BROKEN BONDS A THRILLING ROMANCE OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE,

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 289, 27 August 1910, Page 4

BROKEN BONDS A THRILLING ROMANCE OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE,

(Copyright.)

1 By MAURICE SCOTT,

Author of "The Mark of the Broad Arrow," "Tracked by Fate," Etc., Etc. PART 2. And even if they did, what coulc Alec say ? He would sacrifice hi? life to save Abbotsvale. Shoule she, then, hesitate to sacrifice hei liberty to a loveless marriage ? Yet was it right, was it honest to the man by whose side she must in £ few hours stand before God's altar ' The wrong must be on his owr head. He knew she did not love him, nor could she easily accord respect to one who so cruelly misised his power to force her into an alliance from which she cried out vain'y to be released. • Elise hud argued, had ridiculed Anna's protestations. Marriage with a rich man was in her eyes the one desirable end to be achieved by any woman. Also, having failed in se:ur'n r a prize in Alec, Mrs. Stratlicarron had secretly concluded it would Le the next best thing to In connected, even distantly, with a man so wealthy as Sir. Vane, whe had piomised, in return for her aid in procuring Anna's consent, to ma!:e her husband ail allowance and procure him lucrative employment ir his own country on his return from Canada. The shallowness of the woman's nature blinded her to all doubts as to Mr. Vane's loyalty and good faith, added to which she had her jwn reasons for wishing Anna to be married. They had not actually disagreed. but possessed nothing whatjver in common, and Mrs. Strath3arron resented his sister's strong influence oxer the young husband whom she believed that, alone, she could twist around her finger, even as she had married him almost in spite of himself. Anna understood. She knew that Elise would prefer to be left alone with Alec. She hud pondered over it all : had looked ca.st, west, north, and south for means of escape, but finding none had said "Yes," anel now sat on the hillock gazing over the grey old house to the coast-line beyond, dimly wondering what the future held in store, dumbly praying that she might lie forgiven for the wrong which was not of her own seeking, her heart crying out in anguish that even though love should never enter therein, she might not grow to hate the man with whom she seemed compelled to link her fate. But her consent once given, Felix Vane was tenderness and suavity personified. He solicitously inquired the name and address of the burgh lawyei s who fqr many years had watched over her own and herbrother's interests, and though uninformed respecting legal procedure, Anna never once doubted his good faith, and confidently believed that as the result of her self-sacrifice Alec woidd return to a home freed from all encumbrance. But though everything had gone smoothly, Mrs. Strathcarron felt intensely relieved when the wedding morning dawned, even to inauspiciously, and wonderod why her heart beat with apprehension at the sight of a mounted telegraph messenger approaching the house. She hastened from her bedroom, taking the yellow envelope from his hand, just as Anna could be seen emerging out of the woods, now enveloped in a 11, 1 l S l "cy "nvist." A cablegram—from Montreal. She Opened it eagerly. "Good news., iTpme by next linev—.Alec." No more. "Good news." AVhat might that not mean '? Alec on his way home ! Ought she not to stop the marriage, or, at least, to postpone it, in case the "good news" affected the mortgages in any way ? A.fter all, why should she? if anything "good" coulel by any possibility be connected with Abbotsvple, surely she, as Alec's wife, was entitled to benefit by it- Apna Yftnc would bo a rich woman. Alec could not complain t.liat she had done badly by his sister. And to 'show Anna the message would nily unsettle her now' that she had accepted the situation, for tin marriage once put off, one never knew .what might happen. A moment's hesitation, and then Elise Strathcarron dropped the slip of paper on to the piled-up logs burning in the hall-grate, just as Anna came up the steps. "I—l saw a telegraph messenger," fihe paid, anxiously, "I had hopec] there might be news ironi Alec." "it was a wire from my sister," replied Elise, casually. "She is expecting me to stay with her, you Snow, after" "Yes, I knew. I beg your pardon and Anna turned away with a sob. For a moment, like a prisoner condemned to die, her heart nad fluttered with hope of respite. S T ow it sunk to the depths once more. There was no hope ; her sentence had been pronounced ; she must preparo for its executionMr. 'Vane had made the arrangements for the wedding, which was to tfiko place quietly at Blairgowrie parish church, with Only Alec's wile and Paul inglis present as witnesses, after which the bride and lnidogrooin were- to travel to London, and possibly thence to Paris. Anna offered no ' opposition to his plans. What mattered to her, London or Paris ? An occasional visit to Edinburgh at present constituted all she knew of metropolitan life, but now all pleasurable anticipation likely to be created by the thought of new scenes was lost in the dread realisation that she was giving over her young life into the keeping of a man for whom she had no love—not oven regard. The mist thickened to rain, and the elements would seem to evidence the disapproval of the sacrifice, as rain and wind beat heavily on the glass panels of the closed carriage in which the bridal party were driven to Blairgowrie, and rat- i tied on the windows of the empty "kirk," almost blotting- out the droning voice of the clergyman, the faint responses made by the unwilling

bride, oven the masterful triumphant utterances of the bridegroom. But the words were spoken, the register signed. Anna was a Strathcarron no longer. Her heart beat momentarily with fierce anger as Felix Vane drew her into his arms with an air of possession, and pressed his lips from hers that were as cold as death. But then she remembered. She was his wife ; .she had sworn to "love, honour, and obey . . . until death us do part." He had the right to kiss her —a right from which death alone coulel effect her release. Death'! ITow easy- to die now that Abbotsvale were saved to Alec ! But why should the thought of death come to her even while the clergyman was uttering the stereotyped felicitations, and the neigliirg horses outside loudly- evidencing their displeasure, at waiting n the rain ?

