A Secret of the Past. A novel

Chapter I. The Western Turret

" Now, Valerie, you shall judge for yourself • and, indeed, could you look at that man's face and mistrust him ? " Mabyn said in an enthusiastic undertone, as the Professor approached the table. " I shall introduce him to you, dear " Mabyn suddenly paused in genuine consterna tion, for Valerie had uttered a little gasping cry, turning away her head so that Angus White could not see her face as he approached. "Valerie, this is very childish and absurd!" Mabyn said, still in an undertone. Indeed, she scarce knew what to do in this unexpected situa tion ; but turning hastily to the Professor, who was just now shaking hands with Alec Penrhynn, she said nervously: "My sister is not very well, Mr. VOL. III. B White; the journey was so fatiguing. Valerie, dear, allow me to introduce to you Mr. Angus White, Keith's best friend and mine."

The light from the window fell full upon Angus White's face as he stooped partly across the table, with his hand flung forward, in his impulsive and friendly fashion, toward Valerie. But now, as Valerie turned her head— as his eyes met hers — the Professor's face suddenly changed. A look of recognition flashed into his eyes; the extended hand fell upon the table, and Angus White drew back a step or two, with an exclamation of startled surprise. " How do you do, Mr. White ? " Valerie gasped at last, endeavouring at this supreme moment to get through the trying situation without provoking further suspicion. "I have heard of you so often from my sister ! You seem to mistake me for some one else," she added, with a little forced smile, " and some one whom you evidently have no par ticular desire to meet !

" Keith Carrington and Alec were looking on at this odd little scene in bewilderment. Mabyn had half risen from the table, and was gazing from Valerie to the Professor, without daring to utter a word. There was an awkward pause ; but presently Angus White recovered himself. He, too, forced a smile, and again extended his hand toward Valerie, whose very lips were colourless. " I beg a thousand pardons, Mrs. Penrhynn," he said. " The fact of it is, you really did remind me painfully of — of somebody whom I knew years ago. But now that I see you clearly," he added, with a significant glance straight into Valerie's eyes, " I find that it is only a strange resemblance — nothing more. I hope I have not scared you ? " " I fear you have, though, Mr. White," Alec Penrhynn said at once, with some warmth, as Valerie's white, startled face met his glance.

" The least you may do now is to explain matters fully. Your narrative will, doubtless, be very interesting, and we are all on the qui vive." The Professor laughed somewhat nervously, and seated himself near the window. Mabyn was inwardly consumed with a scared curiosity at the expression of his face and the oddness of the entire scene. " Out with it, Angus, man," Keith said. " We are all friends here, and you have succeeded in rousing our curiosity to an ungovernable pitch." " It was a stupid mistake of mine, Keith, and I feel very, very sorry for it," the Professor replied. " As for further explanations, they really are not worth giving. They concern people of whom you b know nothing. Leave them so. I fear I have disturbed you all," he added, running his large fingers nervously through the mane of yellow, wavy hair above his broad temples; "and you seemed so happy, and were chatting away so merrily when I unluckily entered the room."

" "We are delighted to have you with us, Pro fessor, and we shall resume the chatter forthwith," Mabyn said, good-naturedly striving to talk lightly and to hide the excitement which possessed her. " Cume, Valerie, dear, don't look so terror-stricken. It was all a little mistake which will probably be cleared up by-and-by, when the spirit moves Mr. White to speak out. We must be patient." Mabyn set herself then and there to do away with the lingering effects of this odd interruption to their happy little gathering; and her success was tolerably satisfactory. For Keith's wife was gifted with that well-nigh magical social influence which requires at least three ingredients to perfect it — namely, a ready wit, keen sympathy, and the irresistible attraction of a pleasing face and form. Beneath this charming influence Angus White chatted and laughed and endeavoured to be himself again ; and yet he was not quite himself.

