CHAPTER V SHARING CONFIDENCES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 307, 13 October 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER V SHARING CONFIDENCES.

The sail back to Point Kildare was made in a perfect silence on the part of the Lady Kathleen. Bassantyne addressed her occasionally, but she crouched in the stern o the boat, paying no heed to his words, and not once turning her wild, despairing eyes upou him. The presence of Mary, the Lady Kathleen's maid, prevented any allusions to the di-ead secret existing between the strangely, fraudulently wedded pair ; and Bassantyne lapsed at last into a moody, sullen silence, which lasted until his boat grounded on the shore of Poin fc Kildare. Then the Lady Kathleen, rejecting her bridegroom's proffered assistance, arose and oue of the boat. At the same moment Lord Tresham's sloop rounded into the little cove. The Lady Kathleen paused a moment in the moonlight, on the rocks, turning her wild, white face toward her lost lover. She waved her hand to him, and moved slowly away toward the castle, followed by her maid. 'One word, Kathleen!' cried Bassantyne, following her. ' I have much to say to you — much to explain. I must see you alone for a few minutes — The Lady Kathleen turned, confronting him with a desperate face. 'Not to-night,' she said. 'The hour is late. I do not care for your explanations. It is enough for me to know that you are still living. Had I known that, I should not have been mad enough to dream of marriage with Lord Tresham. And yet, I might have known it,' she added, bitterly, • by my instinctive dread of a public marriage with his lordship.' 'I should have thought you had had enough of private marriages !' sneered Bas santyne, as her ladyship's faithful maid, with native delicacy, moved on toward the castle. The Lady Kathleen started as if shot. Her face grew even paler and deathlike in its expression. Yet she possessed sufficient self-command to say, wibh an unnatural calmness : 'We will let our interview end here. If you have anything further to say to me, you must call at the castle, during suitable hours and like other visitors.' Bassantyne frowned darkly, then laughed softly, while his eyes glittered evilly. Bhe moved away abruptly, and hurried to the castle. Her maid was waiting for her by a private garden door, and the two entered the dwelling. Lord Tiesham had beheld this interview from the deck of his sloop, ready to interfere for the Lady Kathleen's protection when needed, and he now watched the castle with keen and eager scrutiny, until a sudden gleam of light from an upper chamber announced that her ladyship had gained her room. Then he raised his sail again, and moved out into the channel, proceeding to the northward. Nicol Bassantyne showed no haste to depart. He lounged about the rocks and in and out of the shadows of the trees, and muttered to himself, as he watched the light <rleaming from an upper window : 1 She'll be down again to see me! Don't I know her pride and her terrors ? She knows . that I have no nice scruples, and that I would ask nothing better than to humble her haughty soul I She knows that in my hands she is like a mouse in a cat's paws. She'll be on her knees to me presently !' But though he waited long and conti dently, he waited in vain. He walktd down to the little Gothic chapel, half hid among the trees, and sauntered back again ; he showed himself boldly on the shore ; and ones or twice approached the garden door ; and the hours parsed, and still she did not come. • The light died out from the upper window and the castle was shrouded ab last in darkness and gloom. 1 Curse her !' muttered Bassantyne, as the conviction forced itself upon him that his vigil was useless. 'She means to deny me ! We'll see what she'll make at that game. She'll find me a very tiger now ! I'll bend her spirit, or I'll break it ! Nothing shall stand between me and the goal toward which I'm pressing. The Lady Kathleen and her fortune shall both be mine V He set his lips together in a grim, hard expression, pushed off his boat, leaping into it and sailed moodily away, taking his course to the northward, toward Ballycastle, where he bad taken lodgings. The stately roof of Kildare Castle sheltered that night two anguished girlish faces, two despairing young hearts. And it also sheltered one soul as darkly exulting as that of Bassantyne — that of the rival claimant of Kildare. Neither of the two step-sisters slept. Both spent the long, restless hours in thinking of their lovers, between whom and themselves obstacles so insuperable had arisen. Yet nothing in the looks or manner of either, when the two