THE GAME OF LIFE; THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2793, 22 May 1911, Page 4

THE GAME OF LIFE; THE MASTER OF MILLWOOD HALL.

COPYRIGHT.

. 9y Hedley Richards, Author of \ "Time, The Avenger," "The Mine Master's Heir," etc., etc.

PART 19.

"Oh, yes, you could," said Ford, decidedly. " I suppose you have n» doubt that Mr. Swift is speaking the truth," he added.

"I think-he is;, in fact, the certificates and everything go to prove it." Then Jack smiled, as he said :

"You don't seem to have an exalted opinion of jour future father-in-law."

"I don't trust him," replied Miles briefly.

" I'm inclined to think he'd have Something to say if he heard you talk about giving away the estate."

"Yes, he would say.l shouldn't marry his daughter, but Stella and I understand each other."

"She's a splendid girl, and you're well suited. By the was< I came to apologise for my mother offering to bribe you with your own money ; she has suffered greatly over this, and scarcely realises what she is doing."

" I know that and I felt sorry for her ; you needn't apologise ; all the same I am glad you came to see me," said Miles. '

"So am I. There is another thing I came to tell you. I intend clearing out next week."

Miles's face became very grave. " Don't. Wait until we hear what my mother has to say. I shall be hearing from her shortly, and I hope it will end in you remaining master of the Hall,"

"I couldn't take it from you ; there is Stella to consider," said Jack.

Stella is revelling in the thought o£ being a poor man's wife, and cooking the dinners and making her own frocks; She begged me not to claim the estate." "It's a marvel how Swift came to have such a daughter." " I believe her mother was a good woman," replied Miles. < Jack glanced at the papers on the table.

" Were you writing your sermon?" he asked.

" Yes ; but you needn't hurry, it's Dearly finished."

" I should like to hear you preach. If you come to .live at 'the Hall you will become the fashion. People will run after you ; they'll waait to hear the rich man who could live in idleness yet preach the gospel."

" That was one of the -attractions Mr. Swift held out ,to me. I was to become famous. He knows how to drive a temptation home."

"Do you know, I felt strangely drawn towards you the firet time I saw.you," said Jack.

'' And I to you ; after all, blood tells."

" Did you mother never speak of your father?" asked Jack.

" No ; she was very reticent on the subject; but she always impressed it upon me that he was a good, honourable man." / "So he was. ' Everyone speaks well of him, and he has not intentionally wronged either my mother or me," said Jack, as he rose.

" Must you go ?" asked Miles.

" Yes, that sermon wants finishing, arid if I hinder you now I suppose it means working all ni^ht."

The other man looked ■ gravely at him as he said :

" Promise me you will not leave Millwood Hall until we come to some arrangement."

" All right, but I cannoft take the place from you ; I shall go to America or Australia. I know you will deal liberally! with my mother."

" That I will ; but I shall want you to stay and still be Cathcart of Millwood ; you were bora! to it and I was born to work." «

CHAPTER XXXI. r "On bravely through th« sunshine and the showers ! Time has his work to do, and we have ours." —BL W. Emerson.

„ It was a bright sunshiny] morning, and the youthful maid who did Rachel Ford's work had taktm down the

shop shutters, awd was busy cleaning

the window, while her ttiißtxess pre-

pared the breakfast. She had just [ carried her own into the little par"'lour behind the shopi having left the maid's ready for her in the kitchen.

