COMPLETE TALES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1905, Page 13

COMPLETE TALES

Such a 3t are of hate and P assioii: p ot(&nr st could not heip observing it, M indeed, he had observed it oa other He the cabman, and essayed to pass up the steps of his house. Tβe Luaser man seemed inoJined to etap "but gave way suddenly, mmmg nflie'with the action. Iloidhurst looked L him sharply. He had made one or mo iaqairi"- had learned that the ether was called Alfred Scott, of a good famjjy, and smarting under the most poignant of grie\auM*s. Holdiarst .sxopped. "Your icime, i Vfn-ve, is s>:ottT" be ■aid, calnrfy. -It is." replied thp o-thfr. paler EtED. ""Wby do you follow mc aboat*" i-rjo" it Well. yes. L <liJ." was the gercp answer. •You M'e aatins wry foolishly. If you wish to scp mc, I am at yoar serCome inside." -Wteit'a tic use"." , "Sail, come La.' 1 ' They entered. The house -was qnite OTioretsiMons. fhcmgh its owner. John pi»nnan H<diflranst. was a r-;in of conEidarabie wesith. Fifty-six years had inched his hair vritii grey- and poiciUed maay lin-es in th<" quiet, strong face. They passrd into the smoking-room. -Vow. yoarrg man. wfert. have yon got to sajf ? l>eg:an the ot&ex. "Spr-ak your jchid: I batfi a diificy feikwv. *Si3ltE yon sjttfp icarp to do so, I ■will accept it. In two days from now you will wed Miss Mad*re Ire-ton. Am I right r HoWinrrst inclined bis oeail. "You will permit u\p to continue? Well, she has ray heart, than, is all; and when you taiae hpr y-nn. Lake all I have to Uvp for. Gtrrse yo-ar inone}"! Cnrse it, I sayV* The speater alnsos; -broke down wijh tiie imprecstioa. His voire uiled him, ]lis bands treanfated. There was a sUpobp. Tbt-n Floldhnrst eaid gravely. speaic wir.h violent:; vet I mnst acd <J'> rpsueot an emotion wbich I perceive cootes frnm the. heart. Frackly. lam sorry tor you. But you arc yomsg: you wiJ! get it.' , '•"What, forget her - ?" . Scout almost across the room to r,ho mantel, opoa whidi he leaned. "Yes," be. ad<ied •with a terrible laugh, "be snre I siall forget. I shall noi; Jive to rean-iaibe-r.'' ■•'You talk like a fool." said Hoklhsarsd barshly. "Why did yon fome between as with tout money, tiiat has purchased a h-eart and broken mine? Why couMnt: you let as alone?'' "Stop:"' An abrupt ehamre bad passpd owr the osier's face. Hr stepped forw-ard aad gripped Scott by th.p shoulder. "You an! b/iiar. h?. "Moufv never yet bought a, vomaa's heart, and jou kno,w it. Taice i.bsrt hack." , -t What. yew believe that she loves your cried Scott.. And he king-bed, a, hollow sound of despair. The other's tptiW was