THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 219, 23 December 1909, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

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IK MAI HICK SCOTT. Author vf "Th- Mark o.' the Broad Arrow, etc. etc.

PART 11. CHAITKR XV. I'VDKH LOVES SPELL. Once morv the girl whose hitherlc calm, p «eef»«Hy-un -v.. ntful existen-i seemed all n' once encompassed witr stran-je nnd eventful happenings, found h-n-elf lb- recipient of ho-s----pita'ity and kindliness to which sh« felt no o«« ««i her own entitle*! her—except that Keith Hcriot loved h r. and hrs sister, receiving her at first for Keith's sake, soon grew to love her for her own. Yet wh.tt would brother nnd sistct say did ili-y know th-y were befriending, n-wealing the wife ol Sir Talbot Hester? Was it right .h»; to ffcwivt- tin-in ? While her memory had remained a blank. none could blame her that shr? made no attempt to remove, herself from the surrounding!* into which she had unwittingly been plunged. But now—now she was nn impostor; she was imposing rn the kind, good friends whom it would appedV that Heawn itself had * nt to h-r assistance.

ThoiiKh would not both Lady Bloii ond her bioihrr rejoice to know their bounty was extended to on- o» the Morays of Edinburgh—one of th J«M-dying "old stock "—rather than that Kei'h Ileriot should cherish n hopeless pa.-sion for the poor little uuknonn American whom, by reason of her coiuiTtions he could iievei ask to become his wife. True. And how joyfully would not Barbara reveal her identity if only »he had never ?.too<l at the allnr Inside Sir Talbot Hester, or even that if assured I*idy Blair's strict sens* of a wife's duty towards her husband would not compel her return to a man of whom she stood in loathing. "My dear." said Lady Blair, on welcoming her to ti«" beautiful honw so different from Lisle-street, and into which Barbara fitted so naturally and ca»ily as to arouse wonderment in her hostess, "have you any objection if I drop your surname during your vjj.it?" "My—surname!" "The thief doth fear each bush un officer." And now Barbara changed colour and realized the impossibility of continuing a life of dissimulation. Lady Blnir observed her embarrassment, but attributed it to the girl's distaste for h'r cousin's profession, and it* ««>n*e«|Urnt notoriety.

"I have alluded to you os Mis* Alison, and my maid appears to have conveyed lh«* information throughout the household." she went on. "nnd for itonw reasons I thought it might be as well to allow you to remain ■Miss Alison-' My dear. I entreat you not to misunderstand me. Your cousin Is. hy my brother's description, a man whom to know is to respect, and snobbery in any form Is detestable; but it is unpleasant to find oneself the object of conspicuous attention—l am sure you ngr.-e with me—and Mr. Stonniforth's name has bw-n given stii-h prominence "

The pained expression on 'h' girl's facv therked the kfnd woman's utterance, and then Bnrl»arn hasten d to correct n wrong )iiipreM»i«in.

"I do «gr»«* with >tin. d-nr I«ady Bl«ir. and I dr-'od nothing >o much «> —as brir.ging discredit on— <en"— "\ot 'd«scr«flit." " inler|ios<id the h.>sf«-»*. gently. "The word could le-ver nf.piy to of»' whom my broth»-i tnkrs .10 deep an interest in «s yoiir-'.-U. dear girl. But it would not be pi'-asont for any of us if you were r»-<-'H;ni.««fl as the heroic young lady «-h.» evinced such an utter disregard of tln«hing steel. And people are so ino.uijiitive."' I—l it Is more than good of you to have me here." replied Barbara. ''l may not trespass on your kindness long, t—l wonder if I could obtain some employment—something in which 1 might earn sufficient to keep inr."

"You mean as an alternative- to going back to America?" ashed Lady Blair.

Barbara gazed at her in wonderment.

"To America! I should be afraid. A strange country and my education would be looked upon as old-fashion-ed. I fear. What could I do in America?" •'Hut Keith is under the impression that you trere born there, and that you have a sister in Kow York" protested Lady Blair, in astonished tones.

"Ye»: Hermann told mc so." she faltered. "But—but—Dr. ileriot will have told you of my accident, and that for a long time I could 'not remember, and now—now * — A flood of tears same to her relief, and then no child was over soothed more tenderly by a loving mother than was poor, little Barbara Moray " in the arm* of Keith Heriot's big sister. "My dear." she said, softly, when the girl's passionate grief had somewhat, subsided, "do not tell me nnvihing you would rather keep to \wursfU. but I should like to help «mi if I might. Alison, is there not some trouble relating tp th" time b-fore the acckkmt—that accident whuh for a while—mercifully perhaps —banished it into oblivion?" "Yes." admitted Barbara, trembling with fear lest the kind woman's sympathy -should draw it frpp) b-r in spite of herself. "But do not question me. I beg of you. My burden is otic I must bear alone."

