ) up the sum of human happiness. We can be as happy on my earnings as though we possessed thousands for which we never had to lift a finger. Remember my great picture, which is to bring me fame and fortune." "Jack," she answered, "your great picture may bring you fame, and perhaps fortune, but you know quite well, artists of the present day have td keep up appearances, to surround them- selves with every kind of social luxury, if they wish to keep a place in the forefront of their pro- fession. The genius in a cottage has no chance of competing successfully against mediocrity in a handsomely-appointed mansion. Think of how poor papa can help us to keep up the necessary appearance if he is not robbed by these wretched people." My dearest Annie, I do not Avish for your father s assistance. I prefer to rely upon my own efforts for our future success." You mean, then, to support these people in their claim ? she answered coldly. I cannot fly in the face of indubitable facts; I cannot be guilty of assisting to wrong my own sister. You mean, then, to forsake my cause in the hour of my extremity ?" I cannot support your father in the prosecu- tion of what is evidently an unjust claim. You would have just cause to despise me if I did. But I shall nev^ri fdrsake you, darting, never Trust me, I shall make bread enough for both of us, and we shall be happy in our JoA-e even though we remain comparatively poor all the days of our lives." i She suffered him to take her in his arms but she did not respond to the warmth of his embraces. To-morrow morning," he said, you shall see the great picture, and then you will, I think, be satisfied that our future promises to be bright and successful in spite-of the disappointment of tpaday." His words failed to disperse the gloom that had taken possession of her. She relapsed into silence for the remainder of the evening. On the following morning, when breakfast was over, she turned to him in the presence of Agnes Meadow#, (Mrs. Dorner, and David Strange, and said: Yesterday, Jack, you promised to shew me your picture of the Swallow Falls. I wish Miss Meadows, Mrs. Dorner, and Mr. Strange to accompany us to the studio while you do so." "I Am sure they will be pleased-to- accede- to your wish, Annie, I he said, "although they have seen it so often before. Miss Meadows, the time has at last come in which to relieve you of the custody of the key of the studio." "I thought you would probably want it this morning," replied Agnes Meadows, with a bright smile, so I brought it downstairs with me." She Croduced it from the pocket of her dress, and anded it to him. "Accept my grateful thanks," he said, "for the kindness yon have done me." You have no need to thank me, Mr. Newcome. I have to thank you for trusting me with such a charge." Then they went to the studio. Jack Newcome opened the door, and they entered. As he ap- proached the picture to uncover it Annie Fraser spoke. One moment, Jack Before you un- cover your picture I implore you to prepare your- self fora terrible shock." He turned to her with an expression of per- plexed amazement on his face. 4, You have. been the victim of a cruel, a vin- dictive wrong. Be strong 1 Oh, be strong and see for yourself She covered her face with her hands as she spoke. For a-nwrtneht, only fei-a moment, he hesitated; then he i lifted the cover from the picture. And what did be beheki-2 Heaven help him, what did be behotd. 'Nbi the beautiful and aH but perfected work of his hand not the skilful em- bodiment of his genius only a wreck thereof, cut and ripped into a hundred fragments. A moan of agony escaped him, then he fell back a pace or so, and stood like a statue facing the ruin of his great hope. At last he turned slowlv