Mabyn missed that happy carelessness of manner — that genial, almost boyish light-heartedness of laugh and look — that racy humour, freshness and en thusiasm of conversation, which formed this man's distinctive charm. There was a constraint in the Professor's manner to-night. His laugh was not quite genuine, Mabyn thought, and that faintly hollow ring was as unpleasant to her ears as a discord to the ears of a musician. Now and then, too, she saw the Professor — when he, probably, believed himself unobserved — steal a rapid, furtive glance at Valerie, as if still in doubt as to her identity. "Valerie," Mabyn whispered once, as she caught this covert glauce, her curiosity too eager to be suppressed any longer, " do tell me the truth about Mr. White ? Is he really the man you mean, or is it all a bewildering and stupid mistake ?

" " Hush ! don't ask me now, dear. Let it rest," Valerie replied, with pale lips. " I am sorry I ventured here. Mabyn," she added, her voice so faint that her sister barely caught the words, " if Keith should question you about this matter at any time, make nothing of it. Pass it off as carelessly as possible. I must have a word with that man, however, before he leaves to-night." " With Mr. White ? " " Yes ; with Mr. White." By-and-by Keith and Alec Penrhynn withdrew to smoke their meerschaums, Mabyn went down stairs " to see after a bit of supper," as she said, and Angus White and Valerie were alone together in the sitting-room. The opportunity for which Valerie had wished had arrived, and yet she shrank from availing herself of it. • There was an awkward silence ; but at last, bracing her nerves for the ordeal, she lifted her eyes to the Professor's face, and forthwith plunged desperately into what she desired to say.

" Mr. White, you have recognised me. It is an unlooked-for meeting. You hardly expected to see me again, and certainly not under such cir cumstances as these." " I never expected it, indeed, Mrs. Penrhynn — never. And even still I am mystified," the Pro fessor added hesitatingly. " How can it be that you, Mrs. Carrington's sister, are the lady whom I knew as Vera Stewart and whose maiden name was Vera Claverino- ? " '"Vera Clavering' was an assumed name, adopted for many reasons, but none of them dis honourable. My own maiden name was Valerie Caerlyon. You can neither understand nor, I fear, sympathise with all this, Mr. White," Valerie said, her small face full of distress, her pathetic lips trembling; "and I — I have not time, even had I courage, to explain matters now. I am heart sick of the entire story ; but, if you knew all, you would be no longer my enemy."

" Your ' enemy,' Mrs. Penrhynn ! I was never your enemy," Angus White replied, rising im pulsively aud approaching nearer to where she sat. " You wronged me bitterly in the past, and I see you still believe what is false." Valerie sighed and shook her head sadly, her eyes sinking, her trembling hands clasped con vulsively in her lap. "Let bygones be bygones, Mr. White. Do not stir up the dead leaves. I am striving hai*d to forget that hateful episode of my life. I am grateful to you, at all events, for your silence and forbearance when you came into this room a couple of hours ago. I was — I confess to you — horribly startled when I saw you first. I was quite sure that you would speak out fully, and that the whole hideous story would be raked up again then and there. Nobody knows of it save one — my husband, Mr. Penrhynn.

Captain Stewart died a short time since in South Africa. You may have read of it in the newspa " She paused abruptly, for there were footsteps on the stair. She lifted her eyes beseechingly to the Professor's face and suddenly clasped her hands upon his arm. "Mr. White, I have a request to make of you, and I venture to make it because you appear to be so intimate and kindly a friend of my sister's. My request is this : Keep my secret ! Should any one question you as to this evening's occurrence, simply repeat what you have already been kind enough to say— that your surprise when you first saw me was owing to a mistake. Do not swerve from this. Be dumb as to the past. You are a bosom friend of my sister's husband, and Mabyn sings your praises in the highest degree. For their sakes, if not for mine, whether you be enemy or friend, do this one thing for me, I implore of you !

