THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 221, 4 January 1909, Page 3

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

»#n- IitCMTS RESERVED,

1 By MAURICE SCOTT. Author of "Tha Maurk of tie B?otd Arrow, «te. «tc.

PART 13.

"Ih-IMid .vou lo be? Know you to lie. you m>au. Your case. Mlw Stanncforth i* verj sod. but " regret-fully—-'"nv uno'Uitl. Thwc severe injitriV* «o Ih* li a'l invariably result in Frn'ii deran;etnent." I f «*-I n«> bra'n whirled. What did ft nmn? S>»f.ly he would not keep t»p ?h»* fa'"*'-*?** °lt |s tn>>* wi!" she sold, rising anil .Miinlins «lrtr«ntly before him. "I am Itart aro. y«Hir wife. Would to llrnvrn I were nut! And Alison Himiriiurih whom you so Mnmlaloii*I* «r> n.-kfl rtiiiH' nil the way acr»**» lh«« Allans ic lo warn the woman who wn* about to marry you. that her r.r«w|**e»ive hiisliniid was rt villain, Sli* arrived too late: the rcrrnirnv ««» over, and words were tpokrn l»ii dng us together. Hut I saw the poor creature: 1 listens! to h*r story • Sir Tolbot was breathing hard, though his face still won- it* exprrsstonles*. immovable mask. >*« this was th.* exploration? Hut thero was n>o:*e to rome? ••And learirng J.mr ireatln-ry to „ young n»>l trusting girl. I vow»d you would never call me whV." I " sued Barbara "1 made |H.or Alison rhtnje clothe* with me. nnd h-r to join you in the rurrins!'". first writirg a n »t«* to you. dems»i»ihii«.r you >honlcl do her justice. nn l rlease me t'ro'ii a bond «h» li I had determined i» ,v ' - r to fulfil. lit* fortunate girl drove away* with yon to th* <iiniii>n —to her death a* it happm «l—nnd I. wearing her clothes was taken for h<*r and brotight into contact with her relatives in her name"* Sir Talbot silently drew a deep breath Truly the Fates had been gotxl to him lie might yet bravo matters out if only—•*f have listened very attentively, and. I you will admit, patiently." he said, with studied courtesy: •"but. as I reminded you just now. I have an important engagement this (Morning, nnd again I am compelled to ask you to state as tersely as iwemihle what you expect or desire Hit' to do for you?

"po—for me—nothir.g. But you are spok» n of as being about to marry again " "I hope to enjoy that happiness. For <»nie r»'|»ort »ay» truly. I am engaged lo marry Miss Coro Vnnsittart." he answered, with a note of defiant'e "But you lannot while I live. The marriage will he illegal, unless the first rontract ha* been annulled.*' "It hv. by the lamentable death of my tir-1 wife." "Itut your first wife is alive. I tell you I an> she!" declared Barbara

"Hnvr Vou any proofs in support of a sdnt.-in.nt that 1 can scarcely h>'li. v>- \ <»i «i<.h »!•' to regard scriousl.v?" bhl.>'il Sir Talbot. "I'rimh ? Y»«u see nie before yo» gn.«]Kil ilarlinrn. " !'nr«!>»i ntc I w a very rlinrtn|ng j.iiiiic ltid» Mure me. whom I twugiii/f ic ,« public inlprtoirpr of no nit nn i'apa«'il.v. li you «*•» »w i' 1 r»*« o«ii>»*»* you as the lady lo whom 1 n«i tf.,rn»«*rly married. I niwwr ynu without I ilo not." uttered a faint cry. and ho droV •" h * j>« iil« li> >* limine. "An normali« n I am quite pr«»|nir><| in «itlt«ian inir in any court of ju*«t»-e >h»ultl you Ik* so ill-advised iiH f io persist in n Mnlwiii m that ran oi>*y '»• productive of trouble la youru-K nn c l 'o your jfrieiufc'. mo lilt you to consult those who h a v>' y «»«ir iiiiiTi-st at h«-art. These hallucination* nrv wry oftrn found followirg on brain trouble a* the result of injury to the head. 1 must really mn lude what is a painful interview to myself as well as to you. And I am sure, on reflection, you would not w i*h to drag an honoured nam*' m' o a catttc celebre in connection with jugglers and tumblingfolk? lUri.iv, the door for Miss—--Mis* Stanniforth. I think. Gqo«J aiodi'D?."

