ALL OR NOTHING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 598, 30 August 1913, Page 6

ALL OR NOTHING.

(.Lopyrignc;

—By the Author of "A Bitter Bondage." "Two Keys," "Stella." "The I nknown Bridegroom,'"' &c,

A THRILLING ROMANCE, + ._

]'AUT 29. CHAPTER XLYII. "Leonard," said Mrs. Ainsleigh, "if you do disappoint the hopes of my whole lifetime it will be a deathblow to me. All these lonp. weary years I have lived on the thought that the position and place I lost through my husband would lie restored to me through my son." They were walking then down the broad, quiet green lane that led to Dr. Stanley's house. The moon was shining: bright as day, the sky was clear, the night wind cool and fragrant, the, silence unbroken, save by the rustling of the great green branches. Mrs. Ainsleigh stood still by the gate, and raised her face appealingly to her son. "My marriage was a great mistake, Leonard. Mind, I say nothing against your poor father, only that he should never have attempted to marry me. It was a great mistake; both our lives were spoiled. My friends never forgave it ; and your father, instead of a fine lady, who could not help being an aristocrat heart and soul, wanted a strong, active, cheerful wife, who could have mended his s_tockings and cooked his dinners. I did neither. All the weary years of my married life it was borne in upon me, that—that fatal error. When you, a little child, were laid in my arms, I said to myself, ' Here is my hope ; the son shall give back to me what the father robbed me of !"'

"I have brought you up for that, Leonard ; I have trained you carefully in the ways of the world ; I have sought in every way to show you the superlative value of money —of good birth. Surely you cannot disappoint me ? "I might," she continued, seeing the young doctor made no reply—"l might try to arouse your ambition by telling you what a grand old race the Romneys are. You have some of the best blood in England in your veins—the blood of the Crusaders and Cavaliers. Our ancestors have intermarried with Royal Families. Time was when no name in England received more homage, more honour, than the Romneys. My father, I grant, was a spendthrift,; he wasted his fortune, and died poor,, but he was essentially a gentlemen. He never forgave my marriage ; he was only one of the younger branches. The heads of this grand old family survive, and hold their own with infinite honour and credit. My dream for you was that you should marry well. Marriage is the golden door that must lead to fortune. Marry well, and then, by letters patent, bear the name of Romney. If you were wealthy, fortunate, and prosperous, the Romneys;, who now hold some of the first places at the Court of St. James, would adapt you, push your fortune, and who knows where it would end ? I foresee the grandest future for you Leonard." 1172. His face flushed while she spoke, and his eyes shone brightly. "I think," continued Mrs. Ainsleigh solemnly, "I have never known a greater providence shown to any young man. Here you are., in this little, obscure 'town, a king amongst other men, and one' of the wealthiest heiresses of the day positively falls into your hands. This Miss Ley ton likes you ; Lady Mackin hinted as much to me. Here you have fortune, position, endless honours, name and title, lavish wealth offered to you ; and you, for the sake of a fair face, that will soon fade, voluntarily relinquish it all. Shame ou the son who crushes his mother's heart!"

"I have not done it yet," said Leonard, gravely. *' You are hasty, mother."

"But you wish to do it —you mean to do it. You arc of a grand old race, that never knew stain or blot ; you would willingly marry a girl who has —I boldly proclaim it — no name—a child of sin and shame ; one whose very birth is a disgrace—a secret hidden from the fair-judg-ing Cs"cs of men. You would sully yourself—even the name you bear—by such an alliance ! Wed a pauper if you will, but let that pauper be born in honest wedlock, with an honest woman for her mother." "For God's sake, hu.;h, mother ; you will drive me mad !" '"I am mad myself with rage and vexation," she retorted, "The blood of all the Romneys rises warm and angry within me. Have you a thought, Leonard—have you considered what life in this little t'nvn will be —with no prospect out ni it ? A small house, narrow means ; a wife worn and harassed by a thousand cares ; children growing around you, without means to educate them ; with the consciousness on you that you have marred your own life, destroyed mine. lost every chance ? Bah ! what will the love of a doll's face avail you then '!" In his heart he loved Mabel better than all the world beside, and .'itknew it. Better poverty with her than wealth with another. Yet he was not man enough to say so ; not honest enough to tell his weeping mother that he Would brave the whole world with Mabel. llv was handsome, graceful, winning, accomplished ,: but the strength of a man'::' heart was wanting in him. "It is not done yet, mother," he repeated, impatiently; "and, perhaps, never will be. Of course, I see there is a great deal of truth in what you say."

well alone. She. had said enough to impress him deeply. She said no more.

