THE LUCK OF THE LINDSAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12618, 1 December 1926, Page 4

THE LUCK OF THE LINDSAYS

(PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.)

BY

MARGARET TYNDALE.

[COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XXlll.—Continued. “I don’t blame you in the least, my dearest, for what you did. I can see now that if I had only trusted you more, if I had shown you more plainlv that I really loved you, I should not have fallen under Mainwaring’s evil influence.” “Tell me, Alec, where did you leave him ?” asked Adela suddenly. “In Japan. I said I was called to England on urgent business. We arranged that he should return by the next boat, as I didn’t bother about much luggage, and left him to attend to it.” “Have you seen Donald or Julia? You have not heard, of course, of Julia’s accident?” “Accident!” “Yes. Gordon turned her out of the house a few nights ago, because she refused to write and ask me for help, and also because she refused to ask Captain Conyngham to her house when she knew quite well that it was her husband’s avowed intention of cheating him at cards.” “Good heavens!” “Fortunately some people who live on the same floor saw the accident—and took charge of Julia. Her arm was broken—it had been previously injured In- during a quarrel.” “We must go lu her at once, Adela.”

said Lindsay anxiously. “I have written to tell Donald of my return, bun. of course I hadn’t any idea of Julia's whereabouts except that she was living in London.” “Let us go directly after lunen, Alec. There is a fairly fast train to town, about half-past three. We have no time to lose, especially as ftoger Mainwaring is following you home immediately. Matters must be pub right before he comes. That would be Aunt Bessie’s wish, I know.” Tho carriage came to a standstill beforo the door of the Priory, and Lindsay helped his wife to alight with a tenderness she had thought it impossible for him to show. A warm though subdued welcome was accorded him by his household, and when it was understood that Mr Mainwaring had not returned with him, their delight was considerably increased. In spito of her recent bereavement, it was a happy journey to town for Adela. Even now she could hardly realise that this day which had begun in such sorrowful loneliness was ending in this unexpected manner. “I can’t believe it is true even now. Mec.” she said silly, looking up into her husband’s face with a smile. “It seems as if I shall wake up presently to the terrible realisation that it is nil a dream.” “No. deai, it is not tlml,” replied her husband tenderly. “The past- .shall

be merely a dream if you like, but the present and the future are ours still, to make of them what wo will.”

Thoy arrived in London about seven, much too late for a conventional call, as Adela laughingly remarked to her husband. Alec made a few discreet in. quiries of the hall porter at Blaygrave Mansions as to the movements of Mr Stanley Gordon, and was told that ho seemed to have disappeared, no on© knew where, since ho had not been near Ids Hat for two days. Phyllis Montagu© and her husband welcomed them heartily, for if the truth were known, they looked upon these happenings more in the light of a romance than anything else, since Julia had told them something of the troubles through which her family had been passing. In accordance with his father’s telegram to him before leaving Chestermere, Donald was there too, a little nervous at meeting his rather', it must I>© confessed, but he did not shrink from the ordeal through which ho had to pass, and when lie and Alec Lindsay were alone —which was not a difficult matter to arrange, sine© the Montagues had willingly placed their pretty drawing-room at their disposal—-Don-ald told his father more fully of the affairs which he had been forced to curtail in bis letter. ‘‘lf you’ll give me another chance, sir, I promise you I’ll run as straight as a die,” he said eagerly, when ho had finished. “Well, my boy, I will,” replied his father generously. “I cannot blame you wholly . for what you did, since you were influenced by your uncle, who should have known better. But whatever you do in the future, Donald, remember this: gambling never pays in the long vhn.” '1 liev shook hands with genuine good lellmvship, and Donald obtained his father’s permission to return with him and Adda to the Priory for a short holiday. It. was hoped that Julia might he moved on the following day, for although’ her broken arm would take some weeks to mend, sho had very much improved in health now that her mind waR more at rest. Alee Lindsay was not quite sure what was In Ik> done about Gordon. That ■t obviously impossible fur him to

