THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 214, 6 December 1909, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

all i:r<;!n\- !:::-::rw:d

n ; . MAI HICK s<-!..»T i\ Author u? "l!v Mark of the Broad Arrow, etc etc.

PART *3. •Y'es." drawled Sir Talbot; **l*v«. no engagement, and your ingenuous enthusiasm amuses mc. Johnny. And also— glad as he may he to get back—it's astonishing how much like a Ibh out of water a man feels on returning to I.onrion of*«? r a length,n d ohsensv. It isn't to be expected J ran shake down at once eith-r." In suchlike manner was thy man whom of all others—had he knownHermann Stnnni'orth would have proved would have been kept out of th' building in whkh he gave his nightly performances, brought to occupy a private box close to th-Htng-r in the new and magnificent Parttunon Theatre of Varieties on th« first evening of his return to Knctrnl after an absence of twelve mJn'.hs. Th-j vast auditorium was paeked front floor to ceiling, and Sir T»M ot Hester—long since cnn»yc wi'h every fo n '» O f "amuseraect for amusement's sok* " pufltd idly at a cisnrvttc and lennd back in one of th- fnuteuils with which the box was fu»n : shr«l. and appeared to interest h'insHf in the sea of upturn-d faces «r«vnprls"nv; th* huge audience than in th* performers on the hoaid«

\\h-i> Hermann Stanniforth and his wife appear* d and came bowing to the front, prior to comiiun-iiig their "turn." he wheeled ro:in I and faced the stage, observing th* juggler kenl*. Apparently sa'isli.d with what h- saw. he shrugsred his -.houl-d.-rs with an air of boredom, as Hermann commenced with his own simpfe tricks, rnd ngiiin turned his face lownrds th* auditorium.

His companion would s*-«-m to have It-rome oblivious to his Very cx«>l.no- Sir John T<iupl.-eomlie was hall US rnH out of th- box. and Sir Tnllj'd. »f he conoid -r d the point at .»». thought that Johnny's having iHi-ltirotl a phase of juggler-worship wn* th- o-hJ-st |ms««ible thing in a ninu uf bir-h and preconceived id-a««. Hi* or.n th«»-i.<:hts were wandering. •It- wn» rfa'tifg <!»•• incidents of his ,«f «-ic hitin- on that superb I*., nml II Mir. en whith h- had breakfasted hat very morn-iu. *»f his travelling n.n|tiii:ii«. fp-vinliy of th- multiHiHli.M.ii're from the Stales. Abner Vansittart. and his pretty daughter, fora. -\\ distant touch of the tar i.ru.-h in th- family." some people tvtil »aid. but ths« millh n* were in-di-i|>titable. And Vansittart would no doubt maker th«* most handsome HftttriiH'tttS in his daughter, whom he was undoubtedly taking about the world in the full intention of marrying h-r—socially well. And Sir Talbot Hester would whether his own po*U i« n fullill-d "poppa's" expectation*. "Topia" mijjht aim at a coronet, or even at the strawberry leaves. Yet his qw n affairs, he told hiiJitefi. were in a distinctly unsalis-ftt'.-tory sfate. matters in South Africa had tutn-d out very differently to what had bwti onlicipatc-d: to • liable h'm to rea'i/" his ambition—a s<*at in lh • Cabin-t—wealth was an indisfN ii. able adjunct, ot'.d he flntter- • d himself that, once asHtirecl of the father's a* tl'-i'-sc-n e. th.- daughter would prove an ■if.v roujM"*!. This was. of cours.*. ««>ii."iiFg> nl on his ultimately determining to make the pl»n;e. which h»* had yet by no nv-an-* d citl «l to do.

And h- cMild not n«»w indulge his fin-y to woo and wed a psr.uiless bride. 'I hat confotuuM slump in the South African market had—though he rorefiitty ci n-rcalitl the truth and lau.ch-d when disaster stared him in lh- i'n".-e —qiieend his—