. t '*»I wonder when I shall hear from , Miles," she thought. "It's strange that he should have gone to Millwood of all places in the world, but It was evidently Gocfs pnrpose that he should go, or it would not have seemed his duty to accept. the call. It must have been in the plan ol his life and evil cannot come o! it." Then Rachel sighed as she thought of the man she tiad loved witto a great love, who lay : buried In Millwood churchyard, and hiß son, unconscious 'of it, going about the town whew his father had been so well known. " He's, not like Rupert, or I should -have had to tell him the truth before he went lent people recognised the ' likeness," she reflected. Just then tfce maid entered with ia letter. . " Postman's just brought this, ma'am," she said, as she handed it to her mistress. " Thank jou, Winnie. Have you finished cleaning: the wii»dow ?" "Yes, ma'am." " Then you'll find your breakfast ready," said her mistreat?, and as the girl left the room she* opened the letter.. "It's from Miles, and! ought to have been- here yesterday morning. I ,-.. wonder what's delayed ijt." Then she amfled as she drew: out several ' .sheets- of paper closely covered with „ writing. " It's a long letter." Cnfblding it she read:

" Dear Mother; —I have been told a

istrange story, and I want you to tell me if so far as you kn»ow It is true, though one portion yowf are ignorant The letter dropped from her hand, and her face turned paile. "So he knew the truth at last : ; perhaps it was better. Would ha blame her ? No, Miles was too jiist for that ; he would recognise that ,a great mistake had been made, but there was

no sin."

, For a few minutes she sst still luir- , . led in thought, while her 'mind went back to the years that .nad j:cne ; then rousing herself, she took up th< letter and read it through. "Poor Miles!" she cjacuVatod, as ptie laid the letter: down ; then quick as lightning came, tthe thor^lAt . " Why ahcHild be be potor Miles' Fbjr aiiouid lie notttafcre the, Millwooc"

jstate, which was being thrust upr r hira ? How well he would, usp. the"noney —better than, the man who held the estate, though Miles said he was a fine fellow ; still he could not be like her son, who was a moral giant among men. What should she 3ay to him ? He wanted advice and the truth. ]It would be a great thing for her son to be master of Millwood Hall. Ah, how his father had loved him, but—" and she frowned, then took up the cup of cold coflee and drank it hastily. What must she say to Miles ? Should she tell him to claim the estates ? Then she rose, suddenly exclaiming, " Get thee behind me, Satan," and without a moment's hesitation she passed through the door into the lobby, mounted the stairs, and enterIng the bedroom, shut and locked the door, then falling on her knees at the bedside she cried out: " Lord, help me to be strong, and do right."

For some time she remained on her knees, and when she rose her face wore its usual peaceful look.

" I will go to Millwood;" and taking up a railway guide she saw that if she left in an hour and a quarter she would reach Millwood at about half-past nine that evening. Putting on her bonnet she went downstairs and going to the kitchen she told Winnie to attend to. the 3hop if anyone came, as she was going to see Miss Jones.'

Passing through the shop, Rachel opened the door and walked briskly down the quaint old street, stopping every now and then to say a cherry word to a child. At last she paused in front of a small white,house with a window on either side of the door,, and raising the brass knocker that shone like gold she waited, but in less than a moment tfce door opened and a pleasant-laced little woman of forty appeared. OnV seeing Rachel she exclaimed :

" Come in," and led the way into a cosy sitting-room.

"Jane, I've come to know if you'll mind the shop for a few days? I have to go away, aad I cannot leave Winnie in charge."

"Of course I'll come. Didn't I say—when you helped me to nurse my dear old mother—that I'd do anything in the world for you? and it's only a little thing you're asking me. Where are you going, my dear t"

"I'm going to see my son. No, there's nothing wrong with him," she said in answer to the little woman's look of alarm, " but I must see him, it's a matter of business, and I want to catch the train that leaves at ten o'clock."

"Then you'd like me to come at once ?" said Miss Jones quickly.

" Yes ; I'll go on home, and. pack my bag, and you can pack what you want and I'll send Winnie to fetch them."

"Indeed, you won't; I can carry them ' well enough. Are the things in the shop marked in plain figures?"

" Yes, but I must hurry back. I shall only have time to catch my train. I'll leave my address as I daresay you'll want to write tome," said Rachel as she went towards the door.