Alison, dear." said LadV Blair, ■ aderly. "I will ask you nothing *,.<« desire to conceal, but one thing n> You know my brother loves o-i ■' That he has not spoken I am ,*.w A re, but " Ho must not speak," interrupted Barbara, almost fiercely. "Beg h»m not to. because of your affection for him, because of your goodness to me." "You cannot assure mc tha' you have no love to give him in return, Alison dear." "What matter?" exclaimed the g:r'. cia*ping her hands over h-r lv-ar' if to stifle a deadly pain "Ur. t* »v. |» it I Iwwd h>ui? TTier- ;- ~t. •<

Mipf-rnbt.- hamcr hetwe n us. a wall • t : ;innii". tlrnnite. say. rath-r steel ag.iin.t which w mi-.ht hurl our- ".- ;l il our life in-ff'-ci ual!\ . until .-•»;• or other perish miserably in the ...»i( to break it down." Tlu.-h, dear," spoke I-ady Blair, ho not get excited. You are albd>ng to your cousin's occupation, and. of course " "Ye*, that's it—that's it." broke in Barbara, in dread lest she had commit', d herself. "I have b-< n on sh* stage you know, not ns an aetrc*s. but as a nnr* mechanical mus-ic-had entertainer. A\hnt greater barrier could exist for on..- of th-ltei-io>K of ln\crurie?"

"But. v.hat if Keith's love rises above smh a I arricr?" .-If .is;ed. "It has done so already Alison 1 «.n"--s to you that when T lust had of what seemed to me Keith's "n'ntv.ntiou for a music-hall artiste. I discouraged the boy—pronounced ih-« thing impossible." "It is." cried I arbara. "utterly—utterly impossible!" cried Barbara in heartrrnding tones. "Yet 1 think you love him," pursued Keith's big sister, softly. And rt second time Barbara's forti'uile gave «o.v. "Ih>\c him," she wailed. "Love Keith! Indeed—indeed I do. but it is only to iny undoing." A long and tense silence followed and then when Barbara uncovere* her eyes nnd lifted her head, it wa; to find Keith Ijeslde her, who now look both her liands into his own air! drew h'-r close.

And ;h--n >h« saw they were alone, for Lady Blair, on h--r broth-r's «n tran.v. h<td stolen silently away. "Alison, my dearest," spoke Keith. •it de. p. emotional my word of honour to Hermann that nTI your memory came back I would not declare my love for you— Mould not ask you to become my wife. But the words I h-»ard from your dear lips as I enten-d the room just now. release me from my promis.-. Alison, my darling, since you love me. nothing e|.«.e can come l>eIwivii tis—r.oth'iig shall. CJive me permission to write to Hermann tobiy. to tell him v«u nc.- to !»•• m> wife. M> j-isler will make all tlfii TiMnrj urrangi-iiK-nis for our marriage. nnd " UarlKtra. at first overcome with astonishment at finding him by her »ide, had momentarily > ielded to th-; ioy of his prepuce, had suffered him "o draw her within the comforting -h-ller of his strong arms, rv.-n alnwed his lips to rest «n h ms—as h-nrl cried out to h-art with an •motion too deep to Hud expression n words.

And then, as with a sudden rush -h • remembered, r.n I tore herself away.

•*6h. you must not— >o'» must not" -he cried, wringing her h-n-U. "Hermann was right in forbidding \oti"— "But you are m s .staV«n, Alison. ;|e,-»r." interrupted Keith, gravely.

"Hermann did not forbid, or rather, he did not disapprove, lie stipulated I should wail until your memory relurned. Alison, he uared you might remember you had loved. My darlling. it is not so?" "So." she mi id. in a hollow, hard voice, "it is not so. It is due to you to tell you so ninth, only in mercy I b"g of you not to inquire further. The past is now ch-ar to me. It cam- back on th- n">gh» the knife grazed my temple. Keith, I loved no o'h-r man. I can love nono oth-r"— "My d-nr ••n- '." "So." sh- wn: on. :-ad\>. "But even whTe 1 love \oii I can n-.-.er bo vour wife." "Because of " "You must no' a k me. In pily accept mj .s'ai-m ir. and do not s*eek to knew uiore thin 1 uui tell vou."

