CHAPTER XXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 128, 14 November 1885, Page 3

CHAPTER XXIV.

LILLIS HEARS, SPEAKS,AND IS INTERRUPTED When Lady Melross entered the librarj she found Robert Hood cnafing up and down its length in a state of ungovernable .excitement. He met her with the following hurried, startling words : "I've resolved to end this farce of courtship. I've resolved to marry Lillis in less .than a week— or never. No, don't interrupt me I" as Lady Melross dropped into a chair and opened her mouth. Lady Melross did interrupt him. She cried faintly, " The world ! What will the world say ? Your poor father jus—" " What can it say " interposed Hood, impatiently, and in the same excited tones. "How is the world to know I have not been engaged to Lillis for months past? and what possible objection can there be to a quiet private marriage here at the Abbey in the presence of yourself and Tony ? But you must do as you please. If you refuse your sanction there is nothing more to be said. I'll end your torture and our relations by giving you a year's salary and closing the Abbey this day ! For the next ten years I shall make my home on the Continent. It is senseless for me to blind myself longer. If I would wear Lillis I must boldly seize and not attempt to win her. Once my bride, she will accept her lot happily and rejoice in the grandeur it brings her and the lifelong ease and luxury with which it will surely dower you, Lady Melross." In those crafty words Lady Melross saw a roseate future for herself and Lillis. In the little word " never " that had preceded, she saw the annihilation of all her ambitious hopes and all her present comforts. The natural dislike she felt to such hurried proceedings died on the instant. On the instant she justified Hood's confidence in his arguments by saying quietly : "Ring the bell, if you please. The straightforward way is now the true way. Lillis must be feummoned and made acquainted with my purpose to bestow her hand upon you." Hood eagerly obeyed the request. He eagerly watched for the girl's appearance. As she came in, looking so calm, proud, and purely lovely, his vengeful anger and exultation at his victory over her was lest in a thrill of impassioned joy But the next minute he started slightly, and bending down to Lady Melross, beside whose chair he stood, he breathed a few rapid, suppressed words. Lady Melrosa instantly, hurriedly rose. Without looking at Hood, or in any way betraying her secret fears, Lillis walked into the room and addressed her mother : "You wanted me, mamma ?" she said. "In one moment, my dear. Wait, I will be back immediately." With that hasty answer Lady Melross went into the hall. Lillis hung her wraps over the back of a chair. Hood came forward. "You were about starting for a walk, Lillis ?" he asked, speaking with a fervour of gaze and accent that terrified the girl. " Yes," she said pleasantly. She stood there so winsome with her pale exquisite face, sweet soft shining eyes, and bright brown hair. And she seemed so much his own now. He yielded to his impulse. He claimed her with headlong passion. "My darling, my beautiful darling," he cried, ' ' the time has com 9 for me to undo ceive you." " To undeceive me ?" The girl echoed the words, recoiling in a fear she could not hide. Robert hurried on with even added passion :—: — " Yes ! To acknowledge the truth, Lillis ! I cannot give you up 1 I cannot submit to your decision ! This dear hand," seizing firmly the one she had extended in mute protest—" this dear hand must be mine! Once unalterably my bride, you will learn to love—" Lillis wrenched her hand from his grasp. She broke upon him with a loathing and scorn that yet was touched with a gentle pity. Looking up into his dark, passion-lit face, she cried tremulously, " Lord Langdon, for your own sake, if not mine, never again address me in such language. I can have but one answer to make. That answer you have already received. I will not pain you by its repetition." Lady Melross, who bad entered as the girl began to speak, broke upon Hood's meditated outburst. She said gently, but firmly : " Your mother, Lillis, has reversed that answer." She half paused, and then concluded : "To make known the fact I summoned you." Liltfs turned and looked at her ladyship. The girl had doubted her ears : she did not doubt her eyes. Lady Melrosa'sface struck her dumb. Capable of the one act of seizing upon something for support, she grasped the edge of the writing table. " Yes, Lillis, "pursued Lady Melross, with a slow chilling determination of voice far more terrible than the sharpest words of unkindness; " yes, I have answered for you. 1 have yielded to the earl's entreaties. I bave given you to the earl, and consented to bis wish for an immediate private marriage. Nay, hear me out," as lillis passionately interposed. "lam an old woman, and it is the great desire of my heart to see you suitably established in life before I die. As the Countess of Langdon you shall be 1 She stopped there, Lillis breaking upon ber with irresistable impetuosity. The Epiil's eyes blazed out in passionate reproach. "Mamma," she cried, " you are as dear bo me as my heart's blood ! But never will [ become the Countess of Langdon ! Never will I perjure myself by a false vow to bonour and love the man you have chosen Eor me ! The grave would be a welcome refuge from such a fate." "Pshaw!" ejaculated Lady Melross, waving her hand contemptuously, while Hood's olive skin flushed red with anger. Lillis went on unheediugly, adding in tremulous tones : " I will not, my mother, wed contrary to your wishes, but neither will I contrary to my own ! Lord Langdon !" turning to Bood with restored composure and a slight touch of scorn, "prove yourself a nobleman ! Renounce a bride who would rather die than become yours." " Lillis, lam a man, not an angel ; expect a man's weakness ! In three days, my Incomparable darling, or six, at the furthest, you will be made Lady Langdon."

Lillis looked at him in silent soorn. He continued : " There shall be no more: deception, Lillis. I have a friend— an unfortunate clergyman who does not trouble himself much about hia soul, nor the way he makes a few hundred pounds. That clergy-! man will unite us." In one moment Lillis forgot all her prudent resolves. She turned to her mother and cried passionately : ({ And you consent to this ?" " Sinoe you force me, yes. But only for your good, remember," answered Lady Melross calmly. " Yes, you say !" The girl's beautiful flashing eyes turned from her mother to Hood. She raised her hand. She cried loathingly as she pointed her steady finger : "Look at him, mother, and know that the man you have chosen for your son is the murderer of his own father." "Great Heavens, Lillis l " gasped Lady Melross, carried away by the girl's headlong vehemence. "And know, too," pursued Lillis, " that he prowls—" She was trebly checked by a sudden fear of endangering thd secret trust with which she had charged herself, a sudden gust of generous pity for the mute whitefaced man before her, and the sudden rattling of the handle of the door leading to the hall. l " I ani sorry I said it," she faltered hastily dropping her hands and eyes. " Sorry you said it," echoed Lady Melross in horror merged in a natural indignation. " You ought to go down on your knees to him. To accuse the man of the murder of his poor old father • It's shameful ! More than shameful !" "For heaven's sake hush," cried Hood, in low, hoarse, hurried tones, looking toward the door. "It's too horrible to be spoken again even by your kind lips." The opening door fell wide. A stranger stood bowing upon the threshold. Strangorß were not wanted at Langdon Abbey. Hood remembered it, and recovered from his panic. He advanced, exclaiming haughtily, "How is it, sir, you presume to intrude yourself in this unceremonious way ? What, " his wrath suddenly including the servants, " what are my servants about, I'd like to know ?" Strangers admitted against my express orders, and allowed to announce themselves /" He turned angrily to the bell. The man walked in and stopped him with three smiling, deprecating words : " I'm Detective Linter," he said.