CHAPTER XIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 39, 1 March 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER XIII.

FAITH UNSHAKEN. Lady Hortense, leaning wearily against the great arched window of the upper hall at Mildmay House, saw the well-known carriage turning into the street, and sprang to her feet, flushing roseate to the very tips of her delicate ears. " Kourade is coming again !" she cried, far more in joy than anger, though she had proudly commanded him to wait her summons before appearing there again. This seat, amid the shrouding drapery of the upper window, had been her favourite resort of late. All her listless wanderings over the house ended there, and there she would sit, day after day, watching wearily the shifting panorama of the street views. Not looking for Konrade Earle's coming ? Oh, no ! she would never acknowledge that to her willful, haughty heart, but the sudden rush of throbbing joy that came over her at sight of the familiar carriage revealed the secret. Holding fast to the silken drapery that flowed about the window and concealed her own tiny figure, Lady Hortense bent down and watched the carriage door open, and sank back with a sharp k cry of pain and astonishment when she saw the solitary female figure alight. The name that was presently brought to her gave her first intimation of the identity of her visitor. "Helena Yerrington — in K«nrade's carriage !" she murmered then, in bewildered tones. The two ideas, taken in conjunction, seemed to drive away all others. She had just sense enough to order the visitor shown to her private parlour, and then fell again into a maze of bewildered conjecture, which was hardly broken when Helena's pale, grave face presented itself before her. The latter was so touching in its yearning sadness that for an instant the warmhearted Hortense forgot her own trouble in sisterly compassion. She drew forward an easy-chair hastily, " Sit down, Miss Yerrington. You look tired and ill ; lam very glad to see'you at last. I have watched impatiently for your coming." 1 • I have only been in London two days. I came as soon as possible," returned Helena. And then there fell upon them an odd constraint, and the two sat looking at each other's fair and agitated face in vague distrust. It was Hortense who found voice first. "Well, Miss Yerrington, have you brought me any solution of our romantic little mystery?" she asked, the shaking voice belaying the coldness of the words chosen. "Of mme — none at all," answered Helena, clasping her hands together with a passion that hinted of the repressed anguish. "Of yours, I trust there needs no explanation. I have seen your Konrade Earle. Strangely enough, he came to my assistance to-day. It was his carriage which brought me here." " Tell me about it," said Hortense, in her pretty imperious way, Hinkine down on the velvet cushion at the foot of the easy-chair, and resting one hand on Helena's lap. And Helena, in clear, concise language, related what had taken place. Lady Hortense, caught, one sharp-drawn breath before she said : " You called upon him then, you appealed to him as Conway Searle, you be-