"I will n*k in- sh «rily." he said. "Is this bifi-ier of which you speak in-ii|s-rable.'" For a moment a ray. aimu-t of hope flo-h d across I».»i-1 a a's vision. Sir Tnlboi ll.ster'.s life was not invjiin Table. M n an I women dii-d in ill -ir prim.- every day—why might not h-/.' "At pn-seiit—>es." -b.- re'plicl. almost breathlessly. "But in the future ? May not time remove it?" ."Time may—lt may "

"Optl grant i\'." h- snitl. fervently. ''Alison. I con wait—l will wait. You, and you only .«hall Ikhoiuc my wife! I swear il!"

"Mal»« no rash promise:-," she urged. "You tUt n-it know—you might repronth me. 1 h«ve no right to bid you hope. Keith, try to forget me!"

"That were impossible," he answered. "But for you I should hue died." she breathed, softly. "Yet it. mightbe lietter for you if we had never met."

"Let mc be the judge of jhal," he said. "Alisfpi. Ipve suth as mine, once given, cannot !»<• iak«u back. Give me one promise—that you will come to mc* should ever the barrier you speak of b© reuiov.d'" "I can promise that cheerfully," she smiled through her tears. "You will never again think of Hermann's profession, and your short-lived participation in it, as a possible obstacle bvtween us?" "Since you do not look upon it as an obstacle, how can I?" she said. "Promise me one thing more."

"Another ? You said one only." "That you will marry no man but me. That to no man else you will yield the right I claim by reason of my love!" • He had crushed her almust fiercely in his arras, and she could not say him nar- But it must Ik- for thy last time, she told herself. "Promise!" he whispertd"l promise. None save you, Keith.shall ever call me wife!"

And then she ki.ss.nl him once upon the lips, and fled from th- room in dismayCHAI'TKU XVI. BARBARA LISTENS TU STARTLI VO NEWS. What had sh- d. r,e. >,.- a-k-d herself in the ...,i;':.;■■ ..,< h-r haiids.jiivroom? Wh-j-e v.-,-. ■}■,■• Morav pride, v. !: -n -.(■■■ !:,-:d :-■> y.-\<l-ed -o -h- .-.-. ~v. a! of a ]■>:■■■ -. hieh con!'! n-ver ],,. }-.;-■; ; M-n •■':- , h aSir Tali,.; li. '.■;- : -p„-■;-.- ,[ : .,\ [p : wn-::d -.-.: ■;■:■ -V.;. ]':■ ■ ~ a : d l ' "''i

ra«'- h ms.li from him. On'y niiserj could be the result to both <>f theit daily intercourse. Heller even-to return to Hermann and Sclina-n'-suine th-- 'knives act.' an ! p-;naip Alison Sianniforth to ih- <-i;d of hex days, sin-e poor Alison h-rs'-li' could not come back from th" grave to denounce her as an impostor. But even as sh-- h'-sitated Katf stepped in and do - , id'd 1h- issue. "Alison, my dear,'' said Lady Illuir on the day following Keith's declaration, "my brother is leaving town. An important appoint mint to one of the large hospitals in thcnorlh of ITi rland has been ofTercti him. and hj: has decided to accept it." Barbara mad- no reply, but h-'i eyes showed an expression of relief, conph d with regret.

"It is best he should go. I on: sure you think so, dear, do you not?'' continued Lady Blair.

"Is it best h-r should go away ?*' faltered Ba:bara. "Why should I>r Ileriot l<-ave London?" "l-'or oik* th:iiK. d-nr. to eni.r on ; , more exUnded Held of practice. .* n ' ilf-n we ha\'e decidi-d —Keith mil ithat under those cinunistan .s yoi might remain with me."

"I—remain here'.' Oh-. tl;au'» ><"' you an; more than good: but " "But yon propose to seek -employment, and 1 am able to offer ii ii: you. Here am I, a lonely woman, with neither chick nor child of my own. and dependent on my Tittle' brother for numberless Tittle services that would, in the o"d"ntry way, fall to the lot of a com pi"n m Now. in Keith's absence. 1 tnu-.t • u gage some one. and I have an :d a that you and 1 could pull togetiioi wry nicely."

Barbara's h-art was full. If 'Jihad experienced more sorrow th ■ n fell to the lot of most worn n p.; least kind friends had been rais"d u; r.n all to aid her in her r.d.visily.

"Alisin. dear," went on Lad.\ Blair, \\rry gently, "I would not you to remain if such is not your wish: but it would make Keith li.ippicr to know you were here with me." "Would it—would it?"

"Yes, indeed. Alison, dear, the poor lad is broken-hearted, yet cherishes the hope that Time, the universal healer will remove all obstacles to your happiness. And unless you turn to your sister in New York, it is his earnest desire you should remain with me. You will not deny him that poor consolation?"