" The footsteps without were drawing nearer. Angus White impulsively stooped close to Valerie's face. " I pledge you my word of honour, Mrs. Penrhynn, that I was never your enemy," he said in a solemn undertone; "and time shall prove this. I have something to tell you in connection with the past — a secret you never knew. When can I see you again ? " "I cannot say — I do not know," she gasped in an agitated whisper, for the footsteps were now on the landing, and Keith's voice and Mabyn's were audible. " I am leaving here to-morrow. I cannot see you again before we go." " May I write to you, then, to Cornwall ? Mrs. Carrington will give me your address." " No, no ! " she replied wildly. " Let the past rest; it is all over — aud I am endeavouring to be bappy at last. I have washed my hands of it for ever.

Hush ! they are at the door. Not a word. The silence of death, mind ! You promise ? " "I promise ! Valerie saw no more of Angus White during her stay at Ansbruck. When Alec questioned her as to the odd scene in the sitting-room, Valerie vaguely replied that she had met Mr. White once or twice during her brief married life in Paris ; that the recollections were most unpleasant to her ; and Alec — noting his wife's evident agitation, and, in his sympathetic love for her, feeling his own heart stabbed by every sigh she uttered — said nothing further about Angus White ; and there the matter rested. " Mabyn, darling, you must promise to come to us as soon as possible," Valerie said before she and her husband took their leave; "you and Keith. Whenever Keith gets his vacation next, come on at once.

Mind, we shall take no excuses. Keith can bring his books if he wishes, and we shall give him a room in the most out-of-the-way corner of the Castle, so that he need fear no disturbance in his studies." Alec Penrhynn warmly seconded this invitation, and Mabyn and Keith consented gladly. "And, Mabyn dear," Valerie whispered, as the sisters kissed each other fondly, " do not trouble your head about that scene of last evening, and do not bother Mr. White with any further questions. I will tell you the whole story from beginning to end when you come to Caristowe. Good-bye, darling. I am more than delighted to find you both so happy ! " The purple twilight of the August evening had gathered down over the ocean, cliffs, woods, and mountains when Valerie again laid fond eyes on her new home, and a passionate delight thrilled her through and through.

As the ancient family carriage rumbled along the winding drive beneath the magnificent old trees, she wound, her arms about Alec's neck and drew his face down to hers, and for the moment both were silent, the surging gladness of their throbbing hearts stilling the words on their lips. " See, Valerie, see ! " Alec cried at last, as they emerged from the shadow of the trees. " The Castle is illuminated from roof to basement ; lights in the upper windows ; lights in the library, drawing-room, dining-room — lights everywhere." " Except there," Valerie said, as she peered smilingly through the carriage window. " The western turret is not illuminated, and how strangely dark and dismal it looks by contrast." " I wonder they neglected that," Alec said ; and by this time the carriage had drawn up before the door, and Valerie was upon the threshold of her new home.

Elspeth Pascoe hurried forward to meet her young mistress, in a rustling gown of black silk, and silk mittens on her shrivelled hands, and no fewer than three borders to her old-fashioned muslin cap. Dan Ellis, the ancient butler, a silver-haired, gray-eyed, kindly-looking old man, came next ; and Valerie's heart throbbed with gladness as she heard the genuine words of welcome which fell from the lips of these staunch retainers who had found a loved home in Caristowe Castle for up wards of sixty years. " I say, Elspeth," Alec cried, " the Castle looks gay this evening. It is a cheery sight, "and it did our hearts good to see it as we drew near home. But why did you not light it all up when you went about it ? " "I thought I didn't pass a single winda, Master Alec," the old woman replied. " Maybe some o' the candles blew out, an' still, I dunno how that could be.

The windas are shut fast, every one o' them." "But the entire western turret is plunged in darkness, Elspeth. It looks badly." " The ' western turret,' did 'ee say, Master Alec — the western turret ? " Elspeth questioned, with a sharp ring in her voice, au odd, scared look crossing her withered face. " Did he say the western turret, Dan?" she added, turning to Dan Ellis, who frowned darkly and nodded his silvered head in reply. "Yes, the western turret," Alec persisted. " It is black as a dungeon. AVhy did you not put candles in the windows there ? " Elspeth Pascoe shrank back with a shiver, and beat the palms of her hands slowly together in dismay. " Master Alec, Master Alec," she muttered at last, her voice dropping to an affrighted whisper, "you be forgettin' things as is past and gone!

