THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 218, 20 December 1909, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

ALL k: . • !:: \v. ::d

I'.> MAI KICK SCOTT. A ; ! of :h; Mark of the Brood Arrow. rt«." etc.

PART 10. lint were she to do thai, her aunt li ar i>( it. Would she be left unmolested in Ibr o!d house in the lai on And ih n her heart fell will n ion of dismo.v. Ih; house had Ini n mortgaged up to the hilt: there were debts innui!it>rnl>lr: nil «>f which were to have Ic n wi|* d out by her marriage to iJir Talbot llwlcr. I tut in Ih • circumstances of her ;.r«|»|H**c«l death? Again the impuls* riinH* to her to confide all to Keith lb-riot.

n l»•*,*' ('•mill .she w h--n fhs loved him? thn hj» lovtd her? Yet he had c«n\!ii til hrr .'h" tins wife to Sir Talli .t Hwicr: that ithe had r.o justifir/rr'i- reason for Nvking release* from hj«« b«»nd. Ilut what if he were told th* story of »h? real Alison Stanniforth?

:««r Talbot might deny it. and l'n -1 am had no proof of her stateluil. The ueforiunatc American had rturu-d h-r letters and document.* t ih h* r lo hr doom. Whether they l.atl b»'» n d-j*Sroycd or fallen into Sir TtT!.«»' '■» band*. Itnrbarn hail no way of knowing. Ami Kci:h had spoU« n sympathel iro'l.v i»f "poor little Hnrbara Moray" This mad" confession all the more (plTUult. It was appealing for. ulRu»t courting the declaration ol line .* Ik- lad M-n tremlilirg on hi» lips. »b* had told h»r so positively I hat allegiance wn» due to Sir Talbot llejiler. h* mifrhl even consider il his iluty to |>'n r> h-r wilhin Jhe seojie of h t husband's prosion. Iltn'.ui fiiil.ul ! No. sin* mmiM preserve li r wtti'l. a> 'f worK out her own >»'» a* :»»n «.« hej»t »h * t tinhl. IVrhaps h-r d -nr. «l-a*l fath«*r in Ili-nVcn fto'i'il n.il'h ov.-r and prolet* hi> "liit!"' Smii h and priiifi* K»i - ihro'iih the tangbd mazes ill wlmh ••In* ha-1 so strangely fallen.

An I ih ii In h-r Iml ide came n igi nl 1.--v«iic«'d wonion. «i:h rinrA-nliilc linir. I hough young in h -ni-t—Kriili II"rio»'s "big sister.' Itiirinni vnii'il have InVi-id Ijtrtv IHnir at ouee —*l> *1 love her. What wo'ild ?.h«* io« have givm to Imvr Mililfil out h-r sorrows on that t»»n»|er. womanly breast? Vet here, iimrn. th* Moray |»ride came ln*tween "1I»- women of their race bore all, suffer* d all. ir. swriiy and in silence, lidrhnrn had heard the story of the li .ni'tiul Maud lleriot. whose haii Ii id Irrn prematurely whit-nd by marital grief, the truth of which had never l»vn given to the world. Such n woman would say to Harbarn Moray:"You have taken an oath —sn'ered on a bond. You must fullil It. let the ft nn|iis-nt«i to yourself be «li.it th*y may." And lirttbarn's inmost soul rebelled Sh * ro'ild suffer poverty, privation, jn.< thing short of disgrace; but no* th n- would induce her to be wife to Sir Talbot Hester.

■•Keith." said Lady Hlair, the after h«r first visit to the n->r*i»g home. "I am inclined to nenr nith you about your 'Cousin Alts« ii." Wait, don't rhapsodize just \ et. I lave you any immediate plans (or h»r? Sh • will soon lie well in »'ts;h to leave th- nursing home." "Th it is my difficulty," he replitd.

"Ib r nmiiiit nf"' anxious sh * should jt> : n th*in iii Kdinburgli. Ar.d th'"' air nr>'i>il l»* just th- thing : only she ".hrin\*t from the idea. 1 feel sure the entourage of music-hall work )nrw on her s* native organization. Can you hl|» ine with a suggest ion?" "I *a.i wondering If you would approve my inviting her here," said I^d.v •Here?"

"Iler.—-«.»n a visit. Her manner is beyond repr»»a«h. and I noticed she win'»d at the music-hall, so we need n«»* refer to it. Hesides* she needn't meet th"* crowd. KVith. laddie. I like the little lassie: but there's i>om"ihing In background of her memory, nnl th* hrat way I can hdp my wee brother is by trying to find it out."

