THE GAME OF LIFE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2784, 1 May 1911, Page 4

THE GAME OF LIFE.

COPYRIGHT,

HEGAM£_OF_LIFE THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL.

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

PART 10

" And you think it would suit m« to live as a disgraced pauper," she card trying "to throw a proper amount of indignation into her voice, ibut her thoughts would turn to those snug investments that paid so well.

For a moment Jack was silent, then he said :

"I'm going to see Swift," and before she had time to think whether this was a wise move, the door had closed upon, him ; then she reflected that Swift was anxious for the marriage, and would be judicious. He Was a clever man, and the matter was safe in his hands.

Jack put-on his straw hat and set off at a smart pace. When he had !eft the park, he decided to go b3 way of the moor, and it was not eleven o*ck>ck when he reached the gates leading to Doyle Court and as he was about to enter he saw Swift coming at a leisurely pace towards him. Jack hastened forward and his tone was curt as he said :

" I was coming to see you." The other man took the cigar out of his mouth as he said :

* " Good morning. Cathcart, I expected you. Shall we have our talk on the moor, where there is no chance of eavesdroppers ?"

" You expected me ! I had no appointment," he said, taken aback by the other's coolness. "No, but I was pretty sure, after fou heard what your mother had to BR y—that you wonld wish to see me" he said, as they turned through the gate."

"Does Miss Swift know anything Df what you named to my mother?" Jack asked.

"My dear boy, I'm not mad enough to" tell Stella about our little deal, because, of course, it is a deal, and one in which, if you will allow me to say 90, you get the best of the. bargain but she might object to being in the gamble."

"I think Bhe would, and I don't know how you can justify the action to your conscience," said Jack, indignantly.

Swift removed his «igar and laughed softly.

" Conscience ! Now, I shouldn't have thought you were strong on that

point."

Jack's face became .scarlet

" You needn't bint that I'm a rogue, I know it, but, my God ! the temptation was awful. Place yourself in my position, brought up to believe yourself heir—"

" Hush !" The word was spoken in a sharp, decisive tone. " There are hedges on either side of this lane we don't know who may be behind them, my life has taught me- many experiences, and it has taught me caution."

Jack remained silent, and thej walked quickly on, then when they had reached the moor, Swift said :

" Let us stroll up and down while we have our talk."

"You have proofs, my mother tells me ?" Jack said. " Yes, of course, there is the certificate of your father's first marriage and the certificate of his son's birth, and the fact is beyond doubt that Rachel Stirling was a widow when the marriage took place, also that Bhe was living when Lady Annette and your father went through the ceremony of marriage," said Swift. "You have known this all these years, yet you .said nothing ?" said Jack looking fuH-at him. '■ " Yes, why should I speak. Rachel's child was no relation to me. I was rich and had no need to levy blackmail ; what did it matter to

me who was master oi Millwood

Hall?" "I see you 'would have levied blackmail if you had wanted money?" ■ said Jack

"Of course I should, but as I say, t didn't need money. Later, when

we met the Doyles we heard of you, and I made up my mind that my daughter should be mistress of' the old home."

"Do you l?now your daughter once

told me I was too small a personage

to be worth the attention of an ' , American girl, they wanted titles in, exchange for their money. I'm afraid she won't be satisfied if we made the bargain." "Stella says smart things, but she would marry you, not your position; she's like her mother, governed by her heart. For myself, I would rather she married'you than a titled man, he might give me to understand I was do trop, but with you fit would be otherwise, I could go anywhere; the Oathcarts are an oM family, you could entertain royalty,

my purse wouM always be open to help in philanthropic causes, I should soar high, probably be the

friend of kings and princes," he said

" I see you have your own ends to ■ serve, but before we come to any arrangement I should like to know if i.' Rachel Cathcart and her son are liv- -. ing?" His voice faltered as he saW ' , Rachel Cathcart. ; ' "Yes, and I can lay my hands'on '.', them any day." " Then my duty is plain, I must give up the estate," said JacH , \ " Give up that ?" and Swift pointed to Millwood Hall that lay below them surrounded by woods. Jack glanced in the direction ol his home and he <felt it would be very , hard. " What is the man like ? The man who would take my place?" he , a»ved, in a tone that was hard bul ''. covered intense feeling. "He and his mother have bad a struggle to live, and he has become a Socialist. If he came here the Hall would be turned into a Children's Home or something of that kind. - Children would spoil your oak-panel-ling, even the pictures might have an ■ ■ occasional hack ; it is hard to watch many little hands, yet they can dc much mischief ; your park and farms would be cut up into small holdings. The old order would be changed," said Swift, quietly. The park cut up into small farms. : ■ dotted with cottages, the estate demolished, virtually the Cathcarts as '. - a family, a power in the county would have become extinct. Jack ,• writhed in spirit. -; • "It's not a pleasant prospect," ;■■' said Swift. ; .tf*k-tu»ed sharply, •; _

" You seem to have the trie'e of reading a man's thoughts, and yo'.i are a wonderful tempter."

" I've told you I;he facts," said the other man, "it is for you to decide whether I fetch the Socialist here to cut up the estate of your forefathers."