girls met in the break-fnst-room the next morning, betrayed their secret terrors and anxieties. The breakfast-room was an octagonshaoed apartment, fronting the sea. Its walls were softly tinted with the faintest flush, and were hung with pictures framed in gilt. A white and red mottled carpet, surrounded by a gay, wide border, covered the floor. The regularity of the walls and angles was broken by an immense projecting window which overhung the rocks and the sea and commanded wide views to the eastward, and to the north and south. The sashes of this window were open and the pleasant morning breeze — breathing September coolness — swept into the apartment, filtering through the hanging baskets of flowers, and filling the room with fragrance. The round table in the centre of the room was covered with sparkling crystal and silver. The furniture, upholstered in scarlet leather with gilt nails, added to the cheery, aesthetic look of the room. Where ' all was so bright and sunny, yet pleasantly cool, it seemed as if heavy hearts must be unknown. The Lady Nora was first in the room. In her dainty white morning dress and ruffled black silk apron, she presented, a lovely picture of the young mistress of the household. She had just come in from a '„ ramble in the gardens and conservatory, } and was now binding together a bunch of *_ fragrant blue violets, enclosing them in a j „ ~ sheath of geranium leaves which one of the J hanging baskets afforded. '

She was thus engaged when the Lady Kathleen enterod tho room. She was look- , ingpale, but at sight of her young step-sister she assumed an artificial gayety tliat could have deceived no one less pre-occupied than the Lady Nora. ' Always busy, Nora !' she exclaimed, with assumed lightness, kissing: the wistful upturned iace, and failing to notice the brooding sorrow in the sunny brown eyes. 'I do believe nature intended you to be a poor man's wife — 1 do, indeed. Here you are with the best housekeeper in all Ulster, who has lived in the family these thirty years, aud you will persist in overseeing | matters yourself, and" knowing all the servants, as well as every person on the estate. I saw you from my window, an hour ago, directing the gardener. ' , ' Yes,' returned the Lady Nora, with an involuntary quiver of her sweet, spirited mouth, 'I want to make the most of my privileges while they remain to me. By tho way, Kathleen,' she said, turning the conversation abruptly, ' you were out late last evening. 1 did not hear you coming in.' The Lady Kathleen's fair face flushed. ' Yes, I was out late,' she answered. ' I came in very quietly, not to disturb you. But what do you mean, Nora, when you say you want to make the most of your privileges while they remain to you ? Has Latry O Neil proposed at last, and are you thinking that you won't be just as much mistress of Kildare when you write your name Nora O'Neil V ' I wish my troubles were as childish as that would be,' said Nora, looking drearily out on the waters of the channel. * You cannot imagine what has happened, Kathleen, so I will tell you. We have a guest. He came last night, and I expect him to make his appearance every instant — ' ' A guest, Nora V ' Yes. He claims to be the son of my uncle Redmond, and calls himself Lord Redmond Kildare. He announced himself, in fact, as the true heir of Point Kildare.' The Lady Kathleen was at once startled and shocked. ' Why have you allowed him to remain here over night, Noia?' she asked. 'He must be an impostor !' ' I wish I could think so. He has proof enough of the truth of his assertions. He brought me a letter from Michael Kildare confirming his assertions. It seems that Michael has know n the story all along, and has kept it secret, hoping the young man would never discover the truth, in which case Mr Kildare did not intend to enlighten him ! I can trust Michael, Kathleen ! He is one of my guardians, being associated with Sir Russel Ryan. He regards me with a father's affection, and I have had too many proofs of his love and pride in me to doubt that this discovery has cost him many pangs. But right is right, Kathleen. If this stranger is entitled to Kildare, he must have it. When the last shadow of a doubt is removed in my mind, and when my guardians have decided in this man's favour, I shall resign everything to him. But it's hard, Kathleen — ' 1 1 won't believe in the man's claims !' asserted the Lady Kathleen, impetuously. 'He is some impostor. Of course it would be madness to doubt the w>rds or the love of Mr Kildare, but the letter from him might have been forged ! You ought to telegraph to him and Sir Russol this morning.' 