THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 223, 8 January 1910, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

/. ALL IiIGHTS iU'.SKRYLLv -

—* — By MAURICE SCOTT, Author of "The Mark of the Broatf ' Arrow, etc. etc.

PART 15. "It is false! It is not'true!" cried Barbara, realizing that her husband had already anticipated her inten-tion-of warning his intended bride, and had discounted her story, rendering - it valueless. "I am Lady Hester." s "Were, you not recently on "the stage of tli j Parthenon?" demanded Bliss Vansittart. "Yes, for a short time; but it was through an accident, and " "L guess . you can't impose that yarn on inc.,"'retorted Cora, scornfully. ""Talbot's first wife came of a family owning more pride than mor.ey—folks who'd rather starve than demean themselves to earn a dollar. And you'd expect me to believe that one of the Moray's turned to juggling on the stage of a music-hall to retrieve the family fortunes."

"Oh," exclaimed Barbara, rising with scarlet cheeks, "how dare you! How dare you! No, don't ring. I will be quite calm —quite calm." But the effort was not easy. The insult stung- deep; her wounded pride cried out in its agony. "Please listen to me," she said as Miss Vansittart sat upright with one hand on the bell-push. "Usten to me lor your own sake, as. you will be the- sufferer- if you disregard my warning. Let me explain to you the story in detail " "You need not trouble," interrupted Miss 'Vansittart. "I know all about it. You had much better have gone away with your cousin and stuck to the work, after making- such a success as you seem to have done with that knife performance.. Why you didn't is more than I can understand, unless, as it is supposed, you were sweet on that young doctor "

"Miss Vansittart " and now Barbara's voice took a note of command momentarily aweing her tormentor into silence—"it is difficult to believe you would wantonly insult one of your own sex—one moreover, who had no other motive in coming here but to do you a service. Am I to believe you serious in disputing my statement?'-' "I should rather think so!" replied Cora recovering her courage, •"•You can't dispute the fact that Lady Hester was buried up in Edinburgh, and mourned by her sorrowing family." "It is so believed, but erroneously"

"Well, that's what you say, and I have only got your word to that effect. But the man whom you claim as .husband doesn't recognize you as his wife whereas if I brought you face to face with the juggleribis man .Stanniforth, he would unhesitatingly declare srou5 r ou to b'e his cousin. Ah, that staggers you, does it not? Now, you take my advice, go back to him, and put these crazy notions out of your head. Ypu can't, help them perhaps; but try to think of them as you'd think of troublesome dreams, .which they are." "I will go because I see I can do no good by remaining," said Ear* bara with dignity. "It would be a just if cruel reprisal if I made no further attempt to clear up this matter—if I stood aside and permitted you to enter upon a marriage that can only involve you in disgrace and shame." "I'll risk that," returned Miss Vansittart pleasantly. "It's just the most sensible thing you can do." "Fortunately fpr you I hold a sterner sense of duty," replied B&i'r bara. "I warn j ? ou now, that if 0,11 other means fail, I shall appear in the church on the day of your wedding and publicly protest against your union , with a man whose wifP still lives." ' . r

""Will you?" retorted Miss .Vansittart, t© whom this threat appeared as a last straw, and whose temper, unused to opposition, proved unequal to the strain placed upon it. "I'm obliged to you for your warning but let me give you one in return- Even in this slow old country there ai'e institutions where people suffering from cracked brains and crazy delusions fire prevented from being an annoyance tp saner folks. Now the warning j give yon is tp be careful you don't find yourself within tfce walls pf one pf 'em." •" 'lnstitutions?'- I don't understand."

"Madhouses —asylums for the insane. you hadn't, reckoned, on that, had you? Show this 'person out," continued Miss Vansittart, to the footman who came in answer to her pressure on the bell. ''And ro.piember, if she comes again, you are npon no account to admit her to my apartments.• The footman was young and inexperienced and his heart ached for the girl who followed him to the hotel entrance with dumb agony in her. eyes and pn Tier face the hue of death. CHAPTER XXI. DOUBTS AND FEARS. ■Out, upon' the Enbankment,--Barbara in the cool; fresh air, recovered from the stunning effects of the blow dealt by Miss Vansittart's final thrust. And even as shr> did so the full force of its meaning recurred to her.

