CHAPTER XXIV.-(Contintinued. )

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 47, 26 April 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER XXIV.-(Contin tinued. )

Poor Ted turned ghastly pale ; he staggered back, and dropped like a dead weight into the nearest chair. But the others did not heed him, for Hortense, with one wild, glad cry of transport, sprang forward, and flung herself into her father's arms. " Father ! Oh, father !" was all she could articulate. His mingling tears and kisses fell warm upon her face, while he held her close and fast. "My child !my precious one. Oh, how I have yearned for you ! how I have loved you, and never dared believe this hour of our reunion on this earth would ever come." "It is all a very strange affair," spoke out the ousted baronet, in a husky voice. "I have certainly the right to demand a more explicit statement before I take leave "So you have, Frederic," said the dowager in a most kindly voice. "You shall hear the whole story from him when lie tells it to the others. You will find that your disappointment is a light cross in comparision with the anguish which others have endured in silence. Come, Ted, bear your disappointment like a man, and let us be friends again. There is a heavy burden to be borne among us yet, but if we stand together it need not be so very hard. Richard, my son, have you still resolved upon a full explanation ? I heard the bells ring. I think the gentlemen for whom I sent have arrived, and will be shown thither as I gave orders. Richard, Richard, do you mean to tell the whole ?" What sharp anxiety vibrated in the trembling tones. Sir Richard turned with one arm still ;fondly clasping his daughter's waist, and took his mother's hand. "Dear, much-enduring, heroic mother, trust me, we have found the true w isdom at last. There shall be no halting — no holding back — no half-way reflations: the whole truth shall be known, and by it we will stand or fall. You who have been so patient and heroic hitherto, bear up bra\ely a little longer, I pray you. Surely, for your own sake, Heaven w ill show us a bafe path ; you who have deserved only the deepest peace and joy, yet have patiently partaken the bitter fruits of another's sin." The dowager wiped away the tears that stole softly dow n her cheeks. "I trust it all to you, Richard. Only let me share your life w herever it is spent, so long as Heaven spares me to the earth, and I shall be content. '' And here came the cautious knock of Thomas from the hall-door. "The gentlemen you sent for, my lady, are all in the blue waiting-room, and— Mr Earle, with two strangers, are in the red parlour." "Konrade!" ejaculated Hortense, and clung more closely to her father's arm. "He has come with some explanation. Oh, how thankful I shall be to know him innocent !" exclaimed the dowager " Shall we see him first, Richard ?" "No; let them all come; let the story once told suffice for all. Send them all here, my good Thomas ; there is no further privacy in this matter." He seated his daughter with tender care, that seemed loth to turn a moment from her, and wheeled the great easy-chair for the dowager to her side. And then, with folded arms, himself paced to and fro, with firm-set lips, and eyes very grave, but full of steady, resolute fire. The three gentlemen who had been summoned, noted men in the shire all of them, were the first to appear — an earl, a judge, and the nearest presiding justice. Gentlemen of culture and ample means, one and all came forward te the dowager with an air of respectful greeting, that could hardly have been more conspicuous and genuine had it been the royal reception of the sovereign lady of the United Kingdom. "I was sure your summons was important, dear madam," said the earl, "and I put off Lord John's political meeting till tomorrow. Tell me what I can do for you. " " I need advice, sympathy, counsel. Of my three tried, trusty friends I have ventured to ask it," answered the dowager, still with her own inimitable grace of manner ; but her voice trembled, and her eye was downcast. The immediate ushering in of the second party prevented any further conversation of the kind. Konrade Earle came in, with handsome head held proudly erect, and eyes flashing triumphantly, yet a sad wistfulness curved his lips. His companions hesitated a moment in the back ground, while he spoke, clearly and without tremor. " I have ventured to come here at once, Lady Mildmay, although I only this morningarrived from Scotland. The glad denouement of our mystery which I found waiting forme would not brook a single unnecessary instant's delay. "No one can be more tharkful, my dear Konrade, than we shall be for any honourable explanation. We have our own revalations for you to hear, but you shall speak first," answered the dowager,str etching out her hand with &uch a friendly, trustful smile, that he could not forbear to grasp it warmly. " Ah, I do not know that I need speak a single word," he answered. "My fair name and honourable character may be redeemed, I think by a single look. lam glad to see Sir Frederic Mildmay here. I should be still more gratified if his agent. Harsis,' were also present. For behold, I have found — Con way Searle. Come forward, my mischievous double, come forward, and let them see." And at his playful smile the gentleman next behind him stepped forward, and they stood feide by side, while an exclamation of wondering surprise ran round the gazing group. A handsomer pair of youthful Adonises could scarcely be found the world over. Certainly not another pair with lineaments so wonderfully copied, so identical in colouring and shape and expression. And yet thei'e was a difference— standing there side by side— they all saw it, a subtle something in the depth of the soft dark eyes of the newcomer, a sweeter, gentler expression of the mouth, that the haughty-reared Englishman lacked. The latter had a grander, more imperial way, with head and carriage, but the dowager understood now what Helena Yerrington meant when she said she looked into Konrade Earle's eyes and did not find her Conway. Although to thejpale-

