Fettered

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 194, 5 November 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

Fettered

By

Paul Trent

Autftor of ** When Greek Meets Greek The Vow,” &c., &c

CHAPTER ll.—Continued. “Even with the evidence of your own eyes?” As he asked the question, Fordyce glanced at his watch. “I don’t ask you to believe me—but come and see.” “Yes. I will come, but still I trust Garth.” Her car was at the door, and they started off at once. “Don’t be too hard on Cameron. He was tempted beyond his strength. Your wealth would have removed all his difficulties. A poor wife would only have hampered him. With some men ambition is stronger than love. It is not their fault, only their misfortune.’’ So he spoke until they reached the block of studios. In her agitation Diana did not notice that Valerie’s front door was not closed. Fordyce’s hand guided her gently to the door of the studio. She stood there for a few seconds—motionless. So skilfully had her mind been prepared for what she saw that she could not disbelieve. Valerie, her friend, in her lover’s arms—so it seemed to her, and they were exchanging passionate kisses. “Garth!” she cried in horror. He rose and faced her, while Valerie clung to him, crying piteously. “It is all a mistake,” Cameron said at last. “A mistake!” Diana cried scornfully. “It’s my mistake. I believed you to be a man of honour. I believed you loved me, and now I know you to be a mercenary cur, who cares only for money. You would have sacrificed Valerie, you would have sacrificed me, just for your pitiful ambition. Thank God, my eyes have been opened, before it was too late. I hate and despise you.” Her bosom rose and fell quickly. “You believe I do not love you, that I only wanted you for your money?” he asked quietly. “I believe the evidence of my eyes, and I know you to be all that is contemptible.” With a sob she turned away, and hastened from the studio. CHAPTER 111. Fordyce followed Diana closely, entering the car and telling the chauffeur to return to her house. He sat by her side, but his eyes were turned away. The sound of her grief moved him, but he hardened his heart when he remembered his position. A stockbroker who had been unsuccessful, threatened by debts on all sides, he must have money at once. He was playing a desperate game, but Fate was helping him and if only he could keep his head success j

would come. In vain he endeavoured to close his ears to her sobs. l “A woman soon forgets,” he told himself uneasily. > He had relied upon Diana’s pride helping him, and in this he was right, ; for soon she became quiet and he dared to look. All traces of feeling had left ; her face and she seemed suddenly to have become older. “Air. Fordyce, I am grateful to you,” she said tonelessly. : “I felt it was my duty. But perhaps ■ you will forgive Cameron. Doubtless he i will be able to explain.” “No explanation is possible,” she L said coldly. i The car pulled up, and she did not send him away. Her mind was dazed . and she dreaded to be alone. “Forgive me for being insistent. Just • now I told you that I cared for you. L They were not idle words. I hate to see you suffering.” “I do not suffer. I have forgotten that Air. Cameron existed,” she cried angrily. ■ “Perhaps they have already forgotten L you.” he said significantly. “They?” she repeated, and again she remembered what she had seen. That Garth should love another : woman! The thought tortured her, and she longed to hurt the man she loved. How could she show her contempt for him ? Apparently Fordyce read what was in [ her mind, and decided to risk all. “Diana, my life is at your service. Do with me as you will,” he said gently. “I don’t know what you mean.” “I care for you, but I will always be j >' our servant. Show your contempt for , Cameron by marrying me.” “Marry you!” she repeated mechanically. “Yes. Don’t be angry when I tell you • that I got a special licence. I knew that you would resent this discovery and I thought I might be able to save you from suffering. We can be married immediately and leave London tonight.” Diana did not speak at once, tier eyes were fixed on his, but he returned her look steadily. Yes—this would be one way to avenge herself. It would show Garth how lightly she held him. “You only ask that I marry you? We can each go our own way?” she asked, with an effort. “As I said before, I am prepared to be your servant in all things.” He watched her as she struggled with herself. But it seemed to him that he had won. and he began to congratulate himself on the skill with which he j j had played his cards.

“Yes, I will marry you," she said at last. He held her hand, which he touched lightly wi.th his lips. "Shall we go at once? It is not far to the registry office. If you prefer it, we can wait till the morning and be married in church." "No—at once,” she said impetuously, and he breathed a quick sigh of relief. Diana ordered the car to be sent for, but Fordyce suggested that it would be quicker to go in a taxi. He dreaded that Cameron might arrive, and if this happened he would lose. A few minutes later they had started. Very wisely he was silent, but all the time he was watching the varying expression of her face. Once he decided to intervene. “Perhaps it would be fairer to give Cameron another chance!” he suggested. I forbid you to mention his name to me." she said fiercely. Even when they were standing in the rather dreary office of the registrar she did not flinch. Injured pride and love gave her strength and courage to go