A madhouse—she would be confined in a madhouse! : Shut away amongst poor, demented creatures, until the horror of her .-surroundings destroyed that reason * which, • under repeated shocks, seemed v al ready threatening to desert its seat. • And he would do this—her husband, gij» Talbot Hester! No doubt Miss . Vansittart of>ly reflected his viewsjJlis determination to marry tfte wealthy heiress at all costs. He was -■powerful, and 'wouldv be, by his marriage, rich.- He would have her incarcerated in a living tomb, from whence sjie might never escape, never clear up this coil ef pipcumstances bj* " which she was so strangely hampered >rwi which, though the thought afi ;ifprded little consolation—her own rash act had brought about.

'Apd now a state of panic seized :■ Bfie. looked all around, •terrified lest Miss Vansittart sho«ld

get spies upon her movements, per., s'ohs who would den'Ouncc -"her as i lunatic, and deprive her of the lib: crty only by means ■of which could she hope; to : establish her identity her birthright,- for which her soul now cried out in anguish. , Cautiously she made her way tc the Strand, and on towards Charing Cross, where she gladly sought the' shelter of the Regent's Park omnibus But though her fellow-passengers were harmless, every-day folk, interested chiefly in themselves ancl their own pursuits, Barbara stared nervously at each and all of them in the fear lest '.they were watching her —to be rewarded by overhearing a • middie-ngctl ■-. female ■ remark to a companion as they dismounted:

"Blest if I. tli'n'c ihat -young wo - man with the red 'air's right iii her 'cad." »Va.s her condition thin so obvious': AVhat -wonder, after all, if all this trouble ended in brain derangement? Was I hat what Sir Talbot aimed at, so that ho might silence her protestations, remove her from his path"! And now she must be careful. She must make no further statement until she was prepared with "proofs" that sh-j was whom she claimed to be. Ancl at. present there appeared to be no alternative but to await Mrs. 'Ritchie's return to England unless —Why not go down to Edinburgh and find out some one who knew Barbara Moray, who wou'd her cause, and establish her right to be called by her faille's name —and she asked no more.. Sir Talbot might set aside the than-iage if"he could. She wanted nofliing' of liitn, only that he should admit her to lie whom she was, and refrain from dis- ! gracing another "woman by a bigam-_ otis marriage—little as that woman merited considerationat the hands of oiv whom she had so grossly disgraced,. The idea grew upon her. She would not drojj a word or a hint of her diflieulty to Lady Blair, r.ov to Keith. Kind and good as they were, (hey would also iuo : < upon her as the victim to derangement of the brain. An.d once that, became 1h ■ general impression her lib-rty would be taker, from ln-r. They would be sorry but would deem it best for herself, deem it wiser that s-he should lie prevented as; Miss Yansitlart had sn ; d. from beirg nr. annoy-au-e to o h.-r folks. No; she must preserve h'V secret more zealously ,iow than before —now that the danger of incareeratun: within the walls of a madhouse loonud before her as the result of its proclamation. But f-h: 1 could not go immediately lo Kdin burgh. She had no money until the quarter's salary so generously insisted on by Lady Blair be:ame due, and even thai she must ask leave of absence,

And now it looked as though the fates were propitious, for Hermann L'ame up to London on a flying visit travelling on Saturday night, and rejoining Selina on the lu-xt Monday. He came chiefly on business, out was also anxious about the welfare of 'Cousin Alison,' who by arrangement received him on Sunday in •' her own small sitting-room in Lady Blair's house}.

And her ladyship saw him, and spoke a few kindly words of welcome afterwards leaving the "cousins" alone, begging Mr. Stanniforth to remain as long as convenient tq himself.

