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THE GAME OF LIFE OR THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL

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

PART 12.

"All the same, I can never marry you. If I had loved you I would have faced anything by your side, b«cause I know that whatever wrong you have done has been done under some great stress. To tell • the truth, I cannot think of you as anything but an honourable man,'*'

"My God ! you are heaping coala of fire on my head," he said, as he' turned and left*the room.

."An' honourable man, and: I'.hav* been trying to trick her into marriage with a nameless man," he thought. ''

As he entered the billiard room, Swift who was lounging in an easy chair looked round.

"Has she said No?" he asked, reading Jack's face correctly.

"Yes, and she'll never change. Your daughter is a good woman and a clever woman. She can detect the counterfeit from the real. She soon told me I didn't love her, and she wanted to know why I asked her to marry me."

Swift smiled

" Stella's very cute ; she takes after me in that; you could easily Hoodwink her motfler. All the same t'm afraid you didn't play the ardent lover, and you've lost. Do you realise how much you have lost ?"

" Yes, I do. But I'm getting tired of th«, whole thing. I wish as soon as I knew the truth I'd tried to find the man who should be in my place, I might have been penniless and nameless, but I should have retained my self-respect," said Jack.

" You'd have found it barren comfort, and what about Lady Annette."

" Yes, I cannot / bear to think of the position in which she would have been placed. I suppose you wouldn't be willing to remain silent during my mother's life-time ? I'd relinquish everything at her death," said Jack.

Swift smiled cynically,

•? My dear fellow ? your mother is younger than I am and will probably outlive me. No, the game ir.'Jst be played out now. I think you've been a poor hand at it. Why, if the stakes had been this place, ten thousand a year on the one hand, and poverty on the other, there isn't a woman in the world I wouldn't have won, but my wooing would have been ardent, without a touch of snow in it. If I'd hated and loathed the woman on whom so much depended, I should have sworn I worshipped her that I only lived for her."

" I've too much respect for your daughter to lie glibly."

"By Jove ! then you deserve to lose all, but for Lady Annette's sake I'll speak to Stella and see what can be done," and as he spoke Swift rose and flinging his cigar down he went to seek his daughter. In the hall he met her. "I want to speak to you, Stella, get your hat and come with me into the garden," he said, in an imperative tone. She caught up a hat and they went out at a side door. " We'll go to the other end of the garden," he said, then as soon as they . were seated he pointed to the house sayingl,'■ " I understand you have refused to be mistress there ?" " I refused to marry Mr. Oath* cart."

CHAPTER XX. " There's somewhat in this world amiss, Shall be unriddled by-and-by." " Why did you refuse him. Jack Cathcart is a fine fellow, a man any woman might love," said Swift Btudying her daughter's face. " Yes, but I do not love him." Her father laughed softly. ''Love ! What is love? A freak of the imagination, you are impressed by a face, a manner, even a trick of .speech ; you dwell upon it and soon ;y6n fancy you are in love."

"Don't 50U believe in love?" she aslied. ■

"I cannot say I do. Admiration, I can understand. Men and women are caught by faces. Love as you understand it is intangible."

" Love is of God," she said softly,

" Then we will relagate it to the future life, and deal with the vital things of this, and I advise you not to fling from you the tangible good that is offered you. Marry Cathcart you will be- happy with him and have a grand, old house."

She looked curiously at him as she said .

"I wonder why you want me to marry him. I should have thought a title would have appealed to you."

He laughed sarcastically,

"Is that what you want ? Are you longing to be called my lady ? Because—"

" You know I don't care a fig for a title, that I have always despised the girls who had bartered their money in exchange for one," she said her eyes flashing and her tone betraying her indignation.

" Then what do you want ?" he said sharply.

" I want to be left in peace, and you to understand that I shall never marry any man unless I love him."

• " And I want to know why you cannot love Cathcart ?"

." You've asked me that before, and I inquired why you wanted me to marry him. I believe in love, and it ie a thing that cannot be forced. I don't love Jack, and I'm sure he does not love me," she said.

11 You are mistaken. I suppos< Grace Doyle has made you think he was devoted to her. The Majoi tried to drive it into me, but Cathcart will never marry her and both he and Lady Annette were hoping yoi would become his wife."

" I don't understand why he has transferred his affections to me, but as I cannot lov^e him, the matter is ended, and it's ho use discussing it," said Stella.

"The matter is not ended. Stella, I shall have to tell you something 1 did not wish to. I know of something in Cathcart's past life, something in which he: is really blameless but only I can save him from thost consequences, and I will do it if yoi promise to become his wife."

