ALL OR NOTHING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 587, 23 July 1913, Page 6

ALL OR NOTHING.

.(Copyright.)

A THRILLING ROMANCE, —By the Author of 1 "A Bitter Borifiagr," "Two Keys,'-' "Stella," "The Unknown Bridegroom," &c., PART 18. "It; is certainly very unfortunate," said the confidante, "that strange combination of golden hair and darl? Italian eyes is so very attractive. However, my dear, you must not despond. It is well known that you are \an heiress ; the rest will depend upon you dress. I should suggest a few diamonds. Rely upon it, you will receive as much attention as Miss Morton then." So ttyat Alice, seeing there was notliin for it but to make the best ol it, decided upon giving the whole ol her time and attention to the production of a most recherche toilet. "Send to Paris." suggested Mrs. Welford. "Money is no object to vou." But she was averse to that, as she wished to ses beforehand the effect of what she was to wear ; hence Phoebe's tears. There was no satisfying her. In vain the patient girl sewed all day—took to pieces, made up'again. She could not please her young mistress, and Phoebe almost gave up in despair. "If she wants me to sew until I make her look pretty," said the exasperated girl, "I may sew until doomsday. To the best of my belief she is jealous of that beautiful Miss Morton. She will never look like her let her try as she may." Comfort dawned at last. The Carsbrook milliner, who did a great deal of work for Lady Mackin, suggested a pretty, bright costume of blue silk and blue velvet, to be trimmed with seed pearls. Nothing could be more ilegant, and Alice's heart was at rest. Phoebe's sufferings reached a :limax on the morning of the fete. The thin brown hair had to be brjshed, plaited, and made to look redundant. The slightest touch of a pencil was given to the pale, indistinct eyebrows ; the slightest possible soupcon of -rouge to the sallow face. The deficiencies of the thin, somewhat angular figure had to be remedied, and the task altogether was no slight one. " How I shall thank Heaven when she is gone !" sighed the maid. Alice was gifted with what is,-per-haps, rather vulgarly called a "nagging" temper. It was not so much that she scolded violently as that she was always finding fault. Nothing ever pleased her ; she was never heard to praise. This morning she excelled herself. Phoebe's eyes were red with weeping long before the grand business of dressing was

accomplished. When it was complete, and Alice Leyton stood up to survey herself in the long mirror, she was delighted with the result. She really looked an elegant, interesting girl. It mattered to none what was false and what was not. She was so pleased that she bade Phoebe give over crying, and not be stupid another time, and made her & present! of a dress she did not want ; so there was balm in Gilead tor poor Phoebe. "Mabel Morton will have no chance to-day," said Alice to herself. She was so pleased as to speak -luite amiably to her father when the carriage came round, and that worthy gentleman congratulated himself that all was going well. "Any young gentleman that falls int love with my young lady should, speak to mc before he makes her an. offer of marriage," said Phoebe, as she .watched the carriage disappear ; then she went to console herself with, a strong cup of tea in the housekeeper's room, her nerves being quite unlit for anything else that day.

There was a very different scene in. the pretty room at Beechgrove when. Mrs. Morton came in to give Mabel the benefit of her refined, artistictaste. She had prepared for her fair young daughter a dress of rich whit& crepe, to be trimmed with blush, roses. No streaming- ribbons, no> jewels—nothing but flowers, thatwere no sweeter nor fairer than, herself. No need for much of the* milliner's art there. The healthy,, slender figure was rounded and perfect as that of Venus herself. No pencil was required for the eyebrows that were straight as those* of a Grecian goddess : no art was needed to dresi tne long, shining, golden hair, so fuU of natural waves: and ripples. She might haTe been Aphrodite, a;? she stood, tall, slender, and graceful, with that golden hair falling like a shining veil over her. Mrs.. Morton rejoiced in her loveliness. Loving bands arranged the folds of the rich white dress. In the bodice nestled a beautiful blush rose, shrouded in green leaves ; the golden hair was so arranged as to fall on the white neck, and another rose was placed, after the Spanish fashion,, un the side of the graceful head. ' I hare not one single jewel," said Mabel, "but my flowers I like better than diamonds." Mrs. Morton had made a beautiful bouquet of blush-roses for her, and as she stood with them in her hands no fairer picture of youth was ever seen. Then it was that Mabel, remembering pretty line of a poero 6he had been readi said : If fortune, with a smiling face, i Strew roses m our way, j When shall we stoop to pick thenr j up ? To-day, my love, to-day. "How many roses shall I pick uf to-day, mamma, do you think ?" "All that come in your way Mabel ; and they will be many, 1 fancy."