Hut what on car:h was happ ning ■n «he theatre? The omh-stra. hitherto piston: a brilliant galop while th- juguler went .through his performance, hnd suiMcnly ceased, ami though the large audience remain d sil« nt—almost breathless—it was n»t difficult to perceive that the greatest, tin*? excitement prevailed throughout the house. Tha sea of uptuin d t'ocrs turn-d en masse toward.- the st»g«* had on almost elec-tri.-al effect. Something weird was .v.out to happen, evidently. Then the sta-,"- was suddenly darken-d- as al>o rh ;,..«!.iorium. except for a g«"«>uP Of i.HHhuit limelights focussed on to a t>ai'kgrownd of dark purple, plac.nl o'diqtiely on the left side facing the audit nee. Sir Talbot Hester experieiic.d a curious -sensation, for which he was at a loss to account. He. too. wa« now leaning over the front of the box. a sufficiently keen judge of humanity to understand that something at least unusual was about to take place. lh n the juggler had temporarily left the stage, reappeared, lend ni by th* hand a woman, at the sight of whom the whole house burst into a roar of tumultuous applause .\ wpman. young, graceful, surely of gentle birth Johnny Templecombe was not such a fool th-n! Pressed in purest white, a simple evening gown of some soft, clinging material, revealing lines and curves many n ducheaa might envy. And then, amid the breathless stilln*» that followed on the opplause. the juggler, cow wearing a loose I mile of some black material, leaving him perfect freedom of movement, and which, with its broad nhhe lay-over collar, gave him an rt'.r.o-i Mudcnt-likc appearance, led It • Rirl—lt was Immediately seen she i-rt- ipilte young—towards the backc o »u*l of dark purple velvet .1-aot.xt which she now paused imhi d'n'ely facing the box occupied 1»< Sir John Teiuplecombc and hi* n'ruml.

And as she stood th»rv. the powerful limelight focussed immediatelv upon her figure, silhouetting it the deep velvet until that itself b-came almost *h»orbed Into lh< • hrtdows outside the circle of light. Sir Talbot Hester* appeared to feel th- electrlelty In the air. and now ht drew forward his chair and liantl prominently over the front ol Eh- box.

And then be could hardly, repres* a erv of horror «s Hermann Stanniforth. standing on the opposite side of the stage, a rvd limelight thrown on his U«he. flexible form, hurled at th>- clrftsh figure standing tfiero »>'. h

-ui-h mvi ii-fiiiti- r;rs\'<\ yet yo f'-ar-;.-<.«.!y. i.rivht. <iiiulii.'-< <lc<-«i. iir.nns•.i.Vahiy muirl T.)tis-l,j ' nives. ..:;•• Ri'i.-r an»ih>T, with ligh nn; r.ij.ifJtty. n t»y on- of whi-h might hnv- terminated her existence had ;h- juggler's aim been inaccurate. The .suppressed excitement in th house was tremendous. A paragraph un ihj programnte api>enled for a'»solulc silence durLug th" feat. btJt now a'd then a frighten.d woman would cry out. or % lons-restrained t-iuo'itn burst rorth into relief as ihe knives quivered in the board: but the man awl womat: on the stage 4ecni-d self-centred, either undisturbed by such ebullitions or inured to th-ir occtirn nve.

Th«r. th; lost knife had been throv.n and as the graceful llgurc remain *d rigid—outlined now in glistening steel blades, their handles -^till un-it.aly from th; force of the impact—a mighty roar of enthusiasm s-h :o"< th» building, while Hermann Stanniforth bowed his thanks. It was some- minutes fceforc th;» applause subsided: and then. hoUPn • up his haml t«> ask for silence Hermann proceed d to remove the knives from the board, to lw instantly taken from him by stage assistants, who passsd them round otnonj th.* audience. in order to lenve no doubt in the mind of any person that the weapons were real, fn th" do-'hg of this Stanniforth started as 0 tiny at ream of Wood trickled "Cousin Alison's " fori head.

"It is nolh'ng." shr- whispered, '"anil it is my fault, not yours. 1 moved ns the knife left your hank a luice. sefiirirjly familiar startled nu Xo one will notice. Finish quickly. Hertiiiiii s. and take me off as usual." He nvd.-d no telling to I'.ni.-h rpik-kly, and as he releas4 d sh ■»ut up her hands, rumpling her d-ep nd curls over h-r brow, so that th »tood-strcak should Ik? hidil n. awl then came down to th- footlights, in the full bln/e of light which had been turned up nil over the house. tnd stood, n moment only howing jfraVely- in n-sp«-n»e to the cheer.* and flowers literally showered upon acr.

And by this time Sir Talbot Hester, who had obtained an ot»erajlass from one of the attendants, was literally hanging over the front of the box with the barrels focussed 'ull on tho sweet face, with its frame of red curling hair.