"I'll be hanged if he has the chance," exclaimed Jack.

" Then you accept my terms, and Stella "becomes mistress of Millwood Hall; but she'll have to be wooed, remember that.",

" I'll do my best," said Jack, shortly.

"All right, then we'll return to the Court, and to begin the campaign you must say that your mother wishes Stella and me to come and stay at the Hall for a few weeks. I'll see the invitation Is accepted." CHAPTER XVH. "We establish sovereign good, not by taking and receiving, but by giving with both hands."—Rabelais.

At the very time that Swift and Jack were having their conversation on the moor Grace and Stella were seated under a shady tree on the lawn at the Court. They had brought their work out of i doors, and the American girl's fingers flew in and out of the dainty piece of work she was embroidering ; but Grace did a etitch, then paused to think ;, a moment later she would rouse herself and work with feverish then again relapse into thought. Stella had observed all this and gone quietly on with her work, until the troubled look on her friend's face made her resolve to speak.

"What is it, dear ?" she said, soft-

ly. Grace turned quickly, her face flushed as she said :

"I don't understand."

"I think you do ; you are in trouble, and I might be able to help you, dear."

"No one in the world can do that ; I am utterly miserable," and there was a sob in her voice.

"Is it about Jack?" "Yes," and a tear fell on her hand

"Suppose you tell me, I might be able to see light; at any,rate, it would do you good to tails about it," said Stella. -

"I should like to tell you all, I feel as though I must tell someone, or my heart will break, but it is Jack's affair, and if people knew he might get into trouble."

"I'm not people, I'm a person, and I should be as silent as the grave," replied Stella.

"Yes, I can trust you, and it would be a relief to tell you. I daresay you noticed Jack and I were together some time yesterday afternoon ?" said Grace. '

"Of course, \I did, and,l saw something had upset you. Mr. Cathcart looked savage and you proud, and as stiff as a poker ; I wondered what had disturbed the atmosphere, and I came to the conclusion that for both your sakes it would be well if Mr. Jack took a little excursion to Africa or America, though that's a very short trip nowadays ; but it isn't wise for a man with a wife to be hanging round the girl he loves, especially as the wife is not in evidence.'' "He hasn't got a wife," said Grace. "Good gracious ! I thought he told you he had. Is the man mad ?" said Stella, her work dropping from her hands, as she looked at her companion. "No, but he's very miserable, and— and so am I," said Grace, with a sob. "I should have thought you both would have been rejoicing that no such impediment to your happiness existed ; but why on earth did he tell you he had a wife ?" "I misunderstood him ; but it really makes no difference, and I shall never be happy again in this world ; it's worse than if he had a wife," said Grace, and another tear fell on her hand. "Well, Grace, I don't understand what makes you miserable ; I can see there's a mystery," said Stella. "He—he was trying to make me understand there was an impediment to our marriage, and I thought he meant that he had a wife, but. it's not that." Stella felt puzzled. "Is he deeply in debt ?" she asked. "No, that wouldn't make any difference. I would marry a poor man, but- " and Grace spoke in a whisper. "He has done something awful, committed a fraud, and he says it might be discovered at any time." "Did he tell you what he had done, Grace ?" . "No ; he said it was a fraud, that i[ it was lrmown all honest men would shrink from him, that those belonging to him would live in the shadow oi disgrace, and he asked me if I was willing to marry him kndwing this." "What did you say?" asked Stella. "I could only say one thing, a Doyle could not marry a criminal and 3l\are disgrace," said Grace, and there was a proud ring in her voice. Stella turned sharply on her. "If I loved a man, and he ■had done something wrong, in a, moment of temptation, I would stand by him through everything, b*it you let your poor little pride stand between you and what may be his salvation. How C£n you, Grace ?" "We Doyles have stainless records ; it would kill me to face disgrace, even with Jack." "Well, Grace, I can only say you may be helping him on the downward road. He has less to .give than you thought ; you not only loved Jack Cathcart, but you were proud of him, now it is different, you turn your back on him, instead of giving with both hands, taking your love and stainless name to help him to battle with this disgrace, that you say shadows him. Grace, if you would do that you would never regret it."

"I should —I should learn to despise him."

"I don't know much of Jack Oathcart, but I'm certain that whatever wrong he has done, was done in a moment of fierce temptation, and that his sense oii honour makes him view it as worse than it is, or he is taking someone else's wrong-doing era his shoulders. I would sooner believe Lady Annette guilty of a crime, than her aon," said Stella.

"Even if it was so, and discovery came, anyone bearing the name oJ Cathcart would he disgraced."

"Your pride will ruin your life, and here comes Mr. Cathcart and my father," said Stella.

Grace looked up, and saw the two men coming towards them, and hei heart smote as she noticed how grave Jack looked, then as the latter shook hands with tie two prts. Mr ■ Swift «***;•• /.-.. .:.,•:,.•■.,■ ■: .■ .■ ■...

■"I met Mr. Cathcart near tlin .rate. He brings an invitation from Lady Annette for Stella and me to soend a few v/eelrs at the Hall, and I htivp accepted, so you must tell your maid to pack your, trunks, as we go tomorrow," and he turned to his daughter.