TV Mian r.-nil his master's face, it ml oh Itarliara staggered, rather I hart u»IVil. into the street. Marker folluwrd her at a "*f° distance.

CIIAPTKR XVIII,

HHAVj; RESOLUTIONS, lUirlmra hardly knew whither she ftrni ur ir what direction she bent h-r <)( all the tricks played on her l».v n relentless fate, surely ihrs was »h* worst. Her blood ran Ibrcflv within her veins that she had liU'rniu Ir*. ti turned from her hus{tMUid'H il.mr—ih~ husband she loathed and ilt*>|>i"* il—ns an Impostor. She. th > la*t descendant of tlu? Mo* rn\.* i (t iu.tl with such an indignity Oh, it «(i"» shameful—shameful! How n>ul«l she lK*nr it? How could she live under siirh a stigma ? Her prick* and self-respect enabled Put to pull herself together oil reacting that her agitated demeanour rendertd her an object of observation tn th- inililie streets, and then to e«;«pr it fh- went down St. Jnmcs'fr street, nml crossing Fall Hall fouml i Mnluil. <1 In n? h in the park on whirh she w-aleil herself. Khe must think things out. This wan ev.n n more serious predicament than that jmler whUh she had previously 1aXHirrd. That Sir Talbot Hester would deny h-*r identity had never tccurml to her in her wildest drt-ams

Ho far from it, |jad »h.? not bt*n fianomc that he might claim her oh lb wife, form h*r to live with him, liter once telng made aware of her •xlstence? Kba laughed bitterly. Kvijkntly »h* nned cot have alarmed n -rrtelf. Ik appeared well pl»a*<l sh? !>h »utd h* d <id : the vision of hi* w»n'" b\ bride in pro»|>«tivc evid tly hmpM »ll other consideratw n«. ||." wo'iM m»rry Mh» V»ritlort. would perpetrate n marriage that would U' n mockfry and a J>h»me. jtterly r#l!o'i" to the fact that his tln»t wife livrtl and therefore th« :ereniony would he null and void. Wait? What If he conscientiously 5-l!,•>(«) h*r dead, if he felt uti»lk<il in hit »«tn i»>cd. *h» wa* ind the

cousin of the juggler «hns« performance h* hpd wi«n-SMd.' His face betrayed no duplicity: h* ha«l apparently fell convinced of the truth of what he said. Was she. th> n, so changed that he did not ivcogniiw the girl whom he had askrd to lie his wife? And what of Alison Stannsforth—she whom he had so cruelly wronged? lie could not possibly confound her personality with that of Barbara Moray. No. no: he wait dissimulating. He must have known her to be his wife: hut according to Sir John Templecombe he was no lunger rich. Her reappearanre now #h n h- was engaged to a wmlthy heiress threatened to mar his |ir >|«(Tls, step beiwnn himself cml hi* nmliilion. An-I in otd-r in retain that for v.hMi he was w tiling to sacrifice hj« n »«>r nrd imperil hi* liberty. he r-pudinted her. d?sputid h-r id'iitily :>nd threaten"d to justify himself in sh* law courts, should she persist in It -r rJaiin. 'Mm I was bravado, of course; hut -iiiiM lie expect to fright-n her into subsiding into the background. could he imagine a Moray could rest eontrnt'd with sueh an ignoble position as that into which *h-» had Ikin unhappily folTllI?