It was the gloom of the surroundings, no doubt —the memorial .tablets setting forth the virtues of the dead on the bare, whitewashed walls of the church —yet the words sang in her ear, "until death us do part—until death us do part." They still sounded as the party arrived at the station, where a "special" was in readiness to take then; to Edinburgh. Anna mechanically bade good-bye to her sister-in-law 1 , and Elise drove shiveringly back tc Abbotsvale through the still pouring rain, thanking her stars that so fai the business had been safely managed, though a little uneas.y as tc the explanation she would be called upon to give her husband on his return.

But in her hand she held an envelope presented to her by the elated bridegroom, anel inside it bank-notes to the amount of five hundred pounds. it was well worth while tc nave secured such a sum, even at the expense of truth. So thought Elise. True, her projected visit tc London must be postponed on account of this -news from Alec, but. thank Heaven, Anna was safely married and out of the way ! To Anna the day missed as in a Irea'ii. Air. Inglis accompanied them as far as Carlisle, as she was spared all demonstration on the part oi her husband beyond an effusive attention to her comfort. Mut. while she accepted his ministrations and took almost mechanically the refreshments pressed on her from time to time, her mind was working on a different plane, one in which he posed as unreal. impersonal. The bond of marriage ! He was her husband. She had sworn solemnly before the aitar of God to ove and honour this man until death should sever th«* bond. lie was a Strang :-r—e.lie whom She had no incentive to either love or honour. Would she discover hitherto unknown qua'itiep, evoking her esteem ? Was it not her duty to try? What if he- hid taken advan'age of their misfortunes to enforce his desires ? She on lier part had accepted the bargain ; she liust abide by it. hat was the motto on the Strathcarron crest ? —"Fiat .iustitia, mat coelum"— "Let justice be done, though the heavens should -fall-. That recurred to her now, ITei husband must riceive the lull measure of iustiee from th> hands of the woman he hud married. * She Had accepted favours from him. She would render just allegiance, would 'honour and obey," praying even shat the love at present absent might not be denied. The two men talk'd of various matters, and Vane, fro n time to time noting Anna's quiescent attitude, and watching the varying expressings in her benutilul eyes, smiled triumphantly at Paul Inglis, .'onlident now- in an easy assert ioi) jf his indisputal.de rights. They lunched at an hotel in Edinburgh, having at three o'clock by a (rain which would land the wedded tail' at Euston close itprn midnight. Mr. Vane seemed —or so thought Anna —to take a B'oud deal oi wine, and she was thankful for the presence of Mr, In-ilis, and apprehensive when at Carlisle he bade her good-bye. Vane left the compartment • while the train was shunted, and walked up and down the platform in close conversation with inglis. and then a sentence falling from his lips as the long line of carriages was pushed slowiy back into the station froze the blood within her veins and turneel her heart to ice. "To bore for coal in the Abbotsvale woods !" Surely her ears must have deceived her ? Uproot the pld trees that had looked on at succeeding generations of Strathcarrons for countless years ! The mere suggestion were enough to bring the dead from out their gravis in protestation at. such an outrage. But she controlled her agitation as her husband re-entered the first-class compartment reserved for their accommodation, anel then,' after waving a farewell to Paul Inglis, A ane shut ilu door communicating with the corridor, and made a movement as though to take Anna within his arms. "At last we are alone, sweetheart," he began, checked by his wife's demeanour as she eluded his grasp and stooel, us though at bay, at the extreme end of the compartment, steadying herself by a strap, while the train gathering speed as it left the lights of Carlisle in the disi ante, rocked from side to siele as it rushed on into the fast deepening shadows. "Wait !" she uttered, her face palo, her eyes starting - . "Wait ' I heard .von : ay something just now to Mr, Inglis. You may not have meant me to hear it, but sinco I did, you must explain"—^ " 'Must !' " he broke in, with a harsh laugh. "Let me remind you of the words of the marriage service, my lovely bride. It is the wife who promises to obey, you know ! Is it wise" to assert .supremacy so soon ?" "I • know —I know," she almost panted, "and I intend —I want to do my duty" "Extremely condescending of you!" he laughed again. "I have no fears on that score, believe me !" "But —but," she went 0 11 . almost as though he had not spoken, "you on your part must keep faith. \ on said something to Sir. Inglis about —about boring for coal under the Abbotsvale woods?" Felix Yam' liael taken enough stimulant to render him bad-tempered. To he catechised and lectureel by a mere girl was not at all to his liking, and even while the warning ol Paul Inglis recurred to him as he