But think o' yerself, sir. Doan't 'ee know well that the western turret was never unlocked since the night of — of the old master's death ? " " Oh, but all that is, as you say yourself, Elspeth, past and gone," Alec Penrhynn said carelessly, not heeding the expression of the old woman's face, as he tossed a pile of rugs and news papers upon the hall table. " It is high time now to put all these silly notions to flight. We must get the western turret thrown open again, and brightened up, and newly furnished. It commands some of the loveliest views to be had from the Castle, Valerie. I shall get a little sitting-room fitted up there for you, and a smoking-room for myself. Why, Elspeth," he suddenly cried, now for the first time observing the pallor of the house keeper's face, the shrinking horror of her eyes, " what is all this about, pray ?

" " Leave it be, Master Alec, leave it be ! " she gasped, placing a withered hand upon his arm, and fixing her sunken eyes upon his in a way that thrilled him. "It is an accursed place. I knows what I'm sayin'. The first one who sets foot there will meet his death. Mark my words to-night ! "

Chapter II. Anne Wylder Repeats The Charge

An odd and unpleasant little silence followed these sinister words. Then, as if overcome by her agitation, Elspeth Pascoe turned abruptly from her young master and shuffled away across the hall, while Dan Ellis also withdrew, shaking his silver head to and fro and mumbling some unin telligible words to himself. " Alec, Alec, what does she mean ? What does it all mean ? " Valerie asked, a sense of mystery and terror creeping over her. " What bygone story is hidden underneath Elspeth's words ? I half expected that you would have brought me through the western turret on that day I came down here before our marriage ; but you said nothing about it, and then I, too, was silent." " And it never even occurred to me, Valerie, to biiDg you through its dust and cobwebs," Alec replied, as they entered the gaily-lighted drawing room.

" It is so many years since I myself stood within the western turret that I had almost for gotten its existence. Don't trouble your head about this absurdity, dearest ; old Elspeth is dismally superstitious. She seems to have gathered all the ill-omens and goblins of the West Country into her gray old head. You must not ask her any questions, Valerie. She will only fill your mind with horrors, and give you food for a dozen night mares. Why, she scared even me awhile ago, when I saw the expression of her witch-like eyes." "But I must know what she means, Alec," Valerie persisted, with a little shiver. " Who is the 'old master' she spoke of? And what were the circumstances of his death ? " "Hush, dear — never mind," Alec said, turning away hastily and wheeling an arm-chair close to the fire ; but despite his effort to pass off the matter lightly, there was an odd, scared look in his face.

"Alec, you are concealing sornetking from me!" Valerie cried, pain and terror in her voice, for the startled expression of her husband's face and the nervousness of his manner alike dismayed her. " Why do you keep me in this suspense ? If you do not explain the matter, I shall be sure to hear it from Elspeth Pascoe to-morrow." " Why, Valerie, you seem bent on terrifying yourself by an altogether imaginary horror," Alec hurriedly replied. "The 'old master' was my grandfather — Ralph Penrhynn. He was odd and eccentric, and he lived altogether, for the last ten years of his life, in the western turret, and died there; and, of course, he is supposed, as in duty bound, to ' walk ' there of a night, when the spirit moves him. There, now, is the appalling story, Valerie. It is rather disappointing after all, is it not ?

" Something in her husband's face — something in his voice, words, and manner impressed Valerie with the conviction that he was hiding the main facts of the story from her. She leaned her head upon his shoulder and laid her cheek to his, one arm wound caressingly about his neck. " Alec," she whispered in his ear, " I shall give you no peace until you tell me the entire story. You are glossing it over in order to spare my feelings. But, indeed, indeed I shall not be frightened whatever it may be. Let me hear all." " Really, Valerie, I don't know what I am to say," Alec Penrhynn returned, with some impatience. " Your own fancy is building up some morbid romance or other. But I have told you the simple facts." " Where were you when Ralph Penrhynn died?" " I was in London." "You did not see him, then ?

