CHAPTER XXXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXIV.

c Yes ; what makes you stare so ? Didn't you see her enter the room on his arm ? And yonder's the old countess in their 'wake ! Heavens, what diamonds Lady 'Marguerite wears ? They're fairly dazzling, and she's as lovely as a primrose.' ! ' And that's Sir Bayard Brompton ?' con1 ,tinued tlie Irish lord ; * you are sure of it, j Eversham !' The captain faced about to look at his companion. * Yes, I'm sui eof it,' he replied ; ' what's to hinder him from being Sir Bayard ?' * Well,' whistled the peer, ' his own mother wouldn't recognise him, that's all ! I used to know Sir Bayard, and if that's he, Ino man ever changed so ! He must have died and come to life again in his travels 1 Travel in the East always changes a man,' suggested the captain — • he's a handsome fellow, and a deuced lucky one ! Why couldn't that old ogre have chosen me for her heir and Lady Pearl's husband; I wonder !' | Lord Boderic laughed. ' Don't be envious, captain," he said, ' let [ Brompton enjoy his good luck, he deserves it : a finer fellow never lived. Come, I'll go and make myself known to him, and get you an introduction to the young countess, on the stiength of my old acquaintanceship.' { What's the use,' snarled the captain, ' if there's no chance of winning her ?' ' Many a slip " twixt the cup and the lip," ' suggested Lord "Roderic. , And as the clashing instruments ceased, and the swelling notes of the ' Beautiful Blue Danube ' died into silence, they made their way through the glittering crowd to the baronet's side. Loid Iloderic touched him lightly on the shoulder. He turned with a polite stare. ' How axe you, Sir Bayard ?' cried the Irish peer. 'I am heartily glad to meet you again, but 'pon my soul you've changed so, I never should have known you.' 'Shouldn't you? 1 returned the baronet, his light-grey eyes shining uneasily, and a red flush rising to his cheeks. ' Well — memory will set treacherous —I'm not pure — well, I really believe you have the ai vantage of me. ' ' What ?' cried the Irishman, breaking into a laugh, ' do you pretend to say you've forgotten me? Don't you remember me, Sir Bayard Brompton, your sworn friend, Rorleric Hughes, of Dunkirk Castle ?' ' Why, to be sure,' replied Sir Bayard, but with increasing embarrassment ; ' how stupid of me to let your name slip. lam j glad to meet you, Lord Iloderic. Allow me,' he continued, turning, and bowing to Lady Marguerite, ' to present you to one of my old friends - Lady Margaret Stiathspey, I ha\ c the honour of making you acquainted with Lord "Roderic Hughes.' Lady Marguerite bowed in the most lady-like manner, and expressed herself very much pleased to make the peer's acquaintance ; and then Captain Eversham was duly presented. And, being a trifle bold, as military men are apt to be, he begged the honour of her ladyship's hand in the ensuing dance. And while they whirled away down the glitter ng hall, the two old friends strolled off, arm in arm, chatting of departed days. 'I tell you, Eversham,' said Lord Roderic, meeting with the cap'.iin an hour or so later, 'if that man is Sir Bayard Brompton, as you assert, there's something awfully wrong with him. He's a knave, or a lunatic, I can't determine which. Not a whit like the Sir Bayard of five years ago. 1 used to be fond of Bx-ompton, but I don't fancy this fellow with his oily tongue and restless eyes. lam afraid the earl has made a poor choice for his pretty daughter !' ' What a pity her lover was lost at sea,' sighed Maggie ; 'it always pains me to see that mournful leok on her face. Poor Judith !' (To be Continued. )

THE BARON PUZZLES HIS OLD FRIKNDS. The band was playing a Strauss waltz, the 'Beautiful Blue Danube,' and. Lady Marguerite, in Sir Bayard's embrace, was floating, like a vision of light, down the dancing hall. All eyes followed the beautiful young debutante with admiration, and her lather and Lady Neville looked on, well satisfied and content. A dozen marriagenble men, who had t purposely attended the ball for an introduction to the earl's daughter, watched her, as she whirled away to the rhythmic numbers of the music, grumbling spitefully at the folly of binding such a pretty creature in chains before she had a sight of the world. ' I'll wager something handsome that she tires of Sir Bayard, and wishes herself free,' remarked Captain Eversbam, a handsome young officer of the Queen's Guards, who hoped to make his fortune by a brilliant marriage. ' You don't tell me that's the baronet V cried Sir Roderic Hughes, an Irish peer, who had once been intimate with Sir Bayard. ' That's the man, and a fortunate one he is,' replied the captain. • What S The man she is waltzing with ? continued Sir Roderic.