'Mr Kildare says in his letter that he will be here with Sir Russel in a day or two. I can only wait, Kathleen. If they do not arrive to-day, I will telegraph for both.' ' And meanwhile this impostor must remain here V Befoie the Lady Nora could reply, the door opened, and the subject of their conversation entered the room. Seen by daylight, Lord Redmond or Mr Kildare, as we may call him for the present, was mmh more piepossessing in appearance. His resemblance to the Kildare family was more than ever sti iking". The Lady Katnleen, acknowledging the introduction peifoimed by the Lady Nora, was impressed by his strong likeness to the family of which he claimed to be the heir j and chief representative, and her heart sank within her with a sudden dread that his claims might, be verihed. * 1 am pleased to meet the Lady Kathleen Connor,' observed Mr Kildare, taking the seat at the table which the Lady Nora indicated to him. ' I have heard that she was formerly a great belle in London and on the Continent, and that she attracted marked attention at the French courb a few years since. I cannot wonder at it j since I have seen her,' he added, gallantly, and with a Chesterheldian bow. The Lady Kathleen acknowledged the compliment giavely, and he was encouraged to lesume, more lightly : 'Of course, these little facts have come to my ears only recently. I knew nothing of society. Its chaimed halls had been closed to rue. Until a month since I was in completeignorance ot my leal history and rights, and was a humble student at Gray's Inn, London, looking forward to the time when I should be in the active practice of my .profession. How that has all changed ! But to return to what I was saying, Lady Kathleen. Mr Kildare told me huw you had lived with the lady Nora as an elder sister, and how your affection lor her bordered upon the romantic. You may be sure that the grim old Dublin lawyer appreciates your affection for his darling Lady Nora.' 'Mr Kildare is very much attached to his young cousin,' observed the Lady Kathleen, coldly, as she sipped her cofiee. ' He idolises her !' exclaimed Mr Kildare, enthusiastically. 'If 1 had not been in possession of so many proofs of my identity, he would have denied it even to me. Notwithstanding he wiote a letter containing a statement of facfas to the Lady Nora, he was in a state of the keenest distress when I left him. 1 dare say he will be here today, his anxiety being so great.' _No one replied to this remark, and a silence fell upon the little group, which was broken only by the necessary courtesies of the table. Redmond Kildare bestowed frequent furtive glances upon the slight figure behind the coffee urn, and ~upon the yrave, proud young face, which was witching and piquant, even with the shadows upon it. His glances expressed a keen and growing admiration, which the keen-eyed Lady Kathleen did not fail to notice. Her mif-givings Degan to deepen. ' There is a deeper trouble still in storo for Nora," she thought. ' This man has a terrible will. I would not like to wrong him even in thought, but I believe he is as unscrupulous at heart as Bassantyne. Itis a strange fatality that gives to both Nora and me enemies so singular.' As if reading her thoughts, Redmond Kildare exerted himself suddenly to become , agreeable, and uttered compliments of the ■ step-sisters until even their well-schooled faces declared to him their annoyance. Then he talked, alter a rattling joyous fashion, of Dublin ahd Mr Michael Kildare, of London and his mother, and discoursed speculatively on the chances that had existed of his becoming a barrister, and living and dying in ignorance of his rightful heritage. The breakfast over, he arose, and said : 4 If you will excuse me now, ladies, I will take a walk over the estate. lam an Eng- j

, W l . 'I lishman in my love of walking, and would ask no greater pleasure than a stroll undor the trees shading the wide avenue that encircles the island. I may as well be getting acquainted with my future possessions, and with my future tenantry. Point Kildare is a princely heritage, and I am the most fortunate of heirs.' He bowed and withdrew. The step-sistors looked at each other with agitation when he had gone, and they found themselves alone together. 'He has the Kildare features,' said tho Lady Kathleen, bitterly, l but ho has neither delicacy nor good breeding. There was all the coarseness and vulgarity of a small soul in his exultation over his good fortune just now.' ' You noticed the resemblance, then ?' asked Lady Nora. 