Ilnw-ever. she had n««w n> aliernative hut to Tight for thai whi<h was lawfully her own. She had b'tter. perhaps. consult Lody Hlnir. nnd— And th«-n a chill like in- ran through h.*r vein*. lib* Blair had n-ver se. n Itarh.tra Moray. Hnrlar n had livid in miili seclusii-n with her fnili-r in Kdinburjjh. ,• ml the guest# wiio tti're bicld" n to ih' »vi ilil'ii j were mostly fri'nd< of Mrs. llitihi". They hid n th* bride rover.-S with her x«-iI nit I o:*» hut woit'il i h ■;> mii ar to h-r ii|. ntity no'A in <h* <i-' h-r liiishnnd's hra"*n d-c'ara'ioti th.it *h>* not hi* wn*.- ••»!»!. «1 with ih«" hurial of th* d l^idy llr»li'r in th- Morn;.

Th • suiig«'sl ion w;i v li .rrili!e. II«*r fm'h-r d-*ml. li-r auti' nhr«iad—who was to proie .she «a» Itnrl H"*n Moray ? iviiat if «•*-« n Keiili !»•■'.i»-\. «l h *r— Sir Tnllit>i i|«s-lnin |»- >'-i!f"*riiig fluM hilllll* !|»«; :«>n. lit- 1" -«»!| of the njniy to li--r h sit v-li n S-n »*ki d Jn'ri ti in lb* i'-si I n.:-i| >h • l»-jil* ;ii»o'her h'imilia! ion. ■ii though on-h il n a!*<-r '.h.it -h • r.-r.-ti.«l rl-.jii *1 sy ' I«»i ; :ti l earn—ih lh-i^lit. i>rj -»it.v r-i:ieiul»! nil v.ord uttr«d hy tl:e iiii>n uho •• ii:i:n-» wa-> iu-tly h-r own. sh ikl'iiv; nii»n. sih-nt tinrs ngi ny n I wi>'i:-d <1 pride. Sh>* CM .I chit iilh'::C. •Il • • n'lt'lll'led. •11l 111 Mrs. t;ofe-!{i«-hi«*"» r«-i urn to l-Tnx'ari'l ller n«ini wn.'d rifognize h-r. without dniiht. ami !iir the honour of th- family w«> iM h r n»«•*•«• rijrhied Anil Mir-ly a>t- r his l««-haviour ro un*- uoutd >••»'! lemn her lo live wiih him. ev. n Mrs. (JoreHi'hie would not Ih- mi hearties.** as tha' -

ller torn emotion*. somewhat sooth<d by attitude that morning Sir Talbot had .pla«i-d n harri.-r U-t v. n them, BarlKirn l«-ft the heifh—iitll" dreamthat th- astute l!n<i..r ««« following her every m«>v>-im nt v. i h the int«nt to discover wli-iv >h- liv.d—and walkvd through th- park in order to lo ! « an omuibu.i hack lo li«* g« nt's Park. tin? stern duty lay before her. nn<l that ?he must fulfil at any lo h.>r pride or to herself. Alison Stanniforth had crossed the Atlantic to warn h-r a:a'n»t a villain. arriving in';, after th- ceremony. She. Barbara, must warn Miss Ynnsittart oi !h»- character of Sir Talbot Hester. lint hefore th" cerem. Ny this time. Sh • leii-t <lo th.it <-\«n though, as in th- case of poor Alison, the warning cost her her life. Would Miss Ym-.it iart listen to Iw-r? Sh* rotild t»n'y try. But. if all el*"* fa»! «l. *h- must en 11> the church ord prtr-lnim her own id-mity at the alt«»r rails. At h «st. 'i>* ii-ii<y man wo'i'd h-silate to |**:Yo:"ii th* ceremony until the matter hail b.vn invest igated. Anil th«-n Sir Ta'bot's mo.-king query in h'*r ears. "Have you jtny preoi's of n •-lalemen« that I ran - s n:---.-ly I. !i-w you icl'ttd me to tuVe ?-,*ri -<i-!y."