| The girl's delight was pretty to see as Mrs. Morton produced one present after another. There was o handkerchief of delicate lace, a far with a silver handle, and roses worked over pretty white gloves, that fitted the exquisite hands to perfection. Mabel stood arrayed at last, and her face flushed as she looked at her own loveliness. "How kind Heaven had been to her," she thought, "in making her comely and fair !" Then her heart beat with happiness as she wondered if Leonard would think she looked pretty. "Mamma," she said, half-shyly, "if you saw me now for the first time, should you think me nice ?" "That I certainly should, Mabel," replied her mother. "I should think you not merely nice, but very nice indeed. Do you know why I chose this dress, and these flowers for you ?" "No, mamma," she said ; " tell me." " Because of the nama your companions gave you—" Queen of the Roses.' You are dressed in character." Then the maid came to say that Mrs. Stanley's carriage was at the door. Mrs. Morton turned to kiss her beautiful daughter. "God bless you, my darling," she said, "and send you a happy day !" Then she added, with a smile at the wonderful light on the young face ; "Try not to look as though you were really going to a Paradise, Mabel. Your face is alight." Leonard Ainsleigh and Mrs. Stanley were in the carriage. He looked quite dazzled at the lovely white Vision walking down the flowery garden path. "I have always said," cried Mrs. Stanley, "that Mabel Morton looks like a queen. Depend upon it, that girl comes of a good family." "Does any one know what her father was ?" asked Leonard, earnestly. "Only in a vague way, that he was something abroad," she replied and Leonard conld not help remembering that the white hands of the beautiful, gracious woman, her mother, bort'no wedding-ring. He was there, Mabel saw that in half a glance ; but she had never met him since that night when they stood by the garden gate, and he kissed her face. She did not raise her eyes to him. They drooped shyly, and the flower-like face grew crin* son. Yet there was no man in England who would not have given alt he had for such a smile as Mabel bestowed on him —so sweet, so shy, so tremulous. He was there. A new beauty came over everything—fresh brightness to the day, fresh glory to the flowers. You have never been to Creedmoor, Mabel," asked Mrs. Stanley, "'if I remember rightly ?" she said, simply, "she had never been."

She could not find many words, she was so shyly conscious of Leonard's I presence. | Neither did he say much to her—it i was happiness enough to watch the lovely face. Mrs. Stanley thought what a handsome pair they were—he dark and stately, she fair and sweet. They reached the grounds after a pleasant drive down the road and through the park. "Lady Mackin always receives her 'visitors in the drawing-room," said Mrs. Stanley. "We must go there first." Mabel Morton opened her eyes in wonder at the magnificence of Creedmoor. She was too well-bred to express any surprise, but her eyes wandered over the large, lofty rooms, the superb pictures, the ornaments of priceless value. A vague sense of having, at sonic long time past, lived in a place like this, came over her. "Why do you look so serious, Mabel ?" asked Mrs. Stanley, as they went towards the drawing-room. "I was wondering," she said where I have lived before. It seems to me that, in some former) life, I was

used to a house large, lofty, and like this." The next moment they stood in the august presence of Lady Macirin, I who was surrounded by a little court of admirers. CHAPTER XXX. Lady Mackin went eagerly loL'\vard to meet Miss Morton. She was charmed by the young girl's loveliness ; also by her exquisite dress—her ladyship being an excellent judge , of such things. ] "I am delighted to see you Miss | Morton," she said. "I deeply regret that Mrs. Morton is not here with I you." | Mabel was perfectly scll'-possessud. '• Her ladyship's empressement would { 'aave confused Mrs. Welford and ! ! alated Alice Leytoa. Mabel received )it very much as a queen does the homage of her subjects. | "This is your Jirst visit to t'reed- | moor," she continued. " You must | see the pictures. Sir Henry has adj tied much to the collection. Are you 3 fond of pictures, Miss Morton ?" | "I have not seen many," said ] Mabel, simply, "but I think T should j appreciate them." j "To be sure. I always say, approj elation is everything," continued her j ladyship. | She made a rule of bestowing thi'O" j { minutes on each newly-arrived guest. ; Mabel's three minutes were over. '"I hope," she said, "that your iir»t visit, to us, Miss Morton, will be a | pleasant one. Miss Morris, will you j show Miss Morton the way through J the gallery ?" ) So Mabel found herself dismissed. ! Mrs. Stanley had her three minute:? | then ; they passed in inquiries after the doctor's health and cautions from Lady Mackin that he should not be permitted to work too hard Her ladyship was very gracious also to Leonard Ainsleigh. Most women were kind to the young doctor , for the sake of his handsome face.! Then, after a few minutes, the whol< ' party found themselves in the mag jj

