THE GAME OF LIFE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2783, 28 April 1911, Page 4

THE GAME OF LIFE.

THEjGAMEOFLIFE THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL

COPYRIGHT.

By Hedley Richards, Author of "Time, The Avengar," "The Mine Master's Heir," etc., etc.

PART I

"What have you done?" she said; and there was a touch of horror in her voice. "Is it forgery?" and \\m voice was almost a whisper.

Jack laughed bitterly. It was awful to know that this woman, whom he loved, had the right to suspect him at such a thing. "No ; I am a bad lot, but not quite 90 ba« as that.*'

" Jack, do«'t you think you are making me believe that things are worse than they are ? If it's not forgery what can it b-5 ? You have not murdered anyone, and sou would not steal. " There was a faint smile visible as she said this.

" Listen, Grace, you shall decide whether we marry or not. lam not speaking anything but the bare truth when I say that I have been guilt;: o f a crime that would—tf it were known —cause all honest men to regard me with contempt,, and if you were my wife you woulfl have to share the opprobrium ; though, of course, people would regard you witfc pity. Moreover, what I have done may bring disgrace on those who come after me. Knowing all this, will you marry me and cling to. me through evil as well as good report," he said, trying to speak i« a cool, measured tone and keep the passion put of his voice. She shrank back.

"No, I will not marry a man who lives in the shadow of disgrace. If you had done something that when known would cause honest men to regard you with contempt, I might get to feel tfce same. Oh, how can you have been so wicked ?" she exclaimed in & flash of indignation.

"I may not have chosen to do this thing ; circumstances may have been too strong, for me," he said.

" I' didn't know you were as weak as water. I could never be hapyy with a man I despised, and it would end in that," she said, as she rose.

"No, you are too good to understand temptation and sin," he said, bitterly.

"I hope I shall alwys choose the good and fight against evil no matter what it costs me," she answered.

"We cannot all be saints/ he replied as they went towards tha house, and at a little distance they Baw the others comiig towards them.' Grace turned to him, saying hurried* ly:

"If it had been only loss of money it would make no difference."

" But you couldn't marry a mai who had a stain on his name no matter how it came V

" No," and the voice was firm, " the Doyles are proud, ao4 can have nothing to do with disgrace," she said, coldly.

"So be it," said Jack, and in another minute they joined the others, Lady Annette rallying them on having left the rest of the party.

" And now, Jack, you must take our friends to see your new hunt-

era."

"By jove, boy, I'm longing to see them front your mother's description/ B*id the Major,' " and Miss Stella in as anxious em I am," he added.

"Then we will go to the stables," ■aid Jack, who would willingly have agreed to go to the antipodes rather than be left with Grace, whose words had stung him almost beyond endurance. . ; ,

" If you don't nriad, Lady Annette, I would llkt'toiflaee Jthe picture gallery. I don't 'think' my tastes are exactly horses;," said, Mr. Swift.

"Then we will go to the picture gallery," she replied, as they turned their fteps in tfcf direction of tln» houee. .-■■:-" ■■■■■■ *■ ' . : •

CHAPTER XT. " A long line of ancestors, sirag men and fair women; it woaJd he a pity if your sonte portrait couKf have no place axpaagjA them," said Mr. Swift in a pleasant tone, looking at his hostess. , Lady Annette's face blanched, as she asked herself? for the hundxedili time what this, man knew of her ' dead husband's life. These things he said could wot be chance. He kaew something,/and ;Jie was playing with her like -a cat plays with a mouee. But she would spoil Mb sport ; she would bring him to book, only she would have to be cautious. " Why shouldn't Jack's portrait hang among his ancestors?" she •aid carelessly. Mr. Swift was looking at the po*« trait of the late Bquiiete mother—a beautiful woman with a*proud face. '.' She looks a haughty dame. Ont could imagine Midi a woman coming out of her grave to«,,protest against an interloper,**" fee aa*d. " There caa b»«aM> interloper bere—> only Cathcarta and their wives. Jack has not yet had his portrait painted, but I must urge him to," and there was nothing in her voice to tell the casual observer that she was suffer-

ing agonies of apprehension. Swift turned and looked full at her as he said :

" I wouldn't have his portrait painted at present; it wouM. be awkward, if you couldn't hang it here." "Will you explain your meaning 7" . (the said, haughtily. " The bar sinister w/onM make it Impossible for ypar son to take his place among the Cat hearts." So he knew. She had feared his knowledge, but the truth bo brutally told, was almost more than she could bear, and she felt for a moment as if pictures, floor, everything was going round, only the katetal, sneering face of the man who had dealt her the blow,. etood out distinctly, and his voice, though low, sounded like a trumpet in her ears. " Pull yourself together, Lady Annette," he said. She made a desperate effort, and the things ceased to whirl round her. ■•' I knew you were game," he said. Game, ' yes ; but it was no use fighting this ma* who knew everything. "Let ua «it mmm ; we are bound to come to an understanding," he • paid, as he drew a small silver flask tout of his pocket and handed it to •h«r.