"Maud, you are an angel."- was Keith's reply. CIIAITKU XIV. %lil TALIIOT HKSTKH HHOIGHT TO TUB SC.*HATCH. "I'm a plain-spoken man. Sir Tab |mt Hester I've made my pile on a policy of going straight to the point while others hesitated. ««itln!» for Ihe other silk- lo make the first move and while they've waited I reckon I have scowl.' 1

Thus Abner Yan»ittart. who. as he himself expressed it. had no notion uf allowing any man to fool around fit* daughter, and break her heart. "Kver sliico tho was born. Sir Talbot," continued the millionaire '"my little girl Cora's had everything »h -"s net her mind on—everything that money could buy." Sir Tnlbot reddened slightly at the implication, yet deemed it wiser to let it pass unnoticed. "Now. 1 won't commit myself as f«r as to say she's set her ntin:! on Lady Hester,"- con;inu>d Mr. Vnn-dttart—a shrewd-visnged. >et Mndly-looking man. with a kein •ye ior commerce, yet a child in t fanny* of diplomacy. "Hut you've paid h-r considerable attention. Sir Tnlbol. nud I'm .of the opinion it'* time you and me understood ea>h o'h-r."

.sir Tttll.vL winced. Confound the • it fellow for forcing his hand! He Kid i* 'n purposely keeping off while * pic t; guard that no venturesome itr-hr should enter the lists and off the prize. \ (l | now old Vansit tart was bringr- him to hook. He must either il' dnrc himself as a suitor for Cora's Km, I or withdraw'altogether; and in th.itt case old Vaasittart's millions would not go long a-begging. S.-ven or eight million dollars! I'hew! And the girl w®« quite present able—prelty. even. And, after all hi:* pooition was unassailable. i?vcb if-a-r-j He had done everything orthodox: ho would bo pitied rather than blamed should anything crop up. Itah ! .What could crop up ? Hi

fi !<i ii to worry himself o"'er a ' Ihi; lla'i.-r in... Mr Vail i'-tart," ...,j il. l. r- n! ialiv . hi - - usind resr.:; rapidly, ami urging him to in'.laie the example quot« d by th« inm of dollars—to go ".straight to i h«* point"—to leave the other side to make th* first move, should there ~xist an "other .side." "I—l will not deny that the hope has arisin withir. mc that I might count myself in an favourable light with Miss \ anMttart and if I have hesitated—l will Ik* frank with you~l have purposely hesitated in put Li rig my fate to the test."

"I reckon that's obvious." was the ilder man's reply: "and as one of the parlies most ron.'ern-d. I should be glad to h*nr your reasons." "Your daughter is joung. I am. as you I now. a widower "

"That "h iiiici' a matter which Cora migli? b* e.\p*ctcd to nesitate -han > o"i»x*lf. Sir Talbot," retorted the American d.-ily.

"Trun. My «hief is that »o»» arc- a tfeaH hy nir.n." •'ll'in: It's «h.» Hr>t lim«* I've h-nrd it <i tltnt Amurrican lot In I'-S formed mi impedim* n* la innrriagi* in the o!d cofii'ry, Sir Jali,ot Hester."

Tin; hnron -t ground his Icclh. Diplomacy would avail him noih n ; uiih ihi.s o;H>pok«n Western v. 'J'h. glove* had l/Hter cam" oil. "I see you und'istnnl in-'." he •said. " U»-n- I lo propose 'or >our daughter's h;*n:l. J lay myself o|*ii la ilt • im»«iiatiah of marryin; hj•» for h T iiinii<-\

""Ye*. that's so. I «i< n't ih'n\ i! •oiild If truthfully awrii il th lialar<i* would fall e\.n Sir Talbot i:.sler. th-re's no n.ttl i*> !»-ai about th>» l»u.-h. Winn >*»u dd m> ih» hj» tiour of paying court io m> girl. I mad«; it my business lo -injuire into your posiiion. Po'.ii ieallv ind MK-ially you might Ix" si\ I'd—:i"* «*• Westerns would say—a li";.' Lug! Financially" The sil> lie*' thai followed was ev*-r. more eloquent than words. Sir TalIh»1 roso lo 1 h>- challenge. "You nu-au \«m would refuse 1111; your daughter's hand on account at my financial position?'"

"X-o. ! don't go as far as that. Your career proves you to In* a very smart man. Sir Talbot Hester —a man with brains, anil the capacity to iim' ih-in. Xow, I'm a self-made man. anil I'd sooner trust my pile in the hands of a man whose ability —backed with money—ought to carry him into ih" cabinet, than see my dollars dissipated by a fool in order that my girl might be called a. duchess.~

Sir Talbot's face flushed with anticipated triumph. The keynote dominating the millionaire was ambition. and such a fath-»r-in-law would be worth having.