Barbara hesitated. It was. she knew, on- thing to talk of finding •'in ploy men t. but not so easy to secure it. Th.T6 seemed two alternatives open to her—to remain with l>ndy Bluir. or to return to Hermann Sianniforth and his wife. And now, grateiul and appreciative as she was of ih- man's sterling qualities, \h: Moray blood shrank from the publicity of the juggler's calling. Was it not her duty to remain among those of h-r own rank, her own country.. since an opportunity had been created for her to do so? At any rate, it was a ha veil of rest for the presuit, until she could think what to (i f >— perhaps find Mrs. Gore-Ritchie an I consult with her aunt whether iherc was any way of sotting right th : error of her supposed death without scandal-

Scandal ! Disgrace ! There was the trouble. 'Twerc easy to explain th/j accident that had deprived Barbara of her memory, but what a Babel of tongues would wag as to the reasons inducing Lady Hester to send anosh-.-r woman in her place in the carriag" beside the husband to whom she had just been wedded !

Truly, it would be thought, ew n a - Keith had suggested, that she had left him without just cause —that sh had not th-.n become acquainted with either good or bad qualities in the mah she deserted.. "Vast will atay with me, d-ar ?"' asked Lady Blair, observing conflicting emotions working in the girl's troubled face.

"Thank you—yes, I will stay," was the reply.

And then Keith had gone, an 1 Barbara grew accustomed to be <-;T! d "Miss Alison," and, u , Keith, she felt almost happy, mi Lady Blair's h&use was the I>rij;h'cj for her presence. The housekeeper was old, and, as befitt<d a fninily retainer of long standing. disp () «<-d to be despotic; and even h-r so'-l\-tried mistress was a-stonishi-d in find how readily she yielded to th- y,,iim.' companion's tactful assistaur.', and rejoiced to sen; how Alison's qui't diplomacy removed all fri'-tjon le:tween the obstinate; old >r,,-,\\ u,,. man, and the mon- up-'o-.i.-..-.- :;:,-i'ls until, by hi-r aid. the >.--.' aL-iisii:::- :i: ran on od< d wheels.

"You arc my trr-a'--' ■<vn '■ >rt Alison, dear." was th- '•■■:.■.:,::,' ■i :

of Lady Blair: and aL;<-i. : .; J'.ari'.va ' jpiccd at the t'hoSe Who Were U.,,,'1 10 !'!'■'.

She soon learn-d tha 1 h-r a'in'. Mrs. Gun'-Uichie wa- a!'r.,a(j. and the hous.- in <;.'■•■ ■•'o.-.-d But Barbara's husl.,uvi —- ; ; mm-.v li--r Soul revolted at 'h- •■h.''-;^h-'. —.vas in London, aeeordii.t: ■■« -h-- -<j• i■ -';" journals, in ; h'.- <.-hi-oni' '■■- v.hi'.d some allusion to hi.s a-...--- was rarely itli-'-m. and --i;'-- u tliatil-.ful that Lady hlair's visit ing-list did not include his name.

Soiiiet imes th- i'-ar oppressed h-r that some < hance eallej- mijTit ro-

i-ogn'S" h'-r as Barbara, l.a'i.v He.-tci-,. but a- the' da; > wore on >si- became more eon ltd' nt. Lady li<>' -r lay in ih- Mo."ay \ault. a«d J.a<l.v Blair's v'l.-.-l s paid sea ut attention t u her 'ad\>h : i>"s •"< ompanion."

Save one—Sir .John Tempi,•i-cmd.-. c. h> ai'li-r his lirst ini rod'ici ion to ••Miss Alisrll " in L.id.v Blairdrav. ing-rooin ut'ew tive and couiteous to hi- ho.-te. to tha' lady's great aintJ-e,,). n'. Innumerable wer>- the ,\,ii.,> h fouuil for callinir at the b.-a'" it'nl ..l-.l house in Tb-g'-ni's I'ark. ' - <'." flowers. choice ll.ell in . !.■-: j,,;i ;ui I Variety. the 11-Ve-S' !.,..'-. E.i:. -,■:■• tickets—a!l in t urn -.-:■•>-.•'! ::-.-•:;• p:,,--pose, nntil l.ad\ IJlair l i' "S ] :■■ suggested that >ii .fi..h:. v. i>- ■■; ndoubtedly in liivn tljOl'e ! i|. : !1 :, !;'':••. ■•Th'-ii -n !-.•!;.• ;• ::■.:;-• },-■ :'. :'' ' ;■<.:;. ."i'o 1;- f'n..,! i!i.J,-ri. I