She put it to her lips and took a ', ■ draught. The brandy was scarcely • ' .distilled with water, and the effect was almost instantaneous. The col--1 ; pur came back to her face ; then, as ' the gave him the flask she sat up, a

look of defiance coming into her nycs

He saw it and laughed

"That's done you good, anl yon are ready to fight me, but it's no ise, Lady Annette, you and your son are in my power." " Tell me what you mean?" she saM. He smiled, the hateful smile with which he had regarded her before but there was admiration in it, too, and in bis voice as he said :

" You are a very clever woman, and if you had a leg to stand on you'd be a hard one to beat. You are the sort of opponent I like, but as you know, it would be folly towage war with me, and being the woman you are you'll hear what I've got to say and we'll come to terms.'* Her lip curled.

" Blackmail \ I thought you wew a millionaire," she said, her voice tolerably steady. .

"So I am. I could buy this grand old place, that you'd sell your soul to keep for your son, but all the same I shall want paying for holding my tongue. A wedding ring will settle the matter."

She looked at him in surprise. " You don't mean to say you want to marry me ?" * He laughed, . '

" Nq, Lady Asnette, you arc a very charming woman you took as innocent as a*dove, jet you have the wisdom of»a serpent. There are not many people you couldn't hoodwink, but if you and I married it would be a war of wits, besides, I like my freedom."

"You needn't excuse yourself for not wishing to marry me ; it would have been most repugnant to me but I would even have done that to safeguard my son," she said, interrupting him.

Swift leaned towards her saying in a low emphatic tone :

"The only thing that will enable your son to remain a Cathcart of Millwood is marriage with my daughter."

The tension relaxed, Lady Annette breathed freely. Stella Swift was beautiful and charming ," it was' an easy price to pay for this man's silence, but she thought it well to let him think it was a concession.

"He loved Grace Doyle, and Jack has a will of his own," she said.

"And also he is a proud man. you think he will choose to leave this place, nameless rather than take • different bride. Even if he did make such a decision it would be useless, Grace Doyle would never marry a man who could not claim his father's name."

"Yes, I think you are right and Jack must accept your terms," she said. '

"I advise your ladysbip not to use the word must to him. No doubt he will kick at having to give up Grace, but very soon be will wonder that he could have thought it a hardship. He will find Stella infinitely cleverer and more companionable."

Lady Annette scarcely heard him, she was thinking she had capitulated too soon. The man might not have proofs that her son was not thf. real heir, to Millwood ; possibly he had some inbling of the truth, and had bluffed her into making certain ad-* missions, but she would kuo;'. T more before she committed herself, so looking at him full, she said :

"Mr. Swift, you are a very clever man ; but before we go aiy further I should like to hear what proof you have of the statement you make regarding my son's position."

"What if I have no proof, only strong suspicions ?" he t'aid.

" Then I will fight you—Jack an.l I will fight you to the bitter end," she said, furiously, thinking she had been trapped by this 'cute American.

"Do you think it likely I should have said what I did unless I had proof. I know the story of the past—that Rupert Cathcart, the man who married you, had been previously married to another woman, Rachel Stirling, a young widow, and her boy was supposed to have perished in a tve at a lodging-house at Brighton, and later, Mr. Cathcart, believing he was a widower, married you. Then the twin brother of Rachel's husband returned to England—he had seen her just before she was supposed to have lost her life, and she had fled from him in terror, believing he was her first husband, and that her second marriage had been bigamous. But for her terror she would have seen the difference between the two men, in spite of the strong likeness. On a later visit to England James Stirling discovered that his brother's .widow was living, and tried to persuade her to claim hsr rights. She refused, so he resolved to make his knowledge of the facts a source of income and he v rote to Squire Cathcart, then came bore by appointment and met his d;ath, in what people call the 111----tcted room. His death was so wondarfully opportune that if there had been any room for doubt that he was s';ruck by lightning the squire would h.ive found himself in an awkward position."

"I should have fceld my husband justified if he had killed the man, a blackmailer, but Providence removed him, and^ saved Rupert from the temptation," she replied.

" Providence ! So you believe in that. Of course, I forgot you are a good churchwoman. May I ask how you think Providence regards your little scheme to benefit your son at the expense of the rightful heir ?"

" I left Providence out of my calculations," see answered.

" Just so. I don't think, Lady Annette, you should be quite so hard on a blackmailer, seeing you are the instigator of a fraud. I have no doubt in my own mind that the late squire told you the truth on his deathbed, and as he had loved Rachel madly I should not be surprised to hear that he had tpid you to relinquish your position here in favour of her and her son."

Lady Annette was furious. The knowledge that what this man said was true—that Rupert Cathcart Mad loved Rachel with a great lovegreater than he had loved her, galled her to the quick, and she answered, sharply :

" Then you are mistaken. He said we were to settle the matter be-

tween us."

Mr. Swift laughed a mocking laugh. " Your ladyship preferred to trust your own judgment," he said.

"Yes, and. I would do the same now. But what you tell me may not' be facts. Where are your proofs ?" she said.