iosrtaoUoeoos. j "I do." "Then Iseav ( > n you when you find out the truth! J teUyou that sbegave , me—Jong- before *no set ou yon— her -soul, her very lift*. She is "mine, mine, and always" will dp. though you aake her ri.ier than a traera!' , " A grey sb&dovf gathered on ffoidtarst,'s iacr. Had he hetnl aright, or. could he beiievt?? "Wbat was it possibfe.. then, tiar thfo woman' was j nKUTying hjm his wea i t sa i-^ ? : A thoagfet! 14 p renrensbered j that sic was so mach yxnutger t.hscn he. | 7«c—.yet—wbr, sba had bepn to liim a? j a nmristrriiHr anjrpl : ajid. axtfv r.iio years of stocm „!„ tilaij h(? hafi spent, Madge fn>ton had pome iirro his W« to renew in him the hope of spring Did tiig man speak (itp trratti ? Had st*e grren hdm that love wbh-h can aeiiev l» tetonmA a second time-? Ew elder m broke it ffrsi. "Ido aot Iwfipw it. 5, he said calmly.. "1 te going t<i put the matter to" thai «st. bowerer. I will prow that yrwi ore "wrong, and so l«lp yon to bea,r Your Pan- Listen: Miss shall Wrth "* to-fey to my lawyers. 1 nrafce ! owi» of my fortune. The «ms confeMTiajr this pnipMty shafl be ™her -vtithin 24 hwars. «nd nigSrt -before our Do 7°« ioflow my thought f Bie o&er fixed an tmJesctibafa,lp look n the spestfcßT. He said hoarsely, ies: rot Tdo not thmk— oe. no. sbe 3w>uld never do that." peremp th<» opportunity this yo*? , OD Hekfiiarrt". ! J^* 1 ? and composed, g,,. Yoo ■ tew insotted mc. and you haw lasoit- ' «_imr fiancee. Later oil you vrifl havre ' «X geace to- arpolc^ise." JJI soSdtor w» very and in«we»t to doobt th.- wisdom of r.i>e pro"f™?" hot I* pmeh-ed tbat his cfient lirmness itsdf. leaned a pretty head over the dor-Knent. wfcich j •w signed. Her tin ff er s were not <tuite ateadj. I Holdhnrrt and W.« fiann* I »««; howwd out by thp sxnrp wricitor. ! 7JP aOKr ilajJ «i a cab. i TC<l g»»W? no.w?'- askpd the ! "To your 'dome " ■ *ymtW lw , amiMj. ««« d went, on ttotehuxst, J r °" 7' 11 Sn,l full of rbe pro-: L y I !lr* nt '- 0 - w " «>" th « l he eve o-f ! Zj edihn? <la - r - Yo " »w n«w a rich i "man. Consider wlwt. r J»a4: means. ! _ . h you are tired of ru<-. or if you : Dofc email, oi your own heart-! « w not too tete. ri»?' ! en, , oUler «n*»Mo«ti to kis of W reP J y ia i he qn«t spirit Whim j T l ' olollr ''iianspj rapidiv. hltC ™* red. whit, anf f rn , L P" j 11. iC *&* bLaZPd " P in th * ■ qiUet ~"' ef ' , - U wa r " hfi CL - a stjlish llal Jod •' pretty *t rhe traffic. She ; 2™« d with nervous timers on th, ! of Alfrei' , ' woader has become eton lived alone in this i W*£ lat ' aad struggled to make ** haT^Lf 66 *; ° n a sm3 - i ~ l competence. |

