THE GAME OF LIFE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2781, 26 April 1911, Page 4

THE GAME OF LIFE.

THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL

COPYRIGHT.

By Hedley Richards, Author of "Time, The Avenger," "The Mlno Master's Heir," etc., etc

PART 9

" I'm sorry I have been *o tag,** she said as she drew near.

" Oh, it hasn't seemed long. Lot me introduce Mr. Ford t»you." A* Stella spoke Grace bowed stiffly. Sba felt it a positive slight to be Introduced to this man, not only toeansa he was her social inferior, but she regarded him as antagonistic to her Church, and Grace was conservative to her finger-tips.

"Nanny is very poorly, and wanted me to stay with her," she said, turning! to Stella.

" I think I'm rather grateful to Nanny for not seeing, me ; this moor is ever so much better than a stuffy little room. 'Good-bye, Mr. Ford ; I shall come to hear sou preach some Saturday," said-Stella, as they shook hands, and Grace bowed stiffly.

" You're a horrid girl," Baid Stella, as they wattled away.

" I don*t think you ought to have introduced that man to me," Grace replied.

" I think you ought t© be proud to know him) he is a gentleman and worth a dozen of your vicars."

" Oh, Stella."

" I mean what I say, Grace, but we won't discuss the matter or we may quarrel," replied Stella, and they walked on in silence.

Now, it happened \that while Ptord and Stella were seated on the bank Julie, who had been to a farm for some eggs crossed the further side of the moor, and her quick eyes rer cognised them. .

"So they meet each other, and she's only known Mm a few days," 3he muttered, and on reaching home she burst into the dining-room where her mother was busy sewing, and as she placed the eggs on the table, she exclaimed :

" Mother, Mr. Ford and that American girl who is staying at the Court are carrying on disgracefully ; they're sitting side by side on the moor like lovers!"

"Well, I never V* said Mrs. Ray

" It's true, and I love him and I won't give him up to her," she said, into tears. ' '/"It's not likely she'd have him ; they say her father is a millionaire," replied her mother.

"Oh, you don't know what a girl will do when she's in love, and he's not like other men," and Julie isobbed louder than ever.

Mrs. Ray laid her sewing on her lap and looked across at her daughter, who had thrown herself on the couch, and with her head buried in her hands, looked the picture of

grief. • "I don't think he's worth fretting about, dear ; there's other fish in the sea," said Mrs. Ray. The girl raised her tear-stained, face and her eyes blazed as she said r

"You don't know what love meana I'd spend eternity in hell if IM hia love in this world. I hate that girl and I'd like to kill her."

" That wouldn't mend matters, my dear. Men are contrary, even the best of them!; but you just wait and see if Mr. Ford doesn't come courting here before long. You're the prettiest girl in the church, and" he knows well enough this grand lady' wouldn't listen to him if he asked har. Now, dry your eyes, and don't let the maids see you've seen crying, it'll all come right in the end," said her mother.

" Well; I've always got' what I wanted, and I don't suppose my luck will turn now ? " said Julie as she rose and went upstairs.

"I'll get her out of the way*some afternoon and I'll tackle Mm, minister or not ; he shan't ruin.my child's happiness," reflected Mrs. Ray,; but when Julie reappeared looking brighter, she extracted a promise from her mother that she wouldn't interfere in the affair.

"Why ever should I?" asked) Mm. Ray. '■'■■.

" Oh, I saw you were turning somethingl over in your mind'; but leave it to me, I'll wp'rk the oracle. I guess I shall "be Mrs 1, Ford before the winter comas." , I" ': CHATTER XIII. "For still theLordisLord of Might. In deeds, in de/3ds, He takes* delight." R. L. S, i J " Where are you going, Stella?" inquired her father, as he came down the steps at the Court, just as the groom was assisting her to mount the chestnut horse " I'm going to Nettlefoy to bear Mr. Ford preach. Grace declines to come with me," aha. said,, with a emile. " Then I'll come with y«u. I'll ride your horse, Thacker," said Mr. Swift addressing the groom. Stella looked atrlier father in amazement.

" You don't mean that you're gotogb to listen to a sermon ?" she asked.

"Yes, I am. But if you let your horse stand there* all day it's not likely either of us will hear this Mr. Ford preach.

When they had passed through the gates and were cantering along the lane Stella loo&ed at her father, Baying :

"Why are you; coming with me V He smiled.

" Ouriositj', sheer curiosity, ' my dear ; I want to see this fellow and hear what ha has to say* Don't imagine I'm a reformed character," said her father.

" I wish youVl stay at home, i shan't enjoy the y sermon *alf so well because I shall know you are sneering at the preatfher."

" Now I call that selfish. If this man is such a preacher he might touch evem my hardened heart," he said, with, a sneer. ,

"That is true," she answered, thinking of the sermon she had heard Ford preach.

