VOILET LISLE; OR, A PEARL BEYOND PRICE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 440, 17 February 1912, Page 2

VOILET LISLE; OR, A PEARL BEYOND PRICE.

$ By the Author of "All or Nothing," "Two Keys," etc., etc.

PART 6. He had given up the intention o! compelling Violet to write a renunciation ; for it had occurred to him that it would be a more dignified course to ignore even any suspicion of right on her part to any voice in the matter. Melville Lisle was the cne perscn injured. Melville Lisl? was the arbiter of her fate, and he alone needed to speak. At the castle Lady Darlington was as yet the only person disturbed by th 2 events of the afternoon. A sense of humiliation and complete defeat rankled in her heart, even though she now felt safe as to Guy. She would not tell him that she had been to see Mr, Lisle, though she had no doubt that he would learn it in some other svay. He did, just before dinner, when Mr. Lisle's letter Was handed to him by a footman, who said it had been Drought by a village boy, who said there was no answer.

Gay opened it wonderingly, but with a light heart ; for it did not matter to him now if the whole world opposed. He had Violet's promise to be his wife. He had no suspicion,' however, of what was in the letter, and no one was further from his thoughts than Mr. Lisle. He had come down from his room, and stood in the hall as he read the letter, Lady Darlington watching him with a feeling that it came from Melville Lisle. She saw his brow knit as he read ; she saw him reread the letter. Tbat was all. There was no sign of distress or of anger. He shrugged his shoulders almost imperceptibly, and entered the drawing-room. She felt relieved- But if she had known what thoughts had been sent flying through Guy's brain by that perfect letter of Melville Lisle she would have eaten no dinner. Guy did not eat a great deal, but he was so full of jests and merry talk that no one noticed that he ate so little. After the long, ceremonious meal was over, Guy made an excu'se for leaving the guests and went to his room, where he passed some time in an occupation very like Melville Lisle's before dinner. He wrote several letters before he could settle upon one to suit him. That letter he directed to his mother and put on his writing-table. His valet he dismissed for the night ; then dressed himself for a journey and left tba castle.

He did not order a carriage, but had a horse saddled and rode out of the yard on it. He rode quietly at first, and then broke . into a gallop and went towards the village. " It will seem sudden," he said to himself ; " but I think she will be willing." Lady Darlington, meanwhile, hnew her son had taken a horse and left | the castle ; but she only smiled to I herself and said : "I think he will not enjoy his ! visit to the descendant of the Lisles more than I did." She thought he was going* to plead | with Melville Lisle. CHAPTER X. ! GUY'S REMEDY. The evening meal at the cottageit had been a very uncomfortable one, was over. Melville Lisle was in his librarj, endeavouring to forget the occurrences of the day in his great work on diaphragmatic propulsion ; Violet had retired to her own iittle room, and Goody White was in the kitchen, discussing, with the dishes she was washing, the difference between aristocratic and plebeian love-making. Another view of the same idea was Dccupying Violet's thoughts as she sat by her window, looking out at the stars as they one by one crept up to the dark canopy of heaven and peeped through. Why should Lady Darlington object to her marrying Guy because she was poorer than ho? and why should her father object because Guy was richer than she ? for, after all, those seemed to be the only reasons. At least she could not see that there were any others besides her father's wounded pride, and it had been that very pride of his that shehad considered most. When she had consented to an elopement with Guy her chief reason had been that Guy wished it ; but her second reason was that she felt her father would forgive anything to Lady Darlington. She had never counted on his auction ; for he had taught her never to think of that ; but she had believed that she could count on his pride, and now even that was up in arms against her happiness. It was all so unreasonable to hcr ; and think it over as she would she always seemed to come to one conclusion—that Guy was the only one who thought of anyone but himself. He thought of her first, and foun:l his own happiness in hers. And this was not in her case merely the selfinterested fancy of a capricioas girl. It was really more true than sh; knew, for Lady Darlington and Melville Lesle were playing with thes( two young people as if they hac been senseless pawns on a chess board. What wonder then was it if all hci thoughts centred on Guy Darlington and what he would have her do ! Her father had never had her con fidence, had never wished it, and it her worldly ignorance it seemed tc her that the man who was her lover and surely would be her husband— -i warm, happy flush suffused her faci at the mere thought—was the on< who should guide her.