The day following was the oae fixed for the grand dinner at Creedmoor. Dr. and Mrs. Stanley, Mrs. Ainsleigh and Leonard, Mr. and Mrs. Welford, Alice and Mr. Leyton were all invited. Alice's toilette upon the occasion was most gorgeous. As* she observed, "What was the use of being a great heiress unless you dressed differently from other people ?" Her mourning was not yet over, but the dress she wore came from Paris, and was made with the utmost elegance. She wore some magnificent jet ornaments. The consciousness of looking well and being rich gave a more amiable expression to her face than it generally wore. Indeed, the expectation of meeting Leonard and his mother flushed her face, and made her. for the time, positively good-looking. The beautiful hands and arms showed, too, to great advantage against the black crepe. Her figure was good, and the exquisite showed it to perfection. Nothing could take the ill-nature from the cold, grey eyes, or dress the thin lips in graceful smiles. Yet Alice on this day looked an interesting and elegant woman. Lady Mackin introduced her in a few courteous words to Mrs. Ainsleigh. Needless to say the two ladies fell in love with each other at once. Mrs. Ainsleigh was charmed. She told Leonard she had never seen a more elegant woman.

"Compare that wax-doll of a girl with Miss Leyton—it is ridiculous ! What quiet dignity, what well-bred reserve, what gracious manners ! And Leonard, my dear, she looks like a rich woman, too. There is an energy and independence about her that betray the heiress. lam charmed —positively charmed." Needless to say that Mrs. Ainsleigh and Mrs. Welford became great friends ; they exchanged confidences on the subject of "that unfortunate Mrs. Morton," and tfieir ideas harmonised perfectly. "Of course," said Mrs. Ainsleigh, "a woman of that kind does her best to redeem herself ; but she has no right to impose that unhappy girl on the ladies of Carsbrook. She ought to have shown more respect for them. lam particular ; widow ladies are compelled to do so. I shall certainly decline to" meet either Mrs. or Miss Morton again. My son took me there yesterday ; but, my dear Mrs. Welford, I knew what she was at once. No weddingring, no answers , to any questions that took her by surprise—nothing but pride and insolence. Then—but this I mention in perfect confidence do not forget that I am a Romney —that girl was brought forward for my son. lam quite sure of it. I of Wentworth ; and I would sooner see him dead than that he should contract such a marriage.i I may l rely upon you, my dear madam, I am sure, to help me in v 'this endeavour. Every good mother will an-' derstand."

Every word of which was most carefully retailed, with a few improvements by Mrs. Welford, to each one of her dear friends. The story of the three black cows was nothing to it. By the time it reached the last listener it had assumed this form :

That Mrs. Ainsleigh knew Mrs. Morton had never been married, and had refused to meet her, feeling very indignant that the Carsbrook ladies should have been imposed upon.

"I am sure, my love, said Mrs. Ainsleigh to Alice, as they stood in the conservatory together, " I am quite delighted to meet you at last ; my son has positively given me no respite. He has talked of nothing but Miss Leyton since I came. I am afraid you have been very cruel to my son."

"Has he really spoken so much of me ?" cried Alice, off her guard, her face glowing with delight. "I can only say thafc had not the subject been such a charming one, I should have wearied of it," replied the widow, with one of her most fascinating smiles. "I like Dr. Ainsleigh," said Alice, bluntly, "and I am very glad he has spoken to you of me."

"My only fear," said the diplomatist, sadly, "is that the liking is far, far too ,great on one side." "Do you mean that your son likes me ?" asked Alice, who seldom beat about the bush, and had a habit of speaking very frankly. "I am afraid so. I can parson him now that I see the temptation." "'He has never said so," replied Alice. "He always seems to cartmore for Mabel Morton than for me." "My dear young lady, pardon me, young men will asaase themselves by light attentions to a yoiuK' person in Miss Morton's unfortunate situation ; but. the real love of a man's heart, is shown by silent deference." "Well, J have had pleaty of silent deference in my time," said Alice, with grim humour, "ami should like something more lively now, by way of a change." A remark which caused tke baronet's daughter to open her eyes and say to herself that the heiress was not devoid of common sense, after all. CHAPTER XLVIII. Woodlands made a groat impression on Mrs. Ainsleigh. The dinner party given in her honour was an exceedingly delightful one. Xo expense had been spared. The silver dinner service had again been called into requisition. Alice ordered an elegant and recherche dinner —money can do anything. It was served as she wished. She looked very elegant herself in a dress of black lace, with a few superb diamonds. Mrs. Ainsleigh's keen eye noted them. Real diamonds of the lirst water ! Mrs. Ainsleigh's keen eyes noted ai-so the large, and beautifully furnished house with its maguiiicent grounds, its gardens, and hot-bouses.

that astute lady. "If everything falls out as I wish. I can live here while Leonard and his wife are in London." She noted the air of v.eaith uml luxury, the well-served dinner, ihr

exquisite wines. the ehoiee fruit, and Alice's excellent manner as hostess.