"Since you ha*e studied my affairs you .know why I have held back," he said in low. agitatid tones. Th> •slake was a big on". He must deal his cards with .meat care. "And that fact has convinced me you're an honourable man. sir," responded Mr. Yansittart warmly. "Had you ln-en a mere fortun*-hunter you'd have proposed long ago." "Then—then should Miss Yansittart —I assure you sir. I have loved your charming daughter from the time of our first meeting on board the liner"— began Sir Talbot, feeling that such d-claration was de-mand.-d from him.

"Well. I'in uiid-r the impression that such is her b-livf. Sir Talbot," returned Cora's "poppa." bluntly. "You render me the happiest man in England." return d the hypocrite "and il shall In* the aim of my life to make your daughter the happiest woman. Mr. Yan-.it tart." "Yes." return d that gentleman, pithily. '-I reckon you'll find it worth your while to l>c good to her —as long as I'in in the land o' the living. Hut I take it. a '"an in your position—in the public eye as one may say—van Ik* trusted to keep his family relations sound and beyond all touch of scandal. Well, then we will consider that little matter settled. You can speak to Cora right aw"ay. and there'll !»«• a trifle of a million dollars deposited to'h"r account on th-» day of your wedding." Sir Talbot Hester drew a deep breath as h-» separated his long, wfjite fingers, shaken and squeezed into numbness by his father-in-law in prospective. And then as he left the Hotel Cecil in which the Vansittarts occupied a luxurious suite of rooms facing the Embankment, he almost »!aggvrcd at the prospect of the diw.y heights of power to which the millionaire's money might enable him to climb.

A hansoiu carried him to his chamliers in St. .Jnmes's-strcet and there he sat down alone to. review the situation-

His hand had been forced —no doubt of that—and to draw back was {in utter impossibility. No more alluring prospect could possibly present itself to his acceptance. With him love had always been thrust aside for ambition, and Abner Vansittart's "pile " would indeed enable him to go far.

Why then should he hesitate, whyfeel coinpunct lofts, because of a chance resemblance, a coincidence in name? Il could l>c nothing more. And now his mind reverted to his first wedding day and the weeks preceding it. H«»w pretty Harbara Moray had attracted him: and how-, hile h- Ik-bated ifiUiin himself the discretion of uniting Ttiinself with an ancient |*-digree, rather than mor.ey, is diplomacy was outgeneraled by the astute Mrs. Gore-Hitchie who literally cnlrappcd him into a proposal. nor swerved from h-r purpose until her niece stood beside him at t|ie altar. fl.it lifter that—he shuddered at the remembrance.

The infernal fog filling the cariage until bride and bridegroom could barely sec one auoth-r. and the oachman could hardly lind his way to the station, where the fog seemed even thicker, and the officials had practically to lead them to the compartment reserved for their journey.

He had thought Ha r bar a shy—frightened of the man who was her husband. She had shrunk away from him toto the opposite corner of the carriage- It was only afterwards—after that horrible crash in the darkness—when all on a sudden the fiends of hell appeared let loose to work havoc and destruction, wh- n great masses of steel and iron were rent asunder find splintered likp matchwood. when the air rang with heartrending. aconiziA? screams, couolcd

wish 11J** hi»■-■! i'.-'a|ni!:,' steam tin* (|<'i i.ii.ti ii.u o: fog-signals, ex|il<.'l ir_ ion laic lo jni-vi-nv the catas--11<>: M What a night of horrors! \\ ha' a »>J;bt u> horrors! Would Ihe recollect ion ol it ever fad-; from his memory?

It was only afterwards when he understood the worst, when they brought him a packet of half-burned papers taken from the scorched clothing of th* hapless f)rid«*. that he had discovered them be his own letters to Alison Stanniforth, and it had daw n-il upon him that Barbara, instead of lieing shy. was sulky, and though h • was not sufficiently heartless to r«*joio* in her d<a'.h, he realized that,, had she lived, matters w*oiilt! have been th-.* reverse of comfortable. And moreover, th* fact of. her carrying h*r letters on h-r weiid tour furnish, d suliicimt indica'ion that the honeymoon would not have lx*s n cloudless.