"A perfectly delightful man of his class," she reflected, as she returned to the drawing-room. "Keith in no way exaggerated ' Uis gpofl realities. Hut Alison aniv he aj,;e opposite as the poles. Can it be they are related? Ilis accent is—well, pronounced, while Alison's enunciation is so cultured and distinctive she might have been brought up ami educated oft the other sijlo of the bottler. Keith laughed when I suggested that Alison might one day remember herself tp be a true-born"Briton, rather thart a daughter of the Stqrs and Stripes. Still, I suppose Mr. Stanniforth ought to know his own relations, and he seems to have no doubt on the. point." Hermann Stanniforth {iad no doubt it was true, but nqw, as he sat facing Barbara, he felt, for the first time in his intercourse with "Cousin Alison a little a-wkward. The girl was changed, Sl\e looked pale and ill ancl evidenced mental suffering, even more than physical. But it was more than that. There was a" quiet, conscious dignity in h.-r greeting, checking any elVusion of feeling or sentiment on his part, placing him at once as in the. presence of a superior with whom•' h-j was scarcely at case. Was this the result of her residence .with people so far above SLanniforths in station, of h' r association with the great ones earth, among whom she appeared "so. perfectly a# ease? if so, so much tho better. Little Alison was better employed as a lady's companion than in any occupation connected with a music-hall, or' even in sharing Monica's uncertain work as a machinist in New York. • For "little Alison" had risen above her station, that was easy to see; and again Hermann's fears ran in the direction of some "English gentleman" who might formerly have imbued the girl with his ideas, and. who was responsible for the troujjlc to which Moflica had so vaguely alluded. "I don't find yqu lucking so well as I could wish, jAlison dear/1 ho said, kindly. "No," returned Barbara. "I—l never feel very w-ell now.. .I—l suppose one illness after another—, But you look well, Hermann. And Selina how is she?" A flush of colour rose to her cheeks as she pronounced his Christian name What right had she to address him thus familiarly-? £f ranted she had been 'justified in doing so while her meiupry. remained inactive, while, knowing nothing of her past, she was compelled to accept the relationship thrust : upon her with such good intentions; , - :

But now she knew. She knew that in the old days li«r path and that of this wan would have been widely apart, and though grateful for his goodness, longing to undeceive him him and take no further advantage of his generosity, an unconscious reserve crept into her manger towards hfm and. bpth. felt uncomfortable, while only one Anew why. "Selina's first class," he answered. "She enjoys the moving about and is feeling very smart just now over a new trick which I'm hoping- to fcring tp London sooo t "

"I am -glad,'', replied Barbara, "Itwill compensate you for the loss ;of the knives, Hermann?" "I'm not prepared to admit as much as that,' - he smiled, "but it'll compensate Selina which is a thing to be desired. The poor little woman was real cut up about* that, Alison.l don't think she ever quite forgave your - triumph over her. And even now I've only to tease her by wondering how you'd work our new trick and she gets hopping mad." "Poor Selina-' You ought r.ot to tease : hnr.- Under—under : other circumstances 1 might have - shrunk from the Knives:" suggested Barbara. "She ouj.,ht to know I'm but joking," he said, "and I guess she She's a right-down good-hearted little woman is SoUna-."

"I am sure she is," .agreed iiarbai'a

"J3ut now, Alison dear, the last time I saw tlvi doctor—Dr. Jleriot of coiirso-hj . fitrnicd to -think your memory had come back, and that you .rememb-'t'ed something you'd as lief forget. Little cousin, I don't want to trespass on a woman's troubles, unless to try and remove them, and I think you know that if there is anything- .you'd like done ihat can be done, I'm on hand to attempt it; and no man lias a better eight—at least, that's my impression little cousin?"