iinn so sne sat with iier einow resting on th2 window-ledge and her dainty chin in her shell-like palm, thinking more and more of Guy, and less and less of the trouble that comrassed them ; listening unheedingly to the monotonous click and rattle of the dishes downstairs, and smiling with the sweet serenity that belonged rather to her childhood than ' o the womanhood she was entering en in such a stormy way. And down in the kitchen indignant old Goody White was risking the soundness of the china in many an unnecessary fling, each risk representing her emphasised opinion of a man who could interpose between two lovers, particularly when the one of them that she was most interested 'n would gain so much ; for even old Goody White, to whom Violet, was the clearest thing in the world, saw the worldly advantages most clearly. Of course she believed that her Violet, with her beauty, and her ancient lineage, was good enough for any one outside the Royal Family ; and she was not entirely clear that the Lisles were not better off in the matter of blood than even the royalty. Then she chuckled gleefully as she rested from rinsing the dishes and repeated with all the possible unction that the Darlingtons came from a baker man. Still, Melville Lisle, with all his ivealth of blood, was a poor man, and it was like flying in the face of Providence for him to lift a hand to keep two loving hearts apart, especially when one of those loving hearts brought with it a title and a good income. Of cousse, it was a great thing to be a Lisle ; but it was not by any means a bad thing to be Lady Darlington ; and Goody was, foi one, for letting the poor young man have his own way. Everybody said, too, that he was a very proper young gentleman, handsome, kind, and good-tempered. She just wished she had something to say about it. If she would not put Violet's hand in his and say, " Take her, and Heaven bless you both !" " Ay, that I would," muttered Goody, taking up a pile, of plates and carrying them to the cupboard. " And what a sweet Lady Darlington she would make to be sure ! A beautifuller they could not find, no, not at the Court itself, if I do say it. Mercy me, what's that !" She pushed the dishes on the shelf and listened. Surely a low knock at the kitchen door. Now, whe could it be coming to see her at that time of night ? And Goody stopped at the cupboard to think it out, instead of going to the door. But whoever it was might be modest enough to knock softly, and yet not be over-patient ; for while Goody was still wondering who it was, tbtare came another knock. Then she opened the door, and was about to exclaim aloud at the sight of a tall young man standing there : but the young man put his fingers on his lips and said " Sh-h!" and smiled, and so Goody retreated intc the room and stood ready to flee 1' need be. " I know you must be Goodj White," said the \oung man so pleasantly that Goody answered in the same low tone he had used. "So they call me who have the right —" "It was Miss Lisle who taught me to call you so," said the man.

Goody started with a sadder thought, and stepped nearer that slit might have a better look at hei visitor. He smiled and took a stej inside. " Body o' me ! I do believe it's Lord Darlington." He nodded his head and smiled. " You know all about it, donM you, Goody ? And you are our friend I am sure," he said. " A very pleasant spoken youns gentleman as ever was," though* Goody, and she answered him : " I nursed Miss Vi'let from a bab} jour lordshiip, and the very firsl blessed words that she spoke—anc that not so her own father could understand, even if he'd cared to whicl I must say he didn't, bein' so taker jp with other things always—thai word was " Dood,' which she meanl Goody, and the same I've always been to her. Her friend I am, anc" all that's her true friends, which 1 hope your lordship is." "So she has always told me Goody, and that is why I come tc you to-night, when I think you car help us both."

" And help she needs, poor lamb!' " Well, I'm sure, Goody that yoi and I would do anything in tin world to make her happy. She ha: told me so much about you, tlvr when I found how crooked everything was going I made up my mind tc come to jou. You knew that he; father had written to me to say that Violet released me from my en gagement to her, and did not wisl to see or speak with me ever again.' " Nay, I did not know that ; but i wicked story it is, to be sure ; for : heard Miss Vi'let with my own ear: —her voice bein' raised a little ii consequence of her feelin's bein' s< worked up," explained the good wo man, recalling how she had happcnci to hear—" an' she said right ou plain, 'I. love him,' an' I promisee to marry him,' which, if it was m; last word I would say she was : blessed martyr." " Then you will help us, won't yoi Goody ?" " Only tell me how, your lordship.' " Bring Miss Lisle here, that may say a few words to her." "So I will ; for he can do n; more than kill me for it;" and as 1 killing was too much a trifle to con sider a second tiaae, Goody wen softly out of Tthe room without an other word. Then Guy, standing there coul hear the movements of feet over hi head, and a few minutes later Viole with radiant iace. was standing bs fore him. -- '■