'It is impossible to avoid noticing it. Even tho butler and other servants lemarked it. They would have known he was a Kildare if you hadn't called him so. But he must not win his triumph too easily. If your guardians will think it best, I advise you to carry this case into the courts. I dislike the man excessively. •And I feel, when he is watching me, as if I were in tho presence of somo loathsome, glitteiing snake,' shuddered the Lady Nora. ' Kathleen, I am afraid of him.' ' Tell me,' said the Lady Kathleon, after a moment's pauso, 'has he suggested that any compromise is possible ?' * Yes. He said something about a compromise, but he did not explain ' 'Ah ! You will hear his explanations sooner or later, for I fancy he would prefer the compiomise to a full and completo possession. You %% 111 know what he has on his mind soon enough. And if the worst comes, Nora, darling, you will never be poor while Kathleen Connor lives. I have a fortune of my own that my father left me, and when your own is taken from you, 1 shall settle the half of mine on you.' 'No, no, Kathleen, my geneious sister. T would not accept it. I wantonly what is my own. Besides,' she added, with an attempt to speak archly, ' "What would Lord Tresham say ?' The Lady Kathleen arose and went to the window, hiding her agitated iace in the midst of the greenery of an ivy baskot. ' 0, Nora,' she said, in a voice that went to the Lady Nora's heart, ' it's all over between Barry and me—' * Kathleon ! What can you mean '?' Tho youthful Lady ol Kildaie spiang from her chair and lun to hei step-sister, foi getting her own sorrow in this newer giief. Her lovely face expressed the tenderest sympathy, the keenest anxiety. ' Oh, Kathleen !' she cried, as Kathleen did not answer. ' What is the matter ? Ha\ c you and Lord Tiesham quarrelled '!' 1 Oh, no, no ! Would it were only a quarrel that lies between us !' moaned the Lady Kathleen. 'If you haven't quarrelled, why, then, are you breaking your heart, Kathleen ? Tell me all about it ?' asked the Lady Noia, with an air of grave and gentle authority. ' Are you going to begin to have sectets from me ?' The Lady Kathleen raised her face, which was convulsed with a spasm of pain. ' I began that years ago, Nora,' bhe said. ' Sit down on this window-seat among these vines, while I tell you. The servants won't come in at present ?' ' Not if I lock the door.' The Lady Nora hastened to secure the door, and tnen returned to Kathleen, sitting down beside her on the cushioned window seat. The breeze fluttered the gay, striped Venetian awning outside that shaded the window, and, stealing in, tossed their hair and the vines that drooped from the baskets rather roughly, but neither heeded it. I ' You have had a secret from me, then, Kathleen ?' asked the Lady Nora, in loving reproach. ' Yes. I had it long before I knew you, little Nora. I have never breathed it to any human being, although there are others who share it with me. My mother died in happy ignorance of it But this secret has clouded my Hie. Nora, dear. It caused me to give up society, and on account of it I made up my mind ne^ er to marry. But lately I had lost of it — almost forgotten it. And last night, when Lo'-d Tiesham asked me, for the twentieth time or moie, I felt only a strange dread that I knew not how to account for — ' ' And so you refused him ?' ' No. I accepted him." 4 And yet you won't marry him ? What a puzzle it is !' ' I agreed to marry him, Nora, and then my courage failed, i was afraid, if people knew that I was engaged to marry him, those enemies ot mine might breaU up the match and cause a scandal. And I dared not risk it Then Lord Tresham, seeing that I would not consent to a fashionable marriage, proposed that we should go over to Scotland, which is less than thirty miles distant, and a pleasant sail in this mild weather, and be married by Mi Cowan. You remember good Mr Cowan, dear? And I was mad enough to consent ' ' Kathleen ! You did not go V j • Yes, Nora !' ' You crossed over to Scotland last night in Lord Trcsham's sloop?' demanded Nora, all excitement. 4 Yes, darling.' ' And you were married ?' The Lady Kathleen assented, with a wild moan. ' Then why are you troubled, Kathleen ? Tell your seciet to your husband. Lord Tresham is the noblest of men. And this secret marriage, and your old, mysterious secret, are the cause of all this agitation, my Lady Tresham — ' * Oh, don't, don't, Nora !' wailed the Lady Kathleen. ' That name cuts to my heart like a knile, for I shall never bear it ! I was married, Nora, but not to Lord Tiesham ! He went out of the church a moment to bring another witness. The church was dark, and a man came up in the darkness, pretending to be Lord Tresham. And in the gloom, and my fear and agitation, I took his arm, and we stood up and were married >' ' Great Heaven !' cried Lady Nora appalled. 