All this will he hers, 1 suppose,

some time. Lenity, as 1 said heiore this is most providential for Leo nard."

Mrs. Weh'onl and sever;,! oiher ladies were invited in meet the honoured jrue.st.—the baronet V daughter. Mrs. Ainsleiirh smiled as she noticed that amongst them tin-re was not one yoiin;: and prei t y :.drl. Alice would brook no rival near her throne. The dinner was a complete success. What will not money do ? Alice iua.de a sood hostess ,: she was doins her hest to please the young doctor's mother. She made it perfectly plain to every one that Leonard was the most honoured guest present. There was that, in her manner no one could mistake—a deference paid to bim that she yielded to no one else. Even the servants seemed to have caught her manner, they were so assiduous, so attentive to him. Mrs. Ainsleigh saw plainly enough that he could be master of the Woodlands, of two hundred thousand pounds, and of the heiress also, if he would but speak the word. "You have a very pretty place here," said Mrs. Ainsleigh to Alice. It would not do to be too lavish in her praises, she thought, or Miss Leyton might fancy she was unaccustomed to splendour. She—a Romney of "Very pretty, and really considering the space, very nicely laid out."

"It is very well," replied Alice, equally cautious. "I hope to divide the greater part of the year between London and Paris. When I wish for quiet and the country, the Woodlands will be a nice change." Nothing could be more natural than that after dinnd s ".. when the ladies assembled in the drawing room, there should be a deliciously pi' onant dish of scandal. Mrs. Welford ! the conversation by very delicate «i>. grees round to Mrs. Morton. Mrs. Ainsleigh related her little experience, and told the story of what passed over the wedding-ring with such dramatic force that the ladies present listened in delighted horror. "I never noticed it myself," said Mrs. Elderly, who was inclined to pity. "Even if I had I should have thought nothing of it. Wedding rings break or get lost." "If that is the case, another is generally purchased," said Mrs. Welford, sharply. "I, for one, shall most certainly consider Mrs. Ainsleigh's view a correct one, and I shall for the future ignore the existence of Mrs. Morton and her daughter. I am sorry for the young girl, but no person of that character has a right to intrude in our society." "I shall do the same," said Mrs. Poyntz. "And I," added Miss Lewis. "The line must be drawn somewhere. I consider it a most fortunate thing that Mrs;. Ainsleigh came amongst us. • We should never have found it out."

"I have been completely imposed upon," said Mrs. Welford. " One cannot be too cautious."

"Do you think that story about Sir Edward Peckham can be true ?" asked Mrs. Elderlv. "I heard it yesday." "What story is it ?" "Why, that he made Mabel Morton | an offer, and she refused him." There was a general laugh, rather forced and unnatural. "What an idea !" said Alice, who had turned pale when she heard the words. "A baronet —a rich man like Sir Edward—to think of a nameless penniless girl ! You may he sure it is an invention. Who told you, Mrs. Elderly ?" The worthy matron blushed deeply. "The fact i<." she replied. "my housekeeper's niece lives at Beechgrove. She is in service there, and she repeated some words io her aunt she had overheard Mrs. Morton saying to Mabel." "Servant eossip," said Alice. decidedly. ".My housekeeper is very truthful, .Miss I,l'Viuii." answered Mrs. Klderly, who. io use her own expression, was "not in he sat upon by any amount or money." The entrance of the cent lemau put an end to what would have been a very animal fd arsmneiit . The banker, who had been well drilled on the previous evenin:,'. ivcni to Mrs. Ainsleiedi and claimed her uh.de attention. She smile." al tin- very open attack made upon her. Worthy Mr. l.eyion hud been told what to say. and how to say it , but lie ,-oiild not refrain irom certain additions of his own. Hf showed the bland and -radons lady the conserva' ories and the hothouses. "You sec," In- said. Wil h a ; mile. " 1 have spare! no pains I. plea ' rny daughter—-my only child. Kvery whim of hers has been graiilied." "i see that you are the kindest ot fathers." said Mi's. Aiusleiab. " There is only one i him: w<duh.Itpon my mind," said i lie banker. "Alice will be terribly rich. I should, like io see her married, so ...> to leave her m eoo.i hands v. hen 1 die." "Von will doubtless look ht;:h u<\ one worthy of Miss l.eyion':" si-h----od the widow. " Xo, no," cjrifui ihe bar.Kcr. eagerly. "Alice has pleased herself all her lite : site shall plea.se horsell j in this. She .-shall marry whom she j will, provided always-provide,! si;. loves him." "She is so sensible, sue would ;><: sure to place her atlcettons wisely." j said Mrs. Ainslenib, with a :;cnik j sigh. ; (To bo Continued"!, i