It would seem as if she felt the intensity of his I'tt/e. or else; the keen iense of admiration and enthusiasm ainnifested by Sir John Tcmpleitone. as in retreating her eyes waniered directly to their box. Then as Sir Talbot uttered an exclamation, Hermann was Ju.st in time to catch the fainting "Cousin Alison " in his iims as th- curtain was lowered on the "knives act " of which he was so aroud. "Well, sceptic," asked Sir John, jrawing a deep breath, "how's that 'or pluck, eh?" "Yes." was th- reply, "seemingly careless, "th- woman's courage uoevond dispute. I wonder who she «?" CHAITKIt IX. "L.IKB UXTO A LIGHTXIXO'S FLASH!" It had not been without long ano deliberate corisid-ration that Hermann had eventually tc avail himself of the ser\iccs of his "little cousin " in that partict|lat portion of thi? jH-rfprmance in whict Selimi's luck pf jjervc? put Iter, to h'-*r pwp great regret, out of the ruituing. He hud practised the feat with Alison every day. under varying conditions, all through the summer, bytr in London, as nl?-o in several of In* large provincial centres at which hi bad booked engagements with the ■tamo unfailing success as attended tho first experiment. Alison nevei once wavered, never moved an eyelid; the appeared rather to enjoy tht suppressed excitement of the proceeding, and to he none the worse fot the tension undoubtedly exacted under such dangerous conditions. Dr. Herlot was pres« nt at one ot the rehearsals, and viewed the situation with extreme gravity, while admitting the probability that the shock of finding herself the cynosure of a thousand pair of eyes, and the unusual circumstances attendiqg a public performance, contrasted with th/; seclusion i'ii which she lived under Hermann's enre might have the effect of restoring her mental equilibrium. Yet the danger to her life, shojild Hermann's hand but once prove unsteady, gave h'm great anxiety, as also the harrier placed between himself and the girl whom he so ardently desired to make his wifo. by. the fact of her l>ecoroing a public, pcrformee. It would, he knew full well, bo sufficiently difficult to reconcile his family to her relationship to the higgler; but that she should also take part in his performances Yet he could scarcely protest, with Alison's past life a blank into which n-ither Hermann nor himself could .•liter. There was another point, too to be considered in all fairness. Stanniforth had eonfided to him I lift! ihe T.uiidoa managers were declining to renew his contracts, unless new and striking features could lie added to his "turn." Had Keith fleriot any right to remonstrate, under the* circumstances, in his profound jgnoramar as to whether Alison were evenffreo to love him and accept his love? And Hermann, for his part, silently weighed all these matters, meanwhile pracilsfuk the "knives act " most assiduously, but wondering whether in view of Or. lleriot's aVowed love for Alison, he might not ho do'ng her an irreparable wrong by affixing to her name the brand of a music-hall performer. And th-n he wrote out to Monica detailing the circumstances very accurately ami asking her advice. Her reply—a month in reaching his hands •-seemed to bring the point to an isiuo:

"Dear Cousin Hermann,—As long as poor Alison continues well and happy—as by your letter she seems to be—why then, it would be just Heaven's mercy that sh- should never remember the black, bitter years which have brought her so much suffering. The story is one I don't feci at liberty to relate withput Alison's permission, only to say she's been in no sense to blame, and -onsiderably more sinned against, than sinning. "Hut with regard to the gentleman of high faintly snd aristocrat ir <jrs- ;«•»?, that must be discouraged, aud

finally. Th n- nro living reasons why sui-h a marriage could not fail lo I)'- disastrous to I.oth, and the old Scotti.-h pride is proverbial. As she is so 'interested in your work, and anxious to help you, I see no reason wha««:vor why she should not take part in your enterlainm- nt Moreover, it would be sufficient check to the poor young doctor, for whom I am truly sorry—and 01/viatc the n-ces-sity for further explanations thaD that his family connections render all thought of marriage with a stage performer, just impossible. •"For remember, Hermann, the above observations are in strict conlidrii -e bet wet n you and me. \Yith .love to Selina and yourself. Its hard to think poor Alison can't cv n remember me. but give her my devoted love all the same.—Your affectionate cousin. "Monica Stanniforlh." That settled it. "Living reasons " against such a marriage? "Living reason-! '" Xol—God: —not a child ! Could any man be so base, so And the juggler's nervous hands clenched themselves until the veins sto d out in knots. He felt he would willingly strap such a miscreant against the velvet-covered board onl bury all the double-edged knives in his quivering flesh without hesitation or mercy.