"Proofs!" What prndf*? Sh«* could only say. "I nut I~«l> liefer, who was Barbara Moray:" and th> reply would be thnt rarl-nra, I.ady Hester's remains had identified by her relatives, anil buriid with tnmh pomp and ceremony in th: Moray vault.

The prospect dismayed h -r: yet a stern duly devolved upon h-r in prevent this marriage that would on'y lie a desecration. Ud.v lllair noticed an in ras d pallor on the sad face of tin- li'il-N companion. who daily gi'-w more dear to her. and secretly gri»v<d ov.-r the lin-.s gath- rinr .-ini'.nd the pali'ii' eyes and ofteti-»;ii<v.riin; lips. That the girl suffered from :v.i- h'dd.*n sorrow xhc felt asMiivd. but th* kind woman felt reluctant to in rutsits nnguis-h by an attempt to i-ar down the veil and expo"" that which its frail possessor guarde d so securely. "You ore not looking r.t all well, my dear,"- .-he said the day after llarliara's interview with Sir Talbot Hester. "I wontfyr if ynu .night to sir Dr. Harden? Keith left me the strictest injunctions." "Oh. no, thank you. It, i- only my (i-'ad aches, dear Lady lllair. und" — "Ah. yes. it was againM Uiq-v h<°ail<i''hes that Keith wartK-'l iiw so particularly. He feared *lt -ir recurrence as likely to affect your memory -v.ti after it had once return-d to you, my dear." "Uitl he? Could you tell uic «bi h- Faitl?"

"That under intern*- pain ii: the li.-nd—l mean were it allowed to continue—the brain would work with uncertainty, thai your n-i;;lection of uvrnln would prove unreliable, fluctuat injf. a« it were. My dear AI if on. you must certainly sec Dr. Harden; 1 insist on your <foing so; you are quite hysterical;" for Barbara hnd burst fn'o a flood of tears, laugh shrilly at the same moment. What use to tell her story to Lady lltnir? Keith would condemn her. In (if face of Sir Talbot's repudiation of her as hia wife, would not Dr. Ilrriot by virtue of fc>» former otatemcnt. describe her as suffering from an hallucination—that brain was working with uncertainty, and therefore its operations were not to be dc|x nded upon? She bad brought about bar own uor

doing. Why had she not, instead o» smd'ng poor Alison Stanniforth to meet her (loom, why had she not descended into her aunt's drawing-room exposed her husband's perfidy to the assembled guests, and deinacditl her own release from an unhallowed bond Then Alison Stanniforth would have been alive that day, and perhaps, her dear father also- Why, why had the not done this? Why had she involved herself in a coil of trouble, out of which she could'see no possible meth« od of extricatiop? Why? To avert a scandal—to avoid disgrace. To preserve the Moray pride—that fetish which had been for ever worshipped by the race—that inflontiMe god to which had Iwn offered one sacrifice after another, yet whi«h nothing: seonvd to api^asc.

Th • pride of the Mora.vs —and she last of them had brought it to a pretiv |"a-K! Was sh* doomed to lose her birthright. to sin'< her identity, to live out th - r«*si of h<*r life alone? Xevcr! It should not be! Airl now all the old fighting Moray l»lo<xl rioti-d in Uarbara's veins. She would do batil>' in her name—not the name of Ulster, nhich sh-? had n"ver borne. nev««r wi.-h *d to '■■••nr —but Ilarbara Moray should be I'arl-ara Moray on-e more, if her life paid th-.* penally of conquest. Hut at prest nt she must lie pati'-n'. She must do no more than try and stop the marriage, which could only be a mockery, and watch for the return of Mrs. Gore-Ritchie.