FAVOUR fTS

: j Her maid entered -with a, visitiagt ' card. c I "Ah, what an answer to my th-ougirt!' , j the other could not help remarking aland. "Show Mr Scott in." 1 I The visitor came at the word. For ; aji instant they looked straight into j one another's pyes: then he bo-wed, ; while she pointed to a chair. I j "I am glad to see you,"' Madge said, r ; "You may shake hands.'' There was a s ' slight catch in her breath, as it some 1 powerful emotion were affecting the : white throat. "'Thank yon, not yet. ,, enemies?" i "Are we? For my part lam ready Jto forgive. Yes—forgive. I am here . I to lEake a final appeal, to warn you for I the last time against a murrisgc that » —that, will blight your life." IJi-j terrible earnestness, the strong [ feeling which shook his voice, could not ~be without effect. Madge turned pale. "Come, come, , ' she said; "we have bßpn over this ground again and again. [ like you, and make no secret of it: ; but F like money more, ray friend. This i shocks you? Why, a-hnoat evewbodv - pats tn-onev first, only they do not adI mit it." "You aj«> wrong, and time will ->how ' yon that I speak the trntfa. I know that, my words are thrown away; 1 • knew that yo« would laugh and sltTUg '■ your sireTiiders. as you always do. And ' yet I rould Dot s<?e you sell yourself without one iaet word of warning. 1 am going nw: we shall never see one ' anoilipr again/ , ! "Sit down. Wfry tbis heat? Yon ir for granted that I shall not Listen to you?" Seett h:i'l mo-red toward tbe door. He wheeled round at the words, and rpgarrJfHi her with a gaze that altogether baffled hpr. He said slowly, "Yon —mean —that ?'" "Perhaps I do. It depends upon yonrs*»lf." was the half defiant answer. ""Why. this is the eve of your wedding day/ ••Much, better than the eve of the day after, my friend. Listen. I will b<? plain and frank with you. This afteriioou Mr Holdhurst offered to release mc if—if T had the faintest doubt as to the ultimate success of tiiis marrici. , *** I .'* She paused for a reply, but Scott did not speak. "Well, I have a doubt." Still no answer. Maelge stamped her foot. "Why do you look at mc like that? Have you to say?" "1 was woudering." replied thp other slovrly was wondering -what else you have to tell mc." -I will satisfy your curiosity. Alfred I am a *c!i woman." Tip other started as if he had been stung. "Mr HoMhurst lias made over to mc a considerable , pstrt of bis fortune." "My soul: You don't mpau to say — no. that is impossarbie. not to be dreamed of:" "What, is tbo mattpr with you, my friend.? Are vera thinking that I «-houW tills wealth from 'nun, and then break off the marriage? Well. ir. sounds bard, but is it? Keep yoiir temper. Mr offers to free mc from my premie at t.ho hour. He told nut thi.s feaif jesiirrs-ly. ajitl repeated it in a nou , that arrived an hour ba':k [t is put vt»ry delicately, and does aim hoaour. Yr>n think that I oi±<rht not ito take this fortune. . Well, I think I that yo-ii arr» wrong. You see. he npyrrr I ctv-uM have iraairined that I had given i Firy heart to him. siitce he is old enongh Ud be my father. Be reasonaiie/' >>cott opened his lips to denounce bar fondiifr by a vehement remajic. Suddenly be <*onTrolled hnnae-lf. and rvplieti cpiretly. "Perhaps yon ar«! in tbe rigbt. alter all."" To hin»s€!4f hp added, "if she but knew that the gift is nothing more, t-haji a. test of a.2«;t.ion!" **T a=m so pi<?ased that yon raise no fxKjUsli oirjection.," ~he said. j "By no Tn<*ATTg, Why shotrid I?" She k?o4c«l at him «M*riousrr. "Well, tben," she wpni on, " I may possibly break off the majriasfp. [ sbouid go j rigirt aisarV —Ethssead. Lxter on. if yon care to fotkwv mc But I n»n.st say \ no mare.* , j Again the otfaer's aliaost I trousered trim, anid again be restrained bimself. "Now we are talking sease," he ansvsrered. "Bet tht> annalling of vonr engagement at the last mJBUtp wtmld bo ' a most df n«ifce operation. How would | you set about it? Write to Hokthursr., I soppose? You wonld have to do so ! and at nrtce. ( s omtf. let v≤ '-iJraw up siren a note- to^e*rhter." j ••Pardon, my hasiy friemJ. my mind fis not ret made up on tltat ma.tEer.'' I "What of thAt? [am only supposing. You can Lear it to piece* afterwards. Kktr are ink and paper. Shall we begin !" "'As yeu wiE: only I aesare you it is three parts a jesc. Now I will show [you what I should say: ho\v nry weman's j tact would hHp mc out of so delicate a I prnJicnmeait." j So&it stood behind her. rpeuEag tbe ; words f h.a.T, she wretp. t.Mling Hold- ! SiuTst that she nere-pted his oll'or to' relf"3s;f her. : "It :-. indeed, a tactful be i j said, as she nmshed. nrrd .?cribl>led her j I signature a.l. th»- end. Hj- held out a ! i hand for it. htit. «;hp and thrust | it, iiiio ;i drawpr of thr A ; , frown iitieseii aver his face. Tbni. quite j casually, v< 1 waiked to Uu» fireplace,! j daspinjr his hajttfe behind him. j '• By ritf mty," said he. aJuiosr. chi?eri-! j Iγ. "they rarest ha-vp pr?jjarcd thr deeds: ■ which givp you this proportr very luls- i ! tjjy: no (ioabr. it is .ill rigivt. * As a! barrister I should- iike to g-Liaco ones' i aji<i sep.-that e-v-erythinir is done. I May 1 r I ! "LVrbaisiy. - * ; The croissrd tho room, took I I t'rorn a rakmet a ni keys, and be- i i gan u> BXnnck om- of ; drawers- ! i Scott. si-ajtsjJy d:tring u> hreathr, tookj a step i'onwETcf. The next moment lie ! j bad at the letter u> H-oltl- | hurst. His ;ict2on had not been per- ; «v ? ,i. I ! haeded to him the roll of pa^' pers. j •■Axe their all here?'" , Scott asked. | ( "Every ora\" ' j "Nothing- "feft out?" j "Of eowrsje not. - ' I Scott ticnaed, thxust the papers iafco j Khe are. aa* sUmped- them <ktva with Uel boat. ,__.. — •' -