Before either of the girls could utter a word, the Major, who had come up in time to hear what Mr. Swift BaM, exclaimed :

"You don't mean to say you are thinking of leaving us? I expected youM stay until the shooting."

"Thanks, major ; if you will allow us, we'll return for a little while hefore we leave this part of the country but as Lady Annette has kindly invited us to stay a short time at the Hall, we will leave you for a few weeks," replied Swift.

"Oh, SteHa, how I shall miss you, dear !" exclaimed Grace.

"It will only be a flying visit," she answered, as they went towards the house, "and to tell the truth, I don't want to go ; I don't like Lady Annette," she added.

"Your father does ; they were ever so long in the picture gallery yesterday, while we were at the stables," said Grace.

Stella laughed a trifle uneasily

"I wonder if my father is going to ask her to be his wife ? I hope not. E shouldn't like Lady Annette in the role of a step-mother. Now, I must go and tell Hortense to have my clothes packed by the morning," she said.

Soon after luncheon Grace went to see her nurse, and, leaving her at the sottage, Stella went on to the moor. Ft was a windy day, and as the wind swept across the wide, open space, she felt inclined to run and gambol as she had done when a child ; a breeze ha-d always an exhilarating effect upon her and increased her exuberant vitality.

"It's grand !" she thought, as she mounted a stile. Then she saw Ford coming towards her, and a look of pleasure came into his fine eyes.

"Isn't it grand here ? I do love the wind ; it blows the cobwebs away," Bhe said, as they shook hands.

"Yes, it's a wonderful refresher," he answered, smiling at her evident enjoyment.

"Do you know, if I lived here 3 should' want to buy the moor and build a house at the very top, where one could see all over the country," said Stella.

"You'd catch the storms. There's always more buffeting and stress on the mountain top than in the valley, both in nature and human life."

"Don't you think one would be stronger living on the mountain top, Mr. Ford?"

"Yes," he said, grasping her meaning ; "but we don't fly there, we creep slowly up, often so slowly that when we reach the summit we sink down overcome with fatigue. But afterwards we rise and battle with the elements."

- Looking at her, seeing the' wonderful life and vitality, he wondered what lay before her. Surely she was fitted; for something better and higher than the life of an ordinary society woman. She had riches, and with such a nature might do much. Would she choose a life of pleasure or leave the world better for having lived in it ?

"What are you considering ?" she asked, noticing how gravely he was regarding her.

"I was wondering what you would make of your life," he said.

The answer flashed back quickly

"Something better than I should have done if I had not known you."

"I am glad." The words were spoken in a simple, straightforward manner. He didn't disclaim anj influence he might; have had ; his work was to set the good before people, and he rejoiced when they followed it, but in his heart he was conscious of a deeper joy than usual ; that he should have been a factor in the life of this beautiful girl, with her frank, open nature, was something that stirred his soul.

She came nearer to him, and her face lighted as she said :

"You had a message for Ime on Sunday. I knew when you began to speak that it was so, and it came. 'To fight the good fight.' I shall do it. Of course, it won't be easy in my world, but I shall do it," she said, speaking with confidence.

"Yes, you will fight your way up the hill side, to the top, and I think you will gather companions on the way," he said quietly, but with a great gladness in his tone.

"You live on the top of the mountain," she said.

"I ! Oh, no, I'm battling my \fay up. You don't know what a strong hold the plains have on me, but each effort to" rise makes the next one easier."

For a moment they were silent, then Stella said :

"My father arid I are in very truth going in to the valley. To-morrow we go to stay at Millwood Hall for a little'while."

He looked down to where it lay in the green park, with thick woods behind it, i a picturesque old mansion ; and he remembered the young squire, and a sudden pang of jealousy shot through him as he thought that this girl, so different from any he had ever known, would be Cathcart's constant companion ; then he mastered, himself, and his voice was just as usual as he said :

"I hope jou will have a pleasant visit. Good bye, Miss Swift, I'm bound for a farmhouse a mile away, where' a poor woman is ill," and with a handclasp they parted.

"I love her, yet I can never be anything to her. I must stand aside and see young Cathcart woo her.. It is strange, people said he admired Miss Doyle," he thought, as he went guictfly forward.

Julie Ray, who was coming down the other side of the moor, had witnessed the meeting between the minister and Stella, and she ground her teeth with rage, as she muttered, "that horrid American girl ! I wish she was dead. I hate her. But I'll be even wrth her yet," and hurrying home she wrote the following note, and addressed it to Mr. Swift at Doyle Court,

"Dear Sir,—This is to let you know that your daughter and Mr. EV>rd, the minister, meet on the moor. — Yours, A Well-Wisher."

Taking the letter, she hurried to the post-office, and dropped it in the box, then, as she turned away she saw the very gentleman to whom she had written, standing waiting to post a couple of letters, and her face flushed as she saw that he was regarding her with admiration, but she did not know that he had read the address on the letter she had posted. "What can the girl have to say to me?" he thought. *To bo Continued.)