lievedhiin to Tie your lover/ Miss Yerrington." "Ah, yes; for the moment I was so terrified, and he came upon me so suddenly. And they are bo like— so very like. But when he did not answer as Conway would have answered, I knew the difference." The crimson lip curled as Hortenße returned, fiercely : " But if he were the villain they declare him to.be, he would not answer thus. Your argument is very weak. And you admit that he knew you, that he called your name before you gave him any hint. Oh ! Helena Yerrington, all your evidence is against him !" "No," answered Helena gently but firmly, " it is not against him, for he is not Conway." 11 Sir Frederic will say it is, and so will Mr Harris, and the last, at least, is a cool, unprejudiced judge," reiterated Hortense. "But you and I may know better," said Helena, with a wan smile. " True love is not to be deceived. You surely are sure of your Konrade. I shall not be deceived in my Conway. Conway Searle loved me truly. Do you think I will allow any evidence to prove him false when my heart assures me of his truth ?" "I make no pretence to such heroic trust," declared Hortense, shaking her head drearily. "I begin to think lamof a jealous nature, for every added evidence I sinks more deeply my conviction of his treachery. Besides, look and see how often the truest love is basely deceived. You cannot trust any man in your blind fashion, Helena Yerrington. Every sensible person will assui-e you of that." " But I could trust Conway Searle," repeated Helena.proudly. "If hishad been so base and treacherous a nature, do you think I should have loved him so ? No, no ; lovely, and highborn, and wealthy though you are, Lady Hortense, you could not have won Conway Searle away from me. And this lover of yours, though I own that he is his living, breathing image, is not Conway Searle. She spoke slowly, firmly, the clear tones deepening into solemn coviction as she concluded. My lady looked at her wonderingly, wistfully, admiringly, and then burst into a passion of tears, and sinking down again upon the cushions, buried her lovely face in her hands. "If I might believe you. Oh, if I might believe you !" she moaned. And then starting up, she paced to and fro, her hot tears drying on the scarlet cheeks as she cried : " But I should be an idiot to believe it in the face of all this black evidence — of his own silence — the dreadful proofs of his secret journeys to America. You do not know all. You must see this Harris and hear the whole. How comes Konrade Earle with your picture, Miss Yerrington ? And I myself can take oath that he carries your picture. Oh, I will not allow myself to be his silly dupe ! Perhap3 even your coining is a part of nis artifice. He has won you to his side, and thinks 1 shall accept your verdict blindly. Konrade Earle and Conway •Searle are one and the same. I cannot deny that I believe it." " Hush !" interposed Helena, with a dignified authority her ladyship could not ignore. "Konrade Earle, the highborn Englishman, is naught to me, but Conway Searle, a noble gentleman who pledged his troth to me, must not be slandered in my presence." Hortense laughed bitterly. "Yet he has breathed as passionate love vows to me — to me ! He has dared deceive Lady Hortense Mildmay. Do you think a woman's outraged pride forgives that ? Think of it — we have both believed in him, trusted him, idolised him ! Oh, it is intolerable !" And the slight, fairy figure flew backward and forward before the silent visitor, more than ever like a bird in its swift, impetuous movements, darting here and there in a feverish unrest that dazed and distressed the wide, grave eyes watching her. Suddenly it paused before her. " How still and solemn you are, Helena 1 Yerrington. Is there no resentment in your nature ?" "Not for Conway Searle," answered Helena. "But, oh, am I never to find him ?" " What blind, blind faith ! And yet— l envy you," said her ladyship. " But what shall we do? Shall I send for Mr Harris ?" "If you give me his address, I can see him for myself." " No ; I would rather you met him in my presence. It is time for me to put away all scruples. I will send for him at once. And, if you can, will you tell us your story while we are waiting ? My grandmother must hear of all this, and that will be the wiser way. She shall judge him, and Konrade will never dare deny the righteousness of her verdict." She rang the bell while she was speaking, and gave her orders, and presently brought in upon her arm the gracious, stately lady whose presence was such a soothing benediction, even upon the stormiest scene. "This is Helena Yerrington, grandmamma, and she will tell her story to us now," was all the introduction given. " And tell it truthfully, I know," said Ihe dowager. "It is a good face, and true." She laid that white, patrician hand tenderly upon Helena Yerrington's drooping head ere she seated herself on the chair beside her. Hortense sank down upon the pile of cushions at their feet, and holding fast the other band, with her eyes fixed on Helena's face, listened. The story was told simply, and yet with an unconscious pathos beyond any studied eloquence. "My poor child J" said the dowager, when it was done, and leaning forward, kissed her. At which Helena's tears fell softly. But the eyes of Hortense were dry and feverish. " Now you must hear about my hasty run to Liverpool, and the visit to the steamer. 1 had an object in my visit to the Ashcourts, grandma, dear," she said. And almost as soon as she finished came the servant's knock outside. " Show the gentleman in at once, Fanny." Chester Harris stared in amazement when his eyes fell upon the third lady. " Miss Yerrington J Is it possible ?— and here ?" he stammered. " And arrayed on Konrade Earle's side. But all that will be explained by-and-by," said Hortense, curtly. "What my grandmother wants is for you to go over your set of arguments briefly and truthfully. Let Miss Yerrington hear also why you believe Konrade Earle and Conway Searle to be one and the same roan." And again the three women listened to another version of the same sad story. Lady Hortense kept her eyes on Helena's face. (To be continued.)

An anonymous article— A baby before it is christened. An innocent old , farmer weighed the butter he sold to his grocer with pound bars of soap that he-bought of him, and it turned out that the Jbu^ter fell. short three ounces to the pound"'; but the grocer didn't make a public row over it.