A REBEL AND HER MASTER.

(By L. T. BBESTQN.)

-1 in. " j Madge Ireton sprang forward white t with, passion. He seized her by the wrists, gently bat firmly, r "sfou madman.' What have you 3 don*?" she cried. t ; "Played a great game and beaten yon. Ah, do not strngg-le. See, the papers . are cind-ers." 1 Se released his grip: and she stepped 2 back, ■watching- him with, an indeseribj able expression, striving to read his purpose, and to see where his victory 'lay. ''You are foolish." she said at length, 7 quietly. "You have spoilt your chances » ;for ever. Do you imagine that I will [■ [have you iicvrf 5 5 "I do." ■ She laughed. "I shall marry Mr , Eoldhurst to-morrow," was her compos* I cd. answer. "Pardon mc. you cannot. By that , time he will br , in possession of your signed letter refusing him." Still watching him, she put out a. j hand and drew open the drawer. It f was empty; and' she saw that he had beaten her indeed, that he was master. With a low cry she dropped, face downward, upon a sofa. "■■Jest or no jest, Msr%e." said Scott, ' pitilessly, 'I shall fencurd this letter to Holdhursr to-night, and 1 shall t>^l I him that I hare de.srrnvH rhe deetls J makinj; over to you one-half of his pro-| [ perty. ,, i There was ta? round of a stifled sob., ! Scott dropped upon one knee by the heaving form on the .sofa. j i ■'Come. Madge.' 5 said he. 'Mot ns fur-! ' «TPt what has happened to-night. Let ! 'is forget the past year, when money . raiae to tempt you from mc. Hsaven I knows how- freely I will forgive you. if - you will forgive mc for taking you Thus, by storm. My. heart is yours, must' always be. You know how I love you.j l I WT2S a. cad to tr«»sit you like this, but I saw a chance of winning you. and i' took it." i The girl burst into a passion of weep'.ng. i « * • • • • John Pierman Hoidhurst passed the i nisht roaming from room to room, un j • able to rest, fighting tr<ar* v .3 vainly told himself wore idle and uso-j ess. waiting for the dawn of his wnd-. dinsr-day. The gray light- of morning crfpt up the street. In .-in hoar a! I leLr.T arrived. j . j His fearful heart had not deceived , I him. then. lip fluntr n. coat ovrr his! evening which he had not cUang- • ?d since la.-rt evening, and was driven rapidly to her house. A mitroaiy person in charge of the mansions nvet his inquiries. Miss Iretou wa> gono. "Gone!" "Why. yes, sir. Didn't you know that she was to he marripd this rooming? I thought it V.-3.5 to be in Londou,j but I was wrong. I suppose. The gen-j ilernan came for her last" evening. She; packed her thing- iv the greatest hurry) that you can imafrir.e, paid a week's] rent in lieu of notice, and ranght the: last train from Euston u> the North.; Lie roki m« thar, they -would btr married: before mid-Jay.' , HoldlmTst went away feeling "3 one! who fights agairtst a dream and cannot: dispel "it. This. than, was the end ot| his love affair. Wus it the end o-f his peace? It must not ho. He kept repeating to himself, as if ho fntuad -i molanchaly consolation in the thought, •*Sbc must havo lov«»d him. What <*an [dn "'• say? - s he" must have loved, him. That is th« final word."