" I have letters from the man who was killed in this house. A letter telling me he was coming by arrangement, to see Squire ('atheart ; and in this letter he alludes to Rachel Stirling—rightly Rachel Cathcart— aadf'tben^as now, the lawful mistress

of this place. Those letters in the court of law would prove much !"

" The letters of a blackmailer !" she said with contempt. 1

" The letters of a blackmailer would be as good as the word of a woman who had committed a fraud. Pardon me, Lady Annette, if that sounds rude, but we are speaking plainly, a nd I ask., is it worth your while to oppose the happy way I suggest by which your son can retain his position ? Stella will make a charming mistress for this place."

" Yes," and Lady Annette's face softened, " but she migfct refuse him" she continued.

" I don't think so. Your son is a Bne fellow, a man I should be loath to injure. Stella will become his wife, if he's an ardent wooer, but she will want wooing ; she's not a girl to let herself be too easily won. And another thing, Lady Annette, she will be rich. This house and one in London could be kept up, but, of course, you have been economising in case you had to leave here. I congratulate you, Lady Annette, on your successful speculations. You see, I am a speculator and learn things," he said, with a smile.

She looked at him curiously, thinking that he was very clever, then she said :

" How did it happen that this man Stirling wrote to yon telling of his plans ?"

"Because he was my brother. James and Barry Stirling were my twin brothers— ten years my Beniors. C took the name of Swift when I married as my wife had considerable property, and it was a condition of the marriage."

" You and that man who was killed in this house were brothers," she said, looking at him. 1 "That is so," and his face told her that he was speaking the truth.

"I will tell Jack that you know all and on what conditions you will remain silent," she said. CHAPTER XVI. " The bitter paths wherein I stray', Thou kmowest, Who "hast made the fire, "Thou knowest, Who hast made the clay." —Kipling. " Jack, I have something importsnt to talk! to you about, '* said Lady Annette, as-they rose from the breakfast table after her conversation with Mr. Swift.

"All right, mothter," and he followed her moodily into the morningroom. He had been miserable all night, the thought that Grace despised him was unbearable. Moreover he knew that all thought of marriage with her was gone. Deep down in his heart there had larked a hope that when Grace knew more —he conld not tell her all, but enough to let her know he had -agra»e trouble and that disgrace lurked in its shadowshe might be witting to take her stand by his side ; a little hint of such a feeling would, he knew, banish all his hesitation ; in fact he was beginning to jfeel that he had as much, or more, right to the estate than the other man. Grace, however, had scorned him and let him see she looked upon him as a criminal. It weighed on his spirits. So it was in a listless fashion be took a chair near his mother.

"Jack, our .secret is known," she said in a low voice.

" What !" and he bounded from hie chair, all listlessness gone ; he was alert and his tone was sharp as he laid : " Who knows it?" " Mr. Swift, the American." " Swift !" and Jade looked increduloas. " How canine know ?" "His real name Is Stirling. Barry and James Stirling weteshis twin brothers, and James Stirling wrote bo him before he bsd^tbat interview with your father. He knows all about the first marriage -and the son; he even admits that bis brother, James Stirling came*to levy blackmail. It would hixve*been a terrible affair, but he has his price," said Lady Annette.

" I thought he was a millionaire," said Jack.

"So he is," replied Lady Annette. " The price is not to be paid in money ; he wants his daughter to be mistress of Millwood Hall."

"What !" exclaimed Jack, looking astounded.

"Yes, that is the condition on which he will hold his tongue. It is a safe one. If his daughter waa mistress here it would be to his interest not to reveal the past."

" Does Mies Swift know the truth about my position ?" he asked.

"No, I'm sure she doesn't, because he said she was a girl who would need wooing ; that she would not be easily won, but if you put your heart into it, you might be successful," said Lady Annette.

"My heart is given to Grace Doyle. How can I make love to this other girl?" said Jack,

" You can, because you are forced bo do so, and Stella Swift is a lovely girl better looking than Grace. Moreover, she will be very rich."

" Stella Swift is too sharp not to distinguish the imitation from the genuine article. She would soon find out my love making was forced, that my heart was not in it ; besides the girls will have talked -to each other, and she will know I have been payteg Grace attention."

" Have you askeid Grace to be your wife ?" said Lady Annette suddenly, remembering..-the time her son had spent with Grace the previous afternoon.

"No, I told her that I'd a dark secret in my life that would prevent me, and she let me see she would not marry a man who did not como up to her standard of perfection," hf said, bitterly.

Lady, Annette spoke sharply. " Jack, I didn't think you would have been such a fool."

" No, and I didn't think I could have been a knave, but it seems I am both."

" You are not a knave, legally you may be in the wrong, but morally you are right. I believed that your father was free to marry me, Dr the marriage would not have taken place. The sin lies at his door. You will ' marry Stella Swift ?•• "If she refuses me. What then?" asked Jack. " I don't know. I asked him, and his answer was that you were a fine fellow, and could win her if jou tried?" she said, imploringly. "I don't know, I feel inclined to throw up the sponge and emigrate ; if the other fellow had any decency in him he would allow you an income." To be Continued.

What then?"