be recognised as a member of the Lindsay family, after the brutal way in which he had treated his young wife, everyone unanimously agreed, and Adela and her husband came to tlie conclusion that in view of his harmful influence upon their daughter, it would bo better for them to remain apart, at any rate for the present. A few days later, therefore, they all returned to the Priory, but not before Adela and her husband had made the acquaintance of their benefactor, Edward Conyngham. Lady Violet Gilderoy had returned, too, and Adela found her very much changed from the Lady Violet iu the past, while Julia confirmed this fact by telling her step-mother of all her former rival’s kindness to her. To Jack Montaguo and his wife, Alec Lindsay could not adequately express his gratitude, in spite of their laughing protestations that they wanted no thanks. Thoy accepted his pressing invitations to spend some weeks at Chestermere in the summer, however; and so with many mutual expressions of regard, the Montagues returned to the quietude of their flat once more. They were four happy people who entered the Priory ? but there was just a little sadness in the homecoming to Adela. She hid it bravely from the others, however, for she knew that it would have been Aunt Bessie’s desire that she should do so, now that her life was shaping itself so wonderfully towards the happiness of which Miss Gunning had spoken in the last letter she had written to the niece she had loved so well. yITAPTER XXIV .^RETRIBUTION. Gordon sat in the parlour of the Burton Arms smoking 'meditatively. He had comedown to t'hestcrmcrc with one object in his mind, and that was to see Adela. He needed money so badly, that when he had paid his fare, ho found himself with exactly two shillings in his pocket. At Victoria station he had* met Harry Vernker, but in answer to his appeal for pecuniary help, that gentleman had informed Gordon that he was in an oquallv nn fortunate u position as Gordon him.sMi, which, however, was not strictlv the truth.

On arriving at Chestermere, Gordon had called in at the village inn to pa>rtake of some light refreshment, and from the garrulous woman who served him he learned oT Alec Lindsay’s return. “That means a family reunion, if I’m not very much mistaken,” thought Gordon when he was alone; and wondered how it would affect him personally. He did not suppose for one moment that they would receive him with open arms if he called, neither would Lindsay be willing to give him the help he needed. And yet ho had reached that point in liis existence when he must either consent to eat the proverbiala humble pie or starve. Being somewhat of an epicure he preferred the former, and in his fertile brain began to revolve certain ideas which had occurred to him as likely to aid him in his role of penitent husband. Before he could come to any decision, however, he must find out definitely whether Mnimvaring was still in power at the Priory, a state of things which lie considered unlikely, though for the success of his plans he deemed it wiser to ascertain.

No, Mr Mninwaring had not returned, lio was told when lie put the question to the talkative barmaid; but whether he was expected was not publicly known. The young lady who had run awa3* to get married was there, and the young gentleman, too: also Mrs Lindsay ; the little old Indy was dead and Mr Lindsay had returned from “forrin parts” on the day she was buried. Gordon thanked the woman for her information and returned to his own meditations, somewhat undecided as to his course cf action. If Mainwaring did return, lie would make things warm for him, he knew, since there was the matter of their little debt to he settled. And yet ns Julia’s penitent husband it was quite reasonable to suppose that he would be allowed a certain fixed income bv the fond parents, or. failing that, he felt quite certain that they would he willing to pay him to leave them in peace, in which case lie would he to follow I he 'lirfntcs of his owu desire* without hind»*anca.

In view of the former being the case, would it be possible to keep Mainwaring at arm’s length by the promise of a settlement of the debt he owed him? There was reallv nothing he could bring up against him but that promise to pay a certain amount of tnonej* on his marriage to Julia, which he had never fulfilled. It was certainly worth the risk, Gordon decided. When the Lindsays had taken him to their bosom, it was liardlv likely that they would turn him out of tho house, whatever Mainwaring said or did. Perhaps after all. his marring© to Julia would prove his salvation, even if it had been a poor bargain in the beginning! He brushed his hat with his coat "‘ve, straightened his tic and ' | everything he could think of which would tend to improve his appearance, for the picture of the shabby prodigal was not at all to his taste. Besides, he must keep no his dignity before tho servants whatever cbe he was forced to do in the presence of his family. (To be continued.^