It was a long ride, and as they did not know the country well it was nearly four o'clock when they entered the village of NettLeby. As they cantered along the main street the , Bound of many voices singing & hymn Waft borne on the breeze, and a moment later they saw a congregation of rustics gathered in the open space in front of the village inn. Standing on a strong wooden tseblc at one jM* of ' the door Mjas\ the. preacher,

while* the inn-keeper, a jolly looking man, in his shirt Bleeves and wearing a white apron, leaned against the door listening to tbe hymn with apparent pleasure. " A moment later, and Ford announced the benediction, then descending from the pulpit he shook hands with tne^people while Stella and her father^ who had checksd their horses, remained watching. ,

'*" He's a grand man, !*it if 'he comes here often I shall lose my customers," said the publican with a laugh that implied he was not very uneasy at the prospect.

" Then, my good man, why do you let him preach at your door ?" said Swift.

"Oh, there's no gainsaying Mr. Ford, and they'll not let his sermons stand in the way of their having a drink, at any rate not more than a day or two." And the innkeeper chuckled at his knowledge of human nature. Stella was about to make an indignant retort, when a voice at her elbow said :

" Good afternoon, Miss Swift." Her face brightened as she leaned down to shake hands.

" I am sorry we were so late for the service," she said. " I missed you," he said. Then Mr. Swift spoke. " Come, Stella, you are forgetting to introduce me to Mr. Ford.

The minister took a step forward, and looking at the speaker who was gazing intently at him, and when Stella had introduced them Mr. Swift extended his hand, saying in a pleasant tone :

" My daughter has told us so much about the sermon she heard you preach, that I felt I should like to come and hear and see you, but we missed our way arfd only came in for the Benediction, but even that might be of some benefit to a hardened sinner," he said, lightly.

" I'm afraid the only thing that will benefit a sinner is to forsake his sins," replied Ford, gravely.

" I see, I'm afraid I've lost something through being too late for the sermon. By the way, you don't belong to this part of the country ?" said Swift.

"No ; my mother is a Welshwoman, and I have been brought up in Wales."

" Your father ? Was he, too, Welsh ?" asked Swift.

"No ; he was an Englishman, but he died when I was an infant," replied Ford looking with some surprise at his questioner.

" I thought you were not of pure Welsh extraction. I have had friends in your country," replied the other man. Then his tone changed to one of tenter as he said : 11 My friend here thinks the effect of your preaching won't be long lived that in a day or two he wiljl have as many customers as ever, and, of course, you wouldn't like to think you'd spoiled his trade."

" I should be glad if he had to shut up. Yes, I mean it my friend," as the innkeeper's face darkened ; but you shouldn't lose by it, even from a monetary point of view, if I could help it, and I think I know men who would help jou to something better than selling drink."

" He means he'd make a parson of you. Good-bye Mr. Ford ; I'm glad to have seen you. I wonder if we shall ever meet again ; this world's full of crooked streets and we may happen to knock up against each other at some turning. Come, Stella," said Swift as he touched his horse with the whip.

Stella leaned forward and spoke in a low tone *

" Don't be vexed at what my father has said Mr. Ford ; I don't believe he can help being Cynical."

"I am not vexed," he answered, smiling pleasantly and raising his hat. Then he watched until a turn in the lane hid her from his view.

" She's a beautiful young lady but the gent's a queer one," said the innkeeper; then he added, respectfully, " Will you step in and have a cup of tea,. Mr. Ford. The missis has been listening at one of the windows and she'd be pleased to welcome you."

" I should like to have stayed, but I've a meeting at my chapel at seven bo I've no time to lose," he said as he shook hands with the man. Then he hastened forward, but seeing Julie Ray and a friend a little ahead of him, he turned along a lane that led by a circuitous route to Millwood.

" I shall have to be quick and go without tea, but I shan't walk, back with that girl and her friend," he thought.

It was just half-past ten the next morning when Stella entered the porch of the Congregational Church. She had expected to see a very little place, and was surprised as she followed a man —- who asked if she required a seat—to find it a spacious building and glancing round she saw that it was already nearly hill. Then she forgot all as the preacher gave out the hymn, and looking at him she saw that he wore a black gown, and she was struck anew by his powerful face. The singing was vil gorous and hearty ; there was no doubt the bulk of the people sang with x their hearts ac well as their voices, and Stella joined in quite unconscious that some of the younger part of the congregation were critisisfcag her dress and appearance, and wandering what had brought such an fertetocratic stranger to the place, white -others, who knew she was visitlag at Doyle Court, were still more ponied, as the Doyles were known to be strict church people. Julie, whose face expressed her rage whisperocht© her mother to look at that girl who had come on purpose to make love to the parson, and Mrs. Bay had begged her, in a whisper, to keep quiet.

After the singing came a prayer, and then a strong, vigorous sermon by the preacher.

The service concluded with a hymn and benediction, after which Stella hurried from the chapel. A message had come for her, a command. She had to fight a good fight—the awful Qod of her childhood had become the loving Father. Out of the past came the words she had heard her old nurse sing when she had forgotten the fire and brimstone and her mind dwelt on the glory of the future, and, walking along the country lane, Stella sang—

"Golden slippers on a golden stair, Golden slippers dat we'se got to wear."

" Ah, yes ; she had got the golden slippers, and she would mount the golden stair," thought Stella.