As he wondered lh:n. so he wond>*red now. How on earth, or how acrosx Ihrec thousand miles of oc'au. mine Alison Stantiiforth's ictiers into the hands on Barbara Moray? I'nless Alison had read of his ini ended marriage and had written to his intend<*d bride. AVomen w>*re infernally malicious, though li<* h«id ralculaltd that that back chapter in the history of his life had be) n written in too remote a spot ever to crop tip and trouble him further. However, poor Ut tie Barbara had be*n killed, and thus Alison's attempt. at reprisal fell through; but he had almost forgotten the *-ircumslance until that idiot, .Johnny Tetnplestone rushi-d him o.'T lo ih* Parthenon to witness some juggling performance. And there, not only was the juggler's name. Stannifonh and the man himself an obvious American, but the woman who assisted (lint —whose nam); was withheld from th- programme—was the living imas)* of his d-ad wife.. Barbara! He l)n)l ln*en travelling all the previous ilay an*! night, an*! for nearly a week previously and wondered if his vision wer

••'•liable. his eyeballs seemed -tart rug and r«-ady to hurst. Yet ii «a> Harbara. and yet not Isarl»a"a! i'arl ai'a Moray li.nl been ,i in -itv Hitle :<iii:'l n. Tin* former was grave, dignified, almost sa<l. riji-n- v. a • s ( ;iii'_*t liing in her face he •o'lld r it' n-iiH-inln-r ever having ii la Ha boa. t'oigh that might r. :sili!\ Ii •. Mix. (Joro-I'ichie had been a |»«'rfi »■! slie-drag<.» 0:1 guard when : hatiiTonagi- was coticenvd. He had l*:i i*«-«y Kiss; d more than the tips of Ii r niece's I'n.rers ujitil the clergyman pronoun:« d ill-m man and wife. I:nt ||i»w pvrf"' il\- al/urd! The :l:iught>T ot Sir Ma'colm Moray—the proudest bai'iwi-t in all Scotland who .-laimt-d kin>hiji * with the House of Smart—on tlv music-hall stage! Why. every ciau that ever wore a tartan would assemble in public protestation again t su>-li an in lignity. And what would Mrs. CJore-Kitchie about to allow such a graceless proceeding on the part of lvr niece? I'he thing was absolutely impossible. And yet lie found himself influenced by an unaccountable reluctance to enter upon a second contract; for were Barbara still alive, she was his wife—unalitnahly his wife. The mere thought filled him with dismay now that Abner. Yansittarl had dangled the bait of a million dollars alluringly ljefore his eyes.

For Sir Malcolm's afTairs had turned out even worse than he had wepectcd. There was no money whatever, an l the prospect of supporting a wife n° w that his own fini»n -ial affairs had gone wror.g was not one at all to Sir Talbot's liking. I tut such a thing could not bo. Harbara. gentle, sensitive, refined, .msophisl icatcd—by what means had she been brought into contact with, people who lived by the means of entertaining the public in a music-, hall? And he was, as Mr. Vansittart had .said, in the public eye, his name constantly in the papers. Had accident, or a passing*whim, separated her from h-r husband, it was not likely her aunt would allow her to drift out of recognition, even if Barbara herself had so desired it. And that. he flattered himself, was not at all likely, Harbara would, no doubt, have givtn him good many bad half hours ovci the Alison affair, out, like many another woman, would jiave had to pocket the affront jnd make the best or the worst of the man whose wife she bad become It na< a striking resemblance, th-.it was all. Yet how odd the resemblance should be in connection with the name of Stanniforlh. "What has happened to your divinity. Johnny?" he asked one day with an air of seeming carelessness. as the two men were in the smokingroom of the club"My 'divinity'?"

"The ladv of tho flying knives. It was a startling exhibition—so startling that it appears to have been taken off the programme. I turn-d into the Parthenon to see il aga'n, but was told the turn was off."

"Yes," answered Sir John: "th» last time of its performance was tho evening or. which wc went together. All sorts of rumours are afloat. At first « medical certificate declaring the lady's utter inability to appear was issued, and it was said the feat would be put on again as soon as she recovered from an attack of nervous prostration. And th n it via* whisjiered there had been an accident—though a slight one—and that the management having been warned of their responsibility should iiiything fatal happen, decided to withdraw the turn."

"A sensible decision; the girl may na\e l>cen killed any night. Did von .•ver ascertaifl who she is") You were tremendously interested at the time, | remember,' 1 '"Yijs," answered the younger man.

'I lea:n d from one of the officials that she was the juggler's cousin -a Miss Alice Stannilorth. Did you ilfca'i. Hester? Yes. the name i.s unoiumou: that sh.- had come over from New York for h-r health. and while watching her cousin vainly • a .leavouring to instil mough courage nto his wife to fa.ee the knives proffered her service, with what result %'ou know." "H'h. plucky little Vankw," drawled Sir Talbot, puffing out volumes of mioke between. himself ar.d h:> ll-lc-ner. "And what, has become <j: tho devoted family?""(lone ir.to 'ho pr-jvinc-s, s,.i 1 onderstand. fJo.-j-n'rht H'-'-r. 1 am due at I.ad;.- M!;ur'-." and Sir John *l"emjsi"S• mi • had f-rv. !ea*. Sir Tai!>e! v. .e ; .'i.u .1? of til" il, ' a ' ' - r -i.-