" '■' Well, no ; but I arrived unexpectedly at Caristowe on the night of his death." " Not knowing he was dead ? " Alec paused for a second, and his brows contracted a little. "Not until I arrived here." What prompted Valerie's next question she never afterwards could tell. It was the inspiration of sympathy itself. " Did you see the body when you arrived ? " Valerie never forgot the look in her husband's face when she put that simple question. All further concealment of his feelings was futile. Alec Penrhynn shrank back with a startled ex clamation, and for a moment or two there ensued complete silence in the room. " You have been listening to stories, Valerie," he said at last, with a nervous little smile ; but his face was pallid and his lips trembled. " I've never heard a word about it until vol. in. c to-night," Valerie said, and her voice quivered.

" I do not know why I asked you that question, or what put it into my head. But it is clear to me, Alec, that you are concealing ' The door was opened hurriedly— dashed open, indeed— and the words died on Valerie's lips. Mervyn Caerlyon swung into the room, a bright smile of welcome on his handsome, boyish face, both hands outstretched as he crossed the floor. " Cead mile failthe ! " he cried merrily, " as our Irish cousins would say. I heard by the merest chance just now that you had arrived. I was riding homeward and I met Mr. Trezona, and he told me he was down with you in the train from Truro." Mervyn was shaking hands with his sister and Alec, and glancing from one to the other with kindling blue eyes, his chestnut curls tossed in a tangled cluster about his forehead. It occurred to him that the travellers were not looking as well as usual.

Both were pale ; but perhaps, he thought, it was from the fatigue of the long rail way journey. " How have you all been getting on ever since ? " Valerie asked, reading his glance at once, and shrinking from it somewhat. " How is mamma? Is she quite strong again?" " As brisk as a grasshopper, I tell you ! I'm sure she'd have been down here to welcome you both if she had known that you intended returning to Caristowe to-night. The governor treated us to some lively rhetoric on Sunday last, Valerie. I don't think I've ever before seen him so excited. I expected he'd have made bits of the reading desk ! " " Why, what's wrong now, Mervyn ? " Alec asked. " I thought Lynncombe was one of the most orthodox and irreproachable districts in all Cornwall." " So it is, of course — at least so we Lynn combites maintain, Alec !

And it is owing to this guileless innocence of his flock that my father was so excited on Sunday. The fact of it is, a good-natured Evangelist has put in an appearance in our neighbourhood, and is going round from house to house, calling upon all those who dwell in exterior darkness to come forthwith into the light of salvation. The governor drew copiously upon ' the wolf and the fold,' and all the rest of it. But, upon my life," Mervyn added, laughing, " if he saw what I saw the other day, he'd very soon change his tune as to the retiring simplicity, and so forth, of the ' sheep ' in question ! " " And what did you see ? " Valerie asked, c brightening up again under the irresistible in fluence of Mervyn's cheery looks and manners. "Well, I simply saw this inspired apostle chasing three lost sheep in and out, through the gorse-bushes on Perranruth Hill — the sheep being no others than Farmer Treneny's three buxom daughters, the prettiest girls from here to the Land's End."

"The fellow has good taste at all events, and he deserves some credit for that," Alec said, laughing ; and at this moment the dinner-gong sounded, and, after a hurried toilet, Valerie and Alec rejoined Mervyn in the dining-room. " I say, Mervyn," Alec said, as they took their places at the table, old Dan Ellis standing by iu still dignified, if sadly shrunken, solemnity, " has there been any further clue discovered to the mystery of Lady Ruthyn's death ? " " None whatever. People have given up puzzling their brains over the mystery. I dare say the truth will never be known now." "And does Miss Wylder still remain at Bosgenna ? " " Yes ; unless she went away since Monday last. They say she is improving." "How, Mervyn? In what way?" Valerie asked, with sudden curiosity, a shadow crossing her face ; and she sighed heavily.