Stella looked at him in amazement

"Do you mean to say that Jacl< Cathcart was to pay you for this

service whatever it is, by in

oie ?" she said, indignantly

Swift laughed uneasily, as 1; > ::.■■• "No such thing. Cathcark v.-i co marry you, and 'as I thin

would be a good settlement, I !:a'c agreed to save him from the consequence of what was no fault of his. [f I had been unable to do this I should not have consented to the marriage. Stella, if you refuse to marry him I shall not give that help, and Lady Annette and her son wil] have to leave here and go into the world as beggars. Think what that means to Lady Annette."

" Then it is debt. I thought it was something worse, fraud or something disgraceful, but you can help them just the same. Though I shall not marry Mr. Gathcart, jou can make it possible for Grace to become his wife."

Her father laughet,

"He will never marry that iceberg. Lady Annette told me that Grace Doyle had shown that she believed her son was capable of committing every sin in the decalogue. A man cannot forgive a woman who scorns him. If he does not, what you call love you, at any rate, he admires you."

" A marriage built on admiration would be like a house built on sand" replied Stella.

" Add to it gratitude and respect. Why, Stella, he would worship you soon,-and he's a fine fellow, too good :;o suffer for the sins of another."

" Tell me what this other person has done, the thing for which he has to pay ? I promise never to reveal what you tell me."

" I daren't. Tke secret became mine through a third party, but I cannot reveal it, and I have a strong sympathy for Cathcart, so strong that I should deeply regret to see him turned out of this fine inheritance ! he believed would be his as long as he lived, and you can save him from this," said Swift.

"Is it Lady Annette who has brought this upon him ?" she asked.

A peculiar smile flitter across her father's face as he said :

" I don't held her guilty, though many people might, but this I assure you, that Cathcart on whom the consequences will fall is innocent."

"If you can help him it must be a debt; but I don't understand," she said.

" Look here, Stella, it ie a debt, a debt contracted by his father, and with it is connected disgrace. I cannot explain further, only if the truth is known, not only will Cathcart lose the estate and everjthing, but his father's name will be dragged in the dust, and by marrying him, a man whom any woman might be proud to call her husband, you can save him from all this, and I shall have the satisfaction of seeingl my daughter enter one of the oldest families in England."

"You can help Jack Cathcart without my becoming his wife," she said, resolutely.

"You foolish girl ! Do you think I'm going to impoverish myself and make it impossible for me to give you a decent marriage portion ? If you become Cathcart's wife I shall have ample left for myself and the money I have laid down will be yours. Can you hesitate?"

Stella did not reply. She was thinking of Miles Ford, and what she thought she had read in his eyes that morning. Then her whole being revolted at the thought of marrying any other man, but perhaps Ford would not ask her to become his wife and if she could not marry Ford was it right to refuse to free Jack from the consequences of his father's wrong-doing? It would be a very hard thing for her to do, but the path of duty was often hard, she remembered she had read in abook, "If you have a choice of paths, one rough the other smooth, you will do well to choose the thorny one, as it will bring you to the gates of the Heavenly City." Was that true ? Could it be right to become one man's wife when she loved another ? It was a difficult problem—as all heart problems., . are. On the one hand she could help a man she liked and esteemed, she could save him from suffering for the sins of another, but she would have to stifle the love she felt for Miles Ford ; she must never see him again. It was not likely he would ask her to be his wife. Cduld she put him out of her life ? Suddenly she turned to her father :

"I must have a week to consider the matter," she said.

"Very well. Then a week to-day you will give me your answer. I'm going into the house," and as Swift crossed the lawn he thought, "He who hesitates is lost. She'll marry Cathcart and become mistress here. If Lady Annette were only a little more behind the scenes." And a peculiar smile flitted across his face.

That evening when Lady Annette aid Stella left the dining-room, the former took a chair near the window V: here the girl had seated herself and krying her hand caressingly on Stella's she said :

"My dear, you will marry Jack? V"our father has told me about the brlk he had with you, and I want to tell you that his fancy for Grace—l Irn't really think it was more than that, you' see they had grown up together though, of course, Jack is some years her senior, and you know what that means—but what regard he had for her she has killed by the cruel things she said, and he has turned to you, knowing you are too true a. woman to upbraid him for what he cannot help, to visit the sins of another on him. Stella, you don't know how happy it will make mo if you consent to become my son's

wife."

" I have told my father that I must have a week to consider the matter, but I think you are mistaken about Mr. Cathcart and Grace. I know she loves him, and I thought he was in love with her."

" He imagined he was in love with her, but all that is a thing of the past, and he wants you for his wife."

" Because my father can help him in some way. I don't profess to understand ■ the matter, but my father has made it plain that if I marry your son it will save him this estate and his name from being tarnished, but I hope you won't trj to persuade me that Jacta is in love with me because I know he isn't. He admitted it."

" Poor Jack ! He felt that after Grace had made a confidante of you it was difficult to speak of love. All the same I know he admires you, and I think if you "become his wife you will be the happiest woman in England. He is a real good fellow."