Half an hour later she said goodbye to Miss Jones who stood at the shop door and watched her take the road to the station, a, boy walking beside her carrying her bag. It was only a short distance, and Rachel— ■ after taking her ticket—had a minute or two'to wait before the train came into the station. She took a seat in a third-clase Carriage, and in a very short time the little town was, left behind ; then she leaned back in the carriage and thought of her son. In his former letter he had told her that he had been asked to take charge of a church in London, and she had expected to hear his decision but the letter that morning had not alluded to it; moreover, she had noticed that he had frequently named a Miss Swift, an American girl, and she had been quick to read between the lines, and felt sure her son loved this girl, who must be the daughter of her first husband's youngest brother. The Swifts were evidently rich people, and her son, if he was owner of the Millwood estate, would be in a position to ask her to be his wife, otherwise— Then she resolutely turned her thoughts in another direction.

About noon Bhe changed trains, and still her thoughts were busy with the past and the future, when suddenly the engine shrieked in a shrill, unearthly manner, then there Was a bang, and Rachel was thrown against the opposite seat, but fortunately she was not hurt.

"I'm afraid there's been a collision but being at the end of the train we have hardly felt it," she said to a young girl who was the only other person in the compartment.

" Oh, dear ! lam so frightened," sr.id the girl.

"God will take care of you," replied Rachel who was looking out of tli 3 window. Then as a porter came along she asked him if anyone was hirt.

, " Yes, . ma'am ; but you'd better get out. All those who are not injured will have to walk to the station ; it's not above a dozen yards away, and the injured will be taken ttore."

Rachel and her* companion did as he suggested, and very shortly they reached the station. Then when the injured were brought into the waiting room she helped the doctors who hr.d arrived on the scene to do what could be done before their removal to the hospital in the town, and shortly after they had been moved a train that had been delayed came into the station and Rachel took her seat in it. It was an express but quickly as it went Rachel became impatient and a strange longing to reach her destination took possession of her that seemed to increase each mile—a feelmg that her son was in some danger laid hold of her. She reasoned with herself, but it was useless, and instead of her usual calm she was feverishly anxious, and it was with a feeling of satisfaction that she saw the name of the junction at which she had to change for Millwood;

" Train's gone, ma'am," said the station-master in answer to her inquiry.

"Isn't there another to-night? 1 must reach Millwood to-night ; biit for the collision I should have beeD here before the other train was due." And she gave him an account ol what had happened.

" Under the circumstances, ma am, I must tell the guard of the express that- passes through Millwood to stop and put you down." As the stationmaster spoke the express came into the station and Rachel took her seat in it. As it flew onward she was conscious of a feverish longing for it to go still quicker, a desire to reach her son, who, sh< felt sure was in some peril. At last

just as the clocks chimed the qunrtcpast eleven, the train Etopped in th< little station and Rachel, who was ;he only passenger to alight, imiuirsd her way to the minister's ; theu she hurried out of the station.

CHAPTER XXXII.

"YOU'LL LOVE ME YET."

Miles Ford had gone into the country to preach. Julie had met him as he went down the street and % peculiar little smile had been visible as she nodded to him without returning his good evening.

" You'll have more than that to say to me before the day's "over," she thought, as she went up the street and . towards the moor where she seated herself under a wall, as much out of sight as she could get. She didn't want to be seen, and thought over a scheme she had evolved to force the minister into asking her to be his wife, which she was ;oing to put into execution that night and as she thought about it a triumphant smile curved her lips.

" That American girl will find I've Deen one too many for her," she murmured.

At last the church dock struck aine, and as she counted the ptrokes 3he rose and went leisurely down the moor till she had gained the. high road, then quickening her pace, she ioon reached the town, going direct to the house where Ford lodged and pulling the bell she waited.

A moment later the door was opened by Mrs. Robson and Julie spoke in a hurried tone, catching her breath jvery now and then as though she had been running.

" Mrs. Robson I've been up to Mr. 31ater's farm to order a couple of (owls to be sent with the butter and jggs, and they're in awful trouble."

Mrs. Robson looked alarmed. John Slater was her cousin and they we» much attached to each other.