" Her senses are returning1. She is becoming more rational. Her testimony will be worth something when she speaks out at last. She was seen on the night of Lady Ruthyn's murder hurrying along the cliff-path toward the Dead Glen. Two fishermen saw her, but were away near the Lizard during the inquest. They were scared by her wild, lank figure in such a lonely spot, and they watched her furtively, and saw her get down the narrow footway to the bottom of the glen. Then they lost sight of her ; or, believing that she was the ghost of David Tregon ing's murdered wife, took to their heels, perhaps, which is more probable." "Her evidence will be interesting indeed," Alec said ; " and she is really recovering her reason ? " '' She is. She walks out at times with her servant, Sarah Robins. I met her in the wood close to the Rectory grounds on Monday evening, and I stopped to speak to her — out of sheer curiosity.

She knew me at once, and answered my questions rationally enough." " And did she look sane ? Was there anything wild or wandering in her gaze ? " " No, not at first. But after a moment or two I made some remark about poor Lady Ruthyn just to see how she would take it — and the effect was startling." " How so, Mervyn ? " Valerie asked eagerly. " She shrank away from me, holding on con vulsively to the servant's arm, and fixing her strange eyes on me iu a most unpleasant manner. I thought she was going to get a fit, by Jove ! I assure you, Valerie, I got away as quickly as I could ; and I have not seen her since." "But she said nothing when you spoke of Lady Ruthyn ? " " Indeed, I did not wait ! I withdrew at once when I saw the odd effect of my words." After this the conversation became brighter; for Mervyn was anxious to hear all about Mabyn and Keith ; aud Valerie's tidings were very welcome to him.

" And so they promised to come here to Caristowe soon ! " Mervyn cried, with kindling eyes. " You will have to lend them to us for a week at all events, Valerie. The Rectory is like a tomb since Mab and Keith left it." For the ensuing weeks Valerie's time wa3 occupied to the full. All her friends and acquaintances flocked to the Castle, and her days were busily taken up in receiving her visitors and returning some of their calls. August came to an end, and September was rapidly waning, and tints of orange, ruby-red, and bronze showed themselves amid the murmuring woods; the hills far away took a deeper blue as their outlines sharpened in the clear, bracing September atmosphere, and gorgeous sunsets flamed across the western sea in hues of fiery crimson and gold. The heather was fading on the tors, and that dreamy autumnal hush was in the air, broken only by the measured beating of the Atlantic surge upon the pebbly beach below the woods, and the wild cries of the gulls, curlews, and kittiwakes in the purpling September twilights.

Since the night of their return to Caristowe Valerie could never succeed in obtaining from her husband any further information concerning old Ralph Penrhynn's death. She brought the subject round in a dozen different ways ; and all to no purpose. She appealed to Elspeth Pascoe ; but the old woman was also silent. Had she been warned to keep her own counsel on this matter ? It looked like it. Valerie was more and more mystified as the days passed on, aud still her haunting suspicions were not set at rest. "Valerie, darling," Alec said one day, gazing earnestly into his wife's tender little face, " do not trouble your head about what is purely fanciful. Surely you may trust me more than this ! When I tell you that the whole thing is only old woman's gabble — is not that sufficient? You will force me to think that you are unhappy in your new home, dearest — unhappy in your wedded life — if you suffer this folly to prey upon your mind like this.

I thought you would have no interests save mine alone, Valerie." She silenced the semi-reproachful words by suddenly placing her small hand over his lips, then wound her arms about him, and lifted her passion ately trustful eyes to his face. With every fibre of her heart she loved him ; he was the centre of all her hopes, dreams, fancies — her world in him self. It was, in ways, an unreasoning, jealous, if not a selfish, love, which well-nigh resented the brightness of the sunshine falling upon him, the songs of the birds in his ears, the mute affection of his dogs leaping around him, the scent of the flowers which pleased him — resented these things o because the pleasure they afforded him came not from her ; and to be all-in-all to him, to engross his every thought, was her heart's desire — call it selfishness if you will.