But perhaps he mistook Monica's meaning. In any «se there existed some painful story which must of necessity l>c to'.d to Alison's husband should she ever marry. a n-l the realization of that removed his scruples with regard to allowing her to take part in his nightly'exhibitions. Selina had sighed disappointedly on hearing his decision, though she also felt that Ih-.fir reputation ami n* managers as up-to-date performers producing novel and sensational effects lay in thf ba'an-e. and the "knives act " would probably turn ihe scale, which it undoubtedly did. Hermann gave a private show lo one or (wo of the more potent music-hall magmtes and was immediately boo!<d fo" almost any terms he chose to exact, lie h.id stipulated that Alison should not he thrust into greater publicity thun the <n* feat demanded. ih.it no noun* should ap|><*or on the programme, that she should Im* loo'.ed upon as one of his assist an's. and accord), d no special in- n'iott

Th • managers unable (o see into (111- recesses of h>« mind, considered ihis the Miprein st po ; nt of vanity t-n lit- part of a man unwilling to shnn- the expfdid notoriety wilh a woman, wiili.nil whose marvellous n-rve such t » ha' would Ik* impossible Hul so anxious nviv they to secure lh- n••»■ S'-nsatuni thai lh<> point was i"i-iu"«fl-'il. jfnd >o. while London was all ov««r wilh posters de-pit-ting Hermann in the act of hurling the formidable weapons at a woman clothed all in white, with brilliant, copper-hut d hair, the name of Alis.n Stanniforlh was conspicuous for its absence.

And thus matters proceeded, with ever-increasing success, until the evening on which an abrupt request for an opera-glass in the voice of Sir Talbot Hester—spoken in what was intended to be an undertone, but which, in its vehement insistence, travelled far in the hush prevailing over the house —caused the mysterious "white lady," as she had bem called, to swerve ever so. slightly, though suflicieiitly so for the knife at that instant flying through space to draw blood.

She instantly regained her balance, however, and kept it to the end, not realizing exactly what had caused li<T to move, only thinking that for the first time .she had disgraced herself by losing grip, and that such a faux pas must not occur again, or calamity to Hermann would inevitably follow.

Once let the impression get abroad that a tragedy was possible—almost probable—that blood had actually been drawn, and then the authorities would intervene, and stop the performance, after whith poor Hermann, so good and kind to her, would be in infinitely worse plight than had it never been suggested. Nothing more than this flashed through the. mind of "Cousin Alison" as she bowed with her usual downcast eyes after being roleascd from the board. For throughout all her grcaX anxiety to be of use to Hermann, and while enjoying the sensation, the excitement of facing thr flashing steel she had never liked or even got accustomed to the glare of publicity. The gaze of the mr'. d "asomething painful —soni'-thiiv.: fro;:: which, as by instinct, i-lv .-him,'. away, wincing as if with pain. Hut she was careful to from Hermann; realizing r 1; ■ would not haVe allowed her to appear a'.ain anil so she faced the ordeal oi' bowing in response to the uproajrious applause, but always with eyes looking anywhere but at the sea of upturned faces shining with the tension and excitement undergone by thei; owners. Yet on this eventful night, as witn h<>r head dizzy fram the slight blow struck l>y the handle of the knife. rn-i s»-iises still confused by the shock o; realizing she had swerved, and that should she do so again her own lis"--, and perhaps Hermann's also, ■,,,■,■■ t pay forfeit — an awful murn'-u' -n. jlung closer than usual to Hermann's liaiut. the voice which had so nearly been her undoing was again audible, this time even above th • tumid: reigning throughout the packed audi' torium. .\»id then Cousin Alison, still holding the juggler's hand more tightly than before, raised her eyes, and looked directly into those of Sir Talbot Hester. He —that man? It was his voice—his voice! It was only a second's space of lime, only a flash so to speak, but in that second Harbara Moray's past life rose up before her, and she knew »h-* had once stood at CJod's altar beside the man now standing leaning over the front of that private box levelling his opera-glass directly into her face. And she. Harliara! What was she doing on the s»tage oi a theatre, a place dim with smoke, where all ire spectators present were staring a'. her? And she stood th'-r>- 'a'::.,',;. permitting it, h'-r '-.and dasir-d in that of a strange man. a performer' What would father say. ...r Mrs. r.ore-Ritchie? And th'-n '-.-.••rythir.tr turned bia-.-k, US Hermann o-aiizinir 'he situa'b.r.. Hij[>port"d ]■:■■.'■ ii'o ';".■"■ v.;: : rc~. and Ih.- tableau '■;,■• a o -S ~,.-.-.;•,_, sv.-iftiy drawn ' Do be C■.-.-.• i::u.,d.;