" What's wrong, Miss Ray ?"

" Mrs. Slater's been taken awfully 111. • I don't know exactly what it is. They've got Dr. Macintosh from Felby; he'd just come, and Mr. Slater asked me if I'd mind calling and asking you if you'd go up for the night, then he could get a nurse in the morning, so I promised I'd some on at once." Just then the church clock chimed the half-hour. "Half-past nine and Mr. Ford won't be in till a quarter or half* past ten," said Mrs. Robson. "Oh, don't wait for him. Mr. Slater is in an awful state, and he said it would be a great comfort to him if you would go, and the quicker the better," exclaimed Julie.

"Well, I'll have to put Mr. Ford's supper ready and leave a note explaining. Thank goodness we don't have thieves in Millwood, so I can leave the door unfastened."

"Oh, I forgot to say that Mr. Slater wants you to take a hot-water bottle if you've got one," said Julie.

" Yes, I've got one, but that looks as if she's got the shivers," said Mrs. Robson.

" I don't know what it is, but she is very ill. They said rr. Macintosh had been there ever so long and couldn't leave her. Is there anything I can do to help you?" she asked.

"No, thank you. I'll be off by ten o'clock. It's a good hour and a quarter's walk for me. I'm not so young as you, Misa Ray. Good night and thank you for bringing the message," replied Mrs. Robson.

" Ota, you needn't thank me ; good night," and Julie stepped out of the little porch, but she only went a few yards down the Btreet, then turned back and softly opening the door stood listening. Mrs. Robson had evidently gone upstairs, as she could hear her moving about in the minister's sitting room, and with a sigh of satisfaction Julie stepped into the passage, closing the door behind her; then she opened the one leading into the downstairs sitting room, which Mrs. Robson kept for her own use, though it was only used when she had visitors. Julie's eye fell on the blind ; the mistress was almost sure to draw it before she left the house, and she would be caught like a rat in a. trap. She looked around for some hiding-place, and noticed that the piano stood cornerwise, and that there was room for her to squeeze behind it. It was a difficult matter but Julie was determined, and very soon she was safely behind the piano and crouching on the floor she waited and listened. A little time elapsed, then thf door opened and Mrs. Robson entered, and going to the window she pulled the blind down. Julie peeped round the corner of the piano and saw that she had her bonnet and jacket on, then she drew back as Mrs. Robson turned round and left the room. A moment later the front door was shut, and Julie realised that she was alone in the house, and a little later the clock chimed the quarter after ten. She felt horribly cramped ; still she remained where she was. Time passed, the clock had struck the half-hour, and Julie began to wonder what was detaining the minister, when she heard the door open and he went quickly upstairs.

Julie stole from behind the piano. She felt very cramped as she stretched her arms above her head, then rubbed her legs, and Beating herself on a chair waited for the clock to strike eleven. It seemed a long time before the church clock struck, and Julie rose from her chair, clasping her 1 hands together in nervous excitement. A minute or two later she stole out of the room and up tfie staircase, her light footsteps making no sound on the carpeted stairs. At tho door pf the minister's sittingroom, she paused, her heart throbbing wildly, and for one moment she felt inclined to rush out of the house and home, but it was only a passing thought; the next moment she turned the handle of the door and entered. As she did so, Miles Ford, who had finished his supper, and was seated in an easy-chair, reading, looted up and as he saw Julie he sprang to his feet exclaiming : " Miss Julie !•• She shut the door behind her ahd came forward saying : " I brought the news to Mrs. Robeon that she was wanted at Slater's farm." " Yes, I know, she tells me in her note she won't be back to-night. You shouldn't have come to tell me," he said, In a tone of annoyance. . " I've something else to tell you, Mr. Ford, if you'll only sit down." He sat down, then as the clock on the mantlepiece chimed the quartet past eleven he said : , " Miss Julie, you must say whai you have to saj' then I will see you home ; it's too late for you to be here.'* (To be Continued.-