"I know he is. All the same it might nof £59 in his power to mak«

Lafty Annette started and lookcJ at Stella quickly

"Do you love someone else ?" she asked. Then before Stella could reply she said : " Even if you do I must conclude as your father knows nothing of it, that he is unsuitable in some way, and once you were Jack's wife you would forget everything in the happiness that would be yours."

" Lady Annette, I have told you that I shall give my answer in a week. Until then I would rather not discuss the matter," she said.

" Very well ; but as I shall not allude to it again I beg you to remember that if you refuse to marry my son we shall both have to leave our home, beggared and disgraced."

Stella's temper was roused

"You have used the very worst arguments you could hay« done. It seems my father will only bcip your son on condition that 1 become mistress here. It looks like a bargain, and I'm neither goods nor chattels."

"My dear child, any man would be proud to win jou, if you hadn't a penny, but, as your father told me he couldn't afford to lay down this money to help Jack unless it became part of your dowry. Surely because you are over scrupulous you will not let me have to face penury and disgrace. Of course, Jack would work for me, but what can he do ? He has not been trained to earn his living." Then Lady Annette leaned forward and clasped Stella's hand as she said :

" When you get to middle age and get used to luxury it is hard to contemplate poverty. Child, save me from it—and my son from unmerited disgrace I"

CHAPTER XXI. "Bound am I to right the wrong'd."

The morning sun shone brightly. It was an ideal summer day as Stella crossed the bridge in the wood and went forward until she came to a gate that led on to the high road. Above her in the distance she could see the moorland, and going a little way along the high road she came to a stile that led into a field, and mounting it she saw that a path wound upwards.

"I believe this is the way on to the moor," she thought, and stepping down she followed the winding road across two fields, then after climbing another stile she found herself on the lower part of the moor. As she climbed slowly up she had a fancy to sit where she had sat with Miles Ford, and consider the dilemma in which she was placed. The question which had prevented her sleeping, that in the night had loomed darkly, threatening the happiness of her future life, besieged her again. It was a thing she could not put from her. "I must settle it, or I shall go mad before the week is out. I wish I knew what was the right thing to do. I do so long for happiness, but I don't think I shall he offered the only thing that would mean happiness, to me, and in that case I might as well marry Jack Cathcart and save him from being beggared. Wei should be good churns/ she thought. Then she shook her head.

" Husband and wife should be more than that.- Oh, dear!" and Stella sighed as she mounted the stile that led her to the part of the moor where she had met Ford the day she told him she was going to stay at the Hall, and as she thought of him she seemed to see him regarding her with passionate love, as he had done the previous day.

" I cannot marrjs Jack Cathcart," she murmured. Then as she went slowly across the moor, she saw that Ford was seated under the stone wall, reading. Looking up, he saw her, and came towards her, saying :

"I didn't expect to have the pleasure of seeing you." His voice was pleasant but grave.

"I came because I wanted to settle a matter that is troubling me, and it seemed to me it would be easier to do it here than down there."

Glancing keenly at her he noticed that she looked troubled, since yesterday her face had changed.

"I remember you once told me the breeze here blew the cobwebs away. There isn't much breeze to-day but there's apace, and that always brings the thought of the Infinite to me," he said.

" I shall always love the moor," she answered, as she sat down and removed her hat, throwing it on the grass by her side.

Miles Ford hesitated

" Would you like me to go away?" he asked.

" Oh, no. What made you think I should."

" I was afraid I might interrupt your thoughts."

" No." Then she looked at him. " I feel tempted to tell you my trouble," she said.

" I am your friend and that means [am willing to help you. What is troubling you, Miss Swift ?"

A half comical look came into her face as she said :

"It would be a funny thing to tell you, but —" and her face became grave. " Suppose you had a chance of helping some one —as no one else could—but you hated to do it. How should you act ?"

His face grew very grave as he said :

"That would depend on circumstances, but we may take it, the thorny path is generally the one that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven."

" I've read , that, but it doesn't just apply. I'm not sure how far I should be doing right if I choose the thorny path." Then her tone changed.

" I'll tell you all about it. You will not betray my confidence ?"

" Never." The one word was emphatically spoken. Then he started, as she said :

"Mr. Cathcart has made me an ofEer of marriage."

If she had looked at him she would have seen that he was strangely moved. Then he mastered himself, but his tone was subdued as he said :

"He is a fine fellow and would make any woman happy." " No, not any woman, but the woman he loves." Ford started. "That is you, of course." (To be Continued.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OG19110505.2.31

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2786, 5 May 1911, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
3,230

THE GAME OF LIFE OR THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2786, 5 May 1911, Page 4

THE GAME OF LIFE OR THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2786, 5 May 1911, Page 4

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