CTTAPTER XIX

AX INFAMOUS PROPOSITION*

"At I-ady Ulair's! rh-wl" An I Sir Talliot looked at llarker with on expressi or. little short of dismay.

"Did you not try to ascertain"— "I did. Sir Talbot. I chanced to find, as I expected, one of her ladyship's grooms in the smoke-room of th-; Regent's Arms, and in the course of a little casual conversation gathered that th;; young lady who called upon you this morning is known as Miss Alison. her ladyship's 'companion.' Sir Talbot muttered something inaudible. but Marker continued imperturably: "And that her introduction to I .uily Itlair was brought about by mean* of her ladyship's brother. Dr. Ileriot. whose patient she was, and aho. in the opinion of the servant's nail. is in love with the young lady"Sir Talbot uttered an oath. "That puts a different complexion on the matter." he ground out between his teeth. "1 have heard of that yo-ntg Keith Heriot, and have no wish to bring myself into personal collision with him.'' "There i.% mi nivd," returned Marker. "llf has Ikh n appointed consulting surge*-n to one of the big hospitals in tli- north. Sir Talbot, may I plainly? I think you know 1 am d -voted to your interests do you not?'' . Ills nodded abruptly; his face was white; his brow troubled. "I have foreseen this trouble for some time." continued llarkcr. "I have seldom answered the door bell without expecting to see the visitor who cantc to-day." "How? You knew "

"I saw the juggling show at the Parthem n. Sir Talbot. At first I was attracted only by the lady's nerve, th -n on seeing her a second time she impressed me as being curiously like some one I had seen before. T w<-nt again and again until J was convinced that ao extraordinary blunder had l>ecn committed, and that th-? unfortunate lady who met her death 01: Hunger ford Bridge was buried with h< nours to which she possessed no right.""Is that all?"-

"Not quite. Sir Talbot, even a man-servnnt may be permitted the ?xercise of his imagination, and atready I have formed the opinion that to marry Miss Vansittart would be both agreeable and advantageous to the master to whom I am devoted. And then I endeavoured to ascertain what circumstances had placed the young lady who faced tlw flying Unives in a position opposed to her birth atvl connections." '■She ioid me," returned Sir Talbot, "hhc changed clothes with tho juggler's cousin—who got her deserts "or meddling in my concerns, con'otind her!—and was identified .by I his man, Stanniforth, in consequence."

"That is correct. Sir Talbot. I first tri<d the stage hands at the Parthenon—-icenp-shifting is notoriously thirsty work—but it seems ritanriKm-i h was a reticent man, and tealou-J.v guarded his womenkind 'loin th* ordinary tittle-tattle of tho theatre. Cut after the discontinuance of th-3 (HTformance, and ascerta'n'ng they had gone into the provinces. I pursued my investigations ntu !.i*le-«treet, the street in which th\v livid." "With what result?"

"I found a garrulous old actor, lanu'd llertram. who retailed all he iik'w over a 'special Scotch ' at the •orner 'pub.' And I inferred that no one. least of all a juggler like himself. has the slightest suspicion that the lady is not Alison Stanniforth, who. it appears, had only landed from America or. rhe morning of that lay on which the fog caused nioro accid. Nts than one, bringing with her a letter from a sister in New York rommending her to her cousin's care" "I know all that. Is there nothing Mse?" "Or.ly that Dr. Heriot evinced ?roat Interest in the patient who was suffering from a complete lapse of memory and had no knowledge of the supposed sister in Sew York." "And you have known all this all along. Why did you not warn me?"

"There was no need to worry yob, Sir Taibot. Until the patient's memory returned, you were in no and the chances were that Chje brain would never have recovered from the injury." "No danger! What the .deuce do you mean? No danger! Suppose J had married?" "Your first wife is dead. Sir Talbot," KUfjpcstcd llarker, meaningly—"dead and buried unmistakably. The law would hold you blameless, since the poor lady's father and aunt idenr tiffed hvr reamins." To 1* Continued.