nificent grounds of Creedmoor Hall. Sir Henry and Lady Mackin how to give a fete. Neither troublt nor expense had been spared. There v, T as a band from London —the most fashionable band of the day—and t!i< music was superb. There was a larg< refreshment tent, where meat, same fruit, wine, sweets, and delicacies o: every description were provided mo si lavishly. There was a croquet ground, an archery tent ; the broad, beautiful lake was covered witlj little pleasure boats. Waiters, dress* ed in picturesque costumes, wer« everywhere. Flags and banners floated ■ from the trees. What mar in his senses, after enjoying such c glorious fete, could refuse to voh for Sir Henry Mackin ? Mabel looked on in amazement. She knew the -earth was fair enough, bu< she did not know such beautifu fairy scenes as this existed. Th< ',sun was shining brightly, the flowers were all in bloom, the trees worf their richest foliage, the birds were singing their sweetest songs. TLu gay colours of the ladies' dresses gleamed amongst the trees ; the sweet music seemed to float ovei all, mingled with the sound oi silvery laughter and gay words. Garden chairs were placed under the spreading lime trees. Mrs. Stanley led Mabel to one. "Let us sit still, Mabel, and watch this brilliant crowd," she said ; and the young girl, overpowered, sat down by her side. "It is a feast of colour," s]ie cried at length, "and a feast of sound. Oh, Mrs. Stanley, fairyland for herself. Mabel was quite unconscious of the

furore of admiration she excited as she sat under the lime trees, the sunshine falling on her graceful head. Lady Mackin was besieged with questions. "Who was that lovely girl with the golden hair and dark Italian eyes?" "She is like one of Giorgione's pictures," said Lord Calderon. And her ladyship, who liked anything sentational, spoke quite graciously of her young guest. Then Leonard Ainsleigh, having done all that was required of him in the way of social duty, came over to Mabel, and fairyland closed around her. Mrs. Welford,' with many good qualities, was something of a toady. She flattered Lady Mackin most perseveringly. She asked her ladyship's opinion on all social masters, looking up to her with reverence it was difficult to resist ; and the mistress of Oreedmoor bore patiently with her, and still more patiently with Alice,, for Mr. Welford and Mr. Leyton between them commanded more votes than all the rest of Carsbrook put together. At every fete Mrs. Welford made a point of seeking, and Lady Mackin of giving her, one halfhour's conversation. The glory and honour reflected from it kept Mrs. Welford afloat until the fete came round again. In the distance Miss Leyton caught sight of her rival, looking lovelier, brighter, and happier than ever, with Dr. Ainsleigh by lier side. "Look !" she said to Mrs. Elderly. "That girl flirts shamefully with Dr. Ainsleigh." 9 '''l think he seems to like it, my dear," said Mrs. Elderly. "If I may judge by appearances, I should say that gentleman has lost his heart and Miss Morton has found it." , Alice turned impatiently awuy. Leonard had only'spoken to her once. Was it possible that blue velvet and the superb diamond brooch were ail in vain ? She saw Mrs. Welford in the distance, and went to Jut. The shrewd little woman saw from the face of the banker's daughter that jail was not well. "Mrs. Welford," said the sharp voice, "you liave more 3nr!i;eilch with Lady Mackin than any one else. You ought to try to persuade her that she should not invite Mabel here." "How can I ? I know nothing | against Miss Morton —except ing that 1 she is too pretty," was her mental | comment. | "There must be some mystery am mi. ! her mother, ami a person in Lady Mackin's position should havr nothing to do with «ny one at all doubtful." j "Malice goes a lung way." thought Mrs. Welford, but she was ton worldly-wise to contradict the heiress.

"There is no one moiv p.inicuhn than Lady Mackin," continued Miss Leyton. '"I am suit, if you pointed out these things to her. she would lin the end be very graiei'i:! to you." "I will uo niv best," Mrs. Welford. She was worldly, and snc was wi.-.e. but she dtid not like to look at thai Lovely face, and know that she was going to injure r.h,- girl v,'!io had never wronged her. "I consider it disgraceful to .-ir Lhere and ilirt hour after hour .1:-' she does. How ridiculously :.!»• i.dressed, too —white crepe and blush roses ! I must say J do wornier at Dr. Ainsleigh's taste." She sat and watched i.h' ;n r.nlil her jealousy ro.se to lever heal. "I really think." she .said, at las;, "'that I will so and speak to .Mabel. Of course, she uoes not know imv, particular .Lady Mackin is : i,. will be a charity to interrupt her flirtation." For "Mubdl and Leonard suit s,.t ».nder the broad boughs 01 the linn trees, the sun shining; over them, the fragrance of the (lowers rising to greet them, lost in their owr beantiful ioj/c dream. So Alice rose, and, with her rich dress 01' velvet and wilk swtH*ping the ground, sh( went to the broafl alley where liei unconscious r.ival sat. An expression of keen annoy a net erosfjed Leonard's face when he snv» her. He had been so happy will; sweet, fair Mabel. Here was sterr reality. ('To be jT-'ontiiniiui.)