| " Oh, Guy, I know bow why 1 was !i! t more unhappy. My In-:."! !vw j;. o'.i would come to me. Vi'i !r. > v all about it. then ?" ! " Yes, ray darling ; my mother b;. been here to see your father ; .- ;ial Mr. Lisle has written to me. a number of things, all of which only mean that he will not let. you

marry me. "But you seem happj, Guy." " Well, for that matter, so do you," laughed Guv. " But that is because I am here," said Violet, looking up from his breast. " And do you thin.'k that is not also enough reason for my happiness ? But there is another reason, dear. [ knew you would not be affected bj what has happened. I know my mother, and I know that I could not make her happier than by marrying you. She will not believe it now; but she will afterwards. - A n for your father, dearest, what else could he say but that you must not marry me, after my mother had :ome to him ? But I am sure that ae will be glad when it is done and cannot te laid to his charge." Violet was ready enough to accept anything Guy might say about his mother ; but she knew her father better. She shook her head. " If I take you, Guy, I must give ap papa." " And yet you would be willing, my darling," he said, gently. " I was thinking, Guy. I have a iceling that it might not be quite right— proper I mean, perhaps— but I ccn hush that feeling and do what •,'ou wish me ; but, Guy, darling, suppose it should be wrong, and lead somehow to your un'happiness. Ido not mind for myself. I would be to suffer unhappiness for you ; but I could not bear to think that ;.ou were unhappy, and I the cause." " Dear little Violet ! How like you that is ! No. I, too, have thought it out. I have tried to see if it would bring happiness to you in any way ; but all I could see was that I was not at all worthy of yov and that might make you unhappy some time —" " When I found it out," she interrupted with a soft little laugh of incredulity. He pressed his lips to her forehead, and strobed her hair. "Of course, you do not believe it, and I suppose I am very glad of it ; but it is so. I am not worthy of you, darling ; but I do think I wo.ilJ give you up this moment, and let you think me base even, if it would conduce to your happiness. I would give you up even though I know, as I say that it would ruin my life to do so. You believe that, don't you, darling ?" " Yes, Guy"; and she wondered as she said it if she could be as noble as that.

" Then, darling," went on Guy, " let us take the risk. See ! it is quite certain that it will make no real difference to your father or my mother, and it will make all the difference to you and me. We love each other, and there is no good reason why we should not marry—they only say ' You must not.' Why, even if we were to give up our own happiness, what would it benefit them ? I would marry no one else but you. Would you marry any one else hut me ?" " I could not." " Then see ! We should all be unhappy in that case. But if you and I make each other happy, they will he reconciled in time." "It is so easy to think so, Guy. I will do as you say, dear ; for I trust you more than I do myself." " May Heaven bless you, my darling, and guide me to do that which is best for you. Let us go away to-night." " To-night ! Oh, Guy!" "It is sudden, darling ; but if it is to be some time why not now 7 It will save all the wretchedness of opposition that is sure to be our lot if we wait for it. I have made all arrangements to go, We will walk aver to the station, take the ten o'clock train to London and to-mor-row morning will make you Lady Darlington and me the happiest man :n all the world." She looked up at Mm and smiled; but she shrank from taking such a leap over the edge of a precipice ' she h.-d never been fifteen miles from Pcnarth. And yet it seemed to her th:it if Guy stood by her side en the ;dge of a veritable precipice and had said, " Let. us step over together," they would have done it. "Will you do it, darling?" he asked. If he had not bent his head until his cheek rested on hers, he could not have heard the faintly-whisperec " Yes." (To be continued.)

GAVE HIM AWAY. Jones "dined out" with an old ac (maintance the other evening. "Don't wait up for me, dear," Iw said to his wife. "I may be late but it can't be helped." At breakfast next morning lie \v;v. stonily silent ; so was the breakfast room clock. "Maria, dear, there must be snaic thing wrong with that clock. 1 an sure I wound it up last night," In ventured at last. "No," answered the wife : "yo; wound up Freddy's musical-box in stead, and it played "Home. Sv.eeHome,* till three in the morning The hall clock has also stopped, bu I see that you have left your cork screw in the barometer."