CHAPTER XIV

" Thou hast smitten us into the place of dragons and covered us with the shadow of death."

,The party from the Court bad

lunched at the Hall and were nov exploring the gardens. Jac'c hud contrived to detach himself and Grace from the others, telling himself that aow she knew how matters 3tooa and hatl agreed to be his [riend through life, it would be foolish to neglect any opportunity of enjoying her society ; not that his conscience was quite easy. Once or twice since their last meeting he had felt that he ought to go away and let her forget him, but now that he 3aw her he forgot his quahns and decided to makfc the most of the few :hances that were likely to come his way. Of course, he could not go to the Court-as he had done, or the Major might "have something to say.

"Muss B*Mt*"w»s saying she went to hear Mr. Ford preach last Sunday," Jack remarked, as they seated themselves on a rustic seat a€ one and of the garden.

"Yes, I cannot understand Stella, 3he says his sermons are the only ones she ever heard that are worth listening to."

" I can imagine he will preach well and he is a fine fellow. I'm atraid you tewe very conservative, Grace." " Indeed I am, and; I think with Socialism rampant, the old families aeed be."

" Then the poor beggars who have 10 family are of no account in your ;yes ?" he said.

"Yes, one respects them in their places, but we owe something to our birth and ought to live up to it."

" My God, we do owe something to it," and Jack could have sworn when le remembered that the slur on his sirth bid fair to spoil his life ; then as she looked at him in surprise he 3aid hurriedly :

" Symonds went to hear Ford preach on Sunday evening when he was taken ill, fainted away, and had to be carried out. He wasn't fit for anything yesterday. I asked him what the parson had said to upset aim, and. he told me the parson had nothing to do with it, Jjut the place was crowded End he could never stand crowds. But my impression is that something Ford said hit poor old Symonds pretty hard, and made dim doubt whether he was quite as sure of a seat among the saints as he'd imagined. I say, Grace, your conservatism will get a bit of a shock when you go to the other country and find jour next door neighbour to be your butler or maid."

" Don't talk nonsense, Jack ; this world and that are two different places."

" So they are," he answered

" Jack, I've been thinking about what you said to me the other day, and I made up my mind to tell you t think you ought to tell your mothjr. If she found out—by any chance —and people generally do find out the things we don't want them to, then it would be a greater trouble than if you had told her," said Grace.

Jack regarded her with astonishment.

" Told her what ?" he said

Grace looked annoyed ; she thought he was purposely professing ignorance.

" Told her that you had a wife," she said, in a low tone.

He sat up erect and stared at her, wondering- for a moment if Grace had gone out of her mind.

" Good gracious, I haven't got a wife," he exclaimed.

Grace's face became scarlet, and hei voice was fall of indignation as she eaid :

" Then why did you tell me you aad."

"I never told you anything of the kind," he answered sharply.

" Then what did you mean by saying there was someone who had a greater claim on you than I ,had, though you . loved me better than anyone in the world ; but because! of her you could not ask me to be your wife ? What did 50U mean ?" she repeated, her voice that had been almost a whisper when she alluded to his love, again becoming indignant. ti

Jack did not speak. He saw the interpretation that she had put on his words, and he felt that he wqs in a quandary. It was certain he would have to give some explanation, but what ?

" Why did you cheat me into thinking you had a wife ? If you had changed your mind there was no aeed to make up such a story, and — and get to know that I cared for you. I think you have behaved shamefully," she said.

Jack felt bewildered. He wished he had left matters as they were. He could never give her a satisfactory explanation without telling her the truth and that he would not do ; but tie must say something. What could he say ?

Grace rose

"As you cannot even /apologise for the untruth you have told me I will leave you and I hope you will not come to 7 the Court for some time."

Her words maddened Jack. He loved her and she thought he had treated her badly. He must speak.

" Stop, Grace; I will explain as far as I can."

" Yes, as far ac you can," and there was scorn in her tone. She forgot her love in the anger that had taken possession of her when she believed he had been playing with her, and tricked "her into an admission of her love. But in spite of her anger

She paused

"Sit down, Grace, I cannot talk to you while you stand looking at me Ske an avenging angel."

She seated herself and waited for him to speak, a faint hope rising in her heart that he migSifc be able to axplain his conduct.

"Grace, I'm in a terrible plight. I've done something—not got a wife or anj thing of that sort. Still, there is something that will prevent me marrying, and I was trying to tell you this. I suppose I did it rather clumsily, when you got it into your dead that I had a wife."

Grace saw that he. was speaking the truth, and she realieed^that whatever this barrier was that stood between them, it was a very real one.

"What have you done ? Cannot you tell me ?" she said ; and her tone was very gentle.

"No ; it is my secret. I cannot give you details. But this much I will tell you, in confidence. I have been guilty of a fraud, and it is a fraud that may at any time be discovered, if hot in my lifetime, afterwards, and the disgrace will fall heavily on* those belonging to me."

A horrible expression crept into her face.

" You have been guilty of a fraud ?" she said ; and there was terror in her voice, visions of Jack being taken to prison rose before her —it was awful—-too awful to be true.

To be Continued