faced, mild -eyed Hortense the former seemed so much the grandest, noblest hero, that after her first glance she never gave another look at Cornvay Searle. " This is wonderful — miraculous !" cried the dowager. "Surely Konrade, you cannot blame poor Harris for believing as he did. Twin brothers woro never so much alike." "Twin brothers we are, though neither j of us have dreamed of the other's existence," declared Konrade. "Oh, Avhere is that lovely girl, that dear Helena? "What happiness is in store for her !" exclaimed the dowager, eagerly. "Ay, that is one bright spot in the whole wretched affair. Her noble faith will be j rewarded as it deserves," answered Konrade Earle, gravely. "I have sent back the carriage to bring her here. Her long night of sorrow and trial shall have a glad dawn to disperse its darkness. My brother Conway, I know you do not need me to charge you to value such constancy and faith as it deserves ; it is rare enough, Heaven knows." Did he mean this for a rebuke to her? Hortense caught one shivering breath, and shrank away behind her father. Oh, why had she bsen so blind, so wilful, so perverse? Would Konrade never forgive her ? Thus far he had not given her a single glance. He took his brother's arm and drew him toward the group of gentlemen who were standing together by one of the deep recessed windows of the long room, and looking on attentively. His other companion had retreated alone into the curtained alcove by the door, and hardly revealed his face at all. But all were too much impressed with the magnetic sense of some coming revelation to give much heed to the circumstances. "We have called our friends to hear a more romantic story than "\ve supposed," said the dowager, presently. "Well, we shall have time, I trust, for a thorough explanation. Yet before we commence I wish to reiterate my satisfaction in seeing Konrade Earle exonerated from an odious charge. Frederic, you ■were the one to bring forward the accusation, you owe him a full apology now." j "I will wait till all I hear to-day is! thoroughly proved before I pronounce my i opinion," said Frederick Miklmay, in a somewhat lugubrious tone. And in a lower voice he added, bitterly : "I do not forget that a few moments ago Lady Hortense in- 1 formed me that she could be happier with him guilt)' than with me innocent. Therefore I am free to judge that my apology or ! denouncement will be of little account to either of them." Konrade Earle heard, and for the hrst time he glanced toward Hortense. How pale and worn she looked — the change in the merry, brilliant face pleaded more in her behalf than any words could have done. And yet never had the seemed so sweet, and womanly, and 'charming. Half unconsciously he moved over and stood behind her chair, and when he saw the delicate sea-shell tinge that crept over her cheek he could not forbear bending down to whisper ; " Is it true, as he says, that you told him you would choose me before him, though I were all he painted me ?" And Hortense Hashed him one shy sorrowful glance, as she returned : "I never supposed you doubted that. But oh, Konrade, ] am undeserving of such love as yours, I have been madly jealous — cruelly doubting. Punish me as you will ; 1 own I deserve it all." The meek, penitent tone, the downcast looks were so unlike the wilfull, imperious? Hortense that he could not forbear a smile. '' My Kate is thoroughly tamed," thought he, and laid a gentle hand on the arm-chair in which she sat, and kept it there. Wat> the insensible wood the conductor of an electric current ? Undercover of her loose hanging sleeve, the little hand of Hortense crept thither, and was gathered close in his firm fingers, and held fast even through the sorrowful recital that followed.