looked into his wife's blazing eyes, lie dctermiii'-d io lake the bull' by the hoi ns. to put an end to sentimental nonsense once and for all"Well, anil if 1 did '?" lie asked, defiantly. "Von—you were speaking of —of possibilities." went on Anna, trying to keep calm, her brain in a whirl of conflicting sensations. "Possibilities if you like, though the existence of a coalfield beneath Abbotsvale is ait absolute certainty." "But you spoke of Alec would never consent" "Alec will not be asked, my pretty Anna !" "But you I married you under the belief that you would" "Postpone my right to foreclose. Quite so," replied Vane. "Had you not done so, the Strathcarrons must have lost the old place absolutely, as the deeds of mortgage extend to mining rights. Having married me, on share in, whatever profits are derived from the pits ; and if you are very amiable, I may consent to let the old shanty si and for a few years. Though I doubt, >n :e the work is fairly started, you would find it agreeable. Coal-dust lias a wav of penetrating" "Stop ! stop !" cried Anna, wildly, "You do not mean it ! You cannot mean it !" "I mean it very much, my wife, as you will see." "Hut vou promised—you asked for the addeess of the lawyers. 1 believed you meant to cancel the mortgage." "I am not responsible for your mist a'-en impressions, my dear All- - retorted Vane, "but the fact remains you are niy wife, and if you are sensible you will accept conditions you are powerless to alter. Your brother, should he prove capable, may also benefit by the scheme I have projected. And now, tome, let us leave contentions until" "Po not dare to touch me" He started back. Her eyes recalled Paul Inglis's warning, "Man alive she would kill you did you rouse the (lonian so lightly slumbering behind them !" Bah ! She was a mere girl, and his wife ! "Stand back ! I forbid you to touch me !" "Good God ! What are you dong ?" For she had opened the carriage door on the outside, and stood !h>iv. it seemed, 011 'the brink of eternity. Pare to approach me, and I will throw myself on the rails !"' she said : and he saw she meant it. "Oil. very well !" and he shrugged his shoulders with the sullen acepiies'ence, inwardly determining to pav the vixen for such an ebullition of temper. "You don't seem to appreciate my society, though Eve no doubt my fascinations will grow upon you in time. Meanwhile I'll leave you to think things over while I get a whisky and soda. T suppose there's a buffet 011 the confounded train." • lie went out, a nd Anna, closing the door, threw herself into a seat, with a wild burst of tears. She had been deceived, betrayed. Perhaps Elise had known. Elise was nothing if not mercenary. Where, now, were her good resolutions, lier determination! to render wifely duty and obedience iii return for —what ? The conditions had not been fulfilled. The man ignored, repudiated thorn. Then she was free ! Why on her side should the bargain be enforced when the man liael so basely broken faith ? Yet what of her oath —the marriage bond ? Fiat justitia ! Justice should bo done. She hurriedly removed her fur coat —a costly present from the bridegroom—leaving it carelessly on one of the seats, also taking o!Y her hat and putting on her well-worn yet beloved "tam," which she had strapped into her rugs 011 leaving Abbotsvale. Then she paused and looked around. A difficulty had suddenly presented itself. Even could she succeed in eluding Vane, how could -he, when the train should stop, pass the barrier without a ticket ? | She suddenly saw her husband's overcoat lying where he had thrown it Into a heap during their recent argument. Searching the breast-poc-ket, she pulled out a note-case, anil, trembling lest he should return, apened it, uttering {V cry of joy as jlie found the tickets "Via Tarlisle and Penrith." They have not yet reached the latter place, but she must be quick—-juicl-l ! Securing one of the tickets, she 00k her old golf cape from the rack . and let herself out into the corridor, her face pale, yet resolute, her tightened lips set in an answering determination. 113.).

CHAPTER. 111. "MAN PROPOSES"—

Half an hour later Felix Vane returned to the compartment in a state of sullen, ferocity, increased by the amount of whisky he had swallowed at a refreshment bar during a stoppage 111 a.de by the train, and ready to quarrel even with his wife's hat nnd jacket as he pushed them contemptuously out of his way. "(lone lo brush her hair, 1 suppose," he muttered. "Gad ! I've tied myself to. a pretty spitfire ! But wait until 1 get you 011 terra firma, my lady !" He put on a travellii*g-cap and settled himself comfortably in a corner, and then, overcome by ,th; fumes of liquor anel soothed by the rocking of the train, was soon fast asleep. Ever and anon as he slept faces looked in at him from the t-orridoi —or so he thought. Now the lace of his wife, proud and defiant ; now that of Paul Inglis, from whom came a whispered warning : "Be careful how you deceive that girl ! But the self-content e-d bridegroom smiled in his sleep at the absurelity of such an idea, and slept 011, ant on, .and ou, while the shadows came and went, and the engine screamed through the blackness far into the night. "Euston ! Euston, sir ! Al. change !" The wearied passengers had gladly hastened from the train, and cabs were clattering noisily out. of the great terminus, when a porter; en tering a first-class compartment for the purpose of drawing up the closed blinds, started to see a gentleman, fast asleep. 'To be Continued"!.