'My poor Kathleen! Why, this is incredible ! But *ihe law will free you — ' ' I dare not go to law about it.' ' And why not ? This fraud must not be permitted to stand for an instant — ' ' But, Nora, this man knows the secret I spoke of,' said the Lady Kathleen, desperately. ' He — he has some hold upon me ! I dare not dety him. I dare not sue for a divoi'ce ! This Scotch mariiage may not stand law. Lord Tresham thinks it won't, and the clergyman thinks it will. But whether it is lawful or not, 1 dare not apply to have it dissolved.' The Lady Nora was overwhelmed with astonishment and fears. ' Then you mean to accept this villain for your husband V she asked. ' Never !' cried Lady Kathleen, with a flash of her old spirit. ' I would rather die than bo nearer to him than lam now ! I can keep him quiet with money if he is as poor as he used to be. He will do anything for money. Yet he boasted last night of being rich. He is not a man to tell the truth, however, and he may be as easy to bribe as he was formerly. But how pale you are, Nora ! You had trouble enough without this. I should have kept it from you,'

/ Ib is better for us to be perfectly frank with each other, Kathleen,' said the Lady Nora, sadly. 'It looks now as if we should soon havo only each other — ' 4 You will have Larry, darling 1 !' ' He hasn't asked me to have him yet !' said Lady Kildare, with a bright blush, ' although, of course, I know that he loves mo. You see, Kildare stood in the way. I was rich and Larry was poor, and Lord O'Neil, you know, is one of the proudest men in Ulster. My poor Larry ! 1 wanted to enrich him, and repair his old castle. 1 wanted him to feel that prosperity camo with his bride. And as I should be only a burden and incumbranco to him if 1 lose Kildare, I shall not marry him !' ' But what will you do, Nora ?' 'I won't marry for a home, Kathleen. And I won't marry to be a drag to any man. I don't know what I shall do, without you'll hire me for a companion,' and she forced a laugh. ' Oh, why didn't poor papa foresee this trouble' 1 she added. 'If he had only settled something on me, as ho might ha\e done ! But he never dreamed that anyone would dispute my claims as heiress. Michael Kildare, whom I call a second cousin, is really a more distant kinsman, and out of the line of inheritance. And so the estate fell to me naturally, and tlio title dropped. We shall hear all this discussed at length when my guardians come,' she concluded bitterly. ' You will, of course, go with me,' said Lady Kathleen, decidedly. 'If you loso Kildare, you shall share and share alike with me ' Not a word now, Noia ! For once, dailing, you will havo to yield to me !' The step-sisters embraced each other tenderly, and wopt together. Presently Noia lifted her bright little head, and between smiles and teais ciied out : ' This w ill never do, Kathleen ! We shall get sick at this rate, and I don't want that .Mr Redmond Kildaio to have the satisfaction of thinking that I am crying at the prospect ot leaving Kildare. 1 fancy that it would be a satisfaction to him. Let us 'thiowaway dull caie,' Kathleen, and go out fur a wild gallop. The fresh air and the exeicise may give us new hope and courage." ' I haven't the heart to so, Nora. Riding isn't my lesourco when 1 am blue, as it always is yours. But you will go f 'Yes, I will go ciied Nora, spiingina; up. « And I'll tull you where I'll go I I'll gallop over to Glen O'Neil, and sec Larry, and tell him ' But that would hardly be proper, Noia.' ' ' A fig for the proprieties !' eN claimed Nora. ' Yet I have no intention ot oflending Dame Grundy, if she take? note of what goes on in this little corner of bie Ulster. I'll take the old housekeeper for a duenna, and old Shane for a protector, and Mrs Grundy shall smile approvingly.' The Lady Nora's little allection of gaiety brought a smile even to Kathleen s pale lips. ' The idea of Mrs Bridget Kelly riding 1 on horseback >' said Lady Kathleen. ' Why, she weighs fouiteen stone if she weighs an ounce > And Shane is a peifcct skeleton. It's a fine c«cort you'll have, Nora. It.-, honoured Larry will be. Why don't you send to him to come here ?' c And have him meet this rival claimant to Kildare? ISo, no ; I only want to hear what Larry thinks. He has a clear head, has Larty, and I'd give more for his opinion than foi that of the Loid Chancellor and all the big wigs of England. I shall be off within ,the hour. Good-bye, and don't grieve so, Kathleen.' She kissed her stop-sieter, and danced out of the room. Once outside, however, her spirited young face grew grave again, and very troubled in its expression.