"You are Very good; you are more than good," returned Barbara equally distressed by his generosity as by his insistence of their relationship. But—but—l hank you ; there is nothing you can do—nothing I can do"

The words ended ir. a wail of despair, like a Knife-thrust in Hermann's tender heart. "Alison dear," he said, after a pause, "Monica, with whom I correspond regularly, is wondering whether i'ou would like to go back to. hm\ And as your health isn't what it might be, I'm also wondering if such an arrangement wouldn't be advisable You're very comfortably placed here I grant; but still blood's thicker than water, and Monica"— "Monica? She —she "

"She is your sister, Alison dear, and devoted to you. Haven't you S'et remembered Monica?" asked Hermann.

"jSf-o,"- replied Barbara; "I—l can't say that I have. But—but 3 wish I could sec her."

For a sudden ray of hope presented itself to her—that hter identity -might be the more readijly established by the aid of this sister who would assuredly recognize Barbara as a stranger, and disabuse Herm'ann of his mistaken belief that she was Alison Stanniforlh. But to tell him so in the absence of Monica was useless. He would smile at her pityingly and think she was sullering from a delusion. the outcome of an unbalanced brain.

"Monica is anxious about you," continued Hermann. "She was quito contented as long as you were with me and Sclina, but now she writes that she"d feel happier if you went back. Would you like to go across, little cousin ? But not steerage this tirae,"

" 'Go "You came across in the steerage, you know." "Y-es, I remember something that."

"Well, Monica, writes that work is brisk just now, and looks like to continue for some time. And she's succeeded in recovering some back debts which she says bo'.h you and she gave up for lost, And she's sent ftxe your sl»aro, Alison —sixty 'dollars. ''Sixty dollars!" echoed Barbara, repeated vaguely.

"Sixty dollars. Soe, I got the greenbacks changed into English ihpney. I thought you might, need new clothes if you stayed on here, or even some sort of an qntlit if you decide to go back," And as Hermann spread out tho twelve gold pieces on the table Barbara at first involuntarily stretched out her hund to take them up, and then drew back in affright. They did not belong to her; she had no right to touch them. They wero tho .property of Alison Stanniforth. She was not Alison Stanniforth. "Pick them up, dear," ho said, smilingly, "they are yours, and hardly earned, as Monica says." "I—l don't feel as though the money belonged to me," returned Barbara, breathlessly; "but—but I—--I need a little—if I"inight borrow it until I caii pay it back." She could in time refund it out of her salary, o r, if unable to do that surely Mrs. Gore-Jlitchie would defray any expenses incurred by her y.iooe..

"You may certainly 'borrow ' it all if the idea pleases you, little cousin" laughed Hermann. "But I should Uke to know if you've any thought of going back to New York?" "I—l will think about it," returned Barbara, "I—l suppose Monica would not—perhaps couldn't—cpine to England?" *To take you back, you mean? The idea has occurred to. tuc more than once, and if you seriously, think of gplng back I'd better write to Monica without delay," returned Hermann. "For I'd ho uneasy if you went alone, and that's a fact. What has happened once may always bo calculated upon to happen again, and it'd be line thing if you landed in New York and l'orgot wlio you were, or imagined yourself to be gqmeeu'e olse." "Barbara could have cried aloud in her despair. How tightly the cord was drawn around her, encircling her every movement, frustrating her every effort to escape! *' But now her priin,ary hqpe lay in this devoted sister, who would surely never lavish her affection upon a stranger. Monica could prove she was not Alison Stanniforth, and could she but succeed- in discovering some one who had known her. who would recognize her now as Barbara Moray ! But those Stanniforths were poor ami hardworking. Had she the right to involve Monica •fa the expense n)' ». voyage across the Atlantic and " tlio necessarily return journey? " ■ "Yes, yes; her own safety demanded it. She must fight for her name, her very existence; otherwise she be condemned as demented, as harbouring absurd delusions.

■•I wisht-I would bo glad if Mon-> {ca : could; come to England," |h| said, oarwstly. "I'll wtito to. Il£r a{i,o,Ul it straight «,way,' r ,vas Uownann Stanmforfch'g tpply,