through with the part she had decided to play. As in a dream she answered tne questions that were put to her. The ring ■was placed on her finger the register signed, and the official murmured a few words of banal cogratulation and a wish for their happiness. FordJ'Ce paid the fees and once more they stood in the street. “I will drive you home and then go back to my chambers for my kit. Will you be ready in an hour?”" lie asked gently. “Yes,” she answered dully. He did not enter her house, and she went in alone. Her maid looked at her curiously. “Mr. Cameron is here," she announced. “I won’t see him!” Diana answered brokenly. But Garth Cameron had come from the drawing-room to the hall. There was a quiet dignity in his bearing There was sorrow and suffering in his eyes. Suddenly Diana realised what she had done, and her mind, that had been

dazed with passion and jealousy, became clear. “Oh, Garth, what have I done?” she said, and great sobs shook her. Cameron’s face was very white, and for a few minutes he did not speak. When Diana had left the studio, his instinct had been to follow her at once, but Valerie had intervened. “Mr. Cameron, forgive me. I lost control of myself. I am ashamed, and ” But he was not listening to her. In his ears there still sounded the bitter words that Diana had uttered. She had accused him of being a fortunehunter. She had called him a mercenary cur. And as he remembered, his wish to follow her weakened. “Diana will be ashamed of herself very quickly. Her temper is quick, but it is soon over. In a couple of hours she will be hunting for you and imploring your forgiveness. Of course, you will forgive her?” she added gently, ' but he did not answer, instead he walked quickly to the door. “Please don’t go!” she said, and burst into tears. “What’s the matter?” he asked abruptly. “If you go I shall kill myself. If you go without saying you have forgiven “There’s nothing to forgive.” “I couldn’t help what I did. You ought to understand. As you love Diana, so I love you. I felt I must feel your kisses on my lips. I was desperate—and ” “Good-bye! ” ' are going to Diana?” she said in fear. “No, I’m going back to the Temple.” And when she heard this, Valerie made no further effort to detain him. j Cameron walked rapidly away, and all j the time his brain was working quickly, i It had been a sacrifice to his pride to | ask Diana to marry him. He would i infinitely have preferred that she should have been as poor as he was. The I luxuries of life had no attraction for | him, and he felt quite confident that he could earn sufficient at the Bar to j allow him to keep a wife in comfort. | “I can’t marry her—after what she j said,” he told himself, miserably. He believed that the memory of her | words would always be present with I him. Diana had wished that they ! should live at her house after their marriage, and consequently her purse j would be required to maintain such an establishment. When he reached his Chambers in Pump Court, he had quite recovered command of himself, and he endeav- ! oured to regard the events of the morn- ' | ing calmly and judicially. First of all. I he admitted that appearances had been I strongly against him. To a woman of ' | Diana’s temperament, the sight of Val- ! | erie kissing him must have been mad- i i demng. But that did not excuse the ! j words she had used. ! It was evident that something must be done now, as their marriage had been ! ■ ananged to take i>lace in so short a j

time. And so he decided to go round to her house at once. At the sight of her, Cameron knew that she was suffering, and lorged to take her in his arms. “Garth, what have I done?” she repeated miserably. He did not understand that she was : referring to the marriage which had i just taken place. He thought that j she was endeavouring to express sor- ! row for what she had said. “Appearances were-against me. But do you believe I was kissing ValerieT’ “I was mad. I must have been mad, she said piteously. “Those were cruel words you used; and they cannot be quite forgotten. Still, Diana darling. I love you—but now I must ask you to make some sacrifice. I swear that directly or indirectly I will never make use of one penny of your money. If you still wish to marry me, I shall be the happiest man in the world. But you must share my chambers, and be content with the money I earn. In some way you must divest yourself of all your money— I perhaps by giving it to some deserving charity. I can promise you that I shall | get on in my profession. In a year or j two you shall have every luxury y° u enjoy at present.” As he spoke he was watching her with anxious eyes. There was some- ! thing about her he could not un<^e sl stand —all he knew was that she loved , him, and suddenly he weakened. | “Diana!” he said passionately. | held out his arms to her. But to bis ! amazement, she shrank away from him. “Do you value your money more than j my love?” he said sternly. _ a • “God knows I don’t,” she answered vehemently. i “Then you will marry me on I terms?” ! “I can’t answer you now. Ploase I leave me. I must think.” “When shall I come back?” he askquietly. “To-night,” she replied. And her followed him to the door. “Stop, ssaid. “Garth, whatever happens, Iwa I you to believe that you are the on) man I’ve ever loved. Will you belie l that?” [ “Yes.” ; “And when you know, you won judge me too harshly?” | “What do you mean?” “Please go. I must think. Good j bye.” .j When the door closed, she co 'U* | her face with her hands, and s °° piteously. These last few hours see like some hideous dream, and > e * s the third finger of her left hand a plain gold band —the symbol of ‘ fetters. Soon she began to thin* w Fordyce. He had behaved kiIMW , her, and yet she felt that she h ; him. In a few minutes he would_arr expecting her to go away with b “What shall I do?” she asked b i self miserably. (To be Continued.)